Procedure:     Credit by Assessment (CBA)
Department:    Enrollment Services
Contact:          John Hamblin, (541) 463-5686                 hamblinjh@lanecc.edu

Credit by Assessment (CBA) allows a student to earn college credit for a specific course, upon faculty approval of evidence demonstrating a student’s mastery of course outcomes. Credit may be granted only for documented prior learning that falls within Lane’s regular course offerings, as described in the current Lane catalog. “Miscellaneous credit” for experiential learning will not be awarded.

REQUIREMENTS FOR CBA

1.    To be eligible for Credit by Assessment, both the student and the course(s) in question must meet all conditions of the policy on Credit for Prior Learning. 

2.    The fee for CBA is 66 percent of current tuition per credit hour. The CBA fee is valid for the term during which it is paid and is not transferable to another term. 

3.    International students on F-1 visas must be currently enrolled as full-time students at Lane to qualify for Credit by Assessment. 

4.    Credit earned under CBA procedures will be transcripted as a grade of "Pass," and the grade entry will be a “P” followed by a space and the “at” sign (@). If credit is denied, the grade will be transcripted as “No Pass,” and the grade entry will be “NP” followed by a space and the “at” sign (@).  The grade entry will be noted on the back of the transcript in the notes column as “@ Credit by Assessment.”

5.    CBA may not be used to substitute for regular class registration.  The purpose of CBA is to validate prior learning rather than current learning.  If a student has attended a class for more than six class hours (one class hour equals 60 minutes, with 10 minute optional break) and wishes to receive credit for the class, the student must register for the class and pay tuition and class fees.

6.    For Lane degrees and certificates, all Credit for Prior Learning (by assessment and by exam) is limited to 25% of any degree or certificate. However, a maximum of 16 credits may be Pass/No Pass, the only grade option for CBA. Understanding the limits on CBA requires careful attention to these degree and certificate limits.

•    For example, if a one-year certificate requires 45 credits, 25% of 45, or 11 credits, may be granted through Credit for Prior Learning, whether by assessment or by exam, and graded “Pass.” Thus, under the 16 credit limit for P/NP grades, five additional Pass credits (not earned through CBA) may count toward the certificate. 

•    In a two year degree program requiring 90 credits, 25% of 90, or 22 credits, may be granted through Credit for Prior Learning, but only 16 may be through Credit by Assessment since the remaining 6 credits must be graded.

7.    To meet requirements for a degree or certificate, a student must complete a minimum of 24 credits at Lane in addition to any credits earned through Credit for Prior Learning (CBA and CBE). 

8.    Any student who intends to transfer CBA credits to a four-year institution must verify that institution's policies on grades of "Pass" (P) and any policies on acceptance of credit by assessment from Lane. Some institutions do not accept credit by assessment. 

STUDENT CBA STEPS

Students applying for CBA credit have the responsibility of matching their knowledge and skills with the learning outcomes of courses taught at Lane. Counselors/advisors and faculty are available to help students do this matching.

Step 1--    Students match their prior experiential learning with current Lane courses. “Miscellaneous credit” for experiential learning will not be awarded. Students may read catalog course descriptions and obtain course outline(s) in the division office or from an online syllabus or by contacting the department offering the same type of courses at Lane. Catalogs are available from Enrollment Services, and there are occupational descriptions available in the Library to help students match knowledge and skills with current Lane offerings.

Step 2--    Students determine what evidence they could provide to prove they satisfy each course outcome, either by documentation (projects, letters, records, etc.), or by demonstrating course related knowledge (in an interview or exam), or by performance of skills. 

Step 3--    Students fill in the information as required on the Application for Credit by Assessment Form. 

Step 4--    Students pay the Credit By Assessment fee at Enrollment Services located in Building #1. The fee will be calculated based on the credit load of the class being challenged.

Step 5--    After preparing the portfolio of evidence, students will make a copy for their files, and attach the CBA application. They will submit the application and attached portfolio to the division. The division will notify them as to approximately how long the evaluation process will take. The student should receive notification of the results within ten working days of the completion of the evaluation. Portfolio evidence will not be returned.  

Step 6--    After the evaluation, the department will notify Enrollment Services/Student Records of a grade of “Pass” or “No Pass” to be added to the student's transcript. If the student is denied CBA credit (“No Pass”), they may attend a feedback session with faculty on any outcomes not adequately demonstrated. Students may amend their portfolio of evidence for re-evaluation one time if faculty deem it appropriate after the feedback session. 

Step 7--    If a division determines a student’s evidence of meeting course outcomes to be inadequate, the student may apply to verify the level of knowledge and skill through Credit by Examination. A student may also appeal negative CBA determinations through the Academic Requirements Review Committee.

DIVISIONAL PROCEDURES FOR CBA 

The chair of the division oversees the evaluation procedure. The division chair and instructor or an evaluation team may conduct the evaluation process. Advisory committees may be consulted to set up guidelines for granting CBA.

1.    CBA is a non-graded process because of difficulties in comparing a student’s portfolio (evidence of proficiency) with the assignments submitted in a traditional classroom. Faculty will determine only whether a student has demonstrated proficiency in the course learning outcomes, either “pass” or “no pass.” To receive a letter grade, a student must apply for credit through the Credit by Examination process or register for the class. 

2.    The division chair and any faculty who participated in the evaluation process will provide a summary of evidence evaluated to Enrollment Services/Student Records, assign “Pass” or “No Pass,” and sign the application form. Portfolio evidence will not be returned to the student. The documentation will be stored in the divisional office to meet accreditation requirements. 

3.    The division will notify the student of credits granted within ten working days of the completion of the evaluation. The division will send the original CBA application to Student Records to be transcripted. If credit is denied, the student’s notification will include a description of the course learning outcomes not substantiated by the materials submitted for CBA credit. 

4.    Credits granted through CBA will be transcripted for the term in which they are approved. 

5.    A student denied CBA credit may amend the portfolio of evidence after a feedback session with faculty on any outcomes not adequately demonstrated. One re-evaluation of portfolio evidence may be conducted if faculty deem it appropriate after the feedback session.