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Narrative: Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College (OCtech) has defined and published policies for evaluating, awarding, and accepting credit for 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. Credit is awarded only when there is documentation that noncredit work is equivalent to a designated credit experience.

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. Students 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. (NOTE: Continuing education units may earn credits by exemption examination.)

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 are 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.

See also Compliance Report Comprehensive Standard 3.4.4: Policies for Evaluating/Accepting Academic Credit.

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