Transfer Credit Information

The Review Committee, chaired by the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, is comprised of 1) faculty members appointed by the Provost, 2) the Academic Standards Committee of Faculty Senate, 3) individuals from student affairs appointed by the Dean of Students, 4) the University Registrar, and 5) liaisons who represent the university’s educational alliances. In their review and deliberation, the Review Committee members consider the following tenets:

• Transfer of course credits and other credit must reflect the academic integrity of the Franklin degree.
• The University is committed to facilitating student success by assuring that students are prepared to do the upper-level coursework required for the awarding of the baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees.
• Franklin applies the guidance of higher education agencies such as the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE), and the American Council on Education (ACE) in developing transfer policies.  The ODHE work done on transfer and articulation in Ohio for Ohio state assisted institutions is a key component of University policies and procedures regarding transfer and articulation.
• At students’ request, the University evaluates educational work and occupational experience to assure those experiences, when appropriate and relevant, can be used to meet degree requirements.
• The Review Committee engages in periodic and systematic reviews of the transfer credit function and considers these tenets in its review and deliberation process. 
• Based on these aforementioned tenets, the Review Committee makes recommendations to the Senior VP for Academic Affairs who then recommends consistent transfer policy and procedures to the university President.

The Review Committee is responsible for requesting and reviewing research studies from the office of Institutional Effectiveness to assess the extent to which transfer and non-transfer students are successful in Franklin coursework and in achieving program-specific and general education outcomes. The Review Committee will review, meet, and update as needed.

Ohio Department of Higher Education 
Like all institutions of higher education, accepts transfer credit from regionally accredited institutions of higher education and applies that credit to the various degree programs. As stated by ODHE, “the determination of the acceptance of transfer credit and the determination of the application of transfer credit to graduation requirements and specific program or major requirements are to be treated separately by the receiving institution within the stipulations of this policy” (Ohio Department of Higher Education, Transfer Policy).  Because most Franklin graduates have transfer credit from one or more institutions, the Office of Transfer and Articulation reviews transfer credit requests continuously and maintains an extensive database of courses and their comparability and applicability to University/Enterprise courses. 

Ohio Department of Higher Education Course Equivalency Standard 
The ODHE equivalency standard focuses on the match of learning outcomes to articulate specific levels of learning mastery.  Franklin Enterprise, in developing course equivalencies and comparabilities, uses the 70% industry standard of ODHE, along with course descriptions, syllabi, textbooks, and other more traditional processes in determining comparability. 

Bilateral Articulation Agreements
ODHE defines bilateral articulation agreements as the written agreements that are reached between individual colleges and universities or between a postsecondary institution of higher education and another postsecondary institution of learning, which detail course equivalency, program-to-program linkages, and undergraduate requirements.  Franklin Enterprise maintains bilateral articulation agreements, particularly for the Community College Alliance, and will continue to maintain those agreements as described in Section 3 of this manual. 

Transfer Module
The Transfer Module is a subset or a complete set of a college’s or university’s general education requirements that represents a body of knowledge and academic skills common to Ohio’s colleges and universities. For Ohio’s state assisted colleges and universities, a transfer module completed at one institution is accepted in total by another institution. The Transfer Module contains 36-40 semester hours (54-60 quarter credit hours) of course credit. Additional information from ODHE about the transfer module can be found at http://www.ohiohighered.org/transfer/policy/definitions Department of Higher Education, Appendix C). 

Franklin Enterprise accepts the Transfer Module from all of Ohio’s colleges and universities, and equivalent models from schools outside of the state of Ohio.

Regional Accreditation
The Ohio Department of Higher Education guidelines and requirements that govern the acceptance of transfer credit define transfer credit as college-level courses from Ohio institutions of higher education which are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission or other regional accrediting commissions which have been recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). For the purposes of the ODHE policy, institutions accredited by national or professional agencies which are recognized by CHEA, but not also accredited by a regional accrediting commission, will be considered non-accredited. Transfer credit may be granted for courses taken at non-accredited institutions, and faculty considers such credit on a course-by-course basis if deemed appropriate. (See Section 3 of this manual for the awarding of transfer credit from non-accredited institutions and organizations.)

