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Transfer of Credit (BP 2.5)

Transfer Credit Policy

East Central College is committed to assisting student transfer to and from East Central College and facilitating credit transfer to and from other post secondary institutions. Transfer in credit will be analyzed in terms of level, course content, comparability and compatibility with degree programs and course offerings at East Central College.

Transfer In Credit Procedures

Transfer students should follow “New Student Procedures.”

1. Courses completed at any Missouri public institution in compliance with the Missouri Department of Higher Education’s guidelines and agreements concerning the transfer and articulation of credit will be accepted in transfer.
2. Courses completed at any institution maintaining current articulation agreements with East Central College will be accepted in transfer as outlined in the agreement.
3. Courses completed at any regionally accredited institution will be reviewed for course equivalency and program relevance and accepted for transfer accordingly.
4. Courses completed at non-regionally accredited institutions will be reviewed as follows:
   1. The transfer institution’s accreditation status will be examined.
   2. Information provided by the school or the student regarding the completed coursework, e.g. transcripts, catalog descriptions, course syllabi, faculty credentials, etc. will be distributed to the appropriate program/academic department official for recommendation.
   3. After an evaluation has been completed and the results communicated to the student, the student may appeal the decision regarding transfer to the Registrar and the Chief Academic Officer.
5. Courses completed at a foreign institution will be reviewed as follows:
   1. Student is required to provide an official transcript, along with an English translation, and an explanation of the foreign institution’s grading procedures.
   2. Information regarding the completed coursework will be distributed to the appropriate program/academic department official for recommendation.
   3. After an evaluation has been completed and the results communicated to the student, the student may appeal the decision regarding transfer to the Registrar or the Chief Academic Officer. Such an appeal will require a review through an international credit evaluation service, as directed by the Registrar’s Office. The cost of the evaluation must be paid by the student prior to the evaluation.
6. Experiential learning will be reviewed as follows:
   1. Student will submit a written request to the Registrar describing the experiential learning and provide supporting documentation. Student will make a formal request for course/credit equivalency.
   2. Information regarding the request will be distributed to the appropriate program/academic department official for recommendation.
   3. After an evaluation has been completed and the results communicated to the student, the student may appeal the decision regarding transfer to the Registrar and the Chief Academic Officer.
7. Military credit will be reviewed as follows:
   1. Student will provide an official copy of their DD214 and/or a transcript from their military service.
   2. Courses completed through the military will be reviewed for course equivalency and program relevance using ACE credit recommendations and accepted for transfer accordingly.
   3. After an evaluation has been completed and the results communicated to the student, the student may appeal the decision regarding transfer to the Registrar and the Chief Academic Officer.
8. All other incoming credit transfer requests not covered by the aforementioned procedures must be made in writing to the Registrar’s office.
9. Students on academic probation at another college will be admitted on academic probation and will be subject to East Central College’s academic policies.
10. Students on scholastic suspension from another college will not be accepted for admission to East Central College unless permission is granted by the Chief Student Affairs Officer, subject to the applicant’s written appeal. No student will be admitted who has been suspended from another college for social or behavioral issues.

Transfer In Grades

Grades received on all credits transferred to ECC are entered on the student’s permanent record and included in the cumulative grade point average.

Course Transfer/Transfer Out Credit

East Central College develops and maintains articulation agreements with various transfer institutions to assist students in course transfer. Certain coursework at the college is intended for transfer; this includes all the general education coursework and coursework in certain academic areas. East Central College also offers coursework which is not intended to transfer, but satisfies certain prerequisite requirements, aids students in preparing for college level coursework or prepares students to enter the workforce.

Students intending to transfer to a baccalaureate institution or any other post secondary institution should discuss academic goals with an advisor to receive the best assistance in academic planning. East Central College has a Transfer and Articulation Officer who can assist students in instances where transfer of courses does not go smoothly.

Students who plan to transfer credits from East Central College should contact their transfer institution as early as possible to become familiar with transfer requirements. Those who transfer within the State of Missouri have certain rights and privileges which are outlined on the Missouri Department of Higher Education website. General transfer guidelines may be found at http://dhe.mo.gov/cota/ In addition, most universities in Missouri have course equivalencies listed on their websites under Transfer Admissions.

East Central College offers students several transfer degree options: the Associate of Arts, the Associate of Science, the Associate of Arts in Teaching, and the Associate of Fine Arts. Each degree choice affords students a variety of options based on their academic interest, career choices and planned transfer institution. The Associate of Applied Science is designed for immediate employment in a career and technical field; however, some program-to-program transfer agreements are available. Students may also transfer 43 hours of general education, per the statewide agreement, or they may transfer individual courses. For more information on degree programs, visit Programs of Study . Information on transfer and articulation agreements with other colleges and universities can be found at Transfer information .

Course Credit Hour Definitions

The following list describes the types of credit hours awarded at East Central College. Each description includes information on credit hour value and its relation to meeting time, the type and expectation of the credit hour and the necessary time outside of class meeting, if applicable, to satisfy the course requirements.

Credit Hour

East Central College measures units of coursework by the semester credit hour. The semester credit hour is a recognized unit for college credit coursework and is used to determine degree requirements and course equivalency in transfer.

Traditional Coursework

For a traditional face to face lecture course, the Carnegie unit and state regulation have been used to determine a semester credit hour value (i.e. a minimum of 750 minutes of instruction or “seat time” per credit hour per semester period). In a lecture course, students should expect to spend a minimum of 2 hours per credit hour outside of class time to complete the course requirements.

For non lecture courses (i.e. science laboratories, studio coursework, career technical courses, music activities) additional instructional time per credit hour is necessary to achieve the college’s learning objectives determined for the course or instructional activity.

