CPL: Introduction

Introduction to Credit for Prior Learning (CPL)

Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) strives to provide students with opportunities to receive credit for prior learning while still maintaining the academic integrity of NOVA’s academic programs. Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) policies are consistent with Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) principles and with Virginia Community College System (VCCS) policy. This manual describes the mechanisms for obtaining credit for prior learning at NOVA in the 2019-2020 Catalog Year. The term “credit for prior learning” generally refers to the process of granting of college credit for learning gained in nontraditional ways. This manual also provides procedures for granting various kinds of credit earned at other colleges and universities in this country and abroad.
 

General Procedures

CPL Eligibility

The general policies listed below apply to students seeking credit for prior learning:

• To be eligible to apply for credit for prior learning, a student must be admitted to NOVA and declare a major because the credit awarded is applied to the student’s NOVA degree program.  In addition, students must be currently enrolled or have taken a course at NOVA and must have completed at least one credit course at NOVA. 
• The total credits possible through all forms of credit for prior learning must conform to the residency requirements for the particular curriculum, as stated in the current NOVA Catalog. 
• A minimum of 25% of the total number of credits for any degree or certificate program must be earned at NOVA.
• All accepted credit for prior learning credits will be acknowledged and recorded on the student’s permanent record, with the transferring agency identified.  No unsuccessfully attempted credit for prior learning applications or examinations 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 credit for prior learning procedures.
• No credit shall be awarded that duplicates earned course credit at NOVA, at other institutions, or other credit awarded through prior learning
• Credit awarded for prior learning is applicable only to NOVA’s curricular requirements. Students are cautioned that CPL credit may not be accepted as transfer credit by other postsecondary institutions.  Please consult the transfer institution for more information on their CPL policies.
• There are four general categories/types of credit for prior learning: (A) Credits from Post Secondary Institutions (e.g. Transfer Credit); (B) Credit by Exam (AP, IB, CLEP, Cambridge, or Other Exams); (C) Credits Earned from Non-Traditional Program Completion (e.g. Certifications, Professional Licensure, etc.); (D) Credit for Learning Obtained Through Life Experience (e.g. via PLACE).

Limits on Amount of CPL Credit

There is not a formal limit on the number of credits that may be awarded through credit for prior learning, but such credit may not be used to fulfill the residency requirements for graduation. A minimum of 25% of the credit required for any NOVA degree, certificate or career studies certificate must be earned at NOVA. The amount of CPL credit awarded is regulated by the faculty in a given discipline and must abide by state law as prescribed by the state legislature, VCCS policies and SCHEV policies.
 

CPL Evaluation Responsibilities

The responsibility for effective evaluation of credit for prior learning is shared among many NOVA faculty and staff.  The Credit for Prior Learning Committee, a subcommittee of the NOVA Curriculum Committee, formally represents the different disciplines and is responsible for the development of policies, the management of policies and the implementation of consistent college-wide CPL procedures.
 

Campus Level  CPL Evaluation Contacts

Student Services Centers: The campus registrars and their staffs are responsible for insuring that appropriate records relating to credit for prior learning are received and processed. In cases where there are approved routine procedures for awarding credit for prior learning, registrars, transcript evaluators, and others on the Student Services staffs are empowered to record these credits on the student’s transcript.  Students can submit requests for CPL credit and documentation via Student Service Centers on each campus.
 

Faculty and Advisors: Discipline faculty can initiate requests for new credit for prior learning opportunities to the CPL Committee and are often 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 his/her previous school. Requests for substituions must be approved by the appropriate supervisor(s).
 

Provosts, Deans of Students and Academic Deans: All policies and procedures regarding credit for prior learning are approved by the deans and program heads that have responsibility for the specific discipline where credit for prior learning credit will be awarded. Approval from the Provost(s) and Deans is needed. Specific decisions about the qualifications of a student for graduation from a program, including the applicability of any credit awarded through credit for prior learning, 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 provost.
 

College Level CPL Evaluation Contacts

Credit for Prior Learning Committee: The Credit for Prior Learning Committee hears requests for new or revised policies and procedures for credit for prior learning and forwards its recommendations to the Curriculum Committee for approval. Items approved by the Curriculum Committee are forwarded to the Administrative Council for final approval. The Credit for Prior Learning Committee also monitors the implementation of the policies and procedures to assure consistent application throughout the College. NOVA also empowers the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Director of Curriculum Development and the Coorindator for Credit for Prior Learning to oversee CPL issues.
 

