Dr. Richard Irwin

Dr. Irwin was recently appointed to his current position after serving as associate dean for University College since 2010. In his previous capacity Dr. Irwin was responsible for reinvigorating a number of prior learning assessment (PLA) functions—most notably the college’s experiential learning credit program. As interim vice provost, one of Dr. Irwin’s major responsibilities is to oversee the Center for Innovative in Teaching and Learning which provides support for faculty and students on experiential and prior learning.

In 2011, he was awarded a three-year Access and Diversity Grant from the Tennessee Board of Regents to support the program redesign of the institution’s prior learning assessment program targeting returning adult students. Dr. Irwin was also appointed to represent the University on the Tennessee Higher Education Commission’s Prior Learning Assessment Task Force, a statewide initiative to enhance PLA usage across Tennessee’s higher education systems. He also chaired the university’s Competency-Based Education Task Force.