records : Non-Traditional Credit

Non-Traditional Credit

Documentation of Prior Learning
Students may earn credit for prior learning that may apply toward the Wilmington College degree. There are three avenues for requesting credit: waiver, experiential learning or proficiency examination. All requests for credit for prior learning must be initiated by the last day of the semester in which you have completed 90 hours or by the last day of your third semester (whichever comes later). Please consult the Office of Academic Records with further questions.

Waiver
1.Students seeking to waive coursework in the General Education requirements must submit all such requests to the Dean of the Cincinnati Branches, or the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

2.Students seeking to waive coursework in the major field of study should consult with the chair of the department or the Dean of the appropriate campus.

3.There is no charge for a waiver.

4.No credit is granted for a waiver; the student is exempted from completing a required course.

Experiential Learning
1.The maximum number of semester hours a student can earn through Experiential Learning credit is 15.

2.All Experiential Learning credit will be posted as interdisciplinary free electives (IDS 397) and will fulfill no General Education or Major requirements other than the required number of semester hours of upper-level credit.

3.Students applying for Experiential Learning credit develop a portfolio which is evaluated by a committee of two, at least one of whom is a faculty member. The materials should be submitted to the Dean of the campus where the student is enrolled.

4.Experiential Learning credits do not count toward fulfillment of the 30 minimum hour requirement for graduation nor do they count for the residence requirement.

5.No grade is given for Experiential Learning credit hours and the credits are recorded on the transcript under the title "Experiential Learning."

6.Decisions made by the evaluation team are final. Students who think they were evaluated unfairly may petition the Vice President for Academic Affairs, but such a petition should only be filed in extreme circumstances after other avenues of resolution have been attempted.

7.A non-refundable $150 fee is charged for the evaluation process, payable when the portfolio is submitted.

8.Students seeking credit for specific courses need to take proficiency examinations in accordance with existing policies as stated in the following category.

Proficiency Examinations
1.Any regularly enrolled student may apply for permission to take a proficiency examination in a course listed in the Catalog, subject to the following restrictions:

A student may not take a proficiency examination in any course that is a prerequisite to one for which the student has already earned credit.

A student may not audit a class prior to taking a proficiency examination in that course, and
No more than 12 credit hours may be acquired by proficiency examinations.

2. In courses where the final grade is based on a portfolio, such as COM355 Intermediate Photography, the proficiency examination may be in the form of a portfolio. (Note: A portfolio that has been reviewed for Experiential Learning credit may not be reviewed again for Proficiency Examination credit and vice versa.)

3.Proficiency Examination credits will not count toward fulfillment of the 30 minimum hour requirement for graduation nor will they count for the residence requirement.

4.Students must:
Consult with the professor who will administer the examination. Permission to take a proficiency examination is not automatic, but is subject to the approval of the professor, the student's advisor and the Registrar.
Obtain and complete the Proficiency Examination application from the Student One Stop Center.
Pay the non-refundable fee of $150 per exam.
Complete the examination.

5.The professor will evaluate the examination and submit the results to the Office of Academic Records. Course evaluation for all proficiency exams will be on a pass/fail basis.