SUBJECT: ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
Policy 301.5 - Transfer of Credits
Effective _____; Issued _____

Board Policy:

A. Transfer students.

1. Students transferring between post-secondary institutions in the State of Montana (i.e. "in-state students") must meet the criteria for "good academic standing," as defined by the receiving institution.

2. Out-of-state transfer applicants must present at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (i.e., equivalent to a "C" on a 4.0 scale), based on transferable credits carried from all colleges or universities previously attended to be eligible for consideration.

B. Transfer policies.

1.  All college level courses from regionally accredited institutions of higher education will be received and applied by all campuses of the Montana University System, and by the community colleges, towards the free elective requirements of the Associate and Baccalaureate degrees.

2. In relation to the major, minor, general education, distribution requirements and free electives of the Associate and Baccalaureate degrees, all campuses of the Montana University System, and the community colleges, are authorized to determine the applicability of credits earned at regionally accredited institutions of higher education.

3.  In administering the policy in paragraphs (1) and (2) of Section B, an institution shall include the credits earned by a student from an institution which is a candidate for regional accreditation after the student has successfully completed 20 semester credits with a 2.0 cumulative grade point average at the receiving institution.

4.  Campuses of the Montana University System, and the community colleges, may give credit for education received from non-collegiate institutions on the basis of recommendations published by the American Council on Education and the National Program on Noncollegiate Sponsored Instruction from the Board of Regents of the State of NYNew York (NYSED).

5.   The Chief Academic Officers shall recommend to the Commissioner procedures to resolve transferability problems. In formulating the recommendations, it is understood that Chief Academic Officers are representing their institution's policy as approved by the Chief Executive Officer.

6.  Institutions may make exceptions to give credit if the criteria described above are not met. However, the following principles should be followed:

a. The chief academic officer, registrar, and admissions officer should review each case utilizing the following criteria:

(1)        There must be evidence that there is academic quality in the institution, both in the faculty and in program offering.

(2)         The student must earn at least a minimum 2.0 grade point average or its equivalent at the receiving institution.

b. Institutions may determine policies relating to the acceptance of college credit from other countries.

C. Definitions.

1. In-state transfer means a Montana resident who has completed 12 or more GPA or Pass credits in college-level courses at another college or university, who is entering a new institution for the first time, and whose credits at the previous institution have been accepted by the receiving institution.

2. For the purposes of this section, GPA and Pass credits mean those college-level credits for which grade points apply toward graduation.

3. College-level courses shall be defined as those courses that are applicable toward an associate of arts, associate of science or baccalaureate degree at their respective institutions. The receiving institution will determine in advance of a students enrollment which courses within an associate of applied science degree will be credited toward a given associates or baccalaureate degree. In all cases, such courses shall not include remedial or developmental courses.