[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-587698-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-587698-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","credit-for-prior-learning-at-ushe-degree-granting-institutions-key-initiative-overview","Credit for Prior Learning at USHE Degree-Granting Institutions - Key Initiative Overview","","Utah’s Higher Education Board outlines a Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) initiative that expands access to college by allowing students to earn meaningful degree credit for knowledge and skills gained outside traditional programs. The approach supports timely completion and affordability, aligning CPL with Utah Code 53B-16-107 and Board Policy R472 while following system quality standards. Research shows CPL strongly improves completion rates, especially for adult learners, and the initiative emphasizes college-level competency, standardized transferability, multiple assessment routes, transparency, shared institutional efforts, and faculty training.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/","Research & 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is the Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) initiative in Utah’s higher education system?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"It allows students to earn college credit for knowledge and skills acquired outside traditional college settings, such as prior study, employer training, or military service, to support degree progression and completion.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"How does the initiative ensure credits apply meaningfully toward a degree?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"Awarded credits must count toward major coursework, general education, prerequisite fulfillment, or other requirements and be reflected on transcripts as equivalent credit to specific commonly numbered courses.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What assessment options are available for earning CPL?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Students can use standardized national exams (e.g., AP, IB, CLEP), institutionally designed course challenge exams, workplace training and licensures evaluations, 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Institutions  \nThe Utah Board of Higher Education has implemented a strategic plan to increase access to higher education and facilitate students' pathways to meaningful careers. A key initiative of the plan allows students to earn college credit for knowledge and skills acquired outside traditional college settings, such as through rigorous academic study before enrolling in college, employer training programs, or military service. The Board’s Credit for Prior Learning initiative streamlines degree progression as a completion strategy but also serves as an affordability tool. The strategy is based in Utah Code 53B-16-107 and Board Policy R472, Credit for Prior Learning; the System’s Prior Learning Assessment Quality Standards and Best Practices Handbook provides detailed guidance for institutions.  \nImpact on timely completion  \nNational research demonstrates a strong correlation between students receiving credit for prior learning (CPL) and their likelihood of completing a degree. Studies by the Council on Adult and Experiential Learning and the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education found that credit for prior learning was especially significant for adult students, and adults comprise close to 30% of USHE’s student body. A national study of more than 230,000 adult students at 72 colleges and universities revealed that 49% of students who received credit for prior learning completed a degree or certificate compared to only 27% of their peers ([https://www.cael.org/pla-impact](https://www.cael.org/pla-impact)). Adults need efficient means of reskilling and upskilling in a shifting economy, and assessing the skills they bring with them to higher education helps them move quickly through their chosen program. High school students also benefit from CPL ifthey meet required scores on national standardized exams like those offered through the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs. They can start on degree completion before graduating from high school. 1  \nKey principles of the Credit for Prior Learning Initiative  \nCertain key principles underlie the Board’s initiative on credit for prior learning.  \n1. Meaningful application of credit: The Board intends for credits awarded for prior learning to count meaningfully toward degree programs. Prior learning should be reflected on students’transcripts as equivalent credit to specific commonly numbered courses so that the credit can  \n1 High school may also directly earn college credits through the Concurrent Enrollment program; Concurrent Enrollment is not a form of credit for prior learning, since students enroll in a USHE institution, take college classes from the institution, and their class grades are automatically transcripted.  \napply toward major coursework, general education, prerequisite fulfillment, or other  \nrequirements.  \n2. College-level competencies: Credit is only granted for assessments that measure college-level competencies, as determined by college faculty (either within the USHE or national pools of faculty who design and assess standardized exams) that are aligned with the essential learning outcomes of specific courses, as determined by USHE Faculty Major Committees.  \n3. Standardization and transferability: Wherever possible, course alignment for specific prior learning assessments should be to a particular course, so students receive the same credit at all USHE degree-granting institutions. For the most commonly used learning assessments, systemwide Faculty Major Committees determine the minimum scores required to earn credit and the commonly numbered courses and credit amounts that students will receive across the System. Credit earned through prior learning assessments is transferable between all USHE degree-granting institutions.  \n4. Multiple assessment options: Students have access to multiple routes for earning credit for prior le","cbCaitQu3A4U2kqm","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaitQu3A4U2kqm","pdf",228119,"English","# Overview\n## Impact on Timely Completion\n## Key Principles of the Credit for Prior Learning Initiative\n### Meaningful Application of Credit\n### College-Level Competencies\n### Standardization and Transferability\n### Multiple Assessment Options\n### Transparency and Access\n### Affordability\n### Shared Efforts\n### Professional Development and Training","[{\"question\":\"What is the Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) initiative in Utah’s higher education system?\",\"answer\":\"It allows students to earn college credit for knowledge and skills acquired outside traditional college settings, such as prior study, employer training, or military service, to support degree progression and completion.\"},{\"question\":\"How does the initiative ensure credits apply meaningfully toward a degree?\",\"answer\":\"Awarded credits must count toward major coursework, general education, prerequisite fulfillment, or other requirements and be reflected on transcripts as equivalent credit to specific commonly numbered courses.\"},{\"question\":\"What assessment options are available for earning CPL?\",\"answer\":\"Students can use standardized national exams (e.g., AP, IB, CLEP), institutionally designed course challenge exams, workplace training and licensures evaluations, military transcripts, and portfolio or individualized assessments.\"}]","Credit for Prior Learning at USHE Degree-Granting Institutions - Key Initiative Overview | PDF",1792062719]