The UNC Policy Manual
700.10.1[R]
Adopted 12/19/18
Amended 11/20/19
Amended 1/24/23
Amended 02/05/25
Regulation on Awarding Undergraduate Credit for Prior
Learning
I. Purpose.
The following regulation (“this regulation”) is designed to provide system-wide
consistency and clarity regarding implementation of the Policy on Awarding Undergraduate Credit for
Prior Learning (“the policy”), Section 700.10.1 of the UNC Policy Manual.
The primary goals of the policy and this regulation
are to award credit to a student for successfully demonstrating college-level
mastery of a given subject gained through prior learning experiences and set
clear minimum standards for determining proficiency for common advanced course examination
scores. While earning credit for prior
learning may decrease time to degree and overall debt, credit should not be awarded,
nor should students be placed into a course that does not reflect college-level
mastery or preparedness. The regulation also outlines the requirements for
reporting of credit awarded for prior learning.
Faculty representing relevant academic departments should be engaged in institutional decisions
for the implementation of the policy and this regulation to ensure that
decisions are informed by the standards of applicable disciplines and to ensure
that implementation is in alignment with the standards of the constituent
institution’s accrediting body and of accrediting bodies for specific
disciplines and professions.
II. Definitions. The
following operational definitions apply to the policy and this regulation:
A.
“Certification.” An industry-recognized
credential or designation that is obtained once the student has successfully
passed a certification exam. Certification differs from licensure in that
certification is a validation of specific industry-valued competencies and not
a legal requirement for practicing a profession.
B.
“Challenge exam.” A departmental or
institutional exam used to determine if a student’s subject matter proficiency
is equal to or greater than the corresponding proficiency the student would
have achieved had they completed the corresponding course.
C.
“College-level
learning.” Knowledge, skills, and competencies equivalent to those expected of
a student who successfully completes the corresponding institutional course.
D.
“Credit for prior
learning (CPL).” Curriculum credit awarded for college-level learning obtained
through prior learning experiences other than curriculum coursework.
E.
“Industry or
corporate experience.” Evaluation of non-collegiate instructional programs,
such as, but not limited to, those for apprenticeships and other workplace
trainings that demonstrate competency required for completion of degree or
certificate programs.
F.
“Military education
and training.” Learning gained through military training and experience
including, but not be limited to, recruit training, military occupational
specialty (MOS) training and education, Defense Language Institute foreign
language coursework and exams, Community College of the Air Force (CCAF)
coursework, College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), and the DANTES
Standardized Subject Test (DSST).
G.
“Licensure.” A legal
status granted by a government entity that provides permission to practice a
profession. Licensure restricts practice of the profession to individuals who
have met specific qualifications in education, professional experience, and/or
have successfully passed an examination.
H.
“Portfolio
assessment.” The evaluation of a portfolio for life and work experiences by
subject matter experts designated by the constituent institution in its local policy
to determine whether a student is awarded credit for prior learning.
I.
“Standardized
exams.” Any form of examination that requires all test takers to answer the
same questions, or a selection of questions from a common bank of questions
following established protocol and that is scored in a standard or consistent
manner.
J. “The North Carolina Comprehensive Articulation Agreement.” A statewide
agreement governing the transfer of credits between NC Community Colleges and
UNC System Universities, providing certain assurances to a transferring
student.
K.
“UNC Common
Numbering System (CNS).” A common classification system of designated
undergraduate lower-division courses offered by UNC System institutions.
L.
Definitions for
Awarding Credit on the Basis of Advanced
Course Examination Scores
1.
“Academic Outcomes.” Results of a student’s performance in the course aligned with the
subject content of the Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate, or
Cambridge Advanced International Certificate AS Level or A Level examination
scores in question or in the Subsequent Course.
2.
“Appropriate
Credit.” A determined number of credit hours granted by the constituent
institution for a particular course or courses, aligned with the subject
content and Academic Outcomes of the AP, IB, or Cambridge AS Level or A Level
examination score in question.
a.
After achieving a
Qualified Advanced Course Examination Score, a student shall be awarded Appropriate
Credit associated with an institution’s course(s) that is/are aligned with the
subject content of the relevant Advanced Course examination score.
b.
In general,
equivalents for Appropriate Credit for particular course(s)
in a constituent institution’s course catalog (and/or other sources of
information for students and potential student(s) shall be listed for Qualified
Advanced Course examination scores. The particular course(s)
shall be listed as equivalent to a particular number of credit hours. These particular course(s) and credit hours shall contribute to a
student’s progress toward an undergraduate degree.
