KCC Administrative Procedure No. 4-16
Revised December 8, 2020
1
KAUA’I COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Prior Learning Assessment
I. Overview
A. Purpose
This procedure articulates how Kaua‘i Community College implements and maintains a
Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Program in accordance with the UHCCP 5.302-Prior
Learning Assessment Program.
B. Related Policies
1. Hawaii Revised Statues Section 304A-802 - College Credit Equivalency Program
2. University of Hawai‘i Executive Policy E5.209- University of Hawaii System
Student Transfer and Inter-Campus Articulation
3. Board of Regents Policy Section 5-14.b – Student and Credit Transfer within the
University
4. University of Hawai‘i Community College Policy (UHCCP) 5.302 - Prior Learning
Assessment Program
5. University of Hawai‘i Community College Policy (UHCCP) 5.208 – Residency for
Graduation
II. Procedures
A. Prior Learning Assessment Options. Faculty may choose one of the methods listed below to
assess PLA, or may choose several such methods to create a PLA equivalency procedure:
1. Credit by Institutional Examination (CBIE)
This option provides students the opportunity to successfully demonstrate
mastery of a Kauai CC course’s student learning outcomes (SLOs) by
requesting and successfully passing a faculty-prepared CBIE in order to
earn credit for that course. CBIE exams may include skills or proficiency
demonstrations.
2. National Standardized Equivalency Examinations (NSEE)
Students may take approved standardized national tests to demonstrate
proficiency in specific subject areas in order to gain credit for equivalent
Kauai CC courses.
a. All forms of equivalency examinations listed below must be approved by the
appropriate faculty, Division Chair, and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs
(VCAA) to ensure that the exam subject area equates to an identified Kauai
CC course, that the exam adequately tests for mastery of the course SLOs, and
that credit gained will be accepted at Kauai CC.
b. A database of equivalency exams pre-approved to satisfy the requirements
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of specific Kauai CC courses will be maintained by the Office of the
VCAA.
c. Types of equivalency examinations that might be considered for
acceptance at Kaua‘i CC on an exam-by-exam basis, subject to b.(1)
above, include:
(1) College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
See http://clep.collegeboard.org/exams/offered for a list of
available CLEP tests.
(2) Excelsior College Examination (ECE) Program
See http://www.excelsior.edu/exams/choose-your-exam for a list
of available ECE exams.
(3) Advanced Placement Examination Program (AP)
See https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/apcourse for a list of AP
subject areas tests.
(4) Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support
(DANTES)
See http://getcollegecredit.com/assets/pdf/DSST_Exam_List.pdf
for a list of DSST exams.
(5) International Baccalaureate (IB)
The IB Program is an internationally accepted qualification for
entry into institutes of higher education, much like the AP
program. Students who receive minimum scores of five or higher
on IB exams may receive credit for the equivalent course.
3. Non-Collegiate-Sponsored Education Credit (NCSE)
Non-Collegiate-Sponsored Education refers to learning from courses offered
in non-collegiate settings, but with course content equivalent to offerings at
the college level.
a. If the non-collegiate-sponsored education credit requested has not been
previously evaluated and approved for credit at Kaua‘i CC, the appropriate
faculty must approve the NCSE.
b. NCSE credit may be granted for a particular course of training on a one- time
only, case-by-case basis, or it may instead be added to the list of approved
NCSE offerings, which is maintained by the Office of the VCAA.
c. NCSE will be added to the list only with approval by the appropriate
subject-area faculty. Examples of Non-Collegiate-Sponsored Education
include:
(1) Courses listed in American Council on Education (ACE) Guides -
Published credit recommendations for formal instructional programs
and examinations offered by non-collegiate agencies (military, civilian
employers, professional associations, and other workplace related
KCC Administrative Procedure No. 4-16
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learning).
(2) Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) - College credits earned from
industry certifications, non-collegiate sponsored education, and state,
national, or federal agencies where an agreement between the college
and the organization is developed in order to create a direct path from
the training and learning accomplished to college credits.
Where an MOA for NCSE credit exists between another UH
campus and a particular course of NCSE, that training must be
reviewed and approved by Kaua‘i CC faculty as described in c.(1)
– c.(3) above.
(3) Industry Certifications and Workplace Credit – This refers to a
case-by-case evaluation of non-collegiate industry training
programs or industry-recognized certifications, professional
licenses, apprenticeships, or other workplace training that
demonstrates competence in an equivalent college-level academic
subject area, and for which a MOA does not already exist.
(4) Prior Military Training CreditRefers to training obtained while in
military service that may be converted to college credits. College
credit for military training may be awarded through the American
Council on Education (ACE) College Credit Recommendation Service
or through direct evaluation of the service member’s Joint Service
Transcript [Army ACE Registry Transcript System (AARTS), Sailor
Marine ACE Registry Transcript (SMART), etc.].
4. Portfolio-Based Assessment - Refers to college credit awarded to students for
documenting learning gained outside the college classroom.
a. Document learning in either a single course or a cluster of courses
within the same discipline, such as a series of courses in math.
b. Single subject-area portfolios can be submitted in application of up to
nine credits.
