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NMC’s PLAP set to resume
The Prior Learning Assessment Program, which allows individuals to get college credit for knowledge that are gained outside the traditional classroom environment, will resume this fall semester at the Northern Marianas College.
According to NMC interim president Frankie Eliptico, PLAP will allow for the college to award individuals up to a certain number of credits or individuals who have gained a substantial amount of knowledge/training from being in the workforce. This will allow individuals to convert that knowledge into credits to get their desired degree.
Eliptico said there have been successful individuals who have taken advantage of the program and earned/finished their college degree.
For the upcoming fall semester, NMC is leaning toward a hybrid approach that would allow NMC to mix physical classes with virtual classes.
Eliptico said the hybrid approach will help NMC decide which classes can be successfully offered online and to see that the quality that will be produced will be maintained entirely online. Furthermore, he stated that the default is to have it online. “But if there are components of the class, for example if there’s a lab component, whether it’s a science class or it’s another class that involves some sort of hands-on or face-to-face requirement, that will be accommodated in person,” Eliptico said.
Additionally, NMC wants to avoid face-to-face interaction as much as possible for safety purposes and if they’re not entirely necessary. As far as in-person components, social distancing will be enforced and the spaces will be maximized between students.
“For those classes that can be successfully offered throughout the whole semester online, we will do that, but there are some classes that…need that in-person element, and those classes will then have components of the semester in person,” Eliptico said.
Eliptico wants to be sure that each class can maintain the quality of instruction, as well as engagement between students will remain throughout the whole semester. For more information you can go to: www.marianas.edu.
