CLEP and CIAC: Connecting Opportunities for California Higher Education

Thank you panelists! David DeGroot Patty Faiman Estela Narrie Cindy Parish Allan Hancock College CSU Northridge Santa Monica College San Bernardino Valley College

CLEP Overview CLEP Overview Credit-by-examination program serving a diverse group of students, including adults, non-traditional learners, and military service members More than seven million exams taken since ,700+ colleges administer CLEP 211,000 exams administered in 2009–10, including 76,500 administered to military service members Exam fee = $77.00 New website-

33 CLEP Examinations Composition and Literature  American Literature  Analyzing and Interpreting Literature  College Composition  College Composition Modular  English Literature  Humanities History and Social Sciences  American Government  History of the United States I  History of the United States II  Human Growth and Development  Introduction to Educational Psychology  Principles of Macroeconomics  Principles of Microeconomics  Introductory Psychology  Introductory Sociology  Social Sciences and History  Western Civilization I  Western Civilization II Business  Information Systems and Computer Applications  Principles of Management  Financial Accounting  Introductory Business Law  Principles of Marketing Science and Mathematics  Calculus  College Algebra  Precalculus  College Mathematics  Biology  Chemistry  Natural Sciences Foreign Languages  French Language  German Language  Spanish Language

About the CLEP Exams Structure  33 computer-based exams.  Mostly multiple-choice, essays, and listening sections for foreign languages  Most are approximately 90 minutes in length. Scoring  “Rights-only” scoring (no penalty for wrong answers).  Immediate score reports (except exams with essays).  Scores based on American Council of Education (ACE) recommendations for credit- granting. Development  More than 600 faculty contribute to the development of and standard-setting.  Standing faculty committees oversee ongoing test development, shape content, review data, set exam policies.  Opportunities to participate in College Board ACES Placement Validity studies,

Who Takes CLEP?  Adults returning to college  Military service members and veterans  Students who are fluent in Spanish, French, or German  Students at risk for stopping out or struggling with finances  Students with high SAT or ACT scores and homeschooled  Juniors or seniors who have not met lower-division requirements  Transfer students  Validate international student academic competencies.

Military and Veterans CLEP exams are free for eligible military service members Military veterans may seek reimbursement from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for exam and fees

Adult Students as Percentage of Test Takers Adults Are >60% of Exam Takers For… Adults Are <40% of Exam Takers for… Equal Share Exams AccountingCalculusAmerican Government Business LawChemistryAmerican Literature Educational Psych.Freshman College CompositionBiology English Comp. w/o essayEnglish Comp. w/ essayCollege Mathematics HumanitiesEnglish LiteratureFinancial Accounting Human Growth & Dev.FrenchMacroeconomics Info. Systems & Apps.GermanMicroeconomics Interpretation of Lit.PrecalculusU.S. History ManagementSpanishWestern Civilization MarketingTrigonometry Natural SciencesCollege Algebra Psychology Social Sciences & Hist. Sociology

CSU Systemwide Credit for External Examinations Coded Memorandum AA CSU Executive Order 1036, Section CSU faculty determined the passing scores, minimum units for credit and certification area (for General Education Breadth and/or U.S. History, Constitution, and American Ideals). Each CSU campus determines how to apply external examinations toward credit in the major. For students not already certified in GE and/or American Institutions, the campus also determines how to apply credit toward the local degree requirements. Questions about this memo may be directed to Ken O’Donnell, State University Associate Dean, Academic Programs and Policy: 562/ ,

Questions for Panel OPEN DISCUSSION

How can I learn more about the content covered in a CLEP exam? Download Test Information Guides (TIGs). Each TIG provides content information, sample questions, information on test development processes, and reliability and validity information. The URL, login and password are as follows: URL: –Username: clepadmin2 –Password: CLEPmsa22# (case sensitive). More information on exam content- (

New CLEP Composition Exams College Composition College Composition Modular Effective July 1, 2010 Has your institution set credit policy for the new exams?

