Regulations and Standards

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Regulations and Standards

Academic Honesty and Verification of Evidence

All materials submitted with the LLA paper are subject to verification to show that the student actually experienced their selected topic. This includes, but is not limited to, phone calls and interviews with individuals who are able to verify the student's life experience(s), requests for additional evidence such as certificates, and analysis of all documentation by plagiarism checking software.
In the event that academic dishonesty is discovered or suspected, the student will have all due process rights according to university policies (see the Academic Policy Handbook for more details).

Writing an LLA

Students desiring to write an LLA must complete ENG 135, which will focus on how to write a Lifelong Learning Assessment (LLA) paper. Students should cycle through the following headings within their LLA paper.

Paper Requirements

Summary Table of LLA Paper Options

  2 Credits 4 Credits
Minimum Page Length 10 pages of content 20 pages of content
Subtopic Requirement 3 subtopics All 6 subtopics
References Amount At least 2 scholarly references At least 4 scholarly references


Choosing an Essay Topic

Please review the LLA Topic Description List to see if there are any matches to your personal experiences. You will write the LLA to demonstrate that you have knowledge and experience equivalent to college-level learning related to the subtopics associated with the topic you chose. Additionally, you will work with the instructor of the ENG 135 course in order to determine and refine your LLA topic/subtopics.

Components of the Essay
Be sure to use the LLA Template as your guide for typing your paper. Any papers not submitted in the LLA Template format will not be evaluated.
(i.e. Introductory Paragraph, Body of the Essay)

Depending on the number of LLA credits you request (either 2 credits or 4 credits), you will cycle through each of the four Kolb's stages as you write about the required number of subtopics. For a two credit paper, you will choose 3 subtopics. For a four credit paper, you will write about all 6 subtopics. Below are the stages of the Kolb's learning model that will need to be addressed for EACH subtopic.

How LLA Papers Are Evaluated

1. Knowledge and Experience
The evaluator examines your essay to see that it contains both knowledge and experience. Your experience provides a frame of reference for your knowledge. The essay cannot be only an interesting experience, nor can it be a term paper that presents only ideas and principles but never mentions your experience. Furthermore, there must be an obvious relationship in the essay between knowledge and experience. For example, it is not acceptable to describe your experience as a supervisor and then follow this with a separate discussion on theories of supervision. Instead, you must merge your supervisory experiences with those recognized theories in the field. 

  • Indicate how you acquired this knowledge. If your observations and reflections included reading, the evaluators will want to know what you read, why you were interested in reading it, and how you have used the knowledge gained. Blend your experiences with the reflections and concepts learned. Use examples from your experience to illustrate the learning outcomes of the subtopics from the LLA Topic Description List. Be certain to discuss how you have applied or used your knowledge. It may be appropriate to include samples of your work, such as pictures of art you have created (in writing on an art topic) or photographs you have taken (in writing on a photography topic). 

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    2. Evidence of Comprehension and Mental Processing
    Evaluators look for evidence of comprehension of the learning experience. It is not sufficient, for example, only to present a fact or principle. Evaluators may ask,
    "So what? Does the student understand what this means or implies? Can the student explain it? Is there evidence that the student has thought about this knowledge or what can be done with it?"
    The evaluator is looking for evidence that you have interacted with the knowledge and, in doing so, gained an understanding of it. There must be an obvious connection that led to greater knowledge and the ability to apply that knowledge.


    This interaction, or evidence of mental processing, may take the form of explaining the subject, analyzing it, rearranging it, or combining it with other knowledge on the subject. These actions reflect your thinking processes and must be evident in your essays. Remember, your essays must demonstrate your knowledge of the subject. 

    3. College Level Learning
    The faculty evaluator is looking for college equivalent knowledge. Grand Canyon University recognizes that there are many useful and valuable areas of knowledge not taught within the college system. Certain valuable industrial or commercial knowledge is only taught within industry, and highly personal learning is only a product of life experience. The purpose of evaluation is not to attempt to credit all learning, but to credit only the subject areas normally studied within a college and university setting.

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