CAPLA RPL@HigherEd 2026 Meetings

CAPLA's RPL@HigherEd free webinar series are held on Zoom: Wednesdays 12.00-13.30 (ET). These free sesions present relevant research and applied projects to aid the development of RPL services.

There are normally 2 webinars in the spring and fall.

Save the Dates for Fall 2026

Webinar 1: October 14, 2026: 12:00 -13.30 EST

Presenters: Frank Gerdeman, Director of ADVANCE, Lake Tahoe Community College and Japman Bajaj, Vice President, Vametric

Title: Stop Building Buy-In. Start Building Systems That Produce It.

Description

What happens when an institution stops treating recognition of prior learning as a side project and builds it as core infrastructure from day one? One community college reimagined CPL delivery entirely: full-catalogue coverage across 1,200+ courses at launch, four distinct pathways unified through a single innovative assessment workflow, and structured evaluation anchored to student learning outcomes. The results surprised everyone. Faculty resistance dissolved when the tools made evaluation tractable. Learners sought out the institution from across the state. Credential programs that were structurally impossible without recognition became completable for the first time. This session shares what innovation in recognition infrastructure actually unlocks when institutions design for scale instead of waiting for permission to try. It includes client testimonials.

Webinar 2: October 28, 2026 at 12:00-13.30 EST

Presenters: Mark Ihnat, Program Director, Centralized PLAR Platform, ONCAT | Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer

Title: The ONCAT PLAR Platform for Postsecondary Learners: More Preliminary Findings

Description

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) enables learners to receive credit for knowledge and skills acquired through work, education, and other experiences. However, navigating PLAR remains complex for both learners and institutions. This webinar presents preliminary insights from the development of a provincial PLAR prototype in Ontario, led by ONCAT in collaboration with OntarioLearn and currently in the design and validation phase. The session will discuss lessons learned from early research, engagement with institutions and the sector, exploration of learner journeys, along with consideration of shared-service and technical opportunities. It will address emerging questions related to learner navigation, advising and support, assessment workflows, institutional roles, quality assurance, data and reporting, and the balance between shared approaches and institutional autonomy. Rather than presenting a finalized model, the webinar will focus on the design challenges and applied considerations currently shaping the prototype. Topics include identifying which elements could be shared, which should remain institution-led, where technology may improve processes, and where human support is indispensable. Participants will consider what improvements a shared PLAR approach should target, the conditions necessary for institutional participation, and the key lessons a provincial prototype should address before broader implementation.