R473-1. Purpose: To assure the integrity and consistency of the process of awarding credit for instruction received in formal instructional settings where academic credit is not awarded but measured by a non-credit unit (clock hours, continuing education units, competency assessments).
R473-2. References
2.1. Utah Code §53B-2A (Utah System of Technical Colleges)
2.2. Utah Code §53B-2-106(2) (c) (Examination, Admission, and Classification of Students)
2.3. Utah Code 53B-1-103 (4) (Articulation Agreements)
2.4. Utah Code §53B-16-102 (Changes in Curriculum)
2.5. Board Policy R401, Program Approval
2.6. Board Policy R411, Review of Existing Programs
2.7. Board Policy R470, General Education, Course Numbering, Lower-Division Pre-Major Requirements, Transfer of Credits, and Credit by Examination
2.8. Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Transfer and Award of Credit Policy
2.9. Northwest Commission on College and Universities, Contractual Relationships with Organizations Not Regionally Accredited Policy
R473-3. Definitions
3.1. “USHE”: Utah System of Higher Education
3.2. “USTC”: Utah System of Technical Colleges
3.3. “Non-credit Course”: instruction delivered in a class in a non-credit format where the instructional competencies are defined, course work completed and assessed, and the instructional unit of measure is generally clock hours, continuing education units (CEUs), or competency assessments.
3.4. “Written Credit Articulation Agreement”: an agreement that specifies the terms and conditions for articulating instructional competencies between non-credit courses and credit courses. This formal agreement is approved by the receiving institution and aligns course work between originating and receiving institutions.
3.5. “Third-Party Provider”: an institution or organization that provides non-credit programs of study and which enters into a dual enrollment agreement or Written Credit Articulation Agreement with a USHE institution. Colleges within the Utah System of Technical Colleges and units within USHE institutions that provide non-credit programs of study are examples of Third-Party Providers.
R473-4. Converting Non-credit Instruction to Credit
4.1. Awarding of Credit Based on Comparability and Applicability of Course Work: USHE credit-granting institutions award credit for non-credit courses according to individual institution policy and with the execution of a Written Credit Articulation Agreement. An institution may grant credit to students completing non-credit courses only after experienced and knowledgeable personnel who represent the institution review the courses and recommend that they are comparable and applicable to the institution’s program(s) to which the credit is applied. Non-credit course competencies that are congruent with existing credit course competencies at community colleges or universities may be awarded college credit. The institution’s Chief Academic Officer must approve A “Written Credit Articulation Agreement” institution before credit is awarded.
4.2. Evaluation by Receiving Institution: After a formal request is received, receiving USHE institutions will evaluate non-credit courses for approval of awarding credit. The USHE institution is responsible to review course content, objectives and outcomes, procedures, examinations, and teaching materials, and to determine comparability and applicability. Course competencies must be applicable and appropriate for the intended programs to which the credit is applied, and instruction must be delivered by an appropriately credentialed instructor. Students awarded higher education credit for non-credit courses shall not be required to re-demonstrate competencies achieved in those courses if the instruction has taken place in the prior 12 months. Institutional policy may allow for additional time beyond the 12 months.
4.3. Student Application for Higher Education Credit: The award of credit for non-credit courses is predicated on the student being formally admitted to the credit-granting institution. For non-credit courses included in fully executed Written Credit Articulation Agreement s, students are required to apply for higher education credit within12 months after completion of the non-credit course(s). Institutional policy may allow for additional time beyond the 12 months.
4.4. Transferability of Awarded Credit: Courses transferred to a USHE credit-granting institution will be subject to the receiving institution’s normal transfer credit policies per Board Policy R470.
4.5. Tuition and/or Fees Charged by USHE Institution: The receiving USHE institution may assess a one-time application/admission fee, at its current admission fee rate, at the time of the initial request for credit. Institutions may also charge a normal recording fee for recording credit for non-credit instruction according to the terms of the Written Credit Articulation Agreement. In harmony with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities’ Contractual Relationships with Organizations Not Regionally Accredited Policy, regular tuition and fees will be charged when a Dual Enrollment Model is used and the USHE credit-granting institution contracts with a third-party provider for instruction. The total tuition for any specific course should be the same for all persons at any given time. Tuition charges in courses should be bona fide, effective on specific dates, and applicable to all who enroll thereafter or are presently in school, provided the enrollment agreement so stipulates. All extra charges and costs incidental to training should be disclosed to prospective students before they are enrolled.
