Spencer Sheridan Lewis, a former Coast Guard officer, returned to school to earn a degree in something she was passionate about \u2013 film.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When she enrolled at San Diego City College, she submitted proof of her military experience as part of the Credit for Prior Learning program.<\/p>\n
Lewis was able to translate her service into college credits, accelerating her path toward earning her degree.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt helped me get one step closer to getting my undergrad,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
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The Credit for Prior Learning program<\/a>, which accelerates the academic journey of working adults and veterans, is expanding its benefits to 250,000 students across all 116 community colleges in California<\/a>, including San Diego City College.<\/p>\n The CPL program helps shorten the path to a degree by offering college credits through exams, industry certificates, Joint Service Transcripts like Lewis\u2019 or portfolio submissions for those who have gained prior knowledge and skills through out-of-school experience at no cost, according to CPL\u2019s Fact Check Sheet<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cMy goal for the past year and a half is that I\u2019ve been going around increasing awareness on CPL,\u201d said Angela Merkens, City College\u2019s CPL coordinator, at a recent College Council meeting.\u00a0<\/p>\n Merkens reported that the program is pushing to expand CPL through its Mapping Articulated Pathways initiative.\u00a0<\/p>\n MAP is used to increase access to the completion and transferability of the degree students are trying to obtain.\u00a0<\/p>\n According to MAP, 76 of the 116<\/a> community colleges throughout California currently use the MAP Initiative.<\/p>\n Using the MAP initiative, the CPL program has already served over 42,000 students and saved students $269 million<\/a> statewide.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re losing money (by not) using your resources,\u201d Lewis said.<\/p>\n According to Higher Learning Advocates<\/a>, students saved between $1,500-10,200, increased the likelihood of completing a credential by 17%, and shortened the completion time for a bachelor\u2019s degree by over six months.<\/p>\n \u201c(Students in the CPL program) graduate faster,\u201d Merkins said, at the council meeting. \u201cThey save money. They feel appreciated and they belong, and it goes right along with our mission.\u201d<\/p>\n The California Community Colleges Chancellor\u2019s Office<\/a> wants at least 250,000 students to have credit for prior learning by 2030, as part of its Vision 2030<\/a> plan.<\/p>\n California Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed putting an additional $37 million<\/a> into the CPL program.<\/p>\n The San Diego Community College District has been recognized as the district with the most enrolled CPL students among participating campuses statewide, according to MAP<\/a>, City College has the most, with a little over 6,000<\/a>.<\/p>\n