Athens State University and Calhoun Community College have signed a Memorandum of Understanding designed to help Calhoun students retain prior learning assessment (PLA) credit when they transfer to Athens State after completing their associate degree.
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 who receive PLA credit are more likely to successfully retain and graduate than the general college and university population. Many institutions in the state of Alabama are encouraging students to take advantage of learning that is acquired outside of the classroom; however, because PLA credit does not usually transfer, students have been faced with a choice between not receiving credit they have earned, taking classes they already received credit for, or going through two or more lengthy and costly PLA reviews when they transfer from their community college to a university.
By accepting PLA credit that was awarded at Calhoun, Athens State lets students know that they recognize how valuable learning obtained from work, training, and certifications is to their overall educational goals. “Our goal is to make the transfer process from Calhoun to Athens State University as seamless as possible,” said Felicia Mucci, Director of the Adult Learner Services Office. “We are striving to remove barriers. Signing this PLA agreement allows students to transfer the credit they were awarded at Calhoun for a certification or training without requiring them to go thru the PLA process again at Athens State. It is one strategy we are implementing to help with the seamless transfer process.”