Introduction

For optimum planning and class scheduling, the Academic Support Center prepares official transfer credit evaluations for admitted students and unofficial evaluations for prospective students.  The student receives credit for relevant academic courses taken at recognized colleges and universities, for standardized national examinations such as the CLEP (College Level Examination Program), and military service schools.  The student is then able to assess what previous coursework fulfills Western’s General Education Program requirements and what transfer credit can be applied toward a specific program of study.

Undergraduate Transfer Credit from Other Institutions

It is Western’s policy to accept transfer credit if:
* The credit is from a regionally accredited university or college.
* The course carries degree credit at the transferring institution.
* The student was not on suspension while taking the course.
* The student received a passing grade (A, B, C, D, P, S, or CR).

Transcripts

To have previous coursework evaluated for possible acceptance by Western, the student must submit a complete, official transcript from each school at which the student was previously enrolled, regardless of the credit earned or the applicability of the credit toward a WNMU degree.  For an unofficial evaluation, an “Official Student Copy” is acceptable.

Course Descriptions

To determine the compatibility of transfer course work with courses offered at Western, the student may need to also provide course descriptions or class syllabi.  Often, however, an institution has a course catalog online at its web site where the evaluator can obtain course descriptions when needed.

International Students

International students desiring to receive credit for courses taken at accredited post-secondary institutions outside the United States must provide original transcripts translated into English and evaluated by an independent credentials evaluator.

COMPASS Placement Testing

A transfer student may also be exempt from taking all or part of the COMPASS placement test based on this evaluation. For a COMPASS test waiver, an “Official Student Copy” of a transcript is acceptable.

Degree Planning

The School of Education and the various academic departments develop degree plans based on a student’s transfer credit evaluation.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Students who have earned previous course credit through CLEP must submit their scores directly to the Registrar’s Office. Specific courses for which credit can be earned are listed in the current WNMU catalog.  The Registrar is responsible for posting course credit to a student’s official WNMU transcript.  The Chair of the appropriate academic department evaluates coursework not listed for possible credit on a course by course basis.  An Academic Advisor can assist in this process.

Veterans
Veterans desiring credit for prior military service schools must submit a copy of their “DD-214 (Release from Active Duty) Form,” to the Admissions Office.  Official AARTS (Army/American Council on Educational Registry Transcript System) transcripts and official copies of certificates from military schools may also be required.  The Veterans Representative and an Academic Advisor determine if course credit can be awarded.

Final Admissions Status
When the student is awarded “final” admissions status, the transfer credit is posted to the student’s official Western transcript.  A cumulative GPA from the transferring institutions is also reflected on the student’s Western transcript.  Courses are transferred from other institutions at the level offered at those institutions.  A student transferring less than 32 credit hours is considered a freshman and must meet all entrance requirements for beginning freshmen.

Semester vs. Quarter Hour System
WNMU is on a semester calendar.  If the school being evaluated is on a quarter system, the quarter hours are multiplied by 2/3 to convert them to semester hours.

Transfer Credit Evaluation Report
Once a transfer credit evaluation is completed, a written report indicating completed General Education Program requirements is provided for degree planning purposes.  If an individual has a specific program in mind, the Academic Advisor refers the student or prospective student to that department for further advising. For the person who is undecided as to a possible major, an Academic Advisor provides guidance for appropriate class scheduling and career planning.  The prospective student’s evaluation is a preliminary, unofficial report provided for information purposes only.  The accuracy of this unofficial evaluation depends on the individual providing copies of all previous coursework to the Academic Support Center. The written evaluation for an admitted student, however, is official and becomes part of the student’s academic record at WNMU.

To successfully transfer to WNMU:
* Take classes that are equivalent to classes at Western
* Call WNMU at 1-800-872-WNMU and request a catalog.
* Call WNMU Office of Admissions and schedule a personal tour of the University.
* Call WNMU Academic Support Center at 1-505-538-6400. Ask to speak with an Academic Advisor about transferring to Western.
* Send us your transcripts and WNMU applications the semester before you are planning to transfer.
* Receive your transcript evaluation and attend our orientation for transferring students.

Contact the Academic Support Center
For further information about transfer credit evaluation or transferring to Western, contact the Academic Support Center, telephone 505-538-6400 and speak with an Academic Advisor.
Additional information about Western’s transfer credit policy is in the current edition of the course catalog. EMAIL: advisement@wnmu.edu