706.01: Credit Earned Through Non-Traditional Means

College credit may be earned at ESCC for learning obtained through non-traditional means, including, but not limited to nationally recognized examinations, credit awarded for prior learning, military training credit, and local and state-wide articulation agreements.

Credit awarded through non-traditional means shall not be included in the 25 percent of total credit hours that must be completed at the College.

Academic credit is not awarded for continuing education units.

While ESCC awards credit as specified in this policy, this credit may not be transferrable to other institutions. A statement in the College’s Catalog alerts students of this possibility.

1.     Academic Examinations

Credit may be earned through nationally recognized examinations, such as Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), United States Armed Forces Institute (USAFI), and Defense Activity for Non-traditional Education Support (DANTES/DSST). An official score report is required for credit award.

A.   Advanced Placement (AP) credit is awarded as follows:

B.    College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credit is awarded as follows:

C.    Based on parameters set by the Department of Defense and in conjunction with the College’s subject matter expert, the Registrar will evaluate credit for United States Armed Forces Institute (USAFI) and Defense Activity for Non-traditional Education Support (DANTES/DSST) examinations.

2.     Credit earned for transcripted military training

A.        ESCC awards credit for academic and technical courses based on equivalent transcripted military training as shown on an Ace Joint Service Transcript or an official transcript from the Community College of the Air Force.

B.        Evaluation of military transcripts will be conducted by the College’s registrar in cooperation with the subject matter expert for the credit under consideration.

3.     Career and Technical Education Credit Earned for Articulation

A.   Students completing courses in the approved Statewide Career and Technical Education Articulation Agreement will receive articulated credit.    

4.  Earned Credit through Prior Learning Assessment

A.            Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) allows a student to receive college level credit for experiential learning that took place in a non-traditional learning environment, such as on-the-job training, military training, professional development seminars, volunteerism, and experience in-field.

B.        In conjunction with the College’s subject matter expert, the Registrar will award PLA credit. Any course credit earned from prior learning shall be noted on the student’s transcript as having been awarded through PLA.