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. (Policies for Evaluating/Accepting Academic Credit)

     X    Compliance         Partial Compliance         Non-Compliance

Narrative: Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College (OCtech) has defined and published policies for evaluating, awarding, and accepting credit for transfer, experiential learning, advanced placement, and professional certificates that are consistent with its mission “to have a positive social and economic impact on the lives of the citizens.” The OCtech policies fulfill the College’s mission by ensuring that course work and learning outcomes are at the collegiate level and are comparable to OCtech’s own degree programs. However, these policies and procedures also ensure that students have access to a responsive learning environment. The College assumes responsibility for the academic quality of any course work or credit recorded on the OCtech transcript. OCtech complies with the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Policy: The Transfer or Transcripting of Academic Credit.

TRANSFER CREDIT

The Registrar evaluates prior post-secondary coursework for transfer credit as outlined in Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Policy 4.011: Transfer Credit. Prior coursework is evaluated from official transcripts from other regionally- accredited colleges and universities. The compatibility of coursework is determined by a thorough review of college catalogs, course outlines, articulation agreements, and consultation with the OCtech Academic Program Coordinator for the curriculum in which the student is currently enrolled or plans to enroll. Generally, credits earned in excess of seven years may not be accepted unless reviewed by the Transfer Credit Review Committee. Composition of this committee includes the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Dean of Administration, who is also formally designated as the University Transfer Group Officer through the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. Transfer credit is listed on the OCtech transcript as credit earned, but no grade appears on transcript.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT CREDIT

Advanced Placement credit is awarded to students who achieve a score of “3” or better on any of the appropriate College Board Advanced Placement Subject Area Exams as outlined in Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Policy 4.015: Advanced Placement Credit. Credit is awarded through the Registrar’s Office, and credit is listed on the transcript. Although the credits earned through Advanced Placement are reflected on the transcript, these credits are not calculated into a student’s grade point average.

MILITARY TRAINING CREDIT

Military Training credit is awarded to applicants who have completed specialized military training as outlined in Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Policy 4.010: Credit for Military Training. Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College is a member of the Servicemembers Opportunity College (SOC) network. Training must be applicable to the student’s academic program of study at OCtech. Credit is awarded through the Registrar’s Office based on the guidelines established by the American Council of Education Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services. The Registrar reviews documented training with the appropriate academic program coordinator for the curriculum in which the student plans to enroll or is enrolled. Accepted credit hours are then included on the student’s transcript. The earned hours for Military Credit are not computed into the student’s grade point average.

CREDIT BY EXAMINATION

Credit by Examination is offered to students who provide sufficient evidence to indicate previous training or completed coursework that closely parallels specific courses offered at the College as outlined in Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Policy 4.035: Exemption Exams. Students who desire to take a course exemption exam may apply to do so with the Dean of the Academic Division in which the course is offered. The request for the examination must be approved by the Program Coordinator in this same academic department. Exemption credit exams are administered each semester during the scheduled add/drop period. Student must earn a grade of C or better on the exam to receive full academic credit for the course. The actual examination letter grade is documented on the student’s transcript. Hours earned and grade points are tabulated and included the student’s cumulative grade point average. The student is required to register and pay for the course. If the student does not earn a grade of C or better on the exemption exam, the student will remain in the course for the duration of the semester. Exemption exam credit may not be requested for courses previously taken at OCtech.

COLLEGE LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credit is awarded to students who successfully complete specific subject area CLEP exams for courses that parallel those taught at OCtech as outlined in Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Policy 4.033: Credit for Non Academic Work. Credit is awarded based on the recommended minimum subject exam scores as outlined in the College Board CLEP Program Technical Manual. Awarded credit is listed on the OCtech transcript, but the earned credit hours are not calculated into the student’s grade point average.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Professional experience or credit for experimental learning credit credentials is evaluated by the College Registrar as outlined in Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Policy 4.033: Credit for Non-Academic Work. Credit is awarded for documented work experience or specialized training that demonstrates mastery of the OCtech course objectives. Students who seek advanced standing for experiential learning credit must be at least twenty years old with a minimum of two years' applicable work experience and be currently enrolled at OCtech in a program of study that leads to an Associate Degree, diploma or certificate. The applicable Academic Program Coordinator will review documentation of experiential learning to determine if the requested credit will be granted. If approved, the documentation is forwarded to the Program Group Director and then on to the Vice President for Academic Affairs for final approval. Approved credit is included on the student transcript, but the earned credit hours are not calculated into the student’s grade point average.

CROSS REGISTRATION AGREEMENT

Students are approved to complete courses at other institutions as transient students through the office of the Registrar. Approval signatures must be obtained from the Registrar, Academic Dean, and Program Coordinator in order to assure acceptance of transfer credit. The College also participates in a Community Higher Education Council (CHEC) Cross Registration Agreement. Based on the procedures of this agreement, students at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, Claflin University, and South Carolina State University may take one course free of charge at any one of the CHEC institutions during the fall and spring semesters. Students must be South Carolina residents, be in good standing, and be classified as a full-time student at their home institution to participate. In order to enroll tuition free, students must secure approval from individuals at both the home institution and the visiting institution which includes: Registrar, Business Office, and Academic Program Coordinator. Courses taken at the visiting institution will be forwarded to the student’s home institution and the grade and credits will be included on the home institution’s transcript. Courses completed and grades earned under the CHEC Cross Registration Agreement will be included in the student’s grade point average at the home institution.

OCtech policies regarding the receipt of credit from other colleges and external agencies comply with national standards of good practice. OCtech follows the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) guidelines and standards for best practices in record management, admissions, and enrollment management.

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