Transfer Policies

Students declared as degree/certificate seeking may request to have transfer credits evaluated toward the degree/certificate program of their choice.

Students that have not been admitted to WNC will first need to complete the WNC Application for Admission and choose a degree/certificate program.

In general, only credits applicable to the student’s specified degree or certificate program listed on the Petition for Credit Evaluation form will be transferred to the students WNC record.  If a student later submits a Petition for Transfer Credit Evaluation form for a different degree or certificate, additional credits may be applied. Whatever credits were granted for the previous request will remain on a student’s record.

Official Transcripts  

Admissions and Records will accept only official transcripts from other colleges, universities, high schools, and educational testing sources; unofficial copies will not be accepted.

• A transcript must be sent directly to Admissions and Records by mail or electronically from the applicable institution to be considered official.
• Faxed copies will not be accepted.
• A transcript that is hand carried in a sealed envelope to Admissions and Records that was mailed to the student directly from the applicable institution may be accepted as official provided the envelope has not been opened.

For information on Military credit, Credit by Examination, Certificate Programs, Industry certifications or work experience see Credit for Prior Learning.

Regional Accrediting Organizations include:

Credits earned in institutions of higher learning that are accredited by a Regional Accrediting Organization are normally transferable, provided the courses are comparable to those offered by WNC and are applicable towards degree requirements.

• Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACCJC) 
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

Credits earned from schools that are not regionally accredited will be considered nontraditional education.

Transfer Credit Evaluation:

• Only transfer credits that apply toward a requirement (including required electives) will be applied toward a degree or certificate.
• Credits earned in institutions of higher learning that are accredited by a Regional Accrediting Organization are normally transferable, provided the courses are comparable to those offered by WNC and are applicable towards degree requirements.
• Students must complete a minimum of 15 credits in residence at WNC that are applicable to the associate degree or certificate they are seeking (minimum of 30 credits for a bachelor’s degree).
• The college will accept a maximum of 75 percent of the total credits for a degree or certificate of achievement.
• Grades are not transferable but may be utilized when determining eligibility for financial assistance and/or admission to special academic programs and to determine the minimum GPA required for graduation.
• Courses from NSHE institutions will be accepted for equivalent courses per common course numbering.
• NSHE courses with no equivalents and courses from other institutions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis based on the course title, designator, credits, course numbering system used by the institution and course description if available.  Students may be asked to provide more information, such as a syllabus, to determine equivalency.
• Upper division courses are generally not acceptable for general education requirements, but may apply towards emphasis requirements on a case by case basis.
• Graduate level courses are not accepted to fulfill degree and/or certificate requirements.
• WNC Faculty are consulted for input when needed to determine if a transfer course is equivalent to a WNC course and/or should fulfill a program requirement.
  
  

Transfer Credit Appeals Process

If a student disagrees with a transfer credit evaluation

• the student is encouraged to obtain and submit further written information about the course(s) in question such as a course outline or syllabus, and/or a course description if it was not originally available.

If a student questions an evaluation from a non-traditional source,

• the student is encouraged to obtain further written information about the training including number of hours of the training, information about the training source, accreditation, etc.

Admissions and Records will reconsider amending the original evaluation if such information is provided.

If such information is not available, and/or if the student disagrees with the second evaluation, the student may file a transfer credit evaluation appeal in writing to the Registrar by emailing admissions.records@wnc.edu.

The Registrar will first view the appeal.

• If the reason a course was not transferred in as requested is a result of a course not meeting policies such as fulfilling the minimum number of credits required for a requirement, the course was developmental, the course was not completed at a regionally accredited institution, etc. the Registrar will make a final decision about course transferability.
• If the reason is not based on such a policy then the appeal and all related information will be forwarded to the applicable department faculty and/or Division Director. The decision of the faculty/Division Director will be final.
• If a request is denied, the student will be given a reason for the denial via email.

Students may request a review of a transfer credit evaluation by the NSHE Articulation Coordinating Committee if not satisfied with the final decision from WNC by submitting a Nevada System of Higher Education Transfer Credit Request for Review.

Credit for Prior Learning 

WNC recognizes that students accumulate a great deal of information and knowledge outside of the college environment from various training, non-traditional educational sources, and work experience. Therefore, WNC will consider awarding credit for prior experiential learning to students who have been accepted to the college and are declared as degree/certificate seeking.

• Students may request to have non-traditional training and/or credits evaluated by contacting Admissions and Records.

• Students must submit official transcripts, training records, certificates or military forms and then allow 4 to 6 weeks for the evaluation to be completed.

• Once completed, students will be able to view their transfer credit in myWNC and can run a degree audit report to determine how the transfer credits apply toward their intended degree or certificate program. An email will be sent to each student when the transfer evaluation is completed.

In general, only credits applicable to the students specified degree or certificate program will be transferred to the students WNC record.

• WNC follows the NSHE Board of Regents Handbook: Title 4, Chapter 14, Section 21. Credit for Prior Learning
• WNC Policy 3-3-5: Credit for Prior Learning 

 

Fractional Credits

Quarter credits are worth 2/3 of a semester credit.

Students who lack fractional credits in any area(s) of general education or program requirements should see a counselor.

• If a student lacks fractional credits in any area(s) of general education requirements, the student may satisfy the requirement(s) by completing other listed general education courses provided the student completes at least the minimum total requirements listed in the general education section for any degree or certificate. 
• While an area or areas may be a fraction of a credit less than required, the total general education credits may not be reduced.
• While a specific program requirement can be satisfied with a fraction of a credit less than required, the total program requirements can not be reduced.
  
  

International Colleges

Credit may be awarded from some recognized colleges and universities outside of the country.

• Students must have a course by course evaluation completed by an approved transcript evaluation service.
• An official copy of the transcript and English translation might also be required depending on the transcript evaluation service used.
• Credit for English/communications requirements is accepted only from institutions located in the following countries: Australia, Canada, England, Ireland and New Zealand.

 

Resources:

• Transfer to WNC
• Transfer from WNC
• Credit for Prior Learning
• Dates and Deadlines
• Academic advisors and students can use the Transfer Evaluation System (TES) to see a list of courses previously evaluated for transfer to the college.

 

Still Have Questions?

Contact Admissions and Records for further information. 

admissions.records@wnc.edu 
775-445-3277