Comprehensive Standard 3.4.4
The institution has a defined and published policy for evaluating, awarding, and accepting credit for transfer, experiential learning, advanced placement and professional certificates that is consistent with its mission and ensures that course work and learning outcomes are at the collegiate level and comparable to the institution’s own degree programs. The institution assumes responsibility for the academic quality of any course work or credit recorded on the institution’s transcript. (See Commission Policy “The Transfer or Transcripting of Academic Credit”) (Acceptance of academic credit)
aCompliance ___Partial Compliance ___Non-Compliance
Narrative:
Lawson State Community College publishes all policies regarding evaluating, awarding and accepting credit for transfer, experiential learning, advanced placement and professional certificates are defined and published in the College Catalog in print and online (Catalog pages 15-23). The mission (Mission and Goals) of Lawson State Community College is to provide accessible quality educational opportunities, promote economic growth and enhance the quality of life for people in its service area. The College is dedicated to providing affordable and accessible lifelong learning opportunities in order to prepare students for employment, career advancement, enable students to transfer to senior colleges and universities, and provide customized training needs for business and industry. Thus, the policies are consistent with the mission because course credit is applicable to the degrees offered at Lawson State Community College.
Any student who has previously attended another regionally accredited postsecondary institution is considered a transfer student and is required to furnish official transcripts of all work attempted at each institution. Transcripts are evaluated with appropriate transfer credits placed on the Lawson State Community College transcript including current academic standing. Students are permitted to transfer credit from other accredited institutions. The Assistant Dean for Admissions and Records and personnel under his area are responsible for ensuring that any accepted coursework and learning outcomes are at the collegiate level and are comparable to Lawson’s degree program. Transcripts should be received in the original, sealed envelopes directly from the awarding institutions or agencies. However, students may hand-deliver transcripts from awarding institutions or agencies in original, sealed (unopened) envelopes. Only coursework from regionally accredited institutions is accepted for transfer. Acceptance of coursework from regionally accredited institutions ensures that the academic quality is at the collegiate level and comparable to the institution's own degree programs. Students may receive transfer credit by successfully completing coursework with a grade of “C” or better at an accredited institution.
Additionally, Lawson State Community College provides varied opportunity for students to earn credit toward an associate degree through:
· Credit by Examination – Nursing Students in the Nursing Education Mobility Program can write the ACT PEP Examination in Fundamentals of Nursing and Maternity nursing. Credits by examination will be applied toward graduation requirements if a minimum score of 45 on each examination is obtained.
· Credit through Prior Learning Assessment-Credit for prior learning may be awarded only after an assessment of prior learning experiences and only for documented learning that demonstrates achievement of all terminal objectives for a specific course or courses.
· Advanced Placement-A study may be granted advanced placement by presenting scores on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination. Students with a minimum score of 3 will be given college credits for beginning courses.
Accepted coursework will be listed in the transfer category with credit hours earned awarded toward the student’s program of study. All transfer students must complete at least 25% of the selected program of study at Lawson State to receive a degree or certificate. The Alabama State Board of Education in (Policy 714.01) delineates the standards for academic progress of transfer students. The Statewide Transfer and Articulation Reporting system (STARS) can also be used to assist students in transferring to public colleges and universities through the State of Alabama. (STARS) is a web-accessible database system which provides guidance and direction for prospective transfer students in the State of Alabama. The system allows public two-year students to obtain a Transfer Guide/Agreement for the major of their choice.
Lawson
State Community College assumes the responsibility for providing a quality
education to all students as mandated by policies of the Alabama State Board of
Education: Instructional Quality (Policy
703.01) and
Graduation Requirements Degrees (Policies 715.01).
Documentation:
|
Documentation |
Location |
|
LSCC Catalog and Handbook pages 15-23) |
|
|
Alabama State Board of
Education policy 714.01 Standards of
Academic Progress: General |
|
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Statewide Transfer and
Articulation Reporting system (STARS) |
|
|
Alabama State Board of
Education Policy 703.01 Instructional Quality |
|
|
Alabama State Board of
Education Policy 715.01 Graduation Requirements Degrees |