The purpose for the Acceleration for Program Completion Procedure is enrolled students can utilize the following mechanisms to accelerate completion of their degree or certificate program of study in accordance with Florida State Statue and Florida State Board of Education Administrative Rules.
Students at the College may select from the following acceleration mechanisms; however, they may receive no more than a total of 45 credit hours through the combination of all acceleration programs or through any single acceleration program. Students must earn at least 25 percent of their credits in residence at the College in order to be awarded a degree by the College. Credit awarded by the College through an acceleration mechanism and termed "Institutional Credit," may or may not be accepted at other colleges or universities. Credit will not be awarded for examinations that duplicate coursework or other exam credits previously posted to a student’s academic record. This procedure outlines the process for determining whether coursework taken in a noncredit forum is equivalent to credit coursework.
Institutional credit earned at other institutions will be matriculated only by formal agreement(s) with the College. The credit must be identified on the student's transcript as Institutional Credit. The student is responsible for providing documentation of how such learning was evaluated and the basis on which such credit was awarded.
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College Level Examination Program (CLEP) - A series of tests developed by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and offered by testing centers throughout the nation. CLEP enables students to demonstrate their competencies in certain subjects and thereby earn college credit for particular courses without attending classes. To assist members of the community in taking advantage of this opportunity, the College serves as a CLEP national test center. Students interested in receiving college credit through the CLEP at the College must use the following procedures:
- Application to take an examination must be made directly to the College. Students should contact the Assessment Center for the proper forms or download the application from the College’s website (www.seminolestate.edu).
- Official scores from Educational Testing Services should be mailed to the Director of Enrollment Services, who will determine the number of credit hours to be awarded based upon state guidelines and the examination results.
- To receive maximum benefits it is suggested that students take advantage of this program prior to their initial registration.
- It is the student's responsibility to contact the senior institution to which they wish to transfer to determine the acceptability of CLEP credit.
- Gordon Rule courses given credit by CLEP shall be treated no differently from credit earned by students taking the course.
CLEP Registration Guides, which include application forms, are available in the the College’s Assessment and Testing Centers and the Assessment and Testing website. These Registration Guides also contain other pertinent information such as detailed instructions for completing the application, test fees, dates on which tests are given, and the method for reporting scores. This Registration Guide should be studied carefully before applying to take a CLEP test.
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The College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Program - The College cooperates fully with accredited high schools and colleges in the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board. AP courses are available to juniors and seniors in most Seminole County high schools. To qualify for college credit, students must earn a score of three (3) or higher on the nationally administered examination. The College needs an Official Grade Report in order to award credit. Students are awarded credits only; they are not given grades for AP courses and AP courses are not included in the grade point average..
Students are responsible for making test arrangements with the College Entrance Examination Board, P.O. Box 592, Princeton, NJ 08541. Students should contact their high school guidance counselors regarding the cost of examinations and verification of examination centers. Additional information can be obtained from high school guidance counselors or the College’s Assessment and Testing Center.
For additional copies of AP test results, write, AP Exams, P.O. Box 6671, Princeton, NJ 08541 or call, toll free 888-225-5427; or email apexam@info.collegeboard.org. There is a fee for AP copies.
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International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program - Students who successfully complete the International Baccalaureate examination with grades of four (4) or higher will be granted credit toward an associate degree. An official IB transcript is required and must be received by the College’s records' office directly from the International Baccalaureate Office in New York. Awarded credit will appear on the student's permanent record as earned credit only, without any indication of grades or quality points. Evaluations of IB examinations are made after the student has been admitted to the college.
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Defense Activity of Non-Traditional Educational Support (DANTES)
Examination/DANTES Subject Standardized Test (DSST)
Military personnel and former military personnel may request credit based on results of their DANTES examinations, including DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) after they have been admitted to the College.
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Excelsior College Examination Equivalents - Excelsior College Examinations (formerly known as Regents College Exams or the Proficiency Examination Program/PEP), are developed by Excelsior College using national committees of faculty consultants and national studies to assess how well the tests measure the performance of students in actual college courses. Excelsior College Examinations are approved by the American Council on Education and Excelsior College itself is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSACS). More detailed information about Excelsior College Examinations, including detailed test descriptions, can be found on-line at http://www.excelsior.edu. For official copies of the Excelsior or PEP exam call Excelsior College at their toll free number 888-647-2388 or write to: Excelsior College; Attention Business Office; 7 Columbia Circle; Albany, N.Y. 12203. There is a fee for transcripts.
