PREFACE

This Memorandum of Agreement was initially signed on July 9, 1998, by UH Senior Vice President and Community Colleges Chancellor Joyce Tsunoda and by UH West O'ahu Interim Chancellor Joanne Clark.

As noted in section 5 C of the agreement, provision was made for technical assistance and training of personnel. Such training took place during the Fall 1998 semester. As the result of procedures clarified during the training, Section 5 B (Parts 1 and 2) of the Agreement was revised. This is the revised agreement.

 

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT (Revised)
BETWEEN THE
UH COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND UH WEST O'AHU
ON THE ACCEPTANCE AND TRANSFER OF CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING

Principles and Standards

The University of Hawai'i supports the concept of lifelong learning, and affirms that college- level learning may occur in many diverse settings, both in and outside of the classroom. One important dimension of that learning process occurs within the college classroom, with the sharing of knowledge and experiences among faculty and students leading to the mastery of subject material. The UH Community Colleges and UH West O'ahu offer many such quality classroom options to students.

In addition, significant college-level learning may occur beyond the traditional college classroom. Distance education -- through the Hawai'i Interactive Television System (HITS), cable television, and/or the Internet -- provides one such non-traditional path to college-level learning. Another path is the learning which occurs through experience. This may take the form of work-related experience; community involvement; volunteer activities; hobbies; formal courses sponsored by associations, business, government, industry, the military or unions; or through independent reading. SOME of these experiences may result in college-level learning -- i.e., learning which involves demonstrated competency in both the theory and the application of subject matter.

In recognition of the value of such learning, the University of Hawai'i supports the evaluation of student experiences beyond the college classroom for possible application toward University of Hawai'i -- West O'ahu and UH Community College degrees and certificates.

Philosophy and Mission

The University of Hawai'i Community Colleges enable the University of Hawai'i System to meet its mandate of putting post-secondary education within the reach of every Hawai'i resident who wants it and can benefit from it. As open-door, low-tuition institutions, the UH Community Colleges provide access through seven degree-granting campuses and affiliated outreach centers.

Within this context, the Community Colleges offer the Associate in Arts (AA) and Associate in Science (AS) degrees to students taking the first steps toward a baccalaureate degree. The Community Colleges also offer the Associate in Applied Science (AAS) and Associate in Technical Studies (ATS) degrees, as well as a variety of certificates, to students seeking professional or technical preparation for employment or employment upgrading.

At the same time, the University of Hawai'i-West O'ahu has, as its special mission within the UH System, the provision of innovative learning opportunities leading to a baccalaureate degree to the rapidly growing population of leeward and central O'ahu and the neighbor islands -- especially to non-traditional students, including working adults.

Both the UH Community Colleges and UH West Oahu recognize the increasing needs of mature adults who are hindered, either by time or distance, from accessing the traditional classroom approach to higher education. Yet-- at the same time that access to campus becomes more difficult for these individual learners because of work and/or family obligations -- access to the benefits of a post-secondary education are becoming more crucial. Increasingly, employers expect mastery of both technical skills and basic skills in critical thinking and communication.

To assure the greatest degree of access and flexibility for Hawai'i's adult learners without compromising standards, the UH Community Colleges and UH West O'ahu enter into this Agreement to better meet the educational goals of our adult learner students.

Agreements and Procedures

1. Scope of Agreement. This Memorandum of Agreement applies among the UH Community Colleges; between the UHCC's and UH-West O'ahu; and within UHWO.

A) Among the UHCC's

This MOA applies to the AA degree and the AS degree.

B) Between the UHCC's and UHWO

This MOA applies to the AA degree and select AS degrees (as defined by separate formal agreements) offered by the UH Community Colleges as preparation for transfer to UH West O'ahu.

C) Within UHWO

This MOA applies to the baccalaureate degree.



While other types of prior learning may be eligible for AAS or ATS credit at the Community Colleges, such credits are not covered as a part of this Agreement.



2. Types of Prior Learning Credit to be Awarded. The following types of credit for prior learning are covered under this Memorandum of Agreement: Challenge or Credit-By-Exams (CBE); and Portfolio Assessment. Attachment 1 provides information on each of the types of prior learning credit covered under this Agreement.





3. General Guidelines for the Application and Award of Credits

 

A. Student Eligibility



Students must be currently enrolled as "classified students"at a participating UH campus to be eligible for the award of any prior learning credit. The only exception will be UH West O'ahu students who indicate interest in lower-division portfolio assessment credit. While maintaining their enrollment at UH West O'ahu, these students will be referred to a UH Community College where the award of lower-division credit through portfolio assessment would be more appropriately determined.