3.
“Compelling
Reasons.” Rationales of sufficient evidentiary quality, based on Academic
Outcomes, as to why scores higher than the established Qualified Advance Course
Examination Score might be required of an institution’s students (if those
students are to receive Appropriate Credit), submitted to an institution’s
board of trustees in support of an institution’s petition for an exception to
the policy; or rationales of sufficient evidentiary quality as to why a
constituent institution might discontinue awarding Appropriate Credit on the
basis of a Qualified Advanced Course Examination Score.
4.
“Qualified Advanced
Course Examination Score.” Unless a constituent institution has
been granted an exception whereby a higher score may be required, the following shall constitute
the minimum score required to receive college credit:
a.
A score of three or
higher on an AP examination;
b.
A score of five or
higher on a Standard Level IB examination;
c.
A score of four or
higher on a Higher Level IB examination; and/or
d.
A score of E or
higher on a Cambridge A Level or AS Level examination
M.
“Quantitative
Study.” A rigorous analysis based on reliable, numerical data regarding
Academic Outcomes.
N.
“Subsequent Course.”
A course in which a student would be unable to enroll without first obtaining
credit in a prerequisite course.
III. Assessment Standards. Constituent
institutions may award CPL when the documentation of prior learning is at the
college-level and meets or exceeds the learning outcomes and the institutions’
standards for awarding credit for the corresponding course. Faculty
representing relevant academic departments should be engaged in institutional
decisions for the determination of awarding credit for prior learning. Each
institution is responsible for determining how best to implement CPL and should
do so within the context of this regulation and the constituent institution’s
mission, student needs, and academic programs.
IV. Credit Hour
Limits. Credit awarded for prior learning shall not be considered institutional
credit; therefore, it cannot be included in the minimum required total credit
hours that must be completed at the constituent institution granting the
degree.
V. Fees. Unless
a student is enrolled in a course with the purpose of assessing prior learning
for credit, tuition shall not be charged for credits awarded for prior
learning. An optional assessment fee may be charged for credit assessed outside
of course enrollment to cover the administrative cost of the assessment.
VI. Faculty Support (Incentives).
Constituent institutions should consider providing support to faculty engaged
in the evaluation of credit for prior learning and the establishment of
institutional standards and policies for the evaluation of credit for prior
learning.
VII. Student
Records. Awarded credit will be recorded in institutional student records as
“Credit for Prior Learning”. The credit type of the CPL method will be included
in the record. Credit will be recorded as the awarding institution’s course
including prefix & number, title, and credits awarded and reported to the
UNC System Office through the established data collection system in accordance
with reporting requirements outlined in Section XI. For all CPL types, an
appropriate awarding institution and title should be recorded.
VIII. Transfer
Credit
A.
Institutional
procedures for evaluating credit for prior learning in transfer should respect
credit awarded by other accredited institutions to the greatest extent
possible.
B.
Credit for prior
learning awarded by another University of North Carolina constituent
institution for a course included in the UNC CNS Course List shall be accepted
as transfer credit on the same basis as if the credit had been earned through
regular study at the awarding institution and in accordance with the UNC
Regulation on the University of North Carolina Common Numbering System, Section
400.1.5.1[R].
C.
Credit for prior
learning awarded by a North Carolina Community College for a course included in
the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA) Course List shall be accepted as
transfer credit in accordance with the procedures outlined in the CAA.
D.
Academic credit
earned through the assessment of prior learning at another accredited
institution may be considered for transfer credit as it applies to a student’s
degree program.
E.
Military credit
awarded by another University of North Carolina constituent institution shall
be evaluated for transfer credit pursuant to the procedures outlined in the UNC
Regulation on Awarding Credit for Military Training or Experience, Section
700.7.2[R].
F.
Credit for
advanced course examinations awarded by another University of North Carolina
constituent institution pursuant to Section IX of this regulation shall be
accepted as transfer credit on the same basis as if the credit had been earned
through regular study at the awarding institution.
IX. Awarding
Credit for Advanced Course Examination Scores.
A.
Affected Students.
The requirements of this policy and regulation regarding AP examination scores
shall affect first-time (or “freshman”) undergraduate students entering
constituent institutions for the fall semester of the 2019-20 academic year and
thereafter. Other undergraduate students (including but not limited to transfer
students, readmitted students, and upperclassmen) may benefit from the
requirements of the policy and this regulation by electing into
all standards documented in an institution’s catalog (and/or other sources of
information for students and potential students) for the 2019-20 academic year
or thereafter.
