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At the end of the session, the completed portfolio is due. It is reviewed by the EXCL 301 instructor, and you will be asked to submit one complete copy (on CD) for each academic area in which you have requested evaluation. At this time, the evaluation fee is due. Currently, the fees are $250 for the first academic area to be evaluated and $125 for each subsequent area. You will receive an invoice for the evaluation fee within four weeks of portfolio submission.
Staff of the Prior Learning office assign sections of the portfolio to be evaluated by experts in the field or fields about which you have written. Evaluators are faculty experts that have been trained by Prior Learning staff and approved by their deans or academic directors to evaluate portfolios.
The evaluators read the portfolio and then determine which of your targeted courses you should receive academic credit. They can agree with your complete list of targeted courses or agree with parts of it. They can give partial credit for a course or recommend more credit than was requested.
Each evaluator who looks at your portfolio completes an online report of recommended credit. There is no guarantee that your portfolio will be recommended for a credit award. Historically, however, students have averaged 15-18 credits through portfolio completion.
Credit recommendations are sent to your advisor, who reviews the recommended credit and decides where it fits in your degree plan. It is possible for students to be recommended for credit that will not fit within their degree plan! This is why it is important to work closely with your advisor to be sure you target courses that will fit into your degree plan.
The evaluation process can take up to four months, although it usually takes less time. Once all of these steps have been completed, an award letter listing all recommended credit and placement in the degree plan is sent to you. You only pay for the credits that apply to your UMUC degree plan. The cost for those credits is prorated at $90 per credit.
A sample fee breakdown is shown in the FAQ's.
What to Do Once the Evaluation Is Under Way
After submission of the portfolio, you may feel a void. After all the work and time invested in the portfolio, the period between submission and notification of an award can seem endless. Please be patient!
While waiting, continue pursuing your degree:
- Register for courses that are not in your portfolio.
- Work hard in those courses.
- Set up a meeting with your advisor to discuss all your options.
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