Effective 7/1/2020
53B-16-110. Credit for prior learning — Board plan and policies — Reporting.
53B-16-110. Credit for prior learning — Board plan and policies — Reporting.
- (1) As used in this section:
- (a) “Credit for prior learning” means credit awarded by an institution to a student who demonstrates, through a prior learning assessment, that the student’s prior learning meets college-level competencies.
- (b) “Institution” means an institution of higher education described in Section 53B-1-102.
- (c) “Prior learning” means knowledge, skills, or competencies acquired through formal or informal education outside the traditional postsecondary academic environment.
- (d) “Prior learning assessment” means a method of evaluating or assessing an individual’s prior learning.
- (2) The board shall develop a plan for advising and communicating with students and the public about credit for prior learning.
- (3)
- (a) The board shall establish policies that provide minimum standards for all institutions regarding:
- (i) accepted forms of prior learning assessments;
- (ii) awarding credit for prior learning;
- (iii) transferability of credit for prior learning between institutions;
- (iv) transcription of credit for prior learning;
- (v) institutional procedures for maintaining transparency and consistency in awarding credit for prior learning;
- (vi) communication to faculty, advisors, current students, and prospective students regarding standards and cost related to credit for prior learning and prior learning assessments;
- (vii) required training of faculty and advisors on prior learning assessment standards and processes; and
- (viii) portfolio-specific prior learning assessments.
- (b) The board shall ensure that accepted forms of prior learning assessments described in Subsection (3)(a) include at least the following:
- (i) program evaluations, completed by an institution, of noncollegiate programs or training courses to recognize proficiencies;
- (ii) nationally recognized, standardized examinations, including:
- (A) Advanced Placement examinations;
- (B) College Level Exam Program general examinations;
- (C) College Level Exam Program subject examinations; and
- (D) DANTES Subject Standardized Tests;
- (iii) customized examinations offered by an institution to verify an individual’s learning achievement that may include course final examinations or other examinations that assess general disciplinary knowledge or skill;
- (iv) evaluations of corporate or military training; and
- (v) assessments of individuals’ portfolios.
- (a) The board shall establish policies that provide minimum standards for all institutions regarding:
- (4)
- (a) The board shall establish minimum scores and maximum credit for each standardized examination described in Subsection (3)(b)(ii).
- (b) An institution shall award credit to a student who demonstrates competency by passing a standardized examination described in Subsection (3)(b)(ii) unless the award of credit duplicates credit already awarded.
- (5) The board shall:
- (a) create and maintain a website that provides statewide information on prior learning assessments and credit for prior learning; and
- (b) identify a software or data tool that will support the board in:
- (i) implementing the plan described in Subsection (2); and
- (ii) fulfilling the board’s requirements described in Section 53B-16-105.
- (6) On or before the November 2019 interim meeting, the board shall report to the Education Interim Committee on:
- (a) the plan described in Subsection (2);
- (b) the policies described in Subsection (3); and
- (c) the software or data tool described in Subsection (5).
- (7) On or before May 1, 2020, an institution shall report to the board:
- (a) steps the institution will take to:
- (i) implement the plan described in Subsection (2) and the policies described in Subsection (3); and
- (ii) communicate to students about credit for prior learning, including about the policies described in Subsection (3);
- (b) a timeline for the steps described in Subsection (7)(a); and
- (c) each form of prior learning assessment for which the institution provides credit for prior learning that is not described in Subsection (3)(b).
- (a) steps the institution will take to:
- (8) An institution shall annually report to the board on:
- (a) each form of prior learning assessment for which the institution provides credit for prior learning; and
- (b) the total amount of credit for prior learning the institution provides to students.
Amended by Chapter 365, 2020 General Session