Award of Comparable Credit Handbook. Table of Contents

Transcription

1 Award of Comparable Credit Handbook Table of Contents 1. Definition: What is Comparable Credit? 2. Overview Comparable Credit Program Overview Transferability of courses earned through Comparable Credit Procedures Overview Who to Contact 3. Methods available for reviewing an Award of Comparable Credit 4. Detailed Information on Methods for Awarding Comparable Credit College Level Examination Program (CLEP) DANTES Military Training Credit Standardized Training and Certification Programs (ACE) Credit by exam (CBE) By-Pass Credit Tech Prep Credit 1

2 1. Definition: What is Comparable Credit? Comparable Credit is defined as Degree credit awarded for demonstrated relevant college-level education acquired through non-traditional schooling, work or other life experiences. There are a number of implications of this definition that you should be aware of: Credit is awarded for learning, not for experience. Two people having identical experiences can go away with significantly different levels of learning. Some people learn a great deal from an experience, others may learn only a little, and still others may learn virtually nothing. And people learn at different rates from experience: one person at a job may learn many new concepts and skills in six months, whereas another person at the same job may take several years to learn as much. Experience in itself does not tell us how much, nor what a person has learned. The learning must be relevant. Comparable Credit learning is awarded only for courses that are part of the student s declared degree or certificate program. The learning must be documented. In order to maintain academic integrity for its degrees and certificates, the College must assure that the learning for which credit will be awarded actually took place. Most of this handbook is used to describe the many different methods students may use to demonstrate they have acquired the requisite learning for obtaining credit. The learning can be obtained in a variety of ways. Since credit is awarded for the learning and not for experience, it doesn t really make any difference what type of experience brought about the learning. It could have been in a classroom setting, in military or work experiences, in what we generally indicate as life experiences, or in some combination of these. It should be noted that a broader definition of Comparable Credit could have included courses that the student took at an accredited post-secondary institution prior to attending Cuyahoga Community College, but since this transfer credit is already systematically handled by this and other colleges, it is not included here, nor in the limitations placed on credits earned through the Award of Comparable Credit process. 2

3 2. Overview of policy and procedures Award of Comparable Credit Program Overview Academic credit will be awarded only for those courses directly applicable to curriculum requirements for the student s declared certificate or degree program as documented in the College Catalog. A student may earn up to a maximum of 30 semester credit hours through the Award of Comparable Credit process, by any combination of award methods. This limit does not include transfer credits, that is, credits transferred into Cuyahoga Community College from another regionally accredited post-secondary institution of higher learning. However, neither transfer credits nor credit earned through the Award of Comparable Credit process can be used to meet minimum residency requirements (credit hours that must be earned for courses taken at Cuyahoga Community College) of certificate and degree programs. A minimum of 20 instructional hours of the 60 semester credit hours required for graduation must be completed at Cuyahoga Community College. A student must be currently enrolled and in a minimum of 12 semester hours or have completed a minimum of 20 semester credit hours at Cuyahoga Community College and be in good standing (minimum 2.0), before applying for prior learning credit. ¹ When Comparable Credit is awarded, the student earns credit for the course or courses, but no grade is assigned and the course or courses are not used in computing the student s GPA. The applicable notation will appear on the student s transcript for each course where credit was awarded through the process. Fees are charged for the courses earned through the Award of Comparable Credit and must be paid before any credit will be posted to the student s academic record. 3

4 Transferability of Courses Earned Through the Comparable Credit Process In general, when the comparable credit courses are part of an earned degree, the courses will transfer to a four-year institution that accepts the degree in full. Cuyahoga Community College has numerous articulation agreements with fouryear institutions, so check with a counselor or a representative from the specific college or university to which you are intending to transfer regarding transferability of credits. When the credits are not part of a degree, you should check with a counselor, but in many cases you will have to contact the specific institution. You should not assume any credits earned through prior learning will automatically be accepted at another institution. Procedures Overview Many of the individual methods for obtaining Comparable Credit will have their own procedures. However, in general, the student should follow this general process: Familiarize yourself with the Award of Comparable Credit program as described in this handbook. Schedule a meeting with a counselor. In this meeting, you should identify the various courses for which you may be eligible to earn prior learning credit, and the most appropriate methods to use to obtain the credit. Familiarize yourself with the specific requirements and procedures for the Comparable Credit methods you intend to use, and develop a timeline for when you will apply for the credit. Depending on the number of courses for which you are planning to obtain credit, and the methods, you may want to spread earning the credits over several months or even a couple semesters. For example, if you will be requesting Credit-By-Exam, you may want to have time to brush up on the material. Pay the applicable processing fees at the Business Office and proceed with your application(s). Complete all the necessary activities associated with the particular Comparable Credit method(s) and receive decision on award or denial of credit. When you obtain your next grade report, verify that the Comparable Credit is correctly noted. 4

5 Who to Contact Basic information about CPL can be obtained from the Counseling Department at any of the campus locations. Call (800) to make an appointment to speak with a counsel0r. 3. Comparable Credit options There are various methods that the student may use to earn Comparable Credit. In many cases, more than one method would be used. Your counselor can guide you in determining which methods would be best for your particular circumstances. College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) Military Training Credit Standardized Training and Certification Programs (ACE) Credit by Exam (CBE) By-Pass Credit Tech Prep 4. Detailed Information on methods for Requesting Comparable Credit College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) includes a set of general and subject-specific examinations offered by the College Board. Award of credit is based on recommendations of the American Council on Education (ACE). Appendix B lists the Cuyahoga Community College courses for which CLEP credits may be awarded, and the required test score to earn the credit. Note that for each of the general area examinations a maximum of 6 semester credits may be awarded. CLEP tests cannot be used to repeat a class already completed. To find out more about CLEP, including testing sites and registering for the exams, go to 5

