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2.16 Academic Credit for Extra-Institutional and Prior Learning

(Last Modified July 31, 2024)   Report a broken link

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BoR POLICY MANUAL 3.3.6, Academic Credit Earned Through Extra-Institutional and Prior Learning

Institutions shall use the criteria below when deciding to offer credit for military service and standardized examinations (including International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, College Level Examination Program, and DANTES Subject Standard Test Program).

Institutions shall maintain a review process for extra-institutional and prior learning that adheres to SACSCOC policies and guidelines, minimizes the number of credits that do not contribute to progress toward a degree program, and does not improperly affect student eligibility for financial aid.

2.16.1 Course Credit for Military Experience

2.16.1.1 Academic Credit
When a student requests academic credit based on experience in the military service, the following procedure is recommended:

1. The Registrar researches the American Council on Education (ACE) Guide to determine the recommendation(s) made by that organization.
2. The Registrar advises appropriate the academic department head(s) of the ACE recommendation(s).
3. The appropriate academic officer advises the Registrar of what credit, if any, is to be granted in that specific discipline. Credit should not be awarded for course/experiences not offered by that academic institution.
4. The Registrar records the appropriate credit on the student’s official transcript and advises both the student and academic advisor of the credit that has been granted.

2.16.1.2 Physical Education Credit
The granting of physical education credits should be based upon the following recommendations:

1. Basic military training should serve as substitutes for Physical Conditioning and Marksmanship for a total of two (2) semester-hour credits.
2. Experience beyond basic military training should be evaluated based upon length and type of activity and the level of accomplishment in the specific activity. For example:
   • A Navy Seal should receive credit for swimming.
   • A Medic should receive credit for first aid.
   • A Military Policeman should receive credit for self-defense.
3. Credit by examination may be offered to students having mastered a specific area of the basic physical education requirement.
4. If recommendations 1, 2, and 3 are not satisfactory, then the evaluation process will be determined by the appropriate academic office.

2.16.2 Course Credit for Standardized Examinations

ÐÔÊÓ½çAPP (USG) institutions shall establish and publish policies and procedures for awarding of course credit based on scores achieved on standardized examinations offered by nationally-recognized organizations including:

• International Baccalaureate Program (IB)
• Advanced Placement Program (AP)
• College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
• DANTES Subject Standardized Test Program (DSST)

The particular courses for which students receive college credit may vary from institution to institution, depending on what courses the institution offers. Determinations of course comparability shall be made by the respective departments. Institutions shall, however, attempt to have consistency in terms of minimum scores for awarding credit and the course(s) for which credit is awarded across the USG for common-numbered Core IMPACTS courses based on recommendations made by System-wide Regents’ Advisory Committees (RACs) for the discipline (where available). Refer to Section 2.4.8 Common Courses

With all course credits based on standardized examination scores, students may opt not to accept credits. If students believe that the awarding of course credits based on standardized examination scores is in error, they may file appeals with the appropriate academic department office and request reevaluations. As with other academic matters, if the issue is not satisfactorily resolved at the department level, students may appeal to the dean of the respective school or college, with a final appeal to the vice president for academic affairs, whose decision in the matter will be final.

These policies and procedures shall apply to all students matriculating at the institution, including both resident and non-resident students. Qualifying scores and course credits to be awarded based on these examinations must be published on the institutions’ websites and may also be included elsewhere, including in the college catalog.

2.16.2.1 Course Credit for International Baccalaureate (IB) Examination Scores

USG institutions shall award academic credit for appropriate courses in the USG Core IMPACTS curriculum for corresponding IB subject areas in which the student obtained designated end-of-course assessment scores.

Both Standard Level (college preparatory) and Higher Level (college comparable) exam scores will be considered for credit. Higher Level end- of-course assessment scores of four or more and Standard Level scores of five or more suggest that the IB Program work is comparable to a college course.

The course credit schema in the table below shall be used system-wide, with allowances made for variable credits in each category to account for labs, and on occasion, for depth of material covered in the IB Program subject area that may be comparable to more than one college-level course.

Semester Credit Hours Granted

Score	Standard Level	Higher Level
4	0	3-4
5	0-4	3-8
6-7	3-8	3-12

All institutions shall have a widely disseminated policy governing the award of course credits based on IB assessments. The policy will apply to both resident and non-resident students.

2.16.2.2 Course Credit for Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), and DANTES Subject Standardized Test Program (DSST)

In determining qualifying scores for college credit, institutions must consider American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations for credit associated with scores on standardized examinations as well as recommendations made by System-wide Regents’ Advisory Committees (RACs) for the discipline (where available).

For new students, credit should not be awarded for courses not offered by the admitting institution. Determinations of course comparability will be made initially by the respective departments and subsequently by published policies and procedures. When the content of AP courses or CLEP or DSST exams is close to that of USG common-numbered courses, institutions shall attempt to have consistency across the USG in terms of minimum scores for awarding credit and the course(s) for which credit is awarded.

For students transferring in with credit awarded at another institution for IMPACTS Core courses based on standardized test scores, if the student has passed a higher level course in the course sequence offered at the sending institution, the IMPACTS Core credit must be awarded as IMPACTS Core transfer credit even if the receiving institution does not offer comparable course(s).

For students transferring in with credit based on standardized test scores awarded for courses outside the IMPACTS Core, credit must be awarded if the student has passed another course in the sequence and the course(s) for which credit(s) has (have) been awarded is (are) part of the requirements for the degree the student is seeking.

Institutions have the option to award transfer credits based on standardized test scores even if the student has not passed a higher level course in the course sequence at the sending institution. In this case, institutions should follow their published policies and procedures for awarding of credit based on scores achieved on standardized examinations.

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