Advanced Placement/Credit for Prior Learning/Transfer Credits

Credit for Prior Learning 

South Louisiana Community College (SLCC) recognizes that learning -the acquisition of skills and competencies - occurs in many settings and contexts as is not limited to formal educational processes provided by colleges and universities. Accordingly, SLCC proactively offers students the opportunity to earn credit for college-level learning acquired through a variety of resources.

Purpose:

SLCC acknowledges that Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) methods validate college-level knowledge, skills, and competencies acquired through many avenues such as life experience, work experience, military experience, civic engagement, individual study and participation in classes or training sponsored by business and industry, professional organizations or government agencies through the use of evidence of experience already acquired that meets the course objectives. 

Students will receive credit for demonstrated mastery of learning objectives that are equivalent to the learning objectives of courses offered for credit.

Eligibility:

All degree-seeking students enrolled in a degree, diploma, or certificate program within SLCC who meet the requirements established in this policy shall be eligible and awarded college-credit equivalents. 

Students must be enrolled (fully admitted) at SLCC when applying for any of the prior learning assessments leading to the award of non-traditional credits.

Requirements:

• Credits may be requested only for courses SLCC offers.
• Students, irrespective of the CPL method chosen, must satisfactorily demonstrate a minimum of 75% of the required college-level knowledge, and in some cases where dictated by accreditation standards, 80% must be achieved to be awarded non-traditional credit.  Credit examination once failed may not be repeated.
• Students may only apply once per course for the recognition of prior learning credit. If denied an appeal must be filed following the appeal process detailed in the catalog. 
• Credit for 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 for which the student earned a grade of ” C” or higher.

Recording:

• Credit hours earned through these options are assigned a grade of “S.”  
• No quality points are earned, and the grade is not used to compute the grade point average.
• Up to 40% of credit hours from non-traditional sources (CPL/PLA) may be used to satisfy required major courses and up to 50% from non-traditional sources (CPL/PLA) may be used to satisfy the total degree requirements except for specific programs governed by outside accrediting agencies.  Note: CTC’s are exempt from this rule.
• No fee shall be charged for reviewing credit for prior learning that is included in the matrix or for entering the CPL on the student’s transcript.  Students may be assessed a fee for the administration of examinations and review of a portfolio. The assessment fee is waived for veterans, active military personnel, and their spouses and dependents.  This fee may also be waived, by the Dean of the course, when partnering with SLCC’s non-credit division or an outside agency.
• If credit for prior learning is awarded, it will be added to the student’s transcript.  If a student remits enrollment after CPL has been granted, for the applicable semester, then the credits will be removed from the student’s transcript.  Students in this situation may reapply to the college and begin the process again at a later date.

• Hours earned through non-traditional credits may not be used to reduce the college’s residence requirements.

• Removal of excessive credits awarded through non-traditional sources (CPL/PLA) may be requested by completing the CPL rescind form. Credit for Prior Learning Rescind Credit  

Note: removal of credits awarded via non-standardized means will not refund any administration fees assessed.

•  Student who has been awarded credit may, at any time prior to the commencement of their final semester, request in writing to have rescinded part or all of their CPL credit. Such requests will only be approved for sound academic reasons such as the student wishes to retake the course(s) to:

  • change direction in their degree; or

  • improve their GPA to qualify for honors, a Medal or a Prize; or

  • improve their chances for licenses or acceptance into another institution.

• Deans may approve the rescinding of credit. Rescinded credit will not be re-granted.

Students who plan to use these non-traditional credits to meet degree requirements of other institutions should contact those institutions for their policies regarding acceptance; the receiving institution often reevaluates this type of credit.  Note: students under previous catalogs may be grandfathered in to use a total of up to forty percent (40%) of credit hours from non-traditional sources. 

