Credit by Portfolio Assessment

What is a Learning Portfolio?

Learning portfolios are used to assess a student's level of knowledge when all other methods of CPL have been exhausted. A learning portfolio consists of:

1. a learning narrative (see example) that documents an individual has met the student learning objectives for a single course,
2. supporting materials that provide an example of the stated learning, and
3. an updated resume.

The contents of a learning portfolio have been accrued through the student's non-credit learning experiences such as community service, work experience, military experience, volunteering, independent-study, and extensive travel, for example.

How Does it Work?

If you wish to pursue credit through portfolio assessment, go to CNM ePortfolio website and sign in using your CNM credentials. Once your profile is set up, you can review all courses eligible for portfolio assessment, review the learning outcomes that must be addressed in your learning portfolio, and submit your request.

• Note: Some courses may require prior approval from the faculty assessor, which may include development of learning outcomes for a practicum course. This will also be noted with the course learning outcomes document attached to the course listing.

If your request is approved, you will be provided with a link to pay the $25.00 processing fee. Once the fee is paid, the status of your request is updated so you may review helpful materials and begin developing your learning portfolio. The CNM ePortfolio Development Handbook will guide you through the process of creating your ePortfolio.

Your CPL Advisor is also available to answer questions and provide with you with feedback to ensure your learning portfolio meets minimum requirements, prior to submitting your final work to a faculty assessor. 

Once the final ePortfolio is submitted, the assigned faculty assessor will evaluate it and determine if credit will be awarded. You are notified of the decision through the CNM ePortfolio Messaging Center and by CNM email. 

Find out more by visiting the CNM ePortfolio website.

Is Portfolio Assessment Right for You?

To help you decide if portfolio assessment is something that you would like to pursue, review the following questions:

• Have you worked in your field for several years?
• Are you able to explain and differentiate your learning from your experiences?
• Have you attended several work-related trainings or professional development workshops? 
• Have you served in the military and able to identify and discuss additional learning not listed on your Joint Services Transcript (JST)?
• Do you feel like it would be redundant to take a specific course within your program because of what you have learned from your experiences?
• Are you comfortable writing papers? (See below for an example portfolio learning narrative.)
• Do you possess work products, other material evidence, or documentation that supports your level of knowledge for the course?
• Can you demonstrate that you currently have the knowledge and skills of the course for which you would like to earn credit?

If you answered yes to several of these questions, portfolio assessment may be an appropriate way for you to earn credit for your prior learning experiences. 

Note: If you are still unsure if this is right for you, take the CNM ePortfolio Eligibility Wizard questionnaire to help you decide.

Example ePortfolio Learning Narrative

If you chose to develop a learning portfolio to earn credit for a course, you will be required to write a learning narrative that discusses how you have met the student learning outcomes of the course in which you are creating it. Click on the following link to see an example of a learning narrative.

• Example Portfolio Learning Narrative

Portfolio Assessment Fee

The fee for portfolio assessment is $25.00. If your request is approved, you will be provided with the link to pay online at the CPL Store in your approval email. This fee is only for processing your request and the final credit decision. It does not guarantee credit will be awarded and is non-refundable. Financial aid does not cover this fee.

Find Out More

1. Visit the CNM ePortfolio website.
2. Click on Get Started to go through the Eligibility Wizard, which will help you determine if portfolio assessment is a good option for you.
3. Sign in using your CNM credentials to start a profile.
4. View courses in which portfolio assessment is available, and review the course learning outcomes document attached.
5. Verify that you are able to show a faculty member your level of knowledge and ability to meet each learning outcome through both a written narrative and documentation obtained through your prior learning experiences.
6. Submit your request.

Note: Some courses may have additional requirements such as, prior approval, submission of student-developed learning outcomes, or a follow-up interview and/or skills-based demonstration after the portfolio is assessed. If a particular course has an additional requirement, it will be noted on the course learning outcomes document attached to the course listing in CNM ePortfolio. The faculty assessor will contact you to schedule these. 

Portfolio Assessment Deadlines

Requests for portfolio assessment are only allowed up to the second week of each term. However, you are encouraged to submit your request as soon as possible in order to start creating your ePortfolio at the start of the term to maximize the amount of time you have to complete it. Students who complete their ePortfolio before the submission deadline are welcome to submit early.

* Portfolio assessment is not allowed during your final term to ensure graduation is not delayed.

**Holidays may affect these deadlines.

Request ePortfolio Assessment for a Course Not Listed

Courses that have already been approved for portfolio assessment will be listed in the CNM ePortfolio portal and include an attached list of the course learning outcomes that must be addressed in the final learning portfolio submission. They are also listed below.

If you would like to request credit by portfolio assessment for a course that has not already been approved, please visit the CNM Course Learning Outcomes Catalog and verify you are able to demonstrate your ability to meet them through a portfolio before submitting your request through CNM ePortfolio. Your request will be reviewed and you will receive notification of the decision within 10 business days.

Note: If your request is accepted, you may have to wait until the following term to begin developing your learning portfolio.

Courses Available for Portfolio Assessment

The following is a list of courses for which portfolio assessment is currently available by the academic school that offers the course. Additional requirements are also noted, if any. Click on the academic school to expand the list.