Institution-Led Assessments

Challenge examinations are created by faculty and allow students to earn course credit for which they can demonstrate knowledge. Credits earned by examination cannot be used to reduce degree residency requirements. Institution-led assessments may require a fee. The number of credits earned based on the results of institution-led assessments is limited to a maximum of thirty (30) of the total credit hours (66 for Bachelor’s degree, 33 for Associate’s degree) permitted by the UHC transfer policy.

Students who can demonstrate a fundamental knowledge of selected General Education subjects offered may be permitted to take a Challenge Examination for advanced standing in specific courses after having earned at least twelve (12) semester hours of credit in residency with a GPA of at least 2.5. The student must obtain permission to sit for the examination from the appropriate department Chair, who must secure approval from the Dean and Chief Academic Officer.

An examination in each course may be taken only once, and the grade must be submitted within 30 days after the initiation of the request. A grade of P and regular credit in the course are entered in the student’s record if a grade of C or higher is earned on the examination. A grade of P is not included in the calculation of the GPA. Credit by examination is not permitted for a course that the student has attended beyond the first week of classes.

Credits earned by examination may not be used to determine the number of registered hours. Credits earned by examination cannot be used to reduce the residency requirements of the University for a degree.

Eligibility

Enrolled students must submit a written petition for a CPL evaluation to his or her academic advisor at least two semesters before graduation. The advisor shall carefully consider what is required for a student’s degree plan before accepting the petition. Students must be enrolled at UHC during the semester the credit is awarded.

Conditions

CPL is granted only for classes that are regularly offered at UHC. The same number of credits shall be awarded as those ordinarily awarded for a course or the minimum listed, whichever is greater. If no minimum credit is recommended for an exam or experience, the awarding of CPL is at the discretion of the Chief Academic Officer.

CPL credits are limited to less than fifty (50) percent of the credits needed in required major courses and shall not duplicate credit previously earned through a similar course, examination, information acquired from third-party providers, or through postsecondary courses in which a grade of “C” or higher has been earned.

Credits awarded will be recorded with a “P” grade and specifically identified on the transcript as credits for prior experiential learning. CPL shall become a permanent part of the student’s record once he or she has achieved a grade point average of 2.0 or better and fifteen (15) or more earned credit hours at UHC. CPL credits are limited to three (3) during the final fifteen hours of program completion. Students must agree to additional testing, if required.