Academic Portfolio Assessment

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Matriculated students who are enrolled in a degree-seeking program and have prior learning experiences which did not result in a formal exam score, transcript or other credential may request an Academic Portfolio Assessment for learning which is applicable toward their degree progress (up to a maximum of 30 credits).

An academic portfolio is a student-prepared document which outlines, in depth, learning experiences gained outside the college classroom, and demonstrates how those experiences align with college-level learning. The goal of the portfolio is not simply to list experiences or knowledge gained, but to examine learning experiences in essay form with supporting, verifiable documentation. Students should be able to prove to a subject matter expert that they possess the claimed learning and should articulate the relationship between their prior learning and the learning outcomes of a particular UMaine course, while discussing the theory and skills acquired through their knowledge and experience.

  • Contact your Associate Dean’s (AD’s) Office to verify that your prior learning experience is applicable toward your degree progress and is able to be evaluated as the UMaine course you are seeking credit for.  This is also a great opportunity to ask questions and obtain any additional guidance needed.
  • Identify the UMaine course which you will be requesting credit for and obtain a copy of the course syllabus (as a reminder, the goal of the academic portfolio is to demonstrate how your prior learning aligns with the learning outcomes of this course). Course syllabi can be requested by contacting the department which offers the course, or your AD’s Office may be able to assist. Current course descriptions can be found at catalog.umaine.edu/.  

An Academic Portfolio will typically include:

  • Letter of intent:  A letter of intent will include your name, number of credits requested and the specific UMaine course(s) for which credit is being sought. Provide a summary of the Portfolio sections being submitted, explain the reason CPL is being requested, and provide information relevant to educational, vocational or personal background.  It is also helpful to include a table of contents.
  • Syllabus/syllabi: Provide the syllabus for each UMaine course for which credit is being requested (course syllabi can be requested by contacting the department which offers the course).
  • Narrative essay: Your narrative essay should describe the depth and breadth of knowledge gained through your prior learning experience(s), reflecting upon both theory and practical application, while demonstrating how your prior learning aligns with the learning outcomes of the course(s) you are requesting credit for.  This is the ultimate goal of the Academic Portfolio, and therefore the most heavily weighted portion of the portfolio assessment, so be sure to focus your time and effort here.  All course learning outcomes should be addressed clearly and in your own words.  Appropriate use of grammar, sentence structure, syntax, and style generally accepted at the college level is expected.  All documentation should be effectively referenced within your submission and logically organized.  
  • Resume:  Submit your current resume.  If you do not have a current resume, the UMaine career center provides a guide to resume writing.
  • Additional supporting documentation may include:
  • Letters of reference 
  • Job descriptions 
  • Performance evaluations
  • Awards or recognitions 
  • Samples of work
  • Evidence of professional activities or other skills 
  • Your AD’s office may request additional or different information depending on your program of study and the course(s) for which CPL is being requested.  Always follow their instructions.  
  • When utilizing a digital platform or other online resources to showcase your prior learning, please include the relevant links in your letter of intent or other documentation. 
  • Your Academic Portfolio submission will be evaluated based on four assessment areas, which can be viewed here.  Be sure to review the requirements and reach out to your AD’s Office with any questions.
  • Submit the Academic Portfolio Assessment Request Form, which can be obtained by contacting your Associate Dean’s Office or emailing um.cpl@maine.edu. Be sure to upload the final version of your Academic Portfolio, along with the syllabus or syllabi for the UMaine course(s) you are seeking credit for, and any other documentation required.
  • Your Academic Portfolio submission will be evaluated based on four assessment areas, which can be viewed here.  Be sure to review the requirements and reach out to your AD’s Office with any questions.
  • Academic Portfolio Assessment: Your academic portfolio assessment request will be sent to your AD’s Office for review. They will work with the appropriate department(s) to have your portfolio evaluated, and you will be notified once a decision has been made.
  • Portfolio Assessment Fee: A portfolio assessment fee of $50 per credit hour requested will be charged to your student account. This fee is non-refundable and is not dependent upon the outcome of your portfolio assessment.
  • Awarding of Credit: If credit is approved, the Office of Student Records (OSR) will apply the approved credits to your academic record.
  • Notification: You will be notified via a message in your Student Center within MaineStreet when approved credits are awarded. If credit is not recommended, you will be notified by your AD’s Office.
  • Please be aware that Academic Portfolio assessments can take significant amounts of time to complete and are dependent upon the availability of subject matter experts.  It is best to plan well in advance when requesting an Academic Portfolio assessment.