The
requirements of this policy and regulation regarding IB and Cambridge AS Level
and A Level examination scores shall affect first-time (or “freshman”)
undergraduate students entering constituent institutions for the fall semester
of the 2020-21 academic year and thereafter. Other undergraduate students
(including but not limited to transfer students, readmitted students, and
upperclassmen) may benefit from the requirements of the policy and this
regulation by electing into all standards documented
in an institution’s catalog (and/or other sources of information for students
and potential students) for the 2020-21 academic year or thereafter.
B.
Awarding Appropriate Credit. UNC System constituent institutions shall award Appropriate
Credit to
undergraduates who have earned a Qualified Advanced Course Examination Score.
An institution with Compelling Reasons as to why a score higher than three must
be required for a student to receive Appropriate Credit may petition to have an
exception approved by its board of trustees. Compelling Reasons must be based
on analyses of Academic Outcomes.
Constituent institutions should not deny Appropriate Credit to students on the basis of the age
of
Advanced Course Examination Scores that are ten years old or newer, although
constituent institutions may request that a student submit a newer exam score in the event that an older score reflects course content or
testing design for an exam that subsequently has been revised in a
significant manner.
Constituent
institutions that do not offer equivalent course(s) are not required to offer
Appropriate Credit for every AP, IB, Cambridge A Level, or Cambridge AS Level
exam offered; but, if an institution does offer credit for a particular AP
Exam, it must offer Appropriate Credit in compliance with the policy and this
regulation. If an institution elects to discontinue the awarding of credit for
an AP Exam for which credit is awarded during the 2018- 19 academic year,
however, approval must first be provided by the institution’s board of
trustees.
1. An institution may offer Appropriate
Credit that varies by different scores for the same
AP Exam. For example, an institution may offer a specified number of credit hours for a course or
courses for students who earn an AP Exam score of three
and may offer credit hours for different courses
for AP Exam scores higher than three.
2. Constituent institutions may award Appropriate
Credit (on the basis of Qualified Advanced Course
Examination Scores) for elective courses, credits toward General Education
requirements, or the requirements of a potential major. Appropriate Credit
awarded for any elective courses should contribute to students’ progress toward
an undergraduate degree.
3. Constituent Institutions are not required to modify existing standards that apply to scores
lower than those defined as Qualified Advanced Course Examination Scores,
including awarding credit for these scores.
C.
Policy Exceptions
1.
Evidence in support
of an institution’s Compelling Reasons for an exception to the policy
shall be supported by the most recently available and practicable data on Academic Outcomes of
that constituent institution’s own students, from the undergraduate discipline most analogous or
relevant to the content area of the Advanced Course Examination in question, except as outlined
below. Once approved and reported, exceptions should be reviewed and updated evidence
should be reevaluated at least every 7 years in accordance with policy
exception approval and reporting requirements.
2.
In general, evidence
for a Compelling Reason should address whether or not students
who earn a Qualified Advanced Course Examination Score are prepared to succeed
in the Subsequent Course within the relevant discipline. For example,
constituent institutions may demonstrate that students who earn a Qualified
Advanced Course Examination Score would perform significantly better, according
to one or more Academic Outcomes, if those students were required to take the
equivalent course for the Advanced Course Examination Score at the constituent
institution, versus if those students were given credit for said course solely on
the basis of the Qualified Advanced Course Examination Score.
To generate this sort of evidence, institutions should endeavor to compare the Academic
Outcomes of their enrolled students through Quantitative Study at a
conventional level of statistical significance.
Evidence in support of an institution’s
Compelling Reasons for an exception to the policy may be supported by data on
the Academic Outcomes of another institution’s (or other institutions’)
students if the following conditions are met:
a.
Data on Academic
Outcomes available are as recent as possible and practicable, from the
undergraduate discipline most analogous or relevant to the content area of the
Advanced Course Examination in question; and
b.
The other
institution(s) for comparison is/are limited to those peer institutions
approved by the Board of Governors.
D.
Student Choice
Regarding Undergraduate Credit on the Basis of Advanced
Course Examination
Scores. Although an institution is required by the policy to offer Appropriate Credit, a student may decline
to accept the offered credit, audit the course aligned with the Advanced Course Examination in question,
or enroll in the course aligned with the Advanced Course Examination in
question, depending on institutional practice.
1.
