MACRAO: Re: Transfer credits from institutions lacking MUS accreditation standards

Our process would not change. We would still evaluate only course by course. It helps keep it clear since we won’t change the process.

Michael Shell

Assistant Registrar

Great Falls College Montana State University

2100 16^th Ave S, Great Falls, MT 59405

Phone: (406) 771-4423

FAX: (406) 771-4329

From: MACRAO Listserv <MACRAO@LISTSERV.GFCMSU.EDU> On Behalf Of Mangold, Maria
Sent: Friday, July 8, 2022 12:40 PM
To: MACRAO@LISTSERV.GFCMSU.EDU
Subject: Re: Transfer credits from institutions lacking MUS accreditation standards

NOTICE: This email originated from outside of your organization. Do not click links, open attachments, or respond unless you were expecting this message and know the content is safe.

Thank you, Michael. This is very helpful.

I understand utilizing the Prior Learning Agreement (PLA) for course-by-course equivalencies. What about conferred degrees? One of the students in question earned a Bachelor of Science degree (online) at Full Sail. Any insight on that?

Best regards,

Maria

MARIA H. MANGOLD, M.Ed.

UNIVERSITY REGISTRAR

ABER HALL 622 | Missoula, Montana

t: (406) 243-2412 | e: maria.mangold@umontana.edu | w: umt.edu/registrar/

U N I V E R S I T Y O F M O N T A N A

From: MACRAO Listserv <MACRAO@LISTSERV.GFCMSU.EDU> On Behalf Of Michael Shell
Sent: Friday, July 8, 2022 10:55 AM
To: MACRAO@LISTSERV.GFCMSU.EDU
Subject: Re: Transfer credits from institutions lacking MUS accreditation standards

Good morning,

At Great Falls College we have our transfer policy listed here: http://catalog.gfcmsu.edu/student-services/admissions/transfer-from-other-institutions/

If a student’s institution does not have the accreditation that we are looking for we send them a form letter referencing our Experiential Learning policy (I have included a copy of the form letter below my signature line). This policy allows for faculty to evaluate the student’s knowledge base-usually through submission of previous work or evaluation of current work. For instance, our writing department has a structured written research project that the student must submit as well as a written exam. If the student successfully completed both requirements, we then transfer the work noting that it is Experiential Learning Credit as documentation of the processes of evaluation involved.

Another example would by for General Psychology, our Advisors recommend that a student take CLEP, but if a student wishes to use Experiential Learning we then have an exam very similar to the CLEP exam that the student completes and is graded by our faculty. The short story is that it is a course by course evaluation specifically evaluated by our faculty to meet the standards that we expect a transfer student to have transferring from an accredited institution-but we then track it as Experiential Learning. Please see the letter explaining below.

I hope this is helpful from the Great Falls College perspective!

Michael Shell

Assistant Registrar

Great Falls College Montana State University

2100 16^th Ave S, Great Falls, MT 59405

Phone: (406) 771-4423

FAX: (406) 771-4329

Dear Student:

Please be advised that Great Falls College MSU has received your official transcript from the following college(s):

Your College Listed Here

Great Falls College MSU is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. As such, all college-level coursework from institutions accredited by the following list of agencies will be received and applied toward certificate and associate degrees as applicable to major program, general education, and elective requirements.

· Higher Learning Commission www.hlcommission.org

· Middle States Commission on Higher Education www.msche.org

· New England Commission of Higher Education https://www.neche.org/

· Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities www.nwccu.org

· Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges www.sacscoc.org

· WASC Senior College and University Commission www.wscuc.org

Your transcript has not been evaluated due to the fact that the above college is not accredited by one of the listed accrediting bodies. There is a course by course potential review through our Prior Learning Assessment Policy. We have enclosed the form for your review. If you have any questions regarding this letter, or if any information in this letter is not correct, please contact me at 406-771-4423.

Sincerely,

From: MACRAO Listserv <MACRAO@LISTSERV.GFCMSU.EDU> On Behalf Of Mangold, Maria
Sent: Friday, July 8, 2022 10:20 AM
To: MACRAO@LISTSERV.GFCMSU.EDU
Subject: Transfer credits from institutions lacking MUS accreditation standards

NOTICE: This email originated from outside of your organization. Do not click links, open attachments, or respond unless you were expecting this message and know the content is safe.

Dear MACRAO colleagues,

Happy Friday! I am hopeful that one of you has experience with interpreting BoR Policy 301.5 as it pertains to accepting transfer credit from institutions that do not meet the accreditation standards outlined in 301.5, section A.

Two institutions (outlined below) will require UM to follow the process outlined in section F.1: “Institutions may make exceptions to give credit if the criteria described above are not met. However, the following principles should be followed: 1. The chief academic officer, registrar, and admissions officer should review each case to ensure that there is evidence of academic quality in the sending institution, both in the faculty and in the curriculum.” Has anyone leveraged that exception? If so, please advise on the process/procedure implemented.

Full Sail University, Winter Park, FL

“Full Sail is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Career Schools and Colleges (School #055214). The Accrediting Commission is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency under the provision of Title 34, Chapter VI, Part 602 of U.S. Federal Regulations and Title 20, Section 1099(b) of the U.S. code and subsequent legislation.”

Pima Medical Institute, Las Vegas, NV

“Pima Medical Institute is accredited by Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).”