Differences Between the Exams College CompositionCollege Composition Modular Timing120 minutes 90 minutes (multiple-choice only) Multiple choiceYes Essays Mandatory: Two typed essays, created by CLEP Optional: Two handwritten essays, created by CLEP OR essay created by your college OR no essay Essay scoring CLEP scores the essays every two weeks, student receives score within 2-3 weeks College scores the essays College Comp Modular: Students can take the optional essays on a different date Essay order form available in the Resource Center and in the TCA Handbook.

Scoring and Standard Setting Scoring and Standard Setting What does the recommended credit-granting score of 50 represent? A scaled score of 50 is used as the passing score—equivalent to a C in the comparable course—for all CLEP exams. Exams undergo a standard-setting study by a panel of college faculty who teach the equivalent course. The panel determines the skills and knowledge that a typical C student can demonstrate upon completing the comparable course. CLEP scaled score range is The final credit-granting score recommended by the panel is converted to a scaled score of 50. “What Your CLEP Score Means”,

CLEP Test Development Committee Members 2010–11. Dr. David Carlson, CSU – San Bernardino (American Literature) Dr. Carolyn Brown, University of San Francisco (Analyzing/Interpreting Lit) Dr. Frank Bauerle, UC Santa Cruz (College Mathematics) Dr. Peter Tannenbaum, CSU Fresno (College Mathematics)

Does the College Board conduct validity studies for CLEP? The College Board offers the Admitted Class Evaluation Service (ACES) for the CLEP Placement Validity Study Provides helpful information for making course placement decisions. Analyze the performance of a group of current students in one or more related courses in relation to test scores and other predictors. Correlate CLEP scores with grades in corresponding courses to inform policy decisions. The service is free to all colleges. for more information, visit professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/aces.pdf. professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/aces.pdf

Where can I find information on how CLEP relates to the concerns of higher education? Website information provides resources, exam development and exam descriptions, steps for building a program and setting credit policy, tips for advising students, and topic webinars, professionals.collegeboard.com/clep.professionals.collegeboard.com/clep Current research findings on CLEP candidate performance, persistence and completion- professionals.collegeboard.com/data-reports-research/cb/clep professionals.collegeboard.com/data-reports-research/cb/clep New Professional Development Series-CLEP WEBINARS-

How do CLEP exams compare to Advanced Placement (AP) exams? AP and CLEP are both College Board programs. Both AP and CLEP exams rely on robust content and assessment frameworks-measuring the academic proficiency and knowledge expected of students completing comparable college-level coursework. CLEP is administered on-demand in a computer-based format (CBT), while AP exams are administered to high school students in a paper- and-pencil format once a year. AP exams are associated with a rigorous high school course and curriculum, whereas CLEP is designed to measure what test takers have learned from previous coursework, experience or prior studies; allowing test takers to prepare for the exams independently.

Next Steps Visit your website. Can you find credit granting info about CLEP? Be sure CLEP testing and credit granting policies are transparent- easy to find and understand. Review your test center information posted on the CLEP website at Submit changes through the Resource Center. Review the CLEP Security Checklist and evaluate procedures at your test center. Order CLEP summary reports and discuss with key policy makers and/or the administration at your college. Order free CLEP materials for summer orientation.

Students Registrar’s Office Test Center Faculty & Advisers Admissions Office Adult &/or Veterans Office Connecting Students to CLEP Connecting Students to CLEP on Your Campus

CLEP Contacts and Resources CLEP Services (transcripts, retesting, payments) Phone (800) or (609) Fax (610) New Professional Development Series-CLEP WEBINARS- CLEP for Military and Veterans Technical Support - Call if you have software-related issues during installation and test administration (8 am – 8 pm EST) Phone(800) or (609) Fax(610)

Contact Brett Miller Senior Assessment Manager The College Board Cell: Fax: CLEP