Individualized Prior Learning Portfolios
Credit for prior learning experience may also be awarded in some cases to students with verifiable work experience, including military experience and training, when no formal transcript, certification, or exam score is available. A portfolio may be submitted to demonstrate that your knowledge is equivalent to what you would have learned in a comparable Mitchell Tech course. The written component of the portfolio provides an opportunity for you to highlight your personal experience and to affirm that your skills and learning equate to the course you are challenging.
A prior learning portfolio is a detailed narrative and documentation illustrating college-level learning. The documentation provided will vary by course and may include samples of your work; awards and honors; employer letters of endorsement; certificates showing completion of workshops or seminars offered by business and industry; and any other relevant evidence of what you have learned. Preparation and content of the portfolio are the responsibility of the student and must be of sufficient breadth and depth to validate the student’s stated learning.
The portfolio must include the following sections:
- Course syllabus (available from the instructor or the registrar), including course description and learning objectives
- Credit for Prior Learning Portfolio Form signed by student and business office staff
- Academic Honesty Statement signed by student
- Current resumé
- Course specific prior learning narrative detailing your personal experience and learning that equates to the course learning objectives
- Documentation to demonstrate learning of course objectives (work samples, awards, employer letters, etc.)
Once the portfolio is submitted, it is evaluated to determine if the student has submitted sufficient documentation to demonstrate attainment and mastery of the specific course learning outcomes and/or technical competencies. A personal interview or hands-on demonstration of skills may be requested by the instructor as part of the evaluation.
More than one prior learning portfolio may be submitted by the student if more than one course is appropriate to their knowledge and skills.
A credit type of 'PL' will be used to transcribe credit earned through submitted portfolios.