Recognition of Associate’s Degrees
ODHE has established policies to encourage the completion of the associate’s degrees. Individuals who have earned A.A., A.S. or Applied Associate degrees with an overall GPA of 2.0 or better, receive transfer credit for all college-level courses which they have passed. Pass/fail courses, Credit by Examination courses, Experiential Learning courses and other non-traditional credit courses which meet these conditions will be posted to the record and will appear on the student’s transcript. 

Franklin University offers both associates and bachelor’s degrees and recognize successfully completed A.A. degrees, A.S. degrees, and Applied Associate degrees from other colleges and universities. The process for accepting and applying technical credit gained as part of Applied Associate’s degrees is further explained is outlined in detail in the Office of the Registrar. 

College-level Coursework
College-level coursework is defined by ODHE as a course that 1) is not remedial or developmental, 2) carries one or more credit hours, and 3) is eligible to count toward graduation at the sending institution. These courses are taught at an institution of higher education for which credit is granted toward a particular degree(s). These courses are taught at an intellectual and content level which goes beyond courses taught at the high school level. For the purposes of the ODHE policy, the sending institution determines which courses are college-level and thereby eligible for transfer to a receiving institution.

Franklin Enterprise has adopted ODHE’s definition of college-level coursework, however, University faculty reserve the right to determine whether a course applies to a degree program.  

Passing Grades
As of Fall 2005, Ohio public institutions of higher education accept and apply all undergraduate transfer coursework with a letter grade of D or higher as the institution would for a native student under the business rules and academic policies of the receiving institution. This policy was adopted to ensure the equitable treatment of transfer students with native students across Ohio’s public institutions. The 1990 Ohio Articulation and Transfer Policy section which requires the acceptance of all college level courses which students have passed (“D”) remains in effect for all students. This policy does not override institutional admissions standards and/or requirements of entrance into a specific academic program. Consistent with the spirit of the policy, there is no universal minimum grade or quality points for the acceptance of credit and thresholds for this are set by institutional policy. 

Franklin Enterprise has institutional policies that incorporate portions of the Transfer of D Grades Policy of the Ohio Department of Higher Education. (See Appendix C.)

Course Numbering
Because of variance in the curricular design and course numbering among two-year and four-year institutions, the division of upper and lower courses is not always clear and absolute. ODHE suggests that there must be latitude for exceptions to the ODHE guidelines. For example, faculty may consider a community or technical college course equivalent in nature and content to an upper division university course. In this instance, faculty could accept the course as upper division credit. Courses may be deemed comparable in content and learning outcomes, regardless of their lower and upper division status. The University adheres to ODHE guidelines which encourage accepting the course at the level at which it is taught at the receiving institution.

Course Length
If the credit from a course with fewer hours is at least two-thirds of the course with greater hours, the course should be deemed comparable in length. For example, a two-semester hour course may not be comparable to a four-semester hour course, according to ODHE guidelines.

Free Electives
ODHE guidelines define a free elective as college level courses taken for credit outside of specific university, collegial or departmental degree requirements. The University classifies General Education electives and Free Electives, as University Electives in its degree requirements. 

Adult Career-Technical Education
“The language in section 3333.162 of the Ohio Revised Code requires the Ohio Department of Education to develop policies and procedures ensuring that students at an adult career-technical education institution or secondary career-technical education institution can transfer agreed upon technical courses completed there (that adhere to industry standards) to any state institution of higher education ‘without unnecessary duplication or institutional barriers’ (Ohio Department of Higher Education, Background). Specific fields of study where course equivalencies are considered include nursing, information technology, and medical assisting. 

Franklin Enterprise accepts career-technical education programs and applies these credits to degree requirements in the completion majors offered by the university (Section 1: Degree Structure and Completion Degrees). Some coursework can be applied, course by course, if deemed equivalent by the faculty and according to ‘Accepting and Applying Transfer Credit’.   see Section 6: Purpose Statement of University Electives and the Role They Play 

Degree Structure, Completion Majors, and Technical Credit
Franklin recognizes the value of credit and knowledge obtained from adult career-technical education programs and applies this credit to degree requirements in the university’s undergraduate degree completion programs. The completion degree allows students to transfer coursework into a baccalaureate degree designed to complement their technical expertise. For example, students with an AAS degree in Law Enforcement can apply that degree toward a B.S. degree with a major in Public Safety Management. 

