It is clear that a number of states are working at the leading edge of strategically deploying PLA policies to help students earn postsecondary credentials and degrees, and to build their workplace talent through pathways that extend beyond the college classroom. With its proven track record of promoting strong articulation and transfer policies, Ohio is positioned to join this group of leading states and to potentially emerge as a national leader in the PLA landscape.
The Ohio Technical Skills Innovation Network consortium, spearheaded by Lorain County Community College and in partnership with the Departments of Higher Education and Job and Family Services, has chosen AcademyOne’s prior learning assessment platform to advance their statewide PLA initiative. Integrated within the OhioMeansJobs online career counseling portal, the workflow solution will advise adults who aspire to return to college about how they can earn credit for what they already know.
The pilot project will encompass the OTN’s 11 participating community colleges and support their efforts to close the disconnect between a trained, educated advanced manufacturing workforce and growing job demand spanning over 290 employers in the state’s 71 counties.
Update on Progress: The first five institutions are up and running on FASTPATHOHIO. Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, Edison State Community College, Lorain County Community College, Northwest State Community College, Owens Community College,
Details: AcademyOne provides the Ohio institutions a shared cloud hosted AssessED PLA Portal.
Resources: Case Study ♦ AssessED Data Sheet
FastPathOhio Website