Definition
The process of evaluating and potentially granting college credit for knowledge gained outside the classroom through work experience, military training, or independent study. One person's life experience is another person's tuition money saved.
Example Usage
Through prior learning assessment, my military training in logistics earned me 15 credits toward my supply chain management degree.
Origin
Formalized in the 1970s by adult education advocates, expanded significantly in the 2000s
Fun Fact
Students using prior learning assessment are 2.5 times more likely to graduate than peers with similar backgrounds who don't, yet many institutions resist offering it due to lost tuition revenue.
Source: Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) standards
Related Terms
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See “prior learning assessment” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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