SUNY Cobleskill, being a leader in Applied Learning, recognizes that students may have gained knowledge through experiences and sources other than completing courses at an accredited institution. SUNY Cobleskill is committed to the practice that individuals be awarded credit for verifiable college-level learning regardless of where or how it was acquired.
Credit for Prior Learning Academic Policy 2.70
1) Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) provides students the opportunity to document verifiable,
college level learning gained outside of a traditional classroom. It is important
to note that though ‘prior learning’ is a widely used term, the award of academic
credit by evaluation can be applied to learning concurrent to one’s program of study
(pursuant to SUNY Award of Academic Credit by Evaluation Policy-memo dated 2-7-2023).
Examples may include professional and industry certifications and licenses or other
credentials, non-credit and continuing education study, noncredit microcredentials
(credit-bearing microcredentials follow policies 2.0-2.20), on-the-job training/education,
and work experience. 2) Students must complete an application through the Dean’s Office
and pay a processing fee. Students are encouraged to apply for CPL within the first
year of study. 3) Evaluation, assessment, and approval will be conducted by teaching
faculty/content experts from the relevant area of study.
Students seeking to appeal a denial of credit for prior learning must submit a written appeal using the Credit for Prior Learning Appeal Form to the Dean’s Office no later than fourteen (14) calendar days after receiving the outcome of the Credit for Prior Learning application. The appeal must be submitted by the student and not a third party. The Dean’s Office will forward the appeal to the appropriate department chair, who will review the request in consultation with faculty content area experts. The department chair will provide a written response to the student within fourteen (14) calendar days of receipt of the appeal, with a copy sent to the Dean’s Office. If the student is not satisfied with the department chair and faculty member’s decision, they may submit a secondary appeal in writing to the Dean’s Office within fourteen (14) calendar days of the faculty member's response. In the event that the student feels that a satisfactory outcome has not been reached, they may forward their appeal in writing to the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) within seven (7) calendar days of receiving the decision. The VPAA will direct the chairperson of the Academic Policies Committee to convene a three (3) member review panel to evaluate the appeal and provide recommendations. The VPAA will review these recommendations and issue a final decision within thirty (30) calendar days, which is not subject to further appeal. Notice of the final decision will be sent in writing to the student, and the completed appeal form will be forwarded to the Registrar’s Office for official recordkeeping.
CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING STUDENT APPLICATION
The web form must be completed and submitted to have your prior learning evaluated for credit towards a course in your academic program.
The Credit for Prior Learning Evaluation is the process by which students are given the opportunity to provide evidence, document their prior learning experience, and be assessed by an evaluator.
You should complete one request per course for which you are having your prior learning evaluated. The total number of credits for Credit for Prior Learning and Transfer credits must not exceed the residency requirements outlined in SUNY Cobleskill’s Academic Policy 2.03. The Dean’s Office will notify the appropriate faculty/ content area expert(s) and they will be in touch with additional instructions on evaluating your prior learning. Note: This process cannot be used for courses that are designated with a (C) as challengeable in the college catalog. Please refer to Academic Policy 2.40-2.43 in the college catalog for information on courses that may be challenged by examination.
Step 1 - The Advising Office
Consult with Academic Advising about the Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) application.
Step 2 - Student Financial Services
Consult with Student Financial Student Services to understand the impact CPL could have on their financial/ academic record
Step 3 - Payment
Upon submission of the application the non-refundable processing fee of $375.00 will be applied to your account
Step 4 - Dean’s Office/Faculty Review
A faculty/ content expert will evaluate the application. The evaluation will take up to four weeks.
Step 5 - Notification from Dean’s Office
The Deans Office reviews the decision from the experts & students are notified of the decision.
Step 6 - Dean’s Office
The Dean’s Office notifies the Registrar's office of the credit to be applied.
Step 7 - Registrar
The Registrar’s Office will apply any earned credit toward the student’s academic program.