Introduction
Hill College (HC) strives to provide students with opportunities to receive credit for prior learning while still maintaining the academic integrity of its academic programs. Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is the evaluation of an individual’s learning outside of the college classroom. PLA gives students an opportunity to earn college credits for college-level knowledge they have acquired through experience including military service and training, advanced high school courses, recognized exams and certifications, and others.
Students may petition course credit for experiential learning, non-credit course completion, professional development, licensure/certifications, and national exams. Course credit is awarded when content mastered through an experience is comparable to the student learning outcomes of a course. Participants benefit from recognized learning outside the traditional classroom, reduced program costs, and timely degree completion.
To accommodate this need, Hill College has developed the Prior Learning Assessment Guidelines and Procedures Manual. This manual is designed to provide information about the diverse ways in which students obtain academic credit for learned knowledge and skills outside a classroom setting. This academic college credit can be awarded through the following prior learning demonstrations:
- Military Training
- Professional Work Experience
- External Exams Credit
- Internal Credit by Exam
- Job Training & Workforce Partnerships Mirror Courses
- Licensure and Professional Certification
The offices of Instruction and Student Services work collaboratively to process assessment requests. The Office of the Vice President for Instruction ensures PLA adheres to institutional policies and regional accreditation standards, maintains academic integrity, and follows current business processes. The Vice President for Student Services provides support to PLA applicants through academic advising, application assistance, and credit posting. Hill College policies and procedures are consistent with Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) principles and with Hill College Board Policies EGA (Legal) and EGAA (Local).
Student Eligibility to Request Credit
To request PLA credit, students must meet the following requirements:
- Student must be admitted in an academic or career education credit program past census date of the current semester and be in good standing (GPA 2.0).
- Student must have successfully completed a minimum of 6 college credit hours of Hill College course work.
- Student must provide official documentation of prior learning (transcripts, licensures, certificates, work experience, etc.)
Guidelines for Awarding Credit
- Students cannot request PLA for courses attempted or previously
- Attempted – Courses that appear on a Hill College or transferring institution transcript as withdrawn (W/WC) or incomplete (I).
- Previously Taken – Courses that appear on a Hill College or transferring institution transcript with a grade.
- Credit may only be awarded for courses applicable to the student’s declared degree plan.
- Credit is posted after census date of the semester/term in which the assessment was taken.
- Credit does not count toward the 25% residency requirement of the college, satisfactory academic progress (SAP) calculations, nor meet eligibility requirements for financial aid or loan deferment.
- Credit may not exceed 50% of a student’s Certificate or Associate degree required coursework. Awarding of PLA may not be excluded for calculation of a second certificate or degree.
- Credit earned through PLA cannot be removed from a student’s transcript once it has been awarded to the academic transcript.
- Course credit is documented as “CR” on the transcript and may contribute toward graduation requirements. Letter grades cannot be given for course credit earned through PLA.
- Other institutions are not obligated to accept credit earned through PLA. It is the student's responsibility to check with the transfer institution before pursuing the PLA process to determine the institution's policies and acceptance of PLA.
- Upon completion, the PLA application and copy of the results (exam, portfolio, and etc.) will be forwarded to Student Information Services for filing.
- Students, who are denied credit through PLA for a specific course, may not petition for credit again for the same course by any options defined under PLA.
Application for Prior Learning Assessment
To receive credit for the following prior learning, students must complete an application.
- Military Training
- Professional Work Experience
- External Exams – CLEP, AP, IB
- Internal Credit by Exam
- Job Training & Workforce Partnerships Mirror Courses
- Licensure and Professional Certification
Applicable Fees
The chart below indicates applicable fees for processing credit for prior learning assessment. Fees are non-refundable and must be paid to the Business Office upon posting credit to the academic transcript.
| Prior Learning Assessment | Fee |
| Military Training | No Fee |
| Professional Work Experience | $25 per course |
| External Exams Credit | $25 per course |
| Internal Credit by Exam | $25 per course |
| Job Training & Workforce Partnerships Mirror Courses | $25 per course (waived if taken at Hill College) |
| Licensure and Professional Certification | $25 per course |
Prior Learning Assessment
Hill College is committed to ensuring our active duty, former, and retired military personnel receive credit for college-level knowledge gained through their service to our country. Service members (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard) should provide a Joint Services Transcript or (Air Force) Community College of the Air Force Transcript for evaluation. The office of Student Information Services is available to provide assistance to all veterans.
