Non-Traditional Education Programs

1400.350 NON-TRADITIONAL EDUCATION (NTE) PROGRAMS PROCEDURE

Wenatchee Valley College encourages flexibility, innovation and independent study in the education process. Students can use NTE programs to earn credit outside the classroom setting. For more information, contact the student access office or consult the WVC catalog.

A. COLLEGE-LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM (CLEP)

Students may receive credit through the subject area College-Level Examination Program according to the following guidelines:

1. The CLEP score must be at the 50th percentile or above.
2. A maximum of 15 credits earned through CLEP exams may be applied to any WVC degree.
3. No more than 10 CLEP credits can apply to a distribution area (humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences).
4. A maximum of 5 CLEP credits can apply toward the English Composition 101 graduation requirement.
5. CLEP credit is not allowed if credit has been received for a more advanced course.
6. At least 15 credits must be earned at WVC before CLEP credit is posted to a transcript.
7. CLEP exams may not be repeated to earn credit.
8. CLEP credit will not affect the GPA.
9. CLEP credit does not count toward the 30-credit residency requirement for graduation.
10. A fee is charged to record CLEP credit on a WVC transcript. Check with the admissions office for further information.

B. COLLEGE BOARD ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP)

The College Entrance Board Advanced Placement Program allows high school students to earn college credit for high school work. Students usually take high school honor classes to prepare for the national AP exams given at the end of the school year. Advanced placement exams are offered in a number of disciplines. Credit for these exams is offered under the following conditions:

1. A score of 3, 4, or 5 must be attained on the AP exam. Five college credits are granted for a score of 3 or 4, and 10 college credits are granted for a score of 5. For English Composition and exams, only scores of 4 or 5 are accepted at Wenatchee Valley College.
2. A maximum of 15 credits earned through AP exams may be applied to any WVC degree.
3. No more than 10 AP credits can be earned in a single distribution area (humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences).
4. A maximum of 5 AP credits can apply toward the English Composition 101 graduation requirement. Check with the WVC English department for acceptable placement scores.
5. AP credit will not affect the GPA.
6. At least 15 credits must be earned at Wenatchee Valley College before AP credit is posted to a transcript.
7. AP credit does not count toward the 30-credit residency requirement for graduation.

C. COURSE CHALLENGE

Challenge credit is earned by demonstrating proficiency in course requirements. The appropriate academic department establishes the method of determining proficiency, usually a comprehensive exam. A list of courses that may be challenged is available in the admissions office. The following guidelines apply to course challenge:

1. At least 15 credits must be earned at Wenatchee Valley College before challenge credit is posted to a transcript.
2. Challenge credit does not count toward the 30-credit residency requirement for a WVC degree.
3. Challenge exams may not be repeated to earn credit.
4. Challenge credit is not allowed if credit has been received for a more advanced course in the same discipline.
5. A maximum of 15 credits earned through course challenge may be applied to any WVC degree.
6. No more than 10 challenge credits can be earned in any distribution area (humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences).
7. A maximum of 5 challenge credits can apply to the English Composition 101 graduation requirement.
8. Course challenge credit does not usually affect the GPA. Each academic department has the option of deciding the grading format for the awarding of course challenge credit.
9. Challenge credit from other institutions is accepted in accordance with WVC institutional and departmental guidelines.
10. A fee is charged to record challenge credit on a WVC transcript. Check with the admissions office for further information.

D. CREDIT FOR MILITARY EXPERIENCE

Wenatchee Valley College follows the American Council on Education (ACE) Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services as a basis for awarding credit for military experiences. These guidelines apply to any type of approved military experience:

1. No more than 15 credits earned through military experience may be applied to any WVC degree.
2. Credit will be awarded for DANTES or USAFI course exams for a score at or above the 50th percentile. 5 credits will be awarded to veterans who bring in a DD214 with an honorable discharge.
3. Equivalent credit, but not excess credit, is given for military exams that parallel specific WVC courses. For example, if 10 credits of management can be earned at WVC, no more than 10 credits of management will be awarded for military experiences. No credit is given for military experiences that have no equivalent in the WVC curriculum.
4. Military experience for baccalaureate credit (300-level work and above) is not accepted at Wenatchee Valley College.
5. Military credit does not count toward the 30-credit residency requirement for any WVC degree.
6. Military exams may not be repeated to earn credit.
7. At least 15 credits at WVC must be completed before military credit is posted to a transcript.
8. A small fee is charged to record military credit on a WVC transcript. Check with the admissions office for further information.
9. Credit for military experience will not affect the GPA.

