Policies

Admission with Advanced Standing (Transfer Credits) In addition to completing the regular forms issued to all matriculating students, applicants who have studied at other colleges must have official transcripts from all colleges previously attended sent to the Office of Admissions. Please note that once an official transcript (college or high school transcript/high school equivalency) is submitted to us it cannot be released back to the student or any other agency. DCC only transfers in credits that are applicable to the student’s current degree program and that were earned at a regionally accredited institution (e.g. Middle States Association). To have a course accepted as transfer for an equivalent to an existing DCC course, the course content, learning outcomes, and length/time of instruction of the course will be the primary determining factors to its transferability. Credits earned at other colleges will be evaluated in keeping with the requirements of the Dutchess curriculum to which a student is applying. Credit will be granted only for courses applicable to the desired curriculum. For students who have earned a bachelor of arts or science degree or a more advanced degree, every effort is made to award advanced standing credit for required general education courses in the Dutchess degree. A degree candidate may receive up to 40 applicable semester hours of credit through direct transfer of credits from other colleges,and/or through proficiency tests, and/or credit for learning through life experience, but these methods of earning credits will have no bearing on a student’s QPA or CPA. Courses and credits, but not grades, are accepted and some time limits apply to transfer credit eligibility for certain degree programs and this determined at the time of the evaluation. Students enrolled in Certificate or Microcredential programs must complete at least 50% of their program credits at DCC and certain courses may be required to be taken at DCC. Check your specific program for these exceptions. Credits for which a student has earned a grade lower than C will not be accepted in transfer. Grades of P are not accepted. If a student fails a course at Dutchess Community College and repeats that course at another college, he or she may transfer that course back to Dutchess for credit. In such a case, the F on the transcript for the course failed will remain, the transfer course will be entered on the transcript as transfer credit and the student will not have to repeat the course. Once transfer credits are awarded they will not be removed as this could have negative financial aid implications. College credit earned through the CEEB Advanced Placement Program and the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) are recognized by Dutchess. Official Test results should be mailed directly by the sponsoring agency to the Office of the Registrar. Dutchess Community College also grants credits for those non-traditional educational experiences, including military experience,that are approved by the American Council on Education and are applicable to the curriculum in which a student is matriculating. *A one-time exception will be made to accept the grade of P or its equivalent from other colleges for courses taken during the Spring 2020 semester due to Covid-19 pandemic and National Emergency*

Admission with Advanced Standing (Transfer Credits) In addition to completing the regular forms issued to all matriculating students, applicants who have studied at other colleges must have official transcripts from all colleges previously attended sent to the Office of Admissions. Please note that once an official transcript (college or high school transcript/high school equivalency) is submitted to us it cannot be released back to the student or any other agency. DCC only transfers in credits that are applicable to the student’s current degree program and that were earned at a regionally accredited institution (e.g. Middle States Association). To have a course accepted as transfer for an equivalent to an existing DCC course, the course content, learning outcomes, and length/time of instruction of the course will be the primary determining factors to its transferability. Credits earned at other colleges will be evaluated in keeping with the requirements of the Dutchess curriculum to which a student is applying. Credit will be granted only for courses applicable to the desired curriculum. For students who have earned a bachelor of arts or science degree or a more advanced degree, every effort is made to award advanced standing credit for required general education courses in the Dutchess degree. A degree candidate may receive up to 40 applicable semester hours of credit through direct transfer of credits from other colleges,and/or through proficiency tests, and/or credit for learning through life experience, but these methods of earning credits will have no bearing on a student’s QPA or CPA. Courses and credits, but not grades, are accepted and some time limits apply to transfer credit eligibility for certain degree programs and this determined at the time of the evaluation. Students enrolled in Certificate or Microcredential programs must complete at least 50% of their program credits at DCC and certain courses may be required to be taken at DCC. Check your specific program for these exceptions. Credits for which a student has earned a grade lower than C will not be accepted in transfer. Grades of P are not accepted. If a student fails a course at Dutchess Community College and repeats that course at another college, he or she may transfer that course back to Dutchess for credit. In such a case, the F on the transcript for the course failed will remain, the transfer course will be entered on the transcript as transfer credit and the student will not have to repeat the course. Once transfer credits are awarded they will not be removed as this could have negative financial aid implications. College credit earned through the CEEB Advanced Placement Program and the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) are recognized by Dutchess. Official Test results should be mailed directly by the sponsoring agency to the Office of the Registrar. Dutchess Community College also grants credits for those non-traditional educational experiences, including military experience,that are approved by the American Council on Education and are applicable to the curriculum in which a student is matriculating. DCC only accepts transfer credits for English from regionally accredited U.S. institutions. Coursework completed at international colleges does not quallify for English credit. *A one-time exception will be made to accept the grade of P or its equivalent from other colleges for courses taken during the Spring 2020 semester due to Covid-19 pandemic and National Emergency*

