Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Manual

Introduction

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) is an academic process offering opportunities to earn college credit for demonstrated college-level learning acquired from experiences outside of the traditional classroom setting. Reynolds strives to provide students with CPL opportunities while still maintaining the academic integrity of its academic programs. CPL policies are consistent with Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) principles and with Virginia Community College System (VCCS) policy. The Reynolds Community College Credit for Prior Learning Manual describes mechanisms for obtaining credit for prior learning and provides procedures for granting the various types of credit available.

Other CPL credits outside of those listed in this manual may be evaluated by qualified discipline faculty. Please see your program advisor for assistance.  

Students interested in transferring to four-year institutions are advised to review the transfer institution’s policies and guidelines on the acceptance and awarding of CPL credits from Reynolds. Please note that the manner in which credit is accepted and/or applied varies by institution. 

The CPL Manual is updated annually and is effective as of the first day of the fall semester of each academic year. Prior learning submitted for credit will be evaluated according to the most current CPL Manual at the time documentation is submitted. 

Reynolds reserves the right to make changes to any provision or requirement within these sources, as well as changes to any method of credit for prior learning, whether during a student’s enrollment or otherwise. 

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General Procedures

CPL Types

• Credits from post-secondary institutions (i.e., transfer credit)
• Credit by exam (AP, IB, CLEP, or other exams)
• Credits earned from non-traditional program completion (e.g., certifications, professional licensure)
• Credit for learning obtained through professional work and other experiences (e.g., Experiential Learning Portfolio course)

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General Policies

• Students must be admitted to Reynolds to be eligible to apply for credit for prior learning.
• CPL credit applied to a student’s curriculum must adhere to the graduation residency requirement of Reynolds: 25 percent of the total number of credits for any academic program must be earned through courses offered at Reynolds.  
• Assessments by Local Examination (ABLE) are exams used to allow students to show their mastery of a particular course’s objectives. 
• Nationally standardized exams (e.g., CLEP, AP, and IB) are subject to the graduation residency requirement.  
• College credits are determined and awarded upon the recommendation of appropriately qualified teaching faculty to ensure that CPL experiences fall within the regular applicable outcomes of a course offered by Reynolds.
• A program’s academic dean or designee has final approval of CPL credits applied toward a student’s graduation requirements. 
• All accepted CPL credits will be acknowledged and recorded on the student’s permanent record, with the transferring agency identified. No unsuccessfully attempted CPL applications or examination results will be recorded on the student’s permanent record.
• No grades, scores, or grade points will be recorded on the student’s permanent record for credits earned through CPL.
• CPL is applicable only to Reynolds’ curricular requirements. Students are cautioned that CPL credit may not be accepted as transfer credit by other post-secondary institutions. Please consult the transfer institution for more information on their CPL policies.
• No CPL credit shall be awarded that duplicates course credit earned at Reynolds with a passing grade.¹ 
• Students who, after receiving an F, U, or W grade in a course at Reynolds, successfully demonstrate knowledge aligned to that course’s learning objectives through a CPL method² approved by Reynolds faculty may use the credit awarded for that course as a repeat of the course taken at Reynolds. Prior grades with quality points will continue to be factored into the student’s cumulative GPA.³ 
• Students are ineligible to reenroll⁴ a course for a grade improvement once the CPL has been officially recorded on their academic record. 

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Evaluation Process

The faculty role in assessing student learning outcomes for the purpose of awarding credit for prior learning is clearly defined in VCCS Policy 5.6.5.1. To ensure that coursework and learning outcomes are at the collegiate level and comparable to Reynolds courses, discipline faculty make the decision to award credit for any type of non-traditional learning after careful review. Reynolds does not award credit based on another institution’s or agency’s evaluations; all sources of credit will be evaluated based on Reynolds policies and guidelines. Post-secondary collegiate transcripts must have at least an 80 percent match to a course taught at Reynolds. In situations where the discipline faculty evaluates a transcript that does not have at least an 80 percent course match, students may be awarded elective (EEE) credit (e.g., MTH EEE).

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Recording CPL Credit

All accepted CPL credits will be recorded on the student’s permanent record, with the transferring agency or other source of credit identified. Reynolds will not record any unsuccessful CPL applications or examination results (grades, scores, or grade points) on the student’s permanent record. No grades, scores, or grade points will be recorded on the student’s permanent record for credits earned through CPL procedures. The student record will show a T instead of a letter (A-F) grade. Students are advised to check with their transfer institution regarding the implications of CPL credit reflected on a transcript.