5. Articulation/Articulation Agreement
a. Articulation means the content of academic courses that are transferred
between institutions is comparable.
b. PLA articulation may apply only to a single course or training program from
a learning institution.
B. General Conditions and Guidelines
1. Kaua‘i CC students are eligible to earn credit through multiple forms of PLA.
2. Criteria for awarding credit for all forms of PLA are demonstrated mastery of
SLOs at a “C” level or higher.
3. Courses for which PLA credit is awarded will be accepted to fulfill applicable
degree or certificate requirements. PLA credits apply towards primary and
KCC Administrative Procedure No. 4-16
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secondary majors, general education requirements, and electives that are
applicable to degree and certification requirements.
4. PLA credits may also satisfy prerequisites for courses at the 100-level and above.
However, if the prerequisite is in an academic area in which letter grades are
required, the Program Coordinator or Division Chair of students’ declared academic
programs must provide written approval since PLA credits do not carry letter
grades.
5. PLA credit will not be awarded for academic, non-vocational courses under the 100
level.
6. Not every course will be eligible for every form of PLA credit.
7. PLA credit cannot be used to meet residency requirements for degrees or
certificates awarded at Kauai CC.
8. Students may not use t PLA for classes where previous credit was earned or
transferred from another institution.
C. Requirements for PLA Credits to be Awarded
1. Students must be officially accepted into Kaua‘i CC and must be in good academic
standing, with no registration holds.
2. Students must be current or former Kaua‘i CC students in order to participate in the
Kauai CC PLA process.
3. Students must consult with their Academic Advisor to assess the advisability of
seeking credit for PLA, to choose the most appropriate type of PLA, and to
determine a PLA assessment strategy.
4. Students must declare an academic program to ensure that any PLA credits awarded
will be applicable to students’ majors or will be permitted as electives toward the
degree in the chosen program of study.
5. Students who transfer to Kauai CC may have PLA credits earned at other UH
schools transferred to Kauai CC provided the credits are applicable to the degree
or certificate students have declared.
6. Assignment of Credit
a. Credits earned will carry a grade of CE (Credit by Institutional Exam)
or CR (Credit) as described in Procedures, below.
b. PLA credit will not impact grade point average.
D. Responsibilities
1. The Chancellor will:
a. Be responsible for the PLA program at Kaua‘i CC.
b. Ensure that the components of the PLA program are carefully monitored,
reviewed, evaluated, and revised as needed to maintain and improve
institutional standards.
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c. Ensure policies and information about PLA processes, including provisions
for appeal, will be readily available.
d. Ensure that Kaua‘i CC, relying on the expertise of its faculty and
VCAA, determines the appropriateness of granting credit for prior
learning.
e. Create a mechanism to evaluate effectiveness of the program.
2. The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (VCSA) will:
a. Promote an active and ongoing commitment to support PLA among the Student
Affairs faculty and staff.
b. Oversee all PLA-related activities under the Student Affairs Division.
c. Ensure that employees who fall under the purview of the VCSA receive the
training necessary to become competent in PLA issues.
3. Academic Advisors will:
a. Interview and screen students for PLA suitability.
b. Counsel students on the advisability of seeking PLA credits in view of their
academic goals.
c. Inform students PLA credits might not articulate to four-year colleges.
d. Provide students the necessary forms to initiate the PLA process, inform them
of next steps and direct them to appropriate faculty and/or Division Chairs
when relevant.
e. Remain knowledgeable about PLA options at Kaua‘i CC and within the UH
system.
4. The Registrar or Assistant Registrar will:
a. Ensure employees of the Registrar’s Office are knowledgeable and supportive
of the Kaua‘i CC PLA program.
b. Record approved PLA credit on student transcripts in a timely fashion as
described in III.E.
c. Review military training transcripts of all veteran students and advise them
when military training could be converted to college credit.
d. Ensure that appropriate college credit is awarded and documented on the
veterans’ official Kau‘’i CC records.
5. The VCAA will:
a. Promote an active and ongoing commitment to support PLA among the
instructional faculty.
b. Oversee all PLA-related activities that fall under the purview of the VCAA.
c. Ensure that employees who fall under the purview of the VCAA receive the
training necessary to become competent in PLA issues.
d. Ensure that PLA credit is transmitted to the Registrar for posting on
student records.
6. Academic Division Chairs will:
a. Ensure that division faculty and staff are knowledgeable about the Kaua‘i CC
KCC Administrative Procedure No. 4-16
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PLA program.
b. Find faculty members to develop CBIEs or to review a portfolio.
c. Ensure that faculty members complete their grading of PLA exams and/or
reviews of portfolios within the prescribed time frames.
d. Ensure that appropriate documentation is forwarded to the VCAA for
approval and processing.
