Viewing: Transfer Credit

Last approved: Fri, 24 Nov 2023 01:50:29 GMT

Last edit: Fri, 24 Nov 2023 01:50:27 GMT

Policy Inactivation Date

Rationale

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Policy Type

Academic

Policy Name

Transfer Credit

Policy Number

317

Effective Date - Policy

November 22, 2023

Effective Date - Procedures

November 22, 2023

Last Full Review Date

November 2023

Next Scheduled Review Date

November 2028

Approval Body

Board of Governors and Education Council Jointly

Policy Sponsor

Vice President Academic & Applied Research

Review Body

Education Policy Committee

Responsible Authority

Registrar's Office

Policy

Context and Purpose

Scope and Limits

Policy Principles

VCC will, when requested by a student and in accordance with established articulation agreements and/or affiliation agreements and/or foreign credential assessment and/or approved course equivalency in a VCC course outside the program area, grant credit for a course successfully completed.
Students must receive a passing grade, as equated to the official College grading system, for a course to be considered eligible for transfer and applicable towards the requirements for a College credential. Some programs may require a higher grade than a Pass grade. Where programs establish a higher minimum grade for transfer credit, students will follow the College-approved program guidelines.
The Board of Governors and Education Council delegate authority to the Registrar to direct the evaluation of transfer credit requests that do not fall under the Educational Affiliations policy 407.
The College will be guided by the Principles and Guidelines for Transfer endorsed by the British Columbia Council on Admissions & Transfer (BCCAT).
Transfer credit in combination with PLAR will not exceed a maximum of 65% of the total credits of a College credential/program. Individual programs may set lower maximum standards. Where programs establish a lower maximum percentage for transfer credit and PLAR, students will follow the College-approved program guidelines.
The awarding of transfer credit(s) may impact a student’s course load, time to program completion, full-time program status, and eligibility for financial support, scholarships and awards. Students are strongly advised to contact Financial Aid and Awards prior to submitting a request for transfer credit. International students are strongly advised to contact the Centre for International Education prior to submitting a request for transfer credit.
Courses transferred from another institution are not included in the calculation of the institutional grade point average (GPA). However, the transfer of credits and the transfer of GPA become part of the student’s permanent record at VCC.
Currency of the subject matter is taken into account when awarding transfer credit, and decisions will be processed on an individual basis. Coursework completed ten (10) or more years prior is not automatically awarded transfer credit. Program specific limits on the currency of transfer credits may also apply.
Transfer credit used towards a VCC credential must fall within the same credential maximum duration timelines as per VCC Policy C.1.3 Granting of Credentials or the maximum duration timelines approved by Education Council for that credential/program.

Does this policy have procedures?

Yes

Procedures

All Procedures

Students are responsible for initiating the transfer credit process upon admission to the College.
Students must complete a transfer credit request form available from the Registrar’s Office.
Students are responsible for submitting official transcripts to support their request for transfer credit. (Note: Official transcripts should be sent directly from the issuing institution to VCC.)
Transfer credit requests, and all required documentation, must be received at least two weeks prior to the start of the term in which the course is offered.
The transfer credit administrative fee must be paid prior to the assessment.
Department Leaders, in consultation with the Registrar's Office, will have discretion for overriding the deadline.
Successfully completed courses not listed in the online BC Transfer Guide may also be eligible for transfer credit as a result of a formal assessment.
The Registrar’s Office will keep a record of all courses assessed for transfer credit.
In some instances, if transfer credit is awarded for a full term or year of a program, then the credit may be awarded as a block transfer and will appear as such on the student's official academic record.
The Registrar's Office will inform students of the result of their transfer credit request.

If courses are from within Canada:

After a transfer credit request form has been submitted by the student and an official transcript has been forwarded in a sealed envelope directly from the issuing institution to VCC, or via electronic transcript exchange service where applicable, the transfer credit will be assessed by the Registrar's Office.
Course work previously assessed and listed in the BC Transfer Guide will be automatically posted to the student's official academic record.
Course work not listed in the BC Transfer Guide that has been previously assessed and awarded by the Registrar’s Office will be granted.
In the event the course work is not in the BC Transfer Guide and has not been previously assessed and awarded by the Registrar's Office, course outlines/syllabi must be provided by the student to determine if transfer credit is appropriate.
Official course outlines/syllabi must be from the year and/or semester/term in which the courses were successfully completed. These outlines/syllabi will be evaluated by VCC faculty with subject matter expertise. (Note: Catalogue or calendar course descriptions are not adequate for the purposes of transfer credit evaluation.)
Each course outline/syllabus must include the following information: a statement of course objectives, the number of weeks duration and/or course contact hours, the method of evaluation and grading, the number of credits, a comprehensive description of course content, and learning materials used.

If courses are from outside Canada:

Students must send an official transcript to VCC. In the event the transcript is deemed irreplaceable, VCC will return the original copy to the student.
Official transcripts should be in the original language of instruction and should prominently display the institution’s logo/stamp/seal. Where the official transcripts are not in English, students will need to provide certified translations to accompany their request.
Course outlines/syllabi must also be provided and should (where applicable) include the following information: course name, course number, length of instructional period, total number of hours by instructional type, learning objectives/learning outcomes, and content of the course including texts and required readings, methods of instruction and grading/evaluation structure for each course. Where the official outlines/syllabi are not in English, students will need to provide certified translations to accompany their request.

References and Resources

Definitions

Term	Description
BC Transfer Guide	An online list of courses where transfer agreements have been established between post-secondary institutions, both in and outside of BC.
Block Transfer Credit	The granting of a block of credits for the completion of a group of courses or certificate or diploma, which is recognized by the receiving institution, and which can be related in a meaningful way to part of a program.
Certified Translation	Where English is not the official language of instruction, a certified literal English translation of the transcript and course outlines/syllabi sent by the issuing institution or by a certified translator is required.
Course Outline	A curriculum document that contains the essential features of a course, such as: course name and number, credits and hours, course description, prerequisites, course learning outcomes, instructional strategies, and student evaluation methods.
Official Transcript	To be considered official, transcripts must be in official university envelopes, sealed and endorsed by the issuing institution or sent via secure electronic delivery by the issuing institution.
Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)	A structured method of assessing an individual’s prior learning or experience to award formal credit. Refer to VCC Policy D.3.5 Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition.
Program Content Guide (PCG)	A curriculum document that contains the essential features of a program of study, such as: program name, purpose, number of credits, duration, program learning outcomes, admission requirements, grading system, course list, instructional strategies, evaluation of student learning, and the credential received upon completion.
Syllabus	A document that informs students of the basic elements of a course including topics covered, weekly schedule, list of tests, assignments and readings.
Transfer Credit	The granting of credit for a course successfully completed at another formally recognized educational institution, by recognized foreign credential assessment, and/or by formal recognition of course equivalency in a VCC-approved course outside the program area. Credit for such learning will be formally acknowledged and noted on a student’s official transcript.

Related VCC Policies

VCC Policies	Policy Number
Admissions	301
Flexible Admissions	302
Grading, Progression and Withdrawal	411
Granting of Credentials	412
Indigenous Education Enrolment	304
Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition	316
Students with Disabilities	327

Related Resources

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Are there associated forms?

Yes

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