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Preface to the PLA Handbook
PLA Handbook Preface (Web Version)
Preface
Valdosta State University is initiating a Prior Learning Assessment pilot program effective Fall Semester 2007. This new initiative will be piloted with selective courses and departments during this beginning year.
This handbook is designed to provide students, faculty, administrators, and other interested individuals with information needed when seeking credit for prior learning which is related to specific courses at Valdosta State University. The handbook will be revised after Fall Semester 2007 based upon lessons learned from the first semester of the pilot program.
The Prior Learning Assessment program began as a pilot project funded by the Transition to Teaching grant and was cooperatively developed by faculty members from the College of Arts and Sciences and the Dewar College of Education. A PLA Working Group composed of members of both colleges was charged with developing the Pilot Project. Members of the PLA Work Group who developed the PLA program and related materials are Dr. Heather Brasell, Dr. Ada Burnette, Dr. Mary Ellen Dallman, Dr. Sharon L. Gravett, Dr. Christine James, Dr. Sean Lennon, Dr. Jerry Merwin, Dr. Jim Nienow, Dr. Beverly Richardson-Blake, Dr. Barbara Stanley, Ms. Karen Shepard, and Dr. Arsalan Wares.
Acknowledgements
Many people helped and provided encouragement during the development of the PLA pilot program and the resulting PLA program at Valdosta State University and other University System of Georgia higher education institutions. Among these are Dr. Ronald M. Zaccari, VSU President, and Dr. Louis Levy, Vice President for Academic Affairs; Dr. Linda Calendrillo, former Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Dr. Philip Gunter, Dean of the Dewar College of Education. Other members of the original PLA Supporting Leadership Group included Dr. Kurt Keppler, Vice President for Student Affairs; Dr. Marsha Krotseng, former Associate Vice President for Strategic Research and Analysis; Dr. Brian Adler, former Dean of the Graduate School; Dr. John Gaston, Dean of the College of the Arts; Mr. Chuck Hudson, Registrar; Mr. Walter Peacock, Director of Admissions; and Ms. Maggie Roberts, Director of College of Education Advising Center. The Deans’ Council has also been involved in the development of this project. We also acknowledge the contributions of one of the original PLA Working Group members, the late Dr. Adele Ducharme.
Important guidance was provided by Dr. Patricia Patterson, Executive Director of Teacher Quality Initiatives, University System of Georgia, and our consultants, Dr. Morry Fiddler and Dr. Catherine Marineau of DePaul University. Their wealth of knowledge gave the Work Group background information and sources, when coupled with their training and experiences, to develop the PLA program at VSU.