16-1-6 Advanced Standing Credit for Trident Technical College Continuing Education Coursework

BASED ON POLICY NUMBER AND TITLE: 16-1-0 Admissions Policy

Purpose:  To outline the parameters and procedure for awarding advanced standing credit for continuing education coursework completed at Trident Technical College.

1. RESTRICTIONS: Awarding advanced standing credit for continuing education (CE) in selected courses is subject to the following restrictions:
   
   
   1. Awarding credit may not be an option in some academic programs due to accreditation and licensing requirements.  Credit also may not be available for some courses in which the faculty of the credit program has deemed that type training inappropriate for consideration.
      
      
   2. The College awards CE advanced standing credit only for documented learning that demonstrates achievement of all outcomes for specific courses in an approved program in the current catalog. 
      
      
   3. The College awards CE advanced standing credit only to students currently enrolled in another credit course.
      
      
   4. CE advanced standing credit may not duplicate credit already awarded and will apply only to remaining courses needed to complete the student’s academic program.
      
      
   5. In no case should the CE advanced standing credit constitute more than 75% of required credit hours for the academic program. Additionally, the program manager must ensure that the total advanced standing credits from all sources does not exceed 75% of the required credit hours for the program.  Regardless of the percent of required hours allowed, students must complete at least two academic courses in the program major.  The two courses may not be general education or non-technical electives.
      
      
   6. The Registrar's office clearly identifies the amount of credit awarded as advanced standing credit on a student's transcript in accordance with commonly accepted practices in higher education.  The student receives no grade for this type of awarded credit.
      
      
   7. Each academic division will create formal documentation of the validation methods used for the academic programs that will award advanced standing credits for appropriate continuing education coursework. The documents will also state maximum percent of credits granted, not to exceed a maximum of 75%, for advanced standing of any type for that program. Age restrictions on training course completions, if appropriate, will also be included in the documentation to ensure that skill/knowledge is still viable.
      
      
   8. Course matches, contact information and other appropriate data will be included in a Validation Matrix maintained on the Division of Education portal site. Whenever the Validation Matrix is updated, personnel in the offices of the Vice President for the Division of Education will be notified. The Vice President for the Division of Education will ensure the Validation Matrix and individual program validation documents are reviewed, at a minimum, every three years to maintain currency.  The review will verify course matches and include a review of success rates for matriculated CE students, a check to ensure that appropriate soft skills are included in accepted CE courses and verification that CE coursework remains at the collegiate level.
      
      
2. PROCESSES FOR AWARDING ADVANCED STANDING CREDIT FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSEWORK
   
   
   1. Granting Credit as Listed on the Validation Matrix
      
      
      1. To request advanced standing credit for continuing education coursework listed on the Validation Matrix, students must contact their academic advisor. The verification method criteria listed on the Validation Matrix will be applied to the student and/or student’s work. If the result is successful and warrants granting credit, the advisor completes the "Advanced Standing Credit for Continuing Education" form (T5-105) and routes for signature.
         
         
      2. The academic advisor routes the "Advanced Standing Credit for Continuing Education" form to the appropriate CE staff member, and academic dean for approval. The academic dean for the division offering the equivalent course must grant approval to award advanced standing credit in accordance with the Validation Matrix. The academic dean will maintain a copy of all approved “Advanced Standing Credit for Continuing Education” forms in the academic division’s files.
         
         
      3. The academic dean submits the "Advanced Standing Credit for Continuing Education" form to the Registrar's office for the awarding of credit. The Registrar signs the "Advanced Standing Credit for Continuing Education" form and returns a copy to the academic division.  The Registrar documents the appropriate credit on the student's transcript records.
         
         
   2. Granting Credit for CE Training not Listed on the Validation Matrix
      
      
      1. To request advanced standing credit for continuing education coursework not covered by existing approved validation procedures, students must contact their academic advisor. The academic advisor, with assistance from other appropriate academic department personnel, evaluates the request. If an evaluation does not warrant granting credit, the process concludes, unless the student appeals as outlined below in "2.b.iv".  If the evaluation warrants granting credit, the advisor completes the "Advanced Standing Credit for Continuing Education" form (T5-105) and routes for signature.
         
         
      2. The academic advisor routes the "Advanced Standing Credit for Continuing Education" form to the appropriate CE staff member, and academic dean for approval. The academic dean for the division offering the equivalent course must grant approval to award advanced standing credit. The academic dean will maintain a copy of all approved “Advanced Standing Credit for Continuing Education” forms in the education division’s files.
         
         
      3. The academic dean submits the "Advanced Standing Credit for Continuing Education" form to the Registrar's office for the awarding of credit. The Registrar signs the "Advanced Standing Credit for Continuing Education" form and returns a copy to the academic division.  The Registrar documents the appropriate credit on the student's transcript records.
         
         
      4. If an advisor or department head denies a student’s request for advanced standing credit, the student has the right to appeal to the next appropriate level of supervision, up to and including the Dean. The decision of the Dean is final.
         
         
   3. Documentation Maintenance
      
      
      1. Each academic dean must maintain documentation on any credit granted in accordance with this procedure. Such documentation must clearly describe, and establish the validity of, the process and criteria for awarding advanced standing credit for CE. Upon request from another institution, the Registrar shall provide documentation (copies of the "Advanced Standing Credit for Continuing Education" form) pertaining to the evaluation process and criteria for awarding of this credit.
         
         
      2. On an annual basis, the Vice President for the Division of Education or designee shall review all experiential learning credit granted as well as the procedures for awarding such credit.

 

 

 

 

Updated: 07-28-2020