Evaluations:

SLCC is committed to offering qualified students appropriate opportunities to demonstrate mastery of college course content, skills, and competencies through the following Credit for Prior Learning/Prior Learning Assessment evaluations:

Standardized:

• Advanced Placement via ACT and SAT
• College Board Advanced Placement (AP)Credit
• College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Subject Examination
• Industry-Based & Professional Certification Recognition
• Credit for Military Education or Police Academy courses
• DSST exams (formerly Dantes).

Non-Standardized 

• Credit is awarded based on the evaluation of a portfolio or live experience based on a faculty-developed institutional challenge exam.

Advanced Placement via Standardized Test Scores (ACT/SAT)

Advanced Placement refers to a college testing result that, once established criteria are met, allows first-semester freshmen, transfer students, and early college academy 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) or Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores that (a) meet the College’s criteria and (b) are no more than five years old. The student’s highest relevant ACT/SAT scores will be considered.

Non-degree seeking and visiting students who achieve the required placement scores may request a pre-requisite waiver and be placed in the higher-level course but will not automatically receive credit for the waived course.  The placement score must be verified to receive this advanced placement. Upon admission to SLCC, the student may complete the appropriate application for the waived course to be entered on their transcript.   The course will then be entered into the transcript with a grade of “S.” Students who elect advanced placement waivers, 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 are 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 or an SAT score of 640 (630 - Tests before 3/2016) will result in advanced placement in ENGL 1020 Composition & Critical Thought  - and credit for ENGL 1010 Rhetoric & Composition .

Mathematics

• A student with an ACT Math score of 25 or higher or an SAT score of 590 (570 -Tests before 3/2016) will be allowed to enroll in a higher Math course, and credit will be awarded for three hours of MATH 1105 College Algebra .
• A student with an ACT Math score of 28 or higher or an SAT score of 650 (630 -Tests before 3/2016) will be allowed to enroll in Calculus I course, and credit will be awarded for three hours of MATH 1105 College Algebra  and three hours of MATH 1110  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.  There is no ability to appeal the outcome of this process.

A student who has been awarded college-level credit at a regionally accredited institution of higher education for advanced placement via test scores may receive comparable SLCC credit. Students must comply with SLCC transfer credit procedures in order to receive credit.

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 Advanced Placement Chart  and SLCC course equivalencies when a minimum score of 3 is achieved. The chart is reviewed periodically, and comparisons will only be made on the currently approved chart 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, when possible, 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. There is no ability to appeal the outcome of this process.  

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.
• Students 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.

 Advanced Placement Chart  

A student who has been awarded college-level credit at a regionally accredited institution of higher education for advanced placement via test scores may receive comparable SLCC credit. Students must comply with SLCC transfer credit procedures in order to receive credit.

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, when possible, test scores to receive credit. Otherwise, a student who has been awarded college-level credit at a regionally accredited institution of higher education for advanced placement via test scores may receive comparable SLCC credit. Students must comply with SLCC transfer credit procedures in order to receive credit. 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. The subjects and credits for which students may receive advanced placement credits are published on our CLEP Chart .

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

• Students who wish to transfer CLEP credits to SLCC must request that official score reports be sent to the Registrar.
• The student must be enrolled at the college.
• Students who wish to take a CLEP examination may do so through the Testing Center. 
  • Students should check with the Academic Advisor of his/her major to confirm that the credit is applicable to the student’s major.
  • This process involves the payment of a fee for testing, which must be paid in advance.
  • No more than two different exams may be taken on each test administration date.
  • CLEP testing must be completed prior to the start of the semester they are to be applied.
  • 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.
• There is no ability to appeal the outcome of this process.

CLEP Chart  

A student who has been awarded college-level credit at a regionally accredited institution of higher education for advanced placement via test scores may receive comparable SLCC credit. Students must comply with SLCC transfer credit procedures in order to receive credit.

Credit by Life Experience -Departmental Exam or Portfolio

Opportunities are available, in select courses, for students who believe they are qualified by experience, previous training, or non-credit coursework to seek credit. Students should review the Credit by Exam Chart  to see whether the course they seek is eligible to challenge. 