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Limits on Amount of CPL Credit

• No formal limit on the number of credits that may be awarded for CPL; however, the amount of CPL credit awarded is regulated by discipline faculty and must abide by state law as prescribed by the state legislature, VCCS policies, and SCHEV policies. 
• CPL credits may not be used to fulfill the residency requirements for graduation; 25 percent of the total number of credits for any academic program must be earned through courses offered at Reynolds.

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CPL Evaluation Responsibilities

The responsibility for effective evaluation of CPL is shared among many faculty and staff at Reynolds. The Curriculum Committee at Reynolds formally represents the different disciplines and is responsible for consistent college-wide development, management, and implementation of CPL procedures.  

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Curriculum Committee Duties and Role Related to CPL

The Curriculum Committee reviews all requests for CPL and develops recommendations for acceptance and course credit equivalencies in conjunction with the faculty and in accordance with college policy. The Curriculum Committee also hears requests for new or revised policies and procedures for credit for prior learning.

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Procedure for Submitting Requests to Curriculum Committee

Faculty, administrators, and students can submit CPL proposals for the following reasons:

• New CPL opportunity
• Update to existing CPL
• Change a CPL procedure

These proposals should be submitted to the Curriculum Coordinator, curriculum@reynolds.edu. The Curriculum Coordinator will lodge proposals with the Curriculum Committee. Proposals should include: 

• Level of need for the CPL opportunity, usually supported by labor market data
• Effectiveness in advancing the Reynolds mission
• Responsible offices for implementation
• Information on the period in which the credit is valid
• Sample documentation that students should submit for the awarding of credit
• Proposals for new CPL and updates to existing CPL must include documentation showing how a course’s learning objectives are met through non-traditional learning.

If approved, the Office of the Registrar is informed of the changes and the CPL Manual is updated to reflect the change for the upcoming academic year.

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CPL Evaluation Contacts

Office of the Registrar 
Responsible for ensuring appropriate records relating to CPL are received and processed. In cases where there are faculty-approved routine procedures for awarding CPL, transcript evaluators are empowered to record these credits on the student’s transcript. Students can submit CPL documentation to registrar@reynolds.edu.  

Faculty and Advisors 
Discipline faculty can initiate requests for new CPL opportunities to the Curriculum Committee and are asked to review all policy recommendations for discipline-specific CPL credit. Advisors may recommend the use of electives to meet specific discipline requirements through substitution procedures. Advisors may also recommend that elective course credit be changed to specific course credit based on supplemental course descriptions that the student has obtained from their previous school. Requests for substitutions must be approved by the appropriate academic dean(s).

Academic Deans 
All policies and procedures regarding CPL are approved by the academic deans and department chairs responsible for the discipline where CPL credit will be awarded. Specific decisions about the student graduation requirements from a program, including CPL credit, are approved by the responsible academic dean(s) for the required course and the student’s program, and, if there is a conflict, by the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs.

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CPL Decision Appeals

To initiate an appeal of a CPL decision, based on an existing policy, students should contact their faculty advisor. The faculty advisor will forward the appeal to the appropriate academic dean, who will discuss the appeal with the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs. 

Students who wish to have new or revised CPL policies established must email their faculty advisor. The faculty advisor will forward the request to the department chair for review by faculty and, if the faculty supports the request, the request will be lodged with the Curriculum Committee for final determination. Students should be told that this process may take several months due to the rigor of Reynolds’ CPL policy revision process.

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Advanced Placement (AP) Exam

Administered by the College Board, the Advanced Placement (AP) program offers an opportunity for students to complete college-level coursework in high school. 

Refer to the tables for AP exam names, score(s) required to earn college credit, and corresponding course code and credit hours awarded. The accepted equivalency for credit and the needed passing score(s) may be different depending on the year a student completed AP testing and the year a student requests CPL credit for AP scores. Test equivalencies are reviewed annually by faculty and updated accordingly. 

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College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Exam

Administered by the College Board, the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) offers an opportunity for students to earn college credit based on their performance on certain exams that cover introductory-level college course material. 

