Experiential Learning Program
Effective July 1 , 2009

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can participate in experiential learning?

Students who are enrolled in Ohio University degree programs, whether on the Athens campus, a branch campus or as an External Student. Students should discuss this option with their advisors and be referred to the coordinator of the program for permission be fore enrolling.

How does the portfolio development work?

After students are admitted to the External Student Program and determine (in consultation with their advisors) that their learning is both creditable and applicable to t heir degrees, they enroll in UC 203 by correspondence.

UC 203 takes the student, step by step, through the process of developing a portfolio. Part of that process is identifying Ohio University courses that match their learning. For each course identified, the students write a "portfolio" wh ich argues that they have learned, by experience, what in-class students have learned. The evaluation of the portfolio is done by faculty members who teach the courses in question.

Are students successful in this program?

Yes. More than 90% of courses requested are eventually awarded to students. This is a result of careful advising and our knowledge of what will and won't work through experiential learning. One-fourth of a degree from Ohio University can be portfolio credit; this translates to a limit of 24 quarter hours for an Associate's degree and 48 quarter hours for a Bachelor's. The average credit award , however, is about 25 quarter hours.

What kinds of learning can be accredited through portfolio?

An exhaustive list isn't possible, but we can give you some broad ideas of areas that will and won't work.

Good are as for portfolio credit: most business backgrounds (exception: accounting courses); communication (journalism, communication studies, communication systems, telecommunications); writing, many technology programs; aviation; recreation; environmental health; industrial hygiene.

Over 700 different courses at Ohio University hav e been awarded through portfolio over the years.

Areas difficult to impossible through portfolio: bachelor-level engineering (exception: engineering technology programs); education; agriculture; most allied health or alternative health programs; fine arts.

Wh at does portfolio credit look like on a transcript?

Portfolio credit is awarded by the regular course number, but is given "CR" (credit) rather than a grade. It is preceded by the title "Experiential Learning."

Example
Experiential Learning
MGT 300 Principles of Management 4 credits CR

How long will it take me to do a portfolio?

This is an impossible question to answer, because students vary considerably in how much credit they request, how much time they can dev ote to compiling the portfolio, and how they have enrolled. On-campus students have six months to complete the course, while students enrolled in the External Student Program and taking the correspondence-course version of UC 203 have eight months.

FEES

The costs for Experiential Learning fall into two categories: fees for the UC 203 course and fees for the portfolio assessment.

Fees for the UC 203 cou rse:

For distance learners, UC 203 is charged regular Independent and Distance Learning tuition for four quarter hours. For on-campus students, regular tuition rates apply. In addition, there is a $40.00 administrative fee and a $45.00 fee for the textbooks.

Fees for Portfolio Assessment

After the portfolio is completed and submitted, the student is charged an assessment fee for each course (not quarter hour) requested. For the 2007-2008 school year this fee is $200.00.

 

An example: A student identifies five different courses (totaling 21 quarter hours) he will attempt through portfolio. He will be charged 5 x $200.00, or $1,000.0 0, to have his portfolio assessed. There is no additional charge for transcripting awarded portfolio credit.

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