Before a student can apply for portfolio-based credit at one of the UH Community Colleges, the student must successfully complete at least six credits at a UH Community College with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. For students enrolled at UH West O'ahu, this requirement is waived.



B. Timeline for Application

 

At the UH Community Colleges, students are encouraged to apply for prior learning credits during their first year of attendance.



At the UH West O'ahu, students must apply for any of the prior learning assessment options within their first year of attendance at the College.



C. Maximum Credits



1) UH Community Colleges. In accord with guidelines of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges(WASC) -- Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, portfolio-based learning cannot exceed 30 credits total. Students are encouraged to check individual campus catalogs for maximum limits on prior learning credits.

 

2) UH West O'ahu. Up to 42 eligible credits through all prior learning options may be applied toward a baccalaureate degree. Of these, a maximum of 30 may be from portfolio-based learning, as dictated by WASC guidelines. UHWO policy limits to 15 the number of portfolio-based credits which can be earned for upper division courses. (Exceptions may be made by the Chancellor upon recommendation of the Division.)



D. Posting of Credits



At UH West O'ahu, students may apply for portfolio review upon enrollment. Credits awarded for portfolio review, however, will not be posted until the students has successfully completed at least six credits at UHWO with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.



At the UH Community Colleges, similarly, credits awarded for portfolio review will be posted only after the student has successfully completed at least six credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.



At all participating campuses, credits awarded for prior learning will be identified as prior learning credits on the student's transcript/ academic record.





E. Residency



With the exception of credits granted as the result of in-house credit-by-exam, credits awarded for prior learning may not be used to meet campus residency requirements.



F. Transferability



Prior learning credits awarded within the guidelines established in this Agreement will transfer between and among UH Community College campuses and UH West O'ahu. However, students should be informed by both "sending" and "receiving" campuses that not all transferred credits may be applicable to a given degree program.



It is important to note that UH Hilo and UH Mnoa are not parties to this agreement. If a student chooses to transfer to UH Hilo, UH Mnoa, or an external (i.e., non-UH System) higher education institution, there is no guarantee that the prior learning credits awarded under this Agreement will transfer.



It should be noted that guidelines are different for credits which transfer between and among UH Community Colleges, and those guidelines for transfer of credit from a UH Community College to UH West O'ahu.



G. Financial Aid/Concurrent Enrollment/ VA Benefits



Prior learning credit may not be used for either financial aid, veterans' benefits or concurrent enrollment status.







H. Campus Procedures



Each UH campus which is a party to this MOA will be responsible for establishing procedures which detail the timeline and deadlines for application, review of requests for award of prior learning credit, and the appeals process for such credit. The fee structure for prior learning credit, other than portfolio assessment, may be found in campus catalogs or other campus publications.



4. Award of Credit through Credit-By-Examination and/or Challenge Examinations



For purposes of this Agreement, "college-level liberal arts courses" are defined as those courses traditionally associated with the arts and sciences, and which normally are numbered 100 and above within the UH System. As reported in May 1997 by the Transfer Network Steering Committee, all college-level, liberal arts credits awarded by a University of Hawai'i campus through institutional credit-by-exam and/or challenge examination options will be accepted for transfer by other UH campuses.





5. Award of Credits through Portfolio Assessment. Assessment of portfolios and the award of credits as a result of that portfolio assessment will be in accordance with the following guidelines.



A. Eligible knowledge and experiences



1) College-level learning. While it is recognized that learning occurs in a variety of ways, only college-level learning (knowledge, skills, competencies) which has been adequately demonstrated and documented will be considered for college credit. Competency in theory and application of subject matter will be expected. Simply completing a course or having an extended exposure to a field of knowledge is not sufficient. Also, because the successful preparation of a portfolio demands a great deal of writing, students must be eligible for, or must have completed, English 100 or the equivalent.



2) Applicability to degree. Only college-level learning, demonstrated and documented, that is applicable to a degree offered at one of the UH Community Colleges and/or at UH West O'ahu will be awarded credit. It should be noted that not all courses applicable to a UH Community College degree will be applicable to a UH West O'ahu baccalaureate degree.



3) Application for credit. Requests for prior learning credit must be for a course from a current University of Hawai'i catalog, with the provision that the Community Colleges may award only lower-division credit.



B. Procedures



1) Application process and fee. Each campus will identify an individual and/or office that will accept applications for portfolio assessment. Students contemplating the submission of a portfolio will pay a $25 fee to register for portfolio advising. This entitles the student to receive a Student Handbook for Portfolio Assessment and to be provided with written and audio-visual materials which will explain in greater detail what is involved with portfolio preparation.



