Bachelor of Professional Studies Life Work Portfolio Information

The portfolio system is designed to award college credit where it is applicable for college-level learning acquired through non-academic experiences. Learning documented in the portfolio must be equivalent in scope and complexity to what students in college classrooms learn. Hence, the portfolio system is a way of recognizing experiential learning, which is genuinely equivalent to college classroom learning. All credit earned through portfolio assessment must be measurable or verifiable by a qualified, formally appointed assessor and is considered transfer credit.

While a great deal is learned from life's experiences (i.e. marriage, parenthood) these experiences do not automatically translate into college credit. A portfolio must present what the student has learned in such a way that the assessor can identify and weigh it. While most adults can do a great many complex things, such as fill out income tax forms, balance checkbooks, and vote for presidential candidates, the College of Graduate and Professional Studies and the University of Mary Washington will not award college credit for normal adult competencies.

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Experiential learning is learning created by the transformation of experience through the process of involvement, perception, and the understanding that goes on as we work, play, marry, rear children, pursue hobbies, and develop relationships.

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(Paraphrased from James S. Coleman)

1. In the classroom information is received through symbolic sources such as lectures or reading, whereas experiential learning involves acting and observing.
2. In the classroom information is assimilated and organized so that a general principle is understood, whereas experiential learning involves understanding the effects of the action in a specific instance.
3. In the classroom the general principle is applied in specific instances, whereas, experiential learning involves applying the general principle in new circumstances.

   "A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something that he can learn in no other way." -MARK TWAIN

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A portfolio is a formal written communication, presented by the student to the college/university, requesting credit or recognition for extra-collegiate learning. The portfolio must make its case by identifying learning clearly and succinctly, and it must provide sufficient supporting information and documentation so that faculty can use it, alone or in combination with other evidence, as the basis for their evaluation.

There are several important parts to a portfolio. A portfolio should contain:

1. Identification and definition of specific prior learning for which the college/university is being requested, including competency statements in each area of knowledge. Examples of this could be classroom experiences beyond high school, formal training or work experience, participation in the armed services, hobbies, travel, etc.
2. An essay or narrative explaining how this prior learning relates to the students' projected degree program, from what experiences it was gained, and how it fits into his or her overall education and career plans.
3. Documentation both direct and indirect, which produces evidence that the student has actually acquired the learning he or she is claiming.
   . . . and OPTIONAL . . .
4. . . . A Credit request listing exactly how much credit the student is asking for in each subject area.

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1. Credit is awarded only for learning and not experience.The number of years in a position/job will not necessarily determine the amount of credit awarded.
2. College credit is awarded only for college-level learning. Basic concepts such as adding and maintaining a personal checkbook would not be considered college level learning. However, "keeping" the books for a company might.
3. Credit is awarded only for learning that has a balance, appropriate to the subject, between theory and practical application. Examples are knitting vs. yarn making and installing a light fixture vs. an electrician.
4. Academic experts must determine the competence levels and credit awards.Where credit is requested, a teaching faculty member in the discipline must evaluate portfolios All portfolios must be submitted in the accepted format.
5. Credit should be appropriate to the academic context in which it is accepted. Credit will be awarded for the knowledge and experience in the academic discipline where appropriate.

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Students should discuss at length with their faculty advisors and with an advisor in the CGPS Advising Services, their possible experiences that might be translated into "college-level" credit. Since there is a significant amount of work involved in preparing a portfolio, with no guarantee of successful outcome, great effort should be made during this preliminary stage to assess the possibility of receiving credit for one's life work/experiences.

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The usual ceiling for portfolio credit awards is fifteen semester credits; in exceptional cases the award can be as high as thirty credits. Students in the Bachelor of Professional Studies Program, due to the nature of the program and changing technology, should not include technological knowledge and experiences older than six years (exceptions will be considered on an individual basis). Students may submit as many portfolios as they like. Currently, the assessment fee for each portfolio is $100.00. Portfolios should not exceed 250 pages.

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• Portfolios must be submitted prior to accumulating 90 hours of transfer credit. Transfer credit includes any combination of credits from other accredited institutions, standardized tests, portfolio, military, CLEP and ACE.
• Portfolios must be submitted within 12 months of completion of the portfolio course, but may not be submitted during the student's final semester in the student's degree program. Credits awarded may be used to satisfy general education requirements, elective credit requirements and selected major credit requirements. NOTE: The student's faculty advisor and the College of Graduate and Professional Studies Office of Advising and Student Services must approve all credits applied to the student's major program.
• Currently, the assessment fee for each portfolio is $100.00.
• Portfolios should not exceed 250 pages.

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Students considering a portfolio presentation and who are enrolled in a degree program at the CGPS are required to enroll in and satisfactorily complete BLST/PORT 101: Portfolio Development. This course carries one semester credit and is offered three times a year. The course is offered on a pass/fail basis only. It defines the kind of learning a portfolio can present successfully, provides a detailed outline of the portfolio format, and offers each student specific instruction on the assembly of the initial stages of his/her portfolio. It also outlines additional methods, other than the portfolio, of providing documentation of experiential learning for college credit. Further information about the course can be obtained from the College of Graduate and Professional Studies Office of Advising Services.

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1. Make an appointment with your faculty advisor to discuss the possibility of credit being awarded for your Life/work experiences.
2. Submit a registration form for BPST/PORT 101: Portfolio Development Course.
3. Successfully complete BPST/PORT 101:Portfolio Development.
4. Submit portfolio(s) in appropriate format and with proper payment within 12 months of completion of the portfolio course to:

The University of University of Mary Washington
College of Graduate and Professional Studies
Office of Advising Services
121 University Boulevard
Fredericksburg, Virginia 22406
540/286- 8030, fax 540/286-8005

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