Transfer Credit

Stratford University has established a transfer credit policy which is consistent with accreditation requirements. The policy is designed to facilitate the transfer of students and credits from one college or university to another, 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. The evaluation of transfer courses to determine the award of University transfer credit is a multistep process initially driven by an assessment of the institutional source and educational quality of the course work. Transfer credits are determined by the timeliness, relevance of content, acquired skills, and knowledge obtained from the course(s).

Transfer credits may be awarded for courses taken from nationally or regionally accredited institutions. Transferred courses must be three or more credits, completed with a grade of C or higher, and coincide with the University’s program outline. For courses in quickly evolving disciplines, the amount of time elapsed since the courses were taken may affect the transferability of courses. The length of time since the course was taken and the student’s background determines whether the courses can be transferred. Courses with other grades may be transferred in at the discretion of the designated department representative. Additional documentation in the form of course descriptions, syllabi, or a competency test may be requested, if needed, to assure the transferred course is equivalent to one of the courses required for completion of a certificate, diploma, or degree at Stratford University. Credits based on clock hours are not transferrable to Stratford University.

Students submitting international educational credentials for evaluation of transfer credit must provide an original or certified copy of the documentation, along with an official evaluation from an evaluation agency that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services - NACES (www.naces.org) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators – AICE (www.aice-eval.org), or completed by the American Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) own International Educational Services. A course by course evaluation may be required. Education credentials recorded in a language other than English must be accompanied by an official translation completed by one of the aforementioned agencies. The evaluation alone will not serve as a translation.

During the admission process, students must disclose which colleges, institutions, and universities from which they wish to submit transcripts for transfer credit evaluation. Official transcripts from each college, institution, or university must be submitted for evaluation within 30 calendar days of the start of the term. It is the responsibility of the student to provide the University with all postsecondary transcripts and applicable evaluations detailing courses taken at other institutions.

Transfer credits from courses completed at institutions other than Stratford University are noted on the transcript with a posting of TC. Transfer courses are not counted under the qualitative measurement of GPA; however, transfer courses are counted as attempted credits under the quantitative measurement, which includes the completion percentage and the maximum time frame requirement.

Military Training

Military students may receive credit for training received while in the military. This experience and/or training should be shown on a military transcript submitted for transfer credit evaluation. Military transcripts accepted for evaluation include AARTS (Army/ American Council on Education Registry Transcript System), SMART (Sailor Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript System), CCAF (Community College of the Air Force), CGI (Coast Guard Institute), and Joint Services Transcripts (JST) as well as other SOC colleges and universities. Credit awarded for experience gained during military service are based on the recommendation of respective organization and recorded on the student’s transcript as CR.

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

Credit for prior experiences, also known as Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR), may be awarded as prior learning credits. These credits are posted on the transcript as CR. These credits are not counted under the qualitative measurement of GPA; however, they are counted as attempted credits under the quantitative measurement, which includes the completion percentage and the maximum time frame requirement.

A non-refundable fee per course must be paid before the materials submitted to the committee are reviewed; the amount of this fee can be found in the catalog addendum. A maximum of 22.5 quarter-credits towards an associate’s degree and a maximum of 45 quarter-credits towards a bachelor’s degree may be granted for life experience. PLAR may not be used for capstone or externship courses. Credit given for prior experience cannot be used as a substitute for a course previously taken for which a passing grade was not received.

All other credit awarded is based on an assessment of the knowledge, skills, or competencies acquired. In order to be considered, the student must provide clearly organized and documented evidence proving the knowledge is equivalent to college-level learning. To be considered for credit for previous experience the following applies:

• The student must be enrolled at the University.
• The student must explain how the prior learning relates to the student’s degree program, what experience was gained, and what specific courses for which the student is requesting credit.
• The credit requested must be course-equivalent and applicable to the student’s program of study.

The student must provide documentation of the learning being claimed. Students may apply for previous experience and earn academic credit through a number of avenues:

• Submit a life experience portfolio (for extensive experience)
• Write an experience learning essay
• Complete a formal interview
• Engage in a simulation or role playing exercise
• Present a case study or product assessment

Documentation may include, but is not limited to, licenses or certifications, attendance at seminars, workshops or conferences, community service, specialized training, work experience, resumes, letters from employers or others who can confirm job duties, various tests or other assessments, and military experience. The material submitted by the student is reviewed by an individual certified to review prior experiences. The designated individual determines the number of credits, if any, to be granted based upon the material submitted.

Credit by Exam

Stratford University accepts exam credit from courses such as the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Educational Support (DANTES), DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), Excelsior College Exams (ECE), Straighterline, and Advanced Placement (AP) exams and awards credit for these examinations which can be found on the respective exam information website. Students must achieve the minimum recommended score for the exam to receive credit. DANTES examinations are identical to CLEP examinations, but are offered solely to enlisted military personnel. The University establishes DANTES examination equivalents and awards credit in the same manner as the CLEP examinations. Students should submit a transcript of their exam score sheet(s) to the Office of the Registrar for evaluation. These credits are denoted on student transcripts as CE.

Sources of Credit

Maximum Allowed Transfer Credit: Students must earn the minimum percent of their degree at Stratford University for their program level to fulfill degree requirements.