POLICY #6.40
SUBJECT: Credit for Prior Learning
I. PURPOSE
Southern Utah University (SUU) acknowledges that students acquire valuable knowledge, competencies, and skills through both formal and informal education, extending beyond traditional academic environments. This Policy establishes procedures for evaluating and awarding academic credit for documented Prior Learning. Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) helps students efficiently complete their degree requirements while maintaining academic integrity and rigor.
II. REFERENCES
- NWCCU 2020 Standard 1.C.8 - Student Success and Institutional Mission Effectiveness
- NWCCU Policies: Transfer and Award of Academic Credit (2013)
- Utah Board of Higher Education Policy R402 - Certificate and Degree Award Structures
- Utah Board of Higher Education Policy R472 - Credit for Prior Learning
- Utah Code § 53H-3-702 Credit for Prior Learning - Board Plan and Policies – Reporting
III. DEFINITIONS
- Academic Program: An educational program offered by a degree-granting institution. An Academic Program comprises discipline-specific or interdisciplinary courses leading to an intellectual specialty, skills, and experiences necessary for meaningful employment. Academic Programs lead to academic certificates or associate, bachelor's, graduate, and professional degrees as defined in Board Policy R402, Certificate and Degree Award Structures. Academic Programs are only offered at Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) degree-granting institutions.
- Credit for Prior Learning (CPL): Academic credit awarded based on demonstrated mastery of learning outcomes equivalent to specific SUU courses, as determined through prior learning assessment.
- Portfolio: A collection of materials assembled by the student and evaluated by a Subject Matter Expert that serves as the basis upon which credit may be awarded.
- Prior Learning: Knowledge, competencies, and skills acquired through formal or informal education outside a traditional academic environment or at the initiative of the individual learner, including through participation in employer training programs, military service, and independent study.
- Prior Learning Assessment (PLA): A proven, validated process through which faculty subject matter experts evaluate a student's previously learned competencies in a particular field and grant college credit when appropriate.
- Subject Matter Expert (SME): A qualified faculty member designated by their department to conduct prior learning assessments in their area of expertise.
IV. POLICY
- Scope and Limitations:
- This Policy applies to all students admitted to and pursuing a credit-based Academic Program at Southern Utah University who seek to earn academic credit through Prior Learning Assessment. It governs all methods by which SUU evaluates and awards such credit.
- Student Eligibility
- To be eligible for credit for prior learning, a student must meet the following criteria:
- The student must be formally admitted to Southern Utah University and actively pursuing an Academic Program.
- The student must provide evidence of college-level learning that aligns with the recognized student learning outcomes of specific SUU courses. Credit is awarded for demonstrated learning, not for experience alone.
- The prior learning must be applicable to the student's declared Academic Program at SUU at the time of awarding and adhere to any institutional or program-specific residency requirements, credit limitations, or graduation requirements.
- The student must submit all required documentation and successfully complete the designated Prior Learning Assessment process as outlined by SUU for the chosen assessment method.
- Credit will not be awarded for learning for which the student has already received academic credit through other means (e.g., previously successfully completed coursework, other standardized examinations).
- The student must be formally admitted to Southern Utah University and actively pursuing an Academic Program.
- To be eligible for credit for prior learning, a student must meet the following criteria:
- Methods of Assessment
- Southern Utah University recognizes and may award credit for prior learning through the following accepted methods, provided the learning demonstrates college-level equivalence to SUU courses:
- Standardized National Examinations:
- Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations;
- College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) Examinations;
- DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST);
- International Baccalaureate (IB) Examinations; and
- Other nationally recognized examinations as approved by the University.
- Minimum scores and credit awards for these examinations shall align with Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) system-wide standards and SUU's established equivalencies.
- Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations;
- Portfolio Assessment:
- A process by which students compile a collection of evidence (e.g., essays, projects, certifications, work samples, reflective narratives) demonstrating college-level learning equivalent to specific SUU courses.
- Portfolios must document achievement of commonly recognized student learning outcomes for the target course(s), including critical learning events, breadth and depth of knowledge and skills, theoretical understanding, and application of knowledge.
- Portfolio development is a self-directed activity, and students will be provided with guidelines on length, required documentation, and expected writing skill levels. Departments, in consultation with the Provost’s Office, will develop the guidelines for evaluating portfolios.
- A process by which students compile a collection of evidence (e.g., essays, projects, certifications, work samples, reflective narratives) demonstrating college-level learning equivalent to specific SUU courses.
- Challenge Examinations:
- Departmentally-developed and administered examinations designed to assess a student's mastery of specific course content may be available.
- Departmentally-developed and administered examinations designed to assess a student's mastery of specific course content may be available.
- Evaluation of Non-Collegiate Training and Credentials:
- Assessment of learning acquired through formal training programs offered by employers, military service, professional organizations, or other non-collegiate entities, typically evaluated using established guides.
- Assessment of learning acquired through formal training programs offered by employers, military service, professional organizations, or other non-collegiate entities, typically evaluated using established guides.
- Other Methods:
- SUU may consider and implement other validated assessment methods, subject to USHE guidelines and institutional academic approval processes.
