Position Title:
Reports To:
Department:
Prepared By/Date:
Approved By/Date:
Revised:
Director, Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)
Associate Provost, Academic Affairs
Academic Affairs
Donna French/03-13-2012
Dr. Rolando Montoya/09-10-2013
Donna French/09-10-2013
Job Code:
Job Group:
Salary Grade:
FLSA Status:
0192
PEC
17
Exempt
Summary:
The Director provides college-wide leadership and administrative oversight of the processes and
procedures by which students may be awarded college credits for prior learning. The Director is the
point-of-contact for students seeking advice on methods of obtaining credit for prior learning and will be
the conduit for communications with both internal constituents and external stakeholders pertaining to
PLA.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
 Assists faculty and chairpersons to establish procedures to evaluate prior learning and
determine course equivalencies as appropriate
 Works with the Director of Enrollment Management, College Registrar, transcript evaluators,
and academic advisors to promote practices that award credit for prior learning
 Collaborates with the Academic Deans, School Directors, and department chairs to review
requests for approval and to establish an inventory and procedures for departmental
assessments used when awarding credit for prior learning
 Develops policies, procedures, and guidelines through which requests for prior learning credit
are reviewed internally in conjunction with the Academic Leadership Council (ALC), Student
Deans Council (SDC), and the College Registrar
 Plans and implements outreach and marketing activities to increase public awareness of the
PLA option, especially with businesses in the local community in need of enhancing the
educational credentials of their employees
 Adheres to all PLA policies and procedures necessary for compliance with external standards
as set by accrediting and licensing organizations, state and federal agencies, and other
regulatory entities
 Reviews and organizes existing procedures, develops and maintains a PLA website, collects
data, establishes benchmarks, writes reports, and provides recommendations through the
Associate Provost, Academic Affairs, to the ALC and SDC about PLA activities at the College
 Reviews MDC curriculum and programs of study to determine whether methods assessing prior
learning (e.g., portfolio, credit by exam, Gold-Star Industrial certifications) might be applicable
for awarding of credit
 Evaluates documents (college/military transcripts, standardized assessments, documentation of
experiential learning and professional certifications) and makes recommendations about
awarding course credit as appropriate
 Provides counseling to students, tracks progress, and follows a paper trail to help students
complete documentation requirements when applying for credit
 Negotiates with external agencies (e.g., Council for Adult and Experiential Learning) for portfolio
evaluation services as needed
 Conducts ongoing monitoring and evaluation of PLA activities to ensure quality services to
students, academic integrity of the process, and compliance with guidelines of external
organizations that certify the College's accreditation
 Advises students on methods of fulfilling degree requirements using PLA credits, which may
include the development of portfolios
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Provides training and professional development on PLA best practices to College constituents
and develops workshops and training for advisors and transcript evaluators to assist students
seeking credit for prior learning
Participates in academic and student services initiatives by carrying out special projects as
assigned and contributes proactively to the College's efforts for continuous improvement
Performs other duties as assigned
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
 Knowledge of practices and procedures for awarding prior learning credit
 Thorough knowledge of adult learning, adult development and various approaches and issues
related to prior learning assessment
 Understanding of the various methods by which credit may be granted for prior learning
 Demonstrates leadership and creative accomplishments in establishing new programs
 Knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and querying computer information
 Skill in providing guidance and counseling to students
 Familiarity with the academic environment, the educational process, and the role of
administration in institutions conferring the Associates and Baccalaureate degrees
 Ability to consider the impact of policies and procedures on students, faculty and administration
 Ability to analyze and manage large amounts of data, documents, and official transcripts
 Possess outstanding oral and written communication skills
 Possess excellent customer service and interpersonal skills
 Demonstrates effective organizational and time management skills
 Possess strong decision-making, problem solving, and research skills
 Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
 Ability to provide transportation and travel as needed
 Ability to establish strong collegial relationships in a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural environment
so as to work well with various constituents, faculty and staff
Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee
encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to
successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to
enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand and reach with
hands and arms. The employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects,
tools, or controls; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk and sit.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Requires physical stamina and
disposition to withstand substantial travel.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral
vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
Essential Personnel:
Non-Essential
Minimum Requirements:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty
satisfactorily.

Master's degree in an academic discipline and four (4) years of administrative experience in
higher education or a related field, evidence of leadership and creative accomplishment in
establishing new programs, counseling students, and/or working with educational leaders
(academic administrators, student services professionals, and faculty)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I have read and acknowledge receipt of a copy of my job description.
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Signature
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Printed Name
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Date