Credit for Prior Learning for Undergraduate Students

Policy

Section 1: Credits

• Minnesota State University, Mankato makes no promises to prospective students regarding the awarding of credit for prior learning until an evaluation has been conducted.

• Minnesota State University, Mankato University will allow a maximum of 60 credits of prior learning to satisfy a student’s undergraduate degree requirements, of which no more than 32 credits may come from credit by examination.

• Minnesota State University, Mankato will award credit for prior learning consistent with University residency and graduation requirements.
• Credits are assessed through credit by exam will count toward residency credit requirements.
• Credit earned through national standardized exams, military credit, corporate training, and other forms of third-party assessments will not count toward University residency credit requirements.

• Credit for prior learning credit may not be repeated for the same course.

Section 2: Methods of Assessment

University credit will be granted for documented, authenticated, demonstrated university-level outcomes, and not for experience alone. Credit will be awarded based on a method of prior learning demonstrated by the student. All credit for prior learning shall be granted according to the standards and equivalencies of the American Council on Education (ACE), the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), or the equivalent.

Prior Learning can be evaluated using one or more of the following methods:

1. National Examinations such as Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Thomas Edison College Examination Program (TECEP), Excelsior examinations, the New York University Foreign Language Proficiency (NYUFLP) examinations, the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) assessments and the DANTES subject standardized tests (DSST).
2. Military Course Completion using the American Council on Education (ACE) Guidelines
3. Project Lead the Way (PLTW)
4. Course Specific Assessments as determined by the appropriate academic department, consistent with Minnesota State University Board of Trustees policy, which may include essay, exam, portfolio, research paper, research project, or presentations/performances. Such assessments must be in accordance with relevant accreditation guidelines and/or other appropriate external requirements.

Section 3: Student Appeals

Student appeals for credit for prior learning/experiential learning will be guided by the Minnesota State University Mankato grade appeals process.

Section 4: Exceptions

Any exceptions to this policy require the approval of the dean of the college in which the credit is being awarded, or of the University provost.

Procedure

1. Advanced Placement (AP)

The AP Program is sponsored by the College Entrance Examination Board and administered by Educational Testing Services (ETS). AP allows secondary students to participate in college-level course work while in high school. Students may receive credit, advanced placement, or both from colleges and universities that participate in the AP program. AP examinations are scored on a 5-point scale, and students can earn grades ranging from 1-5 (1 being lowest). Examinations generally cover two semesters of college-level credit.

AP credit granted by other colleges/universities is not automatically granted by Minnesota State Mankato. Minnesota State Mankato awards credit for AP examinations in a variety of subjects. A list of these can be obtained by contacting the undergraduate admissions office or visiting their website.

A. Academic departments will determine the specific courses for which credit shall be awarded.

B. MSU Mankato shall award lower division credit for scores of 3 or higher on AP examinations.

C. AP credit is considered non-resident credit for purposes of graduation.

D. Any substitution in the granting of course credits is determined by the appropriate academic department.

E. A list of the number of credits awarded and the courses to which they apply is available from the Admissions Office.

F. Students must ensure AP examination scores are forwarded to the University in order for the credit review process to occur. Original AP examination scores must be submitted for determination of credits to be awarded. Students should avoid registering for courses for which AP credit may be granted. Additional information is available from the Admissions Office.

2. Certification

Certification credentials must be recognized by the appropriate department as a standard in a related field. This may include, but is not limited to, assessment governed by a board that is determined to meet specific competencies relevant to various courses of study. Certification assessments will be conducted by departments, and related information will be located in the Dean’s office of each college.

3. College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

 Minnesota State University, Mankato awards academic credit if certain scores are achieved on the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests. University credits are granted based on the American Council of Educations’ recommended credit granted score guidelines. Credit will be granted for computer-based general or subject exams if a score of 50 or greater is obtained (based on a CLEP 20-80 scale). Exceptions include the Level 2 foreign language examinations as recommended by ACE, for which specific minimum scores are required. Scores will be evaluated using current benchmarks as defined by the American Council on Education (ACE).

CLEP assessments must observe the following guidelines:

A. Students must request that CLEP scores be sent to the Minnesota State Mankato Office of Admissions to initiate the process of determining which credits may be granted.

B. Upon receipt of a student’s CLEP score in the Registrar’s Office, a University staff member evaluates the scores, utilizing course equivalency guidelines previously approved by academic departments. Once this process is complete, a credit evaluation report will be emailed to the student by the Registrar’s Office.

C. CLEP credits granted by other colleges/universities do not automatically translate into course credits at Minnesota State Mankato. Original examination scores must be submitted for determination of credits to be awarded.

D. Students are not eligible to take CLEP exams that cover University course work for which credit has been earned at any current or prior college/university.

E. Students will not be awarded double credit for a course if both General and Subject exams have been taken in related areas.

F. There is no limit on course credits granted based on CLEP exam scores. However, a student must complete a minimum of 30 undergraduate residency semester credit hours from Minnesota State Mankato in order to earn a Minnesota State Mankato degree.