The completion degrees allow the students to extend their education into studies that build on their body of knowledge acquired in paraprofessional/professional programs of study. As is illustrated in the Flow Chart and Appendix B, up to 24 credit hours may be counted toward the students’ Bachelor’s degrees. The degree completion programs provide students with the theory and tools to support intelligent leadership practices in their professions. 

Placement and Assessment 
Admissions has a process for new degree-seeking students to take Franklin University placement tests in reading, writing, mathematics and computer literacy. Results of these tests determine if any remedial coursework is required.  Transfer students may have certain tests waived due to previous course credit at another institution.  Additionally, students who have taken college entrance exams, such as the SAT or ACT (scores valid for up to 2 years), and score at a certain proficiency threshold may be exempt from taking certain placement tests.  Admissions Advisors or Academic Advisors will advise students on the placement tests required, ways to prepare for tests, and appeal procedures.  
 

Transfer Credit Process Overview
Faculty have established a consistent process for accepting credit from institutions that are regionally accredited.

In describing the application of credit hours to degree requirements, the faculty evaluates the credit hours relative to the following degree areas: general education, the business or professional core, major area, major area electives, university electives, and/or technical coursework. The degree programs may vary in the number of credit hours required in these areas. The purpose of these degree areas is to have relevant transfer coursework appropriately applied to fulfill Franklin University degree requirements. (See the Academic Catalog for specific degree requirements.)

Courses evaluated by faculty for comparability are added to the Transfer Credit comparability database which holds course comparability determinations from more than 5,000 sources. The database continues to be revised and expanded as determinations are made. For students in the Community College Alliance (CCA) program, many course comparabilities have been systematically determined as described in Section 5 of this transfer manual. Course comparabilities are listed on the CCA Articulation Guides and are a tool for Admissions and Academic Advisors working with students. (See Appendix F.)

Initial Review Process
The faculty and Transfer and Articulation Review Committee have established the following procedures for accepting and applying coursework from regionally accredited institutions: 

1. Determine whether the sending institution is regionally accredited.
2. Review transcript to determine if it is a duplicate with no additional course work or a previously evaluated transcript with additional completed course work.
3. Determine the sending institution’s calendar system, and convert quarter credit hours to semester credit hours, as necessary (1 quarter hour = 2/3  semester hour).
4. Identify additional resources that may be needed (i.e., CCA Articulation Guide, ACE Guide).
5. Review legend from sending institution transcript to determine grades that are eligible for transfer.
6. Determine if any degree was granted from sending institution.
7. Exclude all courses with grades that are ineligible for transfer (i.e., failing grade, non-credit courses, etc.). Determine if any grades of D are eligible for undergraduate transfer (See Appendix 3: Transfer of D Grades)
8. Determine course comparabilities of remaining eligible course work.
   • Review pre-determined comparabilities from transfer credit database.
   • For courses without a pre-determined comparability, additional criteria are considered in an effort to determine comparability. (See Appendix D: Criteria for Comparability Consideration.)
9. If comparability is unclear after reviewing the Criteria for Comparability Consideration, one of the following steps is taken:
   • Under the guidance of faculty, the Office of Transfer and Articulation awards general credit based on the level of the course and area of study and notes on the evaluation that additional information is required for additional review (typically a syllabus).
   • A Credit Recommendation Form (Appendix G) is submitted with additional criteria as available to the appropriate faculty member(s) to request a determination of course comparability.

Appeal Process
The University offers students the opportunity to appeal any transfer credit decision to the appropriate faculty member(s).  To initiate the transfer credit appeal process, students are required to contact their academic advisor.  The process is as follows:

• The admissions or academic advisor works with the student to complete the appropriate sections of the Credit Recommendation Form (Appendix G) 
• The form and any additional information (syllabus, etc.) are forwarded to the Office of Transfer and Articulation where the information is verified to be as complete as possible.
• The evaluator, with the guidance and support of faculty, reviews and considers the additional documentation to determine if credit can be awarded as the student requested (See Appendix D: Criteria for Comparability Consideration).
• The faculty determines if the request is approved as submitted, approved as revised, or denied (in general or in the specific case).  If the request is denied, the faculty provides the reason for the denial. 
• The faculty returns the decision with attached documentation to the transfer credit evaluator.  
• The evaluator notifies the admissions or academic advisor of the decision.
• The evaluator enters the decision into the transfer credit database accordingly. The admissions or academic advisor notifies the student.

