Still difficulty with DETC degree Acceptance

Price is not the issue here at all. I can take community college credit to Wharton. Would that not be "something for nothing" by your definition? Funny you should mention Penn, because I live in Philadelphia. I was admitted to their College of General Studies based largely on my CLEP work transferred to TESC. And let me be perfectly honest, I passed several CLEP's without having a CLUE about the subject. Principles of Management anyone? I just applied what common sense I could come up with - and got a score in the 60's.

The fact is that RA schools have been refusing NA transfer credit without ANY reason other than "it's not RA". Having taken RA and NA credits, I can say without a doubt that SOME of my NA coursework was MORE challenging and relevant than SOME classes taken at a top 50 B&M. In fact, I had to sit through what I consider to be flat out incompetence in one of those RA courses. We can debate what schools will or will not do all day long. At least admit the transfer of NA courses should be based on the MERIT, NOT "it's not RA". And that's all the law is trying to accomplish - to make schools take an honest look at NA coursework. I am fully convinced if that is done, they will find the majority of NA credits academically equivalent.

 

I'm certain that some NA credit is equal in rigor and content to RA credit, the American Council on Education (a neutral, third party) assures me of this through their evaluation process. Absent this, all I have to assure me of NA quality are the NA accreditors, the NA schools and students of NA programs. Not a lot of objectivity in those groups, I'm sure you will agree.

What bothers me is the notion that the Regional Accreditors and the RA colleges and universities must, for some reason, be prohibited from determining their own standards. Good greif! A degree from any accredited school assures a certain level in the quality of an education. It is up to the accreditors to assure a minimum quality and it is the job of the school to surpass that minimum. A school should not be forced to compromise thier own education standards for the sake of a minority that got NA credits but are not happy with getting an NA degree.

You're argument, that RA schools refuse NA credits based exclusively on them being NA, is probably true. This is likely just a bad habit, reflecting not enough insight into NA schools or their rigor. What I think might surprise you is, once RA schools are required to look at NA schools for transfer, how few courses will pass muster. I'm speculating, of course, but I think this will lead to NA and for-profit, DL-RA credit exclusion. It will remain the schools perogative what to accept and what to reject, after all.

 

Well, we will have to wait and see!

 

Indeed. Good luck Vincey, I see from your posts elsewhere that you're doing very well for yourself. Keep up the good work.

Best wishes.

 

The University of Washington has for many years refused to accept DANTES, CLEP, and physical education credits. This has had no bearing on its accreditation whatsoever.

Accreditation only serves to establish minimum requirements; individual schools are free to set the bar as high as they wish.

 

In high school I was told multiple times that the University of California system had to accept credits from the California community college system. I went to the local community college for three years. During that time I was told at least a dozen times and saw in writing that the University of Califonia had to accept the community college credits. UC Berkeley accepted just a little over 2/3 of my community college credits. This was a case where both colleges were RA and in the same state and both public schools. If someone thinks that the law is really going to change significantly what NA credits are accepted at RA schools both private and public then I think they are being unrealistic. As Daniel states, schools are free to set their own standards.

 

Daniel - I have to agree - schools have a lot of lattitude on what they accept.

As for NA and RA - While I don't doubt that some NA programs may offer the rigor of some RA schools, I have to believe (having taught at several schools in both worlds) that on average NA schools are a step below the average of RA schools.

Also, just to add to the conversation - part of the issue in transfer credits has been a question of transfer courses "matching" content in another school. Rather than argue that another school's course work is "inferior" schools can simply point out that course coverage is "different". Hence, if you want to transfer credit in a calculus course the receiving school can simply point out that the courses covered "different" material and, hence, can't be accepted in transfer.

Regards - Andy

 

I know this is an old thread, but can anyone tell me what the result was of this law? Because it seems to me that nothing has really changed. In general, most RA schools won't take NA credits or degrees (I know my school won't).

 

Oh My God...this is a 6 year old thread (sorry Ted - I beat you to it).

 

The more things change the more they stay the same.