Whenever possible,
institutional academic advisors should inform eligible undergraduates of the
above-described options available to them under the policy and this regulation,
along with the potential benefits and disadvantages of those options.
2.
Institutions may
choose to complement advice from academic advisors with a standardized
communication to incoming students regarding Advanced Course Examination
standards and the potential benefits and disadvantages of the
above-mentioned options.
E. Prohibition Against Additional Requirements for Awarding
Undergraduate Credit on the Basis of Scores
for an Advanced Course Examination. A constituent institution shall not require
a student to fulfill additional requirements in order to
receive credit on the basis of Qualified Advanced Course Examination Scores. A
placement test or other assessment may be required, however, to determine
Subsequent Courses for which a student is prepared.
F. Prohibition Against Discontinuance of Awarding Undergraduate
Credit on the Basis of Scores for
an AP Exam. Any institutional policy or practice of awarding credit on the basis of scores for any Advanced
Course Examination in place prior to the implementation of the policy (during
the 2018-19 academic year) shall not be discontinued thereafter without
approval of the institution’s board of trustees.
G.
Documenting and
Communicating Institutional Advanced Course Examination Standards to
Undergraduate Students and Potential Undergraduate Students. Institutional
Advanced Course Examination standards, devised to comply with this policy and
regulation, shall be documented and updated annually in institutional course
catalogs, undergraduate student handbooks, and/or online resources for
undergraduate students. Institutional Advanced Course Examination standards
shall likewise be documented and updated annually in online and/or printed
resources for potential undergraduate students. Constituent institutions should
likewise publicize their own policies or practices regarding Advanced Course
Examination scores that may or may not be accepted on
the basis of the age of those scores.
H.
Assessment of the
Policy and this Regulation’s Effectiveness. The effects of the policy and this
regulation as they relate to awarding credit for advanced course examination
scores, at the level of the UNC System and across its constituent institutions, shall be
assessed by the UNC System Office within three years of implementation, and
then on a period basis. Recommendations for altering the policy and this
regulation shall be made accordingly to the president (for this regulation) or
Board of Governors (for the policy), on the basis of
appropriate evidence.
X. Responsibilities of Constituent
Institutions.
A.
Constituent
institutions shall establish their own policies and procedures for awarding
credit for prior learning other than advanced course examination scores
specified in this regulation if they chose to award those types of credit.
B.
All institution CPL
policies and procedures shall be published on institution websites, course
catalogs, and/or other appropriate publications or advising materials. The
policies and procedures should be easily accessible by prospective students and
currently enrolled students.
C.
Institutions that
charge tuition for courses with the purpose of assessing prior learning for
credit or fees for other assessments of prior learning shall clearly publish
and communicate all CPL assessment tuition and/or fees to students.
D.
The process for
assessment shall be transparent and documentation of denial of credits should
be explained to students with a clearly stated rationale.
XI. Reporting Requirements. Constituent
institutions must record in their ERP and report to the UNC System Office in
the established data collection system, the type of CPL credit that was awarded
and the CPL hours awarded to a student. Additionally, constituent institutions
shall annually report to the President each form of prior learning assessment
through which they provide credit, policy exceptions that have been approved per
section IX.C. of this regulation, the publicly available links to institutional
CPL policies and procedures outlined in X.B, and summaries of any updates to these
institutional policies and procedures.
A.
Specific Reporting
Requirements for Advanced Course Examination Scores. Initial reports regarding
exceptions to the policy and/or discontinuances of awarding Appropriate
Credit on the basis of Qualified Advanced
Course Examination Scores, granted by institutional boards of trustees, shall
be reported to the president by July 1, 2019. Subsequent reports of exceptions,
discontinuances, and/or other alterations relative to this policy shall be
reported to the president annually by July 1. Reports to the president shall
include full documentation of Compelling Reasons considered by boards of
trustees, along with documentation of the board’s approval, for each exception
granted.
XII. Other Matters
A.
Effective Date. The
requirements of the policy and this regulation with regards to AP examinations
shall be effective as of the fall semester of the 2019-20 academic year and
thereafter; the requirements of the policy and this regulation with regards to IB and Cambridge
AS-Level and A-Level examinations shall be effective as of the 2020-21 academic
year and thereafter. All other requirements of this regulation shall be
effective on the date of adoption of this regulation by the president.
B.
Relation to Federal and State Laws. The foregoing regulation as adopted by the president
is meant to supplement, and does not purport to supplant or modify, those statutory enactments,
regulations, and policies which may govern or related to the subject matter of
this regulation.