Center for Alternative Studies & Educational Testing

North Shore Community College, Lynn Campus

300 Broad Street, Room LE 232

Lynn, MA 01902

781-477-2135

CAS@northshore.edu

Center Overview:

            The Center for Alternative Studies and Educational Testing offers a wide variety of academic programs that promote lifelong learning and broaden educational opportunities for prospective and enrolled students. Programs offered for students pre-admission include:

·              Ability to Benefit (ATB): Students who lack a high school diploma or GED and want to enroll in college may be eligible to do so if they pass a federally regulated Ability to Benefit (ATB) test.

·              Computerized Placement Testing (CPTs): Computerized Placement Tests (CPT's) are administered to entering students at all Massachusetts public colleges, in compliance with state law, to determine proficiency and/or ensure proper placement in Mathematics and Composition courses.

·              GED Testing: A student may make an appointment to register for the GED examination.

Programs offered for current students include:

·              Contract Learning: Qualified students may propose independent study for non-catalog courses. Faculty supervisor and student discuss the feasibility of the specialized course and viability of a learning plan utilizing research, technology, volunteer, work and international settings

·        Evaluation credit by portfolio: If the student already has professional/life experience, he or she may be eligible to receive North Shore Community College credit. For example, a student who is a policeman may be able to receive credit for government classes.

·         Evaluation credit by certificate/licenses. If a student has received previous professional certificate training her or she may be able to have the training converted into college credit.

·        Evaluation credit through National Exam Scores. For example, a student who speaks French as a first language may be able to receive foreign credit for his or her language skills through a CLEP test. *

Best Practices:

            -The Center for Alternative Studies and Educational Testing staff work with each student to evaluate how his or her current skills and experience can help advance their education at North Shore Community College.

Areas of college access it addresses:

            Academic Readiness—Providing alternate ways for students to earn college credit helps students excel at North Shore Community College.

*Some language taken from The Center for Alternative Studies and Educational Testing materials.