Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Campus & Community
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Campus & Community

Prior Learning Experience May Transition to College Credits

Tuesday, April 7, 2020, By Eileen Jevis
Share
School of EducationStudentsUniversity College

Vincente Cuevas is a health promotions coordinator at the Barnes Center at The Arch. Blaine Moore works for the 274th Air Support Operations Squadron at Hancock Airport. And Mary Welker works in the Office of Professional Research and Development in the School of Education. They hope their years of professional experience will convert to college credits.

These three students were part a of pilot program created through a partnership between University College and the School of Education. The Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) program evaluates students’ knowledge gained through professional experience to determine if they qualify for college credits. The online pilot program took place in fall 2019.

person standing in mountains

Blaine Moore

Moore has a wide range of knowledge and experience from his work in the military as a tactical air control party specialist (TACP). He has also worked for various building contractors that specialized in commercial diving, geothermal heating, electrical, plumbing and carpentry. Moore earned an associate’s degree in strategic operations management from the Community College of the Air Force. Currently, he has specialized skills as a joint terminal attack controller (JTAC). To qualify for the position, Moore went through extensive training, including the U.S. Air Force TACP Apprentice Course, the U.S. Air Force Basic Survival School, the U.S. Army Basic Airborne Course and the JTAC Qualification Course.

Moore learned about the PLA program through a friend at the University. Because his goal is to obtain a bachelor’s degree, he thought the program was a great opportunity to examine his current and past experience.

“Along with the assignments and discussions, the course provides in-depth models and tools that allow you to go back through the years and retrieve prior learning experience,” says Moore. “Those exercises were very valuable, and I learned the importance of properly documenting the valuable skills and knowledge I’ve obtained in my life.”

Moore says that the course being offered online was an added benefit. “At the time of the course, I was deployed in support of a NATO mission in Eastern Europe and unable to be on campus.”

Cuevas was also pleased that the course was online. “It allowed me to balance work, life and school and not feel overwhelmed,” Cuevas says.

Cuevas is a sophomore in the bachelor of professional studies program at University College. His first professional position was as a customer service liaison for the Statue of Liberty and the Ellis Island Ferry service. He has also worked in various positions in the retirement savings field.

head shot

Vincente Cuevas

“One rarely thinks of their professional experience translating into college credits unless you are challenged to do so,” says Cuevas. “Once you reflect and acknowledge the professional competencies you’ve garnered over the years, you can truly appreciate your previous experiences.”

Cuevas says instructors Jason Curry and Jason Scharf guided him and encouraged him to think about his capabilities, skills, aptitude and talents. “They challenge you to dig deep. I never would have presumed that my previous experience as a retirement savings associate taught me how to actively listen to my customers and co-workers,” he says.

“The courses in this program were among the most valuable I’ve ever taken,” adds Welker, who has worked at Syracuse University for over 15 years. In her work as an evaluator in the School of Education, she has had a great deal of experience that is translatable to college credits.

“Through reflection and guidance, the students create a portfolio that can be used to request certain college credits that may apply toward their program of study,” explains instructor Jason Scharf. “The portfolio equips students with tangible, well-documented evidence of their past accomplishments that can be used for future educational and professional pursuits.”

head shot

Mary Welker

“You are challenged to think about things from other points of view, and as you go through the exercises, you develop intellectual traits of confidence, fair-mindedness and perseverance,” says Welker.

Welker says that upon reflecting on her own past learning experiences her understanding of the phrase “learning” doesn’t just happen in the classroom or office. “As a mother of a child with learning disabilities, you become an expert in learning disabilities. As a mother of a child with an autoimmune disease, you become an expert in that area as well,” she explains. “These experiences require research, management and communication skills—all which are required in college classrooms.”

“The course provides you the tools to think retrospectively and proactively,” adds Cuevas. “You are able to take these experiences and use them to enhance your value as an employee and as an individual. You begin to see your self-worth and how much you bring to the table as an individual contributor in every part of your life.”

The three-credit Prior Learning Assessment course is taught in an eight-week format completely online with one live session each week. It will be taught in the Fall 2020 semester. For more information call 315.443.3261 or email parttime@syr.edu.

  • Author

Eileen Jevis

  • Recent
  • Men’s Soccer Team Gives Back to Syracuse Community for Season of Support
    Friday, June 2, 2023, By Kathleen Haley
  • June 30 Deadline Set for Fiscal 2023 Year End Business
    Wednesday, May 31, 2023, By News Staff
  • DPS Accepting Sign-Ups for R.A.D. Summer Session
    Wednesday, May 31, 2023, By Alex Haessig
  • Syracuse Stage Adds 2 Musicals to 50th Anniversary Season
    Wednesday, May 31, 2023, By Joanna Penalva
  • Supporting, Advocating for Trans Youth Will Help Them Thrive As Adults
    Friday, May 26, 2023, By Daryl Lovell

More In Campus & Community

Men’s Soccer Team Gives Back to Syracuse Community for Season of Support

After their hard-earned National Championship season, energized by an outpouring of support, the Syracuse men’s soccer team wanted to respond in gratitude back to the community. Team members Noah Singelmann ’22 and Julius Rauch ’24 started a program, Sincere Impact,…

Project Mend Builds Community Through Writing for Those Impacted by the Justice System

For many years, Patrick W. Berry never told anyone that his father had been incarcerated for much of his life, as had several other members of Berry’s extended family. In fact, he tried not to think much about it. But eventually,…

June 30 Deadline Set for Fiscal 2023 Year End Business

Cash Operations has set a deadline of 3:30 p.m. on Friday, June 30, to receive deposits at the Bowne Cash Operations office for credit in fiscal year 2023. Deposits should be made as early in the day as possible on…

DPS Accepting Sign-Ups for R.A.D. Summer Session

The Syracuse University Department of Public Safety (DPS) is currently accepting sign-ups for its R.A.D. summer session. R.A.D., which stands for Rape Aggression Defense, is a nationally known self-defense program. This women-only self-defense course is being offered exclusively to Syracuse…

Syracuse Stage Adds 2 Musicals to 50th Anniversary Season

Syracuse Stage announced two musicals that will complete the lineup for the organization’s 50th anniversary season. Audiences are immersed in the soulful music of Billie Holiday with Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Oct. 18 through Nov. 5. Closing…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
Social Media Directory

For the Media

Find an Expert Follow @SyracuseUNews
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • @SUCampus
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2023 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.