The CAEL (Council for Adult and Experiential Learning) and the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) announce the inaugural winners of the Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Equity Awards, recognizing strategies that have been proven to put CPL in reach of key adult learner populations and/or increase their CPL credit-earning.…

Many Latinos come to higher education as adults. One degree completion strategy that is particularly suited to adult students in higher education is prior learning assessment (PLA). PLA provides opportunities to evaluate a student's learning from work or life experience for the purpose of awarding college credit. For students whose…

The purpose of this paper is to describe the development and implementation phases of online graduate nuclear engineering courses that are part of the Graduate Nuclear Engineering Certificate program at Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech restarted its nuclear engineering program in the Fall of 2007 with 60 students, and by 2009, the enrollment had grown…

Experiences in prior learning programs are discussed by three adult learners. The College of New Rochelle's Life Experience Portfolio Program, Marylhurst Education Center's Prior Learning Program, and Ohio University's Prior Learning Program are summarized. (MLW)

A program at Sinclair Community College (Ohio) allows older students to earn credit for prior, off-campus learning. Program requirements include 5 or more years of significant paid or volunteer work experience and adequate writing skills, followed by the development of portfolios documenting the student's past learning experiences. (LH)

Self-assessment offers an important element for programs seeking to serve adult learners and is a key principle of the School for New Learning, DePaul University. Four strategies to develop self-assessment skills are discussed: storytelling, development of standards, dialogue, and inquiry. (MLW)

The consortial approach to assessment of prior learning can reduce costs and increase the availability of service. CLEO (Compact for Lifelong Educational Opportunities), a consortium of 38 colleges and universities in the Delaware Valley region, is described. (Author/MLW)

Thirteen Kaska Elders took a leading role in a University of British Columbia Kaska language course held in three locations in Kaska territory in the Yukon. The elders conducted a variety of cultural activities, and entire families participated, creating an environment in which the language was constantly spoken and relevant to the activities.…

Thirty-eight colleges and universities in southeast Philadelphia are substituting cooperation for competition in the CLEO Project. Focus is on support services for adult students and growing industry liaisons supported by a network of administrators, faculty, and a small professional and volunteer staff. (MSE)

A report on three regional conferences for educators and business representatives on the ways both groups can best serve the needs of liberal arts students is presented. The basic agendas of the conferences, which were sponsored by the Association of American Colleges, are outlined, and speakers participating in each category are listed. Excerpts…

The document provides descriptions of five individualized learning models developed by the Community College of Vermont, a noncampus institution, for its predominantly adult student population. Models include: (1) Cluster, involving 10-30 students in a learning support group to define their needs and interests and to investigate appropriate…

The history of women's programs of the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education is outlined, giving information on the kinds and scope of proposals received. Funding patterns are explained, and general and specific program areas are discussed: counseling programs, recognizing prior learning, integrating curriculum and career needs,…

Through a combination of prior coursework, contract learning, credit for experience, standardized tests, and other methods of evaluating prior learning, the Empire State College (New York) allows adults to complete undergraduate degree requirements. The nonresidential institution serves students throughout the state, with faculty in over 40…

This bulletin focuses on liberal education for adults and includes an article on the topic and descriptions of seven institutional approaches. In "Creating Successful Liberal Education Programs for Adults," Carol Stoel points out that many adults are seeking a greater understanding of themselves and their world through liberal education…

In the adult development and career change program of Metropolitan State University (Minneapolis-St. Paul), a student sets a career or personal enhancement goal and develops a plan detailing the competencies necessary to achieve that goal. The competencies and learning gained from prior experiences are then assessed and documented, while learning…