SUBJECT: Credit by Examination

PURPOSE: Allows the student to gain credit for a college course by taking an

oral, written, performance examination or any combination of the

three.

REGULATION: Clackamas Community College grants credit for most courses

when a student passes an examination prepared by the

department which offers the course.

CONDITIONS:

1. Departments determine which courses may not be challenged. (See Appendix A.) The general philosophy of the College is to make as many courses open to Credit by Examination as possible.

2. Each department will be responsible for writing challenge exams and updating them as necessary. The department will determine grading options (letter grade, pass/no pass, or both) for each course which may be challenged.

3. Courses may be challenged by written examination, performance examination, oral examination or any combination of the three. Written and performance examinations are preferred.

4. For all types of examinations documentation will be kept for one year by the instructor giving the exam. Documentation will include:

a. written questions and answers

b. description of the performance and the evaluation of it

c. for oral exams the list of questions asked and the evaluation of the answers and how the course grade was determined

5. A student must be registered for and complete a minimum of three credits at the college during the quarter in which a class is challenged. Failure to complete at least three credits will invalidate the challenge exam. No refund will be given.

6. Once the exam has been taken, the grade will be recorded on the student’s permanent record. Once the grade is recorded, the course may not be challenged again.

7. No more than 24 credits can be used to satisfy degree requirements by way of challenge and/or credit for prior learning. No more than 12 credits can be used to satisfy one year certificate requirements by way of challenge and/or credit for prior learning.

8. An instructor has the right to refuse to give challenge exams after the end of the seventh week of the term. In order for the challenge grade to be posted on the transcript in the current term, the grade must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office before the end of the eighth week. Grades received after the eighth week of a term will be recorded on the permanent record of the succeeding term.

Credit by Examination (cont.)

9.1.9. Departments and divisions must insure that challenge exams are evaluated, a grade assigned, and paperwork completed within two weeks of the date the exam was taken. Any challenge exam taken after the end of the sixth week must be evaluated and graded and sent to the Registrar by the end of the eighth week to be recorded on the permanent student record in the current term. There is a per credit hour fee for all students. Fees must be paid prior to taking the challenge exam. Any money paid to challenge a test will be refunded if the test is not taken and the student requests a refund. Instructors will be paid per course for processing, evaluating, and/or administering the examination.

10.10. Any exceptions to challenge conditions must be approved by the appropriate Dean.

APPROVALS:

College Council: August 10, 1994

College Council: October 5, 2001

College Council: April 15, 2005