Non-Traditional Transfer Credit

Purpose

Keuka College recognizes the value of its students’ prior learning experiences and acknowledges the student’s right to clear and concise information on how Credit for Prior Learning credit might help them meet their educational goals. The Credit for Prior Learning policy defines principles, criteria, and guidelines to assist in validating learning achieved in non-traditional educational environments.

Types of Credit Accepted

• College Proficiency Examination (CPE) administered by the New York State Department of Education
• College Level Examinations Program (CLEP) offered by the College Board
• Advanced Placement (AP) Program of the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB)
• New York State Regents College Examination (RCE)
• Joint Services Transcript (JST)
• Dantes Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)
• International Baccalaureate Examinations (IB)
• Prior Learning Assessment Portfolio
• Others by approval from the Registrar’s Office

For college-level standardized examinations, credit will be applied once official documentation has been received by the Registrar’s Office. Minimum scores have been determined for each examination. Exam scores that do not meet the minimum grade requirement may not be accepted. For more information on the scores that will be accepted as transfer credit, please contact the Registrar’s Office.

In combination with transfer credits, prior learning assessment credits and standardized examination credit may not exceed 90 credits.

Prior Learning Assessment Portfolio Procedures

Keuka College recognizes that college-level learning may occur though unstructured educational opportunities such as professional work, extensive travel, and volunteer opportunities, or through self-study, and that college credit may be awarded for that knowledge. To validate student life experiences and deepen appreciation and inclusion of diverse learners and learning experiences, Keuka College accepts Prior Learning Assessment portfolio submissions to be evaluated for college credit, including Field Period®. The process by which students submit portfolio materials to earn college credit is meant to be a strategy for assessing learning outcomes from non-traditional educational experiences. Students demonstrate college-level learning by submitting a portfolio consisting of an organized collection of evidence that demonstrates mastery of the learning outcomes of a specific course offered at the College. Keuka College requires students to follow the following process to submit a Prior Learning Assessment application:

Intent for Applying - Students are encouraged to speak with their faculty advisor and the Dean of Experiential Learning prior to applying. The Dean of Experiential Learning will assist the student in accessing the necessary resources and templates for the Prior Learning Assessment application.

Application - Students must submit all application materials in Handshake. Within the application, students must indicate the course credit for which they are applying. If a student is applying for multiple courses, they must submit an application for each course. Non-traditional educational experiences may also correspond with Keuka College Field Period® or other experiential learning that is not specifically course based. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications must be completed by the published withdrawal deadline of the requested term.

Learning Outcomes Assessment - Students are expected to map the learning outcomes of their experience(s) to the course objectives of the course for which they are applying. Additionally, students will fill out self-evaluation rubrics in the Handshake application. Templates for assessing learning outcomes and rubrics can be accessed through the Dean of Experiential Learning.

Time Frame for Submission - Students are required to submit their Prior Learning Assessment applications in a timely manner. Submissions may be made for the current term or a future term. If the application is not submitted by the end of the term requested, it will not be accepted and will be archived. If a student wishes to reapply, they may do so with a new application.

Review Process - Completed applications will be reviewed by the Dean of Experiential Learning, relevant Division Chair, and relevant faculty member(s) if applicable. Approved applications will be forwarded to the Registrar’s Office for the credit to be applied to the student’s degree audit. Denied applications may not be resubmitted for review but can be appealed to the Provost or designee.

The following policy statements must be considered prior to submitting a prior learning assessment application:

• Matriculated students may submit a Prior Learning Assessment application. New students are able to begin their application as soon as they are deposited and active in Keuka College’s directory. Graduated and withdrawn students are not eligible to apply for Prior Learning Assessment.
• Professionally-accredited programs are not able to accept Prior Learning Assessment applications for major requirements or prerequisite courses. Students in professionally-accredited programs should speak with their faculty advisor about their options.
• Credit will not be awarded for high-school coursework.
• Students may not apply for course credit that they are currently enrolled in or have already completed unless the course is, by definition, able to be repeated multiple times for credit. For example, Field Periods® are able to be repeated multiple times for credit up to 12 credits.
• The successful candidate will receive academic credit. The credit will be considered transfer credit and will not influence the student's GPA. The credit will not appear on the student’s transcript as institutional credit.
• Applications will not be accepted for graduate-level courses.