Random Thoughts & Bits of Wisdom on Education

By Anita Miller, Dean

It is not uncommon for students to change colleges before completing their degrees. This can happen for a myriad of reasons:  the student doesn’t feel that the current college is a good  fit, the student moves to a new area, the student may decide on a new career path that will lead to career advancement, or a student chooses to pursue another degree after completion of a degree.


As the Dean of the Harrison College Columbus Indiana college campus, I am frequently asked “Do I have to start all over again?” There is no easy answer to this question but I would like to try to take some of the mystery out of the process.


All colleges have the ability to set their own rules and regulations regarding accepting credits from other educational institutions. The process of accepting these credits is called transfer of credit. At some colleges this will be an easy process while at others it can be a frustrating process. There are steps you can take to make this process as successful as possible for your academic future.


1.  Know who you should speak with concerning transferring previously earned credits. Normally, this will be the registrar or dean of the college you want to attend. You will be required to provide an official transcript in order for your credits to be evaluated. You order this from your previous college. There may or may not be a charge for this. You should always have the transcript sent directly to the new college you are enrolling in. Most institutions will not accept a transcript for transfer credits if it was given to the student. This is to ensure that the information has not been tampered with. 


2.  Ask about specific rules and regulations of the institution. One question you should ask is if there is a time limit on transferring credits. Most institutions will not accept credits that are over ten years old. Another question you should ask is how many credits you can transfer into the new college. Many colleges have a percentage limit on the number of credits you can transfer in. This commonly is 50-75% of the total credits required for your new program. Also, you should ask if they limit the schools they will consider credits from. This many depend upon accreditation of the previous college.

 
3.  Ask about articulation agreements. Colleges can sign agreements with each other to reciprocally accept credits. This will make the transfer process run very smoothly. You might want to check this out before applying at a new school. Don’t hesitate if no articulation agreement exists. You can always request to speak with someone regarding your credits. If there are any questions, you may be asked to provide additional documentation. This may include such things as a syllabus or the course description. Don’t hesitate to contact your previous college to ask for their assistance in obtaining this information.


Remember, your education is important. You may need to advocate for yourself in this process. Don’t be disappointed if you do not get all of your credits accepted. If it is the right college for you, it will be worth it in the end.

About Anita Miller: Anita not only believes in life long learning, she lives it. Anita earned her MBA from an adulte education program while working a full-time job.  After teaching Business Classes for several years at Harrison College, formerly Indiana Business College, she was promoted to Dean. This love of education pervades Anita’s family. Anita’s brother, cousin, grandfather, great aunt, and great uncle were also teachers.