Life Experience Credit

Get the most out of your life experience

Jamestown Community College's Credit Life Experience Assessment program is designed to offer students college credit for relevant life experience learning.

Traditionally, college credits are earned in formal classrooms within the academic semester. JCC, however, believes learning equal to that of post-secondary education is available through life experiences – such as work duties, trainings, seminars, and practice of a profession or activity. It is the purpose of the Credit Life Experience Assessment program to help individuals focus on their life learning and, if appropriate, translate such experiences into college credit. It is recommended that students do not begin to assemble or prepare a portfolio without first making an appointment with a Life Experience Counselor.

Individuals interested in having their life experiences assessed will take the following steps after talking to a counselor:

  1. Arrange for a personal interview with a counselor to determine the areas of life experience to be assessed and the advisability of seeking credit. This interview will also help the individual determine how their life experience credit may or may not relate to short or long-term educational goals.
  2. Alternate methods of accumulating credit will also be explored, such as: the College Level Examination Program, independent study, and credit for military training.
  3. If appropriate, the individual will develop a portfolio for each area to be assessed, including documentation of their learning. The portfolio will be submitted to the Life Experience Counselor upon completion.
  4. The portfolio will be sent to the department in the college most allied with the area to be evaluated. A faculty evaluator in that department will review the portfolio and determine applicable credit. The portfolio is then returned to the Counseling and Career Center for permanent filing.
  5. The Registrar's Office will be notified of the credit award, and the credit will be posted on the student's transcript in the manner that most clearly benefits the student’s degree program.
  6. The student will be notified of their credit assessment and receive a bill.
  7. All life experience credit requests are charged a non-refundable $25 administrative fee. For each portfolio submitted to faculty departments for review, there is an additional charge of $50. This additional charge is levied regardless of the outcome of the portfolio evaluation. A fee equal to 1/3 of the current tuition charge will be charged for awarded credit. Students requesting an evaluation will be asked to sign an agreement of payment form.
  8. Life Experience Credit may or may not be transferable. If the student plans on continuing their education at another school, that school should be contacted to find out what their policy is on credit for experiential learning.