Special Credit Students

Special credit students are defined as students who wish to enroll in a curriculum course(s) but not pursue a degree, diploma, or certificate. Special credit students are not assigned academic advisors. For registration purposes special credit students may register on registration day as published in the Academic Calendar and semester schedules. Program advisors will assist students in selecting course(s) on registration day.

Transfer of Credit from Other Institutions

The Associate Dean of Records and Registration will review post-secondary transcripts of applicants for admission once an applicant is fully accepted. Transfer credit will not be granted for course work that is more than ten years old: however, students who wish to receive consideration for transfer credit for course work over ten years old may file an appeal in writing with the office of Records and Registration. The office of Records and Registration will address the appeal with the appropriate Associate Dean. The Associate Dean will return the appeal outcome to the office of Records and Registration within ten business days. The decision of the Associate Dean will be final. Only courses with a final grade of ‘C’ or higher will be considered for transfer credit. Some programs may require competencies for specific courses regardless of course age. (Please see particular program of study information.)

The College will accept transfer credits only from accredited institutions or internationally accredited foreign colleges. Transcripts from foreign colleges must have English translations and equivalencies to receive transfer credit at SCC.

In order to receive credit for program specific courses for readmission or admission with transfer credit, the applicant must successfully complete a competency exam and/or audit selected classes as designated by the program director.

The competency exam will test the applicant’s knowledge of material covered in classes that were successfully completed up to the point of withdrawal. Audits and/or competencies must be successfully completed in order to be considered for readmission or admission with transfer credit. Applicants will be given one opportunity to complete the competency exam(s) and/or audit(s) successfully.

Transfer of Credit Between SCC Programs

Credit less than ten years old earned in a previous degree program may be credited toward any new program upon evaluation by the Associate Dean of Records and Registration. Students changing from a diploma or certificate program to an associate degree program may request credit by examination in situations in which prior work or educational experience is indicated.

Transfer of Credit for Continuing Education Units

Courses granting Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will not be accepted as transfer credit in curriculum programs. Students may request a proficiency examination if they believe they are proficient in a subject where CEUs were granted. See the Proficiency Examination section of this catalog.

CLEP Credit

Stanly Community College awards credit to students who have passed certain College Board’s College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) examinations at an acceptable level. These tests may be taken prior to enrollment or after a student has actually begun studies at the College. The following table outlines the credit acceptance and course equivalency:

Advanced Placement (AP) Credit

The College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) sponsors an advanced placement program that enables high school students to complete college-level courses while still in high school. The CEEB examinations are offered in the high school by the Educational Testing Service (ETS).

Stanly Community College will grant credit for the Advanced Placement tests conducted by the CEEB. Successful completion of the exam (score of 3 or higher) is required for awarding credit. Students desiring credit must have their scores submitted to the Associate Dean of Records and Registration for evaluation.

Independent Study Classes

Classes not offered on the regular schedule but required for graduation may be offered as independent study classes. An independent study class cannot be granted for a class with a lab or clinic without permission of the appropriate divisional associate dean. If the student can attend the regularly scheduled lab or clinic but not the lecture portion of the class, then an independent study could be granted. Students may not enroll in more that one (1) independent study class consecutively. Independent study classes must be approved by the advisor, program head, and associate dean. Part-time instructors cannot initiate independent courses unless approved by the appropriate associate dean.

The following restriction will apply:

• A student must hold a 2.50 GPA before attempting to enroll in an independent study class.

Tech Prep Curricula/Advanced Placement for Earned High School Credits

In an effort to retain students and prevent duplication of instruction, the high schools in Stanly County along with Stanly Community College have designed a local College Tech Prep Articulation Agreement. In addition to the local agreement, Stanly Community College has accepted the statewide North Carolina High School to Community College Articulation Agreement, which allows high school students to earn credit for numerous courses at community colleges. The high school student needs to notify SCC about any college tech prep courses in which a B or higher was earned and a raw score of 80 or higher was received on the VoCATS.

For advanced placement procedures and a complete list of high school courses and their SCC equivalents, contact an area high school counselor or the Associate Dean of Records and Registration at SCC.

Quick Start and Career Start

Quick Start and Career Start programs are collaborative efforts between Stanly County Schools and Stanly Community College.

Through Quick Start, eligible high school students can complete a portion of their freshman year before they ever enroll in college. SCC offers a variety of social science, humanities, math, and science electives that will fulfill general education requirements of universities in the University of North Carolina System and those of most private institutions as well. High school students may take Quick Start classes tuition free. The classes are scheduled during the first and last periods of the high school day.

The Career Start program is designed for high school seniors who wish to complete a portion of an Associate in Applied Science degree while still enrolled in high school. Students may also complete selected College certificates in the Career Start program. Courses are offered during the first and last periods of the high school day. All classes will meet Associate in Applied Science degree requirements at SCC and other community colleges in North Carolina. Career Start courses are tuition free for high school students.

Additional information about the Quick Start and Career Start classes may be obtained by contacting high school guidance counselors or the SCC Admissions Office.

Credit By Examination

Students who feel they are proficient in a subject may request to take a Credit by Examination. Students completing the exam successfully will receive a grade of "CE" on their permanent transcript. No quality points will be awarded, consequently, the GPA will not be affected. The academic standards for the credit by examination will be commensurate with the academic standards for the course. Students requesting a Credit by Exam must have an active application on file at Stanly Community College. A maximum of five (5) courses may be awarded Credit by Exam.

The following will not be eligible to attempt a Credit by Exam:

• Students who earlier attempted a Credit by Exam for the same course
• Students requesting a Credit by Exam after the deadline
• Students who previously received a grade of "A," "B," "C," "D," "F," "I," or "W" for the course in which a Credit by Exam is requested

Procedures for Credit by Examination:

1. The student must request to take a Credit by Examination at least thirty days prior to the beginning of the semester in which the course is offered. The request must be submitted using the Credit by Examination Request Form . The student portion of the form is to be completed by the student and forwarded to the appropriate dean representing the division in which the course is taught.
2. After receiving the request, the exam administrator will evaluate the request to determine:

• if the student has previously attempted a Credit by Exam for the same course
• if the student is attending or has previously received a grade of "A," "B," "C," "D," "F," "I," or "W" for the same course
• if a Credit by Exam is offered for the particular course
• if the student has satisfied all prerequisites for the course
• if the student is registered in the course for the upcoming term

If the student is approved to take the Credit by Exam, the exam administrator will indicate such on the Credit by Exam Request Form and notify the student of the test date, time, and location. The exam administrator will likewise notify the student if he/she is not approved to take the exam. The decision of the exam administrator is final.

3. Prior to the exam, the student must remit a non-refundable payment of $25 for each exam to the college's business office at either campus location. The student will receive a receipt for payment which must be presented at the time of the exam.

4. At the time of the exam, the student will present (1) a receipt showing payment for the exam and (2) a photo I.D.

After completing the Credit by Exam, the student will receive results from the exam administrator. The exam administrator will submit a copy of the Credit by Exam results to the Associate Dean of Records and Registration who will enter them in the student's record. The exam administrator will drop the student from the course if the student is registered for the same course in which he/she successfully completed a Credit by Exam.

It should be noted that other colleges may or may not grant transfer credit for courses completed at Stanly Community College under the credit by examination process.