11.04.99.R0.28 Awarding Graduate Experiential Credit
Effective April 10, 2001
Supplements System Policy
Reviewed by Graduate Council FY02

1. The University does not generally award graduate academic credit for experiential learning. This procedure provides a means by which the University may consider the awarding of graduate credit for experiential learning in order to meet emerging state educational priorities and mandates. Awarding of this credit will be based solely on experiential learning that is part of an agreement between the University and another regionally accredited institution or certifying agency.

2. Requirements for the awarding of such credit require formal agreement between A&M-Commerce and a regionally accredited educational institution or agency licensed by the State of Texas to provide professional certifications, which have historically been limited to universities. These agreements shall require the approval of the departmental faculty, academic dean, the graduate dean, and the provost and will comply with all SACS accreditation guidelines.

3. Departments in coordination with the graduate dean and registrar will be responsible for processing university approved experiential learning credits offered by regionally accredited educational institutions or agencies licensed by the State of Texas and in insuring the following:

a. Awards credit only for documented learning which ties the experience to the theories and data of the relevant academic fields;

b. Awards credit only to a matriculated student, identifies such credit on the student's transcript as credit for experiential learning, and is prepared, upon request from another institution, to document how such learning was evaluated and the basis on which such credit was awarded;

c. Takes steps to ensure that credit for experiential learning does not duplicate credit already awarded for courses in the student's academic program;

d. Adopts, describes in appropriate institutional publications, implements, and regularly reviews policies and procedures for awarding credit for experiential learning;

e. Clearly describes, and establishes the validity of, the evaluation process and criteria for awarding credit for experiential learning.

References: New Procedure A11.52

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CONTACT FOR INTERPRETATION: Dean of Graduate Studies & Research