CLEP—Helping Your StudentsSucceed and Your Institution

ThriveDeborah 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 studentsSave money for studentsAllow students to enroll in higher

level courses soonerEarlier 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 CenterFaculty & advisorsAdmissions

OfficeAdult &/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

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 communicationPoor website designLack of training for advisors/staffLack of knowledge support from

facultyNo “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 contactFront Desk Staff

AdvisorsTesting AdministratorsStudent Orientation/PreviewDeans

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 inputCritical 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 changeCreate a plan Identify appropriate committee

membersStudent inputFacultyResearch

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

Need More Information?

CLEP website for professionals: professionals.collegeboard.com/clep

CLEP website for students: www.collegeboard.com/clep

CLEP email address:CLEP@collegeboard.org

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

Thank you!Deborah Anderson M.Ed.

Higher Education Consultant Deb.anderson1952@gmail.com