CREDIT BY EXAMINATION (INTERNAL)
ratified: Academic Council, September 22, 1992, Academic Dean, April 6, 1993, QVCC Cabinet, September 8, 1993
last update: 11/99
archived versions:
Credit by examination will be recognized by Quinebaug Valley Community College when applicable to the degree or certificate program in which a student is enrolled.
Semester hours of credit earned by examinations are assigned the "P" grade. No quality points are earned. The student's QPA is not affected.
External Examinations
Degree credit will be granted on the basis of scores on the Advanced Placement Examinations administered by the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB). Students who earn scores of 3 or higher receive credit for the courses for which the examinations are stipulated as measures.
QVCC will accept all College Level Examination Program (CLEP) General and Subject Examinations, awarding credit for scores earned according to current CLEP guidelines.
Internal Examinations
A student may, on the basis of previous study and experience, take a special examination for credit for some approved QVCC courses without having enrolled in those courses. In some academic areas, examinations are scheduled on a regular basis. Other exams may be offered at the discretion of individual faculty members.
The student pays a $15 academic evaluation fee in advance for each examination. Ordinarily, a student will not be permitted to earn credit by examination in a course for which he/she has already received a grade. Students must register for these examinations in advance in Student Services.
QVCC CATALOG
Ratified: Academic Council 9/1/91
The purpose of credit by "internal" examination is to allow QVCC students with special skills and/or previously acquired knowledge to earn course credit by taking a special examination.
Credit is possible for many approved QVCC courses, provided that a qualified member of the QVCC faculty or staff is willing to prepare and administer the examination.
Individuals who prepare such exams will select the evaluation methods in accordance with the demands of his/her discipline.
Students may not earn credit by examination for courses for which they have already received a grade. Exceptions may be granted only by the Academic Dean.
Credits earned by examination will be treated as "transfer" credits, earning either a Pass or Fail mark. No quality points will be earned, and a student's QPA will not be affected by the grade.
All examinations, testing procedures, and credit awards must be approved by the Academic Dean.
Categories of Examinations:
1. Frequently requested examinations are scheduled on a regular basis by Student Services.
2. Individual examinations may be offered by faculty or staff members, at their discretion. Faculty who agree to prepare and/or monitor these examinations can do so in partial fulfillment of their "additional responsibilities."
Procedures:
A. Registration: Students are required to register for examinations in the Student Services office, and to pay (in advance) the academic evaluation fee. Students are not charged general fund tuition fees for credits earned by examination.
B. Documentation: Faculty or staff are required to provide documentation of credit awards on a "Credit By Internal Examination" report form. The report form should include:
1. Course title and number;
2. A more detailed statement of the subject matter and learning outcomes and/or skills that have been assessed;
3. The method(s) of evaluation that were utilized (a copy of a comprehensive exam will be acceptable);
4. The results of the evaluation.
NOTE: For frequently-offered examinations, a "standardized" form containing all of the above information will be acceptable.
C. Grade Reports:
1. If the student successfully completes the exam, the award of transfer credits will be entered on the student's transcript, and the "Credit By Internal Examination" report form will become a part of a student's permanent file. If the student fails the exam, no record will be entered on his/her transcript.
2. QVCC students should be advised that credits earned by internal examinations are not guaranteed transferable.
3. In order to improve the chances for credit transferability, faculty or staff are encouraged to place a letter grade on the report form, even though the transcript will not show the grade.
4. QVCC Students who wish to contest a grade or number of credits earned through an internal examination should follow the normal appeals procedure -- "Review of Academic Standing" in the Student Handbook (also listed as "Academic Appeals" in the Faculty Handbook).
D. Passing Grades (addendum to policy):
Passing grades on CBEs will be determined by the professor administering the exam. All passing grades will be published in the schedule of classes along with the dates which the exams are scheduled. [Approved: Academic Council, Nov. 10, 1993; Academic Dean, Nov. 23, 1993]