FAQ

You can earn up to 45 credit hours or the equivalent of 15 college courses through Portfolio.

Start by checking with your admissions representative or advisor to determine if you are a candidate for our three-credit portfolio course, ED202: Prior Learning Assessment. If you are, enroll in the class. The class is required before you may petition for credit through the portfolio.

You will learn to demonstrate your learning by submitting one or more portfolios for faculty assessment. Most portfolios are comparable to three credit hours. When you complete the ED202 course, and turn in a completed portfolio, you will have earned three credits for the course and possibly three more after your portfolio has been assessed, for a total of six semester credits.

Portfolio credits may be used for your core and/or general electives and one half (1/2) of your major or minor degree requirements. Always check with your portfolio specialist or advisor before writing any portfolios to ensure the credits can be used in your personal degree plan requirements.

Students may also utilize prior learning assessment options such as testing to fulfill degree requirements.

Students should request a transcript for college credit from ACE (American Council on Education) to evaluated courses and certificates acquired through workplace coursework or training. Regis College for Professional Studies considers any courses evaluated by ACE as transfer credit. Check with your admissions epresentative or advisor for details.

Regis University offers numerous courses which you can use for your portfolio. In addition, you may choose a course description from another regionally accredited college or university. Check with your Faculty Advisor before using a non-Regis course description.

Examples of some of the more popular courses which have been petitioned for portfolio credit include:

• Business Software Applications
• Customer Service
• Computer Science Fundamentals
• Office Management
• Interviewing Techniques
• Small Group Communication
• Coaching
• Database Management
• Marketing
• Word Processing and Internet Use
• Managing a Small Business, etc.

Your faculty member will guide you step-by-step through the process of completing a successful portfolio which demonstrates your prior learning.

Your initial portfolio will include:

• An expanded resume and learning goal
• A 12-18 page essay describing in detail your prior learning related to a specific course
• Documentation which provides evidence of your learning

Students pay the current Regis University tuition rate for the ED202 three-credit hour course (currently $390 per credit hour for online). Portfolio assessment fees (currently $115 per credit hour) are required when submitting each portfolio.

Fees for subsequent portfolio assessment will be determined by the portfolio assessment fee schedule in effect at the time of the submission of the portfolio. Submission is defined as the date payment is made. The portfolio assessment fee is on a per credit hour basis. Assessment fees are non-refundable.

Check the Regis University bulletin or contact any of our campuses for current tuition and assessment fee rates.

Required materials for classroom students include the ED202 course text, Prior Learning Assessment: The Portfolio Process and the Learning Style Inventory. Both are available in any of the campus bookstores.

There is also a first night assignment for classroom-based ED202 students. Please see the Overview and syllabus for more information.

The ED202: Prior Learning Assessment course is offered online in eight week sessions.

Students need to register for an online section. Students who register for this user-friendly online section will receive a password to access the classroom's discussion group and course module. Please specify your email address when registering for this section.

For sections and campus locations, check the PLA Portfolio Course Schedule, contact service line at 303-458-7420 or 800-568-8932, or use our convenient online registration.

Yes! As an adult student, you have already acquired considerable learning through work, training, military, community, and family experiences.

Ask yourself:

• Have I created spreadsheets for work or for my personal use?
• Do I use a computer and email or use word processing on a regular basis?
• Have I managed or supervised people?
• Do I have experience in public speaking?
• Have I used project management principles and techniques to manage projects?
• Have I interviewed prospective employees and done performance appraisals?
• Do I own my own business?
• Does my job require me to know marketing strategies?
• Have I learned effective advertising and promotion practices?

If you said yes to any of the items listed above, you may have acquired enough knowledge through your experience to earn college credit. Although this learning occurred outside a formal classroom setting, much of it is comparable to college level courses.

Thousands of Regis students have been surprised to find out that they have many work and life learning experiences which they can convert into college credit. For example, students with knowledge of software applications such as word processing, email, and spreadsheets have converted their learning to earn three credits in Business Software Applications.

Students who use prior learning to earn college credit save a significant amount of time completing their degree plan, save money and can spend more time learning new information!

During the class, students complete self-assessment activities designed to help them understand their learning styles and explore the learning experiences that are comparable to college-level course work.

A Portfolio Specialist assists each student in the process of selecting portfolio courses and checks to match the student's prior learning with his or her degree requirements.

Students are also instructed on a unique method of writing about their learning using the Kolb Model of Experiential Learning as well as ways to supply documentation for each course petitioned.

Since the portfolio process requires significant writing, we recommend that students complete their required writing courses before enrolling in the course ED202: Prior Learning Assessment.

Clarke Hall #241
3333 Regis Blvd, L-4
Denver, CO 80221-1099
Phone: 303-458-3531 or 1-800-967-3237 x3531
Email: portfolio@regis.edu

"At forty-four I found myself a candidate for promotion at my company. However, a bachelor's degree was a requirement and I had never attended college before. Even though my employer paid for my education, completing a four year degree part-time seemed impossible to me.

By using Regis' Portfolio and Testing options, I earned over half of my degree gaining 73 credits for knowledge I acquired through years of work and life experiences. This allowed me to concentrate on the core of my business studies, while saving over three years time. Now I have that promotion and the time needed to complete my MBA studies at Regis, so I won't miss my next career opportunity."
Jim Hardt, Assistant Sales Manager, Cooley Gravel Company

"Returning to school after years of raising a family and working was very intimidating for me. Through the portfolio program, I improved my writing skills and gained self-confidence by recognizing and validating what I had already learned! I was awarded the full 45 credit hours in Portfolio for course work as varied as Computer Science, Advanced First Aid and CPR and Successful Parenting. The portfolio process of identifying and describing learning experiences provided me with a strong framework to excel in my other course work."
Gayla O'Fallon, Martin & Associates

"I can't say enough good things about the Portfolio program at Regis University. By receiving college credit for my life's learning experiences, I was able to accelerate my undergraduate degree by eight months.

Portfolio credits saved me countless classroom hours and thousands of tuition dollars. I created seven essays on subjects ranging from adult spiritual life and growth to the fundamentals of professional sales and marketing.

I found the process of evaluating my own personal, spiritual, and professional learning in terms of college courses to be invigorating. I never realized how much I really knew about so many subjects until I sat down to analyze my skills and knowledge! I was given personalized support and guidance from a wonderfully talented instructor who continually encouraged me to dig deeper into myself and produce quality, college-level work. I owe so much to Regis University and the portfolio process."
Renee Palmer-Jones, Director in a Non-Profit