Transfer Credit Policies

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Medaille’s transfer policy permits acceptance of credit earned at other regionally accredited colleges and institutions of higher learning. The acceptance of transfer credit for a core course which is over 20 years old will be determined by the department chair in consultation with appropriate department faculty. Students who wish to have credits earned at other institutions applied toward fulfillment of their course of study at Medaille should check with the Admissions Office for an evaluation of these credentials. Only credit is transferable; grades, quality points, and cumulative averages do not transfer.

A maximum of 90 credit hours may be transferred toward a baccalaureate degree from other regionally accredited institutions; however, no more than 72 hours may be transferred from two-year colleges.

A maximum of 45 credit hours toward an associate degree may be accepted in transfer from other regionally accredited institutions.

Only those credits applicable to the degree program entered are accepted.

S and P grades from other institutions are accepted for transfer credit.

Transfer Students Holding an Associate Degree

Medaille University will ordinarily grant full credit (a minimum of 60 credits) for completed coursework to transfer students from two-year colleges who have successfully earned an A.A. or A.S. degree. As necessary and appropriate, the University will grant credit for transfer courses with C- or D grades and will count the credits for these courses toward the completion of matriculation requirements.

In certain instances, University policy regarding an acceptable passing grade in a required and/or prerequisite course may necessitate that a student repeat a course in order to meet the minimum standard required of all Medaille students.

Transfer Students Without a Degree

In the area of a student’s major program of study only grades of C or better are transferable.

Medaille may accept in transfer up to 12 credit hours of D grades as liberal arts electives or free electives provided that the overall transfer average is at least 2.0.

Transfer Equivalency List

Academic Equivalency Options

Medaille University recognizes that adult students may possess knowledge and experiences distinguishing them from the traditional college student. Therefore, Medaille University offers adult students the opportunity to obtain credit for this knowledge and those experiences, through Academic Alternatives.

The Academic Alternative process deals solely with college-level knowledge obtained outside the accredited college classroom. This includes, for example, formal learning gained through successful completion of coursework sponsored by business, military, and government institutions; it also may include, for example, knowledge obtained through career experiences, business expertise, and volunteer work.

The most essential thing to keep in mind about Academic Alternatives is that credit is not awarded for experience (no matter how sophisticated) but for the student’s ability to demonstrate that these experiences, knowledge, and/or skills are comparable to what is required within Medaille University’s degree programs and courses.

Credits earned through academic alternatives are posted on the transcript as a separate designation during the semester in which the credit is awarded. There is an indication of which alternative was pursued. For new and currently enrolled students, the total number of credits earned through any combination of academic alternatives cannot exceed 60 for the baccalaureate degree or 30 for the associate degree. All students working toward the bachelor’s degree must earn the last 30 credits in coursework at Medaille; for the associate degree, the last 15 credits.

Academic Alternatives for Enrolled Medaille Students

Challenge Exams
Students who think they have the knowledge base for a particular course may be able to take a challenge exam instead of enrolling in the course. Contact the Academic Advisor to see which courses are available for challenge exams. This is the only academic alternative given residential credit; satisfactory/unsatisfactory grades are issued for challenge exams. Fee: $100 for each exam; non-refundable, non-transferable.

Exams must be taken within one year of the date of the official letter from the Office of Academic Affairs. Graduates, please check deadline dates for taking exams. The deadline may occur before the one-year deadline date provided by Academic Affairs.

Deadline Dates
May Graduates: File by November 1; take by May 1
January Graduates: File by May 1; take by December 15
August Graduates: File by February 1; take by August 1
*Post-traditional and graduate program students, please check with Student Services for deadlines based on cohort sequences and degree conferral dates.

Other Academic Alternatives Available

DSST
Medaille offers DSST exams administered on campus. Students do not need to be enrolled at Medaille University. The DSST offers approximately 37 examinations in subject areas that include physical science, applied technology, math, business, humanities, and social sciences; all are in a multiple choice format (the speech includes an audio recording). Additional information and fact sheets are available through Get College Credit. Fee: $140 for each exam, non-refundable. In the event that an exam has to be rescheduled, there will be a $10 fee for each rescheduling. Learn more at the Medaille University Registrar.