Types of Enrollment Time to Apply Procedures Placement Testing - Registration On-Campus Housing Admissions Requirements Importance of Advance Registration Waitlisting Preferred/Chosen Name Legal Name Change Programs for Students Requiring Additional Academic Preparation Early Admissions/Bridge Program Admission with Advanced Standing (Transfer Credits) Reverse Transfer Credit for Prior Learning Servicemembers Opportunity College Maximum Academic Schedule Immunization Requirements Medical Reports New York State High School Equivalency Diploma Applicants with a Prior Felony Statement of Limitations Reserved Rights of the College Your Right to Know Enrollment in credit courses at Dutchess Community College is open to all persons whose academic abilities and personal qualifications suggest that they may benefit from college study.

Credit for Prior Learning Dutchess Community College will grant proficiency credits to a student for documented learning gained through life experience that is the equivalent of required and/or elective courses in the student’s curriculum. Credits granted in this manner are called proficiency credits and are recorded on a student’s permanent academic transcript with a J grade in the semester in which the credits are earned. Although proficiency credits are used to meet graduation requirements, no honor points are awarded for the J grade, and the grade, therefore, has no bearing on a student’s QPA or CPA. Although applicants for full-time study and part-time students may seek credit for their college-level documented learning through life experience, they are not eligible to receive proficiency credit until they have completed matriculation. The procedures and requirements for earning proficiency credits based on verifiable college-level learning and life experience differ for required courses and elective courses and are as follows: Required Courses/Proficiency Examinations All matriculated students are eligible to receive proficiency credit for any course that is required in the curriculum by successfully passing a departmental proficiency examination. Students may not receive credit for elective courses by proficiency examination. Students who are interested in taking a proficiency examination should pick up the Proficiency Credit Payment Form in Student Financial Services in the Student Services Center, room 202, and then contact the appropriate department chair for permission to take a proficiency exam. If approved, it is recommended that students ask the department chair for information regarding the format and content of the examination. A non-refundable fee of $30 per credit is charged for each course petition, in the case that credit is to be awarded, the remaining$39 per credit is charged as an assessment fee for services provided, and is payable at the Student Financial Services Office. Testing is scheduled through the Testing Center; a paid receipt must be shown in order to schedule the examination. After the student takes the proficiency exam, the Testing Center sends it to the academic department chair for grading. If the student passes the exam with an equivalent of a C or better, paperwork is processed to submit a grade of “J” to the Registrar on the form entitled Certification of Credit by Faculty. Students who take an examination for a course in which they are currently enrolled will be required to withdraw from the course if they successfully complete the examination. Students may not take a proficiency examination for a course that they have failed without special permission from the department chair. Students may repeat a proficiency examination only with approval from the appropriate department chair. Certification of Credit by Faculty Faculty members can determine that a student is proficient in a course without the results of a proficiency exam. In this case, the faculty member will refer the student to the department chair, who will initiate the Certification of Credit by Faculty Form as soon as the student presents evidence of paying the required $30 per credit petition fee, in the case that credit is to be awarded, the remaining $39 per credit is charged as an assessment fee for services provided. Industry Certifications & Licensures Several DCC programs prepare students for a variety of industry recognized credentials. Students possessing current and/or valid industry certifications or licenses within their field of study may be eligible to earn proficiency credit towards their program upon presentation of their certification and/or license to the appropriate department chair, and evidence of paying the required course petition fees. Credit by e-Portfolio Assessment Students may petition for proficiency credit for approved courses by academic departments utilizing DCC’s e-Portfolio software, Digication, upon evidence of paying the required course petition fees. Students build their electronic portfolio in DCC’s online environment, ensuring that it addresses their proficiency of the petitioned course’s learning outcomes. Once complete, the e-Portfolio is submitted to the Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Coordinator, who will work with the academic department to assess the e-Portfolio for college-level learning, and that it meets and/or exceeds the petitioned course’s learning outcomes. If proficiency credit is not awarded, the PLA Coordinator will schedule an interview with the student to discuss e-Portfolio items in need of strengthening, and possible resubmission. Students will be permitted to resubmit their revised e-Portfolio after meeting with the PLA Coordinator only once. If the e-Portfolio is not approved for proficiency credit after the first resubmission, students will need to take the course traditionally. Servicemembers Opportunity College DCC participates in the Servicemembers Opportunity College program. Through this program, men and women in the armed forces may receive academic advisement from Dutchess on a continuing basis, no matter where they may be assigned in military duty. They may take approved courses at any conveniently located institution for credit toward a degree to be granted by DCC. Information about the

