Students who have worked a job, served in the military or done community or volunteer work can get college credit toward a degree or certificate at Front Range Community College.
The college — which includes a campus in Longmont and Westminster — will allow students to apply for credit for prior learning starting Nov. 15. The assessment process to see if prior experience translates to credits usually comes with a fee. But through April 30, 2023, the college is waiving the fee and making the assessment free of charge, say school officials.
FRCC Dean Debra Throgmorton said most people learn a lot outside of the traditional classroom. “By formally evaluating and recognizing their expertise, we can help them get closer to earning a college credential,” Throgmorton said in a FRCC news release.
Students who earn credit for prior learning finish college faster because they don’t have to take classes in the subjects they’ve already mastered. On average they save between $1,600 and $6,000 in the process — and a lot of time and effort as well, the news release states.
The college says students who apply for and earn credit for prior learning are more likely to complete a college credential than students who don’t. FRCC students can earn credit for knowledge or skills that they’ve acquired through:
- Work and life experiences
- On-the-job training
- Community and volunteer extension courses
- Military training
- Individual study and reading
- Civic, community and volunteer work
- Participation in informal courses and training sponsored by associations, business, government or industry
FRCC evaluates a student’s prior knowledge or skills to see if they qualify for college credit. The evaluation can be done through an exam or a portfolio that demonstrates the applicable knowledge. Students who show that they’ve mastered the subject matter are granted college credit for what they already know, according to the news release.
A grant from the Colorado Community College System has enabled FRCC to temporarily waive the evaluation fees for all students.
Students can learn more about the prior learning experience program on Nov. 15, from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. in a bilingual, virtual presentation.
Students can also register for the event at:https://frontrange.formstack.com/forms/registration_for_credit_for_prior_learning_info_event_fall_2022
