Alternative Crediting

Credit for Prior Learning and Non-traditional Means

SLCC may award college credit for knowledge gained through various forms of private study, work or other relevant learning experiences and accomplishments.

These credits for prior learning (CPL) are also known as non-traditional credits and include the award of credit for non-credit coursework. Currently, SLCC has identified the following sources and avenues through which prior learning credit may be earned:

• Credit from non-regionally accredited institutions
• Advanced Placement via ACT and ACT Compass tests
• College Board Advanced Placement Credit
• College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Subject Examination
• Credit by a Departmental Proficiency Challenge Examination
• Dual Enrollment (Career Tech) Articulation Agreements
• Credit by the Life Experience Assessment Program (LEAP)
• Industry-Based & Professional Certification Credit
• Credit for Military Education or Police Academy courses
• Technical College Credit
• Credit for Non-Credit Courses
• Nontraditional credits from other Institutions

Further, SLCC has developed the following general overarching policy guidelines for granting prior learning (non-traditional) credit from all these sources:

• Students must be currently enrolled at SLCC, beyond the add/drop period, prior to applying for any of the prior learning assessments, leading to the award of nontraditional credits.
• Credits may be requested only for courses that are offered by SLCC.
• The prior learning (non-traditional) credit application must be completed before the midterm of a semester in which it has been requested. The assessment must be available/completed by the end of the semester in which it was requested
• Semester hours earned through these options are assigned a grade of “S”. The transcript will also additionally indicate, where able, the method of the CPL credit. No quality points are earned and the grade is not used to compute the grade point average.
• A maximum of 50% of a program’s total credit hours may be awarded, using these prior learning assessment procedures unless incorporated into an approved specific program of study.
• Prior learning (non-traditional) credit cannot be awarded in a course that a student has previously completed or enrolled in at any college or university (excluding coursework completed before Academic Amnesty is declared for which the student earned a grade of “C” or higher).
• Students may not earn more than 33% of the credits required for the major courses or core courses within a program unless incorporated into an approved specific program of study.
• To qualify for graduation, twelve (12) of the final fifteen (15) hours of required coursework must be earned in courses taken at SLCC, therefore, only three (3) prior learning (non-traditional) credit hours may be earned after the student enrolls for any of the final 15 hours of credit toward a degree.
• A CPL fee will be generally levied for each of the methods listed above based upon the number of equivalent credit hours being sought. If approved, a further CPL transcription fee will be applied to add the outcome to the student transcript. The current details of the fee amounts, which are subject to change, are available from Student Accounts.
• Students may only apply for the recognition of prior learning once. If denied, an appeal process is available, for prior learning assessments, which will lead to a final college level decision.

Students who plan to use the various methods of recognition of non-traditional credits by SLCC to meet degree requirements of other institutions should contact those institutions for their policies regarding acceptance, as this type of credit is often reevaluated by the receiving institution.

Credit from Non-regionally Accredited Institutions

Transfer credit from non-regionally accredited institutions may be accepted by SLCC. Special consideration is given to courses from institutions listed in the Louisiana Board of Regents Student Transfer Guide and General Education Transfer Matrix. Proprietary business schools and health professions colleges are often non-regionally accredited institutions.

Students desiring to transfer credits from such institutions may request a review of their transcripts by the appropriate Division Dean. The general procedural guidelines will apply and if approved, the student will be required to submit a CPL transcription fee to have the course(s) added to their transcript. There is no ability to appeal this process.

Advanced Placement

Advanced Placement refers to a college testing result that, once established criteria are met, allows first-semester freshmen and transfer students who have not attempted the next course in sequence at the former institution to receive college credits in certain English and Mathematics courses without actually completing those courses.

The potential award of this credit is contingent upon the submission of American College Testing (ACT) scores that (a) meet the College’s criteria and (b) are no more than five years old. The student’s highest relevant ACT scores will be considered.

First-time freshman students are automatically considered for Advanced Placement credit if they enroll in the advanced course before the completion of thirty academic credits at SLCC. Transfer students who have not attempted the next course in sequence at the former institution must request Advanced Placement credit before the completion of thirty academic credits at SLCC.