CLEP exams are, generally, computer-based and contain multiple choice questions about the subject area. CLEP exams take 90-120 minutes to complete. Students are given their score immediately. Reynolds students who earned an appropriate score on certain CLEP exams are eligible to earn college credit. Refer to the table below for CLEP exam names, scores required to earn college credit, and corresponding Reynolds course and credits. The accepted equivalency for credit and the required passing score(s) may be different depending on the year a student completed CLEP testing. Test equivalencies are reviewed annually by faculty and updated accordingly.  

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International Baccalaureate (IB) Exam

The International Baccalaureate (IB) program provides high school students with an opportunity to earn college credit.

IB courses, syllabi, and exams can offer two levels of accomplishment: the Higher Level (HL) syllabus and exam include material that requires two years of coursework in the chosen subject area; the Standard/Subsidiary Level (SL) syllabus and exam include material that requires one year of coursework in the chosen subject area. Reynolds students who earned the appropriate score on IB exams are eligible to earn college-level credit. Refer to the table below for IB exam names, score requirements, and corresponding Reynolds course and credits. The accepted Reynolds equivalency and the required score for credit may be different depending on which year the student completed an IB exam and when a student submits a request for credit. Test equivalencies are reviewed annually by faculty and updated accordingly.  

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Other Exams

Reynolds awards college credit for faculty-approved national exams listed in this section. The instructional content of these standardized examinations is evaluated by Reynolds faculty who determine course equivalency.  If you do not see an exam listed here or in other sections of the CPL Manual, please consult your program faculty.

Certified Manager (CM) Program Exam

The Certified Manager (CM) Program is sponsored by the Institute of Certified Professional Managers and founded by the National Management Association. The Institute is a business center of the College of Business at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. CPL is available, effective Spring 2006, for students who take the exam and meet the conditions reflected in the chart.

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DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)

The DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), administered by Prometric, were created under the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support program to provide college credit to military service members. These exams were made available to military and civilian examinees in 2006. Reynolds awards specific course credit to students who pass DSST exams with a minimum score of 400, as recommended by the American Council on Education. Reynolds students who earn the appropriate score on DSST Exams may be awarded college-level credit. Refer to the table below for DSST exam names, required scores, and corresponding Reynolds course and credits. 

Requests for additional CPL credit for DSST Exams not shown here should be sent to the student’s faculty advisor, who will submit the request to the Curriculum Committee.   

► More information: getcollegecredit.com

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Excelsior College and UExcel Exams

Reynolds recognizes the Excelsior College and UExcel Examinations (formerly ACT Proficiency Exam Program (PEP)). Credit is awarded in accordance with the recommendations of the American Council on Education (ACE): acenet.edu/credit.

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Certification of Computing Professionals: ACP and CCP Exams

Reynolds awards credit for students who provide an ACE transcript showing successful completion of the Associate Computing Professional (ACP) Exam or the Certified Computing Professional (CCP) Exam within the past 10 years. Students who pass both exams will be awarded no more than nine credits of IT electives.

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New York University (NYU) Foreign Language Proficiency Exams

Reynolds students who have completed New York University’s (NYU) Foreign Language Proficiency Exams may be eligible for CPL credit. This CPL credit option is intended for students educated in a language other than English and are interested in earning college credit for their native language. Reynolds will accept the 12-point exam for World Language 201 and 202. Scoring of this test can take up to eight weeks and the scores are valid for five years. Students must take the exam at a designated location in the U.S., if not taking it at NYU. Credit is awarded based on the ACTFL efficiency scale. Students are given two hours to complete the 12-point exam that evaluates listening, reading, and writing skills.

Students receiving credit for a 201-level and/or 202-level language course should discuss meeting degree requirements with an academic advisor or program head. 

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Assessment by Local Exam (ABLE)

Assessment by Local Exam (ABLE), exams prepared by Reynolds faculty, provide opportunities to receive course credit by demonstrating course competencies acquired through prior education or other experiences. These exams may have background requirements. Students must contact the department offering the exam to determine eligibility.    

Credits earned through ABLE exams do not count towards the Reynolds residency requirement and may or may not transfer to other institutions of higher education.    