Decision Records
The documentation for reviewed course transfer equivalencies is retained in the transfer equivalency database as part of the University’s student information system for future reference. This documentation is retained to ensure consistency of standards for transfer credit evaluations. The transfer credit evaluation is emailed to the student, upon completion.
 

Non-Regionally Accredited Institutions
Franklin recognizes that quality academic offerings come from multiple sources. The faculty have established a process for reviewing coursework from non-accredited institutions, using the ODHE definition of those institutions not regionally accredited. Students who request credit from work completed at non-accredited institutions can submit a digital collection via The Learning Exchange or complete the Credit Review Form (Appendix E). 

Process for Non-Regionally Accredited Institutions

1. The student must provide the following information, which outlines the criteria for accepting the coursework:  Defined Learning Outcomes or Objectives, Description of Controlled Environment/Class Hours, Textbook Information, and a transcript, certificate of completion, or equivalency
2. The student submits the necessary information via The Learning Exchange.
3. The Learning Exchange will facilitate the Initial Review Process.
   • Determine if the prior learning has been evaluated according to ACE guidelines, National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS) recommendations, by another institution, and/or University Faculty
   • If the prior learning has not been evaluated, The Learning Exchange will collect the needed information to submit to faculty for review.
   • The Learning Exchange will 1) make a suggestion based on precedent and process for credit, and then 2) circulate the information electronically for review by faculty (and Dean if appropriate).  The credit is approved as submitted, additional information is needed, or denied.  If the request is denied, the faculty provides the reason for the denial to The Learning Exchange.  In some cases, additional information and/or clarification might be needed before a decision is made. 
   • The Learning Exchange notifies the academic advisor and the student of the decision.  If denied, suggestions are made regarding alternatives (ex: CLEP, FUPE, Portfolio Credit, etc.)
4. The Learning Exchange houses the documentation, the credit decision, and supporting documentation.  The decision will be noted, recorded, and all University resources updated.  The Learning Exchange will apply the credit to the student’s record as NC credit, for tracking and reporting purposes.  

University faculty, in reviewing the credit requests for coursework taken at non-accredited institutions, considers the review components required by other types of accrediting agencies. Appendix D: Criteria for Comparability Consideration lists the review components that the U.S. Department of Education requires accrediting agencies to consider. This appendix also identifies the components reviewed by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the National Program on Non-collegiate Sponsored Instruction (PONSI). Faculty considers that transfer credit from institutions and organizations recognized by CHEA-approved agencies is transferable. The University transfer process includes accepting coursework from CHEA-recognized institutions and organizations according to the transfer processes (on file in the Office of the Registrar).

In addition, transfer credit may be accepted for prior coursework and other experiences including tests, training seminars, and adult vocational training. These requests are handled on a case-by-case basis, use the Credit Review Form, are submitted to faculty for review, and documented in the appropriate departments and offices.

Exception Based Training Programs Not Accredited by a Body Recognized by CHEA
If prospective transfer students can demonstrate that the training program(s) they have completed are comparable to a vocational/technical program’s body of knowledge leading to a paraprofessional/professional specialization, the coursework may be acceptable as technical credit for a completion degree for transfer credit. The process used for evaluating vocational and technical programs is applied. 

Military Programs
Franklin University is a GoArmyEd partner and College of the American Soldier (ConAP) college. These programs allow military personnel to complete a two-year or four-year degree while they serve their country. 

Proficiency and/or Standardized Examinations
The University recognizes and accepts a number of proficiency examinations. If students are interested in using CLEP, DSST, Excelsior, or other exams, they work with the Learning Commons. The University uses the American Council on Education (ACE) minimum standards in determining college-level comparability for these exams. If a student receives credit as a result of a standardized test, the credit is added to the student’s transcript. This credit does not count toward student residency.

