University to Host Workshop on Prior Learning Assessment

VALDOSTA -- The University System of Georgia's Adult Learning Consortium (ALC) will host a free workshop titled "Creating Win-Win Situations with CLEP and ACE" from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Friday in the Student Union Ballroom. The workshop will explore the use of prior learning assessments to help adult students and veterans earn degrees.

In hopes of becoming more "adult and military friendly," the ALC has begun to focus on serving those who have acquired skills outside the classroom or have taken some college courses, but stopped before they earned their degrees, according to Dr. Mary Ellen Dallman, ALC co-director.

"To serve adults and veterans appropriately we must transform the way we think about students, which include how and where they learn," Dallman said. "The consortium realizes that college-level knowledge and skills can be gained outside of the classroom--whether it is during employment, military training and service, volunteering, civic activities, etc. Therefore, the ALC is exploring various strategies to help them recognize how their prior learning may be worthy of college credit. This will thereby shorten their time to a degree."

By using prior learning assessments offered through the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) and American Council on Education (ACE), University System of Georgia (USG) institutions can evaluate these students' college-level knowledge and determine whether they are eligible for academic credits prior to enrollment.

"Not only will this benefit the students, but it will help institutions reach four USG strategic goals, which include creating enrollment capacity, strengthening USG partnerships, maintaining affordability and increasing efficiency," Dallman said.

The workshop will include an overview of CLEP and ACE as well as question and answer breaks to address concerns or comments. Lunch will be provided.

Interested parties can also attend the workshop virtually via Wimba classroom (http://valdostalc.wimba.com/main/classroom.html?channel=vista8_s_992143398031_847461). To register online, go to http://www.valdosta.edu/amp/forms/clep-ace-conference.php