| NJ PLACE FAQ |
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1. What is NJ PLACE?
New Jersey Pathways Leading Apprentices to a College Education (NJ PLACE) - Under the leadership of the State Employment and Training Commission (SETC), New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the NJ AFL/CIO, a collaboration that included New Jersey's 19 community colleges, organized labor, and several state agencies, developed a statewide model to award college credit for participating registered apprenticeships in the building and construction trades.
American Council on Education (ACE) College Credit Recommendation Service recognizes college-level learning taking place in union apprenticeship training programs and, accordingly, credit recommendations can be applied (a) toward associate degree programs at NJ's 19 community colleges and, shortly, as part of the next phase of the NJ PLACE initiative, (b) toward baccalaureate degrees at New Jersey’s senior colleges and universities.
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| 2. Who are the partners of NJ PLACE?
Labor Organizations
- NJ State AFL-CIO
- NJ State Building and Construction Trades Council
- NJ Regional Council of Carpenters
- International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers
- International Association of the Heat and Frost Insulators & Asbestos Workers
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
- International Union of Operating Engineers
- Joint Apprenticeship and Training Funds of Sheet Metal Locals 19, 22, 25 & 27 and The International Training Institute for the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Industry
- United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry
- United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry
Education
- NJ's 19 Community Colleges
- NJ Council of County Vocational Schools
- NJ Institute of Technology
- NJ Presidents' Council
- NJ Statewide Transfer Initiative
- Rutgers, The State University of NJ
- Thomas Edison State College
State Government
- NJ Commission on Higher Education
- NJ Department of Corrections Officer Training Institute
- NJ Department of Education
- NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development
- NJ State Employment and Training Commission
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3. What is the AFL-CIO's relationship to NJ PLACE?
Charles Wowkanech, president of the NJ AFL-CIO initially collaborated with the NJ State Employment and Training Commission regarding the NJ PLACE concept. The SETC coordinated a team of experts to formulate a pilot program to award college credit for apprenticeship. This team developed project guidelines that were implemented to further develop the program. |
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4. Is my organization participating in NJ PLACE?
Those organizations that have been evaluated by the American Council on Education and that are able to participate in NJ PLACE are:
- International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers
- International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators & Asbestos Workers
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
- Joint Apprenticeship and Training Funds of Sheet Metal Locals 19, 22, 25 & 27 and The International Training Institute for the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Industry
- NJ Regional Council of Carpenters
- NJ Department of Corrections Officer Training Institute
- United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry (pending final report from ACE).
Contact your local training coordinator for details.
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5. How can I get more information about NJ PLACE?
For more information contact:
New Jersey Council of County Colleges
330 West State Street
Trenton, NJ 08618
609-392-3434 tel * 609-392-8158 fax
www.NJPLACE.com |
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6. What degree can I get through NJ PLACE?
The 19 NJ community colleges have implemented a new associate in applied science degree in technical studies that can apply apprenticeship training credits towards this degree. You may study business management, construction management or a customized technology. The technical studies degree program can provide the student with further technical training in the field of their choice or the student may enroll in a business management or construction management concentration to complete his or her degree. Additionally, under NJ state guidelines, 21 credits of general education courses, i.e., English, math, science, psychology, etc., are required to complete the AAS degree in technical studies. A student advisor familiar with the technical studies degree or the NJ PLACE liaison contact should refer the student to a college professional who can recommend what courses a student should take in order to fulfill the requirements to complete the Technical Studies degree. To graduate, a student must complete a minimum of 60 credits toward this degree. |
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7. How do I get credit onto a college transcript?
Each of the 19 NJ community colleges have a NJ PLACE liaison who can assist in
evaluating, or directing the student to an evaluator, who will review the student's
college application, apprenticeship program completion status and any other college
courses the student may have taken prior to applying to the college. To view the
technical studies degree programs, see AAS Degree Programs. |
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8. Who do I contact at each college?
There is a designated NJ PLACE liaison at each community college. Click here for the links to the Contacts page. |
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9. What courses will I need to take?
An outline of the proposed course of study for each of the organizations reviewed is available at www.NJPLACE.com, under the AAS Degree Programs page. |
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10. How do I get started in college?
Contact your NJ PLACE community college liaison listed or your apprenticeship/training coordinator for your local organization. You may also obtain information by contacting:
New Jersey Council of County Colleges
330 West State Street
Trenton, NJ 08618
609-392-3434 Tel * 609-392-8158
Fax
www.NJPLACE.com |
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11. What is the ACE College Credit Recommendation Service?
The ACE College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE/CREDIT) is a national program of the American Council on Education (ACE). This program helps adults earn college credit for what they learn in courses taken outside a college or university setting. It does this by conducting academic evaluations of education and training courses offered by corporations, government agencies, proprietary schools, unions and professional associations. The American Council on Education is a national coordinating body for American higher education and provides leadership on key higher education issues. |
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12. What is the benefit for an organization to have ACE/CREDIT review of courses?
Some benefits include:
- National academic recognition for an organization and courses.
- Increased recruitment and retention of staff and students.
- Visibility and academic prestige for higher level training.
- Enhanced image for an organization.
- Cost-savings tuition.
- Courses comparable to post-secondary institutions.
- Courses can be recommended for college credit.
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13. How much does an ACE evaluation cost?
The total cost for an ACE evaluation is determined as follows:
- Application fee - submitted with the ACE application
Evaluation fee for the ACE evaluation is determined by several key factors:
- Number of courses
- Academic subject areas of the courses
- Number of days on-site
- Number of teams assigned to the evaluation
- Travel Expenses- for travel outside New Jersey
For additional information or details, contact ACE in Washington, DC at 202-939-9300.
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| 14. How does an organization prepare for an ACE evaluation?
After initial inquiry with the NJ ACE State Director, an organization can prepare in several ways:
- Read and review “A Step-By- Step Guide to an ACE Evaluation.”.
- Have pre-evaluation meeting(s) with the NJ ACE State Director-as many as necessary to meet the organization’s needs.
- Participate in an ACE Prep Workshop-coordinated through the NJ ACE State Affiliate Office.
- Contact ACE in Washington, DC at 202-939-9300.
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15. How long is the evaluation valid?
ACE Policy states that the ACE evaluation is valid for three years from the date of the initial evaluation. For apprenticeship programs, ACE has agreed to extend this validation to five years. |
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16. What are the costs for maintaining the ACE credit recommendations?
There are two costs involved to maintain the ACE credit recommendations: the Annual
Audit and the Re-evaluation cost. ACE’s quality control process to
insure the continued academic integrity of the program and the organization’s
credit recommendations is the Annual Audit. The credit recommendations are
reviewed annually to guarantee currency. Except in situations when courses
undergo significant change, this audit is a simple administrative procedure at
a fraction of the cost of the initial review. In addition to the annual
audit, a reevaluation is required as stated above with associated costs of a full
evaluation. |
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17. Who do I contact to learn more details about the ACE College Credit Recommendation Service?
Contact the ACE office in Washington, DC at 202-939-9300.
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18. How are the credit recommendations made?
A team of college professors, who are subject matter experts, evaluates and makes the determination of the number of credits recommended for your courses. This determination is based on the depth and scope of the learning taking place. |
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