7. Faculty will:
a. Evaluate student readiness to pursue PLA at Kaua‘i CC, and process PLA
request forms (Attachments 1-3).
b. Advise students of the CBIE process, prepare and grade examinations, discuss
results with the students, complete required documentation, and return to the
Division Chair within the time frames set forth in Section III.B.
(1) Review student portfolios and applications for military and NCSE credit.
8. Students will:
a. Be responsible for providing all required documentation in a timely manner.
b. Be responsible for all required fees associated with PLA.
c. Notify the Division Chair if their request for PLA is not processed within
the time frames specified in Section III.B.
d. Be responsible for researching how PLA credits transfer to four-year institutions.
E. Initiating the PLA Process
1. Students must schedule an appointment with their Academic Advisor to discuss
PLA options and fill out a PLA application form (Attachment 1, 2 or 3).
2. The Academic Advisor will consult with students to recommend a potential PLA
pathway.
3. The Academic Advisor will sign the request form for PLA credit, and help the
students identify the appropriate Division Chair.
4. After the PLA Request Form has been completed and processed, students must pay
the Business Office the administrative fee for the type of PLA evaluation being
sought (see Section III.C). The Business Office shall affix a copy of the receipt to
the PLA Request Form.
5. Depending on the type of PLA assessment requested, students will present the
signed forms with the attached receipt to the Testing Center, or to the
appropriate faculty member, to initiate the assessment process. PLA assessments
shall not be administered until fees are paid.
F. Time Frames
1. PLA requests can be made during the summer session, but timelines do not apply if
the appropriate faculty are not available to conduct a review.
2. Within 30 working days of when a student requests PLA, the participating faculty
and the student must agree on a date for the evaluation to be administered.
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3. Requests for CBIE can be submitted until week 12 of instruction (fall and spring
semesters).
4. Faculty will be responsible to meet the following time frames:
a. CBIE (when applicable)
(1) No Existing Examination: When no CBIE exists, the faculty member
shall create, administer, and grade such examination within 45 working
days of a formal student request.
(2) Existing Examination: When a CBIE already exists the faculty member
will administer and grade such examination within ten working days of
a formal student request.
(3) Within five working days of completion of the examination, the
faculty member will complete the PLA Credit Award Form
(Attachment 4) indicating whether credit is granted or denied and
specify the credits being awarded; notify the student of the results of
the same; and forward the PLA Credit Award Form to the Division
Chair, who will forward the form to the VCAA for processing.
b. Non-Collegiate-Sponsored Education (NCSE)
(1) NCSE with No Existing MOA
(a) When the type of submitted NCSE has never been previously
evaluated, or it has been evaluated before but there is no existing
MOA between Kaua‘i CC and the sponsoring institution, the
faculty member will complete an evaluation of the documentation
submitted by the student within 30 working days of receipt.
(b) If the faculty member requests additional documentation from
students in order to complete evaluations, the time frame shall
extend for another 30 working days from the date of receipt of the
requested material.
(c) Upon evaluation, the faculty member will complete the PLA
Credit Award Form (Attachment 4) indicating whether credit is
granted or denied, and specify the credits being awarded; notify
the student of the results of the same; and forward the PLA Credit
Award Form with the original PLA Request Form to the Division
Chair, who will forward the forms to the VCAA for processing.
(2) Existing MOA
When Kaua‘i CC has an MOA on file with the VCAA for the type of
NCSE credit requested, the Academic Advisor will complete the PLA
Credit Award Form (Attachment 4) and forward to the VCAA for
processing.
c. Portfolio Review
The reviewing faculty member has 30 working days to review the portfolio;
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complete the PLA Credit Award Form (Attachment 4) indicating whether
credit is granted or denied, and specify the credits being awarded; notify the
student of the results; and forward the PLA Credit Award Form with the
original PLA Request Form to the Division Chair, who will forward the
forms to the VCAA for processing.
d. Students may file a grievance with the appropriate Division Chair if the
required paperwork is not processed in accordance with the above timelines.
G. Fees
Type of PLA
Fee
Credit by Institutional Exam (CBIE)
Equivalent to 50% regular tuition for
course credit hours attempted
National Standardized Equivalency
Exam (NSEE)
Fee charged by the testing institution plus
any Kaua‘i CC Testing Center fees, if
applicable.
Non-Collegiate-Sponsored Education (NCSE)
Not on Approved NCSE List
No fee
Previously Evaluated/On Approved
NCSE List
No fee
Credit by Portfolio
Portfolio
Equivalent to 60% regular tuition for
course credit hours attempted
H. Faculty Compensation for PLA Activities
1. Faculty members do not receive compensation for consulting with students
regarding students’ suitability for PLA.
2. Faculty members do not receive compensation for reviewing the scope and content
of a nationally recognized Equivalency Examination, or for consulting with
students and approving such examinations to meet Kaua‘i CC requirements.