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Student Development (SDV) ABLE Exam 

• Students who enter Reynolds with advanced study skills and knowledge of college processes may be eligible to take the SDV ABLE exam
• First-time college students below the age of 24 are ineligible to take the exam in their first year
• Students who have earned a grade in SDV are ineligible to take the exam
• The SDV ABLE exam may be taken once and is made available through Canvas
• Students will receive a score at the end of their exam
• Credit will be recorded, if appropriate, on the student’s permanent record
• Check with appropriate academic department to determine if the SDV ABLE exam fulfills SDV 101 requirements

If a student takes the ABLE exam while enrolled in the SDV course and wishes to use the exam results to fulfill the course requirement, it is the student’s responsibility to drop the course before the Census Date for a full tuition refund, or no later than the last day to withdraw without grade penalty. Students are encouraged to review the Academic Calendar and consult a faculty advisor or counselor before deciding to drop a course.

Send inquiries to humanities@reynolds.edu and include:

Full Name
Reynolds student ID number
Expected graduation date  
Do you require accommodations?*  
*If yes, please include a copy of your current Memorandum of Accommodation (MOA)  

Students will receive an email from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences confirming their eligibility with the instructions and password to access the test in Canvas.

This assessment adheres to the rules and principles outlined in our Reynolds Student Handbook: Academic Integrity. Reynolds expects students to complete work on their own and not utilize any resources outside of the test itself. These guidelines will provide the best results for determining a student’s abilities in college-level coursework. 

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Information Technology Essentials (ITE) 152-Introduction to Digital Literacy

Students in programs requiring ITE 152 can satisfy this course by passing Reynolds’ computer competency exam:

• Students must purchase an access code from a Reynolds bookstore or online
• Students not passing the computer competency exam may retake the exam once

If a student takes the exam while enrolled in the ITE 152 course and wishes to use the exam results to fulfill the course requirement, it is the student’s responsibility to drop the course before the census date for a full tuition refund, or no later than the last day to withdraw without grade penalty. Students are encouraged to review the Academic Calendar and consult a faculty advisor or counselor before deciding to drop a course.

This assessment adheres to the rules and principles outlined in our Reynolds Student Handbook: Academic Integrity. Reynolds expects students to complete work on their own and not utilize any resources outside of the test itself. These guidelines will provide the best results for determining a student’s abilities in college-level coursework. 

► More information at Reynolds.edu: Testing Center 

► Contact the Testing Center: Parham Road, 804-523-5411 or Downtown Campus, 804-523-5470

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Post-Secondary Institutions

Transfer Credits from Accredited Institutions

Reynolds accepts transfer credit for college-level courses completed at an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and verified through receipt of an official transcript. 

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Transfer Credits from Non-Accredited Institutions

Credits earned at post-secondary institutions without accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education do not transfer to Reynolds even if the institution is accredited through a different commission such as a national accrediting organization or specialized and professional accreditors.

However, in some cases where a post-secondary institution offers specialized educational opportunities (culinary institutes, etc.) and the institution is empowered by a state to award associate degrees or above, Reynolds faculty may pre-approve the recommendation to award equivalent transfer credit for courses within a specific discipline. 

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Transcript Evaluation Process

Reynolds accepts credits from other accredited U.S. colleges and universities for which a student has earned a grade of C or better. To have such credit evaluated, students must:

• Submit an official transcript from the previous institution
• Ensure placement in the degree plan of their choice

An official transcript is one that has the seal of the institution or testing organization, the signature of an official of that institution or organization, and must be received in a sealed envelope from the originating institution that has no overt sign of having been opened or otherwise disturbed. Official transcripts may be mailed directly from the transferring institution to the Office of the Registrar, P.O. Box 85622 Richmond, VA 23285-5622 or sent electronically to registrar@reynolds.edu.

Transfer courses are posted only if applicable to the student’s degree plan on record at the time of the request. Applicable credits will be transferred in with consideration given to elective courses requiring faculty review to be substituted for a direct course equivalency. Transferred courses are available to view in students’ MyReynolds accounts within two to four weeks of the Registrar’s Office receiving the transcript(s).  Evaluations completed in the order of receipt.  We are unable to accommodate on-demand or expedited requests.  Plan accordingly and submit materials as early as possible.  Processing times may be longer during peak periods (including weeks preceding the start of a new semester) due to the volume of requests received.

Students should send their transcripts before or during their first semester at Reynolds so that the transcript is evaluated in a timely manner. Reynolds does not award credit based on another institution’s evaluations; all sources of credit will be evaluated based on Reynolds’ policies and guidelines.  

