The Prior Learning Assessment Model at Valdosta State University Prior Learning Assessment Workshop Callaway Gardens Thursday, April 24, 2008 Sharon Gravett, Jerry Merwin, Beverley Blake, Mary Ellen Dallman, Barbara Stanley & Sean Lennon

2  Valdosta State University One of two Regional Universities in the USG  Serves 41 Counties in South Georgia  11,000+ Students 2,000 are age 24 or older

PLA Fit with VSU Strategic Goals  From Valdosta State University’s Strategic Planning Goals: 5 Goals in 5 Years Enrollment & Retention  Assess and implement changes in faculty load, facilities, course offerings & class scheduling to enhance the use of university resources in support of planned growth.  Increase number of students seeking certification and licensure renewal.  Develop a proposal for programs and program delivery strategies that meet the needs of non-traditional degree seeking students. Financial Support  Improve profile in the Valdosta community, by continuing to develop external/community partnerships.

PLA Model at VSU  Students and Case Histories  Organizational Strategy and Key Players  Website and PLA Course  Recruitment of Students and Faculty  Unanticipated Directions

5 Students and Case Histories Jerry Merwin Student BackgroundCourse Glenn (mid-30s) Six years experience with Internet Service Provider (ISP) ACED 3100 Computer Systems ACED 3400 Applied Computer Technology Betty (late-30s) Seven years working in group home for teenagers SOCI 3190 Clinical Sociology SOCI 4540 Internship in Sociology Charles (mid-40s) Retired from military as noncommissioned officer, trained others PERS 2160 Perspectives on Leadership PERS 2690 Multicultural America Don (late-30s) Twelve years in computers and networking, technical courses, Microsoft Certification CS 4121Data Com. and Networks I CS 4122 Data Com. and Networks II George (mid-30s) Ten years in law enforcement, field training officer CRJU 4100 Seminar CRJU 4910 Internship Dean (early-50s) Thirty years as manager, owns his own business ACED 1100 Introduction to Business ACED 2050 Communications for Workplace

Student Case 1  Charles (AA Male, Age mid-40s) Education Major – Undeclared Freshman Retired from the U.S. Army as noncommissioned officer Has certificates for training related to human resource functions, leadership Provided training on Culture –  Islamic Religion & Values  Black History  Women’s Issues Preparing PLA for Courses  PERS 2160 Perspectives on Leadership  PERS 2690 Multicultural America

Student Case 2  Betty (AA Female, Age late-30s) Sociology Major – Junior Administers group cottage & Serves on Treatment Team  Coordinates with Social Services and Public Schools Has training related to behavior management, working with at-risk and unmanageable children, child abuse and neglect, managing suicidal teens, nonviolent crisis intervention Preparing PLA for Courses  SOCI 3190 Clinical Sociology  SOCI 4540 Internship in Sociology

8 Organizational Strategy and Key Players Sheri Gravett  Who we are  What we’ve done  Who we involved and why  How we organized— Working Group Supporting Leadership Group

Who we are  PLA Working Group established in 2005: College of Education faculty:  Ada Burnette, Mary Ellen Dallman, Adele Ducharme, Barbara Stanley, and Sean Lennon, Heather Brasell College of Arts and Sciences faculty:  Beverley Blake, Christine James, Jerry Merwin, and Jim Nienow, Arsalan Wares Registrar’s Office: Karen Shepard, Associate Registrar Academic Affairs: Sheri Gravett, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs

Who we are (continued)  PLA Working Group established in 2005: University System of Georgia Liaison:  Patricia Paterson, Executive Director Teacher Quality Initiatives, P-16 Initiatives PLA Consultants:  Morry Fiddler and Catherine Marienau, Professors and Faculty Mentors in the School for New Learning at DePaul University

Who we are (continued)  PLA Supporting Leadership Group also established in 2005: Vice President for Academic Affairs: Louis Levy Vice President for Student Affairs: Kurt Keppler Associate Vice President for Strategic Research and Analysis: Marsha Krotseng Dean of the College of Education: Phil Gunter Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences: Linda Calendrillo Dean of the Graduate School: Brian Adler Dean of the College of the Arts: John Gaston Registrar: Chuck Hudson Director of Admissions: Walter Peacock Director of College of Education Advising Center: Maggie Roberts

12 Administrative Implementation of PLA Project at VSU Fall 2005 Spring 2006 Summer 2006 Fall 2006 Spring 2007 Fall 2007 Summer 2007 Spring 2008

Faculty Assessors  Rudy Prine (CRJU 4910 and 4900, 4 evaluations)  Cheri Tillman (PERS 2690, 2170, 2730, 2799, 4 evaluations)  Vesta Whisler (ACED 3100, 3400, 2 evaluations)  Mary Willis (ACED 1100, ACED tba, 2 evaluations)  PSYC faculty (PSYC 3900, 1 evaluation)

Faculty Assessors  Carl Hand (SOCI 3190, 4540, 2 evaluations)  Chunlei Liu (CS 4345, 0 evaluations)  Zhiguang Xu (CS 4121, evaluations)  Nanci Scheetz (ASL I and II, 6 evaluations)  Linda De la Garza (CHEM 1211, 1212, 0 evaluations)  Gayle Taylor (4 NURS courses, 8 evaluations)

15 Website and PLA Course Jerry Merwin & Beverley Blake

PLA 2000 Prior Learning Documentation  Marylhurst University Course Model (30 Years of Prior Learning Assessment Assignments:  Essays on Life Experiences  Resume  Autobiography  Chronology of Learning Activities  Educational Degree Plan  Portfolio Project Proposal  Outline of Documentation  Portfolio Draft  Final Portfolio

Recruitment of Students Barbara Stanley & Sean Lennon  Identify student entry points Admissions office Registrar’s office “ABC” Information Evenings – Adults Back to College Alternative Routes – Teacher Education Office of Minority Affairs Oasis Advising Program Faculty conversations with students 17

Recruitment of Students  Publicity in multiple forms & places Information flyers Brochures Letters to prospective students  Speak to small groups of stakeholders Task force committee members “visit” Dean’s Council Executive Committee of each College Groups of interested faculty 18

Progress, Developments & Unanticipated Directions Mary Ellen Dallman & Jerry Merwin  Pilot Project Summary  Anticipated Credit for Students Currently in PLA 2000  What’s Next… Nursing American Sign Language Interpreting Criminal Justice 19

Questions?