Competency-based education (CBE) is the hot new thing in higher education. While forms of CBE have been around since the 1970s, there has been a surge of interest in CBE, with more than 600 postsecondary institutions now reporting that they are either offering competency-based degree programs or are planning to do so. Similarly, institutional…

Competency-based education (CBE), broadly defined as a form of higher education in which credit is provided on the basis of student learning rather than credit or clock hours, has begun to catch the attention of federal and state policymakers, foundations, and colleges. Among the model's promising features are its potential to lower college costs…

Three qualities form the foundation of college-level learning: (1) conceptual knowledge--articulation of concepts, theories, and principles; (2) generalizable knowledge; and (3) courses traditionally taught in college--excluding secondary courses, noncredit programs, popular learning, and vocational courses. (SK)

Describes an independent study program for college students who wish to pursue a truly independent course of studies. Gives examples of individual programs which grew from students' needs and professional experience. Outlines guidelines for independent study. (Author/RC)

The BSIT (BS in Industrial Technology) Program, which leads to a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology, at Southern Arkansas University is focused on the needs of the non-traditional student who desires to complete program requirements while maintaining existing full-time employment. The program also focuses on the needs of local…

This guide was developed in Great Britain to help colleges develop programs for assessment of prior learning (APL) for adult students. (APL involves careers and educational guidance, access to particular courses despite possible lack of traditional certification, accreditation, formal credit toward a particular qualification, and exemption from…

Millsaps College inaugurated an Adult Degree Program to compensate for the predicted diminishing number of traditional age students and to establish a degree program incorporating a number of innovations of value to working adults. Issues considered before implementing the program included the impact of such a degree offering on existing programs,…

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) is a new field, but it has a long history, since children have always learned from adults and demonstrated their competence by observation of their work or by the quality of their products or services. Later, formal learning became more valuable and recognized school credentials paved the way to…

This booklet provides a guide to some of the credit-bearing opportunities in place at more than 1,200 United States colleges and universities that recognize learning obtained away from the formal college classroom. The data were compiled from a fall 1984 survey and are presented in two sections. The first provides the programmatic information…

In the 1960s, credit-by-examination was promoted as a way to broaden access to college. In 1971, Ewald Nyquist, Commissioner of Education in the Regents system of New York, proposed that the Educational Testing Service offer a degree based entirely on performance on examinations. Although a few institutions theoretically offer such degrees, in…

A study sought to determine the rate of retention of adult students in the University of Minnesota College Program for Individualized Learning (PIL) for the 1983-84 academic year, as well as factors that might relate to this retention rate. A review was made of the 67 applications submitted by students admitted to PIL during that year to determine…

The development, implementation, and integration of a nontraditional adult degree program at Mary Baldwin College, a traditional liberal arts institution, is described. The adult degree program is designed for adult men and women who cannot attend classes in the traditional manner; it may involve independent study, courses at other accredited…

Data on full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment, student semester credit hour (SSCH) production trends, and nontraditional instruction are presented for Arkansas colleges and universities. FTE enrollment is reported for each two- and four-year state institution, including trends for 1973-1983. Data are reported on SSCH production program area and…

Universities and colleges of advanced education in Austrialia were surveyed to determine their policies and practices in admitting and granting status to holders of TAFE (Technical and Further Education) middle-level certificates who wish to transfer to relevant higher education courses. Of the 90 higher education institutions that were…

A handbook for the adult student returning to college is presented. Attention is directed to the pros and cons of reentry; how to choose a program; options for financing an education; admissions applications; maximizing preentry credits; colleges, credits, and degrees; coping with academic demands such as exam-taking; and achieving a balance…