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Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Examination Equivalents - The AICE program is an international, advanced pre-college curriculum and assessment program modeled on the British pre-college curriculum and "A-Level" examinations. Florida's public colleges and universities provide college credit for successfully passed exams. Students in Florida's public secondary schools enrolled in AICE courses do not have to pay to take the exams. More information can be found at (http://www.fldoe.org/flbpso/otherpubschopt/advinternational.asp).
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Credit for Industry Certifications - The Florida Department of Education has established state-wide articulation agreements for specified industry certifications. The College also has agreements for certifications that pertain to academic programs offered at the College, including Automotive, Child Care, Construction Management, EMT, Fire Science, Paramedic and Information Technology. Agreements are posted on the College’s Articulation Agreement web page at http://www.seminolestate.edu/articulation/listing.php.
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Statewide Articulation Agreements for PSAV to College Credit - The Florida Department of Education has established state-wide articulation agreements for completion of specified post-secondary adult vocational programs. Details are available on the FL DOE web site at http://www.fldoe.org/workforce/dwdframe/artic_frame_psav2aas.asp and the College’s Articulation Web page at http://www.seminolestate.edu/articulation/listing.php.
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Specified Credit earned while in military service - A student who has served continuously six (6) months or more of active duty in one of the regular military services (not reserve) may request college credit for training and experience in accordance with the recommendation of the American Council of Education. To receive such credit at the College, the request must be for similar courses offered at the College.
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Instructor created "credit-by-exam" - Credit-by-exam for a course is offered by some faculty in some departments. Evidence of proficiency in a subject area, when presented to the appropriate department chair, instructor, or director, may qualify a student to request an examination for credit, if available. Students should use the following procedures to request an examination:
- An application must be filed with the Office of Enrollment Services, signed by the instructor who is giving the examination, and by the department chair or director. The application must be submitted a minimum of four weeks before the last day of the term.
- A fee per course is charged, payable prior to taking the examination. The credit does not affect maximum load limitations nor affect part or full time status. Please see Fee Section in College Catalog for appropriate fee.
- A grade of "P" is assigned and the appropriate credit is awarded for an examination marked "passed." No other letter grade is assigned. Examination for credit does not affect grade point averages.
- Students must apply for admission to the College and complete at least one college level course before credit by examination can be posted to a student's permanent academic record.
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Early Admissions - Early Admission is a form of Dual Enrollment through which eligible high school students enroll into a postsecondary institution on a full-time basis in courses that count toward credit for a high school diploma and the Associate or Baccalaureate degrees. High school students who have completed the required 24 high school credits for graduation may enroll into a postsecondary institution for early admission. Early Admissions students shall be exempt from the payment of all application, registration, matriculation, laboratory, and textbook fees. To be eligible, students must submit appropriate test scores that meet course requirements and meet the following criteria:
- The student must have achieved at least a 3.0 cumulative unweighted high school grade point average.
- The student must have the recommendation of the high school principal or appropriate designated representative.
- The student must complete an application for admission to the College. Courses taken under early admissions are subject to the same requirements as dual enrollment courses.
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Dual Enrollment - Dual Enrollment is a program by which qualified high school students may enroll in college credit or vocational credit courses that apply toward their high school diploma. Students shall be exempt from the payment of all application, registration, matriculation, laboratory, and textbook fees. Once enrolled in a dual enrollment course, students may not withdraw. To be eligible students must submit appropriate test scores, which meet course requirements and meet criteria specified in the Inter-Institutional Articulation Agreement posted on the College’s Web site at http://www.seminolestate.edu/articulation/media/iaa-2009-final-signed.pdf.
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Career Pathways (formerly Tech-Prep) - College Credit for High School Coursework: This partnership program between the College and Seminole County Public Schools is designed to allow students to earn free college credit in technical areas that apply toward an Associate of Science degree or technical certificate. Students may also use this credit towards electives in the Associate of Arts degree. In Florida, the Career Pathways program ties directly to the Gold Seal Scholarship. High School and College faculty in the discipline review curricula to ensure required outcomes are met. Students then complete a defined sequence of courses in high school with at least a B average in the sequence and also pass the assessment to be eligible for college credit for corresponding courses at the College. To have the college credit posted to the transcript, students must enroll in and complete at least one college level class at the College within two years from the date of high school graduation. The student must also complete the College’s Request for Career Pathways Credit form.
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Formal articulation agreements with other educational institutions - A list of all agreements, including scanned copies of agreements, is available at the following Web sites:
- http://www.seminolestate.edu/articulation/college-credit.php
- http://www.seminolestate.edu/articulation/listing.php
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Formal Internal Articulation Agreements - Formal internal articulation agreements exist between some programs at the College. Students may check with appropriate department chairs, program managers and the Articulation Web page at http://www.seminolestate.edu/articulation/ for information.