The evaluation of transcripts is intended as a service to students pursuing academic programs at Reynolds, and is not intended as a means for credentialing students or providing documentation for job promotions, etc.

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Required Grades

Generally, only courses earning a grade of C or better will be accepted for transfer credit.

Courses earning a grade of P (for a Pass/Fail course) and with the designation CR (for credit), may be accepted for transfer if the transcript indicates that credit hours have been awarded and if the transcript states that the P grade is the equivalent of an A-C (not D) grade. Courses graded with a Pass may be placed on the transcript for later use; they will be applied to the student’s program within two weeks of the Registrar’s Office receiving the transcript(s).

Students interested in transferring to four-year institutions are advised to review the transfer institution’s policies and guidelines on the acceptance and awarding of Pass/Fail credits from Reynolds. Please note that the manner in which credit is accepted and/or applied varies by institution. 

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Natural Science Course with Separate Laboratory

For courses with separate lecture and laboratory grades, a C (not C-) average or better must be earned in order for credit to be awarded. Failing grades are not accepted for averaging. If a student has received a grade of F in either the lecture or the laboratory, the course will not be accepted. Grades are averaged using the course’s credit hour value. However, the portion of the course that received a passing grade may be accepted for elective credit and combined with the missing portion if taken from Reynolds or another college.

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Information Technology, Computer Science, and Science Transfer Credit Limits

Transfer credit for Information Technology and Computer Science courses more than 10 years old are not routinely accepted. Exceptions must be approved by the Dean of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

Transfer credit for science courses more than 10 years old is not awarded in Nursing, or other Health Science programs. 

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SDV Transfer Credit for Students with Previous Degrees

Students who have graduated with an associate, baccalaureate, or higher degree from an accredited U.S. institution of higher education are considered to have fulfilled Reynolds’ SDV requirement and should submit an official transcript for evaluation to be awarded credit.  

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International Transcripts

Students who have earned college credit from universities outside of the U.S. must have their credit evaluated by an international credit evaluation agency before submitting it to Reynolds. Reynolds accepts international transcript evaluations from any member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES):

• Students may only submit one evaluation during their academic career at Reynolds
• Students must submit their original transcripts to one of these organizations and pay for the course-by-course evaluation
• Reynolds cannot guarantee the quality or outcome of the evaluations

Once Reynolds receives a copy of the evaluation, appropriate transfer credit will be awarded and posted to the student’s record unless Reynolds needs additional information.

In certain instances, a student may be given elective (EEE) credit and will be responsible for providing coursework, syllabus, reading lists, and/or any other necessary documents from courses taken outside of the U.S., if required by the appropriate discipline’s academic dean or department chair at Reynolds.

Students who apply with previous coursework completed at an accredited college or university in a foreign nation whose language of instruction is English (e.g., Canada, England, Australia, etc.) will receive full transfer credit for coursework with an equivalency to ENG 111 and/or ENG 112 where applicable. The student is responsible for providing Reynolds with a transcript that has been evaluated by an international credentialing service that is a member of NACES.  

Students who apply with previous coursework completed at an accredited college or university in a foreign nation whose language of instruction is not English will receive transfer credit dependent upon the student’s ability to pass the Virginia Placement Test (VPT) or other equivalent placement testing used by Reynolds. If the student is placed into ENG 111 after successfully completing the placement test, the student will be given ENG 111 and/or 112 based on the evaluation. The student is responsible for providing Reynolds with a transcript that has been evaluated by an international credentialing service that is a member of NACES.

► More information: naces.org

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Credit from Credentials or Certification

Reynolds awards credit for industry-standard certifications, credentials, and/or professional courses. Licenses, credentials, and/or certifications must be current and valid for consideration. For more information regarding the status of a certification and its eligibility for credit, see an advisor or faculty member in the discipline area that awards CPL. Students may be awarded credit based on recommendations from the American Council on Education (ACE) or from the National College Credit Recommendation Services (NCCRS). Courses or programs offered by employers, professional organizations, and other agencies may be eligible for CPL credit if those courses or programs have been approved by Reynolds faculty. New CPL opportunities not represented in this manual should be submitted to the discipline department chair and/or school dean.

