Adult Learner Services Office

We believe there is nobility in completing one’s education, particularly when one is managing the pressures and constraints of adult life.

As a degree completion transfer institution, Athens State celebrates the resolve of the adult learner. After all, it takes courage, and then some, to balance finishing your degree with work and family life.

That’s why we offer Adult Learner Services. We assist working adults with finishing their degrees by applying their experience and knowledge as college credit.

You’ve worked hard, and we recognize that some of your knowledge and experience may be at the college level. Adult Learner Services at Athens State University provides a nationally recognized method of allowing college credit for learning that may have been attained outside the classroom through work, seminars, training programs, military education, and certification programs. A Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is conducted to provide a better understanding of how this prior learning and experience is equivalent to the skills and objectives of academic courses.

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)

Prior Learning Assessment is a process that evaluates knowledge and learning gained outside the classroom. It includes employment, certifications, military training/service, civic activities, and volunteer service. Students are guided through this process during their first semester in the ADP 301 Adult Degree Practice & Theory course.

If you have the knowledge you have gained from your experiences, certifications, & training, Adult Learner Services can provide an efficient, cost-effective, and customized pathway to earn your degree.

Time & Money

All degrees are accredited and affordable, with the lowest tuition rates in the state. Athens State University is simply the smart way to go to college.

Custom Options

Your experience is unique. Adult Learner Services will assist you by offering individual counseling to help you reach your goals and receive the credit you have earned from your experiences, certifications, and training. Contact [email protected] for assistance.

Certificates, Licenses, and Training

We want to help you reach the finish line as quickly as possible, which means putting your existing knowledge and prior training to work for you. Below is a list of certifications/trainings that have already been approved. If you have a certification or training that is not on this list, please contact us and we will be glad to review it to see if you are eligible for college level credit.

The mission of Adult Learner Services at Athens State University is to serve the adult working student who has completed some college coursework without completing a baccalaureate degree.  The Adult Learner Services Office was established to reduce or eliminate barriers for returning adult students while providing academically sound alternative methods to apply knowledge gained from the integration of work and classroom experience and to assist the student in the timely achievement of their professional and career goals.

Goals

• To facilitate student success by offering what we do best – meeting the educational needs of today’s adult or non-traditional student.
• To actively support and facilitate the student’s goal to complete a degree in a reasonable time frame.
• To prepare adult students for professional, managerial, and leadership roles, while delivering a rigorous and quality path to degree completion.
• To emphasize the development of communication skills, technology skills, analytical and critical thinking skills necessary to compete in a global environment.
• To instill in adult students the desire to learn and understand ethical practices, as expected of them in both the public and private sectors.

The Adult Learner Services program at Athens State University is an acknowledgment of the philosophy that it is a valid educational practice to recognize and award academic credit for various types of learning attained outside the institution. Such learning may have been acquired through certain educational programs conducted by the government, business and industry, the military, and other non-collegiate organizations. In addition, non-traditional academic credit may be awarded for acceptable work experience, and/or technical training. The method for documenting and evaluating this non-traditional activity is called Prior Learning Assessment.

Student Advising

Athens State University is strongly committed to providing student support services that meet the unique needs of the non-traditional students who have military experience, certifications, training, and/or work experience. The University has dedicated specific personnel, instructional, and physical resources to this effort. These individuals will:

• define educational goals and select a program of study for the student
• interpret institutional requirements
• understand the portfolio process
• identify non-traditional learning experiences

In addition, Adult Learner Services staff will maintain an on-going method of communication with each student for the purpose of following academic progress and providing student support.

Cost & Fees

Students who need elective credit may register for ADP301 Adult Degree Theory & Practice. Regular tuition & fee rates apply to this course and there is no textbook required.

The portfolio submission fee is $200 which is non-refundable and due at the time of submission. This fee is for the assessment of the portfolio document and not for the “purchase of credit;” therefore, the assessment fee is not refunded if the petition for credit is not granted.

Upon evaluation of the portfolio, a posting fee will be charged at the following rate.

• $10/per credit hour for lower-level credit
• $50/per credit hour for upper-level credit

Pre-Approved Certifications and Training (Crosswalks)

Athens State University offers students the opportunity to earn academic credit for select certifications and training programs at no cost. These are referred to internally as “crosswalks,” but for students, they are best understood as pre-approved certifications and training.

What are Pre-Approved Certifications and Training?
These are industry-recognized certifications or training programs that have already been reviewed and approved by faculty experts, academic leadership, and the Provost. Because they are pre-approved, students do not need additional faculty approval to

If your certification or training is not on the pre-approved list, you may still apply for credit through a separate evaluation process (fees apply).

How do I get started?

We understand that returning to school can be intimidating and confusing, so we’re here to help you every step of the way. Get started today by completing our contact form. We’ll be in touch as soon as possible to discuss how Adult Learner Services can help you earn your degree.