Dual enrollment high school students who achieve the required ACT scores, prior to admission to SLCC, may request a pre-requisite waiver and be placed in the higher level course. The ACT score must be verified to receive this advanced placement. Upon admission to SLCC, within the first semester, students who successfully complete the higher-level course must make appropriate application and lodge the appropriate fee for Advanced Placement. This process will verify the required result at the higher level has been achieved and the lower level course will then be entered into the transcript with a grade of “S”. If unsuccessful, the student will be required to enroll and take the lower level course at the earliest opportunity. Dual enrolment students who elect advanced placement, but are not intending to continue studies at SLCC, should first check with their intended future College or University concerning this decision. Students are advised that policy and procedures concerning advanced placement and the acceptance of the advanced placement credit and completion of the lower level course is at the discretion of the receiving college.

The SLCC general policy concerning credit from non-traditional sources is applicable to this credit opportunity. The following are specific requirements:

English

• An English score on the ACT of 28 or higher may result in advanced placement in ENGL 1020 Composition & Critical Thought  - and credit for ENGL 1010 Rhetoric & Composition , if the earned grade in ENGL 1020  is a “C” or higher.

Mathematics

• A student with a score of 32 or higher will receive credit for MATH 1105 College Algebra .
• A student with a score of 28 or higher will receive credit for 3 hours of MATH 1100, Applied Algebra for College Students.
• A student with a score of 26 or higher on the mathematics portion of the ACT may take the College Entrance Examination Board or other prescribed advanced placement examination in mathematics and may earn three (3) hours of college algebra credit or three (3) hours of Applied Algebra for College Students credit (but not both), and three (3) hours of credit for pre-calculus trigonometry.

A grade of “S” will be posted to the student’s transcript for credit given for any of these courses. SLCC students seeking advanced placement credit for any course should make this request in writing to the Registrar’s Office using the Credit for Prior Learning form located on the SLCC website prior to the normal first semester of the lower level course, or generally before they complete 30 credits at SLCC. The general procedural guidelines will apply and if approved, the student will be required to submit only a CPL transcription fee to have the course(s) added to their transcript. There is no ability to appeal this process.

College Board Advanced Placement Credit

South Louisiana Community College may grant non-traditional credit for College Board Advanced Placement Examinations, which are taken prior to the student’s high school graduation and before admission to SLCC.

The first-semester SLCC student who has taken a College Board AP Credit exam must have scored at least 3 to receive appropriate course credit for the equivalent SLCC course. The determination of AP credit application to SLCC courses is subject to periodic review by the Division Deans in conjunction with the appropriate Department chairpersons. This process produces a published crosswalk of AP courses and SLCC course equivalencies when a minimum score of 3 is achieved. The crosswalk is reviewed periodically and comparisons will only be made on the currently approved crosswalk at the time the student applies. A student may not receive credit toward a degree solely on the basis of an Advanced Placement test score. The College reserves the ability to request, receive and assess supplementary assessment materials to establish course equivalencies. For all applications for Advanced Placement, the student must request that an original transcript from the College Board be sent to the Office of the Registrar for college evaluation and filing with the student’s records. College Board AP Credit scores are valid for three years from the original test date.

When AP credit is considered for program or course placement purposes, this final placement decision is made by the appropriate Department Chairperson or Divisional Dean. Important:

• Students must request consideration of AP scores for equivalent credit of SLCC courses in the first semester of enrollment at the College.
• The student must request that an original transcript from the College Board be sent to the Office of the Registrar for evaluation.
• Student must score a minimum of “3” in the AP course to be considered for evaluation of equivalent College credits and where required, submit in a timely manner, supplementary assessment materials as directed by the relevant Department/Division offering the course equivalency sought.
• AP credit scores are valid for only three years from the original test date.
• A student who intends to use AP credit to receive SLCC course credit, and to then transfer to another College or University, should check the requirements of the receiving institution in relation to conditions to meet their degree requirements.

