Transcript Slide 1

Sharon Long, Clayton State University
Mary Ellen Dallman, University System of Georgia
Cindy Sproehnle, Gateway Community & Technical College
Suzanne McGurk, The College Board
To compete in the global economy,
the US must address the critical need to
have a population where 60% of the population
will have degrees/diplomas
by 2020—currently we average 40%
Bachelor’s Degree
Associate’s Degree
1-Year Certificate
1. #15 in the World in % Population with College Degrees
#1 in 1970—about the same number of graduates
2. Large Student Debt without Finishing College
http://www.completecollege.org/
*Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Carnegie Corporation of NY
Ford Foundation
Lumina Foundation for Education
W.K. Kellogg Foundation

The Alliance of States Pledges to:
-Increase significantly the number of students completing college, who
-Achieve degrees and credentials with value in the labor market, and
-Close attainment gaps for traditionally underrepresented populations

Members of the Alliance of States:













Arkansas
Colorado
Connecticut
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Nevada
New Mexico
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
West Virginia
Time is Money
Of 100 Students Who Enroll in a Public College or University
2-Year Public College
Full-Time
Part-Time
4-Year Public College
Full-Time
Part-Time
Enroll in College
37
17
44
2
Sophomores
20
6
36
1
Grad on Time
4
0
11
0
Grad 150% time
3
1
14
0
Grad 200% time
2
1
3
0
Total Grads
9
2
28
0
Graduate by 4 years: 11
Graduate by 8 years: 28




Lead
Measure
Act
Innovate
What can we do?
Assigning college credit for learning gained
outside the classroom while maintaining a
commitment to quality







CLEP
AP & IB
DSST
Departmental Exams
ACE CREDIT
Portfolio Assessments
Other Innovations

Credit for languages not covered by CLEP

Brigham Young University

http://flats.byu.edu

David Johnston, Gainesville State College





Materials for about 60 languages awarding up
to 12 credit hours per subject area
Listening & reading comprehension and
grammatical accuracy
Achievement tests, not global proficiency—
measure student’s performance against 3-4
beginning courses
Up to 2½ hours to complete a test
Not nationally normed, but used by many
colleges and universities

Promote CLEP to all students who may benefit to
ensure retention, progression, and graduation (RPG)

Promote CLEP first before other PLA’s—emails &
videos

Expand CLEP acceptance to match course offerings

Remove artificial barriers (rules)

Embrace CLEP transfer credit within your
state—other states have done it!


Began as a “Pilot” in 2008
Expanded through an RFP process each year
• Grown to 13 institutions
 Ranging in size from 2,700 to 27,000 students

Operates from Working Principles & Agreements
Funded by the US Dept. of Education: College Access Challenge
Grant
#2. Adheres to Council for Adult and
Experiential Learning’s Ten Standards for
Assessing Learning
I. Credit awarded for learning
II. Based on public standards for the level of learning
IV. Determinations made by experts
http://www.cael.org/home
# 3. Use nationally recognized, standardized PLA
options
# 4. Accept assessed and transcripted courses
within the ALC
# 5. Join the Servicemembers Opportunities
Colleges (SOC) Consortium
# 8. CLEP policy
 Accept all available CLEP tests
 Use ACE-recommended passing scores
 Accept transcripted CLEP credit without
requiring original score reports

Completion by Performance
◦ Shortening the Time to Degree
 Transfer and Articulation Agreements
 Student-centered transfer portal
 Prior Learning Assessment
50% increase: policies and practices
20% increase: credits earned through PLA
University System of
Georgia’s
Adult
Learning
Consortium

Nationally recognized credit by exam

More than seven million exams taken since 1967

2,900 colleges and universities award credit for CLEP

181,500 exams administered in 2010–11

54,000 exams administered to military service members
in 2010-11

CLEP Exam fee = $80 for civilians

CLEP Exam fee = free for active duty personnel
◦ DANTES funds full cost for military service members and
spouses, study materials provided
◦ GI Bill allows for vets to seek reimbursement for CLEP test fees
Structure
 33 computer-based exams
 Mostly multiple-choice, essays, and listening sections for foreign languages
 Most are approximately 90 minutes in length
Scoring
 Immediate score reports (except exams with essays).
 Exams are scored on a scale of 20–80.

The American Council on Education (ACE) recommends a credit-granting
score of 50 for CLEP exams. A score of 50 is equivalent to a grade of C
Development
 More than 600 faculty contribute to the development of and standard-setting for
CLEP examinations
 Standing faculty committees oversee ongoing test development, shape content,
review data, set exam policies





Long-standing policy, integrated into advising
If a student achieves the score listed on an AP, IB or
CLEP exam, state universities and community colleges
must award the minimum recommended credit for the
course or course numbers listed, even if they do not
offer the course. Up to 45 total credit-by-exam credits
may be awarded.
Institutions must use the course number listed, unless it
would be advantageous for the student to award a
specific course number with equal credit
30 of 33 exams accepted; scores of 50 for credit awards
Over $16 Million in tuition saved last year


The California State University system of 23
universities enrolling 417,112 students passed a
policy of System-wide Credit for External
Examinations in 2010.
The goal of the policy is two-fold:
◦ To ensure fair treatment to students seeking
validation of prior learning
◦ To relieve enrollment capacity pressures


Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education passed a Dual
Credit Policy for all Kentucky Public Postsecondary
institutions on April 20, 2012 that ensures uniformity and
transparency for all students seeking proper acceptance of
their prior learning.
32 of 33 CLEP exams are included - Credit awarded must
fulfill program requirements or general education
requirements (not elective credit)

Primarily ACE recommended scores

Credit is articulated and guaranteed to transfer

Institutions may alter how credit transfers only if it benefits
the student





Under development – to include CLEP and AP
Development of standards started with two-year
institutions
Four-year institutions currently reviewing and providing
feedback
All 33 exams included with ACE recommendations used
for scores and credit awards
Institutions can “opt out” of awarding for any CLEP exam
but they must honor all CLEP credit awarded by other
institutions and transferred in as part of the Tennessee
Transfer Pathways

In May 2012, Gov. Patrick signed the Valor Bill
which calls for a state-wide credit by
examination policy with a special emphasis on
veterans and military personnel.
“Active-duty members would be able to complete the
requirements for approximately 33 different entry-level course
areas, paving the way for more advanced coursework upon their
return home. Again, by recognizing the training they’ve received
and the skills they’ve obtained, we can save them both time and
money in furthering their college career. “

The policy development has not yet formally
started.


In 2011, College Credit for Heroes Legislation
calls for a policy to “maximize academic and
workforce education credits to veterans and
military service members for military
experience, education, and training obtained
during military service.”
No development in process at this time.





Follow ACE recommendations for CLEP awards.
Credit awarded must fulfill program requirements or
general education requirements (not elective credit).
Ensure transferability.
Allow some language that gives the institution grounds
to make adjustments to the credit awards when it is in
the best interest of the student.
Avoid artificial barriers in policy like Credit limits, large
fees to post credit, restrictions on testing, arbitrary
deadlines.
Q&A