Placement and Credit

• Credit for Prior Learning (Non-Traditional Credit)
• Advanced Placement
• College Board Advanced Placement Credit
• College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
• Credit Examinations
• DSST (DANTES Subject Standardized Test)
• Industry-Based Certification Credit
• Life Experience Assessment Program (LEAP)
• Military Credits
• Technical College Credit
• Non-Traditional Credits from Other Institutions

Credit for Prior Learning (Non-Traditional Credit)

Delgado Community College may award college credit for knowledge gained through private study and/or work experience. These credits are typically referred to as credit for prior learning (non-traditional credit) and also include the award of credit for non-credit coursework.

The types of prior learning credit (non-traditional credit) available at Delgado are Advanced Placement, College Board AP Credit, College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Credit Examinations, Industry-Based Certification Credit, Life Experience Assessment Program (LEAP), Military Credits, Technical College Credit, Credit for Non-Credit Coursework (through LEAP and/or Credit Examinations), and Non-Traditional credits from other institutions.

According to the Louisiana Board of Regents Policy #2.23, Prior Learning Assessment, credit awarded for courses identified on the Statewide Master Course Articulation Matrix via prior learning assessment will be accepted according to course equivalencies on the Matrix. Prior Learning credit that has been evaluated by the College that the student previously attended and posted on the college transcript according to the Louisiana Common Course Catalog, the Statewide Course Articulation Matrix, or other standing tables, will be treated as transfer work.

Specific policies and procedures have been established for the granting of college credit for prior learning (from non-traditional sources):

• A student must be enrolled in a degree/certificate-seeking program beyond the official Census day of enrollment in order to request prior learning (non-traditional) credit. Credits may be requested only for courses that are offered by Delgado.
• Dual enrollment students are eligible to seek Prior Learning Credits in Advanced Placement, CLEP, Industry-Based Certifications, and College Board Advanced Placement Credit.
• The prior learning (non-traditional) credit granting process must be requested and completed by the last day of class  of the semester in which it has been requested.
• Semester hours of credit earned through prior learning (non-traditional) sources are assigned a grade of “P.” No quality points are earned, and such credit is not added into the student’s grade point average. Prior learning (non-traditional) credits are identified on the student’s transcript as credit granted through prior learning (nontraditional sources).
• A maximum of 24 semester credit hours may be awarded from prior learning (non-traditional sources).
• With the exception of the LPN to RN Transition Program, prior learning (non-traditional) credit cannot be awarded in a course that a student has previously completed or enrolled in at any college (excluding coursework completed before Academic Amnesty is declared for which the student earned a grade of “C” or higher).
• No more than one-third of credits needed in Required Major Courses (those courses which require a minimum grade of “C”) may be obtained from prior learning (non-traditional sources).
• Students who plan to use credit from prior learning (nontraditional sources) to meet the degree requirements of other institutions should check the requirements of the receiving institution, as this type of credit is often reevaluated by the receiving institution.

Advanced Placement

Advanced Placement refers to a college testing result that, once established criteria are met, allows first-semester freshmen, transfer students who have not attempted the next course in sequence at the former institution, and high school students enrolled in Dual Enrollment programs to receive college credits in certain English and mathematics courses without actually completing those courses. Such credit is contingent upon the submission of American College Testing (ACT) scores that (a) meet the College’s criteria and (b) are no more than three (3) years old.

Additionally, first-time freshman and dual enrollment students are automatically considered for Advanced Placement credit if they enroll in the advanced course before the completion of thirty academic credits at Delgado. Transfer students who have not attempted the next course in sequence at the former institution must request Advanced Placement credit before the completion of thirty academic credits at Delgado.  

The general policies concerning credit from non-traditional sources are applicable.

Criteria for Advanced Placement:

English

A student who has an ACT score in English of 25 or higher may receive Advanced Placement credit in ENGL 101 if they complete ENGL 102 with a grade of “C” or higher.

Mathematics

1. A student who has an ACT score in mathematics of 22-26 may receive Advanced Placement credit in MATH 120 if they complete MATH 128 or MATH130 with a grade of “C” or higher.
2. A student who has an ACT score in mathematics of at least 27 may receive Advanced Placement credit in MATH 130 if they complete MATH 131 with a grade of “C” or higher.

College Board Advanced Placement Credit

Delgado Community College may grant credit for prior learning (non-traditional credit) for College Board Advanced Placement Examinations, which are taken prior to the student’s high school graduation.

The first-semester student who has taken a College Board AP Credit exam must have scored at least 3 to receive appropriate course credit. AP credit is subject to review by the division dean or representative of the course and approval by the Testing Coordinator. A student may not receive credit toward a degree solely on the basis of an Advanced Placement test score. The student must request that an original transcript from the College Board be sent to the Office of Testing for evaluation. College Board AP Credit scores are valid for three years from the original test date.

