Policies

Credit may be awarded for scores of 4 or higher on individual IB examinations or successful completion of the IB diploma.

Audited Courses and Credit for Prior Learning Audited courses and Credit for Prior Learning are not eligible for Financial Aid.

Students should consult their transfer college’s CLEP policy to determine whether CLEP credits will transfer and/or how they will be accepted. Credit for Prior Learning Prior Learning (Competency-Based Education) allows students to present nontraditional learning as competencies to be evaluated for credit by qualified faculty members towards their educational program. At Saint Paul College, Credit for Prior Learning offers, on a limited basis, students with sufficient work, non-college credit and/or life learning experiences, the opportunity to document competencies and theory learning relevant to specific courses offered at the College.

College Credit by Exam/Test-out If a student has successfully completed a Saint Paul College Credit by Exam/Test-Out of ASLS 1411 American Sign Language 1 and/or ASLS 1412 American Sign Language 2 , then ASLS 1415 American Sign Language 5 is strongly recommended. Students who have not had recent ASL courses (within the past 24 months) at date of application will need to refresh their skills by repeating their last ASL course. Credits by Exam/Test-Outs are not transferable from other educational institutions.

Credit for Prior Learning option may be available for a limited number of courses. Students interested in pursuing the option of earning credit for prior learning must discuss this option with a qualified faculty member.

Transfer of credit will be considered for college level coursework completed at accredited institutions: Regionally Accredited: Degree-granting public, private, nonprofit and for-profit, two- and four-year institutions in the United States accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and/or parallel accrediting agencies in other regions of the United States. Coursework will be considered on a course-by-course basis through an appeal process and will be judged to be comparable or equivalent to courses offered at Saint Paul College.

Transfer credits do not affect the student’s GPA.

Any coursework that has been accepted as transfer credit toward current program completion will also be included in progress made toward the current program.

Transfer of Credit Policies Transfer of credit will be evaluated based on Saint Paul College policies and procedures and in accordance with Minnesota State system policies and procedures.

Transfer of Credits from Other Institutions The College will review official transcripts received from other post-secondary institutions for transfer of credit for those students who are admitted to a declared major. Transfer credits accepted will appear on the Saint Paul College transcript and can be used to satisfy the program graduation requirements but will not be used to calculate the grade point average. Students seeking admission to the College who have attended another college or university and do not meet the College’s Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards must appeal for admission. If you are interested in receiving transfer credit, you must request an official transcript from each institution attended be sent to Saint Paul College - Records Office. If you previously attended a Minnesota State college or university (excludes the University of Minnesota), the Records Office may be able to access your transcript electronically. Contact the Records Office to confirm the availability of a Minnesota State transcript. Each credit to be considered for transfer must be supported by an official transcript from the originating institution prior to the awarding of credit. The College does not review for transfer of credit for visiting students or students admitted as Undeclared. A student shall earn a minimum of 15 credits for all associate degrees at the College. One-third of the credits required for a diploma or certificate must be earned at Saint Paul College. At least one course must be completed at Saint Paul College in order to earn the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC). Students also may be eligible to transfer credit to the College through the following: AP - Advanced Placement Exams (for high school students) CLEP - College Level Examination Program Credit for Life Work/Work Experience (Prior Learning) IB - International Baccalaureate (for high school students) International Credentials Military - Related courses and experience

Undeclared students are not assigned an advisor, do not qualify for financial aid or veterans education benefits, and their transcripts will not be evaluated for transfer credit.

Understanding Transfer of Credits The receiving college or university decides which credits transfer and if those credits meet its degree requirements; however; a course that meets a Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) goal at Saint Paul College will meet the same goal at a Minnesota State Colleges and Universities institution. Note : A course can meet a Minnesota Transfer Goal at the sending institution and yet may or may not be considered equivalent to a course at the receiving institution. The accreditation of both the sending and receiving institution can affect the transfer of credits earned, but it is not the only factor in determining transfer of credits. Institutions accept credits from courses and programs like those they offer. They look for similarity in course goals, content and level: “like” transfers to “like.” The name of a course is not sufficient to determine equivalency. Not everything that transfers counts toward graduation. Bachelor’s degree programs usually count credits in three categories: general education, major/minor courses and prerequisites/electives. The key question is, “Will your credits fulfill requirements of the degree or program you choose?” A change in career goal or major might make it difficult to complete all degree requirements within the usual number of graduation credits. Colleges and universities differ in how they accept courses and other types of college credits (CLEP, AP, IB, international credits, etc.). Since requirements and acceptance of Saint Paul College credits differ from one college to another, it is important to talk to a Saint Paul College Pathway Advisor, consult college catalogs and websites and talk to advisors at the four-year institution. Pathway Advisors and other transfer resources are available in Advising and Counseling. Transfer guides to four-year institutions may be available to provide guidance in selecting the courses intended to transfer from Saint Paul College. Also access the Saint Paul College website ( saintpaul.edu ) or the Minnesota Transfer website ( www.mntransfer.org ) for more information. Obtain the following materials and information from the fouryear institution: college catalog, transfer brochure, information on financial aid (how to apply and by what date), information about admissions criteria and materials required for admission. (e.g., transcripts, test scores, portfolio, etc.). Note that some majors have limited enrollment and/or special admission requirements such as specific grade point averages. Note : Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and the University of Minnesota have high school preparation requirements for admission. Consult an advisor at your intended transfer school for more information. After reviewing this information, contact the Pathway Advisor or someone in the division or program of interest. Be sure to ask about course transfer and admissions criteria.