Faces of NLU: Meet Jerry Campagna
A seasoned management consultant earns college credit for his work and life experience when he returns to complete his degree.
We believe every student, no matter their age or circumstance, can benefit from accessible and affordable higher education. That’s why, at National Louis University (NLU), we offer avenues for non-traditional students to come back to school while balancing their work and other life obligations. One of the benefits offered to students is the NLU’s Credit for Prior Learning. This process allows students to earn college credit for prior work and life experience, shortening their time to degree completion and saving them money.
Jerry Campagna is one student who took advantage of NLU’s Credit for Prior Learning to earn his B.S. in Management from NLU in 2021. Jerry had already built a successful career when he decided to come back to college:
“I am a Management/Marketing Consultant and have had my own practice for the past 18 years, collaborating with clients in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors. I have also served as adjunct faculty at Notre Dame (concentration in non-profit management and leadership coursework) and facilitated several Latino outreach best practices programs for a variety of higher education institutions and government agencies.”
Jerry explains that he chose NLU because of the University’s popularity among non-traditional students like himself:
“As someone in a more seasoned stage in life, I wanted to cross the finish line of my educational journey with others in my same situation. I also wanted the experience of a classroom-based cohort (got that experience at least until Covid took us to the cloud!).”
Jerry earned credit toward his bachelor’s degree through NLU’s Credit for Prior Learning program – specifically, the “Credit by Portfolio” option. In this option, students take ALC 301: Perspectives on Prior Learning, which teaches them to reflect on, and document, their professional experiences for possible college credit. Jerry says he found the experience of reviewing and reflecting on his career and skills beneficial to both his continued development as a professional and his confidence:
“[T]his manner of documenting my past and present experiences to gain academic credits has been the most enriching process of finishing my BSM (Bachelor of Science in Management) degree. Based on the feedback I have received from my evaluators, I have been motivated to continue the process of researching better and more sophisticated teaching styles and strategies. Onward!”
“[I]t’s also a confidence booster when comparing yourself to students who often are much younger than [you],” Jerry adds.
Overall, Jerry says he’s glad he took advantage of the Credit for Prior Learning option:
“I can validate and testify to the benefits of the PLA (Prior Learning Assessment) accreditation process as I received 50 credit hours via the program (one of only a handful of NLU students in the past 20 years having achieved this distinction). I think my experience also points to the fact that I’m a little more seasoned than the average NLU student – having received my degree by my 60th birthday!”
Jerry encourages fellow NLU students, especially students who have come back to earn their degree, to participate in classes and embrace the “student role”:
“Participate in class discussions, whether online (and turn that camera on!) or in the classroom – this is one of the special times in your life when your voice counts and contributes to your cohorts diversity of perspectives. Ask for help. I was in my late 50’s when I started back to school – I parked my ego at the door – consider doing the same. This is a unique opportunity to learn, fall down, and get back on the horse with the encouragement of your instructors and fellow classmates.”
Learn more about NLU’s Prior Learning Assessment and how you can earn college credit for work and life experience. Also check out our degree completer programs for students looking to finish their degrees. You can always contact an Enrollment Advisor online or by calling (888) 658-8632 to discuss your professional and educational goals.
