ES4544 - Alternative Credit

1. Institutional Regulations
   1. The College will develop a process for granting alternative credit for prior learning.
   2. At Program Director discretion or when credit by examination is not available, the alternative credit process will allow:
      1. DMACC personnel to request that DMACC non-credit training be converted and applied as credit course work.
      2. Students to request their DMACC non-credit work to be assessed for equivalency to DMACC credit coursework.
      3. DMACC non-credit when converted to institutional credit to be considered earned in residence at DMACC.
      4. Non-credit course work if converted to DMACC courses to be designated as core and to fulfill program requirements as a core course.
      5. Businesses to request their non-credit work to be assessed for award of DMACC credit.
      6. Students to request credit for External Certification/Licensure.
      7. Students to request evaluation for award of experiential credit including but not limited to work experience credit, credit from non-accredited institutions, training, and other experiential learning.
   3. Student needs to have a current application on file and be accepted.
   4. Students may earn a maximum of 50% of a program pathway.
   5. Alternative credit is defined as college credit earned outside of DMACC credit course completion, transfer or credit by examination.
   6. Alternative credit requests cannot be made to replace a failing grade for a course previously attempted. A course withdrawal does not constitute a course attempt.
   7. The student will be assessed an administrative fee of $50 per application.
   8. ES 4544 does not exempt students from complying with all DMACC procedures including Residency (ES4590 ) and Graduation Award Conferral (ES4592 ) procedures. Alternative credit may not count as institutional residence credit unless converted from DMACC noncredit to DMACC credit.
   9. Deadline for applications is up to last date to withdraw from part of Term 1 to ensure credit is awarded on the final transcript.  Applications received after that date will be applied to the following term.
2. Procedure
   1. A request for conversion of DMACC non-credit course work to DMACC credit course work may be initiated by any DMACC personnel by completing the Application for Alternative Credit Form (ES 4544-1). The Non-Credit to Credit Conversion Form (ES 4544-2) will need to be attached to identify requested courses in the non-credit area.
      1. The non-credit course must meet the following requirements:
         1. Completion of 80% of required course competencies.
         2. Required seat time.
         3. Instructor has credentials to teach the equivalent credit course.
      2. The assessment instrument and a completed Portfolio Worksheet (ES 4544-3) used to verify student competency achievement and the Instructor Qualification Form (ES 4544-4) must be attached to the Non-Credit to Credit Conversion Form (ES 4544-2).
      3. The Non-Credit to Credit Conversion Form (ES 4544-2) must be signed by the program chair, Dean/Provost, and Registrar.
      4. These conversion agreements will be in effect for three years from the signature date at which time they must be reviewed and resubmitted for renewal.
      5. A record of all approved non-credit to credit coursework will be archived by the DMACC Registrar’s Office.
      6. After the conversion is officially archived with the Registrar’s Office, a student must request the credit be awarded. The credit is not awarded automatically. The student must submit the Application for Alternative Credit Form (ES 4544-1) to the Registrar’s Office.
   2. If a conversion agreement is not on file in the Credentials Office, a student may request alternative credit for DMACC non-credit coursework.
      1. The student must meet with the Dean/Provost and/or program chair to determine if alternative credit is appropriate for their program.
      2. If determined appropriate, the student should begin the process by completing Application for Alternative Credit Form (ES 4544-1).
      3. The Dean/Provost will require the student to demonstrate competency and submit a completed Portfolio Worksheet (ES 4544-3). The Application (ES 4544-1) must be signed by the program chair, Dean/Provost, and Registrar. All forms (ES 4544-1, 4544-2, 4544-3, and 4544-4) will then be submitted to the Registrar’s Office for processing and application of credit.
      4. DMACC non-credit to credit conversion is only counted as institutional residence credit.
   3. Businesses may request DMACC credit for their internal training or coursework. They can initiate the process by completing the Application for Alternative Credit (ES 4544-1).
      1. Before non-credit coursework can be considered eligible, the program area Dean/Provost, with the assistance of the program chair, will evaluate the non-credit course/training. This equivalency must be outlined and demonstrated on a completed Portfolio Worksheet (ES 4544-3). The non-credit course/training must meet the following requirements:
         1. Completion of 80% of required course competencies.
         2. Required seat time.
         3. Instructor has credentials to teach the equivalent credit course. The Non-Credit to Credit Conversion Instructor Qualification Form (ES 4544-4) is to be submitted.
      2. The Non-Credit to Credit Conversion Form (ES 4544-2) must be signed by the program chair, Dean/Provost, and Registrar.
      3. These conversion agreements will be in effect for three years from the signature date, at which time they will need to be reviewed and resubmitted for renewal.
      4. A record of all approved non-credit to credit coursework will be archived by DMACC Registrar’s Office.
      5. After the conversion is officially archived with the Registrar’s Office, a student must request the credit be awarded. The credit is not awarded automatically. The student must submit the Application of Alternative Credit Form (ES 4544-1) to the Registrar’s Office.
   4. If a student has earned certification or licensure from a recognized state or national examination but has not taken that coursework at DMACC, the student may apply for DMACC credit for comparable coursework.
      1. A student should begin the process by:
         1. Completing and submitting Application for Alternative Credit Form (ES 4544-1).
         2. Completing and submitting Application for Alternative Credit Through External Certification/Licensure (ES 4544-5).
         3. Submitting a copy of the earned license/certificate.
      2. The state or national examination must have been successfully completed no more than two years from the date of submission of the application for Alternative Credit, Form (ES 4544-1).
      3. To obtain credit through this process the program chair and Dean/Provost must approve all requests. The forms (ES 4544-1 and 4544-5) will then be submitted to the Registrar’s Office for approval and processing.
   5. A student may request an evaluation of experiential credit.
      1. The student must complete Application for Alternative Credit Form (ES 4544-1).
      2. The student must attach their portfolio. The portfolio will include but is not limited to:
         1. Tangible examples of competencies or a completed Portfolio Worksheet (ES 4544-3).
         2. A current resume.
         3. A job description that clearly defined duties and a letter from the employer verifying that the student has met the competencies of the course(s) requested.
      3. The application must then be reviewed and approved by the program chair, Dean/Provost, and Registrar.
      4. If approved, the application with all supplemental documentation must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office for processing and application.
   6. Alternative credit will be applied to the student’s academic record as follows:
      1. The alternative credit will be denoted on the student’s transcript with an “L”.
      2. The credit will not apply to the grade point calculation.
      3. Credits earned through this procedure are subject to the receiving institution’s transfer credit policies and procedures. It is not guaranteed that all post-secondary institutions will recognize these credits.
   7. Appeals Process
      1. If the Application for Alternative Credit (ES 4544-1) is denied, the student will be notified in writing by the program chair, Dean/Provost or Registrar. The Application and a copy of the denial letter must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office for inclusion in the student’s academic record.
      2. The student may appeal the decision to the Executive Vice President, Academic Affairs/Provost, Ankeny Campus.
      3. The appeal must be made in writing and submitted within 10 business days of the denial.

April 19, 2022 - Removed form while procedure is being re-written.

April 26, 2022 - Added new dynamic form link.

May 10, 2022 - Added new form as dynamic form was not working.

March 12, 2024 - Made minor wording changes to adhere to current policy that we are following.

Related Form: ES4544-Credit-for-Prior-Learning-Form-20200901  
Note: Sample Portfolio Worksheet