Earn College Credit for Other Learning Experiences
Prior Learning Assessment for Adult Learners
Academic Program Evaluation for Employer Training
What is Prior Learning Assessment?
Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is a flexible, efficient way of earning undergraduate college credits for college-level knowledge you have acquired outside a traditional classroom. At Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, we understand that you may have acquired college-level knowledge without having attended college. That’s why we offer the PLA program based on a national model of excellence in assessing college-level knowledge acquired outside the classroom.
PLA can shorten your time to degree earned and reduce costs in the form of tuition savings.
I never completed my degree, so how can I possess college-level knowledge?
Harrisburg University firmly believes that college-level knowledge, no matter how it is earned, warrants credit. We understand learning is life-long endeavor, and that that adults continue learning throughout their careers. Students draw on knowledge or skills gained from a wide variety of sources. Below is a list of common ways students who have earned credit through the PLA program have acquired college-level knowledge:
- Employees can earn college credit for approved courses
- Full or part-time jobs
- Prior independent reading and study
- Training programs or in-service courses
- Volunteer work
- Cultural and artistic pursuits
- Hobbies and recreational pastimes
- Community or religious activities
- Military service
- Travel study
- Organizational memberships
Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of already-acquired college-level knowledge in a specific subject area. PLA is not independent study. Instead, students work with a mentor, who is an expert in the subject, to develop an electronic portfolio that documents a student's mastery of the subject. What is important to remember about our PLA program is that students do not get credit for experience; they earn credit by demonstrating that they possess college-level knowledge of a subject.
Academic Program Evaluation for Employer Training
Are your training programs eligible for college credit?
Could your employees be earning college credit as part of completing training and development programs?
Benefits of conducting an academic program review:
- Employees can earn college credit for approved courses
- Cost-savings on tuition & tuition reimbursement
- Gain competitive advantage by offering a valuable employee benefit
- Increased recruitment and retention of staff
- Increased visibility and prestige for training & development
- Gain insights to improve training curriculum
- Link your organization to learning communities
About the Program:
Academic Program Review is a program Harrisburg University offers to organizations who would like to have their training and educational programs evaluated to determine if the individuals who complete the programs acquire college-level knowledge, and if that training can be transferred into college credit at the University.
The program is cost effective and brings the value-added benefit of college credit to an organization’s training. The review consists of a team evaluation of the objectives, content and assessment strategies of the courses being submitted for review. College professors, representing a variety of higher education institutions, and who are subject matter experts in the topics your training covers will evaluate and provide feedback on your programs.
An Academic Program Review also provides an opportunity for your organization to create an academic partnership with Harrisburg University, which can lead to several other beneficial opportunities.
There is no requirement that employees who earn credit are current students or future at Harrisburg University, and the academic credit can be transferred to several other institutions. Cost of program review is affordable, and can yield a significant ROI for your training and development investments.
Why is Academic Credit Important?
- Adults are going back to school to earn degrees in significant numbers.
- Employers who support adult learning and degree attainment win the loyalty, and build the confidence, of employees who are interested in developing their potential.
- Adults have busy lives, and earning college credit through employer-sponsored training is an innovative way to make college attainable for many more of your employees.
- It’s a win-win for employees and employers!
Program Evaluation may be a good fit if your company...
- Offers challenging educational programs
- Employs individuals who have not earned a bachelor’s degree
- Considers degree attainment a driving factor in talent management
- Has significant participation in your tuition reimbursement program Wants to make your employee development investments go even further!
To learn more about this program, call Professional Development & Continuing Education at 717.901.5190 or email ProfessionalEd@HarrisburgU.edu