Get college credit where credit is due.

By creating a prior learning portfolio, you can demonstrate college-level learning and earn course credit for your professional experience.

To be awarded college credit, learning gained from experience must have several characteristics:

1. General applicability in many situations
2. Theoretical and practical foundation in a specific subject area (not routines, skills or procedures)
3. Quality similar to that expected of classroom students who pass the related course

FAQ
How to prepare a portfolio
Tips for writing the autobiography
Tips for gathering and organizing documentation
Instructions for writing the narrative
Portfolio checklist

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a prior learning portfolio?

2. Can a portfolio be submitted for any course?

3. How many portfolio credits can I earn?

4. Can I just read the book and explain what I know in an essay?

5. How much does portfolio credit cost?

6. Am I on my own, or does someone help me with my portfolio?

7. How do I know if I can pass?

8. Who evaluates my portfolio?

9. When can I expect to know the outcome of my evaluation?

10. Do I get a grade?

11. Is there any appeal if my portfolio isn't awarded credit?

1. What is a prior learning portfolio?

It is a notebook divided into these six sections:

• A table of contents
• An autobiography introducing you, your education and your work background
• A list of the course outcomes used to compose the portfolio
• A narrative stating what you know and where you learned each course outcome
• Copies of documents providing evidence of knowledge and application
• Your name, address, phone number(s) and email

2. Can a portfolio be submitted for any course?

A portfolio cannot be submitted for Capstone courses and courses for which a proficiency test is available. In addition, some Program Chairs have identified courses in their majors for which portfolio credit will not be given. With the assistance of your Student Services Associate (SSA), you will need to determine whether or not a course qualifies for portfolio credit before beginning the process.

3. How many portfolio credits can I earn?

The total number of portfolio credits and proficiency test credits available depends upon your academic program and transfer credit situation.

4. Can I just read the book and explain what I know in an essay?

No. You obtain the knowledge at an earlier time, hence the phrase "prior learning." The documentation you provide will serve as evidence that you have applied the knowledge in a practical manner.

5. How much does portfolio credit cost?

Cost is $50 per credit hour for your evaluation. The fee is non-refundable, so if you do not pass, there is no refund.

6. Am I on my own, or does someone help me with my portfolio?

The Testing Coordinator in the Student Learning Center (SLC) can help you; however, you must know the content material. The SLC only assists to make sure you have formatted and organized the information properly. Although the Testing Coordinator is not an evaluator, he/she can tell you if your material is substantially lower in quality than that of other portfolios that have received credit.

7. How do I know if I can pass?

Carefully analyze the course outcomes on the syllabus as if they were essay exam questions. If you can write a solid, appropriately detailed essay for each one and support your claim of knowledge with written documentation, then you have a good chance of receiving credit.

8. Who evaluates my portfolio?

The Program Chair for the major or a faculty member who regularly teaches the course evaluates the portfolio.

9. When can I expect to know the outcome of my evaluation?

Faculty evaluators have 30 days from the time they pick up the portfolio from the SLC. This means you must submit your portfolio the term prior to graduation so that you can take the course if credit is not granted.

10. Do I get a grade?

As with transfer credit, a letter grade is not given, only the credit. Your portfolio will be kept in the SLC and will not be returned to you. You may view it in the SLC.

11. Is there any appeal if my portfolio isn't awarded credit?

Yes, you may file an appeal by following the Academic Grade Appeal Process, which is outlined in the Academic Bulletin.
 

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How to Prepare a Portfolio

1. Meet with the SSA for your major and work out your chronological plan so you know which courses you need for your degree program, and which may qualify for portfolio credit.
2. Make a preliminary list of the courses for which you believe you have previously gained college-level learning using your chronological plan and the University Bulletin.
3. Contact the SLC in Fisher Hall to request copies of course syllabi, which list course outcomes for the courses you chose in step # 2.
4. Compare your learning with the course outcomes stated on the syllabus, and make a final selection of the course for which you wish to prepare a portfolio.
5. Construct an outline of your portfolio. It might help to go back to the previous explanation of the six parts of the portfolio and write a brief description of what you plan to include in each of these sections. When you have the outline completed, schedule a meeting with the respective Lead Faculty responsible for the course to go over your plans.
6. Begin gathering documentation of your prior learning. This can include work samples, copies of training certificates, letters of testimonial or evaluation, or other such materials.
7. Meet with the Testing Coordinator in the SLC to see a sample portfolio and discuss simple ways to go about writing the required sections. Call 614.947.6800 to make an appointment of about 30 minutes.
8. After completing your portfolio, schedule an appointment with the Testing Coordinator for a "draft check" to ensure that it has all the required information. Payment is due at the time of your appointment.
9. Revise and submit the final portfolio to the Testing Coordinator, who will send it to the evaluator.

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Tips for Writing the Autobiography

There are two approaches to writing an autobiography. The first type is an expanded resume, and the second type is a reflective essay. The expanded resume generally provides more specific career information, while the reflective essay provides more opportunity to demonstrate creativity. The evaluators do not have any preferences for one type over another.

To write an expanded resume, simply start with a resume you have written for a class, a job search, or some other purpose. Then write a paragraph for each major segment, making sure that the connections between sections and the motives you had for self-directed learning are clearly stated. Although some students start with their first important, professional level jobs and leave out part-time work, others do include part-time jobs, especially those that were significant contributors to growth and self-directedness or that contributed to the development of competencies documented in the portfolio.

To write a reflective essay, review your life and list 5 to10 major events in chronological order. After you compose the list, focus on your pathway toward self-direction as a learner and the competencies in the course for which you are requesting credit. Also think about your motivations for significant transitions, and the growth which resulted from your experiences. Finally, write a paragraph about each major phase in your life, being sure to explain the transitions between phases so that the story can be easily understood by a reader who does not know you.

Tips for Gathering and Organizing Documentation

Documentation includes work samples, certificates, letters, commendations, reference book tables of contents, training course outlines, newspaper articles, military records, photographs, publications, audiovisual presentations, licenses, and any other materials that help prove your competence. Because the portfolio will not be returned to you, original documents should not be submitted, only photocopies. Finally, separate the documents by letter as appendices.

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Instructions for Writing the Narrative

The narrative must follow a structured format so the evaluators can easily discern the level of your competence. Below is a brief explanation of the format that must be followed for each course outcome. In a well-written portfolio, information about each outcome includes approximately one and a half pages of text. The format may be clearer if you look at a completed portfolio while reading the explanation. Sample portfolios are available at the SLC.

• Course outcomes statement – State the competence you are trying to demonstrate.
• Experience – List the resources you used to gain your competence, including but not limited to:
  • Projects
  • Work assignments
  • Books
  • Individuals
  • Coursework
• Learning – Compose an essay explaining what you know about the course outcomes. Since many course outcomes are complex, consider the limit implied in the outcome statement, and include information on any secondary topic.
• Documentation link – Explain how the document substantiates your learning. Briefly identify how the documents in the appendices relate to your competence in the outcomes statement.

Portfolio Checklist

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