School of Business and Industrial Trades

Source

• Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)

Notes

• Students must present current ASE certification for CPL credit and documentation of two years work experience 
• AUT credit only awarded for the General Automotive degree, not the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) major

Source

• Virginia State Police

Notes

• Students must present a copy of the original, current state inspector’s license

Source

• VA State Police Academy OR
• Regional and Independent Certified Training Academy OR
• Crater Training Academy

Required Documents

• Personnel history report showing date of hire, certification status, and certification date
• Academy transcript showing completed scores for sections learned during their time in the academy
• Original copy of certificate of graduation from the academy

Source

• Environmental Protection Agency

Notes

• Students must submit a 10-hour General Industry Safety and Health Card with trainer’s name and date of issue
• Certification must be current and issued within five years

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School of Health Professions

Sources

• American Heart Association OR
• American Red Cross

Notes

• Credit awarded upon presentation of current AHA or ARC, BLS card

Sources

• National and/or Virginia EMT Certification AND
• American Heart Association OR
• American Red Cross

Notes

• Credit awarded upon presentation of original and current certifications to EMT Department Chair

Sources

• National and/or Virginia EMT Certification AND
• American Heart Association

Notes

• Credit awarded upon presentation of original and current certifications to EMT Department Chair

Sources

• EMT- Intermediate
• ACLS
• AMLS
• PHTLS
• EPC
• PALS

Notes

• Credit awarded upon presentation of original and current certifications to EMT Department Chair

Sources

• Nationally Registered Paramedic and/or Virginia Paramedic Certification

Notes

• Credit awarded upon presentation of original and current certifications to EMT Department Chair

Notes

• Credit awarded upon presentation of original and current certifications to EMP Department Chair

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Source

• Council for Professional Recognition (CPR)

Notes

• Students must submit proof of active and verified credential from the Council for Professional Recognition

Source

• The Early Childhood Endorsement Program

Notes

• Students must submit proof of an active Preschool endorsement

Source

• The Early Childhood Endorsement Program

Notes

• Students must submit proof of an active Infant and Toddler endorsement

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School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math

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Credit Earned from Military Training and Courses

General Information

Reynolds will review a student’s military training, courses, and occupational specialty for college credit. Military-affiliated students, who are current or former Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, or Navy personnel can submit their Joint Services Transcript (JST) for evaluation of credit.

The Office of the Registrar evaluates the JST and credits may be awarded for military training and skills that are applicable to the student’s degree program as recommended, eligible for academic credit for a course taught at Reynolds, and recommended by the following entities:

• American Council on Education (ACE) Military Guide
• Virginia Community College System (VCCS) Credits2Careers portal
• Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services
• Approved military transcript evaluators

► Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) is accredited and credit may be awarded for courses on a CCAF transcript.

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Military Course Equivalencies

Military training and skills should be equivalent to Reynolds courses. If a service member has questions regarding training-related credits versus their degree requirement applicability, they should contact their program faculty for more information about possible course substitutions.

The appropriate academic dean must approve the application of CPL credit toward a graduation requirement for military training in a career-technical area that is 10 or more years old. In cases of conflict, course requirements as stated in the Reynolds Community College Catalog supersede any other requirements.

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Credits2Careers Portal

Credits2Careers (C2C) is a personalized virtual counseling tool that provides military-connected users with a real-time estimate of credits that may be awarded from military education, experience, and training. This estimate is not a guarantee; military transcript evaluators at Reynolds will review potential course credits once all required documents are submitted. 

► More information: Credits2Careers

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Basic Training

Students who submit a military transcript or DD214 showing completion of basic training may be awarded CPL credit toward a Physical Education Elective (PED EEE) if required in the student’s program. 

► Request a military transcript

► Request corrections to a military transcript

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Credit Earned from Professional Training and Online Courses

Professional training programs may be eligible for CPL. Such programs may include courses offered through the workplace (e.g., corporations, government agencies, professional associations, or unions) or specialized training programs evaluated and approved for college credit by Reynolds faculty and the Curriculum Committee. Reynolds faculty may recommend that CPL credit be awarded based on the evaluation of professional training programs by the ACE or NCCRS. Review of the services for applicable training programs and courses are conducted annually and updated accordingly. New CPL opportunities not listed in this manual should be submitted to the discipline department chair and/or academic dean.  

