Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT), a two-year institution in Southeast Texas, is deeply committed to supporting community and economic development by preparing a workforce that is both highly skilled and highly educated. In response to Building a Talent Strong Texas 2030 and Texas 2036, LIT created an innovative program; Strategic Workforce Advancement Pathways (SWAP) that recognizes the training, certifications, and work experience students bring from technical certificate programs and professional fields. The program expands access to higher education by awarding credit for validated learning, thereby reducing barriers for adult learners and accelerating degree attainment.

The program is designed to achieve the following goals:

• Elevate Educational Attainment – Provide workers, particularly in high-demand fields, a structured and accessible pathway to earn associate degrees that build on existing training and experience.
• Advance Workforce Mobility – Equip graduates with leadership, supervisory, and management skills that support career progression and upward mobility.
• Support Regional and Industry Needs – Respond to Southeast Texas’s unprecedented industrial growth by ensuring a steady pipeline of skilled and credentialed workers.
• Reduce Barriers for Adult Learners – Recognize prior learning to minimize duplication of effort, shorten time to completion, and reduce costs.
• Strengthen Industry and Education Partnerships – Serve as a model of collaboration that can be replicated across multiple sectors statewide.

To ensure consistency and quality, LIT has built robust infrastructure around the SWAP program:

• Faculty Evaluators: Trained evaluators review documentation and validate prior learning for credit.
• Prior Learning Assessment Handbook: Provides clear guidelines for students and employers on eligibility and processes.
• Advising and Career Guidance: Dedicated advisors help students navigate degree plans, balancing academic, professional, and family responsibilities.
• Wraparound Support: Students have access to financial aid, scholarships, tutoring, online courses, and career services, making the program accessible and sustainable for adult learners.

Through the SWAP Program, students may complete an associate degree in as little as one year, depending on prior coursework and enrollment status. Courses are offered in flexible formats, including fully online, to meet the needs of working professionals. Employers often supplement these efforts by providing tuition assistance or sponsorships, further reducing barriers to completion.

LIT continues to build bridges between education and industry, creating efficient, affordable, and impactful pathways for adult learners and working professionals. Ultimately, the SWAP program is a transformative workforce strategy that fuels individual success, strengthens employers, and supports the workforce demands and economic vitality of Southeast Texas and the state of Texas.

LIT continues to build bridges between education and industry, creating efficient, affordable, and impactful pathways for adult learners and working professionals. Ultimately, the SWAP program is a transformative workforce strategy that fuels individual success, strengthens employers, and supports the workforce demands and economic vitality of Southeast Texas and the state of Texas.

Check out the PLA Handbook and PLA Student Guide.

See the Prior-Learning application here.