The general procedural guidelines will apply and if approved, the student will be required to submit a CPL transcription fee to have the course(s) added to their transcript. There is no ability to appeal this process.

Credit by College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Subject Examinations

The awarding of credit under Educational Testing Services College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is based on scores earned on subject examinations using the scores recommended by the American Council on Education as approved by the faculty. Students must submit official test scores to receive credit. The subjects and credits for which students may receive advanced placement credits are available from the Division Dean and students should check that the CLEP credit is applicable to the students major before proceeding.

SLCC has identified the following guidelines regarding receiving advance credits for CLEP:

• Prior to taking a CLEP examination, the student must check with the Division Dean or Academic Advisor of his/her major to confirm that the credit is applicable to the student’s major.
• All CLEP testing is scheduled through the Student Success Center.
• This process involves the payment of a fee for testing, which must be paid in advance.
• The awarding of credit at SLCC under CLEP is based upon three criteria:
  • Based on the standard scores recommended by the Commission on Educational Credit for the American Council on Education, SLCC has identified an equivalency in its course offerings.
  • SLCC requires a minimum standardized score of 50 to be achieved by a student to be considered to receive credit for any CLEP exam, and the College reserves the ability to request, receive and assess supplementary materials as part of the awarding of college credit.
  • That the student is enrolled at the college.
• No more than two different exams may be taken on each test administration date.
• Once the test is completed, the student will be notified whether s/he has passed and to decide if they wish to transcript the credit.
• Semester hours of credit earned by the CLEP examination are assigned an “S” grade. No quality points are earned. Such credit does not enter into grade point average computation.
• Once posted in the transcript, students will be able to schedule courses based on the credit received.
• CLEP testing must be completed prior to start of semester they are to be applied.
• Students who wish to transfer CLEP credits to SLCC must request that official score reports be sent to the Registrar.
• The general procedural guidelines will apply and if approved, the student will be required to submit a Credit for Prior Learning (CLP) transcription fee to have the course(s) added to their transcript. There is no ability to appeal this process.

Credit by Departmental Proficiency Challenge Examination

Opportunities are available, in select courses, for students who believe s/he is qualified by experience, previous training, or non-credit coursework to seek credit. Students should initially inquire with the Dean of the appropriate Division or Departmental Chairperson whether the course they seek to challenge is open to challenge. Faculty of each Discipline/Department maintain a list of courses that are approved for this activity.

Students, upon determining the course is eligible, may request and submit the appropriate CPL fee to the Registrar’s office to schedule a departmental proficiency challenge examination. This examination may be of a written nature or a demonstration of competency and skill, or a combination of both. Students must be currently enrolled in other SLCC course work to be able to request such an examination. The purpose of the comprehensive challenge exam is to demonstrate mastery of the content of a course. Successfully completing this challenge will result, after the lodgment of the CPL transcription fee, in the course credit being awarded on the student’s transcript with a grade of “S”. Students may challenge a particular course only once.

SLCC has identified the following guidelines regarding receiving advance credits for Challenge Examination:

• A non-refundable CPL fee will be charged prior to administration of the examination.
• Administration of all Challenge Examinations must occur by midterm.
• To pass a Challenge Examination, a student must demonstrate a minimum proficiency of 75% of the written component of the examination and if a practical component is involved, to the satisfaction of the faculty. Students should ascertain the level of competency required prior to submitting to such examination by meeting with the appropriate Divisional Dean/Department Chairperson.
• A student who intends to use credit by Challenge Examination to meet degree requirements of another institution should check the requirements of the receiving institution.
• A student who wishes to take a Challenge Examination for a by-passed course must take the examination by midterm of the semester in which the student is enrolled in the more advanced course.
• A student who fails to meet the minimum written proficiency (75%) and/or competency requirements on the Challenge Examination will be administratively withdrawn from the sequential or higher level course. No course fees or tuition refund will be granted.
• The Division Dean of the course and the Division Dean of the student’s major approve credit for Challenge Examinations.
• Challenge Examinations are available only in courses offered at SLCC.
• A student may apply for credit by Challenge Examination only once in the same course.
• A student may not take a Challenge Examination in a course in which s/he has been or is currently enrolled, or which s/he has completed at any college.
• A student who receives Academic Amnesty may request a Challenge Examination for any course completed prior to receiving Academic Amnesty. A grade of “C” must have been earned in the course when it was taken prior to the granting of Academic Amnesty.
• A student may not take a Challenge Examination for a course that s/he has audited.
• The general procedural guidelines will apply and if approved, the student will be required to submit a CPL transcription fee to have the course(s) added to their transcript. There is an ability to appeal the outcome of this process, using Grade Review and Appeal detailed elsewhere in this catalog.

