Senate Bill No.: 0607-08
UNIVERSITY SENATE
UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
Introduced by:
Undergraduate Academic Council
Date:
December 6, 2006
REVISION OF POST-MATRICULATION TRANSFER CREDIT POLICY
IT IS HEREBY PROPOSED THAT THE FOLLOWING BE ADOPTED:
1.
That the attached revision of policies and procedures related to undergraduate
post-matriculation transfer credit be revised immediately.
2.
That these policies be forwarded to the President for approval.
Rationale:
The policy now in effect was established prior to the existence of the transfer equivalency
databank. Currently, an undergraduate who wishes to take a course elsewhere after
matriculation must obtain the approval of the academic advisor on a "Transfer Credit
Permission Form." While students "should have prior approval in writing", many do not. In
those cases, the Registrar receives the transcript from the other school but can do nothing
with it until the student obtains the advisor's approval. Among other problems, this
prolonged delay affects the student's credit total, which determines when the student may
advance register.
For the majority of the institutions our students attend, either articulation agreements
have been signed stipulating transfer equivalencies or, over time, enough students have
transferred from or taken courses at the other institution that Albany equivalencies have
already been assigned to most of the other institution's courses. These are readily
available from the Transfer Equivalency Databank (https://p0l0.albany.edu/tas/), which
students use to find the courses and which most advisers use in filling out the
“ permission” form (available at http://www.albany.edu/registrar/transfer_credits.html ).
Therefore, the UAC believes this process is unnecessary for courses whose Albany
equivalencies have already been determined.
TRANSFER CREDIT AFTER MATRICULATION
CURRENT POLICY:
Since not all courses are acceptable for transfer credit, students wishing to
take courses at other institutions for credit toward the degree at this
university should have prior approval in writing from their academic
advisors. Such written approval must be filed with the Registrar's Office,
and an official transcript of work satisfactorily completed at the other
institution(s) must be received by that office before credit will be awarded.
(UAC, 11/7/77)
Before approving post-matriculation transfer credit, the Admissions Office
is responsible for making certain the other institution is accredited, credits
are appropriate, and course equivalencies are appropriate. (UAC, 4/30/84;
University Senate information item, 5/7/84)
Before approving post-matriculation transfer credits, the student's academic
advisor is responsible for making certain the courses are applicable to the
student's degree program and for recommending appropriate course
equivalencies. (UAC, 4/30/84; University Senate information item, 5/7/84)
PROPOSED REVISION:
Transfer equivalencies for institutions and courses previously approved for transfer credit
are available online from the University at Albany's Transfer Equivalency Databank on
the Registrar’s web page. Courses not included in the databank may still be awarded
transfer credit but require a course description or syllabus be attached to the transfer
credit permission form. Post-matriculation transfer courses may not meet some
requirements for the major, minor, and/or liberal arts credit requirements. Also, they
cannot meet residency requirements. Students are strongly advised to consult with their
advisors and/or the department in question about transfer credits prior to taking courses at
other institutions.
Current procedures and the transfer credit permission form are available on the
Registrar’s Office website.
