SUBJECT / Advanced Standing
Revision to policy
Appendix B: Request for Advanced Standing Form
BACKGROUND
If a student has, through extensive work experience or study, gained the knowledge or skills normally taught in a course, he/she may request the opportunity to demonstrate his/her competence with a view to obtaining credit.
Documentation or diagnostic assessment is required to determine the student's eligibility to gain credit.
POLICY
NorthernCollege will grant advanced standing in a program under certain conditions.
REFERENCE
Mobility and Transferability Protocol For College Transfer (Appendix A)
PROCEDURE
A student may qualify for advanced standing through one of the following means:
(a)Course already completed at NorthernCollege;
(b)Transfer Credit;
(c)Challenge by Examination;
(d)Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR).
Note:Students must complete a minimum of 25% of the program at Northern College.
1.Course(s) Already Completed at Northern College
(a)Students may not need to repeat courses successfully completed.
(Refer to Academic Policy #A-11–Interruption of Studies)
(b)To have the credit recognized in the new program, the student meets with the Coordinator who will verify the course equivalency and complete the Request for Record Amendment form. This form must be submitted to the Registrar's Office or Student Services nolater than three (3) weeks from the ‘Last Date to Apply for Advanced Standing’ as stated in the Academic Calendar. Minimum grade requirements and currency of curriculum will be considered in the decision.
(c)There is no fee for this.
(d)The grade achieved in the original course will be calculated in the GPA.
2.Transfer Credit
Transfer of credits from Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology and other public colleges and universities will be considered on a course-by-course basis. Transfer credits will be granted when, in the opinion of the College, the work covered is equivalent in objectives and evaluation standards to the corresponding course of study at Northern College.
(a)Application for transfer credit must be made by the student by the ‘Last Date to Apply for Advanced Standing’ as indicated in the Academic Calendar. Request for Advanced Standing form and applicable fee information are available from Student Services. (Ancillary Fee Schedule also available at A maximum of $100.00 for five (5) or more courses per year shall be paid at the time of application.
(b)Each application must be supported by an official transcript and course outline/description, provided directly to the Office of the Registrar, from the former college or university. Credit may be given for courses in which a student earned a grade of “C” or at least 60 percent or better. In some programs, the student will require a higher grade, as indicated in the departmental policies.
(c)Upon receipt of all documentation, the student’s application will be forwarded to the appropriate Coordinator for faculty evaluation. The evaluation will be completed within three (3) weeks from the ‘Last Date to Apply for Advanced Standing’ as indicated, by semester, in the Academic Calendar.
(d)Once the evaluation has been completed, the Coordinator will return the student’s application to the Office of the Registrar; a Record Amendment form need not accompany this form. The Transfer Credit is recorded as "TC" on the student's transcript and will not be factored into the Grade Point Average.
(e)No transfer credits will be given for courses used to meet the initial admission requirements of the College program.
(f)STUDENTS ARE ADVISED TO ATTEND CLASSES IN THE COURSE UNTIL A DECISION IS MADE.
The College will also help students pursue their education at a higher level or transfer to another college.
3.Challenge by Examination
"Exam" is as defined in the course outline. Each faculty member will determine whether or not the course may be challenged by examination.
Students who feel they have the required knowledge (through audit, informal studies, OACs, experience, etc.) to address the course outcomes may apply for challenge by examination by completing the following procedures:
(a)Request for Advanced Standing form and applicable fee information must be obtained from Student Services and the applicable challenge exam fee must be paid.
(b)The date for completing the challenge will be determined by the faculty member, respecting the dates outlined in the Academic Calendar for those students currently enrolled in the course they wish to challenge.
(c)The grade achieved on the challenge exam shall be recorded on the student's transcript through the completion of a Request for Student Record Amendment form, which must be submitted to the Registrar's Office or Student Services no later than three (3) weeks from the ‘Last Date to Apply for Advanced Standing’, as stated in the Academic Calendar.
(d)A student who fails a Challenge by Examination may not challenge the course through challenge examination again until one full academic semester has passed*.
