53B-16-110. Credit for prior learning — Board plan and policies — Reporting.
| (1) |
As used in this section:
Terms Used In Utah Code 53B-16-110
| (a) |
“Credit for prior learning” means credit awarded by an institution to a student who demonstrates, through a prior learning assessment, that the student’s prior learning meets college-level competencies. |
| (b) |
“Institution” means an institution of higher education described in Section 53B-1-102. |
| (c) |
“International Baccalaureate programme” means an International Baccalaureate Secondary Education programme course that:
| (i) |
the International Baccalaureate establishes; and |
| (ii) |
| (A) |
an International Baccalaureate diploma candidate takes; |
| (B) |
an International Baccalaureate career candidate takes; or |
| (C) |
an International Baccalaureate course student, who is not a candidate under Subsection (1)(c)(ii)(A) or (B), takes. |
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| (d) |
“International Baccalaureate programme subject score” means the total points the International Baccalaureate awards to a student for an International Baccalaureate programme course based on fulfillment of all subject requirements, including the end-of-course examination and externally assessed coursework. |
| (e) |
“Prior learning” means knowledge, skills, or competencies acquired through formal or informal education outside the traditional postsecondary academic environment. |
| (f) |
“Prior learning assessment” means a method of evaluating or assessing an individual’s prior learning. |
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| (2) |
The board shall develop a plan for advising and communicating with students and the public about credit for prior learning. |
| (3) |
| (a) |
The board shall establish policies that provide minimum standards for all institutions regarding:
| (i) |
accepted forms of prior learning assessments; |
| (ii) |
awarding credit for prior learning; |
| (iii) |
transferability of credit for prior learning between institutions; |
| (iv) |
transcription of credit for prior learning; |
| (v) |
institutional procedures for maintaining transparency and consistency in awarding credit for prior learning; |
| (vi) |
communication to faculty, advisors, current students, and prospective students regarding standards and costs related to credit for prior learning and prior learning assessments; |
| (vii) |
required training of faculty and advisors on prior learning assessment standards and processes; and |
| (viii) |
portfolio-specific prior learning assessments. |
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| (b) |
The board shall ensure that accepted forms of prior learning assessments described in Subsection (3)(a) include:
| (i) |
program evaluations, completed by an institution, of noncollegiate programs or training courses to recognize proficiencies; |
| (ii) |
nationally recognized, standardized examinations, including:
| (A) |
Advanced Placement examinations; |
| (B) |
College Level Exam Program general examinations; |
| (C) |
College Level Exam Program subject examinations; and |
| (D) |
DANTES Subject Standardized Tests; |
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| (iii) |
International Baccalaureate programme subject scores; |
| (iv) |
customized examinations offered by an institution to verify an individual’s learning achievement that may include course final examinations or other examinations that assess general disciplinary knowledge or skill; |
| (v) |
evaluations of corporate or military training; and |
| (vi) |
assessments of individuals’ portfolios. |
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| (4) |
| (a) |
The board shall establish minimum scores and maximum credit for each standardized examination described in Subsection (3)(b)(ii). |
| (b) |
An institution shall award credit to a student who demonstrates competency by passing a standardized examination described in Subsection (3)(b)(ii) unless the award of credit duplicates credit already awarded. |
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| (5) |
For purposes of Subsection (3)(b)(iii) and beginning with the 2023-2024, school year, all institutions shall award credit to a student who receives an International Baccalaureate programme subject score of four or higher for an International Baccalaureate programme course unless the award of credit duplicates credit an institution already awarded. |
| (6) |
The board shall, through committees that the board authorizes, consult with the Utah Association of IB World Schools and school International Baccalaureate program coordinators to align International Baccalaureate programme subject scores with commonly numbered institution of higher education courses to satisfy general education requirements or major requirements. |
| (7) |
The board shall:
| (a) |
create and maintain a website that provides statewide information on prior learning assessments and credit for prior learning; and |
| (b) |
maintain software or data tools to support the board in:
| (i) |
implementing the plan described in Subsection (2); and |
| (ii) |
fulfilling the board’s requirements described in Section 53B-16-105. |
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| (8) |
An institution shall annually report to the board on:
| (a) |
each form of prior learning assessment for which the institution provides credit for prior learning; and |
| (b) |
the total amount of credit for prior learning the institution provides to students. |
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Amended by Chapter 148, 2023 General Session
