Randolph-Macon College recognizes that students may complete college-level learning through a variety of educational pathways prior to or during enrollment. Transfer and external credit (e.g., standardized examination or military education) may be awarded to support student progress while maintaining the academic quality and integrity of Randolph-Macon degree programs.
The College maintains sole authority for determining whether credit earned elsewhere will be accepted and how it applies to degree requirements. Transfer and external credit evaluations are conducted by the Registrar, in consultation with faculty or department chairs when disciplinary expertise is required. Evaluation is conducted without regard to the mode of instructional delivery.
Evaluation of Transfer and External Credit
Transfer credit will be evaluated based on the following:
• course level and academic rigor
• course content and learning outcomes
• comparability to Randolph-Macon courses
• applicability to Randolph-Macon degree requirements
Credit is awarded only for coursework determined to be college-level and appropriate to the Randolph-Macon curriculum. Courses may be accepted in transfer if they are completed with a grade of C- or higher (or equivalent). The Registrar may request additional documentation (course descriptions, syllabi, or other materials) when necessary to evaluate credit.
Coursework completed at institutions holding accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, or an equivalent international quality assurance authority, will generally be considered for transfer. Accreditation serves as one indicator of institutional oversight and educational quality; however, all transfer credit is subject to the academic evaluation criteria outlined above. The College reserves the right to deny credit if the coursework or examination does not meet Randolph-Macon academic standards or is not comparable to courses offered at the College.
Application to Degree Requirements
Accepted credit may be applied toward general education, major, minor, or elective requirements as determined through the evaluation process. Credit applied to general education requirements does not automatically satisfy major or minor requirements.
Accepted credit is awarded as credit hours only and does not affect the Randolph-Macon GPA. In accordance with the Repeated Courses policy, transfer credit will not replace or alter the GPA for coursework previously completed at Randolph-Macon.
For programs subject to state licensure, certification, or specialized accreditation requirements, the acceptance and application of transfer or external credit may be limited by external standards. Students in these programs must meet all applicable requirements established by the relevant state agency or accrediting body.
Limits on Transfer Credit
• A maximum of 75 semester hours of combined transfer and external credit may be applied toward a degree.
• At least one-half of the coursework required for a major or minor must be completed at Randolph-Macon.
Types of Transfer and External Credit
Transfer Coursework
Credit may be awarded for coursework completed at other colleges or universities that meet the evaluation criteria above.
Dual Enrollment Credit
College-level coursework completed through dual enrollment in high school may be eligible for transfer credit if it is offered by a college or university authorized to provide college-level instruction and appears on an official college transcript. Such coursework is evaluated according to the criteria above. The College must receive the official college transcript to award credit.
Military Education and Training
Military transcripts (e.g., Joint Services Transcript, Community College of the Air Force transcript) are evaluated using American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations as a guide in the applications of the evaluation criteria above.
Standardized Examination
Students are responsible for requesting that official score reports be sent to Randolph-Macon College.
Advanced Placement (AP)
• Credit is awarded according to AP score table
• Typically, scores of 4 or 5 receive credit
International Baccalaureate Program (IB)
• Credit is awarded according to IB score table
• Typically, HL (Higher Level) scores of 5, 6, or 7 receive credit
• Exams that do not appear on the IB score table will be evaluated case-by-case by the Registrar in consultation with the appropriate department chair
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
• CLEP credit is evaluated case-by-case by the Registrar in consultation with the appropriate department chair
• Credit may be awarded based on exam subject, score, and comparability to Randolph-Macon coursework. Not all CLEP exams correspond to Randolph-Macon courses; credit may not be awarded for every exam
Courses Taken at Other Institutions While Enrolled at RMC
Students must obtain prior approval from the Registrar and the appropriate academic department before enrolling in coursework at another institution while enrolled at Randolph-Macon.
Non-Transferable Coursework
The following are generally not eligible:
• remedial or developmental courses
• English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction
• non-credit or continuing education coursework
• coursework that does not meet college-level academic standards
Documentation
Students are responsible for submitting official transcripts from all previously attended institutions and official score reports for standardized examinations. Transfer or external credit is awarded only upon receipt of official documentation. Students are encouraged to submit materials prior to matriculation or promptly after completing approved coursework taken while enrolled.
Duplication of Credit
Students may not receive duplicate credit for the same or substantially similar courses, whether earned at Randolph-Macon or through transfer, dual enrollment, or credit by examination. Certain courses specifically designed to be repeatable for credit are exempt from this rule.
Removal of Credit
Students may request removal of transfer or examination credit within one year of matriculation at Randolph-Macon by submitting a written request to the Registrar’s Office. Requests submitted after one year of enrollment require approval from the Committee on Academic Policies. Removal of credit will be permanently removed from degree applicability and may affect the student’s classification or progress toward degree completion.
Appeals
Students may appeal transfer or external credit decisions to the Committee on Academic Policies. Appeals must include supporting documentation (course descriptions, syllabi, etc.).