G. For information regarding CLEP testing sites, cost and contact information please visit http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/reg.html

4. Course Specific Assessments

The evaluation of prior learning using course specific assessments is done by university faculty with expertise in the subject matter. Department faculty will determine the content areas eligible for assessment. Course Specific Assessments may include an essay, exam, portfolio, research paper, research project, or presentations/performances. Such assessments cannot be offered in areas in which the university does not have faculty expertise.

Course Specific Assessments must observe the following guidelines:

A. Students may request a Course Specific Assessment through the department housing the affiliated course.

B. Course-Specific Assessments may not be available during the summer terms and/or other days when faculty are not on duty.

C. The means of assessment are determined by the faculty in the academic program, and may use one or more of the following methods: essay, portfolio, research paper, research project, or presentations/performances.

D. The student will pay a fee of $50 per credit.

E. The department will report the results of the assessment to Registration and Academic Records via the appropriate form.

F. Registration and Academic Records will record results of the examination on the student’s transcript for the term in which the student registers.

G. An official grade of Pass or No Credit will be posted on the transcript.

Course-Specific Assessment Standards:

A. Credit for prior learning does not encompass experience alone

B. Prior learning outcomes must be current.

C. Prior learning must have a general applicability outside the specific situation in which it was acquired.

D. Prior learning must be publicly verifiable.

E. Prior learning must be at the college level. The learning should be uniquely distinguished from learning everyone gains through common life experiences and should relate to the course and subject matter for which the student is requesting The learning must have a subject area in which theoretical and practical elements can be identified and verified.

Course specific assessments will be conducted by faculty of each college. Information is available at the Dean’s office of each college.

5. International Baccalaureate (IB)

 The IB program is a two-year high school curriculum through which students facilitate geographic and cultural mobility and promote international understanding by a shared academic experience. The IB curriculum and examination consists of six subject groups: Language A, Language B, Individuals and Societies, Experimental Sciences, Mathematics, and Electives. IB Diplomas are awarded to eligible students who have completed at least one subject from each of the subject groups and have fulfilled additional diploma level requirements. Students who have not completed requirements of the IB Diploma are awarded a Certificate for the examinations completed. Minnesota State University, Mankato’s policy is based upon the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MinnState) Board Policy 3.16.

Minnesota State University, Mankato may award academic credit to students who complete an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma in high school. Students may earn specific University course credits by demonstrating a specified level of performance on selected higher level (HL) and/or standard level (SL) standardized IB examinations taken prior to enrolling at the University. Students must forward IB examination scores to the University to initiate the credit review process. IB credit granted by other colleges/universities does not automatically translate into course credit at Minnesota State, Mankato. Original IB examination scores must be submitted for determination of credits to be awarded using the following guidelines:

A. IB examinations are scored on a 7-point scale, and students earn grades ranging from 1 (very poor) to 7 (excellent).

B. Students submitting IB examination scores to the University should not enroll in courses for which IB credit may be granted.

C. Academic departments approve the university course(s) for which credit shall be awarded based on the score level achieved on the IB examination(s). At a minimum, elective credit will be awarded to students who successfully earned a passing score of 4 or higher.

D. IB credit is considered non-resident credit for purposes of graduation.

E. A list of the number of credits awarded and the courses to which they apply is available from the Admissions Office.

6. Military Course Completion using the American Council on Education (ACE) Guidelines

Military personnel access a variety of educational programs while serving in the armed forces. Acceptable educational experiences include, but are not necessarily limited to: Military Courses (classes developed and taught by military personnel); University Course Work (classes taken at regionally accredited two or four-year institutions while in the military); and Examinations (CLEP as well as the CLEP portion of DANTES Language School). These experiences are reported to colleges and universities in the following ways: Army/ACE Registry Transcript System (AARTS) transcripts; DD295 Forms (Navy, Coast Guard and Marines); Community Colleges of the Air Force transcripts; Department of Defense Forms (DD214); Joint Service Transcript (JST); and Certificates of Completion. Students will contact Registration and Academic Records to initiate the application for credit process.

Minnesota State University, Mankato may grant credit for military course completion after review of each applicant’s military service experience. The University reviews learning experiences associated with position responsibilities with documented learning outcomes and or on-the-job training activities. A student’s military service documents are examined utilizing the American Council of Education (ACE) guides including.

A. Credit awarded for education and experiential programs taken while serving in the military is entered onto a student’s record as lower division elective credit on a “pass” (no letter grade) basis.

B. Military credit is considered non-resident credit for purposes of graduation.

C. The University has determined that Basic Training does substitute for Performance and Participation (Goal 11) course work in General Education.

