Excess Credit Hour law Summer 2010 CIA/CAAD meeting Kimberly Barber, Lori Hamilton

Assorted policy changes to remember Senior institution hours are no longer in effect, starting Fall. Students will now need 45 hours at 3/4000 level Students under old catalog years that lack only senior institution hours can be cleared for graduation if they meet the 45 hour at 3/4000 level, without needing catalog change Accuplacer test scores are now on the test file, right above CLAST scores.

What were going to cover Statutory language The technical guidance memo from the DOE Basic FSU policies that were establishing to implement the law Demo of sample screen changes to display excess credit counter

Basic provisions of (2) State universities* shall require a student to pay an excess hour surcharge equal to 50 percent of the tuition rate for each credit hour in excess of 120 percent of the number of credit hours required to complete the baccalaureate degree program in which the student is enrolled. * emphasis added

Law: What counts as excess hours? (3) (a) All credit hours for courses taken at the state university from which the student is seeking a baccalaureate degree, including: 1. Failed courses. 2. Courses that are dropped after the university's advertised last day of the drop and add period. 3. Courses from which a student withdraws, except as provided in subsection (4). 4. Repeated courses, except repeated courses for which the student has paid the full cost of instruction as provided in s (b) All credit hours earned at another institution and accepted for transfer by the state university and applied toward the student's baccalaureate degree program.

DOE: Initial hour determination One-time evaluation of a transfer students prior coursework and credits At the time of entry, identify all courses that apply to the baccalaureate degree for chosen major Add all additional (non-exempted) transfer credit hours that apply to major Add courses taken as a transient student Major change: Dont remove credits from the base. Undeclared students Conduct one-time analysis based upon all courses accepted for transfer as an undeclared student When major is declared, any additional credits that can apply towards the major will be added to the excess credit counter

DOE: Dual major/dual degree Dual major and dual degree will be interpreted as one and the same. The 120 percent cap will be applied to the hours required for major #1.

Law: What doesnt count? (a) College credits earned through an articulated accelerated mechanism identified in s (b) Credit hours earned through internship programs. (c) Credit hours required for certification, recertification, or certificate programs. (d) Credit hours in courses from which a student must withdraw due to reasons of medical or personal hardship. (e) Credit hours taken by active-duty military personnel. (f) Credit hours required to achieve a dual major taken while pursuing a baccalaureate degree. (g) Remedial and English as a Second Language credit hours. (h) Credit hours earned in military science courses that are part of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program.

DOE: Internships Identify either required or opportunity internships, and exempt them. Provide transfer students an opportunity during the one-time initial evaluation to identify any previously earned courses for exemption.

DOE: Certificate programs Does not apply to graduate/undergraduate certificate programs as we use the term Only applies to credit hours associated with specific course requirements for state certification to practice (e.g., teacher certification) and those courses with technical certification embedded as a requirement for passing the course (e.g., network administrator, specific operating systems, etc.). 2 nd bachs for recertification should be exempt.

DOE: Dual major/dual degree The courses required to finish major #2 that are not also required to complete major #1 will be exempt Declaring a dual major or dual degree is not an out

Law: Notice requirement (5) Each state university and community college shall implement a process for notifying students regarding the provisions of this section. Notice must be provided by a state university or a community college upon a student's initial enrollment in the institution. Such notice must be provided a second time by a state university when a student has earned the credit hours required to complete the baccalaureate degree program in which the student is enrolled. The notice must include a recommendation that each student who intends to earn credit hours at the institution in excess of the credit hours required for the baccalaureate degree program in which the student is enrolled meet with his or her academic advisor.

DOE: Notice and appeal Upon a students entry into an institution, the university should complete a one-time analysis of the students transcript(s) to establish a baseline of courses and related credits that will be used later for calculating any excess hours. The student should be informed of the baseline. The student should be given this one-time opportunity to provide documentation that any previous coursework and/or credits should be exempted under subsection 25(d) of this regulation.

Law: Whos included and whos grandfathered? (7) The provisions of this section become effective for students who enter a community college or a state university for the first time in the academic year and thereafter.

DOE: Defining whos not included Students who start at a state university prior to fall Transfers who began an undergraduate program at another institution prior to fall 2009

DOE: Who is included Students who start post-secondary education Fall 2009 or later. A returning student seeking a second baccalaureate degree should be treated as a transfer student, but would be exempt from the excess hours charge if the student began the first baccalaureate program prior to fall 2009.

FSU Policy: Admission and mapping, initial setting of counter Student will be given preliminary determination based on transcripts received to date & pending final transcripts Mapping coordinators will review final transcripts, determine degree-applicable hours, and report on web tool under development Counter will be on A screen, near all other hours Student will be notified to check online status check for preliminary counter

FSU policy: grad checks & appeals Currently developing online grade check tool, counter will be displayed there with additional information Plans to develop a University appeal committee with representation from Registrar, Admissions, Undergraduate Studies, deans Will request assistance, as need per case, from Thagard, VA, specific deans offices, financial aid