Credit for Prior Learning and responds to inquiries from receiving institutions regarding assessment methods, faculty evaluation, and course equivalency through the Office of Instruction and Learning. Servicemembers Opportunity College DCC participates in the Servicemembers Opportunity College program. Through this program, men and women in the armed forces may receive academic advisement from Dutchess on a continuing basis, no matter where they may be assigned in military duty. They may take approved courses at any conveniently located institution for credit toward a degree to be granted by DCC. Information about the

The course requirements must be completed and a grade submitted within the first four weeks of the following semester (fall or spring) or the “I” automatically becomes an “F.” PL (Effective Fall 2026 and forward) Prior Learning, a grade that reflects credit awarded trough evaluation of prior learning methods other than proficiency exams, Credit is awarded by faculty assessment of prior learning when a student meets or exceeds an equivalent grade of C or better against the learning outcomes of a course. P Passing (given only as a midterm grade with the permission of the Vice President for Instruction & Learning) T Transfer, a grade given upon awarding transfer credit.

You must be matriculated in order to enroll full time, be eligible for various types of financial aid, to receive an official transfer credit evaluation, or to take proficiency examinations. Home-schooled students who submit the necessary documentation demonstrating compliance with the minimum requirements of the home instruction regulations, and who have been granted a letter of substantial equivalency from their local school district, will be considered for admission in the same manner as a high school graduate.

Graduates may transfer credits from this program to a variety of senior colleges offering a baccalaureate degree in such fields as social work, psychology and human services.

This program is not designed as a substitute for the freshman year at a four-year college or conservatory, but some of the credits may be accepted for transfer credit by some colleges.

Dutchess Community College BIO 115 (or its equivalent) and EMB 101 with a grade of “C” or better are required prerequisites.(Prerequisite courses are offered only in the fall semester). Graduates of this program may also receive advanced standing in the Paramedic A.A.S. Dutchess Community College BIO 115 (or its equivalent) and EMB 101 with a grade of “C” or better are required prerequisites.

Graduates may also receive advanced standing in the Clinical Lab Technician A.A.S.

For more information go to https://www.suny.edu/reversetransfer/ . Credit for Prior Learning Dutchess Community College (DCC) recognizes that students may acquire college-level learning outside traditional classroom instruction through standardized testing, employment, military service, training, or other experiential learning. Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) is awarded when such learning is demonstrated to be equivalent in scope, rigor, and learning outcomes to a DCC credit-bearing course and is evaluated and approved by faculty qualified in the appropriate academic discipline. Interview or Skills Demonstration Faculty may assess prior learning through documented interviews, skills or competency demonstrations, or other appropriate evaluation methods to establish equivalency with course learning outcomes. Industry Certifications and Licenses CPL may be awarded for selected current industry certifications or licenses through articulated agreements or faculty evaluation, based on alignment with course learning outcomes and applicability to the student’s program. Locally Assessed Training CPL may be awarded for approved workforce or vocational training completed through employers or training providers via articulated agreements or faculty evaluation, based on equivalency to course learning outcomes and applicability to the student’s program. CPL fees are published on the College CPL webpage . Information and guidance are available through the Prior Learning Assessment Coordinator.