Mentor Support in the Individualized Prior Learning Assessment Process at SUNY Empire State College

Abstract

SUNY Empire State College is one of the pioneer higher education institutions that provides students with an opportunity to earn college level credits through prior learning assessment. Among many other possibilities students can earn credits through the individualized prior learning assessment process. Together with mentors, students identify their prior knowledge and work on conveying it in a form of an essay, which is assessed by an evaluator. This paper discusses various forms of support that institutions can provide to both mentors and students to help them navigate PLA process.

Keywords: student/mentor relationship, engagement, communication, process, policy, and training