Prior Learning Policy

Based on its commitment to community-oriented education and its mission to serve working adults, Claremont Lincoln University (CLU) enables students to apply transfer credit toward CLU programs and to earn credit for learning from prior experience. CLU accepts up to 75% of credits toward an undergraduate degree program and up to 50% of credits toward a graduate degree program, subject to CLU academic policy, accreditor, state, and federal requirements.

CLU’s prior learning review process offers multiple ways for students to earn undergraduate and graduate credit for demonstrated learning acquired through work and volunteer experience; through corporate, military and industry training and certifications; through external credit evaluation and testing programs; through workforce development, professional training, and in depth professional research; and through other experiences that demonstrate undergraduate or graduate-level learning equivalent. By offering both transfer credit and credit for experiential learning, CLU supports opportunities for substantial savings of time and tuition.

There are several ways that students can receive credit toward a CLU degree or demonstrate prior learning equivalent to the expected learning outcomes in CLU degree program courses. As part of the application process, applicants will be assisted in submitting the appropriate documents for transfer credit, as well as be introduced to the processes for experiential learning credit. Students intending to pursue experiential credit will work directly with CLU’s Experiential Learning Specialist through CLU’s prior learning assessment processes.

Credit reviews and credits earned are subject to fees and subject to the policies and requirements of each process. Per Federal and accreditor regulations, CLU awards credit for demonstrated learning, knowledge, and skills acquired from prior experience, not for the experience itself.

Transfer Credit:

• Academic credit awarded by recognized institutions must be applicable to specific courses or learning outcomes of a CLU degree and cannot include credit that has already been applied to an earned, awarded degree or certificate.
• Experiential learning credit awarded by recognized institutions and not already applied toward an earned, awarded degree.

Credit for Verified Alternative University-Level Education:

• Coursera
• Sophia Learning
• StraighterLine
• Study.com

Credit through CLU Course Challenges:

• CLU credit for successful completion of a comprehensive assignment for a CLU course and demonstrating mastery of the learning outcomes of the course.
• Credit for Military and Related Training: CLU generally accepts ACE and NCCRS-recommended credit for documented military, governmental, and other related training.

Credit Evaluated by Appropriate Agencies:

• American Council on Education (ACE)
• World Education Services (WES) or equivalent international credit evaluation
• National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS)
• Consortium for the Assessment of College Equivalency (CACE)
• Other equivalent agencies

Credit for University-level External Exams:

• Thomas Edison Credit-by-Examination Program (TECEP)
• Credit for Professional Credentials, Licenses, Training, and Certifications: On an individual basis, CLU reviews external credentials and organization-specific training programs completed by the student.
• If deemed applicable to specific CLU learning outcomes, credit may be awarded through the University’s review of prior learning processes for certifications, licenses, apprenticeships, fellowships, research placements, and other advanced professional work completed and/or sustained.

The following guidelines apply to all transfer and experiential learning credit:

1. Credit recommendations result from CLU’s admissions review and the university’s prior learning assessment process, which includes the appropriate approvals from faculty and academic administrators.
2. Credit must be applicable to specific courses or learning outcomes of a CLU degree and cannot include credit that has already been applied to an earned, awarded degree or certificate.
3. A grade of 80% or higher or its equivalent is required for credit to be awarded in graduate courses through the prior learning assessment process and a grade of 75% or higher in undergraduate courses through the prior learning assessment process.
4. A grade of B- or higher is required for graduate transfer credit to be awarded, and a grade of C- or higher is required for undergraduate transfer credit to be awarded.
5. The agency or institution awarding credit must have been in good standing at the time of the award of credit and accredited by an agency recognized by the Department of Education, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or an appropriately recognized ministry or foreign agency, or its equivalent.
6. The learning, experience, or previous courses do not duplicate, overlap, or regress previous work for which credit was already awarded.
7. The credit was not applied toward an undergraduate degree with the exception of dual credit coursework, CLU’s joint/dual degree option, or previously applied credit applied in a graduate degree.
8. Students who have earned a master’s degree at CLU and wish to pursue a second degree may be considered for transfer credit and waivers for courses required in both CLU programs.
9. Students must complete in-residency courses, the Claremont Core® courses, and the CLU Senior Seminar or Capstone as part of the degree progression with CLU. These are not subject to transfer or experiential learning credit.
10. Students must be enrolled at least part time to participate in the PLA/CPL process.
11. Intent to participate in the PLA/CPL process must be declared within the first two terms of enrollment at CLU.
12. The PLA process, including course challenges, does not apply to graduate certificate courses.

Claremont Lincoln University reserves the right to limit or exclude the transfer of credit or credit from prior learning if the course content, assessment process, or student learning outcomes do not meet CLU’s academic standards. CLU uses the guidelines and standards of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), accreditors, and known professional agencies as the foundation for decisions on transfer and experiential learning credit.

Rare exceptions to this policy may be made by the Chief Academic Officer. All decisions regarding this policy or exceptions made by the Chief Academic Officer are final and cannot be appealed.