Prior Credit and Credit by Examination
Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) allows students the opportunity to earn college credit for learning opportunities that have taken place outside of a traditional college experience if those opportunities can be reviewed and equated to existing credit-bearing academic experiences. Fredonia recognizes that learning can take place through a variety of means, can be unique to a student’s chosen degree and career, and can be assessed using diverse methods/tools; we support these alternative pathways to degree completion.
CPL credits may be aligned with specific courses as an equivalency. In such cases, the award should always be based on an evaluation of the specific Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) associated with a particular course and present on the most recent course syllabus.
Please note that CPL will only be granted to students who are matriculated in a SUNY Fredonia degree program and that any CPL assessment that occurred 10 years or more prior to enrollment at Fredonia is subject to re-review.
To be accepted, the knowledge and skills being assessed must correspond to established Fredonia degree requirements. If the experience does not apply to unfulfilled general education, major requirements, or electives, the university does not have to accept the credits toward the degree. While it is possible to award general elective CPL credits, programs are encouraged to give credit for specific courses when an alignment of Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) shows it to be appropriate.
All awarded credit for prior learning shall be appropriately identified by source and method on the transcript by University-wide codes established by the University Registrar. Credits for demonstrated knowledge earned through any prior learning method do not fulfill the university’s residency requirements.
No more than 25% of the credits towards any Certificate or Advanced Certificate earned at Fredonia may be acquired via any form of CPL. Fredonia will accept up to 12 undergraduate credits or six (6) graduate credits earned specifically by demonstration of knowledge/skill (the third avenue outlined below) towards the completion of a degree.
By submitting their request for CPL via demonstration of knowledge/skill, the student acknowledges their liability for the non-refundable CPL fee for all demonstration of knowledge/skill CPL applications that they submit at Fredonia (fee schedule). If a student has already earned CPL via demonstration of knowledge/skill at another institution and wishes to apply for more CPL via demonstration of knowledge/skill at Fredonia, Fredonia has the right to request records from the previous institution to prevent duplication of credit.
Students may earn credit for prior learning through the three avenues outlined below.
Credit for Military Service
Credit for military service experience and education is evaluated on an individual basis according to the guidelines established by the American Council on Education (ACE) and published in their Military Guide. To have their service record evaluated for possible credit-earning experiences, students should submit their Official Joint Services Transcript (JST) to Fredonia’s Office of Admissions for an individualized review.
Credits earned as part of military service come into Fredonia as transfer credits with no specific grade assigned. They will appear on the student’s transcript with a “grade” of TR and will not impact a student’s GPA.
Fredonia does not charge a fee for the award of CPL for military service via JST transcript review.
Credit by Examination
Students may complete graduation requirements at an accelerated rate by submitting the results of proficiency examinations for credit evaluation. Fredonia recognizes credit earned through Advanced Placement (AP) Exams, the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), International Baccalaureate (IB) Exams, and Cambridge International Exams. These examinations may fulfill general education, major, or minor requirements.
AP equivalencies can be found by reviewing the Transfer to Fredonia webpage (scroll down to the Entering with Advanced Credit accordion menu). CLEP, IB, and Cambridge equivalences can be reviewed on the Course Transfer Equivalencies website and selecting the exam type as the transfer institution.
Fredonia does not charge a fee for the award of CPL for credit by examination via AP, CLEP, IB, or Cambridge International Exams.
Advanced Placement (AP)
Students must submit the results of their Advanced Placement Examinations to the Office of Admissions. A score of three, four, or five may result in placement and/or credit in some programs.
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Fredonia accepts most, but not all, examinations for credit toward graduation. Students must score at the fiftieth percentile in order to receive credit; some exams require a higher score. Students who have earned more than 60 college credits may earn credit for CLEP Subject Exams but not General Exams.
International Baccalaureate Exams (IB)
College credit will be given for Higher Level (HL) exam scores of five or higher. In addition, some academic programs may offer university credit for an HL exam score of four. Students who have earned an IB Diploma may be awarded a maximum of 30 credits.
Cambridge International Exams
Students who have earned a C or higher on the Advanced Subsidiary Exams (AS Level) and/or the Advanced Level Exams (A Level) may earn college credit.
Students may not earn duplicate credit for both a college course and a proficiency exam for the same subject area. For example, students cannot earn credit for US history by taking both the AP US History Exam and a college course in US History. Credit by Examination is considered transfer credit and does not factor into the student’s overall GPA.
Credit by Demonstration of Knowledge/Skill
Students may also earn credit by demonstrating to a faculty evaluator that they have the knowledge and/or skills that would be provided by a particular course or are suitable for general elective credit. The course/experience in question will not be one in which the classroom process itself is an important focus, as it is in courses dependent on small group discussion, group or collective problem-solving, laboratory experiments, or group projects.
Evaluation of prior knowledge and/or skills might include portfolio review; the successful completion of a challenge exam; an oral interview or examination; or a skill simulation or demonstration. Credits for demonstrated knowledge and/or skills earned through any prior learning method do not fulfill the university’s residency requirements.
The best method to evaluate a student’s prior learning will vary across programs and disciplines.
Therefore, any department that wishes to accept CPL towards a degree program will need to establish their own guidelines and processes and submit them to the Director of Curriculum and Special Programming and the Office of the Provost for approval. Campus considerations and suggestions for such guidelines can be found here.
Fredonia will accept up to 12 undergraduate credits earned by demonstration of knowledge/skill towards graduation and up to six (6) graduate credits. Credits earned through a demonstration of knowledge/skill come into Fredonia as transfer credits with no specific grade assigned. No more than 25% of the credits towards any Certificate or Advanced Certificate earned at Fredonia may be acquired via any form of CPL. Credits will appear on the student’s transcript with a “grade” of TR and will not impact a student’s GPA.
If a student has already earned CPL via demonstration of knowledge/skill at another institution and wishes to apply for more CPL via demonstration of knowledge/skill at Fredonia, Fredonia has the right to request records from the previous institution to prevent duplication of credit.
Fees Associated with the Award of Credit via Demonstration of Knowledge/Skill
Students will be assessed a fee according to the number of credits of this type they apply to bring in. Students can find the fee schedule here.
All decisions regarding CPL via demonstration of knowledge/skill - whether it is awarded, partially awarded, or denied - must be accompanied by the faculty member’s written report that explains the methods and standards used to assess the student’s knowledge/skills.
Maintaining Records:
Records of credit for prior learning will be maintained according to practices established in the SUNY records retention and dispositions schedule.
Transfer of CPL to Other Institutions:
SUNY Fredonia cannot guarantee that credit offered for prior learning will be acceptable to other colleges or universities if you should transfer elsewhere.