Standard 18: The unit must make available to candidates, online or in print, the following information:

(5) the unit's policy for substituting program requirements for prior learning experiences, coursework, teaching experience, and credit by examination. The policy must make clear that the unit will not substitute prior experience for student teaching requirements in Standard 11, item C, subitem (2), and Standard 12, item D, subitem (2);

UED teacher candidates may be able to earn a Credit for Prior Learning for what they have learned from work and life experiences. The UED makes this information available to candidates in Section IX. School of Urban Education and University Policies of the UTP Student Handbook which gives access to candidates to item 3. UED Policy for Substituting Prior Learning Experiences for Program Requirements except for student teaching. The policy addresses prior learning experiences, coursework, teaching experience and credit by examination. Furthermore, the policy makes clear that the UED will not substitute prior experience for student teaching requirements in Standard 11 or 12.

The University’s webpage for Credit transfers provides students with a wealth of information related to credit for prior learning, experience and credit by exam (see https://www.metrostate.edu/academics/credit-transfers). Upon undergraduate admission to Metropolitan State, the University Transfer Evaluation staff within the Registrar’s Office conducts all transcript reviews using Transferology and other tools to see whether students have met General Education/Liberal Studies or MN Transfer Curriculum requirements. Approved transfer courses are maintained in each student’s Degree Audit Records System (DARS). UED academic advisors review transcripts, DARS and Transferology to honor course equivalencies from other institutions previously identified by faculty. Further, UED uses transfer advising guides created in collaboration with community college partners for transfer students from the partnering community colleges to know what courses they can take at their college that meet major/licensure requirements.

In all other cases when possible equivalencies have not been predetermined, UED uniformly assesses prior academic learning in courses required for licensure by having the department chair, program coordinator and/or other faculty in the licensure area review transcripts and supporting documentation using the Transfer Transcript Review Forms.  Content courses for secondary teaching majors in the College of Liberal Arts and College of Sciences are reviewed by faculty in the major and reported to the Transfer Evaluation staff for documentation on DARS reports. Students’ files also include documentation of approved transfer courses to meet licensure requirements.

Prior field experiences are reviewed by the UED Director of Field Experiences for whether they took place in qualified urban settings and what types of experiences were gained that may be applicable to clinical field experience requirements for program admission or admission to student teaching. In no circumstance does prior teaching experience substitute for student teaching requirements stated in Standards 11 or 12.