Improved Retention Outcomes Associated with CPL Best Practices

Slides from the webinar

Research from CAEL and WICHE demonstrates that CPL is associated with higher degree completion but is used too little, especially by students from underserved populations. Purdue Global has implemented a leading approach to CPL, including mapping external certifications and trainings to Purdue Global courses, communicating intentionally about CPL in the onboarding process, and evaluating for potential transfer any CPL earned at Ivy Tech Community College.

Webinar presented by:

Nick White, Sophia Learning

Nick White is the Chief Learning Officer of Sophia Learning. Nick and currently leads the academic and program design functions for Sophia Learning that designs and maintains Sophia’s 60+ courses to be recommended by ACE and DEAC and mapped to Sophia’s ever-growing network of partner universities. Previously Nick led the CBE program design and the digital badge initiatives at Capella University. Nick has been the chair of the WCET steering committee, a member of the WCET Executive Council, a member of the IMS Global executive board, and is currently a member of the 1EdTech Global Digital Credential Executive Board. Nick has a master's degree in instructional design, is an award winning instructional designer and administrator, and is a frequent speaker at national conferences.

Allegra Fowler, Purdue University Global

Allegra Fowler is the Executive Director of the Center for Prior Learning Recognition at Purdue University Global. In this role, Fowler drives the university strategy for recognition of credit for prior learning (CPL) in all forms and the use of CPL as a tool to enable student success. Fowler and her team support the evaluation of traditional college and university transfer credit as well as military and non-traditional credit through collaboration with faculty. Her areas of expertise include transfer credit articulation, credential design, recognition of non-traditional credits, and military credit utilization. She believes strongly in the value of higher education and the important role that recognition of all forms of prior learning can play in enabling students to achieve their academic and professional goals. Fowler has worked in the university Office of the Registrar for more than fifteen years. She is the 2023-2024 Immediate Past President of the Indiana Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (IACRAO). She is a Board member for the Indiana Transfer Council. She is a member of several Indiana Commission for Higher Education committees and task forces working to support transfer initiatives. Allegra is a CAEL Ambassador and co-founder and leader of CAEL's Credit Mobility workgroup for CAEL members. She earned her MBA from Kaplan University and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.