For additional information online, visit the Veterans web page: https://www.hillcollege.edu/Admissions_Aid/Admissions/Veteran.html
NOTE: There is no fee for this prior learning assessment.
Student Responsibilities
- Submit official military transcripts to be sent directly to Student Information Services.
Procedures
Student Information Services
- Review and assess transcript.
- Verify that training has been reviewed by ACE and is listed in the National Guide to College Credit for Workforce Training on the ACE website.
- Complete PLA application and submit for review and approval of credit for knowledge, skills, and training by Office of Instruction.
- Upon approval, transcription of credit, notification to student, application of hold and charges.
Credit for Professional Work Experience indicates that a student has received credit by successfully documenting professional work experience closely related to defined course work, or degree requirements. Qualified experience may include occupational, supervisory or managerial skills obtained in industry, business, military, professional, or service occupations. The experience shall be from employment or workshop learning, recent and relevant, and of satisfactory performance.
College credit granted through Professional Work Experience shall not be based on hours of experience but on relevant college level learning attained. To be considered for credit toward degree requirements, experience must have been at increasingly rigorous levels of learning equivalent to the level of difficulty associated with college course work. Learning must meet standards as set by the course syllabi for which credit would be granted. The life/work experience must have taken place within 5 years prior to the request date.
Student Responsibilities
- Meet with Pathway Program Coordinator/Dean for initial interview.
- Identify courses that best match knowledge and expertise.
- After advising from the Pathway Program Coordinator/Dean, follow instructions provided by an approved portfolio builder website to complete a digital portfolio.
- Submit the completed portfolio(s) to the Pathway Program Coordinator to be evaluated by a Portfolio Review Team. This team will be made up of the Pathway Program Dean, the Pathway Program Coordinator, and the Vice President of Instruction.
Procedures
Pathway Program Coordinator/Dean
- Conduct initial assessment of knowledge and skills during interview.
- If applicable, refer student to list of approved portfolio builder websites.
- Review submitted portfolio and assessment.
- Submit completed portfolio with PLA application form to Student Information Services.
Student Information Services
- Complete PLA application and submit for review and approval of college credit hours aligned to student’s declared degree plan credits and post to student transcript.
- Upon approval, transcription of credit, notification to student, application of hold and charges.
PLA credits may be granted for several national examinations including: College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB). Any student interested in demonstrating their knowledge by passing an exam needs to be advised first if the exam(s) are applicable to the student’s degree plan.
College Level Examination Program (CLEP): A CLEP exam allows students to demonstrate mastery of college-level knowledge in a particular subject. For additional information, refer to https://clep.collegeboard.org
Advanced Placement (AP): While attending high school, students are able to pursue college-level studies with the opportunity to earn college credit by taking AP exams. For additional information, refer to http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/about.html.
International Baccalaureate (IB): IB exams are administered for students at specific high schools that follow the IB curriculum.
Student Responsibilities
- Register for exam, pay applicable fee, and request scores to be sent directly to Hill College.
- If test was taken previously, contact test administrator and request scores to be sent directly to Hill College.
Procedures
Advising and Success Center
- Review and assess official exam scores.
- Complete PLA application and submit for review and approval
Instruction
- Vice President of Instruction reviews and approves documentation.
Student Information Services
- Upon approval, transcription of credit, notification to student, application of hold and charges.
