New Process to Obtain Academic Credit for Work/Life Experience

NOVA is piloting a new program to waive the SDV-298 requirement for students seeking academic credit for work/life experience. Instead of taking SDV-298, a one-credit portfolio-development course, they can now access a self-paced, portfolio development site on Canvas free of charge. There, they can learn how to document their experiential learning for credit evaluation. This initiative aims to remove barriers for adult learners, enabling them to earn credit that they worked hard for and get closer to degree completion in a more timely manner.

The pilot program will be assessed in June 2025 to determine if the SDV-298 requirement should be permanently removed. During the pilot period, SDV-298 will not be available for enrollment. 

To benefit from building portfolios for academic credit, students must have at least two years of full-time occupational experience or substantial work experience, equivalent to the NOVA courses needed to complete their academic plan. Additionally, they must be able to articulate how their experiential learning aligns with the chosen courses and provide supporting documentation.

Students who meet these requirements should email a letter of interest to the Office of Credit for Prior Learning at CPL@nvcc.edu to request access to the Canvas site and apply for portfolio development as needed.

Faculty and staff, please assist us in spreading the word about the self-paced, free-off-charge portfolio development Canvas site to students who wish to obtain academic credit for work/life experience. If you have questions about the pilot program, please reach out to Thomas Dang at PDang@nvcc.edu.

Submitted by:
Thomas Phuoc Dang, CPL Coordinator, PDang@nvcc.edu