Dual Enrollment (Career Tech) Articulation Agreements

The aim of articulation agreements is to provide an efficient and essentially seamless transition for students from the secondary school systems to SLCC. They seek to minimize the duplication of instructional course work and promote the early completion of the student’s post-secondary program of study. SLCC recognizes that one of its former colleges, (Acadiana Technical College (ATC) extensively engaged in this form of non-traditional credit. However, SLCC has changed its technical curricular and programmatic offerings rending the majority of past course articulations equivalences invalid. From the commencement of the 2014-15 Academic year, no requests will be processed using the former ATC agreement signed in 2011 for the 2012-13 Academic year. The two-year period beyond this time allowing application has now lapsed. SLCC reserves its ability to fully reexamine these pathways, establish new equivalencies and enter into new agreements going forward.

High school students not enrolled in current SLCC Dual enrollment credit courses who now seek articulated credit should, upon enrollment at SLCC, seek an appropriate Department Challenge Examination as a potential alternative avenue.

The general procedural guidelines will apply and if approved, the student will be required to submit a CPL transcription fee to have the course(s) added to their transcript. There is no ability to appeal this process.

Credit by Life Experience Assessment Program (LEAP)

The Life Experience Assessment Program (LEAP) concerns itself with the idea that what a student knows is more important than how the student acquired the knowledge. In this program, SLCC provides the student the opportunity to report what they know, or can do, in terms that relate to given college courses and a way to assess their knowledge or competence in those areas. If the student can demonstrate knowledge and skills in certain areas comparable to what a college-trained student knows in these same areas, equal credit is awarded.

A student must be both enrolled and in good standing at the time of a LEAP application and may only make one application for any given course. A non-refundable fee is required prior to the application being accepted.

The general policies concerning credit from non-traditional sources are applicable. LEAP credit is available only if the life experience warrants three (3) or more credit hours. Typically a LEAP application involves the submission of a portfolio and/or documentation and demonstration of competencies. For each applicant, a review committee is established to verify that the student can demonstrate knowledge and skills in the requested area comparable to the knowledge and skills of a college-trained student in the same area.

Those students considering a LEAP application should review the following table and then consult with their Academic Advisor who may direct them to the appropriate Department Chair/Division Dean for further advice concerning the suitability of their proposal. The following table has been constructed to provide guidance:

The following describes the general procedure to obtain credit by Life Experience Assessment Program:

• The student should contact their Program Coordinator or Department Chair to determine if a LEAP application credit will apply toward the student’s degree program. If available, the student will receive comprehensive instructions on the portfolio construction and relevant timeframes and procedure should they decide to apply. The application starts when the student completes the Application for Non Traditional Credit in the Registrar’s Office and pays the required fee to Student Accounts.
• Following College submission guidelines, the student submits portfolio documenting life experience with the designated Instructor/Department Chair/Division Dean.
• The College follows its procedure for evaluation of the submission and schedules as required practical demonstrations or supplementary assessment events. Final outcome is a written statement to the student approving or denying submission.
• If successful, the Instructor submits the form to the Registrar’s Office with appropriate grade for processing.

A successful completion of a LEAP application will result, after the lodgment of a transcription fee, in the course credit being awarded on the student’s transcript with a grade of “S”.

