General Information
Virginia Western Community College recognizes that college-level learning occurs in settings other than the traditional classroom and, therefore, may grant credit to students who can demonstrate the academic merit of such experiences.
A student may be eligible for previous completion/experiential learning credit when the student’s educational, occupational, or life experience closely parallels the outcomes required by a college course. Credit is awarded only for documented learning that is equivalent to specific subjects and is considered sufficient in content and length to warrant consideration for credit. Proof of documentation is the responsibility of the student. Documentation that is submitted with the request for credit will be retained in the student’s file. The documentation must include samples of work or projects completed to assist the academic school in credit determination.
Requirements
- The student must be enrolled in a program of study at the college.
- The student should contact the appropriate academic school in which the course is taught and complete the Application for Prior Learning–Previous Completion/Experiential Learning form (PDF).
- A student may not fail or audit a course at the college and later receive credit for the same course through a previous completion/experiential learning option.
- Credit earned through previous completion/experiential learning may not be used to meet the residency requirement for graduation.
- A grade of “T” will be assigned if previous completion/experiential learning credit is awarded. This grade will not be counted toward the student’s cumulative GPA.
Disclaimer
Virginia Western reserves the right to accept or reject credits earned from non-traditional, academic sources and to place a time limit on prior learning experiences for which Prior Learning credit may be granted. With some exceptions, this credit is not guaranteed. Specific licenses, certifications, and specialized training that have been pre-assessed by the college (i.e., police academies, CPS) are provided with the submittal of the certification alone. The applicability of previous completion/experiential learning credit toward specific degree program requirements is subject to the program head, school dean, and the registrar’s approval.
Procedures
Submit the Application for Prior Learning–Previous Completion/Experiential Learning form, along with the appropriate documentation, to your faculty advisor or to the school dean that is responsible for the course. These forms are available in the college academic offices, Enrollment center and from the Credit for Prior Learning Coordinator. Once reviewed, you will receive notice if you have been awarded or denied credit. In some cases, you may need to provide more extensive information and documentation through a Portfolio. Information on Portfolio Development and Assessment can be found here.
- Credit for Prior Learning Home
- Prior Learning/Graduation Requirements
- Credit for Certifications, Credentials and Evaluated Programs
- Military Training
- Credit by Exam
- Credit by Evaluated Program (ACE/NCCRS)
- Prior Learning/Work Experience
- Portfolio Credit
- Previous College/Transcript Evaluation
- Reverse Transfer
Contact Us
Cathy Ferguson
Credit for Prior Learning Specialist
540-857-6825
cplinfo@virginiawestern.edu
Records Office
records@virginiawestern.edu
Chapman Hall C107
855-874-6690
Fax: 540-857-6102
Mailing Address:
3094 Colonial Ave. SW
Roanoke, VA 24015
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