R473-5. USHE Class Credit
5.1. Full Credit for USHE Classes: Students applying for credit for a non- credit course shall receive full credit at the receiving USHE institution for the course, if articulated. There is no provision for awarding partial course credit. Credit will be awarded after meeting the campus requirements for the specific certificate or degree in which the student has been enrolled.
5.2. Audit Credit Not Applicable. USHE credit-bearing classes completed on an audit basis may not, at a later date, be transferred for credit.
R473-6. Written Credit Articulation Agreements
6.1. Agreements in Written Form; Distribution: Articulation agreements between non-credit programs and USHE credit-granting institutions will be in written form. Copies of these agreements will be provided to the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education solely to enhance coordination of related activities within the state. Agreements will be updated annually by the participating institutions.
R473-7. Non-credit to credit options
7.1. Dual Enrollment Model: Students enroll in a non-credit course or courses where the USHE credit-granting institution has contracted with a third-party provider to provide the instruction. The educational experience is offered under the direction of the higher education institution. The selection process for course materials and faculty is the same as occurs on campus or at other off-campus sites, in compliance with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities’ Contractual Relationships with Organizations Not Regionally Accredited Policy.
7.2. Credit Awarded through Established Articulation Agreement: Students enroll in a non-credit course or courses through a third-party provider. The USHE credit-granting institution has not contracted with a third-party provider to provide the instruction, but has evaluated the non-credit course competencies and has executed a written credit articulation agreement with the third-party provider to award credit for successful completion.
7.2.1. Articulation to the Associate of Applied Science Degree in General Technology
In accordance with a USHE institution’s policy, and consistent with Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities’ policies and accreditation standards, a USHE institution may enter into written credit articulation agreements with third-party providers to articulate the Associate of Applied Science Degree in General Technology with non-credit courses or programs as follows:
1. For students who have completed a technical program at a third-party provider consisting of at least 900 membership hours, and where there is a written credit articulation agreement in place with a USHE institution, the 900 (plus)-membership hour program will fulfill 30 credit-hours of technical specialty within the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in General Technology.
2. Students must meet the regular admission requirements for the receiving USHE institution as published in the institutional catalog.
3. The student must provide an official transcript from the third-party provider.
4. The student who is admitted to degree admission status must meet all applicable pre-requisites as indicated by the appropriate placement instrument.
5. The student is required to complete the specified general education requirements to earn the AAS degree.
6. Upon fulfillment of the requirements stated above, the student will receive thirty (30) semester credit hours for the approved work completed at a third-party provider the AAS degree in General Technology. Credit for work completed at a a third-party provider will be posted on an official transcript at the USHE institution following completion of the USHE institution’s program requirements. The credit posted on the transcript will not count in the calculation of the student’s grade point average. Upon successful completion of all program requirements, the student will be awarded the AAS degree in General Technology.
7.2.2. Articulation to Specific AAS Degrees at USHE Institutions
In accordance with a USHE institution’s policy, and consistent with Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities’ policies and accreditation standards, a USHE institution may enter into written credit articulation agreements with third-party providers to articulate specific AAS degree programs.
1. The USHE institutions involved must agree that the learning outcomes specified in courses and/or programs offered by the third-party provider satisfy learning outcomes in related courses offered by the USHE institution. Required learning outcomes of articulated courses from the third-party provider, including assessment measures for course competencies, must be maintained and documented by the USHE institution.
2. Semester hour credit awarded by the USHE institution in specific articulated programs will be proportionate to the equivalence of credits attained in the technical or career program offered by the third-party provider. The number of credits awarded in specific articulated programs may be up to thirty (30) semester credit hours and must fit within the requirements of the specified degree.