Students, upon determining the course is eligible, may request and submit the appropriate CPL paperwork and any applicable fees to the Registrar’s office before scheduling an exam or portfolio review.  Examinations may be of a written nature or a demonstration of competency and skill, or a combination of both. Students interested in a portfolio review must contact the applicable department for submission requirements. Students must be currently admitted to the college to be able to request an examination or portfolio review. The purpose of the exam or portfolio is to demonstrate mastery of the content of a course. Successfully completing this challenge will result in 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 Life Experience Credit by Exam or Portfolio:

• A non-refundable CPL testing fee will be charged prior to administration of the examination or portfolio review.
• Administration of all exams and portfolio reviews must occur by midterm for transcription in that semester. 
• To pass an examination or portfolio review, a student must demonstrate a minimum proficiency of 75% or in the case of accreditation standards an 80% proficiency.
• Students should ascertain the level of competency required prior to submitting to such examination or portfolio by meeting with the appropriate Divisional/Departmental Representative.
• A student who intends to use credit by Life Experience to meet degree requirements of another institution should check the requirements of the receiving institution.
• Challenge Examinations are available only in a limited number of courses offered at SLCC.
• A student may apply for credit only once in the same course.
• A student may not take an exam or submit a portfolio in a course in which they have been or are currently enrolled, or in which they have completed at a previous college unless it been over 10 years.
• A student may not take an exam or submit a portfolio for a course that they have audited.
• The general procedural guidelines for CPL will apply.
• There is an ability to appeal the outcome of this process using the Appeal procedures detailed below.

Credit by Exam Chart -Eligible Courses

 Industry Based & Professional Certification Credit

Students who are currently enrolled and have previously successfully completed industry-based or professional certifications may be eligible for equivalencies to credit courses. Students should review the SLCC IBC matrix to see where opportunities may be available.  While students are eligible to receive full credit for a course based on an Industry or Professional Certification, in some cases and programs, SLCC reserves the ability to request and assess supplementary assessment materials to establish course equivalencies.  Accreditation and industry requirements may also restrict the acceptance of IBC credit.  Students must supply valid documentation, authenticating the certification(s) and attach it to their CLP application 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.

SLCC has identified the following guidelines regarding receiving advance credits for Industry Based & Professional Certificates:

• A student who intends to use credit received from industry-based certification to meet the degree requirements of another institution should check the requirements of the receiving institution.
• IBC’s are available only in a limited number of courses offered at SLCC.
• A student may apply for credit once in the same course.
• The general procedural guidelines for CPL will apply.  
• A student awarded IBC credit will receive a grade of “S.” 
• There is no ability to appeal the outcome of this process.

IBC Crosswalk Chart  

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 Peace Officer Standards and Training Academy Credit:

SLCC awards up to 15 credit hours to officers who can show proof of successful completion of a Peace Officer Standards and Training Academy. These 15 credit hours will be applied as credit for prior learning. In order to be eligible to receive such credits, students will be required to present a picture I.D. along with their POST certification. Students must also have Criminal Justice selected as a major and must have completed at least three credit hours toward their degree before the transfer credit is applied. Students will be awarded an “S” for the following courses: 

• CJUS 1010: Introduction to Criminal Justice
• CJUS 2010: Police Process 
• CJUS 2080: Police - Community Relations
• CJUS 2090: Criminal Justice Practicum 
• **Other approved CJUS elective (3 credit hours)

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. 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, place the course(s) on the student transcript.
• The general procedural guidelines will apply, and if approved, the course(s) added to their transcript with a grade of “S.” There is no ability to appeal the outcome of this process.

