Credit by Exam: Time for a Revolution?

Erika Endrijonas, Oxnard College

Don Gauthier, Los Angeles Valley College

Michelle Pilati, Rio Hondo College

Barry Russell, CCCCO

Overview

• Regulations

• Well-established forms of credit by exam

• Articulated high school work

• The Future

• Perspectives on credit by exam

Title 5 Regulations

• § 55050. Credit by Examination.

• § 55051. Articulation of High School Courses.

• § 55052. Advanced Placement Examinations.

§ 55050. Credit by Examination.

• (b) The governing board may grant credit to any student who satisfactorily passes an examination approved or conducted by proper authorities of the college. Such credit may be granted only to a student who is registered at the college and in good standing and only for a course listed in the catalog of the community college.

§ 55051. Articulation of HS Courses

• the term “articulated high school course” means a high school course or courses that the faculty in the appropriate discipline, using policies and procedures approved by the curriculum committee established pursuant to section 55002, have determined to be comparable to a specific community college course.

§ 55051. Articulation of HS Courses• (d) Except through credit by examination,

as defined in section 55753, HS courses may not be used to satisfy:

• (1) The requirement of section 55063 that students complete at least 60 semester or 90 quarter units in order to receive an associate degree; or,

• (2) Any GE requirement for the associate degree established by the district.

§ 55052. Advanced Placement Examinations.

• The faculty in the appropriate discipline must approve AP examinations, scores deemed to constitute satisfactory performance, courses offered by the college for which credit will be granted, and requirements that may be met by such examinations in accordance with policies and procedures approved by the curriculum committee established pursuant to § 55002.

Issues with Regulations?

• § 55050. Credit by Examination.

• credit may be granted only to a student– who is registered at the college and– in good standing and only for a course listed

in the catalog of the community college.

• What does “registered” mean?

• What does “in good standing” mean?

“Forms” of Credit by Exam

• “Credit by Exam” Vs “External Credit”

• What’s the difference?

• What do they have in common?

Credit by Exam vs. External Credit• Credit by Examination

– Student passes your college’s course via a comprehensive examination

– Nature and content of exam determined solely by college faculty in the discipline

– Exam measures mastery of college course content as per official outline of record

– Separate exam conducted for each college course for which credit is to be granted

Credit by Exam vs. External Credit• External Credit

– Student completes an educational experience outside of your college• Course at another college/university• National exam (AP, IB, CLEP)• Military training

– Your college may accept this experience in lieu of your own requirements• Credit toward the 60 units needed for an

AA/AS• GE requirements• Major requirements

Credit by Exam vs. External Credit• Credit by Examination outcomes

Student has passed your college’s course – Appears on the transcript as the

college course– Fulfills all associate degree

requirements of the college course– Articulates to universities as the

college course

Credit by Exam vs. External Credit• External Credit outcomes

Student has completed an external educational experience– Appears on the transcript in the

“transfer credit” or “notes” section (if at all)

– Not part of your college’s articulation agreements

– Is likely to fulfill different requirements at different institutions

Other Sources of External Credit• National exams (credit by exam)• Other accredited institutions• Military coursework/experience

National Exams

• AP• IB• CLEP (clep.collegeboard.org)

– “College-Level Examination Program”• DSST (

http://www.getcollegecredit.com/)– “DSST Exams are College-Level Exams”– “Students can take DSST exams to earn college credit for

knowledge acquired outside of the traditional classroom.”– “prior learning assessment”

Articulated high school work

• “tech prep”, 2 + 2

• Generally CTE

• Long-standing issue – student receipt of credit earned

• Why?

Issues with Regulations?

• § 55050. Credit by Examination.

• credit may be granted only to a student– who is registered at the college and– in good standing and only for a course listed

in the catalog of the community college.

• What does “registered” mean?

• What does “in good standing” mean?

The Future?

• Clarifying what is meant by “credit by exam”?– Who defines the forms that “credit by exam”

may take?

• Expanding credit by exam opportunities?– For life experience– MOOCs– Others?

Faculty Perspective

Discipline faculty concerns

• Appropriate level exam

• Who creates/evaluates/grades the exam?

• Lab courses

• Adequate preparation?

CSSO Perspective – the “4 C’s”

• Consistency is Key

• Challenges with High School Articulation Agreements

• Credit by ……… 

• Concerns about Military Credits

CCCCO Perspective

• Legislative and Governor’s Office Interest

• American Council on Education (ACE)

• Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL)

• Apportionment and Fee Issues

• Contract Education as a Solution?

Questions and Comments