2000-2001 Undergraduate Catalog
Indiana, Pennsylvania 15705

Academic Policies

1. Student meets with the assistant dean for Credit Programs in the School of Continuing Education to determine the feasibility of earning semester hours through portfolio evaluation. Standard outlines of related courses are provided to student.
2. Preliminary Application Form - Student must provide a resume and answer the following questions:
   1. What have you learned that relates to this course?
   2. Where and when have you learned it?
   3. What documentation do you have that supports the claim?
3. A handbook to assist students in compiling a portfolio will be printed. It will show how to relate to the written portfolio learning gained through work experience, independent study, and other experiences. Evidence of learning through documentation of experience, completion of a project, and written examination will be explained. If there is sufficient demand, a workshop will be conducted to assist students.
4. Fees:
   Application Fee per Assessment: $15.00
   Assessment Fee: one-half the current rate of tuition per credit for each credit requested; to be paid when portfolio is submitted for evaluation.
5. The application will be submitted to the assistant dean for Credit Programs. Upon approval, the chairperson of the department offering the course will be requested to suggest the name of a faculty member to the dean of the college for approval.
6. The faculty member will meet with the student to determine the technique of assessment or a combination of techniques to be used, including interviews, documentation, observation of performance, examination, etc.
7. After the portfolio has been prepared by the student, it will be submitted to the dean of the School of Continuing Education for review, then forwarded to the appointed faculty member for assessment.
8. The faculty member will evaluate the portfolio, then make a recommendation for or against the award of credit and the amount of credit in the form of a letter, which must be approved and countersigned by the chairperson of the department offering the course. The portfolio will be forwarded to the dean of the college which oversees the student's curriculum to approve and verify that the course will be accepted as part of the student's program. Finally, the portfolio is sent to the assistant dean of the School of Continuing Education, who will notify the student and the registrar.
9. The registrar will list the course title, credit, and an indication that credit was earned through Portfolio Assessment.