6 or contact the College Board at: CLEP P.O. Box 6600 Princeton, NJ Ph: (800) Fax: (609) Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) DANTES is a set of standardized tests (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests or DSSTs) developed for the voluntary education programs of the U.S. Armed Forces which have now been made available for civilian use. The civilian tests are administered through Educational Testing Services (ETS). Tests are in the areas of Business, Humanities, Mathematics, Sciences, Social Sciences and Education. Credit is awarded by the College for these tests based on recommendations of the American Council on Education (ACE). For more information on the DANTES Subject Standardized Tests, including test sites and fees, go to or contact DANTES at: DANTES 6490 Saufley Field Road Pensacola, FL Military Training Credit Students may be able to receive credit for courses taken while a member of the armed services. The American Council on Education (ACE) has evaluated many of the courses taken as part of military service, and the College uses their published recommendations as the basis for awarding credit for these courses. Procedures vary on how to receive this credit, depending on the branch of service. Army: Students who entered active duty on or after October 1, 1981 should request an Army/American council on Education Registry (AARTS) transcript be sent to the College. A copy of the student s discharge paper (DD214) is also needed, as well as an SQT or EER rating for any MOS held. Course completion forms for any courses completed but not listed on the DD214 are also needed. 6

7 Navy, Coast Guard and Marines: A student will need a copy of his/her discharge paper (DD214)), and course completion forms for any completed courses not on the DD214. Air Force: The student will need to order an official transcript from the Community College of the Air Force to be sent to Cuyahoga Community College. Credits will be evaluated from the transcript. Transcripts can be ordered from: Community College of the Air Force Building 836 Maxwell AFB, AL Ph. (334) Fax: (334) Standardized Training and Certification Programs (ACE) The American Council on Education has evaluated numerous standard training and certification programs. The College uses their published recommendation as a basis for awarding prior learning credit. Credit by Exam (CBE) In certain circumstances, when a student can show that he or she may have sufficient knowledge in a subject area because of relevant education and experience, the student can earn prior learning credit for a course by passing a comprehensive examination on the course material. In some institutions these are referred to as challenge exams. Deciding which courses are available for CBE is up to the individual subject departments, and the criteria for determining who is eligible to take the exams is also up to the individual departments and its divisional Associate Deans. By-Pass Credit By-Pass credit is awarded for achieving competence equivalent to a course or a sequence of courses applicable to fulfilling an academic degree requirement. Students must document the requisite knowledge and skills considered for comparable credit. By-Passed credit may be awarded for learning attained through documented, valid academic and/or equivalent work experience, including professional certification/licensing, and completion of formal training programs. Formal training programs include, but are not limited to, hospital-based 7

8 and corporate education where requisite knowledge, skills, and competencies are documented. All requests for By-Passed credit must be approved by the subject area s campus Associate Dean, who will assign appropriate faculty and/or program managers to review the By-Passed Credit requests and to make a determining recommendation for award of credit. By-Passed credit is not awarded on the basis of credit by examination (CBE). College Tech Prep Tech Prep credit is awarded to students with evidence of successful completion of required programs operated at schools and school districts which are members of or partners with the North Coast Ohio College Tech Prep Consortium. All credits earned through the approved bilateral agreements with be treated as Comparable Credit Awards. Fee Schedule CLEP, ACE, DANTES, TECH PREP - No Fee for Credit processing or Award BY-PASS, CREDIT BY-EXAM Processing Fee: Twenty five dollar fee payable when request is made fee is not refundable Credit Award Fee: One half the instructional fee for each semester credit hour to be awarded 8

9 CLEP Subject Exams and Course Equivalencies Minimum CLEP Subject Exams Score Tri-C Equivalency Credit Required Composition and Literature American Literature 50 ENG 2310, Analyzing and Interpreting 50 ENG 2410, Literature College Composition 50 ENG 1010, College Composition Modular* 50 ENG 1010, /6 *Student can opt to take just the computer based multiple choice section to receive credit for ENG 1010 If student takes multiple choice section plus the written essay would receive credit for ENG 1010 and ENG 1020 English Literature 50 ENG 2350, Humanities 50 Elective hours 6 Foreign Languages French Language Credit granted for only one level based on score 2 Semesters Credit (Level 1) 50 FREN 1010, Semesters Credit (Level 2) 59 FREN 1010, 1020, , 2020 Spanish Language Credit granted for only one level based on score 2 Semesters Credit (Level 1) 50 SPAN 1011, Semesters Credit (Level 2) 63 SPAN 1011, 1021, , 2020 German Language Credit granted for only one level based on score. 2 Semesters Credit (Level l) 50 GER 1010, Semesters Credit (Level 2) 60 GER 1010, 1020, , 2020 History and Social Sciences American Government 50 POL History of the United States l: 50 HIST Early Colonization to 1877 History of the United States ll: 50 HIST

10 1865 to the Present Human Growth and 50 PSY Development Introduction to Educational 50 EDUC Psychology Principles of Macroeconomics 50 ECON Principles of Microeconomics 50 ECON Introductory Psychology 50 PSY Introductory Sociology 50 SOC Social Sciences and History 50 Specific or Elective 6 Hours Western Civilization I: ancient 50 HIST Near East to 1648 Western Civilization II: HIST to the Present Science and Mathematics Biology 50 BIO 1500, Calculus 50 MATH Chemistry 50 CHEM 1300, College Algebra 50 MATH College Mathematics 50 MATH Natural Sciences 50 Elective hours (not a 6 lab science) Precalculus 50 MATH Business Financial Accounting 50 ACCT Information Systems 50 IT and Computer Applications Introductory Business Law 50 BADM Principles of Management 50 BADM Principles of Marketing 50 MARK