3. Credit for work completed at a third-party provider, particularly blocks of credit for multiple non-credit courses, may be posted to an official transcript at the USHE institution following completion of the USHE institution’s program requirements. The credit posted on the transcript will not count in the calculation of the student’s grade point average. Upon successful completion of all program requirements, the student will be awarded the AAS degree.
7.3. Credit Awarded for Non-Credit Courses Completed Without a Written Credit Articulation Agreement: If a student enrolls in a non-credit course or courses through a third-party provider and the USHE credit-granting institution has not contracted with the third-party provider, the USHE credit-granting institution may award credit, if it can determine the experience is comparable to specific credit course work, following individual institutional policy.
7.4. Credit Awarded for Competency Testing: USHE institutions may award credit to admitted students who wish to challenge a particular course. By satisfactorily demonstrating achievement or competency through a comprehensive final examination or some other competency examination, students may be awarded credit for the course. It is not presumed that colleges or universities would be required to develop competency examinations in subject areas where the institution does not have equivalent course work. (See Policy R470.)
Appendix
Articulation of Courses Between
Credit-Granting USHE Institutions and UCAT Campuses
The following process will guide USHE institutions in articulating with the USTC Colleges.
Utah Code 53B-1-103 (4) states:
(c) The board shall coordinate and support articulation agreements between the Utah System of Technical Colleges and other institutions of higher education.
Working within Board Policy (R473), and in harmony with policy and standards of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, articulation agreements may be formed between a credit-granting USHE institution and a USTC college using the following guidance:
The wishing to form an articulation agreement with a credit-granting USHE institution should first approach the USHE institution within the local service delivery area.
- If the local USHE institution offers related course(s), and desires to complete an articulation agreement, the articulation agreement may be completed through normal institutional processes.
- If the local USHE institution does not wish to complete an articulation agreement, it may decline to participate and the USTC college may then request articulation with other USHE institutions that offer or may wish to offer related courses.
- If the local USHE institution does not offer related course(s), and wishes to complete an articulation agreement, the USHE institution has the option to develop related course(s) through institutional processes.
- If the local USHE institution does not offer related course(s) and does not plan to develop the course(s), the USTC college may request articulation with other USHE institutions that offer or may wish to offer related course(s).
The Office of the Commissioner maintains a list of course articulations between USTC colleges and credit-granting USHE institutions. Institutions shall submit an updated list of written credit articulation agreements by June 30 of each academic year.
USHE institutions may use the following template as a guide when entering into Written Credit Articulation Agreements with USTC colleges and other third-party providers of non-credit courses.
S A M P L E
Written Credit Articulation Agreement for Non-Credit Courses
FY2010-11
This Agreement, between (USHE Institution), a USHE credit-granting institution, and (third-party provider) specifies the terms and conditions for the granting of credit for non-credit course work successfully completed with an external education or training provider. The parties enter into this Agreement on the ___ day of ____, 20__.
I. CREDIT ARTICULATION CONSIDERATIONS
This Agreement covers (list non-credit course(s) and program(s) as applicable to this agreement). The administrative model may be considered dual enrollment or credit awarded through an established articulation agreement as defined in R473.
A. Description. (Describe the non-credit course(s)/programs learning objectives or competencies, assessments, and learning outcomes. Attach a list of the course(s)/programs covered by this agreement for which credit is sought. Attach a copy of all non-credit curriculum to include course syllabi and/or course learning outcomes.)
B. Special Provisions. (Detail financial arrangements, special provisions and conditions for completion of non-credit course(s) that will lead to the award of credit.)
II. EVALUATION & AMENDMENT
This agreement is in effect for instruction completed during the ________________academic year. Both parties must communicate changes in curriculum and/or in credit articulation in a timely manner. The Agreement may be terminated at the end of the academic year by either party. The decision to renew or terminate the credit articulation agreement should be made within 30 days of the beginning of the next academic year.
III. EXECUTION
The parties hereby execute this Written Credit Articulation Agreement as of the day and year first written above.
for (USHE Institution’s Chief Academic Officer)
____________________________________________________ _________
by _________________ date
(Title)
for (Third-Party Provider)
____________________________________________________ _________
by _________________ date
(Title)
Adopted February 8, 2011