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Experiential Learning to Academic Credit Portfolio Development

General Information

Reynolds’ Experiential Learning to Academic Credit Portfolio Development course provides college credit to students who have acquired significant knowledge outside of a traditional classroom setting.

Sources of prior learning can include, but are not limited to: 

• Formal workplace training as part of the student’s employment and/or other skills learned on the job
• Extensive volunteer and/or civic duties completed
• Completion of non-credit courses
• Certificates or licenses required for professionals in the student’s occupation
• Other major life experiences.

A student may be eligible to earn college credit if the student’s educational background, occupational background and/or life experiences parallels the completion of objectives required by a given Reynolds course. To assess the extent of alignment between a student’s major life experiences and the requirements of a given Reynolds course, the student must complete and submit an experiential learning portfolio (one portfolio for each course for which the student is requesting credit).

Components of Experiential Learning Portfolio

The process of preparing an experiential learning portfolio requires extensive writing. 

Each portfolio consists of seven parts:

• Cover letter, a formal request from the student to challenge a specific course with a brief description of their career history
• Chronological record, a short synopsis of year-by-year major events in the student’s adult life
• Life history paper, an introduction of the student to the faculty evaluator, including a summary of lifetime accomplishments
• Goals paper, a document that helps the student focus and shows the faculty evaluator where the student plans to go in the short- and long-term future
• Narrative of competencies, a description of where learning took place, and a very detailed description of that learning based on the course content summary
• Copy of the course content summary for which credit is requested
• Documentation of each statement made of major accomplishments and learning experiences (job descriptions, transcripts, letters of verification, performance evaluations, pictures, audio and video, samples of work produced, computer programs written, etc.)

To be eligible for CPL, students must complete this process and provide data in the portfolio for each course for which the student is seeking credit.  

Evaluation Process

The associate dean or other responsible college administrator will assign each portfolio to an appropriate faculty member. Credit is awarded based on the recommendation of the faculty member. If credit is awarded, the student will receive a P grade for the course. The experiential learning portfolio method is subject to the Reynolds graduation residency requirement and students will be awarded no more than 25 percent of their graduation requirements through this method. 

The faculty portfolio evaluator will review the submission and may recommend that credit be awarded for the course requested, OR recommend that credit be awarded with additional development and/or verification requested, OR recommend the denial of credit. In addition, the faculty evaluator may recommend changing the department and/or course title on the submission if the faculty feels another department or course is more appropriate and better aligns with the evidence provided in the experiential learning portfolio. If revisions are needed, students will have an opportunity to revise their submission and resubmit. Once a portfolio is assigned to an evaluator, review and recommendation is completed within two weeks.  

Appeals Process

Students will be allowed two weeks to appeal an Experiential Learning Portfolio decision. Students are granted one appeal per portfolio submission. Appeals must be made to the assigned faculty evaluator’s dean. All appeals will be reviewed by the dean of the faculty member, the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, and the faculty evaluator within 90 days. Students will be informed through their VCCS email of the final decision. 

Posting of Credit

If credit is awarded, the Office of the Registrar will post credits to the student’s record within 4-6 weeks. The credit will appear as a P grade for passing next to the course associated with the experiential learning portfolio and approved recommendation from the faculty evaluator. The P grade is equivalent to a C or better. 

Residency Stipulation

Credit earned through the experiential learning portfolio method may not be used to meet the residency requirement for graduation. Reynolds’ residency requirement for graduation states that 25 percent of the total program requirements must be completed at Reynolds. 

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Definitions

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) is a practice institutions use to award college credit for demonstrated competency and mastery through learning that has taken place outside their institution. Students may be assessed using various methods to determine the degree to which the learning outcomes of a particular course or courses have been met; this could be through an industry standardized certification test, written assessments, oral interview, a project, performance, or other methods by which an appropriately qualified faculty member determines. At Reynolds Community College there are four broad categories where students earn credit for prior learning: (A) Credits from Post-Secondary Institutions (e.g., Transfer Credit); (B) Credit by Exam (AP, IB, CLEP, or Other Exams); (C) Credits Earned from Non-Traditional Program Completion (e.g., Certifications, Professional Licensure, etc.); (D) Credit for Learning Obtained Through Professional Work and Other Experiences (e.g., via Experiential Learning Portfolio Course).

