Students may request consideration of college credit by submitting a portfolio for assessment of college-level learning gained outside the classroom.
Faculty in the discipline for which Portfolio Credit has been requested will review the portfolio and recommend appropriate course credit based on an analysis of the Student Learning Outcomes of the requested courses and the learning documented in the portfolio. If the Portfolio Evaluator recommends credit, the portfolio will be routed to the relevant Division Dean and the Vice President for Academic Affairs for approval.
If approved, awarded credit will be posted on the transcript under the heading “Portfolio Credit” with a grade of “P” for “Pass”, which is not included in GPA calculation. Credit awarded through Portfolio Credit is not considered towards the College’s 25% graduation residency requirement.
- Portfolio Credit may not be requested for courses that offer credit by examination. Review the college catalog, Transfer and External Credit section, Credit by Exam subsection for a list of credit by exam offerings.
- Some courses may not be eligible for Portfolio Credit at the discretion of the department faculty.
- A non-refundable $25 application fee per course is required. Fee payment is a step within the application process.
Portfolio materials can vary depending on the type of course for which you are seeking Portfolio Credit.
- Cover page and detailed outline or table of contents.
- Most current course syllabus of the course petitioned for credit.
- Detailed resume to include the following: education, employment history, continuing education units, professional activities, association memberships, civic and social activities, honors, etc.
- Narrative: A detailed explanation of activities listed in the resume and the verifications, describing the theoretical and experiential knowledge as it relates to the specific course.
- Verifications: documents such as transcripts, professional certificates, documentation regarding previous military experiences, CEU’s, letters of reference from employers and colleagues, professional evaluations, testimonials, position descriptions, performance evaluations, products of professional activities, etc.
- In some cases, additional skills demonstrations or other activities may be required at the discretion of the department. Additionally, some departments may require specific elements or assignments be included in portfolios. Department-specific directions can be obtained from the Portfolio Evaluator.
The Portfolio Credit Application is a multi-step process requiring significant documentation and evaluation to assess how college-level learning gained outside the classroom aligns with the Student Learning Outcomes of the requested course.
The Portfolio Credit Application must go through the following steps:
- Student submits initial contact inquiry on the How to Apply web page to be connected with the appropriate department person for course specific information.
- Initial conversation with department person determining eligibility to apply and suggested course. If approved, the department person initiates the PLA Portfolio Credit Application dynamic form (found in My Vol State portal, Employee Forms).
- Student approval to officially submit the application form (after attaching the $25 fee payment receipt), or to withdraw the application.
- Portfolio Evaluator approval with credit recommendation.
- Division Dean approval of the recommended credit.
- Vice President of Academic Affairs approval of awarding recommended credit.
- The Records Office to post awarded credit to your account.
Please allow up to several weeks from your initial inquiry to the posting of awarded credit. Students requesting Portfolio Credit should apply at least one semester prior to graduation in case the request is denied.
Portfolio Credit can be a great opportunity to use your life experience to get one step closer to graduation. If you intend to use this credit to apply to competitive admission programs or to transfer to a 4-year institution be sure to review their admission requirements and work with your academic advisor to see if Portfolio Credit will help you meet your goals.
