Creating a Unified PLA Policy Recommendation for the State University of New York

Ross GarmilEmpire State College

PLA with a Purpose Symposium

April 29, 2014

Background

• Empire State College • Founded in 1971, prior learning assessment included in

original academic program• Median student age: 36; 70% part time• Associate, Bachelor’s & Master’s: ~ 50% advanced standing

• SUNY TAACCCT Grant (2012-2015)• Develop and implement statewide systems for evaluating

PLA• Create uniform and consistent policies and practices for

identifying credible work-based experiences [to earn PLA credits]

• Provide system-wide professional development on PLA policies and procedures

Committee Membership

30 community colleges 44 members

VP/AVP or Dean: 18 Faculty or Academic Program Director: 9 Workforce Development or Partnership Coord: 4 Admissions/Registrar/Student Services: 4 Grants Management/TAACCCT Coord: 9

• Board Chairs Empire State College• Advisory

SUNY Central Administration Manufacturer’s Alliance of New York

3

Committee Charge

• Review PLA best practices and research nationally to determine best ways to recommend uniform policy and practices across SUNY.

• Review current policies and practices across SUNY Community Colleges to determine best ways to recommend uniform policy and practices across SUNY.

• Create a recommendation report to SUNY on PLA policy standards and best practices.

• Provide professional development across SUNY Community Colleges.

Member Responsibilities

As a Board member• Participate actively in board and subgroups• Engage in discussions• Participate in research on policies and practices • Contribute to decisions and recommendations

As a Campus Representative• Provide information regarding your campus’ policies and procedures• Communicate with campus leadership, faculty and other appropriate

audiences regarding Board’s work• Collect input from appropriate audiences at your campus to share

with Board

Subgroups

Committee members formed seven subgroups to complete detailed analysis of program factors:

• PLA Policy• Participation and Approval• PLA Credits and Options• PLA Communication and Resources• Individualized PLA• Program Evaluation• Professional Development

Committee Activity

• Regular contact with board members through online meetings and surveys 13 contacts from December 2013 through March 2014 Review work completed Provide feedback and direction for next step

MEETING SURVEY

• Research findings

• Policy analysis• Local issues• New policy

recommendations

Policy Analysis: SUNY

• Reviewed catalog and online materials from individual SUNY community colleges to identify all policies related to PLA.

• Relayed policies to individual members for confirmation/revision.• Analyzed policy statements using program factors ESC has

previously identified as critical to any PLA program.• Discussed results for clarification and impact.

Policy Analysis: External

• Review Council of Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) publication “State Policy Approaches to Support Prior Learning” and research on international PLA programs implemented on a country-wide basis

• Identify program designs that best match SUNY history and TAACCCT grant goals

• Examine and modify process based on CAEL findings from similar programs, as necessary

TOOLS

Policy Analysis Tool

Original Document created from research on PLA programs throughout the US.

• 6 Sections• 45 top level questions• >110 second level questions

Policy Analysis Tool (cont’d)

Document adjusted to facilitate community college policy and program self-analysis in shortened time scale:

• 3 Sections• 30 questions total

Policy Analysis Tool (cont’d)

Results from each community college’s self-analysis tool compiled by program factor.

Committee subgroups summarized results and posed system-wide policy concepts.

Website

Developed site to share professional development and committee materials: http://sunytaaccctpla.wordpress.com

Website (cont’d)

Website designed as organizational tool to support committee members in completion of their project tasks:• Professional development: PLA research and best practices• Links to presentations and recordings from past meetings• Link to active survey• Subgroup information, including compiled policy results

Website will be modified in future for next stages:• Moved onto SUNY server• New professional development videos will be created to train faculty

and staff in operation of PLA program

Online Meetings

Used Blackboard Collaborate tool to conduct synchronous meetings. Open discussions and instant polls gauged member feedback and identified areas that required further exploration.

Online Surveys

Surveys were produced after every meeting to further address issues that were not fully resolved during the meetings, to allow feedback from members who could not attend meetings, and to receive feedback and focus members on the next step of the project.

THANK YOU!

Ross Garmil

518-587-2100, ext 2249

Ross.Garmil@esc.edu