Credit for Prior Learning

All of us are lifelong experiential learners. That we are is a compelling fact. The question is not whether there will be experiential learning, but how effective it will be.

Because of this basic truth, two priorities arise for educators: (1) 'learning how to learn from experience' emerges as a major objective of education-at all levels; and (2) achieving the right blend of experiential and traditional classroom learning activities-to fit each individual's learning style-becomes a daily requirement for educators and other facilitators of learning.

— Whitaker, Urban. Assessing Learning: Standards, Principles, and Procedures. Philadelphia: CAEL, Council for Adult and Experiential Learning, 1989.

Students in the Aspire program are encouraged to develop a portfolio of prior learning. Bryan College assesses that learning according to standards set by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning. Some of these standards are:

• Credit should be awarded only for learning, and not for experience.
• College credit should be awarded only for college-level learning.
• Credit should be awarded only for learning that has a balance, appropriate to the subject, between theory and practical application.
• The determination of competence levels and of credit awards must be made by appropriate subject matter and academic experts.
• Credit should be appropriate to the academic context in which it is accepted.

Credit for Prior Learning provides Bryan College with a means of assessing learning associated with previous life-learning situations. Participants may earn up to 31 semester hours credit for learning acquired through life experience. There is a Credit for Prior Learning fee for all credit earned through this process (See Tuition and Fees).