PBE-Transition FAQ

The number of attempts students have for a mastery assessment is determined at the program level. We recommend 3 attempts and intervention should be implemented at increasing levels with each failed attempt. However, each program will identify the number of attempts that students have, and that number will be used throughout the program.

Authentic assessments are given in a real-world context, requiring performance that demonstrates mastery of skills and knowledge learned. Examples may include projects, portfolios, case studies, lab- or field-based assessments, and simulations, among others. Questions to consider include:

1. What task should the student perform to indicate that they have mastered the course competency and/or learning objective?

2. Where would they need to use these skills in their professional lives?

Students have to master the competencies in one module before they can move to the next module in Canvas. Instructors have 48 hours to score each mastery assessment, which means that students must take up to two days before they either make another attempt on that assessment (if they don't pass it) or move to the next module. They can't just go through the modules all at once. 

The Subscription Rate allows full-time students (12 credits or more) to take additional courses within the same semester without paying more tuition. In order to take advantage of this, the student must complete and pass all four original courses, and register for the additional course at least five weeks prior to the end of the semester. While it is possible for a student to register for multiple additional courses under the Subscription Rate, the student must complete and pass each additional course one at a time. 

Acceleration is available to full-time and part-time students. What acceleration refers to is students progressing through and completing their course(s) before the semester ends. Part-time students can accelerate, complete their courses, and register for additional courses as well. However, part-time students are not eligible for the subscription tuition benefit. They will be billed at their regular designated tuition rate. 

Please note that acceleration may not be available on all campuses due to instructor workload and space constraints.  

In PBE hybrid labs, we utilize 3 different methods for scheduling dependent on the needs of the program. 

• Structured Schedules- this is the preferred method for scheduling PBE hybrid labs. It gives us the most documentation for accreditation purposes. In a Structured Schedule, the PBE student has a specific reserved lab time and instructor for each course. While the student may, with the instructor's permission, come in at other times or stay after their selected time, they have dedicated time slot and space for each course. 

• Fully Open Labs- in some cases we don't have enough instructors to staff the lab for all courses. This is often the case on smaller campuses or in smaller programs. In a Fully Open Lab, the lab is open and staffed by instructors. Students may come to the lab anytime it is open. Please note: Fully Open Labs have an additional step to document who is in the lab and when. PTLs for programs with Open Labs must follow the Open Lab Scheduling Guide. 

• Cohort Labs- this is the rarest form of PBE scheduling. In a Cohort Lab model, students are required to attend the lab at their scheduled time and stay at the same pace throughout the semester. This model is only used in circumstances where safety or accreditation requires it. Electrical Lineworker (ELW) and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) are currently the only programs approved for this method.