College Records Office: Staff at the College Records Office (CRO) certifies students for graduation. In order to do so, they must ensure that all credits, including credit for prior learning, are awarded correctly.
 

Recording CPL Credit

All accepted credit for prior learning will be acknowledged and recorded on the student’s permanent record, with the transferring agency or other source of credit identified. No unsuccessful attempts at credit for prior learning 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 credit for prior learning procedures. Except for PLACE portfolios and ABLE exams, for which students receive a “P” grade, the student record will show a “T” instead of an A-F grade.  Students are advised to check with their transfer institution regarding implications of CPL credit reflected on a transcript.
 

Appeals of Credit for Prior Learning Decisions

Students who wish to request reconsideration of a credit for prior learning decision based on existing policy should make their request first to a faculty advisor. Appeals may be sent to the appropriate academic dean, who may forward them to the campus provost. Deans discuss appeals with the Associate Vice President for Academic Services. Students who wish to have new or revised credit for prior learning policies established must email a counselor or faculty advisor. The counselor/faculty advisor will forward the request to the Associate Vice President for Academic Services for review by faculty and, if the faculty support the request, the Credit for Prior Learning Committee. Students should be told that this review may take several months due to the rigor of NOVA’s credit for prior learning policy revision process.
 

Credit for Prior Learning Committee Duties and Role

Formerly known as the Advanced Standing Committee, the Credit for Prior Learning Committee is a subcommittee of the Curriculum Committee.  It reviews all policy requests for credit for prior learning and develops recommendations for acceptance and course credit equivalencies, in conjunction with the faculty and in accordance with college policy. The Credit for Prior Learning Committee also hears requests for new or revised policies and procedures for credit for prior learning credit. Items approved by the Curriculum Committee are forwarded to the Administrative Council for final approval.  The Credit for Prior Learning Committee also monitors the implementation of the policies and procedures to assure consistent application throughout the college.
 

• The Associate VP of Academic & Student Services appoints the committee.  Appointments are for staggered two-year terms.  The committee consists of the following members 
• Associate VP for Academic Services
• Associate VP for Student Services and Enrollment Management
• Director of Curriculum Development
• Director of Military Outreach and Veteran Support Services
• Representative from NOVA Workforce Development
• College Registrar
• Assistant Registrar for Transfer Credit Evaluation
• Chair of Registrars Work Group
• 1 Dean of Students
• 1 Counselor
• 5 Instructional Faculty from five different pathway councils (1 IT, 1 Health Sciences, 1 Other CTE, 2 General Education Disciplines)
• Director of Academic Planning and Advising or designee

 The chair of the committee is designated by the Associate VP of Academic & Student Services  at the first meeting and is responsible for calling all subsequent meetings, assembling the agendas, and conducting meetings.  The Associate VP for Academic Services assists the chair as needed. 

Procedure for Submitting Requests to Credit for Prior Learning Committee

Requests to the Credit for Prior Learning Committee come from a variety of sources.  Faculty, students, administrators, and other schools and training facilities can request that the CPL Committee consider a proposal for granting credit to a student or students. Requests to this subcommittee are made in writing and submitted electronically to the chair of the subcommittee, who then places the proposal on the agenda for discussion and consideration at a subsequent committee meeting.  The individual, institution, or agency should submit supporting documentation so that committee members can make as informed a recommendation as possible.
When deemed necessary by the subcommittee, a request may be referred to the appropriate faculty discipline cluster for review and recommendation before it is further considered by the subcommittee.
Once the subcommittee has reviewed and discussed the request, including any input from an involved discipline, a proposal is made and voted upon.  If the subcommittee recommends the proposal, then the chair of the Credit for Prior Learning Subcommittee writes a proposal to the Associate VP for Academic Services, requesting that the proposal be placed on the agenda for a subsequent Curriculum Committee meeting.  Proposals for college policy from the Credit for Prior Learning subcommittee are referred by the Curriculum Committee to the Administrative Council for final disposition.  If approved, the proposal then becomes a change, addition, or exception to college policy.

Back