Portfolio

Description: Students who successfully complete a portfolio based on skills and knowledge that they have acquired outside of the traditional classroom may be granted credit towards their HCC degree.

Credit acceptance: Students may be granted a max of 30 credits or 50% of their program plan. In order for prior learning credit to be posted to an account, students must be in a HCC degree seeking program.

The Records Office will only post prior learning credit relevant to your HCC degree. Posting irrelevant credit could negatively impact your financial aid and/or veterans benefits. Please contact Financial Aid for more information at FinAid@heartland.edu

Transferability: Credit from portfolio courses  may only be applicable to your program at Heartland and may not transfer. Please consult your transfer institution about transferability.

What is a portfolio?

The portfolio course has been designed as an option for students to earn college credit for skills and knowledge that you have acquired outside of the traditional classroom. The course's outcome is the construction and compilation of an electronic portfolio. Students have two options to complete the portfolio:

1. Portfolio Course
2. Portfolio Course + Tutor

Submission of a portfolio does not guarantee credit; portfolios will be evaluated for credit by an appropriate faculty member.

Steps for students:

1.Complete the PLA Exploration Form (if it has not been completed already)

2. Meet with an advisor.

• Students who are completing degrees within Career and Technical Education should meet with Megan Kayfish or Faith Quast, all other students should meet with Chandra Shipley.
• In this meeting:
  • The template for the portfolio course will be reviewed.
  • The Course vs. Course + Tutor package options will be reviewed.

3. All students are encouraged to apply for the PLA scholarship.

4. Register for the course package selected with Continuing Education (309-268-8160)

5. If scholarship is not applied for/granted, pay for the course package selected with Continuing Education.

• Portfolio course = $34 per credit hour
  • For example, if pursuing a 3 credit hour course, the total cost would be $102
    
    
• Course & Tutor Package = $100 + $34 per credit hour 
  • For example, if pursuing a 3 credit hour course and taking the Course and Tutor Package, the total cost would be $202

6. Once registered, complete the course in Canvas.

7. Submit the portfolio.

8. Credit will be awarded to the student’s academic record if the reviewed portfolio is granted credit by the evaluating faculty member.

Available HCC courses for prior learning portfolios are as follows: