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New Mexico State University

Prior Learning Assessment Center for Early Care, Education & Family Support

Application

The Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) process is composed of 5 components:

  1. Application and Admissions to the PLA Program
  2. Contract Development
  3. Completion of Activities
  4. Assessment
  5. Awarding Course Credit

Application and Admissions to the program

Who is eligible:
Candidates who are planning to obtain a degree in Early Care, Education and Family Support in New Mexico.

Requirements:
The Candidate has:

  • Enrolled in a degree program in New Mexico in Early Care, Education & Family Support
  • Completed at least 1 college level course
  • Attained a grade point average 2.5 in the degree major
  • Attained knowledge, experience & training in the course competencies

Application & Admissions consists of two steps:

  1. Application to Project P.L.A.C.E and acceptance into the program
  2. Admissions and payment for course credit to the higher education institution that will award credit for the course.

The P.L.A.C.E cooperating college is the Las Cruces Dona Branch Community College (DABCC). Fall 2005 DABCC charges for admissions and course credit are:

  • $15 Admissions
  • $45 per credit for residents within Dona Ana county
  • $55 per credit for residents outside Dona Ana County.

A college transcript of prior course work must be on file at DABCC. If a candidate has less than 30 hours of Transcripted college credits, a high school transcript is also required. Prior Learning Assessment schedules for completion of required activities, Assessment Team Review and grading comply with the DABCC academic calendar for instruction.

Application can be accompanied by contacting the P.L.A.C.E Office.

Mailing Address:
P.L.A.C.E Office
c/o Curriculum and Instruction
MSC 3 CUR New Mexico State University
PO Box 30001
Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001
Fax: (575) 646-4376

An application will be mailed to the candidate. When the completed application is returned to the P.L.A.C.E office, an Admissions Packet will be forwarded to the candidate. The Admissions Packet will be completed by the candidate and returned to the Dona Ana Branch Community College. Payment for the selected course(s) and Admissions fee will be sent to the DABCC Business Office.

II. Contract Development

A contract between the candidate and P.L.A.C.E will be completed. The contract is designed to assist the candidate in organizing and completing the activities for assessment in a timely manner. The contract may be reviewed and revised through mutual consent of the candidate and the P.L.A.C.E. contact.

III. Completion of Activities

There are 5 required activities that must be completed. Four: of the activities (Scenario, Competency, Essay, Presentation, and Observation) will be completed by the candidate as outlined in the Activities Manual. P.L.A.C.E will provide technical assistance and resources to assist the candidate in meeting contract objectives.

The fifth activity - (Knowledge Application Assessment) is a 25 question examination that must be administered by a P.L.A.C.E approved individual and returned in a sealed envelope to the P.L.A.C.E Office. An "approved" individual may be a college or university advisor, faculty member, Center or School District supervisor and child care agency representative. It is the responsibility of the candidate to identify an individual and submit name and contact information to the Project P.L.A.C.E Office for approval.


The required activities are:

  • Scenario – The candidate will choose one of two scenarios and complete the questions as outlined in the directions for this activity.
  • Competency Essay - The candidate will complete an 8 page written overview describing how the candidate meets course competencies as outlined in the directions for this activity.
  • Presentation - The candidate will design three one hour presentations on course competency related early childhood topics following the directions outlined for this activity.
  • Observation or Video - The candidate will choose either the observation or video option. The candidate will follow the directions outlined for the chosen option.
  • Knowledge Assessment Application - The candidate will complete a 25 question examination that addresses course competencies. The examination will be administered at the candidate's location by a Project P.L.A.C.E approved individual.

Accessing Technical Assistance and Resources

Technical Assistance and course related resources are available to candidates throughout the Prior Learning Assistance process from the P .L.A. C.E Office. Resources include web-site access and referrals to outside materials. For technical assistance and resource information please contact:

Corrina Trujillo, LBSW @ (575) 646-1651 / email: corrinat@nmsu.edu

IV. Assessment

The completed activities will be presented to an Assessment Team at New Mexico State University. The Assessment Team is composed of University and or College Faculty and Early Childhood professional staff. The Assessment Team will review the activities and assign a grade to the completed work. Refer to the Assessment/Grading section for information on how grading is determined The Assessment Team will meet as needed in accordance with the Dona Ana Branch Community College (DABCC) academic calendar for instruction.

Organizing the Activities for Assessment Team Review - The Assessment Folder

An Assessment Folder will be provided to the candidate by the P.L.A.C.E Office. The folder will contain insert spaces and labeled locations for each of the 5 activities. The candidate will insert the following activities: (1) Scenario, (2) Competency Essay, (3) Presentation, and (4) Field or video observation. The fifth activity Knowledge Application Assessment will be inserted by the P.L.A.C.E office. The Knowledge Application Assessment will be mailed to the monitor at the candidate’s home location once the four activities have been determined to be complete by the P.L.A.C.E office. The Knowledge Application Assessment will be administered to the candidate and returned to the P.L.A.C.E office b the monitor. The P.L.A.C.E staff will insert the Knowledge Application Assessment in the Assessment Folder for the assessment Team Review


V. Awarding Course Credit

The Assessment Team Review will assign a letter grade to the Assessment Folder. The letter grade will be transcripted into the Dona Ana Branch Community College data base. The transcripted grade will be transferred to the candidate's designated home college or university.
Letter grades of less than a C will not be transcripted or transferred.

**A PLA Assessment Folder that has been denied credit cannot be rewritten and resubmitted for the same course description.