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Hang Ten—Making Waves with CLEP
Deborah Anderson M.Ed. Higher Education Consultant
What is CLEP Does it apply to my students What is the process at my institution CLEP and military Identify road blocks & solutions How do I identify a CLEP student What are my responsibilities regarding CLEP What are student responsibilities regarding
CLEP What resources are available Become an advocate
Top Ten List
Understanding CLEP Facts & Benefits
CLEP allows students to demonstrate that they have acquired mastery of college-level course content.
CLEP allows students to translate that knowledge into college credit that is commonly recognized by passing any of the program’s exams.
CLEP allows diverse groups, including traditional and non-traditional learners, adult students, and military service members to save time and money as they pursue a college degree.
Core Purposes
• More than 600 faculty develop and set standards to ensure CLEP exams are comparable to those of introductory college courses.
Rigor and Relevance
• CLEP allows capable students to move ahead, opening seats in introductory classes.
Access
• 91% of CLEP students report that CLEP made a difference in their ability to complete their degree
Success
• CLEP students complete their degrees at a higher rate than students not earning credit-by-exam.
Graduation Rates
CLEP Offers Colleges…
What age group do you think has the largest percentage of CPL students?
A.Under 18B.18-22C.23-29D.30-35E.36 & older
Age Group BreakdownExams Administered to National Candidates, 2009-10
There are no age requirements for CLEP
Save time for students Save money for students Allow students to enroll in higher
level courses sooner Earlier graduation
How Does CLEP Apply to Students?
What is Happening Now?
What is done now? If you don’t know—why don’t you
know? Who knows the processes? Who is responsible for updates? Where is information stored & posted? If there is no formalized process, ask
why.
Evaluate Current Methodology
Students
Registrar’s Office
Test Center
Faculty & advisors
Admissions Office
Adult &/or
Veterans Office
Who Needs to Know Your CLEP Policy?
How does your institution grant credit for military training/service?
Cross walk with 2-year/4-year How do we promote? Who needs to be involved?
VA representatives Transcript evaluators Advisors
Military Credit
All 13 colleges follow same rules Legislation passed in 1990s stating a
“Student Bill of Rights” Faculty convene to discuss scores and
acceptance of exams CCCS CLEP Handbook maintained and
updated annually: http://www.cccs.edu/Docs/EdServices/Credit-for-Prior-Learning-Handbook.pdf
Colorado Community College System
California’s four-year institutions set policy California community colleges determine
how to implement for their schools Great confusion due to lack of coordination
between systems CSU system handbook:
http://www.calstate.edu/AcadAff/codedmemos/AA-2010-09.pdf
California CLEP Policies
Possible Road Blocks
How are students notified of their opportunity for CLEP?
What is on your website? Are your policies current? Do you know who is responsible
for CLEP policy?
Consider these questions:
Lack of communication Poor website design Lack of training for advisors/staff Lack of knowledge support from
faculty No “champion”
Student Road Blocks
Negates transferability It’s too complicated. I don’t understand the process. Who should I advise to take CLEP?
No one really cares.
Comments I hear from advisors
Help educate on test development De-mystify Encourage them to become part of the
process
Faculty can be a Road Block
Faculty Role in CLEP
More than 600 college and university faculty members are involved in developing and setting the standards for CLEP exams. Faculty responsibilities include:
• Serving on test development committees
• Responding to curriculum surveys to determine exam content
• Serving on standard-setting panels
• Serving on ACE review panels
• Determining departmental credit-granting policies
Educate CLEP Policies CLEP Procedures
Engage Share success stories Attend faculty meetings
Encourage Get them to volunteer Share the data
Solutions with Faculty
Who are CPL Students?
Identify CPL Students
First year students looking to accelerate their education paths
Students with high SAT or ACT scores Homeschooled students Students who are fluent in Spanish, French,
or German Juniors or seniors who have not met lower-
division requirements
CPL Students Continued
Adults returning to college Military service members Veterans Students at risk for stopping out or
struggling with finances International students needing to translate
their overseas credit Students with expired courses Students with high placement scores
Responsibilities
Recent focus has been students placing into developmental courses
Why do we ignore students who are college level and higher?
Important to serve all students What is our role in guiding students?
Focus on All Students
Advising job is information Advising job is to provide
options/choices Advising job is student success Advising job is to advocate for student
A New Set of Lenses
Intake process Initial student contact Front Desk Staff
Advisors Testing Administrators Student Orientation/Preview Deans
Educate Departments on CLEP
http://www.uwgb.edu/oira/cfpl/clep/ http://frontrange.edu/testing
Sample Websites
Critical to know who are the decision makers
Critical to get faculty input Critical to evaluate plan on regular
basis
Identify Decision Makers
Student may want to discuss with VA advisor
Student may need to talk to Testing Center
Student may need to talk with Admissions & Records
Student may need to talk with Department/Program chair
Time for a Decision
Responsibility Check List
Advisor Be well versed in
policy Identify CLEP student Educate CLEP student Be an advocate Stay current
Student What exam(s) may I
take How do I get credit What will transfer Know deadlines Follow through
Identify Leaders for Implementation
Testing Directors Dean of Student Services Dean of Instruction Director of Advising State committees
Faculty Advisors
Legislators
Key Leaders
Identify change Create a plan Identify appropriate committee
members Student input Faculty Research
Implement Change
Process What departments are impacted? What makes sense for students? Payment
Marketing Free materials Opportunities to tell students
Evaluate Feedback surveys Data Reports
Key Questions for Change
State wide systems 2-year 4-year
Guarantee transfer within a state Identify key players
Faculty Deans System presidents
Promote/Create/Implement
Directors Important to have key leaders Testing Instruction
Support Staff Invaluable resource Great ideas
Students Know their needs
How to Recruit Committee
No need to reinvent the wheel Data critical to your cause National organizations
College Board ACT NCTA
Webmaster
Resources for Change
Share results of FRCC project
Need More Information?
CLEP website for professionals: professionals.collegeboard.com/clep
CLEP website for students: www.collegeboard.com/clep
CLEP email address:[email protected]
Educate your teams Evaluate current methodology Create a plan for implementation of
CLEP policies Eliminate road blocks for students Identify key leaders Identify recommendations for change Identify resources Take ACTION!
Summary
Are you for student success?
Discussion/Questions/Wrap Up