Portfolio Credit
The Portfolio Credit program is coordinated by The Learning Exchange, under the guidance of faculty.  Students prepare a portfolio, and credit decisions are made by the appropriate faculty member.  

Franklin University Proficiency Exams (FUPE)
Franklin awards academic credit based on faculty-created course-specific proficiency exams. These exams are available to students whose learning from experience, training, or independent reading is equivalent to that gained in the classroom. Students work with their academic advisors to identify any coursework for which FUPEs might serve as alternatives to classroom work. 

Residency Requirements Related to these Credits 
Information regarding proficiency exams and portfolios is in the University’s Academic Catalog. Proficiency examinations and portfolio credit may be used in any combination to accumulate a maximum of 44 credit hours toward the associate’s degree or up to 94 credit hours toward the bachelor’s degree. Credit awarded through proficiency examination or portfolio evaluation does not reduce the hours required toward residence.

International Student Transfer Credit 
Decisions regarding the transfer of credit from international institutions require an evaluation of the country’s educational system and often require a translation of the transcript. Decisions are guided by three documents approved by faculty and the Provost: Assessment of Authenticity and Nature of Credential for 1) International High School Equivalency, 2) International Undergraduate Students, and 3) International Graduate School Applicants. These documents deal with the assessment of authenticity and the nature of the credential, high school equivalency evaluation of a non-US credential, and the accreditation of the institution or program. The Office of Transfer and Articulation uses reliable resources including AACRAO’s EDGE, UNESCO’s International Association of Universities (IAU) online database, World Education Services (WES) online database, and a host of advisors and contacts from other universities both inside and outside the US. Many books have sections titled “Advice for Admissions Officers.” It is often necessary to ask the student to seek additional information which may include but is not limited to official translations from an independent third party of course descriptions, syllabi, etc., and to provide contact information to allow the Transfer and Articulation Office to verify the information provided by the student. These admission processes are important whether or not the student is applying for transfer credit. The three documents referenced here are available on the university’s intranet. 

If the students are applying for admission into a graduate program, a transcript evaluation is completed that includes computing the students’ GPAs and for consideration to the US system. 
 

The university has two types of educational alliances that are an integral part of its mission and success: the Community College Alliance (CCA) and GoArmyEd, a program that allows soldiers to continue their education while serving in the military. 

The Office of Transfer and Articulation, in reviewing transfer credit for CCA and GoArmyEd students, uses the university processes and procedures. There are some processes specific to these alliances. 

Definition of the Community College Alliance (CCA) and Articulation Guides
The university launched CCA in 1998 as a partnership between two-year technical and community colleges and Franklin. In this program, students complete their associate’s degrees and approximately 34 additional hours (bridge courses) at the community college. Students then complete a minimum of 30 hours at Franklin in one of the undergraduate majors. 

New Articulation Guides are built by the Office of Transfer and Articulation, which reviews course descriptions in the community college catalog, and compares them to the Franklin course descriptions. Any curricular change at Franklin or the community college impacts the CCA Articulation Guides, which are reviewed and updated annually by the Office of Transfer and Articulation. 

Definition of GoArmyEd and Installation Education Centers
 Active duty soldiers who wish to pursue college degrees can do so through their installation Education Centers. In addition to official college transcripts, the Office of Transfer and Articulation reviews military training and job experiences as outlined in the Joint Services Transcript (JST). 
 

For more information about our Community College Alliance partners, including a list of partner schools, click here.

Principles for Curriculum Transfer
The University acknowledges the complexity of the transfer credit landscape in American higher education. This complexity includes differences in semester and quarter hours, degree structures, outcomes specification, course calendars, and specificity in course materials presented for review. The faculty, in collaboration with the Registrar’s Office, has the responsibility to ensure all credit transferred into the university meets the academic standards set forth by the institution. 

There are many avenues by which credit can be transferred, accepted, and applied to programs of study. The University has incorporated the guidelines set forth by its authorizing body, the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE), regarding the transportability of college level credit to provide a consistent foundation for the transfer credit process. 