The general procedural guidelines will apply and if approved, the student will be required to submit a CPL transcription fee to have the course(s) added to their transcript. There is an ability to appeal the outcome of this process, using Grade Review and Appeal detailed elsewhere in this catalog.

Industry Based & Professional Certification Credit

Students who are currently enrolled and have previously successfully completed industry-based or professional certifications should contact the Division Dean of the student’s major to ascertain if equivalencies to credit courses have been established or may be available. As SLCC experience grows, a crosswalk of industry certifications and equivalent credit courses will be established and maintained by the Division housing the equivalent courses. This crosswalk will be reviewed periodically and comparisons will only be made on the currently approved crosswalk at the time the student applies. A student may not receive credit toward a degree solely on the basis of an Industry or Professional Certification. The College reserves the ability to request, receive and assess supplementary assessment materials to establish course equivalencies. For all applications, the student must supply valid documentation authenticating the certification(s) and send this to the Office of the Registrar for college evaluation and filing with the student’s records. Generally Industry and professional certification will be valid only if considered current by granting authority.

This non-traditional credit granting process must be requested stating with the Registrar and lodgment of a CPL fee. The process must be completed by the midterm of the semester in which it has been requested. The Division Dean/Department Chair reviews the request to determine if the specific industry-based certification is included on the College’s Industry-Based Certification Crosswalk. If the specific certification is listed on the Crosswalk, the Division Dean documents the appropriate college credit to be awarded and forwards the approved application to the Registrar’s Office for potential posting of the credit to the student’s transcript, with a copy to the student.

A student who intends to use credit received from industry-based certification to meet degree requirements of another institution should check the requirements of the receiving institution.

The general procedural guidelines will apply and if approved, the student will be required to submit a CPL transcription fee to have the course(s) added to their transcript with a grade of “S”. There is no ability to appeal the outcome of this process.

Credit by Police and Military Courses

Students who have taken courses as part of armed services training or police academies may apply at the Registrar’s office for acceptance of these courses. The credit recommendations from the American Council on Education are used to help determine equivalent credit awards. The Division Dean will determine which credits earned through military or police academy training are applicable towards graduation and will forward this information to the Registrar. These hours count as part of the hours of non-traditional credit applicable toward a degree or certificate.

Procedure for the Evaluation of Military Credit:

• The student should request “official” military transcripts through the Joint Service Transcript System or The Community College of the Air Force and pay a CPL fee. The Registrar will submit the student’s request to the appropriate Division Dean for evaluation.
• The American Council on Education credit evaluation is sent to the Division Dean for final evaluation. The Dean, in consultation with appropriate Department Chairs, will evaluate the materials provided and determine final course equivalencies. The outcome will be communicated to the Registrar who will inform the student and, upon payment of a CPL transcription fee, place the course(s) on the student transcript.
• The general procedural guidelines will apply and if approved, the student will be required to submit a CPL transcription fee to have the course(s) added to their transcript with a grade of “S”. There is no ability to appeal the outcome of this process.

Evaluation of former Technical College Credit

Students who have attended a campus of the former Acadiana Technical College (ATC) or one of its sites prior to July 2012 and did not continue or have completed their program may apply for an evaluation of courses and awarding of advanced standing in the current program through course substitution equivalency. The amount of recognition is limited to 50% of the new program as defined by the general conditions of CPL at SLCC. At the time of re-admission to South Louisiana Community College, students having previous technical courses should immediately request a review of these courses and experiences. Faculty will evaluate these courses for this equivalency up to ten (10) years prior to the merger of the technical college and community college in 2012.

Faculty at SLCC understand that in specific technical areas, competencies are required and that these may have changed considerably over the decade. In select technical programs, a crosswalk for the awarding of these equivalent credits may be possible; in others it is not. In the latter case, students may be required to undergo individual review which may require the successful completion of a practical skills and knowledge competency Challenge Examination.

This latter option can be requested by faculty as part of a departmental Challenge Examination to verify practical skills and knowledge thereby ensuring the student has sufficient competency at the required level to be awarded credit and safely progress in a technical area.

