The LINK Program is for adults who wish to integrate significant learning
acquired through civic, business, or professional activities and college
classroom learning into a baccalaureate degree program.
LINK Information
The adult learner interested in the LINK Program contacts the Department
Chair for general information and then, preliminary to an Individualized
LINK Assessment, supplies the following materials:
1. Application for Admission to a Heritage University program
2. Personal and employment résumé
3. Transcripts from college/universities attended (Official transcripts
are required for admission to Heritage University but unofficial transcripts
may be used at the assessment.)
4. $90.00 non-refundable assessment fee
Individualized LINK Assessment
The Assessment will be scheduled after reception of the above materials
and evaluation of the transcripts. The purpose of the Assessment is to discuss,
in detail, the value of the LINK Program to the applicant. The applicant,
an academic advisor in the area of the applicant's interest, and the Registrar
prepare a tentative degree program including academic learning completed,
nonacademic learning that may result in LINK credit, learning still needed
to complete the degree, and costs of the program. After the Individualized
Assessment, applicants ready to begin the LINK Program complete the following
before registering for the Professional Achievement Writing course:
1. Admission to Heritage University.
2. Completion of General University Requirements.
COMM 320A Professional Achievement Writing
(LINK) 3 Credits
The course provides instruction in writing justification papers including
identification of college-level learning areas and techniques of collecting,
analyzing, organizing, and documenting life experiences. LINK credits for
justification papers are not received until completion of COMM 320b. Prerequisite:
admittance to Heritage University; individualized LINK assessment, completion
of General University Requirements; graded only as Pass/Fail.
COMM 320B,C,D Professional Achievement Evaluation
1 Credit Each
Once enrolled in the LINK program, students must remain continuously
enrolled until the review board is completed. After successful completion
of COMM 320a, Professional Achievement Writing, 3 credits, students register
the next semester for COMM 320b, Professional Achievement Evaluation, 1 credit,
for approval of LINK credits by the review board. Students who complete justification
papers beyond those completed while taking COMM 320a and 320b register for
COMM 320c or COMM 320d. The one credit courses provide both individualized
assistance in completing justification papers and preparation for presentation
of all completed justification papers to the review board. A maximum of 30
semester LINK credits is possible in the LINK program.
Review Board
The purpose of the review board is to evaluate the total baccalaureate
degree program, including the LINK courses for which the student will register
and the traditional courses still needed for the degree program. The final
approval of all LINK credits is granted by the Provost/VPAA. The review
board is scheduled early enough so that modifications in scheduling can be
made if needed during the student's final year. The review board membership
consists of the academic advisor, the Department Chair, the Registrar and
the LINK candidate. Evaluators of the justification papers and student advocates
may be included on the review board with approval of the Registrar.