Recognition of Prior Learning

CMI Policy No. 382: Recognition of Prior Learning

Procedure 382.01: Advertisement of RPL
The Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs will ensure that Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is widely publicized to all eligible students in academic and vocational pathways. RPL will be advertised in the catalog and at appropriate recruitment events. In particular, the Dean of WAVES should ensure that all students entering into career and technical education programs understand the possibilities for RPL. This should occur through entrance counseling with a department chair, program director, or other assigned, appropriate advisor.

Procedure 382.02: Application for RPL
Application for RPL should be made using the Application for Recognition of Prior Learning Form. Students may self-refer and complete the form by themselves or with the assistance of an advisor, department chair, or other responsible employee. In addition, an advisor may refer a student for RPL and assist them through the process. The student, typically with assistance, must complete the top portion of the form and sign. At this point, the form should be submitted to the dean responsible for the area, who will verify that this is a valid request, provide assistance to correct the form if appropriate, or reject the form if it cannot be made valid. Once the dean verifies the form, the student should pay the appropriate fee; a representative from FABS will sign the form to verify that this has occurred.

Procedure 382.03: Assessment Process
If a standardized assessment tool already exists for the course(s), that assessment tool should be used. In the case of a written multiple choice exam or other assessment tool that does not require a specialized assessor, the dean will assign an individual to proctor the assessment and will complete the rest of the form. Otherwise, the dean will collaborate with the appropriate department chair(s) and/or associate dean(s) to select an appropriate faculty member to conduct the assessment. In rare cases in which no appropriate faculty member is available, an individual outside the college may be assigned, but this must be approved by the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. Typically, the assessment date should be scheduled within one week of application if the assessment tool already exists.

In those cases in which no assessment exists, the assigned faculty member should share the assessment tool with the dean before it is used. This should take place within two weeks of application, and the assessment date should be within one week thereafter.

Once the assessment has been conducted, the individual responsible for the assessment will complete the rest of the form, and the dean will countersign. The dean’s signature signifies that they have reviewed the form and the assessment documents and believe that the process was appropriate, accurate, and conducted without bias. The dean will also notify the student, by official email, of the decision.

Finally, if the assessment has been successful, the form will be given to the registrar, who will enter the credit into the student record and sign the form. The record will not include a letter grade, but will be designated as RPL. The form will be stored in the student’s file. If the assessment has not been successful, the form will be stored in the student’s file but without the registrar’s signature. Evidence of the assessment, such as the written examination or a record made of observed skills, will be kept with the form in either case.

Procedure 382.04: Appeals
A student whose assessment results are not favorable may appeal, in writing, to the relevant dean using the Recognition of Prior Learning Decision Appeal Form. The dean will review the appeal. If the appeal raises questions of bias, improper procedures, or a poor match between the assessment tool and the outcome(s) being assessed, the dean will refer the appeal to the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. If the appeal does not raise any such issues, the dean will reject the appeal and notify the student by official email; the record of the appeal will be kept in the student’s file. If the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs concurs that the appeal is valid and substantive, they will sign the appeal, and the dean will ensure the assessment process is redone, with a different member of faculty responsible. At the conclusion of the process, all documents, including the original assessment, appeal, and new assessment will be kept in the student’s file. If the appeal is found not to be valid and substantive, the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs will notify the student that the appeal has been rejected. The appeal form will be kept in the student’s file.

Procedure 382.05: External Certifications and Credentials
Any member of the Curriculum Committee may bring forward an external certification or credential for the committee to consider for approval for credit equivalency for a given course. The Curriculum Committee is responsible for ensuring that the certification or credential includes documented, appropriate outcomes that match the existing course. The Curriculum Committee should develop this as a formal process for inclusion in the next edition of the Curriculum Manual.

A student with an external certification or credential who wishes to have it considered for credit should complete the Recognition of Prior Learning by External Certification Form. They may be self-referred or referred and assisted by an advisor or other employee. The completed form should be submitted to the registrar along with a copy of the certification or credential. The original must also be shown to the registrar. If recognition of prior learning for a given certification or credential has already been established, the registrar will record the credits, without a letter grade but with the RPL designation, sign the form and ensure the form and copy of the certification are kept in the student’s file. Otherwise, the registrar will refer the form to the appropriate dean, who will bring it forward to the Curriculum Committee for consideration. Following committee approval, the form will be returned to the registrar, who will record the credits, without a letter grade but with the RPL designation, sign the form and ensure the form and copy of the certification are kept in the student’s file.

Procedures endorsed by the Enrollment Management Committee on May 6, 2021

Procedures approved by the Executive Council on July 7, 2021.