Students who have completed coursework greater than ten (10) years prior to the merger will require individual review. Faculty using various methods will recommend, using the course materials completed, work experience and, if required, practical challenge tests appropriate for equivalent course credit equivalences. These recommendations will be provided to their Division Dean, who using the non-traditional credit procedures of the College will award appropriate current course equivalencies. As with all non-traditional credit, all awarded equivalent courses will carry a grade of “S”. Specific letter grades are awarded only for technical courses transferred directly and for equivalent courses from other regionally accredited institutions. Since the crosswalk for awarding credit from the former ATC in this method is based on competencies gained in more than one former ATC course rather than on a course-to-course equivalency, it would be inappropriate to assign a letter grade for the credits awarded. Credits awarded are subject to the limitations on the total hours of non-traditional credit and hours in a student’s major as described in the general policy.

Students who were currently enrolled in ATC and its sites, when the institution merged with South Louisiana Community College, in July 2012, will not be subject to the limits placed on the number of hours that can be earned and used to meet degree requirements through this nontraditional credit procedure. However faculty reserve the authority to have students demonstrate appropriate knowledge and skills in all areas for safe progression in a technical program and for the fulfillment of all qualification requirements. Students may be required to complete courses as refreshers or to receive education on skill and competency changes and advancement.

The general procedural guidelines will apply and, if approved, the student will be required to submit a CPL transcription fee to have the course(s) added to their transcript with a grade of “S”. There is no ability to appeal the outcome of this process.

Credit for Non-Credit Courses

Credit is available to students who have mastered the equivalent content of a course through participation in non-credit course(s). A student is able to demonstrate competency in the college course content through successful completion of either a departmental proficiency Challenge Examination or a Portfolio Review. Only the college courses approved by the Faculty in the Discipline/Department are eligible for challenge. Students must be currently admitted and enrolled in SLCC course work to request credit for non-credit courses.

Below are the general procedures to obtain credit for non-credit courses by departmental proficiency Challenge Examination:

• Contact appropriate Program Coordinator or Department Chair to determine if the completed noncredit learning could/will apply toward the student’s degree program.
• Student seeks approval from the Divisional Dean.
• The student should then complete the Application for Non-Credit Courses Examination Credit in the Registrar’s Office and submit the required CPL fee.
• Student completes the challenge exam with the Divisional Dean’s designated Instructor
• Divisional Dean submits the form to the Registrar’s Office with appropriate grade for transcription processing.
• Student submits CPL transcription fee and grade is added to student transcript.

Below are the procedures to obtain credit by Portfolio Review for non-credit courses:

• Contact appropriate Program Coordinator or Department Chair to determine if credit will apply toward the student’s degree program.
• Student seeks approval from the Division Dean.
• The student who desires to apply for credit by Portfolio Review should then complete the Application for Non-Credit Courses in the Registrar’s Office and submit required CPL fee.
• Student submits portfolio documenting completion of a non-credit course with the courses objectives and evidence of applying the objectives successfully with the Divisional Dean.
• Divisional Dean submits the form to the Registrar’s Office with appropriate grade for processing.
• Student submits CPL transcription fee and grade is added to student transcript.

The general procedural guidelines will apply and if approved, the student will be required to submit a CPL transcription fee to have the course(s) added to their transcript with a grade of “S”. There is an ability to appeal the outcome of this process, using Grade Review and Appeal detailed elsewhere in this catalog.

Non Traditional Credits from Other Institutions

South Louisiana Community College may accept non-traditional credits that have been awarded by other regionally accredited institutions.

Acceptance will be based on the close evaluation completed conjointly by the Registrar and the appropriate Division Dean.

Transfer students who have been previously awarded non-traditional credits at other institutions should meet with the appropriate Division Dean to discuss the acceptance of such credit toward a degree at South Louisiana Community College.

The general procedural guidelines will apply and if approved, the student will be required to submit a CPL transcription fee to have the course(s) added to their transcript with a grade of “S”. There is no ability to appeal the outcome of this process.