10.8   EVALUATING AND AWARDING ACADEMIC CREDIT

The institution publishes policies for evaluating, awarding, and accepting credit not originating from the institution.  The institution ensures (a) the academic quality of any credit or coursework recorded on its transcript, (b) an approval process with oversight by persons academically qualified to make the necessary judgments, and (c) the credit awarded is comparable to a designated credit experience and is consistent with the institution’s mission. 

JUDGEMENT                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Compliance     Non-Compliance     Partial Compliance

NARRATIVE

(a) The Institution Ensures the Academic Quality of Transfer Credits

North Carolina A&T State University has policies and procedures and effective practices for evaluating, awarding and accepting transfer credits, including advanced placement credits.  Credit is not awarded for experiential learning not supervised by the university.

Undergraduate Transfer Credit

The Office of Transfer Articulation provides transfer evaluation services to both prospective and current students. The university accepts credits awarded by regionally accredited institutions. 

The Undergraduate Bulletin, pp. 37—38 addresses transfer credits and outlines the procedures for students transferring to the university.  It states that

The University accepts qualified students by transfer from other accredited colleges. Applications for admission may be considered if the transfer applicant: 

a. is in good standing with the last or current post-secondary institution of attendance and is eligible to return to that institution,

b. has a cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale from the transferring post-secondary institution.  

This institution ensures that transfer credits are at the appropriate level and that the student has met an acceptable level of academic rigor and performance.  Per the policy, accepted courses are entered on students’ academic records, but grade points are not calculated on transferred courses.  Also, Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) program and Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) credits may be accepted by N.C. A&T, but do not impact the student’s grade point average.

The university policy entitled Maximum Number of Transferable Credits governs the number of credits awarded to a student seeking to transfer credit from two- and four- year institutions.  The University of North Carolina System and the North Carolina Community College System have designed the North Carolina Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA). The CAA website notes that it is a statewide agreement governing the transfer of credits between North Carolina community colleges and North Carolina public universities to facilitate the transfer of courses to most four-year colleges and universities in North Carolina, including N.C. A&T.  To be eligible for transfer credit under the CAA, the transfer student applicant must have successfully completed a course designated as transferable or graduate with an Associate in Arts (AA) or Associate in Science (AS). N.C. A&T accepts credits under the guidelines of the North Carolina Comprehensive Articulation Agreement.

The CAA is an agreement between the University of North Carolina System and the North Carolina Community College System.  This Agreement outlines the process of faculty review by which courses are included for transfer, the types of degrees included, and the limit on total number of hours transferred, and an appeal process. 

Graduate Transfer Credit 

The Graduate Catalog (pages 40-41) includes information concerning the awarding of graduate level transfer credit.  The full policy on graduate transfer credit is found on the university website.  This policy ensures the academic quality of transfer credit by establishing standards for the minimum grade transferrable, the age and level of the coursework, the accreditation of the issuing institution, and the maximum number of graduate transferable credits.  The policy also sets standards for approval of this credit by appropriate faculty and the official documentation required for credit evaluation—an official transcript.  

(b) Approval Process for Transfer Credits

At the undergraduate level, the process for assessing and awarding transfer credits is a collaboration between the Office of Transfer Articulation and the academic department which the student is planning to enter.  The Office of Transfer Articulation considers the CAA and any other articulation agreements and awards credits, then consults with the academic department chair for decisions on courses not included in an articulation agreement.  Depending on the course, the department further consults with other academic departments, where qualified faculty are available to review the course description and offer a recommendation. 

At the graduate level, the process for the awarding of transfer credit requires that the student complete the “Request for Transfer Credit Form”.  This form is found on the Graduate College website.  The student must send a copy of an official transcript, which includes the courses for which the student is requesting transfer credit to the Graduate College. Additionally, the student must attach a copy of the course description of the courses from the other institution as well as the course descriptions of the N.C. A&T courses that might be equivalent. These items, along with the transfer credit request form, must be turned in to the department chair.  The department chair reviews the course descriptions to determine if the proposed courses are equivalent.  The chair then approves those courses that are equivalent by adding them to the form under the section for the chair, signing the form, and returning the form to the Graduate College for final approval.   Once all paperwork is processed, the transfer credit appears on the student’s transcript, if approved. 

(c) Credit Awarded is Comparable to a Designated Credit Experience and Consistent with A&T’s Mission

Faculty and academic department chairs are involved in the determination of transfer credits, whether in drafting the articulation agreements or in assessing specific courses as needed.  The expertise of the faculty drive the transfer credit processes.

Transfer credits are clearly labeled on students’ transcripts.  The name of the institution where the transfer credit was earned is also noted on the students’ transcripts.  AP and other similar credits are also noted on transcripts.  When the university is unable to determine that the credits are consistent with its mission, including rigor, the credit is not awarded; the request is decline.

Supporting Documents:

1. Undergraduate Bulletin, pp. 37-38

2. Maximum Number of Transferable Credits Policy

3. North Carolina Comprehensive Articulation Agreement

4. CAA website (Screen Capture)

5. Graduate Catalog—Transfer Credits (pp. 39-40)

6. Graduate Transfer Credits Policy

7. Transfer Credit Request Form