3. Faculty will be compensated as follows:
Type of PLA
Faculty Compensation
CBIE
Developing, administering, and
grading exam
$100
Administering and grading previously
prepared exam
$50
Credit by Portfolio
Portfolio
$100
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Portfolio Mentoring
$300
I. Recording of PLA Credit
1. The Registrar will record any authorized credit on the student records within
ten working days of receiving the PLA Credit Award Form.
2. CBIEs will appear as CE units on the student transcripts.
3. Credit earned by national standardized testing or for non-collegiate-
sponsored education will appear as CR on student transcripts.
4. Credits granted for portfolios will be recorded as PLA on student transcripts.
5. No letter grades will be assigned for any PLA.
J. Failure to Demonstrate PLA Competency
1. When student requests for PLA credit are denied, reviewing faculty must indicate
on the PLA Credit Award Forms the reasons.
2. Students have the right to appeal decisions regarding their non-suitability to
participate in the PLA process by filing an academic grievance as described in the
Kauai CC Student Academic Grievance Procedure, KCCP 5-3.
K. CBIE (See Attachment 5)
1. General
a. Students seeking college credit for non-collegiate-sponsored education must
first complete the steps outlined in Section III.A. Administrative Procedures.
b. Students must identify, in consultation with their Academic Advisor, which
specific Kauai CC courses they seek college credit for, and so indicate on the
PLA Request Form (Attachment 1).
2. Examination Content
a. Only CBIE exams developed or approved by full-time faculty and/or the
Division Chair will be eligible for credit equivalency. Lecturers may not
develop or administer CBIEs for credit.
b. The CBIE exam will test student mastery of all SLOs applicable to the
challenged course. The exam must be more comprehensive than the usual
final examination and will serve as the scholastic equivalent of the course.
c. The examination shall either be selected from the Kaua‘i CC bank of
approved CBIE exams, or developed by the faculty member(s) who normally
instruct the course being challenged.
d. Upon approval by the Division Chair, CBIE exams developed on other
campuses within the UH system may be selected and administered by Kaua‘i
CC faculty to satisfy Kaua‘i CC course requirements.
e. CBIE exams shall be revised after every three student uses at Kauai CC
KCC Administrative Procedure No. 4-16
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to preserve exam integrity.
3. PLA Institutional Exam Bank
a. Instructors may submit CBIE exams they have developed for inclusion in
the PLA Institutional Exam Bank by forwarding the exam, with signed
approval from the Division Chair, to the Office of the VCAA for final
approval.
b. CBIE examinations developed on other campuses and resident within the UH
inter-campus PLA Exam Bank may be selected for inclusion in the Kaua‘i
CC PLA Exam Bank with the approval of the Division Chair and VCAA.
c. When a subject-area examination already resides in the Kaua‘i CC PLA
Exam Bank, faculty will not be paid to develop an alternate examination in
that same subject area.
d. The Kaua‘i CC PLA Exam Bank will be maintained by the Office of the
VCAA, where print copies of each approved CBIE exam will be housed.
4. Examination Administration
a. The standards of evaluation shall be comparable to those used in the
classroom course.
b. All written CBIE exams shall be administered at the Testing Center,
unless other arrangements are made with the responsible faculty.
c. Upon signing off on the PLA Request Form, faculty will forward a copy of
the CBIE exam to the Testing Center, unless other arrangements have been
made for test administration.
d. The Testing Center will convey completed exams and/or exam results to
faculty within two working days.
5. Within five working days of completion of the examination, the faculty member
will complete the PLA Credit Award Form (Attachment 4) indicating whether
credit is granted or denied, and specify the credits being awarded; notify the
student of the results; and forward the PLA Credit Award Form with the original
PLA Request Form to the Division Chair, who will forward the forms to the
VCAA for processing.
6. The VCAA will forward the PLA Credit Award Form to the Registrar for the
official award of credit.
7. Procedures for Students
a. Students are responsible for scheduling CBIE exams to be administered at the
Testing Center.
b. Students will present the Testing Center with either a copy of the receipt for
the test fee paid to the Business Office, or the signed PLA Application
Form with receipt attached.
L. National Standardized Equivalency Exam (NSEE)
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1. General
a. Students seeking college credit for non-collegiate-sponsored education must
first complete the steps outlined in Section III.A. Administrative Procedures.
b. Students must identify, in consultation with their Academic Advisor, which
specific Kauai CC courses they seek college credit for, and so indicate on the
PLA Request Form (Attachment 1).
c. Students may only receive Kaua‘i CC credit via Equivalency Exams for
courses currently offered at Kauai CC.
d. Students may take approved Equivalency Exams at any time during an
academic semester.
e. Not all forms of Equivalency Examinations are accepted for credit at Kaua‘i
CC. Refer to the Kauai CC PLA website
https://www.kauai.hawaii.edu/prior-learning-assessment for a list of
approved types of Equivalency Examinations.
f. Credit for approved Equivalency Examinations taken at a location other than
Kauai CC will transfer to the college and be recorded on student transcripts
in the same way as Equivalency Exams taken on site.
