Mark Potter, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President for Academic & Civic Collaboration
Metropolitan State University of Denver P.O. Box 173362 Campus Box 48
Denver, CO 80217-3362 USA
V (303) 352-7331 – F (303) 556-4558 – E mpotte10@msudenver.edu
July 9, 2014
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Dr. Vicki Golich, Provost and VP for Academic and Student Affairs
Dr. Sheila Rucki, President of the Faculty Senate
FROM:
Dr. Mark Potter, AVP for Academic and Civic Collaboration
RE:
Prior Learning Assessment for Veteran Students
During the 2013/14 academic year, the Faculty Senate approved Catalog language developed by members of the Prior
Learning Assessment Task Force that provides for clarity and fairness in how students are assessed and granted credit
for prior learning. The new Catalog language provides broad policy direction for what is allowable in the realm of
Prior Learning Assessment.
The attached policy proposal is intended to supplement existing Catalog language with respect specifically to military
veterans. Currently, veterans can obtain credit for training and for Mlitary Occupational Specialties that are evaluated
by ACE. Too often, though, the course equivalents identified by ACE either do not exist as MSU Denver courses, or
they are not useful to veteran students for the completion of their degrees. The attached transfer policy supplements
the course-by-course approach by offering a package of credits that has been arrived at through careful examination
of military experiences. The elective credits that are part of this package are in alignment with the credits obtained
through successful completion of an undergraduate ROTC program. Credit for SPE 1010 for veterans who have
achieved an E5 rank is based on the learning outcomes verified by ACE of the training experiences that are typical as
a pathway to that leadership level; and the Global Diversity waiver for veterans who have been deployed abroad is
based on the learning outcomes that are included in the pre-deployment training as well as in the in-country saturation
experience during deployment. Veteran students who receive this package of transfer credit will remain eligible for
additional credit based on the existing practice of determining course-by-course equivalencies of ACE-evaluated
trainings and Military Occupational Specialties.
In the interest of providing clear and transparent information to students, members of the PLA Task Force propose
adding brief language to the Catalog (see attachment, highlighted section) that details this package of transfer credit. It
is our belief that this enhancement to existing policy does not depart in substantive ways from what the Faculty Senate
approved in AY 2013/14. Typically, transfer equivalencies are determined and tracked through collaboration between
the Transfer Office and affected academic departments. This transfer policy is and will be managed in much the same
way. The Faculty Senate General Studies Committee has vetted and approved the granting of Oral Communications
Credit and Global Diversity Waiver under the conditions stated; the affected departments that offer Oral
Communications courses (Communication Arts & Sciences; Modern Languages; Honors Program) have vetted and
approved the granting of Oral Communications credit; and the Communication Arts & Sciences Department has
agreed that the Oral Communications credit should be transferred in as SPE 1010. Written statements of support
from each of these committees/units is available upon request.
Office of Academic and Student Affairs. Campus Box 48. P.O. Box 173362. Denver, CO 80217-3362. Phone: 303-556-3040. Fax: 303-556-4558