Section XII - Student Services

XII B 4

Academic Matters - Awarding Credit

To state the parameters of awarding transfer credit, credit for prior learning (non-course credit), articulated credit and credit by proficiency examination

Transfer Credit

The college reserves the right to accept or reject credits earned at other universities, colleges and institutions. Transfer credit is defined as course credit awarded by the college for comparable courses earned at another institution.

Students who have attended other institutions of higher learning may transfer credit earned in comparable courses or programs of study by submitting official transcripts. Direct transfer of credit may be granted if the student is transferring from a regionally accredited institution. Non-regionally accredited institutions may be approved on a case-by-case-basis. Transfer credit from other institutions may not exceed 75% of course requirements for completion of a degree, diploma or certificate program.  Courses eligible for transfer must have a grade of “C-” or higher.

Transfer credit awarded will not count toward the GPA. Transfer credit is processed by the Office of Admissions, Records and Registration in partnership with the Department Head as approved by the Vice President for Instructional Services.

Credit for Prior Learning (Non-Course Credit)

Credit for Prior Learning (non-course credit) is defined as course credit awarded by the college for completion of an exam, military training, or experiential learning. Non-course credit is available for College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support (DANTES), Advance Placement (AP) exams, military service, and experiential learning. Non-course credit may not exceed 75% of course requirements for completion of a degree, diploma, or certificate program. Non-course credit awarded will not count toward the GPA.

For exams (e.g., CLEP), the Director of Admissions, Records and Registration/Registrar and the appropriate Associate Dean maintains a matrix indicating required exam scores to earn credit for specific courses. Upon receipt of exam scores, non-course credit is awarded by the Office of Admissions, Records and Registration based on the matrix.

For military service and experiential learning, the Request for Credit form and required documentation is submitted by the student to their advisor for credit recommendations and approved by the Vice President for Instructional Services to be processed by the Office of Admissions, Records and Registration.

Articulated Credit

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and the North Carolina Community College System have a statewide articulation agreement in which students may be eligible to receive college credit after completion of identified Career-Technical Education (CTE) courses in high school. This creates a systematic and seamless process in which students can move from high school to community college without having to duplicate efforts or repeat courses.

Criteria used to award college credit for identified CTE courses include:

  • Final grade of B or higher in the course
  • A score of 93 or higher on the on the standardized CTE post-assessment test; an industry
    credential recognized by RCC may be use in lieu of the CTE post-assessment; or upon
    successful demonstration of content mastery on the course Performance Based Measure
    as certificated by the CTE Teacher.
  • Students must enroll at the community college within two years of their high school
    graduation date to receive Articulated Credit.

In order to receive Articulated Credit, the student must provide a copy of the industry credential and an official high school transcript that includes the CTE post-assessment scores. The student must inform the RCC Registrar that he/she wishes to receive Articulated Credit. Students are encouraged to consult their high school career development coordinator to verify courses that are included in the Articulated Credit agreement.

Internal Articulated Credit for Continuing Education

A student may be granted articulated curriculum credit upon successful completion of a noncredit, continuing education course.

Criteria to award college credit includes the following:

  • Final course grade of “C” or better.
  • Comprehensive demonstration of course competencies and student learning outcomes, verifying skills attainment.
  • The student must enroll in a curriculum program within 2 years of completing the continuing education course to receive articulated credit.

Articulated courses must have equivalent course hours of instruction, course content and student learning outcomes. Noncredit course instruction must be provided by a qualified instructor in accordance with curriculum faculty standards. A student may be asked to provide documentation of an earned industry-recognized credential and/or demonstrate competency of course outcomes to verify mastery of specific skills related to the learning outcomes of the course being considered for articulated credit. The student may receive articulated credit for the curriculum course if it is determined the student has demonstrated competence in course content, satisfactorily meeting all learning outcomes for the course.

This is to promote successful progression in the curriculum program of study and to ensure the student’s safety when entering a program utilizing specialized equipment. Credit may not exceed 75% of course requirements in a program of study for completion of a degree, diploma, or certificate program.

Credit by Proficiency Exam

Eligible students may request of their instructor to earn credit by proficiency exam. Faculty author, maintain, and administer the proficiency exams, which are approved by the Dean of Curriculum Programs. Eligible students are those who:

  1. Are accepted to the College and have met the prerequisites for the course
  2. Have occupational experiences and/or background closely related to course objectives
  3. Are registered and paid in a course that proficiency exams are permitted
  4. Do not have credit for the course
  5. Have not previously attempted the course (including audit) or the exam
Hours awarded will not count toward the GPA. A maximum of 25 percent of credit toward graduation will be allowed per student per curriculum in proficiency hours. It is the student’s responsibility to request the exam and to provide any required documentation to the instructor administering the exam. All proficiency examinations must be completed prior to the start of the semester in which the course would normally first be taken. Upon completion of the exam, the instructor recommends credit for the course to be approved by the Vice President for Instructional Services and processed by the Office of Admissions, Records and Registration.

Change of Major

If a student changes his/her major, it is the student’s responsibility to request external transcripts to be evaluated for transfer credit in the new major on the Change of Major form.

Appeals and Exceptions

Even though the Student Services Division processes the awarding of credit, the Instructional Services Division is the approving authority. Therefore, student appeals follow the academic grievance procedures and exception to policy must have the written approval of the Vice President for Instructional Services. The final decision for awarding transfer credit, non-course credit, and/or credit by proficiency exam is the Vice President for Instructional Services.

Note: Some colleges do not accept transfer credit for courses if credit was gained through proficiency testing, transfer, or non-course work. It is the responsibility of the student to determine whether another school will accept transfer credit for any course in which RCC grants credit.

Credit hours granted cannot be used for the purpose of awarding financial aid, including U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs educational assistance.

 

Adopted: 04/15/1999

Revised: 10/21/1999, 07/27/2000, 05/17/2007, 01/19/2012, 03/17/2022