2. Application Process for Equivalency Examinations
a. Students who wish to take an Equivalency Examination must make an
appointment with their Academic Advisor and complete the PLA Request
Form (Attachment 1).
b. Students must schedule an appointment with the Kaua‘i CC Testing Center,
and present the signed PLA Request Form and a receipt for the
administrative fee (paragraph III.C. above) to the Testing Center at the time
of the examination.
c. When students take an Equivalency Exam at an off-site location, it is the
student’s responsibility to ensure the test results are sent to the Kauai CC
Registrar’s office.
d. Students who take an off-site Equivalency Exam must pay the administrative
fee (paragraph III.C. above) to the Business Office and present the receipt to
the Registrar before credit can be posted to student transcripts.
3. Specific Procedures for CLEP Testing
a. After the Academic Advisor signs the PLA Request Forms and students pay
the administrative fee to the Business Office, students can log into the CLEP
Test Site at http://clep.collegeboard.org/ to register online for selected exams.
b. After registering for the exam, students will schedule appointments to take the
CLEP Test at the Kauai CC Testing Center.
4. Recording CBIE on Transcripts
After all required signatures are obtained on the PLA Credit Award Form, the
Office of the VCAA will forward the PLA Credit Award Form with the original
PLA Request Form to the Registrar for the official award of credit.
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M. Procedures for Non-Collegiate-Sponsored Education (NCSE)
1. General
a. Students seeking college credit for non-collegiate-sponsored education must
first complete the steps outlined in Section III.A. Administrative Procedures.
b. Students must identify, in consultation with their Academic Advisor, the
specific Kauai CC courses for which they seek college credit, and so indicate
on the PLA Request Form (Attachment 2).
2. Not Previously Evaluated or No Existing MOAt.
a. Discipline faculty will determine the required documentation that
supports the request for NCSE credit.
b. Discipline faculty will determine the scope of the narrative summary and any
other required documentation about the course or training content.
c. Students must submit completed application packages to the discipline
faculty member for review.
d. The faculty member must review submitted application packages within 30
working days. The faculty may request additional documentation or an
explanation from students.
e. Upon completion of a review, the faculty member will discuss the credit
recommendations with the Program Coordinator or Division Chair, complete
the PLA Credit Award Form (Attachment 4) indicating whether credit is
granted or denied, and specify the credits being awarded; notify the student of
the results of the same; and forward the PLA Credit Award Form along with
the original PLA Request Form to the Division Chair, who will forward the
forms to the VCAA for processing.
3. Previously Evaluated or Existing MOA
The following steps apply ONLY when there is an existing MOA.
a. A listing of all training approved for NCSE credit will be maintained by
the Office of the VCAA.
b. Students will complete a NCSE PLA Request Form and attach original
documentation certifying the training. The requirement for assembling a
comprehensive documentation package (2.a.-d. above) may be waived, with
signatures of the Academic Advisor and Division Chair. All original
certification documents will be returned to students after the PLA decisions
are final.
c. If the training institution will only send certified copies of the training to a
college official, the student shall ensure that the training institution addresses
the material to the Admissions and Records Office and indicate on an
attachment to the request form what certification materials were requested.
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Students shall obtain a copy of the certification materials from the
Admissions and Records Office, who will indicate on each that it is a copy
and attach the copies to the PLA Request Form (Attachment 2).
d. The Academic Advisor and Division Chair will review PLA requests for
completeness. If credit is applicable the Division Chair will complete PLA
Credit Award Forms (Attachment 4) and obtain student signatures.
e. If a student presents documentation that another UH campus has an existing
NCSE MOA for the credit the Kauai CC student is seeking, that agreement
will apply only if the NCSE equates to an active Kaua‘i CC course.
4. The Program Coordinator or Division Chair will forward the completed PLA Credit
Award Form with the original PLA Request Form to the Office of the VCAA for
processing.
N. Procedures for Portfolio-Based Assessment
1. Readiness for Portfolio-Based Assessment
a. Students interested in a portfolio review should complete the assessment, “Is
the Portfolio Review Process Right for Me?” (Attachment 6) available on the
PLA website or in the Student Counseling Area and review the Guidelines for
Preparing a PLA Portfolio (Attachment 7).
b. After completing Attachment 6, students who believe they will benefit from a
portfolio review will make an appointment with their Academic Advisor and
complete a Credit-by-Portfolio Request Form (Attachment 3).
(1) Students must bring a copy of their completed Attachment 6
assessment when they meet with their Academic Advisor.
(2). The Academic Advisor will discuss the portfolio process with students
and will direct students to the appropriate Division Chair or Program
Coordinator.
c. The Program Coordinator or Division Chair and a faculty member in the
subject area will assess whether students have the appropriate background and
readiness to pursue the portfolio process, and if so, will process the PLA
Request Forms (Attachment 3).
d. When a faculty member deems a student ready to pursue the portfolio process,
the faculty member will inform the student of the portfolio preparation
options below, and will recommend the most appropriate option.
