Loyalist College PLAR

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PLAR Web Page: https://www.loyalistcollege.com/future-students/prior-learning-assessment-and-recognition/

Applicant Requirements Loyalist College applicants and current students with work experience or other types of non-credentialed learning may be eligible for credits at Loyalist through prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR). Graded credits (as opposed to exemptions or transfer credit) are granted.

How do students apply? The Pathways Coordinator is the first person to contact for Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR). They can provide information on the steps involved to PLAR a course, including the costs, timelines and the next steps (i.e. setting up a meeting with the program coordinator).

Fees: $117.33 per course.

Types of PLAR offered: Course specific.

Credit award limits: Grades earned through PLAR may not count for more than 50% of the courses or credits required for graduation from a program.

Assessment methods: Challenge exam, Skills demonstration, Interview, Portfolio, Other.

Steps in PLAR process: The student will contact the Pathways Coordinator about PLAR before they start the course they wish to PLAR. The Pathways Coordinator will advise the student about the process to complete the PLAR, fees involved, and timelines. The student will meet with the program coordinator or course faculty member for the pre-assessment interview. The student will be given a detailed course outline to help determine whether the student would be a good candidate for PLAR. Based on the information received in the pre-assessment interview, the student will then decide whether or not to proceed with the PLAR process. If the student decides to proceed then the PLAR form will be completed by faculty and returned to the Pathways Coordinator to register them to PLAR. PLAR fees must be paid prior to the beginning of the assessment. For portfolio-based assessments, student will follow the instructions provided by the program coordinator or faculty as well as the instructions in the PLAR Student’s Guide to begin working on compiling their portfolio. The student will complete the PLAR and submit it to faculty for assessment within the first 10 days of the semester. For multiple course requests or complex PLAR requests, additional time may be granted after discussions with the program coordinator and the Pathways Coordinator.

The faculty will receive and assess the PLAR and makes a credit decision (Yes, No or additional documentation needed).  If credit is awarded, the faculty member will assign a grade for the course and send it to the Dean for final approval. It will then be sent to the Pathways Coordinator for processing. Faculty member informs student of status of course challenge (successful/unsuccessful) in a timely manner. Portfolio is returned to student.

Student support provided: Student’s Guide to PLAR, Pathways Coordinator.

Withdrawing from process: Information not available.

Credit recognition on transcripts: For transcript purposes, the College makes no distinction between a credit awarded through or by having taken the course.

Acceptance of other institutions’ PLAR credits: Information not available.