The following academic alternatives, are options taken at other institutions and are eligible for possible transfer credit at Medaille:

CLEP (College Level Examination Program)
Offered through CLEP are a series of general and specific exams, administered on computer, that measure achievement primarily in the first two years of college. There are five general areas for exams: Composition and Literature, Science & Mathematics, Foreign Language, History & Social Sciences, and Business. Most tests are multiple- choice and have a 90 minute time limit. Additional information and locations for exams is available at the College Board website. Fee: $80 for each exam, effective July 1, 2012.

Excelsior College Examinations
There are approximately 51 Excelsior College Exams in the arts and sciences, business, nursing, and education. Exams are computer delivered and taken at Pearson VUE Testing Centers. Additional information, exam guides, deadlines, and registration procedures are available through Excelsior College.

ACE (American Council on Education) Military Program
There are formal courses offered through the armed services that may be eligible for college transfer credit. A DD214 form should be submitted during the Admissions process; evaluation is conducted by the Medaille Registrar’s Office. Additional information is available through the American Council on Education. To begin, select “Military Programs.”

ACE CCRS (American Council on Education College Credit Recommendation Service)
Provides access to academic credit for formal courses taken through corporations, volunteer associations, and other non-collegiate organizations. Additional information is available through their Lifelong Learning Resource Center (866-205-6267) or by email at credit@ace.nche.edu.

AP (Advanced Placement) Exams
High school students may take college-level courses through their high schools. A formal examination at the completion of the course is required with scoring processed through the CollegeBoard. Additional information is available at the College Board website.

International Baccalaureate
Medaille University will accept transfer credit for IB exams with scores of 5 or better. High school students can obtain more information about this program from their guidance offices and online at ibo.org.

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)

Students have the opportunity to work with the Academic Advisor to prepare a portfolio which demonstrates college-level knowledge/skills that have been acquired through career and life experiences. The portfolio is directed at addressing objectives for a particular course(s) at Medaille University. Students must discuss policies, procedures, and possible courses for PLA with the Academic Alternatives Advisor. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grades are issued for prior learning assessment.

NOTE: A person who applies for PLA credit must first be admitted to and currently registered at the University, either part-time or full-time, before his/her application will be processed.

Fee
$100 non-refundable, non-transferable application fee for each course; $75 for each credit earned.

Deadline Dates
May Graduates: File by October 1; submit by November 1
December Graduates: File by March 15; submit by April 15
*Post-traditional and graduate program students, please check with Student Services for deadlines based on cohort sequences and degree conferral dates.

For more information, please contact Debby Ceppaglia at dceppaglia@medaille.edu or (716) 880-2157.

Articulation Agreements

Medaille currently has, or is developing, dual-enrollment agreements between the undergraduate day programs and the following colleges:

Erie Community College

Genesee Community College

Jamestown Community College

Niagara County Community College

Trocaire College

Medaille faculty and administrators encourage prospective transfer students to explore their transfer options and learn about the many benefits of the Medaille experience, inside and outside the traditional classroom.

Students interested in the undergraduate transfer policies and enrollment matters should consult the transfer admissions section of the undergraduate catalog and talk with admissions staff for assistance.

To facilitate the student’s transition to Medaille, we maintain transfer articulation agreements with a number of regional postsecondary institutions. Most are major-specific 2+2 joint enrollment agreements that map out in clear, specific terms the curricular pathways for students to follow between their current academic program and their desired major at Medaille. These partnership agreements maximize the transferability of credits and their application toward program-specific and generic institutional graduation requirements at Medaille.

Students admitted into a 2+2 at their starting institution are guaranteed a place in their major of choice at Medaille. They arrive at Medaille as rising juniors with typically 57-63 credits to complete in two years.

At Medaille, we value the varied educational backgrounds, rich life experiences, and human diversity that transfer students bring to our campus community. We look forward to serving the ongoing academic needs of students like you who have started your educational journey at another college or university.

The specifics of these agreements are subject to change. The online documents are the most current.