2. Portfolio Preparation Options
a. Portfolio Mentorship
(1) Division Chairs will maintain a current list of faculty and lecturers who
have agreed to serve as mentors within their division. The Division
Chair will update the list each fall to reflect the faculty available as
portfolio mentors for the current academic year.
(2) Mentors will work with students either individually or in small groups of
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up to three students. Mentors will clarify the requirements for portfolios,
oversee student progress in developing portfolios, coach students
through the portfolio writing process, assist students in navigating
obstacles encountered, and provide oversight in helping students to
initiate the portfolio submission and review process.
(3) Mentors will help students to identify the courses that equate to their
backgrounds, the specific prior learning or training they have that
equates to the SLOs for each targeted course, and the evidence needed to
prove that students’ prior learning meets the SLOs.
(4) Students will submit their assembled documents and any required
narrative summaries describing prior learning for review at regular
intervals during their mentorship.
(5) Mentors will meet with each student they are coaching at least three
times during the portfolio preparation process, and for no less than a
total of six hours. In addition, mentors will provide students with
detailed written feedback on their portfolios at regular intervals.
(6)
(7) The number of mentoring meetings scheduled with portfolio applicants
will increase when there are multiple students in a group. In other words,
a mentor who is coaching two students as a group will hold six meetings
(three meetings per student) with his or her mentees, for a total of 12
hours; with three students, the group will meet for a total of 18 hours.
(8) Mentors will not serve as reviewers for portfolios from students they
have mentored.
b. Self-Directed Option
(1) Students may petition to proceed independently in preparing their
portfolio.
(2) Students who petition to undertake portfolio preparation without
engaging a mentor or taking a portfolio-preparation course must get
written approval from a subject-area faculty member.
(3) Self-directed options shall be granted only to those students who
have demonstrated advanced writing skills, and who, in the opinion
of the discipline faculty member, have demonstrated a professional-
level ability to prepare complex materials for rigorous review.
3. Portfolio Development and Content
a. Portfolios must include all documentation that support requests for college
credit. Such documentation must show that the outcomes of the students’ non-
traditional learning are equivalent to the SLOs for the courses for which the
students are requesting credit.
b. Discipline faculty will determine portfolio-required content.
c. The portfolio may include a written narrative describing the prior learning
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acquired and explaining the documentation being submitted.
4. Portfolio Assessment
a. Students who complete a portfolio must submit it to the faculty designated by
the appropriate Division Chair or Program Coordinator.
b. Single-subject-area portfolios require review by a single faculty member.
c. The faculty member(s) must review the submitted portfolio within 30 working
days.
d. Faculty may request additional documentation or an explanation from
students. If additional materials are requested, the timeline shall extend 30
working days from the time of receipt of those materials.
5. Awarding and Recording Credit for Portfolios
a. Upon completing the review, the faculty member will complete and process
the PLA Credit Award Form.
b. The faculty member will notify students of the result of the review of the
students’ portfolio requests for college credit.
c. Students who are not satisfied with the results presented may appeal, as
outlined in the Kaua‘i CC Student Academic Grievance Procedure, Policy 5-
3.
d. Upon completing the process, the faculty member will forward the PLA
Credit Award Forms with the original PLA Request Forms to the Division
Chair, who will forward the forms to the VCAA for processing.
e. The Office of the VCAA will forward the PLA Credit Award Forms to
the Registrar for recording on the student transcript.
KCC Administrative Procedure No. 4-16
Revised December 8, 2020
KAUA’I COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Request for PLA Credit by Exam
Credit by Institutional Exam (CBIE) or National Standardized Equivalency Exam (NSEE)
Students must pay the requisite fees and attach receipts to this form for request to be complete.
Name: __________________________________________ UH Number_________________
Last First MI
Phone: ____________________ UH Email: ______________________Major:________________
Type of PLA requested (check one):
Credit by Institutional National Standardized Equivalency Exam
Fill in below what course you are requesting PLA credit:
Course Alpha & Number
Name of Course
Number of Credits
Academic Advisor:
I have provided the PLA policy guidelines KCCP 4-16 to the student. The
CBIE or NSEE is recommended for the requested course.
I have discussed PLA benefits and risks with this student:
Academic Advisor Signature Print Name Date
Faculty: I have discussed this request with the student and
agree (fee assessed CBIE only) disagree (no fee assessed) to authorize this PLA evaluation:
If declined, please explain here and initial:
PLA Fee* (CBIE 50% regular tuition; NSEE No Fee) $____________
*PLA fee is non-refundable even if no credits are awarded
Faculty Signature Print Name Date
Student Signature Print Name Date
KCC Administrative Procedure No. 4-16
Revised December 8, 2020
KAUA’I COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Request for PLA Credit for Non-Collegiate-Sponsored Education (NCSE)
Name: UH Number
Last First MI
Phone: UH Email: Major:
Name of the NCSE Program or Course:
Sponsoring Organization Offering the Training:
Number of Hours: Date NCSE Training Completed:
Certificate Awarded? (Yes/ No) Instructor Name:
Proof of Completion Attached? (Yes/No)
What Kauai CC course(s) would you like credit for based on this NCSE?
