Michigan Center for Student Success Community College Application*
For Becoming a LearningCounts.org Featured Network Institution
Three institutions within the Michigan Student Success Network will be chosen to receive grant assistance
from the Kresge Foundation in order to become LearningCounts Featured Network Institutions.
Benefits for Selected Colleges
Assistance will include a waiver of the initial implementation cost ($2795), LearningCounts annual fees
($7,500-10,500 depending on school size), and CAEL membership costs for two years. Colleges will also have
the option to receive LearningCounts portfolio assessment training for up to twenty faculty members
($12,000). LearningCounts will provide instructors and all course materials for students in their online one
credit portfolio development course as well as training for staff and advisors of selected colleges.
LearningCounts will also provide marketing materials and customized marketing assistance to the selected
colleges.
Expectations of Selected Colleges
Selected colleges will offer the one-credit LearningCounts experiential portfolio development course each
semester for two years through their institution. Colleges will collect tuition and fees from students, and will
pay $200 per enrolled student to LearningCounts.
*Due by close of business on April 30, 2015. Please return this completed document to
khimmerick@cael.org. Any questions, please contact Kristen Himmerick, Senior Director of
LearningCounts, at 312-499-2360 or khimmerick@cael.org.
Please respond to the following questions in no more than four pages (excluding attachments).
Institution Name:
Name of Person Submitting this Application:
Title:
Telephone:
Email:
1. What are your current Prior Learning Assessment offerings? Please describe which PLA methods (e.g., ACE
credit evaluations, standardized tests, portfolio, challenge exams) are currently accepted at your institution.
Attach a copy of all policies and procedures related to PLA.
2. Please describe who currently determines and implements PLA policies and practices at your institution.
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Please also provide contact information for those responsible for the following activities at your institution, if
they are in use:
(a) teaching experiential portfolio development courses:
(b) evaluating portfolios for credit recommendations:
(c) determining how PLA is transcribed:
(d) determining how PLA credits from other institutions are accepted:
3. Identify who at your campus would serve as the LearningCounts coordinator for this project and provide
their contact information.
4. Why are you interested in participating in as a Featured Network institution and how does it relate to your
strategic plan and/or institutional goals with regard to both adult learners and your PLA program?
5. What do you anticipate as potential barriers to expanding PLA practices at your campus through
LearningCounts.org and how would participation as a Featured Network Institution help to address these
barriers?
Please indicate by placing an “X” that your institution will commit to the following:
Designate a single point-of-contact at your institution for LearningCounts.org.
The LearningCounts Project Manager at your campus will be responsible for coordinating LearningCounts
on campus including disseminating new information about the program and ensuring that institutional
staff receives appropriate training and support.
Participate as a Featured Network Institution of LearningCounts.org for at least 2 years.
Agree to collect tuition and fees from participating students for the program. Colleges will be billed
quarterly ($200/student participant).
Market PLA to students. LearningCounts will provide marketing guidance to the
college as part of the project.
______ Allow LearningCounts to provide PLA training to advisers and admissions staff.
List LearningCounts.org credit recommendations as residential credits on student
transcripts.
For a period of three (3) years, agree to provide LearningCounts with information about the
academic success of your students following their enrollment in CAEL 100 (e.g., student record data
regarding degree completion, course enrollment, grades earned in subsequent courses in the same area
of study as the equivalent courses in their PLA portfolio). LearningCounts would agree to request this
information no more than three times during this period. LearningCounts would also agree to assist you in
any Institutional Review Board approvals needed.
The undersigned duly authorized representative of ____________________________, acting for and on behalf of
said institution, verifies that the above information provided is true and accurate.
Signature: ______________________________________
Date: ________________
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return to khimmerick@cael.org by April 30, 2015
4/9/2015