AWARDING OF CREDIT
Transfer of credit for educational work taken at an institutionally accredited institution, as recognized by the US Department of Education, may be accepted. Previous coursework must be submitted on an official transcript. Credit will normally be allowed for applicable courses in which a grade of “C” or higher has been earned. Coursework is evaluated according to your selected program. Time and program selection may be factors in determining credit. Some technical credits older than five years may be subject to review by the Records Office and the appropriate faculty/instructional dean. Courses under the five-year limitation are determined and reviewed by instructional deans, and a list is maintained in the Records Office. Students may be requested to provide prior course descriptions and/or documentation demonstrating required knowledge before credits are accepted.
Students seeking transfer credit from international institutions must provide transcripts translated into English at the student’s expense by an NACES-approved agency, such as World Evaluation Services (WES) or Global Credential Evaluators (GCE).
In the event that the student disagrees with the results of the transfer credit evaluation, they may appeal to the Registrar's Office. When there is doubt about the appropriateness of transfer credit or when a student wishes to appeal a transfer credit decision, the transcript will be referred to the appropriate faculty member(s) and the dean. Time limits may be imposed in certain situations. The Records Office and the appropriate dean will maintain a list of courses that have time limits for transfer.
The maximum amount of credit allowed to be transferred is seventy five perfect (75%) of the College's curriculum (see Graduation Requirements). Any course taken at a North Carolina Community College System institution will be accepted for the equivalent course, except as specified herein. All transfer students will enter the College in good academic standing. Once enrolled, academic standing will be determined by grades on coursework taken solely at Isothermal Community College (reference Acceptance of Transfer Students/Credits 05.01.02).
Transfer of Credit within the Institution
Students transferring from one curriculum to another within the College may be handled in the same manner as transfer credits from another institution. Courses designed for satisfaction of North Carolina Community College System approved college transfer degree requirements may be accepted in Associate of Applied Science degree programs; however, courses designed for career preparation in Associate of Applied Science degrees, diplomas, and certificates may not apply to the above-referenced college transfer degree programs. Cumulative grade point averages (GPA) are normally continued when changing programs. The GPA for graduation is based only on the courses required in the program.
Credit by Examination
Any student at Isothermal Community College may receive course credit by examination through one of the following five methods: 1) Challenge Exam, 2) CLEP Exam, 3) Advanced Placement Exams, 4) North Carolina High School to Community College Articulation Agreement, or 5) Diagnostic Exam in Academic Development courses.
Challenge Exam
Students may request permission through the appropriate instructional dean to challenge a course through a comprehensive exam for credit. Please note that courses taken using challenge exams do not qualify for financial aid and may not be transferable to other institutions. The procedure for challenging is as follows:
The student must receive permission from the dean to challenge the course and pay a proctoring fee of $20 prior to attempting the exam. The fee is for the administration and transcription of credit if the challenge is successful. The fee is not refundable if the challenge is unsuccessful.
A student cannot challenge a course that they have previously enrolled in, for credit or audit, or that they have previously attempted to challenge.
Career and College Promise (CCP) students, as defined in 1D SBCCC 400.11, may participate in challenge/proficiency examinations to earn college credit but may not earn dual high school credit. To earn dual credit, students must enroll and successfully complete the college course.
Federal Pell Grant funds cannot be used to pay for challenge exams/proficiency exams, nor do credits earned through challenge examinations count toward a student's load for federal aid award calculations.
Credits earned through challenge examination do not count toward a student’s load for Veterans Affairs (VA) educational benefits calculations, and as such, VA students should consult with Isothermal’s VA counselor before attempting any challenge exams.
Challenge Exams/Proficiency are not calculated into a student’s cumulative grade point average.
If the challenge exam is passed, the student’s grade must be submitted to the Student Records Office by the faculty chair or instructional dean of the division in which the course resides within two weeks of the exam’s completion. The Student Records Office will record the appropriate course credit on the student’s transcript, and the grade for the corresponding course will be recorded as a “CE”. (Note: “CE” grades are not acceptable for the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement between the North Carolina Community College System and the University of North Carolina System.)
Advanced Placement (AP) and College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
College credit may be awarded if appropriate conditions are met by Advanced Placement (AP) or College Level Examination Program (CLEP) test scores. Isothermal Community College academic credit will be granted to enrolled students who receive scores of 3 or higher on the AP tests offered by the College Board. CLEP is granted for scores in the 50th percentile or higher. Credit may be considered only for those courses that are in the student’s academic program. AP and CLEP credit accepted at other post-secondary institutions is not automatically transferred to Isothermal Community College; however, it is reviewed upon receipt of official scores.
North Carolina High School to Community College Articulation Agreement
North Carolina high school graduates may be awarded college credit for certain high school courses when transferring to Isothermal Community College. Criteria are controlled by the Department of Public Instruction and the NC Community College System and are subject to change without notice. The following criteria must be met to receive credit:
Grade of “B” or higher in the high school course,
A score of 90 or higher on the CTE post-assessment,
In order to receive articulated credit, students must enroll at Isothermal within two years of their high school graduation date, and
Apply to Isothermal Community College in a related major.
Credit for Prior Learning
The College may award Credit for Prior Learning (“CPL”) as designated by law and state regulations for the following prior learning methods:
Apprenticeship
State or Industry Recognized Credentials/Continuing Education to Curriculum Credit
Courses listed in high school to community college articulation agreements
Military education and training
Standardized examinations
Challenge exams/Proficiency
Portfolio assessment
Public Safety Training ("PST") prefix courses
The College may award curriculum CPL when documentation of prior learning meets or exceeds the College’s standards for demonstrating learning outcomes for the corresponding curriculum course. The College shall award CPL in a manner consistent with State Board regulations.
To be eligible to receive CPL, students must 1) meet all admission requirements for their program of study; 2) be enrolled in a curriculum program to which the credit will directly apply; and 3) request a prior learning assessment consistent with Procedure 05.02.09.01. For additional information, refer to the Credit for Prior Learning Policy 05.02.09.
Other Credit
Credit may also be given in the occupational areas for non-collegiate and military educational experiences. Time and program selection may be factors in determining credit.