BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY
Guide to Evaluation of
Non-Collegiate and Experiential Learning
As a fully admitted student to a degree program at BSU, you have already submitted all of your academic
transcripts. Those transcripts will be evaluated and credits will be transferred automatically to your record.
If you are a typical online, returning or adult student, however, you also have other kinds of learning experiences
which may be equivalent to college courses in terms of what was learned. Follow these steps to determine whether
you may want to submit a portfolio of your prior learning for review.
1.
Consider in-service training and continuing education at your place of work or volunteer experiences. Can
you verify work hours spent, material covered and skills acquired or enhanced?
2.
Did you serve in the military? If so, did you attend any military schools excluding basic training? Many
such classes cover skills equivalent to college courses and may be evaluated according to the ACE Guide to
Military Schools, if you have the certificates earned or they are listed on your separation papers.
3.
Consider workshops which can be very useful in terms of acquiring new skills. Consider any you have
attended and decide whether you can verify what you learned, how you were able to use the learning
you acquired, who instructed you, clock hours spent, advance in employment because of workshops, etc.
4.
Certificates are often granted by agencies based on a set length of time and/or proficiencies acquired, e.g.
Red Cross First Aid certificate, Beginning Swimmers certificate, etc. Consider those types of certificates
which you may have.
5.
Consider supervisors or others who know of your proficiencies. What can they say about you? Do they
know that you know five strokes in swimming and can swim X number of minutes breathing easily all the
while?
6.
Consider the proficiencies of those you might ask to write on your behalf. What are their credentials in
terms of rating you? If one is a golf pro, he/she can speak with authority about your proficiency in golf;
however, would not be an authority on your proficiency in public speaking.
7.
Consider visible evidence of your proficiency. Do you have several papers or reports, five to ten pages
long, using footnotes and a bibliography, or a thesis which you can submit as evidence that you already
have mastered English 1151? Do you have a number of blueprints you have drawn and used? Maybe you
are proficient in blueprint reading, etc.
8.
Consider any apprentice programs in which you have participated.
9.
Consider the course of study you will be pursuing, i.e. the major or certification program. Do you think you
may have already satisfied the majority of the learning outcomes for a class or classes?
If you feel that none of the above applies to you, you need go no further. Perhaps as you get into your studies,
you will recall something obvious which you overlooked. Keep this form; it may still be useful to you.
Since the purpose of this material is to assist you in verifying legitimate, university-level learning which has already
taken place, use the attached blank as a record for a given proficiency. You may have enough copies for all
proficiencies you wish to verify. It may be detached or left with your form or ignored completely if you have
other
adequate means of documentation.