Guidelines on Transferring Undergraduate Credit
The University of Colorado Denver acknowledges that many students begin taking college courses at a variety of public and private institutions. These guidelines are designed to clarify when undergraduate credits may transfer from one institution of higher learning to another, and encourage students to advance as far through the educational system as they can in pursuit of their goals. These guidelines do not address transfer or acceptance of credits required by the gtPathways program, International Baccalaureate Diploma Programs, other programs administered by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, or approved institutional articulation agreements. For the transfer of graduate credit please see the Graduate School rules or contact your school or college directly.
After students are admitted, coursework of comparable content and scope to that of the University of Colorado Denver curriculum generally will be considered for transfer credit if it was completed at colleges or universities accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, or other regional associations at the time the work was completed. If coursework was completed at a school not regionally accredited, a student may specifically request that their University of Colorado Denver college or school consider the coursework for acceptance and the school or college will utilize the recommendations of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (“AACRAO”) when making its decision to accept coursework for transfer credit. These recommendations include use of the following factors:
1) The educational quality of the learning experience which the student transfers.
2) The comparability of the nature, content, and level of the learning experience to that offered by the receiving institution.
3) The appropriateness and applicability of the learning experience to the programs offered by the receiving institution, in light of the student’s educational goals.
For international colleges or universities, the international equivalent of regional accreditation or Ministry of Education recognition will be considered. Students may be required to provide additional documentation regarding coursework to evaluate transferability.
Evaluation of Credit
Only courses taken at a college or university of recognized standing with grades of C- (1.7) or better can be reviewed for transfer. All courses accepted for transfer are recorded on the student’s academic record; consequently, the University of Colorado Denver must assure that the credits meet its academic standards. The maximum number of credits acceptable for transfer is identified in the Campus Administrative Policy Statement titled Transfer Credit Limits dated June 17, 2004.
Each college and school at the University of Colorado Denver determines:
· How transferred courses are applied toward graduation requirements in accordance with the policies of the college or school.
· The minimum number of semester credit hours that must be completed on campus in order to receive a degree.
· The maximum number of semester credit hours earned through correspondence or in a similar format that are accepted toward a baccalaureate degree.
Credit hours should have been earned no more than 10 years prior to transferring into an undergraduate degree program at the University of Colorado Denver. Any determination of acceptance of semester credit hours toward the degree based on the content and the age of the credit is made in the college or school dean’s office or by the student’s major department.
College-level work taken during high school is evaluated in accordance with general guidelines for transfer credit including AP/CLEP. Credit given by other institutions for college-level work is not binding on the University which reserves the right to evaluate and award credit in accord with its guidelines. However, transfer of credits from other University of Colorado institutions is subject to the provisions of the January 7, 2010, Administrative Policy Statement regarding Intercampus Transfer. Official college transcripts of work taken must be received in order for transfer credit to be awarded.
To have credit for an educational experience evaluated, applicants with military experience should submit the Smart Transcript. Credit will be awarded as recommended by the Commission on the Accreditation of Service Experiences of the American Council on Education, to the extent that the credit is applicable to the degree the student is seeking at UC Denver.
Course Work Not Accepted for Transfer Credit
The following course work will not be accepted for transfer credit and will not count toward a degree:
· any courses in which the grade earned is below a C- (1.7),
· courses identified as remedial, such as remedial English, mathematics, science, and developmental reading,
· vocational-technical courses (exceptions may be granted only by the dean responsible for the student's curriculum--when exceptions appear to be warranted, appropriate department heads make recommendations to their respective deans regarding credit for such courses),
· courses in religion that constitute specialized religious training or that are doctrinal in nature, or that deal with a single religion,
· credits earned for work experience or through a cooperative education program, or internships
· outdoor leadership education course work,
· courses or programs identified as college orientation.
· independent studies, special topics, or other experiential learning programs that lack catalogue descriptions.
Appeals Process:
Students who wish to appeal the acceptance of course work for transfer must appeal that decision within the first semester after the work is posted or after receiving notice from the Office of Admissions that the course work was not accepted for transfer credit to their school or college. To challenge or dispute the applicability of the transferred credits to a degree program or major the student must contact their school or college directly. The written appeal of the transferability of credit must be addressed to the student’s advisorin their school or college and include:
· The name(s) of the previous institution(s) attended, the course number and title of each course for which the student was denied transfer credit, and the date(s) of enrollment in each course.
· A copy of the catalog description (from the appropriate year) for each course in question.
· A copy of the syllabus or course outline (from the appropriate year) for each course in question. This information can be obtained from the previous institution.
· A statement indicating why the credit(s) should be accepted for each course.
A student requesting an appeal may be required to provide additional documentation regarding the coursework including syllabi, examinations, and papers. The advisor, in consultation with the appropriate Dean or Chair will review the appeal and notify the Admissions Office of its decision if credit is granted. The school or college will respond to the student with a written response regarding the granting or denial of the appeal. If the appeal is approved, written notice is sent to the Admissions Office to advise that the credit be added to the student’s transfer credit. The Admissions Office will notify the student in a timely manner once the credit has been added.
DRAFT 8/3/2010
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