Course Alpha & Number
Name of Course
Number of Credits
Authorizations:
Academic Advisor: I have discussed NCSE with student and verify that the training described
IS IS NOT listed in the KCC NCSE list of approved training:
Academic Advisor Signature Print Name Date
Division Chair: Please check the option 1 or 2 below:
1. KCC NCSE list of approved training: I have reviewed this application and
approve the awarding of NCSE credit as listed in the attached PLA Credit Award
Form.
2. Training not on the KCC NCSE list of approved training: I have discussed this
request with the student and
Agree Disagree to authorize the PLA evaluation requested above.
If “agree,” specify name of faculty reviewer:
KCC Administrative Procedure No. 4-16
Revised December 8, 2020
If “disagree,” please explain here:
Division Chair Signature Print Name Date
Student Signature Print Name Date
KCC Administrative Procedure No. 4-16
Revised December 8, 2020
KAUA’I COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Request for PLA Credit by Portfolio Evaluation
Please attach your completed “Is the Portfolio Review Process Right for Me?” assessment to this form.
*Note that students must pay requisite fees and attach receipts to this form for approval to be final.
Name: UH Number
Last First MI
Phone: UH Email: Major:
List the courses you are applying for PLA credit.
Course Alpha & Number
Name of Course
Number of Credits
Describe the training, study, and/or experience you have that you would like to get academic credit for
by portfolio
List the evidence of prior learning can you gather to support your portfolio.
Certificates Letters from supervisor Transcripts Awards Samples of work
Other: please describe ___________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Academic Advisor:
I have provided the PLA policy guidelines KCCP 4-16 to the student.
I have discussed PLA benefits and risks with this student:
Academic Advisor Signature Print Name Date
Faculty:
I have discussed this request with the student and agree (fee assessed) disagree (no fee
assessed) to authorize this PLA evaluation. If agree also, the student has chosen the:
(check one) Mentoring Option Self-directed Option
If declined, please explain here and initial:
KCC Administrative Procedure No. 4-16
Revised December 8, 2020
*PLA fee is non-refundable even if no credits are awarded
Faculty Signature Print Name Date
Student Signature Print Name Date
If Mentoring Option is selected above:
Division Chair:
Name of the faculty mentor
Division Chair Signature Print Name Date
PLA Fee* (60% regular tuition for attempted credits)
$
KCC Administrative Procedure No. 4-16
Revised December 8, 2020
KAUA’I COMMUNITY COLLEGE
PLA Credit Award Form
Please attach the signed PLA Request Form, with receipts attached, and personally deliver or send to the Registrar.
Students cannot send or deliver this form.
Student’s Name:
Last First
MI
UH Number
Type of PLA Credit to be Awarded (check one):
Credit-by-Institutional Exam
Non-Collegiate- Sponsored Education:
Portfolio Assessment:
Equivalency Exam (specify type; e.g., CLEP):
Course Information:
Complete the table for the courses for which credit is being granted:
Course Alpha & Number
Name of Course
Number of credits
Approval signatures below as applicable:
Faculty Signature
Print Name
Date
Division Chair Signature
Print Name
Date
Vice
Chancellor Academic Affairs
Registrar certification:
Print Name
Date
Credit has been recorded to the student’s transcript.
Registrar Print Name Date
Registrar to file this form and original PLA application.
KCC Administrative Procedure No. 4-16
Revised December 8, 2020
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KCC Administrative Procedure No. 4-16
Revised December 8, 2020
Is The Portfolio Process Right for Me?
Preparing a portfolio takes considerable time, effort, and organization. The portfolio process
requires that you produce extensive documentation such as letters of support, transcripts of
training you’ve completed, certificates you’ve earned and so forth, in order to verify your prior
learning claims. You also need to do extensive writing, and the quality of your writing needs to
be very good to make a convincing case. The questions below will help you to determine your
readiness to pursue the portfolio process.
NAME: STUDENT ID: SEMESTER:
Please bring this completed form with you when you meet with your academic advisor.
1. Is the learning you would like credit for directly related to specific courses taught here at
Kauai CC?
2. Have you eliminated the possibility of testing out of the courses you’d like credit for by
passing an exam prepared by the instructor or by taking a standardized test such as CLEP?
3. Do you have at least five years of work, military, or volunteer training and/or experience?
4. Have you taught yourself any skills or gained significant knowledge relevant to course
content offered at Kauai CC through your own independent study or training?
5. Have you passed English 100 or the equivalent with a grade of B or higher? If not, are you
comfortable writing and are your writing skills average to good?
6. Are you willing to meet with a mentor at scheduled intervals throughout the semester and
to meet all deadlines for submitting written work?
7. Are you willing to rewrite your work at least several times if your mentor suggests
changes?
8. Have you ever organized a substantial amount of miscellaneous paperwork and diverse
information into a single report?
