1. Transfer Course Credit – Institutions of Higher Education Credit for Prior Learning Industry Recognized Credentials/Test Credit AGC – April 2016

2. Original Revised Policy Statement Transfer Course Credit Policy – Institutions of Higher Education (8.29)  Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) awards course credit for equivalent courses from accredited and international institutions of higher education. When alignment between a course from another institution of higher education and a GRCC course has been established by the academic department in which the course resides and the College, the GRCC Registrar’s Office award credit for the course, if the following guidelines are met:  the student earned a grade of “C” (2.0) or higher in the course  the level of the course being transferred in is 100-300

3. Original Revised Policy Statement Transfer Course Credit Policy – Institutions of Higher Education (8.29), cont.  Credit will only be awarded for courses that are one or more credit hours  Students will be given the amount of credit earned at the previous institution  The standard formula for conversion of quarter hours to semester hours will be used  For courses that are graded pass/fail, “pass” will be considered equivalent to a “C” (2.0)

4. Table Feedback  Add “regionally” accredited to language – Language updated  Consider process to assess General Education courses for which we don’t have an equivalent. Request has been communicated to the Chair of the General Education Team  Pass/Fail Clarifications: Pass/fail is being treated as a “C” in order to align with the first guideline of this policy. Students are just being given “credit.” No course transfer credit figures in to a student’s GRCC gpa.  Clarification between substitutions and equivalent courses. The definition for course equivalency will be established in implementation. Department will provide content expertise to determine equivalency. Institutional guidelines will be created for this work.

5. Table Feedback  Clarification on transferring in courses with less credit hours than the course has at GRCC. Currently the student must make up the credit hours with another course. Any changes to this practice would require an update to the Subs/Waivers policy.  Who is the reader of this policy? This policy is for students, faculty, staff, and administrators. There has been discussion at COST about how to best communicate policies to students.  Original Documentation from students is too much to ask. Requiring official transcripts is common practice in higher education for awarding credit for transfer courses

6. Final Revised Policy Statement Transfer Course Credit Policy – Institutions of Higher Education (8.29), cont.  Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) awards course credit for equivalent courses from any regionally accredited institution in the United States and international institutions of higher education. When equivalence between a course from another institution of higher education and a GRCC course has been established by the academic department (in which the course resides) and the College, the GRCC Registrar’s Office award credit for the course, if the following guidelines are met:  the student earned a grade of “C” (2.0) or higher in the course  the level of the course being transferred in is 100-300

7. Final Revised Policy Statement Transfer Course Credit Policy – Institutions of Higher Education (8.29), cont.  Credit will only be awarded for courses that are one or more credit hours  Students will be given the amount of credit earned at the previous institution  The standard formula for conversion of quarter hours to semester hours will be used  For courses that are graded pass/fail from another institution, “pass” will be considered by GRCC as equivalent to a grade of “C” (2.0)

8. Vote VOTE

9. Original Revised Policy Statement Prior Learning Assessment (7.15)  Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) awards course credit for college level learning in alternative settings. When a student is able to demonstrate competency in Course Learning Outcomes for a particular course through Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) from a portfolio evaluation by a subject matter expert or a GRCC Challenge Test, the GRCC Registrar’s Office will award credit for the course, if the following guidelines are met:  There is not another way to grant the student credit for the course through an external credential, test, or exam (i.e., AP, CLEP)  If a Challenge Test exists for a course, it should be used instead of a PLA portfolio evaluation

10. Original Revised Policy Statement Prior Learning Assessment (7.15) cont.  Credit is evaluated for and awarded in the context of the program/degree in which they are enrolled  Credit must be aligned with a course and may only be awarded once for the same learning within a student’s program/degree  Credit will not be awarded for General Education courses  Students have been made aware that the credit awarded by the college is typically not transferable to other institutions.

11. Table Feedback Alternative language suggested: Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) may award course credit for college-level learning in alternative settings if:  the student is able to demonstrate competency in Course Learning Outcomes for a particular course;  there is a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) from a portfolio evaluation by a subject matter expert or a GRCC Challenge Test;  there is not another way to grant the student credit for the course through an external credential, test, or exam (i.e., AP, CLEP)

12. Table Feedback  a Challenge Test exists for a course, it should be used instead of a PLA portfolio evaluation;  the credit is evaluated for and awarded in the context of the program/degree in which they are enrolled;  the credit is aligned with a course and may only be awarded once for the same learning within a student’s program/degree;  the credit is not awarded for General Education courses;  the student is made aware that the credit awarded by the college is typically not transferable to other institutions.  For implementation there are clear guidelines and timeframes. This will be a part of implementation.

13. Final Revised Policy Statement Prior Learning Assessment (7.15)  Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) awards course credit for college level learning in alternative settings. When a student is able to demonstrate competency in Course Learning Outcomes for a particular course through Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) from a portfolio evaluation by a subject matter expert or a GRCC Challenge Test, the GRCC Registrar’s Office will award credit for the course, if the following guidelines are met:  There is not another way to grant the student credit for the course through an external credential, test, or exam (i.e., AP, CLEP)  If a Challenge Test exists for a course, it should be used instead of a PLA portfolio evaluation

14. Final Revised Policy Statement Prior Learning Assessment (7.15) cont.  Credit is evaluated for and awarded in the context of the program/degree in which they are enrolled  Credit must be aligned with a course and may only be awarded once for the same learning within a student’s program/degree  Credit will not be awarded for General Education courses  Students have been made aware that the credit awarded by the college is typically not transferable to other institutions.

15. Vote VOTE

16. Original Proposed New Policy Statement Industry Recognized Credentials/Test Credit Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) awards course credit for external nationally recognized industry or professional credentials and accredited or nationally recognized exams and tests. When alignment between a credential or test and a GRCC course(s) has been established by the academic department in which the course(s) resides and the College, the GRCC Registrar’s Office will award credit for the course(s), if the following guidelines are met:  The course alignment with external credential has been formally documented in the Registrar’s Office prior to student request for course credit.  The credential is current/valid at the time the credit is awarded (has not expired)  Students provide original verification to the GRCC Registrar’s Office  All established requirements (for example, minimum acceptable test scores) are met.

17. Table Feedback  Are there individual industry standards that can be apart of the review process? Courses should be aligned with industry standards through the curriculum development process, when applicable.  How is the course recorded on a student’s transcript? Manually as transfer credit. The name of the credential is listed.  We need a list of these credentials so that students are aware of them and they need to be updated regularly. This will be a part of implementation.

18. Final Proposed New Policy Statement Industry Recognized Credentials/Test Credit Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) awards course credit for external nationally recognized industry or professional credentials and accredited or nationally recognized exams and tests. When equivalence between a credential or test and a GRCC course(s) has been established by the academic department (in which the course(s) resides) and the College, the GRCC Registrar’s Office will award credit for the course(s), if the following guidelines are met:  The course alignment with external credential has been formally documented in the Registrar’s Office prior to student request for course credit.  The credential is current/valid at the time the credit is awarded (has not expired)  Students provide original verification to the GRCC Registrar’s Office  All established requirements (for example, minimum acceptable test scores) are met.

19. Vote VOTE

20. Questions/Clarifications Questions?