III-1.41(A)

UMB Policy on Credit for Competency-Based Education and Prior Learning

Academic Affairs   |   Approved December 1, 2014

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Responsible VP/AVP

Roger Ward, EdD, JD, MSL, MPA

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Policy Statement

I. Abstract:

This policy is issued pursuant to the replacement of USM Policy III-1.40-POLICY ON CREDIT BY EXAMINATION AND PORTFOLIO ASSESSMENT (Approved by the Board of Regents, February 22, 1990) by the new USM Policy III-1.41 POLICY ON CREDIT FOR COMPETENCY-BASED EDUCATION AND PRIOR LEARNING (approved by the Board of Regents on September 19, 2014). In accordance with the Veteran’s Full Employment ACT (VFEA) of 2013 and §15-113 of the Maryland Education Article, the Maryland Higher Education Commission has directed public institutions of higher education to adopt guidelines on awarding academic credit in baccalaureate programs for a student’s military training, coursework, and education.

II. General

A. In accordance with the Board of Regents Policy III-1.41 - POLICY ON CREDIT FOR COMPETENCY-BASED EDUCATION AND PRIOR LEARNING, and subject to the standards below, UMB will offer credit by examination and may offer credit by other methods approved by the Chancellor and the Secretary of Higher Education, for military training, course work, and education of students who are accepted for enrollment into a UMB baccalaureate degree program and who are members of:

• the United States Armed Forces;
• a Reserve Component of the Armed Forces of the United States;
• the National Guard of any state; or
• a veteran of the above services

B. A student is encouraged to review the competency-based credit guidelines for the applicable baccalaureate program and to receive academic advising before registering for any examinations.

C. UMB is not responsible for determining a student's prior knowledge or preparation for these exams.

D. Approval to take the examinations does not guarantee award of credit; other conditions, such as appropriate score, must be satisfied.

III. Program Standards

A. Each UMB baccalaureate program will publish on the program’s website the name of the standardized examinations and any other methods of assessment acceptable for obtaining credit under this policy, limits on currency of exam results, minimum acceptable scores for credit, maximum credit hours that may be awarded, and any other program-specific standards and guidelines.

IV. Appeals

Each program will publish an appeals process for a student who wishes to grieve a program’s decision with regard to award of academic credit under this policy.