By ALEXZANDRIA MARTINEZ
Pima Community College has expanded its earned college credit through assessment into a program that can create more opportunities for students who want a college degree, but in less time based on previous employment.
The program is called Credit for Prior Learning, and Pima learned of this program from its national success.
“Fifty-six percent of students awarded prior learning credit earned a post-secondary degree within seven years, while only 21 percent non-prior credit learning students earned a degree,” said Amanda Abens, dean of workforce development and continuing education for Pima. “This is essentially the entryway for students to gain higher education.
“Prior learning is beneficial for Pima community economically,” she continued. “Our community is still in poverty. Even though unemployment has improved, our community is the sixth poorest for its size. Sixty-four percent of Arizona residents 25-64 do not have a college degree. A majority of jobs require some form of college. It’s estimated by 2020, 68 percent of jobs will require post-secondary education.”
With the program, a student can earn up to 50 percent of college credit. The amount of credit earned will reduce the process of earning a degree.
Tuition costs can be lowered by $328-$1,216. Also, the time spent to earn a degree will be cut because students won’t have to repeat trainings they have completed or knowledge they already have learned through prior experience. The program specifically is designed for students to complete their studies faster for a college degree.
Students that have gained experience through the military, on-the-job training without a degree or other certificate of training are most likely to be eligible for some type of college credit. However, other trainings can be translated into college credit.
There are different ways to assess individual skills and credibility from previous employment. People can show industry certificates, create portfolios of prior employment and skills (this could include community services) and by exam.
Pima’s average student age is 28. A percentage of them are non-traditional students at Pima that come from different areas of employment.
Pima has made the Credit for Prior Learning program accessible for the general student body.
Abens thinks that the program could jump start people’s education and speed the process of getting a degree.
“Somebody considering going back to college, but is daunted by all time they have to complete and all of the money can then either, whether experience in the military, their experience on the job or other education that they have done. It’s a way to jump start their education,” Abens said.
Pima has a dozen of students who have already successfully earned college credit with this program.