Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to outline that official transcripts are required for all degrees, certificates, and credentials earned prior to application to Columbia College regardless of whether the individual seeks transfer credit or not.
Scope
This policy applies to all applicants and students at the College.
Policy
Applicants must inform the College of all institutions of higher learning attended and whether or not academic credit was earned at these institutions. Falsification of application information, including failure to identify all post-secondary institutions attended, may result in denial of admission or dismissal if discovered after enrollment.
An official transcript and official English language translation from each college and university attended must be submitted to the College before transfer of credit can be accomplished. An official transcript is marked as such and sent directly from the institution attended to the Columbia College Office of the Registrar. A transcript marked official and hand delivered in a sealed envelope of the institution by the applicant will be accepted as official. Transcripts marked unofficial or student copy will not be considered official even if delivered in a sealed institution envelope. Faxed transcripts are not considered official. Credit will not be evaluated nor considered acceptable for admission for one institution from another institution’s transcript. Only grades of ‘C’ or higher are accepted in transfer. The following is a list of examinations and test scores that must be submitted for an official evaluation: CLEP, DANTES (DSST), AP and IB.
Applicants who are unable to obtain transcripts because the previous institution has closed, had a fire or other records catastrophe may include a letter from the institution or the Department of Education for the state or the Ministry of Education where the school is located indicating that the transcript is not available. If the letter is provided along with the application and other transfer documents, then an appeal is not necessary and there will be no delay in the evaluation process.
Applicants may also submit a letter of appeal if a previous institution attended is not currently nor has ever been accredited by one of the accrediting bodies recognized by Columbia College.
International bachelor’s degrees awarded by institutions that are chartered and recognized by their centralized government educational body, or their national ministry of education, will be accepted as meeting the qualifications for a general education waiver if these criteria are met:
- 33 hours of general education course work (as defined by Columbia College)
- Of the 33 hours, representation in these areas must be met:
- Humanities general education course(s)
- Social and behavioral sciences general education course(s)
- Mathematics/science general education course(s)
- ENGL 133W must be completed at Columbia College
- Requests to allow domestic transfer of ENGL 133W must be submitted in writing via the Course Waiver/Substitution/Appeal Form, found on the Office of the Registrar Forms web page.
International students must meet all of the above criteria in order to be eligible for a general education waiver. Once the criteria are met, a request for evaluation must be submitted by your advisor to the Office of the Registrar.
The College evaluates advanced secondary school education from other countries, such as the British Advanced Level Examinations, the French Baccalaureate, the German Abitur, and the Canadian CEGEPs. Students who successfully have completed advanced secondary school education may receive advanced standing or transfer credit at the College. Such credit is evaluated on a course-by-course basis. Students may be asked to submit course descriptions and/or course syllabi for evaluation purposes.
Once a document has been submitted it becomes the property of Columbia College. Neither the original nor a copy will be given to the applicant.