When AP credit is considered for placement purposes, the placement decision is made by the Department Head.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Delgado Community College has been designated as a testing center for the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Specific policies and procedures have been established for the granting of college credit from non-traditional sources:

Policies:

1. The general policies concerning credit for prior learning (non-traditional credit) are applicable.
2. The Louisiana Community and Technical College System has entered into a partnership with College Board® and the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) to have exam scores sent to Delgado Community College and entered into the College’s System.
3. The awarding of credit under CLEP is based upon these three criteria:
   -  the standard scores recommended by the Commission on Educational Credit for the American Council on Education;
   -  a score of 50 or higher on the CLEP Exam; and
   -  the CLEP score is no more than three (3) years old.
4. Specific course credit (course title and hours credit) is awarded by the Office of the Registrar.
5. Semester hours of credit earned by the CLEP examination are assigned a “P” grade. No quality points are earned. Such credit does not enter into grade point average computation.
6. CLEP credits will be automatically awarded to students who meet the Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) requirements and the above three criteria. A required fee of $5 per credit hour will be automatically posted on the student’s account by the Bursar’s Office.
7. Students whose CLEP scores are not in the College System must request that their official CLEP score reports be sent to the Testing Office and must submit an Application for CLEP Credit.
    

   Title Of CLEP Exam	DCC Course	Credit Hours
   Western Civilization I Western Civilization II History of the United States I History of the United States II College Composition Analyzing and Interpreting Literature American Literature English Literature French Language Spanish Language Introduction to Educational Psychology Introductory Psychology Introductory Sociology American Government College Mathematics College Algebra Precalculus Calculus Biology Chemistry Physical Science I Financial Accounting Introductory Business Law Principles of Macroeconomics Principles of Microeconomics Principles of Marketing Principles of Management Information Systems	HIST 101 HIST 102 HIST 205 HIST 206 ENGL 101 ENGL 205 ENGL 211 ENGL 221 FREN 101 SPAN 101 PSYC 235 PSYC 127 SOCI 151 POLI 180 MATH 120 MATH 130 MATH 140 MATH 221 BIOL 141 CHEM 141 SCIE 101 ACCT 205 BUSL 250 ECON 201 ECON 202 MARK 201 MANG 201 CMIN 204	3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 5 5 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Delgado Community College requires a minimum score of 50 to receive credit for any CLEP exam.

Credit Examinations

Any Delgado student who believes they are qualified by experience, previous training, or non-credit coursework may request credit by examination. A student who wishes to apply for credit by examination should contact the division dean of the student’s major. Specific policies and procedures have been established for the granting of college credit from nontraditional sources:

Policies:

1. The general policies concerning credit for prior learning (non-traditional credit) are applicable.
2. A non-refundable fee of $10.00 per credit hour is charged prior to administration of the examination.
3. Administration of Credit Examinations must be completed by the last day of class of the semester/session.
4. To pass a Credit Examination, a student must demonstrate a minimum proficiency of 75% of all the competencies for the course.
5. A student who intends to use credit by examination to meet degree requirements of another institution should check the requirements of the receiving institution.
6. A student who wishes to take a Credit Examination for a by-passed course must take the examination by midterm of the semester in which the student is enrolled in the more advanced course.
7. A student who fails to meet the minimum proficiency (75%) on the Credit Examination will be administratively dropped from the sequential or higher level course. No refund will be granted.
8. Credit Examinations are approved by the division dean of the course and the division dean of the student’s major.
9. Credit Examinations are available only in courses offered at Delgado Community College.
10. A student may apply for credit by examination only twice in the same course.
11. A student may not take a Credit Examination in a course in which they have been or is currently enrolled, or which they have completed at any college.
12. A student may not take a Credit Examination for a course that they have audited.

NOTE: Credit Examination grades must be reported to the Office of the Registrar by the division dean of the course by the last day of class of the Spring/Fall Semester or Summer Session.

DSST (DANTES Subject Standardized Test)

DSST (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests) are credit-by-examination tests originated by the United States Department of Defense’s Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) program. Delgado Community College is a designated testing center for DSST. 

In accordance with the College’s Credit for Prior Learning (Non-Traditional Credit) policy, specific policies and procedures have been established for the granting of college credit for prior learning, including DSST.

Policies:

1. The general policies and procedures concerning credit for prior learning are applicable. 
2. Prior to taking a DSST examination, the student must check with the Division Dean or academic advisor of their major to confirm that the credit is applicable to the student’s major.
3. The awarding of credit through DSST is based upon the standard scores recommended by the Commission on Educational Credit for the American Council on Education.
4. Semester hours of credit earned by the DSST examination are assigned a grade of “P.” No quality points are earned. Such credit is not calculated into the student’s grade point average computation.
5. Students who wish to transfer DSST credits to Delgado must request an official score report be sent to the Coordinator of the Office Testing.