9. Are you confident that you can write a clear narrative of at least five pages, using
complete sentences and correct grammar, describing your past learning?
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KCC Administrative Procedure No. 4-16
Revised December 8, 2020
10. Are there former supervisors, experts in your field, or others who have witnessed your
work and will verify your learning by writing you letters or otherwise testifying that you
have the expertise, training, and knowledge that you claim?
11. Do you have at least eight documents that provide evidence to support your claims of
prior learning? Examples might include transcripts, certificates earned, performance
evaluations, licenses, presentations, work samples, etc.
12. Are you willing and able to contact people to verify your prior learning, track down and
gather hard copies of documentation, and organize a large amount of paperwork into a
portfolio?
How many questions did you answer YES to above? The greater the number of
YES answers, the more likely that you’ll succeed in preparing a portfolio for credit.
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KCC Administrative Procedure No. 4-16
Revised December 8, 2020
KAUAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Guidelines for Preparing a PLA Portfolio
The Four Hallmarks of Successful Portfolios
1. Successful portfolios provide concrete evidence of learning achieved. This evidence can
be in the form of work samples, awards, support letters, etc., as described below.
2. Successful portfolios clearly show how prior learning equates to the learning objectives
of each course for which credit is sought.
3. Successful portfolios are well organized and well presented. A disorganized, sloppy
portfolio will not argue your case favorably.
4. Successful portfolios include a well-written, detailed narrative describing how your
background qualifies you for PLA credit. The quality of your writing certainly can
affect reviewer decisions.
Working with Your Mentor
1. You were assigned a mentor by the Division Chair when your Portfolio Application was
approved. It is your responsibility to contact the mentor to set up meeting times.
2. You will get the most benefit from meetings with your mentor if you go to those
meetings prepared with written questions you want answered and copies of work you
want reviewed.
3. Your mentor will give you a Mentoring Preparation Form to get ready for your next
meeting, and a Post-Session Form to keep track of commitments made, deadlines set,
and insights gleaned during your meeting. Completing these forms is required.
4. You must meet with your mentor at least three times, or a total of six hours, before
submitting your portfolio.
Organizing Your Portfolio
1. Your portfolio must include a cover sheet with your name, student ID number, semester,
contact information, and a list of the courses you seek credit for.
2. Your portfolio must include a Table of Contents to help reviewers navigate the materials
you’ve included.
KCC Administrative Procedure No. 4-16
Revised December 8, 2020
3. Your portfolio must include a Course Matching Chart showing the student learning
objectives (SLOs) of each course you seek credit for and summarizing how you satisfy
each of those SLOs. Your mentor has copies of the necessary forms.
4. You must include a narrative section detailing your background. See guidelines below.
5. Portfolios must include a documentation section that includes evidence of learning and
mastery achieved. See guidelines below.
6. Portfolios should use standard fonts such as Ariel or Times New Roman. Margins
should be one inch on all sides, and font size should be 12. Your portfolio should be
presented either stapled or in a binder, without loose pages, and it must look like a
professional document.
Writing Your Narrative
1. Your narrative constitutes the heart of your argument for PLA credit. Think of it as the
story of your learning experiences to date. It should provide an overview of the learning
that you seek credit for, depict the conditions that led you to pursue that learning,
describe the various experiences and/or training programs you completed, and express
how the learning that resulted equates to course content.
2. The narrative must describe and explain any documentation you have attached, telling
the story behind it.
3. It’s important to include specific names, dates, and places whenever possible.
4. Count on writing three or more drafts. Make sure your mentor reviews your portfolio at
several stages and incorporate any suggested changes before you submit the final
document.
5. Narrative sections typically range in length from five to 10 or more pages, depending on
the number of portfolio credits you seek.
Providing Documentation of Prior Learning
1. While the narrative in your portfolio describes your experiences and training, you must
also provide evidence that you did, in fact, have those experiences. Plus, you must show
that you gained college-level skills and/or knowledge from those experiences. This
means that you need to include concrete proof of prior learning in your portfolio. The
more relevant documentation that you provide, the stronger your case will be.
2. Documentation may include (this is not a comprehensive list):
KCC Administrative Procedure No. 4-16
Revised December 8, 2020
o Training records
o Work records
o A resume
o Samples of work
o A list of accomplishments
o Copies of awards
o Copies of certificates achieved
o Copies of honors
o Professional licenses
o Performance appraisals
o Letters of verification from supervisors/coworkers on company letterhead
o Endorsements from clients, supervisors, community members
o An annotated bibliography describing reading completed
o Photographs, videos, or slides of projects completed
o Evidence of self-directed study
3. All documentation should be itemized in the Table of Contents.
Submitting Your Portfolio
1. When you have completed editing your portfolio, you should submit at least two copies
to the Division Chair for distribution to faculty reviewers. If multiple reviewers will be
assessing your portfolio, you might need additional copies.
2. Understand that the portfolio review process will take at least 30 days. If the review
committee requests additional documentation, the timeline for review will extend for
another 15 days from the time you submit that documentation.