In efforts to assure maximum transfer of relevant college-level credit and to reduce the likelihood of students taking courses for which they have prior credit, the University articulates and collaborates with other institutions on curriculum transfer. Articulation agreements entered into with regionally accredited educational institutions express the desire for the University to work with the institution to assure transportability of the totality of relevant curriculum from the sending institution. The pathway through which courses are evaluated and identified for transfer is specified in the articulation guides that are created in partnership with the sending institution. The articulation guides document the match between the curricular outcomes and courses of the sending institution and those of Franklin Enterprise. Transfer guides are reviewed as needed to identify any changes of the curriculum, at either the sending institution and/or the University, and to ensure course transfer practices remain current and relevant. 

Franklin Enterprise also recognizes that the credit hours at the sending institutions may not fulfill the credit hour requirements in general education, the business or professional core, and major areas. When these credit hour differences occur, the student is permitted to make up those hours with appropriate related coursework. The University does not deny the transfer of appropriate credit and does not require students to retake individual courses which meet minimum hours. By maintaining academic integrity through this transfer policy and providing the needed services and value to students, Franklin Enterprise demonstrates dedication to and support of students’ prior learning and educational goals. 

Process for Determining if Prior Coursework is Transferable
The Criteria for Comparability Consideration (Appendix D) provides an overview of how college-level coursework and vocational-technical academic credit are accepted into the university’s degree programs, based on whether the coursework is delivered by an institution or organization that is regionally accredited or accredited by a body recognized by CHEA. The directory of CHEA recognized organizations is available at http://www.chea.org/directories/index.asp. 

The Transfer Credit Flowchart (on file in the Office of the Registrar) illustrates the visual decision path of how credit is reviewed and applied to a student’s official evaluation and degree audit at Franklin University. 

Transfer Minimums and Addressing Deficiencies
Transfer Minimums are an established minimum number of semester hours that a transfer student must have to meet the requirement for each course. Consistent with ODHE standards, the credit hour minimums are set at two-thirds of requirement. Specific calculations of credit hour minimums for Franklin are shown below.  

• 4 Semester Hour Courses = 2.67 Semester Hour Transfer Minimum 
• 3 Semester Hour Courses = 2 Semester Hour Transfer Minimum
• 2 Semester Hour Courses = 1.33 Semester Hour Transfer Minimum 
• 1 Semester Hours Courses = 0.67 Semester Hour Transfer Minimum 

Students may be deficient in credit hour requirements and degree components and can fill deficiencies in the following ways:  

1. General Education Core deficiencies must be fulfilled with general education coursework to meet the 36 hour requirement.  
2. Business Core deficiencies may be met with major area electives or business core equivalent credit.  
3. Major Area deficiencies must be met with major area electives.  
4. For students who have English as a Second Language (ESL): All developmental ESL courses must be completed. Students meet with their admissions advisor to discuss ESL placement test results. CCA students complete ESL at the community college. 

Applying credits to university electives. Each degree component has a specific number of credit hours that are required. If a transfer student has more than the maximum number of college-level credit hours applicable to that component, the additional hours may be transferred in as university elective hours.

Age of Credit. Program Chairs recommend standards for the age of credit that can be applied to courses in their disciplines.  These are on file with the Office of the Registrar.

Post-Master’s and Post-Baccalaureate Coursework
The University considers post-Baccalaureate and post-Master’s coursework an important part of a student’s educational journey.  Post-Baccalaureate coursework will be considered, for Transfer Credit toward a Master’s program.  Post-Master’s coursework will be considered, for Transfer Credit toward a Doctoral program.  Superintendent license holders and the EdD program are an excellent example.  Superintendents who have completed post-Master’s coursework as part of their Superintendent licensure program at an regionally accredited education institution could receive up to 15 semester hours (8 hours toward the PK-12 Educational Leadership concentration and 7 hours of electives).  

Maintaining the Transfer Course Database
The course database is reviewed on a regular basis and is updated as new courses are reviewed by faculty. The database entries are specific to a program year (fall through summer academic terms), and reviewed as needed.  The course title and course descriptions are reviewed first in determining comparability. The level of the course, prerequisites and subsequent courses are considered next in order to identify the role of a particular course in the curriculum. If there are questions regarding whether the course should be included in the database as specific course credit, general transfer credit, or not included in the database, the information about the course is submitted to the appropriate faculty or Program Chair for review. 

