Credit By Examination and Other Non-University Sources
SUSLA recognizes academic competence through superior attainment and permits students to demonstrate academic competence through experience and by examination. A student with superior ability and preparation or a student who has already obtained a fundamental knowledge of subjects offered at the university and demonstrates competence through a series of tests or experience may be granted credit for basic and/or advanced courses. These experiences and/or examinations are recorded on the permanent academic record as “credit by examination or experience” with a grade of “CR.” Grades of “CR” are not used in computing grade point averages.
Credit by Experience
For students with significant professional experience, a minimum of three years of full-time work experience, military experience or trade experience, portfolio assessment is a rewarding process that teaches you to document your learning from experience. Portfolio Assessment provides the opportunity to earn college credits and much more. A portfolio is built by matching a college course (such as any course from the Schedule of Courses or Catalog) with the knowledge and skills gained by work or profession, through civic, community and volunteer work, or through independent self- directed study or travel. There are two options for pursuing a portfolio that will demonstrate skills learned by work or professional experience, community or volunteer work, or through travel or self- directed study: 1) Dean Approval; or 2) Learning Counts Portfolio. The Dean approval requires a meeting with the Division Dean to discuss and provide evidence to prove that learning outcomes of the course are aligned with the experiential evidence submitted and that the student has mastered the skills and knowledge required of the course. The Learning Counts Portfolio is an online portfolio assessment program offered to higher education institutions seeking to provide Credit for Prior Learning. Details of the process are outlined in the SUSLA Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Manual.
In order to recognize competence attained through experiences other than university instruction, the student must adhere to the following guidelines:
Students must have been admitted to SUSLA and must be in “good standing.” Credit is awarded only in areas that fall within SUSLA’s regular curricular offerings and that are appropriately related to the student’s educational goals. Credit is limited to one-fourth of the number of hours required for the associate degree. Students enrolled in non-degree-seeking status are not eligible for credit by experience or examination.
Credit by Examination
In order to recognize competence attained through credit by examination other than university instruction, the student must adhere to the following guidelines:
The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) and the Defense Activity for Non- Traditional Education Support (DANTES) examinations will be available upon request. Students who earn acceptable scores on these examinations are allowed to receive credit based upon the following regulations:
- The student must have been admitted to SUSLA and must be in “good standing.” If the examinations are taken while the student is not enrolled at SUSLA, credit will be considered after registration for resident study. Students enrolled in non-degree- seeking status are not eligible for credit examinations.
- A non-refundable fee is charged prior to administration of the examination.
- Credit is awarded only in areas that fall within SUSLA’s regular curricular offerings and that are appropriately related to the student’s educational goals.
- To initiate the examination, permission must be obtained from the appropriate head of the division offering the course. After such permission is granted, the Registrar’s Office will issue an official permit.
- Credit by examination is limited to one-fourth of the number of hours required for the associate degree.
- Administration of credit examinations must be completed by mid-term.
- The permit to take the examination is forwarded to the Testing and Assessment Center for ordering and scheduling purposes.
- Specific course credit will be awarded by the Registrar to students who score at or above the 50th percentile and after consultation with the appropriate division dean concerning minimum required scores and the acceptance of credit.
- A student may take a credit examination in a particular course only once.
- Credit earned through credit examinations will not be used in computing the student’s grade-point average.
Students are not permitted to schedule credit examinations in courses they have audited, earned unsatisfactory grades, received credit for a higher course in a series of sequential courses, or in courses they have dropped and received a “W.”
Academic Proficiency Testing
The College Assessment of Academic Proficiency (CAAP) test is required of all students scheduled to graduate including student receiving certificates and technical diplomas. The CAAP is scheduled annually and dates are published on the university website. Students are strongly encouraged to take the CAAP on the designated test date. Students who must reschedule the CAAP are charged a fee; which includes the cost of additional assessment materials, shipping and handling fees.
Acceptance of Military Credit Policy
Credit may be given to applicants who meet the following three (3) criteria:
- Enroll in Southern University at Shreveport.
- Submit military transcript to the Office of Admissions.
- Submit their D.D. 214 form or D.D. 295 form which indicates a period of continuous active duty for at least 90 days.
A maximum of four (4) semester hours of physical education credit may be granted for Basic Training. Additional credit for training in formal service schools will be granted based on recommendations published in A Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experience in the Armed Services. The credit recommended must be evaluated as being equivalent to a course at Southern University at Shreveport.
The maximum military credit allowed is 24 semester hours. A grade of M will be recorded for credit granted. No quality points will be awarded nor will the credits be used in calculating the student’s grade point average. The Registrar evaluates military credit and administers the awarding of credit.
Advanced Placement
Students who attain satisfactory scores on the Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations administered by the College Board are eligible to receive credit on the basis of such tests. The student who submits a score of four or five to the Registrar’s Office is given credit for the appropriate course(s). These examinations are given at high schools which participate in the advanced placement program of the College Board. Students must be pursuing an academic certificate or associate degree to receive Advanced Placement credit.
