2-2: Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), and Dantes Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) Examinations
- Issued: March 2012
- Effective: Immediately
- Approved: March 2012
I. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to establish a means whereby students may receive college level credit at Fort Lewis College based on scores they have received on the AP, IB, CLEP, and/or DSST Examinations that is consistent with faculty governance of the curriculum.
II. Definition of Examinations Accepted for Credit
Advanced Placement (AP)
"AP Exams are rigorous, multiple-component tests in 37 subjects that are administered at high schools each May. High school students can earn college credit, placement, or both for qualifying AP Exam grades. Each AP Exam has a corresponding AP course and provides a standardized measure of what students have learned in the AP classroom." (http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/ap 01/24/2012)
International Baccalaureate (IB):
"The IB Diploma Programme is designed as an academically challenging and balanced programme of education with final examinations that prepares students, normally aged 16 to 19, for success at university and life beyond. The programme is normally taught over two years. IB Diploma Programme students study six courses at higher level or standard level. Students take written examinations at the end of the programme, which are marked by external IB examiners." (http://www.ibo.org/diploma/index.cfm 01/24/2012)
College Level Examination Program (CLEP):
"CLEP offers 33 exams in five subject areas, covering material taught in courses that you may generally take in your first two years of college. Most CLEP exams are designed to correspond to one-semester courses, although some correspond to full-year or two-year courses." (http://clep.collegeboard.org/exam 01/24/2012)
Dantes Subject Standardized Tests (DSST): "
The DSST exams were developed to enable schools to award credit to students for knowledge equivalent to that learned by students taking the course. The school may choose to award college credit to the student based on the achievement of a passing score. The ultimate passing score for each examination is determined by the school. The DSST program provides schools with a recommended passing score established by a national committee of college faculty who teach these courses." (http://getcollegecredit.com/testprep 01/24/2012) 2
III. Academic Integrity
A. At Fort Lewis College, the curriculum is governed by the faculty.
1) The faculty determine the limits on the number of credits that can be accepted for each exam. These limits can be changed through the established curriculum process. The current policy is:
AP: unlimited
IB: unlimited
CLEP: 24 credits
DSST: 24 credits
2) The departmental faculty annually review the nature and number of credits awarded for examination scores. The faculty then update the credit equivalencies as deemed appropriate. Faculty decisions are then published in the next catalog.
3) The faculty determine a student’s eligibility to take the CLEP and/or DSST exams. Currently, the policies for taking these exams are as follows:
a. A particular exam may not be repeated within six months of a previous attempt at the same exam.
b. No exam may be taken for a course that is equivalent to a course the student has already taken, whether at FLC or in transfer from another institution.
c. If a student has a "W" for the equivalent course, s/he is still eligible to test for that course.
d. If a student has an "I" for the equivalent course, s/he is
not eligible to test for that course.
B. Test credit is given no weight in the FLC GPA calculation.
C. A student’s test credit will be removed if the student subsequently takes the equivalent class at Fort Lewis College.
IV. Procedures for Awarding Test Credit
A. An official score report must be ordered by the student and must be sent directly from the official testing source to the Registrar’s Office. Scores can be ordered online from the following sources: 3
1) AP and CLEP exam score reports: www.collegeboard.com
2) IB diplomas: www.ibo.org
3) DSST exam score reports: www.getcollegecredit.com
B. Registrar’s Office Procedures in Giving Exam Credit
After the Registrar’s Office has received the official exam report or transcript, equivalencies for examination credit will be entered in the Banner form SHATRNS. The credit will appear as transfer credit and will be immediately viewable on the student’s transcript.