The information housed in the Transfer Course Database, is considered the University’s official record of credit decisions.  This information is also used for the purposes of the MyTransfer Credit, a Transfer Credit tool.  Students can 1) add credits, 2) add programs, 3) compare programs, and 4) save the information for reference later.  
 

The Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) and Transfer Advisory Council issued a policy on the Transfer of D Grades in 2005. That policy states that “as of Fall 2005, Ohio public institutions of higher education are to accept and apply all transfer coursework with a letter grade of D or higher as the institution would for a native student under the business rules an academic policies of the receiving institution. These business rules and policies may include, but are not limited to, such areas as effective course dates, age of coursework, requirements of a particular major or program, and eligibility” (Ohio Department of Higher Education, Appendix D).  In May and December 2005, the advisory council provided ten points of clarification for this policy. Some of these points are relevant to Franklin’s transfer policies and are noted below:

1. “This policy was adopted to ensure the equitable treatment of transfer students with native students across Ohio’s public institutions of higher education.” As applied to D grades, Franklin will treat transfer students as native students. 
2. “State-assisted colleges and Universities which offer D as the lowest passing grade are required to accept all college level courses with a grade of D or higher.” As Franklin offers D grades, the university accepts all college level courses with a grade of D or higher. 
3. Not at issue.
4. “While state assisted institutions are only required by this policy to accept D/D- graded courses from other Ohio state-assisted colleges and universities, they have the option to extend their policy to accept such course credit from other regionally accredited institutions.” Franklin will accept D graded courses from regionally accredited institutions. 
5. Not at issue.
6. Not at issue.
7. Not at issue.
8. Not at issue.
9. “This policy does not override institutional admission standards and/or requirements of entrance into a specific academic program.” Franklin does not have any institutional or program-specific admissions requirements to which this policy override would apply. 
10. “Consistent with the spirit of the policy and clarification 2, there is no universal minimum grade or quality points for the acceptance of credit and thresholds for this are set by institutional grading policy at the D or D- level.” Franklin applies this point of clarification to transfer of D grades.  (Ohio Department of Higher Education, Appendix D) 

Franklin University accepts transfer credit from 1) institutions that are regionally accredited as defined by ODHE and 2) institutions that are accredited by national or professional agencies accredited by a body recognized by CHEA. In addition, Franklin accepts technical/vocational credit from institutions that are accredited by agencies recognized by the US Department of Education (USDE). This technical credit may fulfill degree requirements of Franklin’s completion degrees. Recognition by USDE is based on a number of criteria for evaluation, as described below. Franklin considers that due diligence has been done and that the criteria for evaluation have been met by institutions accredited by an agency recognized by USDE. USDE criteria exceed those required by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the National Program on Non-collegiate Sponsored Instruction (PONSI).

Criteria for Evaluation

According to the USDE, the Secretary recognizes accrediting agencies who have demonstrated compliance with a number of criteria. As outlined in 602.16, “the agency must demonstrate that it has standards for accreditation, and reaccreditation, if offered, that are sufficiently rigorous to ensure that the agency is a reliable authority regarding the quality of the education or training provided by the institutions or programs it accredits. The agency meets this requirement if –

1. The agency’s accreditation standards effectively address the quality of the institution or program in the following areas:

(i) Success with respect to student achievement in relation to the institution’s mission, including, as appropriate, consideration of course completion, state licensing examination, and job placement rates.

(ii) Curricula

(iii)    Faculty

(iv)    Facilities, equipment, and supplies

(v)    Fiscal and administrative capacity as appropriate to the specified scale of operations

(vi)    Student support services

(vii)    Recruiting and admission practices, academic calendars, catalogs, publications, grading, and advertising

(viii)    Measures of program length and the objectives of the degrees or credentials offered

(ix)    Record of student complaints received by, or available to, the agency

(x)    Record of compliance with the institution’s program responsibilities under Title IV of the Act, based on the most recent student loan default rate data provided by the Secretary, the results of financial or compliance audits, program reviews, and any other information that the Secretary may provide for the agency.” (U. S. Department of Education, 602.16)

Because Franklin University accepts transfer credit from non-regionally accredited institutions, one of the first steps in reviewing applications for transfer credit is to determine whether the institution is accredited by an agency recognized by the USDE and CHEA. If the institution is accredited by an agency recognized by USDE, the next determination is whether the coursework is a) college level coursework leading to an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree or b) vocational/technical coursework leading to a certificate or diploma. College-level coursework may be applied to any component of the Franklin degree, including general education and coursework in the major. Vocational/technical coursework may be applied only to the technical component of the completion degrees. 