- Standardized National Examinations:
- Southern Utah University recognizes and may award credit for prior learning through the following accepted methods, provided the learning demonstrates college-level equivalence to SUU courses:
- Awarding of Credit
- Credit awarded for Prior Learning is based on demonstrated college-level learning that aligns with recognized college courses and programs, as determined by Subject Matter Experts conducting a blind review of the submitted materials/evidence. Assessed learning outcomes must reflect an appropriate breadth, depth, sequencing, and synthesis of learning to demonstrate relevance to degree programs and alignment with course content, rigor, and quality.
- Credit awarded for prior learning shall be equivalent to credit earned through regular instruction at SUU, reflecting appropriate academic rigor and quality.
- Successfully assessed prior learning credit shall be recorded on the student's official Southern Utah University transcript as "Credit for Prior Learning" or an equivalent designation, clearly indicating the course(s) for which credit was awarded.
- Credit for Prior Learning does not count toward graduation residency requirements.
- Prior Learning credits awarded for a course shall remain applicable toward graduation requirements across all Academic Programs that include the course in their degree plans, unless prohibited by external accreditation standards and/or professional licensing requirements.
- No letter grade will be assigned for credit awarded through Prior Learning; it will be recorded as credit earned.
- Unsuccessful Assessment and Reassessment:
- In the event of an unsuccessful Prior Learning Assessment, the student may petition for a single reassessment opportunity within six (6) months of the initial assessment outcome. To warrant a reassessment, the student must provide new information that would suggest the outcome of the reassessment would be different from the original assessment, or be able to demonstrate the original assessment did not consider all of the evidence that was submitted.
- A student is limited to a maximum of two (2) assessment attempts for a given course or learning outcome within a single program of study.
- Deans and Department Chairs reserve the right to limit the number of assessment attempts to a single opportunity.
- Assessment fees, as outlined in Section IV.G., shall apply to each assessment attempt.
- In the event of an unsuccessful Prior Learning Assessment, the student may petition for a single reassessment opportunity within six (6) months of the initial assessment outcome. To warrant a reassessment, the student must provide new information that would suggest the outcome of the reassessment would be different from the original assessment, or be able to demonstrate the original assessment did not consider all of the evidence that was submitted.
- Credit awarded for Prior Learning is based on demonstrated college-level learning that aligns with recognized college courses and programs, as determined by Subject Matter Experts conducting a blind review of the submitted materials/evidence. Assessed learning outcomes must reflect an appropriate breadth, depth, sequencing, and synthesis of learning to demonstrate relevance to degree programs and alignment with course content, rigor, and quality.
- Quality Assurance and Faculty Oversight
- All Prior Learning Assessments shall maintain the same academic rigor and standards as traditional coursework offered at SUU.
- Assessments, particularly portfolio and challenge examinations, shall be conducted by qualified SUU faculty members with expertise relevant to the learning being assessed.
- Department Chairs and Deans shall determine PLA criteria for the specific program of study and procedures for assessing Prior Learning, including whether to establish a PLA committee to assist in the evaluation process. Criteria must align with valid and established disciplinary assessment methodologies, ensure academic equivalence to traditionally earned credit, and be accessible, clear, and consistent.
- SUU shall regularly review its Prior Learning Assessment practices and policies to ensure efficiency, effectiveness, and alignment with best practices and evolving USHE standards.
- All Prior Learning Assessments shall maintain the same academic rigor and standards as traditional coursework offered at SUU.
- Transparency and Communication
- SUU will provide current information regarding Prior Learning Assessment, including available methods, eligibility requirements, application procedures, costs, and reassessment processes, is readily accessible to all prospective and current students. This information will be available on the University's website and disseminated through academic advising, admissions, and other relevant student support services.
- Academic advisors and other student support staff shall receive ongoing training to effectively guide students through the Prior Learning Assessment process, help them identify potential credit opportunities, and understand how PLA credits apply to their degree plans.
- SUU will provide current information regarding Prior Learning Assessment, including available methods, eligibility requirements, application procedures, costs, and reassessment processes, is readily accessible to all prospective and current students. This information will be available on the University's website and disseminated through academic advising, admissions, and other relevant student support services.
- Fees
- Fees associated with Prior Learning Assessments shall be transparent, clearly communicated to students in advance, and designed to cover only the operational costs of administering and evaluating the assessments.
- Fees associated with Prior Learning Assessments shall be transparent, clearly communicated to students in advance, and designed to cover only the operational costs of administering and evaluating the assessments.
- Transferability
- Once credit for Prior Learning has been successfully awarded and recorded on an official Southern Utah University transcript, it shall be transferable to other USHE institutions on the same basis as if the credit had been earned through regular coursework at SUU, in accordance with USHE R472.
- Once credit for Prior Learning has been successfully awarded and recorded on an official Southern Utah University transcript, it shall be transferable to other USHE institutions on the same basis as if the credit had been earned through regular coursework at SUU, in accordance with USHE R472.
- Policy Review and Compliance
- Southern Utah University shall annually report to the USHE Board of Higher Education's Academic Education Committee on its Prior Learning Assessment efforts, including the types and amounts of credit awarded.
- This Policy shall be reviewed periodically and updated as necessary to ensure continued compliance with USHE Board policies, state code, and the standards of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and other relevant specialized accrediting bodies.
- Southern Utah University shall annually report to the USHE Board of Higher Education's Academic Education Committee on its Prior Learning Assessment efforts, including the types and amounts of credit awarded.
VI. QUESTIONS/RESPONSIBLE OFFICE
The responsible office for this Policy is the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs. For questions about Credit for Prior Learning, contact the Office of the Provost.