III. Transfer Policy

D. Acceptance of Transfer Credit and Application of Transfer Credit

Because individual programs have such varied purposes and course requirements, universal application of all transfer work is not feasible. Attempts to do so would, in many cases, seriously compromise program integrity. Certain credits will transfer and remain part of the student's record, but those same credits will not necessarily be applicable to all or any degree granting programs at the receiving institution. For this reason, the determination of the acceptance of transfer credit and the determination of the application of transfer credit to graduation requirements and specific program or major requirements are to be treated separately by the receiving institution within the stipulations of this policy.The following sections outline the basic requirements and guidelines for making those determinations.

Certain preplanned sets of courses (i.e., Ohio Transfer Modules, Transfer Assurance Guides) are specifically designed to be both acceptable for credit and applicable to degree requirements within the provisions of this policy.

1. ACCEPTANCE OF TRANSFER CREDIT

Acceptance of credit is a process carried out by the receiving institution in which a determination is made as to which credit will be posted to the student's record and will appear on the student's transcript at the receiving institution. The following guidelines and requirements shall govern the acceptance of transfer credit.

a. Transfer credit will be accepted for successfully completed (as defined below), college-level courses from Ohio institutions of higher education which are accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Higher Learning Commission or other regional accrediting commissions which have been recognized by the Council On Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).¹

¹The Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) was created after the former Commission On Recognition of Post-Secondary Accreditation (CORPA) was dissolved in April of 1997. CHEA was created for the purpose of assuring the quality of post-secondary education through the process of voluntary, non-governmental accreditation. CHEA does this through the establishment of criteria and provisions for the evaluation and recognition of accrediting agencies.

The sending institution will determine which courses are college-level on the basis of three standards: 1) the course is not remedial or developmental; 2) the course carries one or more credit hours; 3) the hours of the course are eligible to count toward graduation at the sending institution.

For purposes of this policy, institutions accredited by national or professional agencies which are recognized by CHEA, but not also accredited by a regional accrediting commission, will be considered non-accredited.

b. Since transfer credit is occasionally granted for courses taken at non-accredited institutions, the receiving institution may consider such credit on a course-by-course basis if deemed appropriate.

c. To recognize fully the successfully completed A.A. degree, A.S. degree and Applied Associate degree and to encourage the completion of such degrees, individuals who have an earned A.A., A.S. or Applied Associate degree with an overall GPA of 2.0 or better, will receive transfer credit for all college-level courses which they have passed. Pass/fail courses, Credit by Examination courses, Experiential Learning courses and other non-traditional credit courses which meet these conditions will be posted to the record and will appear on the student's transcript. This provision applies only to courses taken prior to fall 2005. (See Section III-D-1-D Below, The Definition of Passing Grade and Appendix D)

d. To recognize appropriately courses completed at previous regionally accredited Ohio institutions and provide equity in the treatment of transfer and native students, incoming transfer students will receive transfer credit for all college-level courses which they have passed, including pass/fail courses, credit by examination courses, experiential learning courses and other non-traditional credit courses which meet these conditions. This provision applies to coursework taken in and/or after Fall 2005 (See The Definition of Passing Grade and Appendix D).

e. Grade point average calculations are determined differently in different institutions. Some count the grades earned at another institution in the calculation and some do not. Some count all grades for admission considerations and honor's recognitions, but count only local grades for the standing average used for probation and dismissal, etc. The method of grade point average calculation is determined by the modifications required in this document, (e.g., Section III. D, Acceptance of Transfer Credit and Application Transfer Credit), and shall be applied equally to native and transfer students.