Credit from schools or organizations that are accredited by an agency recognized by the USDE are evaluated on the following criteria:

• Evidence of assessment
• Contact hours
• Syllabus

The components are listed in Appendix E: Credit Review Form.

Under certain circumstances, Franklin University also accepts transfer courses from institutions not accredited by an agency recognized by USDE. In such cases, the following criteria can be reviewed electronically via The Learning Exchange or by completing the Credit Review Form.

• Accrediting Agency
• Contact hours for the course/program
• Evidence of assessment
• Sample of Certificate/Transcript for Office of Transfer and Articulation
• Evidence of Consistent Quality
• Defined learning outcomes/objectives
• Textbook 
• Sample assignment
• Syllabus
• Instructor qualifications

Staff members have worked with students to complete the review process, worked with schools/organizations to complete the institutional review process, and worked with Program Chairs at Franklin to develop the evaluation sheet used to review institutions. 
 

Franklin University has developed completion majors that build on prior technical education at the associate’s or vocational/technical level and complement this background with management education. The first table below shows the number of credits required in each of the five components of the undergraduate degree. The second table shows how credit is transferred into the five components. Illustrated are the university’s completion degrees and, for comparison, the Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.  In the degree completion programs, 24 semester hours of technical credit applies toward degree requirements. The 24 hours are drawn from the business core (8 hours), the major area (8 hours), and the university electives (8 hours). 

Transfer credit from regionally accredited institutions and organizations may apply to any area of the degree requirements as determined by a comparison of course outcomes. Relevant credit from nationally accredited and vocational institutions and organizations is applied to the Franklin degree as technical credit and may apply for specific credit. In order to award technical and specific credit, the institution’s curriculum must meet our standards and the course or courses must meet Franklin requirements for depth and rigor.  

The information in the tables below reflects the fact that students must complete 30 semester hours of residency at Franklin, but the transfer student may transfer in as many as 94 semester hours of coursework. Bilateral agreements for colleges participating in the Community College Alliance, GoArmyU agreements, and transfer and articulation agreements for local technical and vocational training programs identify the credits which transfer and their application to the Bachelor’s degree programs. If an individual student seeks transfer credit outside the bilateral agreements, the Credit Review Form (Appendix E) is used to evaluate prior learning. 

The acceptance of credit from non-accredited institutions and the acceptance of vocational-technical credit are explained in the Flow Chart, Appendix A. 
 

Ohio Department of Higher Education.  (n.d.)  Appendix C.  Ohio Articulation and Transfer Policy.  Retrieved June 28, 2016, from http://www.ohiohighered.org/transfer/policy/appendices 

Ohio Department of Higher Education.  (n.d.)  Appendix D.  Ohio Articulation and Transfer Policy.  Retrieved June 28, 2016, from http://www.ohiohighered.org/transfer/policy/appendices 

Ohio Department of Higher Education.  (n.d.)  Appendix E.  Ohio Articulation and Transfer Policy.  Retrieved June 28, 2016, from http://www.ohiohighered.org/transfer/policy/appendices 

Ohio Department of Higher Education.  (n.d.)  Background.  Ohio Career-Technical Credit Transfer. Retrieved June 28, 2016 from http://www.ohiohighered.org/transfer/ct2 

Ohio Department of Higher Education.  (n.d.)  Introduction.  Ohio Articulation and Transfer Policy.   June 28, 2016 from http://www.ohiohighered.org/transfer/policy/overview 

Ohio Department of Higher Education.  (n.d.)  Transfer Policy.  Ohio Articulation and Transfer Policy.  June 28, 2016, from http://www.ohiohighered.org/transfer/policy 

U. S. Department of Education. (n.d.) 602.16 Accreditation and Preaccreditation Standards.   Financial Aid for Postsecondary Students. June 28, 2016, from http://www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/hearulemaking/hea08/34cfr602.pdf