(1) As used in this section: (a) "Credit for prior learning" means credit awarded by an institution to a student who demonstrates, through a prior learning assessment, that the student's prior learning meets college-level competencies. (b) "Institution" means an institution of higher education that is within the Utah System of Higher Education. (c) "Prior learning" means knowledge, skills, or competencies acquired through formal or informal education outside the traditional postsecondary academic environment. (d) "Prior learning assessment" means a method of evaluating or assessing an individual's prior learning. (e) "Utah System of Higher Education" means the institutions described in Subsection 53B-1-102(1)(a).

(a) "Credit for prior learning" means credit awarded by an institution to a student who demonstrates, through a prior learning assessment, that the student's prior learning meets college-level competencies.

(b) "Institution" means an institution of higher education that is within the Utah System of Higher Education.

(c) "Prior learning" means knowledge, skills, or competencies acquired through formal or informal education outside the traditional postsecondary academic environment.

(d) "Prior learning assessment" means a method of evaluating or assessing an individual's prior learning.

(e) "Utah System of Higher Education" means the institutions described in Subsection 53B-1-102(1)(a).

(2) On or before November 1, 2019, the board shall develop a systemwide plan for advising and communicating with students and the public about credit for prior learning in the Utah System of Higher Education.

(3) (a) On or before November 1, 2019, the board shall establish policies that provide minimum standards for all institutions regarding: (i) accepted forms of prior learning assessments; (ii) awarding credit for prior learning; (iii) transferability of credit for prior learning between institutions; (iv) transcription of credit for prior learning; (v) institutional procedures for maintaining transparency and consistency in awarding credit for prior learning; (vi) communication to faculty, advisors, current students, and prospective students regarding standards and cost related to credit for prior learning and prior learning assessments; (vii) required training of faculty and advisors on prior learning assessment standards and processes; and (viii) portfolio-specific prior learning assessments. (b) The board shall ensure that accepted forms of prior learning assessments described in Subsection (3)(a) include at least the following: (i) program evaluations, completed by an institution, of noncollegiate programs or training courses to recognize proficiencies; (ii) nationally recognized, standardized examinations, including: (A) Advanced Placement examinations; (B) College Level Exam Program general examinations; (C) College Level Exam Program subject examinations; and (D) DANTES Subject Standardized Tests; (iii) customized examinations offered by an institution to verify an individual's learning achievement that may include course final examinations or other examinations that assess general disciplinary knowledge or skill; (iv) evaluations of corporate or military training; and (v) assessments of individuals' portfolios.

(a) On or before November 1, 2019, the board shall establish policies that provide minimum standards for all institutions regarding: (i) accepted forms of prior learning assessments; (ii) awarding credit for prior learning; (iii) transferability of credit for prior learning between institutions; (iv) transcription of credit for prior learning; (v) institutional procedures for maintaining transparency and consistency in awarding credit for prior learning; (vi) communication to faculty, advisors, current students, and prospective students regarding standards and cost related to credit for prior learning and prior learning assessments; (vii) required training of faculty and advisors on prior learning assessment standards and processes; and (viii) portfolio-specific prior learning assessments.

(i) accepted forms of prior learning assessments;

(ii) awarding credit for prior learning;

(iii) transferability of credit for prior learning between institutions;

(iv) transcription of credit for prior learning;

(v) institutional procedures for maintaining transparency and consistency in awarding credit for prior learning;

(vi) communication to faculty, advisors, current students, and prospective students regarding standards and cost related to credit for prior learning and prior learning assessments;

(vii) required training of faculty and advisors on prior learning assessment standards and processes; and

(viii) portfolio-specific prior learning assessments.

