MHEC Grant Helps Iowa Develop Statewide Prior Learning Assessment

Iowa’s higher education leaders are moving to bridge the gap between professional experience and academic credit through a new statewide initiative.

The Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) has awarded a $250,000 Strategic Impact and Innovation Grant to the Iowa Department of Education and the Iowa Board of Regents to develop a coordinated approach to Prior Learning Assessment (PLA).

This funding targets the process by which colleges grant academic credit for knowledge gained outside traditional classrooms, such as through military service, professional certifications, or direct work experience. By creating a unified and portable system, the state aims to recognize the expertise of adult learners more effectively.

“Awarding credit for what adult learners already know and can do will save Iowans time and money as they pursue postsecondary education and workforce training that leads to high-demand, high-skill and high-wage jobs here in Iowa,” McKenzie Snow, Iowa Department of Education Director, told MHEC.

The grant will fund several specific structural improvements to Iowa's postsecondary education system. According to MHEC, the initiative allows higher education leaders to develop statewide policies and infrastructure designed to help institutions scale PLA programs consistently. This includes the creation of a cross-sector Statewide PLA Task Force to reduce administrative burdens and ensure that credit recognition remains uniform across different campuses.

Beyond policy, the money will support the human element of academic transitions. The plan includes training for faculty and academic advisors so they can confidently identify PLA opportunities for nontraditional students. The state also intends to launch a “Credit for Prior Learning” campaign to inform adult learners and those nearing degree completion how their existing skills might translate into college credit.

Much of the work involves ensuring that these credits move with the student. The project will outline specific practices for how credits earned through PLA will transfer among Iowa’s various public postsecondary institutions.

“A statewide PLA strategy has the potential to drastically improve adult student graduation rates and to provide learners with significant time and financial savings,” said Amy Gieseke, Division Administrator for the Higher Education and Postsecondary Readiness Division.

The shift toward formalizing prior learning is not just an administrative update; it is an economic strategy. By aligning postsecondary education more closely with workforce needs, the state hopes to create smoother pathways to high-wage employment. This approach addresses a common friction point for adult students who may have the skills required for a job but lack the formal credentials to prove it to employers or institutions.

The Board of Regents is also integrating this strategy into its broader mission of affordability. Dr. Rachel Boon, Board of Regents Chief Academic Officer, said that a coordinated approach will allow public universities to better serve adult learners where they are.

“The Regent universities are dedicated to quality, affordable education for Iowans, and this award only serves that dedication,” Dr. Boon said.

The MHEC grant functions as a collaborative tool for Midwestern states. While this specific $250,000 award is directed at Iowa, MHEC provides similar grant opportunities to its member states, which include Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. These grants are intended to support high-impact initiatives that strengthen regional economic vitality.

“Iowa leaders know that serving more adult learners is a significant opportunity for the state and that this PLA strategy can play a major role in helping adult learners leverage their experience toward certifications or degrees,” Susan G. Heegaard, MHEC President, told MHEC.

Worth a look