Advanced Placement
| Test Name | Minimum Score | Credits | Course(s) | Fits Core Requirements | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art History | 3 | 6 | ARTS 1303, 1304 | Core | |
| Biology | 3 | 4 | BIOL 1406 | Core | |
| Biology | 4 | 8 | BIOL 1406, 1407 | Core | |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 | MATH 2413 | ||
| Calculus AB | 4 | 8 | MATH 2413, 2414 | Core | |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 4 | MATH 2413 | Core | |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 8 | MATH 2413, 2414 | Core | |
| Chemistry | 3 | 8 | CHEM 1405, 1407 | ||
| Chemistry | 4 | 8 | CHEM 1411, 1412 | Core | |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 8 | COSC 1436, 1437 | ||
| Computer Science AB | 4 | 12 | COSC 1436, 1437, 2436 | ||
| English Language and Comp | 3 | 3 | ENGL 1301 | Core | |
| English Language and Comp | 4 | 6 | ENGL 1301, 1302 | Core | |
| English Literature and Comp | 3 | 3 | ENGL 2322 | Core | |
| English Literature and Comp | 4 | 6 | ENGL 2322, 2323 | Core | |
| French - Language | 3 | 4 | FREN 1411 | ||
| French - Language | 4 | 8 | FREN 1411, 1412 | ||
| French - Language | 5 | 14 | FREN 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312 | ||
| German - Language | 3 | 4 | GERM 1411 | ||
| German - Language | 4 | 8 | GERM 1411, 1412 | ||
| German - Language | 5 | 14 | GERM 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312 | ||
| US Government & Political Science | 3 | 3 | GOVT2305 | Core | |
| History - European | 3 | 6 | HIST 2311, 2312 | ||
| History - US | 3 | 6 | HIST 1301, 1302 | Core | |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | GEOG 1303 | Core | |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 2301 | Core | |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 2302 | Core | |
| Music Theory | 3 | 3 | MUSI 1311 | ||
| Physics B | 3 | 8 | PHYS 1401, 1402 | Core | |
| Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism | 3 | 4 | PHYS 2426 | Core | |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 | PHYS 2425 | Core | |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | PSYC 2301 | Core | |
| Spanish - Language | 3 | 4 | SPAN 1411 | ||
| Spanish - Language | 4 | 8 | SPAN 1411, 1412 | ||
| Spanish - Language | 5 | 14 | SPAN 1411, 1412, 2311, 2312 | ||
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | MATH1342 | Core | |
| Studio Art-Drawing | 3 | 3 | ARTS 1316 | ||
CLEP Computerized Test Subject Exams
| Test Name | Minimum Score | Credits | Course(s) | Fits Core Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Accounting | 50 | 4 | ACCT 2401 | |
| Principles of Management | 50 | 3 | BMGT 1303 | |
| Biology | 50 | 8 | BIOL 1406, 1407 | Core |
| Introductory Business Law | 50 | 3 | BUSI 2301 | |
| Chemistry | 50 | 8 | CHEM 1411, 1412 | Core |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | 50 | 3 | ECON 2301 | Core |
| Principles of Microeconomics | 50 | 3 | ECON 2302 | Core |
| College Composition with Essay | 50 | 6 | ENGL 1301, 1302 | Core |
| English Literature | 50 | 3 | ENGL 2322 | Core |
| American Literature | 50 | 3 | ENGL 2327 | Core |
| French Language, Level 1 Proficiency | 50 | 8 | FREN 1411, 1412 | |
| French Language, Level 2 Proficiency | 59 | 11 | FREN 1411, 1412, 2311 | |
| German Language, Level 1 Proficiency | 50 | 8 | GERM 1411, 1412 | |
| German Language, Level 2 Proficiency | 60 | 11 | GERM 1411, 1412, 2311 | |
| History of the US I: Early Colonization | 50 | 3 | HIST 1301 | Core |
| History of the US II: 1865 to Present | 50 | 3 | HIST 1302 | Core |
| Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648 | 50 | 3 | HIST 2311 | |
| Western Civilization II: 1648 to Present | 50 | 3 | HIST 2312 | |
| Principles of Marketing | 50 | 3 | MRKG 1311 | |
| College Algebra | 50 | 3 | MATH 1314 | Core |
| Precalculus | 50 | 4 | MATH 2412 | Core |
| Information Systems | 50 | 3 | BCIS 1305 | Core |
| Calculus I | 50 | 4 | MATH 2413 | Core |
| Introductory Psychology | 50 | 3 | PSYC 2301 | Core |
| Human Growth and Development | 50 | 3 | PSYC 2314 | Core |
| Introductory Sociology | 50 | 3 | SOCI 1301 | Core |
| Spanish Language, Level 1 Proficiency | 50 | 8 | SPAN 1411, 1412 | |
| Spanish Language, Level 2 Proficiency | 63 | 11 | SPAN 1411, 1412, 2311 | |
| Humanities | 50 | 3 | HUMA 1301 | |
Credit awarded by exam assessments are developed by the academic or career education credit program(s) and administered by the Pathway Program Coordinator and/or the Hill College Testing Center. The Pathway Program Coordinator along with department faculty determine which course can be challenged and the competencies that will be assessed based on the learning outcomes for the course. All assessments are similar to exams administered in a traditional course, and the same assessment is used at all campuses/centers. Depending upon the nature of the course, the examination may consist of practical demonstration(s) of competence. In order to successfully earn internal credit by exam, the student must demonstrate mastery equivalent to a letter grade of B or higher.