Credit will be awarded at Southern University at Shreveport for AP courses based on the certified test scores as follows:
| AP Examination |
Minimum Score |
SUSLA Equivalent |
Semester Hours |
| Biology |
3 |
Biology 104 |
3 |
| Calculus AB |
3 |
Mathematics 264 |
4 |
| Calculus BC |
3 |
Mathematics 265 |
4 |
| Chemistry |
3 |
Chemistry 130, 131 |
6 |
| Computer Science A |
3 |
Computer Science 140 |
3 |
| Economics: Macro |
3 |
Economics 202 |
3 |
| Economics: Micro |
3 |
Economics 203 |
3 |
English Literature &
Composition
OR
English Language & Composition
|
3 |
English 110 |
3 |
| 4 |
English 110, 111 |
6 |
| French Language |
3 |
French 101, 102 |
6 |
| Government and Politics, U.S. |
3 |
Political Science 200 |
3 |
History, U.S.
|
3 |
History 104 OR History 105 |
3 |
| 4 |
History 104, 105 |
6 |
Physics B or Physics C
|
3 |
Physics 221 |
4 |
| 4 |
Physics 221, 222 |
8 |
Psychology
|
3 |
Psychology 210
|
3
|
Spanish Language
|
3 |
Spanish 100, 101
|
3 |
For more information concerning these courses, please see http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/courses/descriptions/index.html.
The Registrar’s Office will place the Advanced Placement (AP) credit on the student’s permanent record upon proof of payment as outlined in the Student Fees and Expenses section of the University catalog.
Credits over 10 Years Old
Credits which are over 10 years old, only with the approval of the division dean, may or may not be applied toward degree requirements.
Dismissal
Southern University at Shreveport reserves the right to request any student to withdraw who does not meet satisfactory academic performance (see policy on satisfactory academic progress) or has not been properly registered. A student who has been academically suspended and who, upon re-admission, again fails to raise his/her cumulative GPA to the required level is permanently dismissed and the academic record closed.
Honors
A student who completes a semester with at least fifteen (15) semester credit hours (excluding remedial courses) and a grade-point-average of 3.75 or above, without grades of D, F or I, will be placed on the Chancellor’s List. These requirements apply only to the semester for which the student is being considered for inclusion on the Chancellor’s List.
A student who completes a semester with at least fifteen (15) semester credit hours (excluding remedial courses) and a grade-point-average of 3.00 to 3.74, without grades of D, F or I, will be placed on the Honor’s List. These requirements apply only to the semester for which the student is being considered for inclusion on the Honor’s List.
Hours Pursued
“Hours pursued” is defined as all courses attempted. In the event that a student repeats a course, only grades earned in the last course will be used in the calculations for the grade point average.
Intent to Pursue Degree or Certificate
Students pursuing associate degrees, academic certificates, or technical competency areas at Southern University at Shreveport (SUSLA) must declare their intent to do so. Curricular requirements become effective at the date of the declaration of the academic major and do not date from the point of original enrollment in the University. If the student withdraws or does not enroll for one semester, the student would have to meet the requirements of the catalog in effect at the time of re-entry. Financial aid recipients must be enrolled in a degree or eligible technical diploma or certificate program at Southern University at Shreveport.
Prior Approval Required before Taking a Course at Another Institution
After enrollment at Southern University at Shreveport (SUSLA) as a regular matriculated student, permission must be obtained before taking a course at another institution for the purpose of meeting degree or general education requirements at SUSLA.
Affected students should consult with their advisor and division dean and submit the appropriate application form to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for approval and filed with the Registrar’s Office. An official transcript from the other institution must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office for credit placement. Courses taken without prior approval may not be transferable to SUSLA. Students must complete a minimum of 25 percent of the semester credit hours required for a degree through instruction in residence at SUSLA.
Probation, Suspension, and Readmission Regulations
- A full-time or part-time student who earns a semester average below 1.5 during a semester will be placed on probation.
- A student on probation will be given one semester to earn a C average (2.0). This will remove him/her from probation. If the student does not earn a C average (2.0), he/she will be suspended for one semester.
- After the lapse of one semester or if approval of an appeal is granted, a student may re- enter on probationary status, but he/she must earn at least a C average (2.0) or be suspended a second time.
- A student suspended at the end of the spring semester may attend the summer term unless other restrictions apply. Grades earned will not change the probationary or suspension status of a student during summer term.
- A student suspended for scholastic deficiencies may re-enroll after the expiration of one semester until a fourth suspension; which dismisses the student permanently.
- Appeals must be made to the Academic Appeals committee.
- Appointed/established to execute the rules.
Satisfactory Completion of Courses
A standard letter grade of "C" or better in a major area course constitutes satisfactory completion. A standard letter grade of “D” or better in a general education core curricular course constitutes satisfactory completion with the exception of the Allied Health and Nursing programs. The grade of “D” in a general education core curricular course, but not in a major area course, is acceptable where such a course is a prerequisite for another course. However, a letter grade of “D” in a general education core curricular course is not transferable. A prerequisite is a course that must be completed BEFORE enrolling in some courses, and requires satisfactory completion before the student will be allowed to enroll in that course.
Withdrawal
A student who finds it necessary to withdraw from the University should begin the process by securing the proper form from the Registrar’s Office. Please note the deadline date as listed in the Academic Calendar. A student is not officially withdrawn from the University until the request is approved by all departments listed on the withdrawal form, returned and processed by the Registrar’s Office.
Once the request is processed, all courses will still appear on the transcript with a grade of “W” (withdrawn). Courses with grades of “W” are listed as “courses attempted” and do not affect the grade point average, but may, at some point, affect eligibility for financial aid.