Should the student then decide to proceed with the process of portfolio preparation, the student will apply for portfolio assessment. The cost of portfolio assessment will be based upon tuition. For example, if the portfolio is submitted as the equivalent of a three-credit course, the charge would be the equivalent of three semester hours' tuition. This tuition charge is non-refundable. That is, even if the student is unsuccessful in his/her attempt to earn credit, the tuition is not refunded.



Tuition and/or fees for this procedure will be re-assessed in two years from the date of implementation of the MOA.



3) Portfolio review



a. Selection of reviewer. When the portfolio is ready for review, the Dean of Instruction (cc's) or the Chancellor or designee (WO) will select one faculty member from a systemwide pool of trained and eligible faculty in the area of study for which course credit is being sought. The reviewer cannot be the same individual who served as portfolio advisor. A selected reviewer may decline to serve if there is a potential conflict of interest.



b. Review process. The evaluation of the portfolio will be a "blind" review. The name and campus of the student applying for credit will not be revealed to the reviewer. The faculty reviewer will have up to three weeks to complete the review and evaluation of the portfolio.



c. Evaluation summary. The faculty reviewer will determine whether or not the knowledge of the subject demonstrated is equal to a college-level grade of "C" or better. The faculty member is responsible for recommending whether credit should be awarded or not awarded. Whether the recommendation is favorable or not, the rationale and documentation in support of that decision is required.



d. Appeals process. If a student disagrees with the results of the review process, the student may appeal the negative recommendation. The student will be assessed a non-refundable $25 appeals review fee for each course reviewed.



The second faculty reviewer will be identified through the established selection process.



If the second review results in a negative recommendation, credit will be denied. If the second review results in a positive recommendation, the first and second evaluations will be sent to a third reviewer for final decision making. The decision is final at this level.



e. Posting of credit. In addition to the general guidelines established in this Agreement (see Item 3 above), credit awarded through portfolio assessment will be posted as equivalent to a specific University of Hawai'i course .



C. Personnel Selection and Training; Technical Assistance



Procedures for the selection and the training of portfolio advisors and faculty reviewers will be developed by the UH Community Colleges in cooperation with UH West O'ahu. Timeline for such development is Summer 1998.



To facilitate implementation of this MOA, technical assistance -- including the development of a model handbook for the assessment of prior learning -- will be provided by the Office of the Chancellor for Community Colleges, in cooperation with UH West O'ahu. Timeline for such development is Summer 1998.



D. Faculty Reimbursement for Portfolio Review



Each faculty member will be compensated $75 for each portfolio evaluated.





E. Administration and Implementation; Interpretation



On each community college campus, the overall responsibility for the administration and implementation of this MOA rests with the Dean of Instruction, with the assistance of the Dean of Student Services. At UH WO, this responsibility rests with the Chancellor.



For purposes of uniformity, questions or disputes relating to the interpretation and application of this MOA, including any questions relating to circumstances or cases not covered by this Agreement, shall be resolved for the Community Colleges by the Chancellor for Community Colleges or designee and for UH West O'ahu by the Chancellor of UH West O'ahu or designee. If necessary for uniformity among all participating campuses, issues will be resolved jointly by the two Chancellors.



F. Conflicts; Amendments



For purposes of uniformity, in the event of any conflicts between the provisions of this MOA and individual campus policies, the provisions of this MOA shall supersede those individual campus policies. However, exceptions to this general rule may be granted jointly by the Chancellor for Community Colleges and the Chancellor of UH West O'ahu upon application from a community college provost.



Amendments and additions to this MOA may be made with the joint approval of the Chancellor for Community Colleges and the Chancellor of UH West O'ahu.



G. Effective Date



This agreement shall take effect upon execution.


Joyce S. Tsunoda date Joanne E. Clark date

Senior Vice-President, University of Interim Chancellor

Hawai'i, and Chancellor for Community University of Hawai'i -- West O'ahu

Colleges

PREFACE



This Memorandum of Agreement was initially signed on July 9, 1998, by UH Senior Vice President and Community Colleges Chancellor Joyce Tsunoda and by UH West O'ahu Interim Chancellor Joanne Clark.



As noted in section 5 C of the agreement, provision was made for technical assistance and training of personnel. Such training took place during the Fall 1998 semester. As the result of procedures clarified during the training, Section 5 B (Parts 1 and 2) of the Agreement was revised. This is the revised agreement.