Pennsylvania’s regional public universities are gearing up to serve more adult students, and will use prior learning assessment and stackable credentials to help meet that anticipated demand. Work force development is a priority for the 14 universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, in part because they are often the only public game in town. Many lack nearby community colleges, especially the universities in the state's central and northern regions, so the four-year system sports a healthy suite of associate degrees and one-year certificates, along with the standard fare of bachelor’s degrees. “We offer the best of both worlds,” says Christopher Reber, executive dean of Clarion University’s Venango College campus.
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/08/23/pas-public-universities-open-doors-prior-learning-credits