The University of Maine at Augusta offers portfolio assessments to help students turn prior work, life, or field experience into official college course credit. To participate, students assemble a structured portfolio containing relevant evidence—such as work samples, professional certifications, and documentation—demonstrating that their knowledge aligns with specific UMA course standards. Once submitted, faculty members evaluate the materials to determine if credit should be awarded. Because compiling the evidence and completing the faculty evaluation requires careful preparation, the entire process typically takes several months.
To discuss portfolio review contact:
Augusta/Bangor: Haley Brown; hbrown120@maine.edu or by phone at 1(877) UMA-1234 ext. 3130 or (207) 621-3130.
- Eligibility: Students must be matriculated into an Associate or Bachelor’s degree program. Students in certificate programs of 30 credits or more are also eligible. Non-degree students and students in certificate programs under 30 credits must receive written permission from their College Dean.
- Experience Requirement: Typically, students should have a minimum of two years of relevant work experience demonstrating knowledge and skills equivalent to specific UMA course content.
- Credit Limits: Associate Degree & 30-Credit Certificate students may earn up to 15 credits. Bachelor’s Degree students may earn up to 30 credits.
- Exclusions & Testing: Portfolios may not be submitted for courses with existing standardized testing options (e.g., CLEP, DANTES, Challenge Exams). Contact Advising (Room 137 Student Center, Augusta | 207-621-3149) or visit https://www.uma.edu/academics/advising/cpl/examination/ for details.
- Criteria for Evaluated Learning: Learning must be measurable (licenses, CEUs, certificates), both theoretical and practical (combining conceptual understanding with applied skill), and generalizable across diverse settings.
- Key Concept: Theory vs. Practice in Evaluation
- Theory (The ‘Why’): Understanding core principles, concepts, and reasoning (e.g., child development milestones or financial principles)
- Practice (The ‘How’): Hands-on experience applying knowledge in real-world scenarios (e.g., case management or authoring competitive grant applications).
- Key Concept: Theory vs. Practice in Evaluation
6. Assessment Fee: The Portfolio Assessment fee is $50 per credit hour ($150 for a 3-credit course). Fees are non-refundable regardless of outcome.
Step 1: Initial Advising Check
Contact staff in the Office of Academic & Career Advising to verify course alignment and identify a faculty reviewer willing to evaluate your submission.
Step 2: Faculty Consultation
Reach out to the designated faculty member for an informal conversation to confirm that your scope of knowledge matches course expectations.
Step 3: Portfolio Compilation
Please contact Haley Brown to gain access to the Google Site Portfolio Assessment template.
Assemble your portfolio using Google Sites following the UMA Portfolio Assessment Template guidelines.
Sample portfolios are also available for viewing on the template guideline website.
Step 4: Submission & Assessment Fee
- Submit your portfolio link and completed Student Request Form to Haley Brown, 46 University Dr., Augusta, ME 04330).
- Pay the $50/credit fee via the following options:
- Credit/Debit Card: Call UMA Enrollment Services (207-621-3185) to pay your fee.
- Mail a check/money order (made out to UMA) to:
Haley Brown, UMA, 46 University Drive, Augusta, ME 04330
Step 5: Assessment, Notification & Transcripting
Academic & Career Advising staff will submit portfolio to the designated faculty reviewer(s). After careful review, the faculty reviewer(s) will make one of the following decisions:
- Assign credit for the course(s) you requested.
- Require additional study/work before awarding credit.
- Deem the portfolio unsuitable for college credit.
When the portfolio review has been completed, you will be notified by mail of the outcome. All awarded credits will be reflected on your academic transcript, which can be viewed in MaineStreet.
- Administrative & Core Documents
☐ Student Request Form — Completed Student Request for Portfolio Assessment form.
☐ Professional Resume — Detailed and up-to-date resume.
☐ Course Syllabus/Syllabi — Syllabus from course(s) to be supplanted from faculty or College Office). - Narrative & Competency Statements
☐ Personal Narrative — Detailed statement outlining work history, career interests, and background.
☐ Knowledge & Competency Essay — Summaries of on-the-job experience specifically mapped to UMA course learning outcomes. This should be written in APA format. - Verification & Letters of Support
☐ Employment Documentation — Performance evaluations and official job descriptions.
☐ Letters of Recommendation/Verification — Three letters from supervisors on official letterhead detailing length of service, duties, learning, performance level, and work requirements. Letters of Verification are also acceptable.
☐ Training Verifications — Certificates or documentation of relevant non-credit training and workshop attendance. - Achievements & Supplementary Evidence
☐ Honors & Professional Recognition — Workshop/training attendance certificates, professional licenses/certifications, professional memberships, awards, publications, or teaching/speaking engagements.
☐ Professional Bibliography — List of at least five field-relevant readings and literature (if applicable).
Here are the most common questions and answers we receive about the portfolio assessment process:
- Who can apply for portfolio assessment? Only matriculated students enrolled in a UMA degree or certificate program are eligible.
- For what courses can I receive portfolio assessment credit? You can apply for portfolio assessment credit for most UMA courses listed in the current course catalog that don’t already have a testing option. However, there are some exceptions, such as student teaching for Education students, or the internship (HUS 470) for Mental Health & Human Services students.
- What kind of experiences will be considered for credit? What kinds will not? We will consider any post-secondary experiences where you gained significant learning comparable to the learning outcomes of a UMA course. We will not award credit for experiences from an elementary or high school curriculum or extracurricular activities.
- Is there a maximum number of credits which may be earned through the Portfolio Assessment process? Yes. The maximum credits you can earn through portfolio assessment are:
- Bachelor’s degree students: 30 credits
- Associate’s degree/30-Credit Certificate students: 15 credits
- < 30 credit Certificate students: You may also be eligible, but you’ll need permission from the appropriate College Dean.
- Will credit earned through the Portfolio Assessment process count toward the UMA residency requirement? Yes, it does.
- What is the cost? There is a $50 per credit hour fee that is due when you submit your portfolio. For example, a 3-credit course would cost $150. This fee is non-refundable, even if you are not awarded credit.
- Will portfolio assessment credit transfer to other colleges? Generally, no. Portfolio credits are often not accepted by other institutions, and you’ll likely have to submit a new portfolio for evaluation according to that school’s policies. However, credit awarded at one University of Maine System (UMS) institution should transfer to other UMS institutions. They may re-evaluate your portfolio if they can award credit for a course not offered at the original institution.
- How will my portfolio be evaluated? First, your application will be reviewed for completeness and compliance. Once it’s ready, a UMA faculty member will evaluate your portfolio. The faculty member will forward their decision to Haley Brown. If credit is awarded, she will obtain the necessary Dean’s signature and then post the credit to your MaineStreet account. If your portfolio is rejected, or if improvements are suggested, Haley will send you a copy of the faculty member’s evaluation sheet.
- How do I access the Google Sites portfolio template? Please contact Haley Brown (hbrown120@maine.edu) to access the template.
- Are there other ways to earn credit or meet degree requirements outside the Portfolio Assessment process? Yes, there are! Visit the UMA Credit for Prior Learning website for more information (https://www.uma.edu/academics/cpl).