The Adult Learner Academic Programs, administered centrally by the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, serve students who are eligible to receive credit for various life or work experiences. The programs are designed to facilitate students’ progress towards earning an associate's degree at Suffolk Community College by providing college credit for their learning experiences validated through examination (CLEP) or by portfolio assessment.


The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) examinations are administered regularly on the Ammerman Campus. Portfolio assessment is an alternative vehicle for documenting college-level learning achieved outside the classroom. Students who have the appropriate reading and writing competencies may take COL120, “Portfolio Preparation,” a one-credit course available at the Ammerman Campus. The course encompasses relevant academic content, skill development, and ongoing guidance during the process of developing a learning portfolio. Evaluation of the portfolio is not part of COL120. The evaluation is done by faculty experts in the academic disciplines reflected by the student’s learning.


The Adult Learner Academic Programs annually handle more than 2,000 inquiries, administer approximately 600 CLEP examinations, coordinate the assessment of at least 20 learning portfolios by about 15 faculty members representing some 50 courses, and provide community service for students who are returning to satisfy curriculum requirements through nontraditional means. In regularly administered evaluations, students report that their main purposes are achieved, and that COL120 is particularly valuable, because they receive quality instruction and direction in clarifying and organizing their prior learning while interacting with their peers. The graduates of CLEP and COL120 also report that graduation was expedited and employment upgraded.