University Of The Incarnate Word Honored By CAEL
Texas School Receives Institutional Service Award for Creating Educational Opportunities for Working Adults.
- (1888PressRelease) October 23, 2013 - The University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) has been selected to receive the 2013 Institutional Service Award from the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) at its Annual Conference Nov. 6-8, in San Diego, CA, Pamela Tate, CEO and President of CAEL announced today. The university joins 29 other past honorees.
"When it comes to the advancement of prior learning assessment (PLA) in the Lone Star State, the University of the Incarnate Word has been a model institution to follow. Through its work with LearningCounts, CAEL recognizes the university as a PLA leader among the nation's colleges and universities," said Tate.
The University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) is a private Catholic institution located in San Antonio, Texas. Founded in 1881, UIW is sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, and is the largest Catholic university in Texas, with an enrollment of over 9,000 students. In addition to its main location, UIW operates a high school and an online prep school, and has campuses in Mexico City, Mexico; Heidelberg, Germany and Guangzhou, China.
The university has been using PLAs since the 1990s to evaluate and award students college credit based on learning experiences outside the classroom. These include Challenge Exams, CLEP and DSST tests, courses approved by the American Council of Education (ACE) and low-cost credit services offered by StraighterLine. In 2010, UIW became a charter member of LearningCounts, the first comprehensive online portal for students to use for acquiring PLA credits.
UIW enjoys a reputation for strong academics and ethnic diversity among its student body, which is reflective of the population of south Texas. Forty percent of UIW's population consists of adult students, and the university has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). The San Antonio-area has long had a strong presence of military instillations, and UIW has been at the forefront of providing higher education opportunities to active duty personnel and veterans. UIW is a member of the online learning resource GoArmyEd, and has been named by employment site G.I Jobs as a "Military Friendly School" for 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, a distinction given to colleges and universities that rank in the top 20 percent of higher education institutions providing services and resources to military and veteran students.
The depth of UIW's services to adults makes it one of the most adult-friendly institutions in the nation. UIW offers a student services division for first-generation American students as well as those academically at-risk, free textbooks to undergraduate students, reduced tuition for adult students and special discounts for active military and veteran students. Students of the Adult Degree Completion Program (ADCaP) are also afforded the flexibility of pursuing their studies at seven different locations in the San Antonio area and one other Texas location in Corpus Christi.
"CAEL values the efforts of the University of the Incarnate Word to create educational opportunities for working adults and other traditionally underserved populations and is proud to recognize the ongoing accomplishments of the institution," said Tate. "We are particularly appreciative of the programs and services offered through the Adult Degree Completion Program (ADCaP); especially the prior learning assessment options and special services for active duty military and veterans. Cyndi Wilson Porter and Vince Porter have been active participating members in CAEL for many years and we appreciate their contributions to our mission," she added.
The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization based in Chicago, Illinois that assists adults with their educational endeavors, finding practical ways to earn college credit for learning acquired through training and work experiences. CAEL works with the public sector, private sector industries and higher education institutions to ensure that adult students receive the most efficient training and education to occupy a meaningful professional place in a 21st century economy. Since 1974, CAEL has assisted colleges and universities in providing college credit for prior learning. CAEL is the recognized national expert on a method known as portfolio assessment, and their Ten Standards for Assessing Learning are used by colleges and universities, as well as accrediting organizations, across the country.
LearningCounts.org is managed by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), and operates with support from Lumina Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, the Joyce Foundation, the State Street Foundation, the Houston Endowment, USA Funds, and Brown Foundation. The Walmart Foundation is also providing support and funding scholarships for eligible users of LearningCounts.org.
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