Military Chart Crosswalk  

Credit by DSST (Formerly Dantes)

The awarding of credit under The DSST Program 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, when possible, test scores to receive credit. Otherwise, a student who has been awarded college-level credit at a regionally accredited institution of higher education for advanced placement via test scores may receive comparable SLCC credit. Students must comply with SLCC transfer credit procedures in order to receive credit. Based on the standard scores recommended by the American Council on Education College Credit Recommendation service, SLCC has identified an equivalency in its course offerings. The subjects and credits for which students may receive advanced placement credits are published on our DSST Chart .

SLCC has identified the following guidelines regarding receiving credits for DSST:

• Students who wish to transfer DSST credits to SLCC must request that official score reports be sent to the Registrar.
• The student must be enrolled at the college.
• Semester hours of credit earned by the DSST examination are assigned an “S” grade. No quality points are earned. Such credit does not enter into grade point average computation.
• There is no ability to appeal the outcome of this process.

Appeal Process Criteria

Students may not appeal CPL decisions based on disagreements with grade-weighting methods or scores earned on standardized exams. The methods of CPL that can be appealed are credit award decisions based on challenge exams or portfolios, due to the following reasons:

• a score miscalculation,
• inconsistency with the SLCC CPL Policy or Processes or, 
• an error in a challenge exam that would change the grade outcome.

Process for Appealing Denied CPL Credit

A student wishing to appeal a denial of credit on a portfolio, an internally created challenge exam, or the evaluation of their Life Experience Assessment Program will complete the following steps:

• Print and complete the Credit for Prior Learning Appeal Form.
• Include any supporting documentation that may support the appeal.
• Submit the completed Credit for Prior Learning Appeal Form along with any supporting documentation to the Academic Division Dean from which credit is being sought.

1. Appeals must be submitted within 10 business days of a written notice of credit denial.
2. The student will be notified of the appeal decision by the division dean within 2 weeks. 

Questions or Concerns 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the appropriate Divisional Dean.

Credit For Prior Learning Application Form  

Evaluation of Transfer Credits for Degree-Seeking Students

Transfer credits from all regionally accredited institutions of higher education for degree-seeking students are recorded on the student’s permanent academic records.  The acceptance of transfer credits to meet the degree program will be governed by the following guidelines:

The Registrar’s Office in coordination with the Division Deans oversees the evaluation and review of official transcripts to determine whether the credit earned was earned at an accredited institution and determine which credits are acceptable to the College. Each division assesses the transfer credits taking into consideration how long ago the course was taken (typically anything outside of 10-15 years is not valid unless the student holds a previous degree) and if a student received a previous degree from an accredited institution of higher education.  Students with credits older than 10 years, without a previous degree from an accredited institution of higher education, seeking credit for ENGL 1010 and 1020 should contact the Testing Department to take the English Department Proficiency Check.  

 Transcript Credit Proficiency Check Request Form  

This transfer evaluation is completed no later than the end of the first semester of enrollment at SLCC.

• A grade of “C” or better is required in coursed within the student’s major.
• A grade of “C” or better is required for any course that satisfies a prerequisite.  
• The minimum grade accepted for all transfer credits is a “C” or better.
• Grades for transferred courses will be interpreted according to the South Louisiana Community College grading scale and will be recorded as follow:
• Grades of W, WA, WB, WC, WD, and WP will not be recorded.
• Plus (+) or minus (-) symbols will be disregarded.
• Grades of Pass, Credit andSatisfactory will be treated as Satisfactory.
• Grades of NC (no credit) will not be recorded.
• Incomplete (I) grades will not be recorded.

If the transfer work was earned in quarter hours, the credits will be converted to semester hours. (The number of quarter hours times 2/3 equals the number of semester hours).

Credits in courses from foreign countries and universities may only be accepted based on an interpretation of the credits by a suitable foreign transcript translation service.

Transfer students are reminded that at least 25 percent of courses required for a degree must be completed at SLCC and that select restrictions may apply in relation to programs of study.  Students anticipating transfer credits should refer to these restrictions that are detailed below each program of study later in this catalog.