CREDIT FOR PRIOR EXPERIENCE
INCLUDING FACULTY LETTERS
Besides evaluation of unusual programs, faculty are involved in three types of approval for credit for prior study and life experience: credit by exam, internship credit for previous experience, credit by portfolios demonstrating learning and documenting experience. ASA needs some fairly specific information from faculty asked to write supporting letters about the granting of such credit. In order to make sure that ASA has the information it needs and in order to facilitate the faculty members task, the following guidelines may be helpful. I also have documentation on file in my office of previous awards of credit for prior experience that you may review as samples. By its very nature, credit for prior experience is a case-by-case matter, and faculty will need to determine what kinds of documentation, papers, etc., they want from students in order to determine whether they would recommend to ASA the granting of credit.
Credit by examination
"At the discretion of the instructor, taking and passing an examination designed by the instructor of a Wells course to cover the material of that course."
If the final examination for the course, as most recently offered, for example, covered the whole course comprehensively, the final could be used. Or, the faculty member could construct a special examination. Please note that this credit option will give the student credit for a specific Wells course. That course could be used for breadth requirements and for the requirements of a major or minor. (Max. of 2 courses, 6-8 semester hours)
Internship credit
"Submitting material in evidence of previous experience (Paid and nonpaid) for approval for internship credit by the relevant discipline internship coordinator and by the Academic Standing and Advising Committee. Approval is normally given only for work completed after high school graduation and is based on written material submitted by the student, describing in detail the experience gained and its relationship to his/her academic work, and a letter of evaluation from a supervisor or employer."
The student must submit a job description that has the approval of her former supervisor (sometimes we have used the standard internship form available from Career Services for this) and an evaluating letter from a supervisor. It is up to the faculty member to determine what other documentation would be needed. Some examples have been a videotape of a newscast presented by a student earning internship credit in communications and a portfolio-like set of examples of work in public relations. We may need to exercise creativity; for example, one student ran her own business and had no supervisory letters.
From the faculty member ASA will need a letter with the following:
• a statement recommending that the student receive internship credit for the experience
• the listing/level for each internship (e.g. PSY 290, PSY 390)
• the number of semester hours for each internship
• for students majoring in the area, an indication of whether each internship applies to the major and if a substitutes for a requirement in the major
A brief description of the basis for the evaluation might also be helpful.
The student should also write a letter or a petition asking for credit.
Credit by portfolio
"Submitting portfolios that demonstrate learning and document experience. Such portfolios shall be presented, developed, and articulated in consultation with a faculty members. Portfolios approved by the faculty member shall be submitted to the Academic Standing and Advising Committee for credit approval." (Max. of 2 courses, 6-8 semester hours)
ASA wants to see the actual portfolio, NOT to judge its content or to "second-guess" the faculty evaluation of the work, but rather to assure that comparable credit is given for comparable portfolios over time. The faculty member should work with the student in deciding what to include in a portfolio. Examples: numerous samples of graphic design produced in a job setting; certificates or instructor letters from language courses taken at unusual locations (Hebrew in a Kibbutz, for example); an academic paper required by a faculty member on readings the student had done privately on death and dying. Since this category has proven to be the one with the most variable types of experience for which students have been awarded credit, faculty member involvement is both important and difficult.
From the faculty member ASA will need a letter with the following:
• an evaluation of the quality of the portfolio presented
• a statement recommending that the student receive credit by portfolio
• an indication of a possible listing/level for each course to receive credit. The recommendation can be for a specific Wells course, e.g. "ART 117 by portfolio" or "Portfolio: Computer Graphic Design" The Registrar will have to determine exactly how each transcript entry is worded, but faculty suggestions would be very helpful.
• the number of semester hours for each course by portfolio. (If the recommendation is for a specific Wells course, e.g., ART 117 above, the number of semester hours would be the same as the regular course.)
• for students majoring in the area, an indication of whether each course applies to the major and if a substitutes for a requirement in the major
A brief description of the basis for the evaluation might also be helpful.
The student should also write a letter or a petition asking for credit.
This page (Credit for Prior Experience) is maintained by Diane Koester, Associate Dean for Academic and Learning Resources and Director of Academic Advising, who is solely responsible for its content. Please see our Statement of Responsibility. Last updated June 7, 2005.
Return to Advising at Wells College (top-level page on advising).