(A) Policy statement and purpose
(1) Understanding the variables involved in
the transfer credit evaluation process for both undergraduate and international
students is imperative to ensuring that students are awarded credit
consistently and equitably. This policy is designed to facilitate the transfer
of students and credits from other institutions and/ or foreign institutions of
higher education to Shawnee state university, assure maximum utilization of
prior learning, and encourage students to advance as far through the
educational system as they can in pursuit of their goals.
(2)
This policy aims
to facilitate
Facilitating fair and
consistent transfer credit evaluations for undergraduate and international
course work.
As used in this rule and related procedures, the following
definitions shall apply:
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Acceptability
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In reference to course work, the quality of having met
standards for evaluation and award of transfer credit.
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Accreditation
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The educational status of an institution assessed by
specific governing bodies and associations indicating that an institution has
met certain minimum standards.
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Applicability
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Course work that the degree-granting department/school
deems appropriate for use within a degree program to fulfill specific
requirements.
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College-level course work
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Course work that is non-remedial, post-secondary,
curriculum that offers an advanced level of content and rigor.
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International course work
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Course work that is performed within the curriculum of
a course of study in an institution located outside of the United
States.
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Level of course work
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The rank of a course as determined by the type of
student for whom the course is designed, the content, and the expectations of
completion (e.g., 1000 level, freshman; 2000 level, sophomore,
etc.).
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Official transcript
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A document issued by an institution showing enrollment
dates, courses, grades, grading scale, and earned academic credentials.
Transcripts must arrive directly from the originating institution to the
appropriate office and be signed and certified by the registrar or similar
institutional authority.
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Originating institution
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An institution (i.e., college, university, agency,
organization) at which course work has been taken and/or academic credit earned
by a student seeking transfer credit.
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Semester hour equivalent value
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The number of semester hours of credit assigned to a
course on the basis of content and amount of time required for
completion.
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(B) Implementation-undergraduate
(1) This rule is consistent with the Ohio
articulation and transfer policy, first adopted by the Ohio department of
higher education in November of 1990; and, the joint statement on the transfer
and award of credit. The Ohio articulation and transfer policy complies with
state statutory and policy requirements, including, but not limited to,
sections 3333.16,
3333.161,
3333.162, and
3333.164 of the Revised
Code.
(2) When evaluating whether
to award transfer credit, the university registrar office uses a multifactorial
process initially driven by an assessment of the educational quality of the
course work as evidenced by the accreditation held by the originating
institution. Transfer credit will be awarded provided the course is similar in
level and content to Shawnee state course offerings. The appropriate
instructional department has the authority to determine equivalent Shawnee
state credit for transfer courses, which
have not been established through ODHE transfer initiatives and/or established
articulation agreements.
(3)
Shawnee state university will award transfer credit for courses that have been
approved through the following transfer programs: OT36, TAG, CTAG, ITAG, and
MTAG. In addition, the university will honor transfer equivalencies that are
established as part of articulation agreements with other
institutions.
(4) Shawnee state
employs, updates in accordance with, and recognizes the research and
recommendations of professional associations to establish best practices in
transfer credit evaluation. Associations commonly used include, but are not
limited to, the American association of collegiate registrars and admissions
officers (AACRAO), American council on education (ACE), and council for higher
education accreditation (CHEA).
(5)
Shawnee state requires that students complete a minimum
of twenty hours of credit for associate degree or thirty hours of credit for
the baccalaureate in residence at Shawnee state university.
(C) Implementation-international
(1) Evaluation methodology
(a) International course work will be
evaluated based on a course-by-course evaluation completed by incred
(international credential evaluations) based on the originating institution's
official transcript.
(b) If Shawnee
state determines that the credit from the foreign institution is eligible for
evaluation and meets standards for satisfactory academic performance as defined
in this rules's procedures, Shawnee state will apply criteria relative to the
level and content of the course to determine acceptability for transfer
credit.
(c) The university
registrar oversees the awarding of undergraduate transfer credit, and the
appropriate degree-granting department/school will determine its applicability
to specific degree requirements.
(2) Professionally recognized resources and
recommendations
Shawnee state employs, updates in accordance with, and
recognizes the research and recommendations of professional associations to
establish best practices in international transfer credit evaluation.
Associations commonly used include, but are not limited to, the American
association of collegiate registrars and admissions officers (AACRAO), American
council on education (ACE), council for higher education accreditation (CHEA),
and NAFSA: association for international educators.
(D)
Implementation-graduate
(1)
Shawnee state's
policy on graduate transfer is consistent with best practices recommended by
the council of graduate schools and guidelines provided by the Ohio department
of higher education.
(2)
When deciding whether to award transfer credit, the
graduate program director will determine equivalencies based on level of
coursework, acceptability, and applicability.
(3)
Transfer credit
is awarded based on program area requirements. Official transcripts must be
forwarded from the transferring institution and must be mailed directly to
graduate admissions. The grades of transferred courses are not posted to the
Shawnee state transcript and are not used to calculate grade point
averages.
(D)(E) Policy scope
(1) This rule applies to the
transfer of undergraduate credits only. Separate rules and procedure are
maintained to evaluate and assign university transfer credit for graduate-level
course work.
(2)(1) International
course work completed at non-U.S. institutions that hold regional accreditation
is covered by this rule; however, course work completed at all other non-U.S.
institutions is subject to the international transfer credit rule.
(3)(2)
The acceptance of transfer courses for university transfer credit is distinct
from the application of credit toward university degree requirements. While
this rule governs the acceptability of undergraduate
and graduate courses for university transfer credit,
the applicability of credit is determined by the student's
department/school.