Advanced Placement (AP) Exams - Administered by the College Board, AP Exams are the culmination of year-long, university-level academic learning through courses offered in high school. Exams are scored on a scale of 1-5, with five representing extremely well qualified and one representing no recommendation for college credit. According to VCCS policy 5.6.5.1, Virginia community colleges are required to accept AP scores of three or higher.

Assessment by Local Exam (ABLE) - Institutionally administered, these are customized subject exams developed by an institution’s faculty in the content area to verify learning achievement. ABLE is also known as a challenge exam.  

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Exams - Administered by the College Board, CLEP Exams offer an opportunity for students to earn college credit based on assessments of introductory level college course material.  Generally, CLEP exams are computer-based and contain multiple choice questions about the subject area. CLEP exams take 90-120 minutes to complete.

Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) - CCAF was established to meet the educational needs of airmen. CCAF is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Since it is accredited, credits come in as college transfer credits.

Competency-Based Education (CBE) - Instruction designed to demonstrate proficiency in a subject through mastery of specific competencies rather than learning through a time-based system. This is not offered at Reynolds; however, students who have taken credits from another school should refer to a different method of eligibility for credit for prior learning.

Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) - Produced by the Defense Language Institute and used by the United States Department of Defense (DOD), this is a battery of foreign language tests.

DSST (formerly, DANTES Subject Standardized Tests) - Originated by the United States Department of Defense’s Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) program, these are credit-by-examination tests.

Experiential Learning to Academic Credit Portfolio Development - the credit for prior learning portfolio method may award college credit to a student who has acquired significant knowledge outside of a traditional classroom setting.  A student may be eligible to earn college credit if the student’s educational background, occupational background, and/or life experience parallels the completion of objectives required by a given Reynolds course.  

International Baccalaureate (IB) Exams - IB Diploma Program offers students opportunities to enhance learning in subjects through three core components: theory of knowledge, extended essay, and CAS (creativity, activity, and services). IB courses, syllabi, and exams can offer two different levels of accomplishment: Higher Level (HL), generally 240 hours of instruction, requires two years of coursework in the chosen subject area and includes a syllabus and exam material; Standard/Subsidiary Level (SL), typically 150 hours of instruction, requires one year of coursework in the chosen subject area and includes a syllabus and exam material.  

Military Joint Services Transcript (JST) - Military training, coursework, and education usually found in a Joint Services Transcript (JST) is translated into civilian language to describe work history. The JST covers the following military branches: Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy. Air Force training and coursework are documented through Community College of the Air Force transcripts.  

Military Occupation Code (MOC) - MOC is a set of characters to identify a military service member’s occupational specialty.

On-the-Job Training/Cooperative Education - A structured method of synthesizing academic and career/technical instruction to produce documented learning of knowledge, skills, and competencies from hands-on work experience for academic credit.  The experiential learning portfolio method may fulfill this requirement for some programs.  

Professional Licenses/Certification - Industry-recognized credentials include: all occupational licenses and registries provided by state or national professional boards and industry certifications from a valid third party. Reynolds faculty members evaluate these professional licenses or certifications and align them with learning objectives to determine which Reynolds course(s), if any, is equivalent to the certification.

¹Grades of A, B, C, D, P, and S are passing grades at Reynolds. A grade of C or above is required for transfer of credit from other institutions. Reynolds courses with a grade of X (Audit) are ineligible for CPL.

²CPL opportunities approved by Reynolds faculty are in the CPL Manual for the current academic year. CPL methods include, but are not limited to, transfer courses, nationally recognized credit by examination programs, industry certifications, and military/employer training.

³CPL does not have quality points assigned, so the cumulative GPA will not be affected. Students are awarded grades of T or P for CPL.

⁴After credit is recorded for an approved CPL method to replace a course taken at Reynolds, reenrollment for a grade improvement is not permitted.  

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Disclaimer

Links or references to other materials or websites provided in the above-referenced sources are also for information purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of the products or services referenced. Reynolds does not guarantee information contained within the manual, including, but not limited to, any page that resides under the Domain Name System (DNS) registration of reynolds.edu, is up-to-date, complete, and accurate. Individuals assume any risks associated with relying upon information without checking other credible sources, (e.g., a student’s academic advisor). In addition, a student or prospective student’s reliance upon information contained within these sources, individual program catalogs, or handbooks, when making academic decisions does not constitute, and should not be construed as, a contract with the College.

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