D. The University does not limit the number of credits which can be obtained through military service experience.

7. National Exams

As stated in Minnesota State Procedure 3.35.1, standardized examinations administered and scored by nationally recognized third-party assessment organizations provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate college-level knowledge acquired through prior experience, independent study, and/or cultural pursuits. The general examinations test knowledge gained in broad areas of study. The subject examinations demonstrate specific knowledge or skills gained through job experience, outside course work and/or specialized independent reading. These examinations include, but are not limited to: Advanced Placement (AP) examinations; International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations; College Level Examination Program (CLEP) examinations; Cambridge International examinations; DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST); Excelsior College UExcel examinations; The National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) assessments; New York University Foreign Language Proficiency (NYUFLP) examinations; and Thomas Edison College Examination Program (TECEP).

8. Project Lead the Way (PLTW)

PLTW is a program offering high school level courses with the opportunity to earn college level credit. PLTW's high school programs are PLTW Engineering, PLTW Computer Science, and PLTW Biomedical Science, and are aligned with national standards in STEM education.

Minnesota State Mankato may award academic credit to students who either: (1) complete a specific three-course sequence of Project Lead The Way courses in high school, or (2) complete specific individual PLTW courses. Students may earn specific University course credits by demonstrating a specified level of performance on a selected course or course sequence taken prior to enrolling at the University. Students will not be granted double credit for a course taken at the University and granted experiential credit through PLTW. PLTW credit is considered non-resident credit for purposes of graduation

To be considered for experiential learning credit:

A. The student’s high school must be certified in the PLTW program.

B. The student must have earned a class grade of 80% or higher on any PLTW course.

C. The student must obtain a minimum Stanine score of 4 (out of 9) on the End of Course assessment (i.e., final exam) for EACH of the three courses taken in the three-course sequence, or for each individual course for which credit is desired.

The academic departments will determine the specific courses for which credit may be awarded and any substitutions in the granting of course credits are determined by the academic departments. A list of the available course credits to be awarded is available through the Admissions Office and found on the PLTW Course credit application form.

Students must forward their PLTW scores to the University to initiate the credit review process and will complete the PLTW Course credit application form and pay the appropriate fee ($100 per course) to initiate the assessment process. PLTW credit granted by other colleges or universities does not automatically translate into course credit at Minnesota State Mankato, and original PLTW scores must be submitted for determination of credits to be awarded.

Definitions

American Council on Education (ACE)

The American Council on Education is a coordinating body for the nation's higher education institutions. ACE provides a third-party evaluation of student learning accomplished through workplace, military courses and occupations, corporate training, or other types of nontraditional forms of training taken outside traditional degree programs. ACE provides recommendations for the number of credits that colleges and universities may award.

Certification

A credential earned by an individual through various study, training and assessment programs that are sponsored by educational, community or work-based, professional or industry agencies or organizations, and recognized as a standard in the related field. This may include but is not limited to assessment that is governed by a board and determined to meet specific competencies.

Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL)

CAEL is a national nonprofit organization that works at all levels within the higher education, public, and private sectors to make it easier for people to get the education and training they need. CAEL is a leader in linking learning and work to enhance learning opportunities for adults around the world.

Credit by Exam

Course-specific examinations that assess prior learning and are developed by college or university faculty or college or university departments.

Credit for Prior Learning

Academic credit awarded for demonstrated college and university-level learning gained through learning experiences outside of the college or university classroom, assessed by academically sound and rigorous processes.

Military Occupational Training

Military occupational training provides an opportunity for an active member of the military or a veteran of the armed forces to have their occupational training aligned with college level learning.

National Exams

Standardized examinations administered and scored by nationally recognized third-party assessment organizations that are criterion referenced including, but are not limited to Advanced Placement (AP) examinations, International Baccalaureate (18) examinations, College Level Examination Program (CLEP) examinations, Thomas Edison College Examination Program (TECEP), Excelsior examinations, New York University Foreign Language Proficiency (NYUFLP) examinations, The National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) assessments, and DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST).

Prior Learning

Prior learning is a term that educators use to describe learning that a person acquires outside a traditional academic environment. This learning may have been acquired through work experience, employer training programs, independent study, non-credit courses, volunteer or community service, travel, or non-college courses or seminars.

Prior Learning Portfolio Assessment

A process that provides students the opportunity to demonstrate their college level learning through the completion of a portfolio evaluated by a college or university faculty member to determine credit equivalence.

Rationale

The purpose of this policy is to provide all undergraduate students at Minnesota State University, Mankato with opportunities to obtain undergraduate college credit for prior college-level learning acquired through noncredit or experiential settings. Students must demonstrate prior college-level learning according to the procedures established for evaluating and granting credit for such learning.

The authority for this policy shall be Minnesota State Board Policy 3.35 (Credit for Prior Learning), Minnesota State Procedures 3.35.1 (Credit for Prior Learning - External Assessments) and 3.35.2 (Credit for Prior Learning - Internal Assessments), Minnesota State Policy 3.21 (Undergraduate Course and Credit Transfer and the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum), Minnesota State Procedure 3.21.1 (Transfer of Undergraduate Courses, Credit, Associate Degrees, and the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum), and the IFO Minnesota State Master Agreement. The university shall grant credit for prior learning for a veteran’s military training or service in compliance with Minnesota statute 197.775, Subd.2 Higher Education Fairness.