(e) A student who fails a course may not challenge the course through Challenge by Examination until one full academic semester has passed.*
(f) Students may not challenge a course more than twice; if the student is unsuccessful after two challenges, he/she will have to retake the course.
(g) STUDENTS ARE ADVISED TO ATTEND CLASSES IN THE COURSE UNTIL A DECISION IS MADE.
*The intent of this policy is to allow sufficient time for students to improve their likelihood of success in taking a challenge exam.
Exceptions may apply to graduating students.
Note:Full-time students choosing to challenge a course or receive prior learning for a course in which they are registered must do so within the timeframes outlined in the Academic Calendar – ‘Last Date to Apply for Advanced Standing’.
4.Prior Learning Assessmentand Recognition (PLAR)
Knowledge and skills gained through life experiences may be assessed for credit through the process of PLAR. Assessment may take the form of written portfolios, demonstrations, testimonials, tests, projects, etc.
(a)Students applying for PLAR should contact Student Services who will direct them to the College-designated PLAR staff member.
(b)Students must complete the Request for Advanced Standing form and pay all applicable fees by the date stated in the Academic Calendar –‘Last Date to Apply for Advanced Standing’.
(c)Credit obtained through PLAR as shown on the Record of Amendment form must be returned to the Registrar's Office or Student Services no later than three weeks from the ‘Last Date to Apply for Advanced Standing’. The credit obtained is recorded as "CR" on the student's transcript and is not factored into the GPA.
(d)STUDENTS ARE ADVISED TO ATTEND CLASSES IN THE COURSE UNTIL A DECISION IS MADE.
Note:Please refer to the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition ResourceGuide for complete PLAR process at
Appendix A: Mobility and Transferability Protocol For College to College Transfer
Appendix B: Request for Advanced Standing Form
ISSUE DATE / SUPERSEDES / MANDATORY REVIEW DATE / REFERENCE / SECTION / PAGE OF
2013-07-11 / 2008-03-28 / 2018-07-11 / A-11 / ACADEMIC / 1 / 5
/ ACADEMIC POLICY & PROCEDURE #A-4
ISSUE DATE / SUPERSEDES / MANDATORY REVIEW DATE / REFERENCE / SECTION / PAGE OF
2013-07-11 / 2008-03-28 / 2018-07-11 / A-11 / ACADEMIC / 1 / 5
Appendix A
/ Request for Advanced Standing Form(Reference Academic Policy A-4)
Student Name: / Student Number:
Address: / Program:
Campus:
Application Date:
Tel. #: / Due Date:
Request for: Transfer Credit Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition Challenge by Examination
NOTE:Request for Advanced Standing Form must be submitted and fees paid by student by date stated in Academic Calendar. Fully completed forms along with Record Amendment forms, if applicable, must be received in the Registrar’s Office within three weeks of that date.Grade
I hereby apply for advanced standing in the following course (one form per course request):
Course Name: / Course Code:* TRANSFER CREDIT ONLY: the above request is based on the following course(s) taken at the referenced institutions.
Course Name and Code / Institution / Grade*PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT & Recognition ONLY:Portfolio/Documentation:Complete Incomplete
* CHALLENGE BY EXAMINATION: / Scheduled Date:Processing of the Request for Advanced Standing will not proceed until:
TRANSFER CREDIT – course outlines and an official transcript have been received;
PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT & RECOGNITION– portfolio or other back-up documentation has been received;
CHALLENGE BY EXAMINATION – exam has been scheduled with appropriate staff member;
and the appropriate fee for each Advanced Standing Request has been paid.
Student Signature: ______Date Submitted:
NOTE: This section must be completed prior to finalization.
Advanced Standing Evaluation
TRANSFER CREDIT: / PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT & RECOGNITION: / CHALLENGE BY EXAMINATION:Approved Denied / Approved Denied / Approved Denied
Reason, if appropriate: / Record Amendment Attached / Record Amendment Attached
Department: Program: ______
Faculty Name: Faculty Signature: ______
Coordinator Signature:
Payment Received: $ ______Staff Signature: ______Date: ______Transcripted by: Date:
Copies: (1) Student File (2) Coordinator (3) Student (4) Registrar’s Office
Rev. Aug 2012