E. TECH PREP

Tech Prep is a statewide program that allows students to begin preparation for a specific professional/technical field while still in high school. After leaving high school, the student can continue his or her program of study at WVC utilizing Tech Prep credits. WVC has Tech Prep articulation agreements with several district high schools. The following guidelines apply to the program:

1. Tech Prep credit is first recorded on the high school transcript, and then later entered on the college transcript.
2. The number of credits awarded is dependent upon the articulation agreement between WVC and the participating high school.
3. A small fee is charged to record Tech Prep credit on a WVC transcript. Check with the tech prep coordinator for further information.
4. Tech Prep credits are not intended to be transfer credits. It is the responsibility of the student to check with the intended transfer school regarding the transferability of these credits.
5. Tech Prep credit does not apply to the 30-credit residency requirement for any WVC degree.

F. COOPERATIVE WORK EXPERIENCE (CWE)

Cooperative work experience is a way to earn college credit through on-the-job experience in your chosen field. The program offers students a way to combine classroom study at WVC with related work experience under the supervision of an employer. Work experience, paid or voluntary, must be related to educational and career objectives.

1. A student must meet with the CWE coordinator to determine eligibility before enrolling in the program.
2. One CWE credit requires 50 hours of appropriate work experience.
3. Regular registration policies and tuition rates apply to CWE credits.
4. CWE credit does not affect the GPA.
5. The CWE coordinator will meet with the student and employer on the job site as part of the evaluation process for CWE credit.
6. No more than 10 CWE credits may be applied to any WVC degree.

G. INDEPENDENT PROJECTS

Independent study is based upon a contract established between a student and an instructor. The student may do projects such as independent research, reading, and writing under the supervision of a sponsoring instructor. It is the student's responsibility to complete the terms of the contract as outlined by the instructor. The following procedures must be followed to be eligible for an independent study contract:

1. To be eligible, a student must have completed 45 credit hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 at Wenatchee Valley College. The appropriate administrator must approve any waivers of this requirement.
2. A maximum of 5 credits in independent projects can be earned in one quarter, and a maximum of 15 credits can be applied to any WVC degree.
3. The contract must be signed by the sponsoring instructor and the appropriate administrator before enrollment. Independent project forms may be obtained from the admissions office.
4. Regular registration policies and tuition rates apply to independent study credits.

H. DIRECTED STUDY

Directed study allows a student to complete an established WVC course through independent study rather than in the classroom. This benefits the student who needs a class that isn’t offered during a particular term or at a time when attendance is impossible. The course will cover the same objectives and produce the same learning outcomes as if the student had attended the regularly scheduled class. A contractual agreement to fulfill course objectives is established between the student and the instructor before registration. The following guidelines apply:

1. To be eligible, a student must have completed 45 credit hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 at Wenatchee Valley College. The appropriate administrator must approve any waivers of this requirement.
2. A maximum of 5 credits in directed study can be earned in one quarter, and a maximum of 15 credits can be applied to any WVC degree.
3. The contract must be signed by the sponsoring instructor and the appropriate administrator before enrollment. Independent project forms may be obtained from the admissions office.
4. Regular registration policies and tuition rates apply to independent study credits.

I. CREDIT BY ASSESSMENT

1. Credit by assessment allows student in certain technical-professional programs to earn credit for work experience or prior learning. Students apply for credit by developing a portfolio of documented work experience/prior learning related to their chosen program of study. The assessment and approval or denial of credit will be done an evaluation team consisting of:
   1. The appropriate program administrator.
   2. The chief student services officer or designee.
   3. A member of the curriculum committee.
   4. At least one person with expertise and experience within the appropriate industry. This representative(s) may or may not be an employee of WVC.
2. The portfolio may include documentation such as certificates of completion, school records, employment records, military records, and letters of reference. The petitioner or any member of the evaluation team may request that the petitioner appear before the group. Other guidelines that apply to this type of credit:
   
   1. At least 75% of the technical-professional credits required for graduation must be earned through traditional coursework. The remaining 25% of the credits may be earned entirely through credit by assessment or through some combination of the NTE programs listed in this policy document.
   2. This limitation does not apply to related courses required for graduation such as mathematics and communications classes. These classes are generally not designated as technical or professional and do not qualify for credit by assessment.
   3. At least 15 credits at WVC must be completed before assessment credit is posted to a transcript.
   4. Credit by assessment will not affect the GPA.
   5. Credit by assessment does not count toward the 30-credit residency requirement for graduation.
   6. A fee is charged to record credits earned through this program on a WVC transcript. Check with the admissions office for further information.

Approved by the president’s cabinet: 8/23/05
Presented to the board of trustees: 9/21/05
Last reviewed: __/__/__
Procedure contact: Student Services

Related policies and procedures
400.350 Non-Traditional Education Programs Policy