An article by Louis Soares and published by the American Council of Education entitled Post-traditional Learners Transformation of Postsecondary Education: A Manifesto for College Leaders, landed in my inbox the other day. (You can read the whole article at http://www.acenet.edu/news-room/Documents/Soares-Post-Traditional-v5-011813.pdf). In the article Mr. Soares identifies post-traditional learners as “individuals already in the work force who lack a postsecondary credential yet are determined to pursue further knowledge and skills while balancing work, life, and education responsibilities.” (p.1) He goes on to state these students have become “the new normal” (p. 7) rather than the aberration that most university administrators consider them to be. According the National Center for Education Statistics, only 15% of undergraduates are full-time students at a four year college who live on-campus. The rest are commuters, older students, and student parents.
Soares points out that while post-traditional learners are eager to further their educations, they graduate at much lower rates than their traditionally aged classmates. He states these older students are hindered by universities which focus on credit-hours rather than the ability to demonstrate and apply knowledge, a skill much valued by 21st century employers. In the article, he discusses ways that universities could allow students to use non-academic experiences for course credit. These learning experiences include military training, corporate universities, learning validation, and prior learning assessment. By allowing adult learners to earn some credit for their previously learned knowledge and skills, universities can better engage these students, and decrease both the time it takes them to complete a degree and the cost of that degree.
This notion is somewhat controversial among traditional academics. What do you think? Should we give university credit for knowledge and skills not learned at the university? Have you applied for credit through our Prior Learning Assessment program in University College? Did you know such a program existed? If so, how did you find out about it and what experiences did you get credit for? If not, are you interested and what prior learning do you think you should receive credit for?
Next up…Experiential Learning Credit: Is it for you?
This is an interesting article, Lorraine. I know that University College’s Experiential Learning Credit program is useful to a lot of students. Anyone can find out more information at http://www.memphis.edu/univcoll/experiential_learning.php.
I have a friend graduating in May who received a lot of ELC from her experience working in a law office for 18 years. She was able to cut out over a year’s worth of classwork. Since she is getting her degree in Paralegal Studies, this program certainly made sense to her, and it makes sense to me that she did get credit for all of her experience.
Would the blog be better received by students who are addessed as “adult” students instead of “older” students?