(September 28, 2023 12:45 PM ET) Jackson College today announced the school has been awarded a $200,000 grant that will help students turn experience into college credit. The grant, from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s (LEO) Office of Sixty by 30, Global Detroit and the Michigan College Access Network will allow Jackson College to create an effective, streamlined process for awarding credit for prior learning (CPL) to incoming students. Awarding credit for prior learning supports students by providing a mechanism for recognizing and awarding credit for the knowledge, skills and abilities acquired before college. CPL offers adult learners a range of benefits, including cost savings, accelerated degree completion, personalized learning pathways, and recognition of work experience. It supports diverse needs and experiences of adult learners, empowering them to achieve their educational and career goals efficiently. “Through conversations with local industry partners, we realized the need for more defined CPL opportunities. Our local industry partners are looking for us to bridge the gap between in-house training, bootcamps, alternative credentials and non-degree programming to academic credit,” said Jamie Vandenburgh, assistant dean of instruction. “We plan to evaluate any and all external apprenticeships to provide direct opportunity to academic credit…