Credit for Prior Learning
Many Oregon institutions offer Credit for Prior Learning as a way to obtain credit for evidence-based assessment of learning that occurs outside of traditional college-level coursework. House Bill 4059 (2012) defines prior learning as “the knowledge and skills gained through work and life experience, through military training and experience and through formal and informal education and training from institutions of higher education in the United States and in other nations.”
The Higher Education Coordinating Commission convenes an Advisory Committee to address and report to the Oregon Legislative Assembly annually on its progress toward:
- Increasing the number of students who receive academic credit for prior learning
- Increasing the number and type of academic credits accepted for prior learning
- Developing transparent policies and practices
- Improving prior learning assessment practices
- Creating tools to develop faculty and staff knowledge
- Developing articulation agreements
- Developing outcome measures
Oregon’s unique
statute requires the Commission to work not only with public universities and
community colleges, but also independent for-profit and not-for-profit
institutions of higher education.
Credit for Prior Learning standards
In 2017 the
Advisory Committee and Commission formally adopted the Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Standards to be implemented by any Oregon institution offering CPL. The Standards, first adopted in 2014 and updated in 2017, require Oregon institutions to submit data to the Commission annually on the types and number of CPL offered. A summary of changes made in 2017 is available here.
Annual Legislative Reports
Since 2012, the HECC has reported annually to the Oregon Legislature as required on Credit for Prior Learning, and the annual reports are available on our website here.