3110P AWARD OF NON-TRADITIONAL CREDIT (PROCEDURES)

Original Date: 4/14/2009     *     Last Revision Effective: 9/11/2012
Policy Contact: Vice President, Instruction

PURPOSE

The following procedures are established to meet the requirements for implementing policy #3110 – Award of Non-Traditional Credit

PROCEDURES

Credit by Examination

• Credit by examination allows students to gain credit for a BC course without being enrolled in the specific course.  The student demonstrates, via an instructor-designed examination, achievement of course outcomes.
• Credit is allowed only for examinations in which the student has received a grade of “C” or better.
• Students are not allowed to take an examination for a course they have previously enrolled in or audited at the college.
• If a student has already taken and failed an examination for credit, he or she may not repeat the examination.
• Students cannot receive credit by examination for world language courses in their native language.
• Individual departments or programs may require that a student successfully complete the next highest sequential course before receiving credit. However, a student cannot receive credit by examination for any course if he or she has already completed a more advanced course in that subject area.
  
• Process for documenting credit:

• The student requests an approval form for credit by examination from the registration office.
• The registration office confirms the student’s eligibility for requesting credit by examination.
• The registration office sends the approval form to the program chair, who determines the availability of an examination for the requested course.
• The program chair signs and returns the approval form to the registration office. If the request is approved, the program chair assigns an examiner.
• The student pays a fee for the credits to be earned. 
• Upon receipt of payment, the registration office forwards the approval form to the examiner.
• The student schedules the examination with the examiner.
• After the examination, the examiner completes and returns the approval form to the registration office for processing.

Credit for Professional Certification or Training

• Credits are given for completed training comparable to college-level programs through non-degree awarding agencies or institutions; for example, recognized health profession, fire service, law enforcement/corrections trainings, certifications, licensing, etc.
• Credit is awarded only for documented college-level learning, must be related to the theories, practices, and content of the relevant academic field, and must fall within the regular curricular offerings at BC. 
• Students must submit official and/or original records, as well as supporting documentation that includes the following: content, level, time period, hours, location, method of instruction, instructors, method of evaluation and achievement. In some cases, certificates (such as APICS, WA State Criminal Justice Commission and A&P) are also required.
• Training documentation will be evaluated by instructional faculty in the appropriate department to determine the comparability.
• Approved credits are identified on the student’s transcript as credit for professional certification or training.  
• Credits earned through professional certification or training may be used toward the appropriate course or program, but for transfer degrees they may be used only up to a maximum of 15 credits as restricted electives.
• Process for documenting credit:
  • The student requests an approval form for credit for professional certification or training from the registration office.
  • The registration office confirms the student’s eligibility for requesting credit this way and sends the approval form to the appropriate program chair.
  • The student supplies the program chair with official documentation of training, licensing or certification, plus any other documentation necessary to confirm currency of skills. 
  • The student pays a fee for the credits requested.
  • The program chair, in consultation with faculty members with content expertise, evaluates the documentation and determines the number of credits and course(s) for which credit will be awarded.
  • The program chair forwards the documentation and approval form to the organizational unit administrator for final approval.
  • The program chair returns the completed approval form to the registration office for processing.

Credit for Assessment of Prior Experiential Learning

• Credit is given only for assessment of experiences that occur outside of a post-secondary institution or other certification, training or licensing setting; for example, employment, internships, externships, independent research, volunteer or civic work.
• Credit is awarded for a completed a portfolio or other agreed upon form of prior learning assessment.  Other methods include but are not limited to the systematic observation of skill demonstrations, including role plays and simulations; and the evaluation of case studies or other assignments.
• The portfolio or other agreed upon form of prior learning assessment demonstrates college-level learning that combines theory from the appropriate discipline with practice.
• Experiential Learning 187, prior learning portfolio development, is strongly recommended for students preparing a portfolio.
• Approved credits are identified on the student’s transcript as “credit for assessment of prior experiential learning.”  
• Credits for assessment of prior experiential learning may be awarded only for currently offered courses.
• Process for documenting credit:
  • The student requests an approval form for credit for assessment of prior experiential learning from the registration office.
  • The registration office confirms the student’s eligibility for requesting credit this way and sends the approval form to prior learning coordinator, who contacts the appropriate chair.
  • The program chair either serves as the content expert or designates another instructor as the expert.
  • The student and instructor agree upon a method of documenting prior learning, which the student then completes.
  • The instructor evaluates the agreed upon method of documenting prior learning, determining the number of credits to be awarded.
  • The instructor forwards the approval form to the program chair and the organizational unit administrator for approval of credit.
  • The instructor returns the completed approval form to the registration office for processing.
  • The student pays a fee for the credits to be awarded.

RELEVANT LAWS AND OTHER RESOURCES

• SBCTC Guidelines for Prior Learning Assessment
• NWCCU Accreditation Policy 2.3 Credit for Prior Experiential Learning

REVISION HISTORY

Original 4/14/2009
Revisions 3/10/2010 (Replaces 3110 Award of Credit for Prior Learning (Procedures); 3/29/2011; 7/12/2011; 9/11/2012

APPROVED BY

President’s Staff