Academic Policies
Free Unofficial Evaluation
Prior to your official enrollment in the degree-completion program, the program advisor will do a free preliminary, "unofficial" evaluation of your previous college work if you make the request. In the "unofficial" evaluation we will attempt to show where your previous college credits fit into the ASC degree requirements.
You must request in writing the unofficial evaluation and include copies of your transcripts for review. Also provide your home address, daytime telephone number and e-mail address. For purposes of this review, the transcripts may be unofficial, but must be legible. The transcripts and letter should be sent to:
Extended Studies - Distance Degrees
Adams State College
208 Edgemont Blvd.
Alamosa, CO 81102
The "unofficial" evaluation is subject to change based on the formal evaluation and acceptance of previous college transfer course work by the Admissions Office and appropriate academic departments. We can not do unofficial evaluations over the telephone.
Official Evaluation of Credit and Admission to ASC
After you decide to become a degree-seeking student at ASC, you must provide a completed Admission Application form, the enrollment fee and official transcripts from all colleges previously attended. You may use this Transcript Request form to have your transcripts sent to ASC. The official transcripts, fee and Admission Application should be sent to:
Extended Studies - Distance Degrees
Adams State College
208 Edgemont Blvd.
Alamosa, CO 81102
Soon after the official transcripts, enrollment fee and Admissions Application are received at ASC, your admission status will be determined.
Within approximately four weeks of admission, you will be provided with a copy of your official transfer evaluation. A copy of this evaluation will be sent to your program advisor.
Using the ASC transfer evaluation as a starting point, the program adviser will complete a new, detailed Degree Student Program Advisement form which will list the requirements satisfied by any transfer work, and will show which areas need to be completed. A copy of the form will be sent to you and a copy will be kept in the file on campus. Along with the Degree Program Advisement Form you will receive Independent study course information and where the courses may be applied in the degree program.
Transfer Students and Transfer Credit
Admission Procedure for Transfer Students
International Student Admission
Credits from non-accredited institutions
Credits from a non-accredited institution will not be accepted for transfer until after the student has completed at least 24 semester hours at ASC with a 2.0 GPA average or better. Credits may then be presented to the dean of the appropriate school for approval.
Time Limitation on Credit
Any college credit earned more than 10 years before the date of admission or re-admission is not applicable toward the degree desired unless it is approved by the academic dean of the school where your intended major is located.
Credit for Military Experience
Military service credit (formal school credit only) is processed when official documents or transcripts are received at ASC. Courses found in the American Council on Education Guide or on transcripts (CCAF, AARTS, SMART) can be evaluated. To speed up the formal evaluation process, we recommend you request a transcript of your military training from the Air Force, Army, Navy or Marine Corps documents as specified here.
Continuous Enrollment
After you are accepted to ASC, you must enroll in at least one ASC course each year (fall/spring or spring/fall) to maintain your current status. Students who interrupt their studies for more than one regular semester must satisfy the degree requirements in effect during the semester in which they re-enroll. Failure to enroll in at least one new ASC course each year will result in the following:
- You will be required to apply with Adams State College and pay the enrollment fee current at the time of re-enrollment.
- You will be subject to changes in the curriculum which could lead to the requirement for completing additional courses, while some of the courses originally accepted may no longer count toward degree completion.
- Your petitioned work will have to be re-petitioned and courses may not be accepted the second time, due to curriculum changes and/or faculty changes.
Courses Not Offered Through ASC
To meet program requirements for courses not offered by ASC, you are advised to submit course descriptions from other college institutions for review by the Admissions Office and the program adviser prior to enrolling in a non-ASC course. For future reference and to speed up the process, you may request at one time that a number of courses be considered for approval. After completing a course (or courses) at another school, you are advised to send in transcripts of completed work at the end of every semester to have your records updated. Regular correspondence with your adviser is recommended.
Admission and Distance Degree Completion Program Fee
At the time of your formal application to ASC, you will be expected to pay a (non-refundable) Admission and Distance Degree Completion Program fee (see fee schedule above). If you become inactive for one year (not enrolling in at least one ASC independent study course), you will be required to re-enroll and pay the fee current at the time of re-enrollment.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition and any course fees are listed in the course schedule or on the ASC Extended Studies web site, http://exstudies.adams.edu.
Financial Aid
Federal Financial Aid is available to eligible students for the ASC distance degree program. To apply students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is available in all college financial aid offices, from high school guidance counselors, or from http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. For questions concerning financial aid at ASC, please contact: Mr. Phil Schroeder, Director of Financial Aid, Adams State College, 208 Edgemont Blvd., Alamosa, CO 81102, phone 1.719.587.7306.
Company-sponsored tuition and military tuition assistance programs may be used for ASC courses. We also encourage students to seek scholarship aid from local civic groups that may sponsor such study. ASC courses are approved for the DANTES program. Eligible military personnel should process DANTES applications through their education office.
Students receiving Federal Financial Aid, military tuition assistance, company sponsored tuition assistance, or any other type of private funding may be required to complete independent study courses in less than one year. Please check with your funding source for specific requirements.
College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) (either General or Subject Exams)
Students who have performed satisfactorily in college-level courses before college entrance and have demonstrated a requisite achievement (minimum scores of 50th percentile) on tests of the College Board-College Level Examination Program may submit the official results to Adams State College for consideration of college credit. The Records Office will record the College credit based on determinations made by the appropriate department chairperson. The maximum credit on the General Exams is 18 semester hours (in the areas of English, Humanities, Natural Science and Social Science). The semester hours of credit for each Subject Exam as well as credit by examination in total will be determined by the appropriate school dean.
To obtain more information about ordering CLEP test scores visit http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html or contact:
CLEP
P.O. Box 6600
Princeton, NJ 08541-6600
Phone: 1.800.257.9558
Fax: (609) 771-7088
Email: clep@info.collegeboard.org
ASC Credit by Examination - "Testing Out" of an ASC Course
Students may petition to receive academic credit for a course if, through prior experience and study, they have attained knowledge and skills that constitute the requirements of the course. Students may receive approval of their petitions if the following criteria have been met:
- The student is enrolled for the course and appropriate tuition and fees have been paid.
- The instructor teaching the course agrees that the student's background experience qualifies the student to be given an opportunity to "test out" for credit.
- The school dean approves the request and instructional recommendations.
Grades for course work completed by examination will be recorded by the instructor in accordance with the grading system for the class. If credit by examination is requested for a course offered by the College but not being offered during that particular term, the student may enroll for the course under independent study.
Credit for Life Experience
Credit for life experiences should be directed to the department chairperson in which credit is requested.
Awarding of Degrees
Degrees are awarded at the end of the semester in which final courses are completed. An Application for Graduation must be submitted to the office of the school dean in which the student's major is housed. The application must be completed within the first month of the semester prior to anticipated graduation. All necessary paperwork must be on file in the Records Office before the student will be approved for graduation.
Graduation ceremonies are held the end of fall and spring semester. Students who complete degree requirements may participate in commencement. Information sheets giving details about graduation exercises, fees for caps, gowns, and announcements will be mailed approximately one month prior to commencement.
