Experiential Learning Policy (Prior Learning)

When a student’s experience through employment, training, and/or certifications provided by non-collegiate institutions (e.g. public and/or military services) parallels course work in the student’s program of study, he or she may request experiential learning credit. SCC will evaluate and award credits for prior experiential learning when sufficient documentation demonstrates the student has achieved all outcomes for specific courses in a degree program. No more than 25 percent of credits toward graduation may be awarded for experiential learning. Students may receive experiential learning credit toward degree completion under the following conditions:

1. The student must submit a written request to the appropriate Department Chair. The request must include specific courses and sufficient justification for each course for which experiential credit is requested. Copies of certificates, licenses, job descriptions, letters from supervisors and/or former employers, and any other documentation deemed appropriate must support the request.
2. The Department Chair will meet with the student (if necessary) to review the request and all supporting documents. Documentation will be compared with the course description and the course’s syllabus and competencies. If credit for experiential learning is recommended, the Department Chair will forward his or her rationale for awarding credit to the Division Chair, then to the Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs further review.
3. If experiential learning credit is approved, the Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs will submit a statement of approval documenting the basis for awarding credit to the Registrar. A grade of “EC” (experiential credit) will be posted to the student’s record.
4. If credit for experiential learning is not approved, an explanation of the reason(s) for disapproval and supporting documents will be returned to the student and submitted to the Registrar for filing.
5. Experiential credit awarded does not earn quality points. Grades of “EC” will count only toward meeting curriculum completion requirements for graduation. Grades of “EC” awarded in one curriculum may not be transferred to another curriculum, unless recommended by the Department Chair and approved by the Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs. Upon request from another institution, a copy of the Vice President’s statement of approval can be released to substantiate the “EC” grade. Copies of supporting documentation will not be sent to another institution without the student’s written consent.