Distance/Web Based Learning:

For the college’s distance learning courses (i.e. online and hybrid), the credit hour value is based on the learning objectives determined in the traditional model of the coursework. Students would therefore be required to spend comparable amounts of time to achieve the desired learning objectives. To earn the credit hour value assigned to the course, students must demonstrate achievement of the course based learning objectives at a satisfactory level.

Science Laboratory

A Science laboratory course credit is a student learning activity which reinforces topics covered in lecture by the faculty, with a 2:1 contact to credit hour ratio. Students in the laboratory class will use hands on activities, conduct experiments, see demonstrations, use scientific equipment and learn about laboratory materials, space, safety and other equipment. Students should expect to spend a minimum of an additional 2 hours per week per credit hour outside of the laboratory class to prepare the laboratory assignment and complete all the appropriate reports.

Art Studio

An art studio course credit is a student learning activity, directed by the faculty in the studio, to develop students’ art skills, techniques and understanding of various media, with a 2:1 contact to credit hour ratio. Students should expect to spend an additional 2 hours per week per credit hour outside of the studio to continue the work of the studio class and complete all the appropriate projects.

Practicum

A Practicum course engages students in hands on applied skills. Students will participate in various activities, develop skills in the use of appropriate equipment, participate in seminars, and learn about the discipline in a hands on format with in 3:1 contact to credit hour ratio. Practicum experiences are determined by faculty and outlined in a course specific syllabus. Students should expect to spend an additional 2 hours per week per credit hour outside of the practicum experience to continue the work of the class and complete all the appropriate assignments.

Independent Study

An Independent study course is arranged individually between faculty and student. The topic is determined between the student and the faculty; the goals and objectives for the individual student learning experience are detailed in the course syllabus. The credit hours of independent study are based on the course assessment of the learning objectives as determined by the faculty. Students should expect to spend a minimum of 3 hours per week per credit hour to meet the objectives of the class and complete all the appropriate assignments.

Clinical Laboratory Course

The Allied Health clinical laboratory course is established to provide student hands on experience in a clinical setting. Students meet in the assigned clinic setting and are supervised by the clinical faculty assigned to the course. Students are required to conduct themselves in an appropriate and professional fashion while in the clinical setting, following guidelines established by the program faculty.

Students should expect to spend a minimum of an additional 8 hours per week outside the clinical lab to prepare for the clinical experience and to complete all the appropriate assignments.

Internship

An Internship course provides students hands on experience in selected career technology programs in a setting guided by the program faculty and appropriate to the learning objectives. Students will spend time in the internship setting in a minimum of a 3:1 ratio of time to credit hour value. Student experiences are reported to the faculty by individuals in the internship site and the supervising instructor in the program. Internship sites are provided by the Faculty in the program and visited regularly. Sites must receive prior approval. Students should expect to spend a minimum of an additional 2 hours per week per credit hour outside the internship setting to prepare for the experience and to complete all the appropriate reports.

Arranged

An arranged course is a predefined learning experience where the faculty makes individual arrangements with a student to teach an existing course on an arranged basis. The course learning objectives as stated in the existing course syllabus are covered; homework, assignment, projects and tests are given as required in the course syllabus. Credit is evaluated upon satisfaction of course objectives, assignments and assessment. Students should expect to spend a minimum of 3 hours per week per credit hour to meet the objectives of the class and complete all the appropriate assignments.

Hybrid

A hybrid course is a mix of face to face and online course instruction, where no more than 50% of face time is substituted with online instruction. Students in the hybrid course must satisfy all of the learning objectives, activities, and other assignments and assessments as determined by the faculty teaching the course. In addition to the time spent in the face to face setting, students should expect to spend a minimum of 3 hours per week per credit hour to meet the objectives of the class and complete all the appropriate assignments.

Applied Music

The Applied Music course is the individual lesson in voice or instrument arranged between faculty and student. Each credit hour equates to a half hour weekly private lesson. In addition to the lesson time, students should expect to spend a minimum of three hours per credit hour per week in practice. Students can only earn credit upon satisfactory completion of the final examination or its equivalent. Specific learning objectives, lesson assignments and materials are determined by the faculty and student.

Music Ensemble

The music ensemble course is the vocal or instrumental performance groups; the learning objectives of the course, including ensemble materials, are arranged by the faculty member. A credit hour of ensemble will meet a minimum of 2 hours per week (up to three hours based on the requirements of the particular ensemble). Credit is awarded based on satisfying the learning objectives of the course, including ensemble performances as arranged. In addition to the class time, students should expect to spend a minimum of two hours per credit hour per week in practice.

Career Technical Course Credit Hour

A career technical course credit hour is defined as a blend of lecture, demonstration and hands on learning experiences. The course blends a typical lecture with laboratory experiences, in a seamless fashion. Time in class may be up to two hours per week per credit hour. In addition to the class time, students should expect to spend a minimum of two hours per credit hour per week outside of class to complete assignments, prepare projects or demonstrations and otherwise meet the objectives of the course.

Career Technical Laboratory Course

A career technical laboratory course is a hands on learning activity. The course meets a minimum of two contact hours per credit hour and provides students with activity to support skills in the career area. The course is supervised by a faculty member and specific learning objectives are outlined in the course syllabi. Students should expect to spend an additional 2 hours per week per credit hour outside of the laboratory class to prepare the laboratory assignment and complete all the appropriate reports.

Physical Education

Physical education is a physical activity course; students will spend two hours per week per credit hour in class and/or engaged in the physical activity defined in the class. The course provides a student learning experience while engaged in the physical activity associated with the course. To assess credit, student must satisfactorily complete the assigned number of meeting times and the other learning objectives of the course.