NOTE: Internal Credit by Exam can only be attempted once per course and may not be offered for courses for which CLEP is available. Additionally, Internal Credit by Exam may not be offered for activity or performance courses. Credit for CLEP, AP, IB, departmental examinations or combination thereof may not exceed 50% of certificate/degree requirements. There is a $25 transcription fee per course.
Student Responsibilities
- Consult with Pathway Program Coordinator of the area for which you are seeking credit.
- If it is determined that an Internal Credit by Exam is applicable, request and complete the PLA application.
- Submit the completed application to Pathway Program Coordinator for signature.
- Schedule test with Testing Center and/or Pathway Program Coordinator.
Procedures
Pathway Program Coordinator
- Advise student regarding assessment requirements and provide an application if applicable.
- Sign completed application.
- Schedule exams and provide students with date, time, and location details.
- Evaluate exam and determine score; if students earned a passing grade, sign the application and forward with exam to the Pathway Dean for signature.
Pathway Dean
- Review completed application and sign.
- For passing scores, submit application and paid receipt to Vice President of Instruction.
Vice President of Instruction
- Review completed application and sign.
- Submit to Student Information Services
Student Information Services
- Upon approval, transcription of credit, notification to student, application of hold and charges.
A Mirror Course is the articulation of a Continuing Education Unit (CEU) or non-credit course into Semester Credit Hour (SCH) applicable toward a certificate or degree. Students have the opportunity to earn college SCH for certain qualifying Job Training & Workforce Partnerships (JTWP) courses once they are fully admitted into the College.
NOTE: There is no fee for this prior learning assessment when the CEU is completed through Hill College JTWP department. Students seeking CEU to SCH conversion must request and submit PLA application within one (1) year of completion of the JTWP course.
Prior to start of JTWP course identified for CEU-to-SCH conversion:
The Pathway Program Coordinator reviews and approves credentials of JTWP instructor. The credentials must meet the requirements for the credit course.
The Pathway Program Coordinator reviews and approves the syllabus prepared for the JTWP course. The syllabus must meet all credit requirements including, but not limited to, curriculum, textbook, and student learning outcomes.
The Pathway Program Coordinator reviews and approves the students based upon the prerequisites stipulated for that course which may include reading, writing, and math prerequisites.
Student Responsibilities
- Consult with Pathway Program Coordinator of the area for which you are seeking credit.
- If it is determined that CEU to SCH is applicable, request and complete the PLA application.
Procedures
Pathway Program Coordinator
- Verify student passed JTWP course with grade required for conversion and met all admission requirements for the credit program selected.
- Approve conversion of CEU to SCH by signing and forwarding required application to the Pathway Dean.
Pathway Dean
- Review and approve by signing application.
- Forward form to Vice President of Instruction.
Vice President of Instruction
- Review and approve by signing application
- Forward form and related documents to the Student Information Services.
Student Information Services
- Upon approval, transcription of credit, notification to student, application of hold and charges.
Hill College provides pathways for individuals who earn professional certification locally, regionally, and nationally. The College has developed a process to assess the non-credit courses taken as part of certain training programs and then provides students with credits toward Certificates and Associates degrees.
Credit is based on competencies demonstrated through successful completion of the certification or state licensure assessment.
Student Responsibilities
- Submit official transcripts to Student Information Services.
- Provide documentation of certification or licensure.
Procedures
Pathway Program Coordinator/Dean
- Review and assess transcript.
- Verify that training was successfully completed, and certification or license earned.
- Complete the application, review and sign.
- Submit application to the Vice President of Instruction
Vice President of Instruction
- Review and approve by signing application
- Forward form and related documents to the Student Information Services.
Student Information Services
- Upon approval, transcription of credit, notification to student, application of hold and charges.