Industry-Based Certification Credit

Any Delgado student who believes they are qualified for college credit due to completion of industry-based certifications should contact the Division Dean of the student’s major.  These credits are typically referred to as credits for prior learning (non-traditional credits) and specific procedures relevant to awarding credit for an industry-based certification are required. A student who intends to use credit received from industry-based certification to meet degree requirements of another institution should check the requirements of the receiving institution.

Life Experience Assessment Program (LEAP)

The central principle in the Life Experience Assessment Program is that what a student knows is more important than how the student acquired the knowledge. In this program, Delgado Community College (a) gives students the opportunity to report what they know, or can do, in terms that relate to given college courses and then (b) assesses their knowledge or competence in those areas. If the student can demonstrate knowledge and skills in certain areas comparable to what a college-trained student knows in these same areas, equal credit is awarded.

Specific policies and procedures have been established for the granting of college credit from non-traditional sources.

Policies:

1. The general policies concerning credit for prior learning (non-traditional credit) are applicable.
2. LEAP credit is available only if the life experience warrants three (3) or more credit hours.
3. A non-refundable fee of $20.00 per credit hour is charged for the evaluation process, which includes a portfolio and/or documentation and demonstration of competencies.
4. For each applicant a review committee is established to verify that the student can demonstrate knowledge and skills in the requested area comparable to the knowledge and skills of a college-trained student in the same area.
5. The LEAP review committee should consist of the dean of the division from which credit is being requested, at least one faculty member with expertise in the relevant discipline, the Registrar’s designee, and any other expert or consultant deemed necessary to ensure fairness and equity to the student.

The portfolio should consist of documentation of the acquisition of those competencies deemed necessary for specific course content such as:

• Awards
• Course Content/Description (Credit or Non-credit) and Contact Hours
• Drawings, Diagrams, Artwork, etc.
• Work Experience Records and Job Description
• Graduation Certificates
• High School Co-op Work Experience Training Plan
• Licensures/certifications
• Narrative of Experiences
• Letters of Recommendations/Testimony
• Transcripts

Military Credits

Students who have earned credit through courses taken while in the Armed Services may apply for acceptance of these credits in the Admissions Office.

Specific procedures have been established for the granting of college credit for prior learning. The general policies and procedures concerning credit for prior learning are applicable.

In order for these credits to be evaluated, the student must:

1. Request a Military Credit to be sent to the College via the Joint Services Transcript (JST) OR submit a transcript from the Army/American Council on Education Registry Transcript System (AARTS), Community College of the Air Force (CCAF), or Coast Guard Institute (CGI);
2. Complete a “Request for Course Recommendation” form for each service school course completed; 
3. Provide a DD Form 295, “Application for the Evaluation of Educational Experiences During Military Service” or “Application for the Evaluation of Learning Experiences During Military Service”;
4. Provide a DD Form 214, “Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge”; and
5. Provide copies of any “Course Completion” certificates that the student has received, or other proof of having completed the course.

Technical College Credit

Students who have attended a campus of the Louisiana Technical College (LTC) since January 1992 may apply for credits based on work completed at the LTC prior to their enrolling at Delgado Community College. Faculty at Delgado Community College have reviewed the competencies included in these clock-hour courses and have established a crosswalk for the awarding of these credits. Specific procedures have been established for the granting of college credit from prior learning (non-traditional) sources:

Students who were enrolled at Louisiana Technical College in 1992 or later will be awarded credit based on their coursework at the LTC using the crosswalk established by the faculty in the various disciplines. These credits are being awarded using the non-traditional credit procedures in place at the College. These credits will be listed on the student’s Delgado academic transcript as “Technical College Credit”.

As with all credit for prior learning (non-traditional credit), all Technical College Credit will carry a grade of “P.”  Specific grades are awarded only for courses transferred directly from another regionally accredited institution. Since the crosswalk for awarding credit from the LTC is based on competencies gained in more than one LTC course rather than on a course-to-course equivalency, it would be inappropriate to assign a letter grade for the credits awarded. Credits awarded are subject to the limitations on total hours of credit for prior learning (non-traditional credit) and hours in a student’s major as listed in the College Catalog.

Students who wish to avail themselves of this avenue for earning credits should complete and submit the application form which is available in the Office of the Registrar.

Prior Learning (Non-Traditional) Credits from Other Institutions

Delgado Community College accepts prior learning (non-traditional) credits that are listed on the Board of Regents Master Course Matrix and credits that have been awarded by other regionally accredited institutions. These credits have the same limitations in their use in meeting graduation requirements as do prior learning (non-traditional) credit earned at Delgado Community College and will be used in computing the total hours of prior learning (non-traditional) credit for which a student is eligible.

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