(b) The board shall ensure that accepted forms of prior learning assessments described in Subsection (3)(a) include at least the following: (i) program evaluations, completed by an institution, of noncollegiate programs or training courses to recognize proficiencies; (ii) nationally recognized, standardized examinations, including: (A) Advanced Placement examinations; (B) College Level Exam Program general examinations; (C) College Level Exam Program subject examinations; and (D) DANTES Subject Standardized Tests; (iii) customized examinations offered by an institution to verify an individual's learning achievement that may include course final examinations or other examinations that assess general disciplinary knowledge or skill; (iv) evaluations of corporate or military training; and (v) assessments of individuals' portfolios.

(i) program evaluations, completed by an institution, of noncollegiate programs or training courses to recognize proficiencies;

(ii) nationally recognized, standardized examinations, including: (A) Advanced Placement examinations; (B) College Level Exam Program general examinations; (C) College Level Exam Program subject examinations; and (D) DANTES Subject Standardized Tests;

(A) Advanced Placement examinations;

(B) College Level Exam Program general examinations;

(C) College Level Exam Program subject examinations; and

(D) DANTES Subject Standardized Tests;

(iii) customized examinations offered by an institution to verify an individual's learning achievement that may include course final examinations or other examinations that assess general disciplinary knowledge or skill;

(iv) evaluations of corporate or military training; and

(v) assessments of individuals' portfolios.

(4) (a) The board shall establish minimum scores and maximum credit for each standardized examination described in Subsection (3)(b)(ii). (b) An institution shall award credit to a student who demonstrates competency by passing a standardized examination described in Subsection (3)(b)(ii) unless the award of credit duplicates credit already awarded.

(a) The board shall establish minimum scores and maximum credit for each standardized examination described in Subsection (3)(b)(ii).

(b) An institution shall award credit to a student who demonstrates competency by passing a standardized examination described in Subsection (3)(b)(ii) unless the award of credit duplicates credit already awarded.

(5) The board shall: (a) create and maintain a website that provides systemwide and institutional information on prior learning assessments and credit for prior learning; and (b) identify a software or data tool that will support the board in: (i) implementing the plan described in Subsection (2); and (ii) fulfilling the board's requirements described in Section 53B-16-105.

(a) create and maintain a website that provides systemwide and institutional information on prior learning assessments and credit for prior learning; and

(b) identify a software or data tool that will support the board in: (i) implementing the plan described in Subsection (2); and (ii) fulfilling the board's requirements described in Section 53B-16-105.

(i) implementing the plan described in Subsection (2); and

(ii) fulfilling the board's requirements described in Section 53B-16-105.

(6) On or before the November 2019 interim meeting, the board shall report to the Education Interim Committee on: (a) the plan described in Subsection (2); (b) the policies described in Subsection (3); and (c) the software or data tool described in Subsection (5).

(a) the plan described in Subsection (2);

(b) the policies described in Subsection (3); and

(c) the software or data tool described in Subsection (5).

(7) On or before May 1, 2020, an institution shall report to the board: (a) steps the institution will take to: (i) implement the plan described in Subsection (2) and the policies described in Subsection (3); and (ii) communicate to students about credit for prior learning, including about the policies described in Subsection (3); (b) a timeline for the steps described in Subsection (7)(a); and (c) each form of prior learning assessment for which the institution provides credit for prior learning that is not described in Subsection (3)(b).

(a) steps the institution will take to: (i) implement the plan described in Subsection (2) and the policies described in Subsection (3); and (ii) communicate to students about credit for prior learning, including about the policies described in Subsection (3);

(i) implement the plan described in Subsection (2) and the policies described in Subsection (3); and

(ii) communicate to students about credit for prior learning, including about the policies described in Subsection (3);

(b) a timeline for the steps described in Subsection (7)(a); and

(c) each form of prior learning assessment for which the institution provides credit for prior learning that is not described in Subsection (3)(b).

(8) An institution shall annually report to the board on: (a) each form of prior learning assessment for which the institution provides credit for prior learning; and (b) the total amount of credit for prior learning the institution provides to students.

(a) each form of prior learning assessment for which the institution provides credit for prior learning; and

(b) the total amount of credit for prior learning the institution provides to students.