Changes to CLEP credit values -- standard practices?

[greencouch]

As many of you have heard, ACE changed its credit recommendation for the Humanities CLEP from 6 credits to 3 a couple months ago. (Which blows my mind, by the way. I've taken 14 CLEPs and this was the most difficult one by a long shot.)

Anyway, my school, up until last week, had been granting 6 credits for it. During the time they were evaluating my score, they changed their published master list of CLEPs to reflect the ACE recommendation of 3. Today I found out they gave me 3 credits for the exam.

I understand schools are allowed to do this, but since I'm a new student, I'm not sure what the "standard practices" are for situations like this. My biggest questions are:

1. Are schools typically expected to follow their published credit equivalencies at the time the score is submitted for evaluation?
   
2. My larger concern --- can a school retroactively downgrade my other 6-credit CLEPs to 3 after they've been evaluated and posted to my transcript? 
   

I've reached out to my advisor, so I'll hopefully hear back from her tomorrow. But I want to hear about others' experiences so I can gain an understanding of what's considered above-board.

[cookderosa]

As many of you have heard, ACE changed its credit recommendation for the Humanities CLEP from 6 credits to 3 a couple months ago. (Which blows my mind, by the way. I've taken 14 CLEPs and this was the most difficult one by a long shot.)

Anyway, my school, up until last week, had been granting 6 credits for it. During the time they were evaluating my score, they changed their published master list of CLEPs to reflect the ACE recommendation of 3. Today I found out they gave me 3 credits for the exam.

I understand schools are allowed to do this, but since I'm a new student, I'm not sure what the "standard practices" are for situations like this. My biggest questions are:

1. Are schools typically expected to follow their published credit equivalencies at the time the score is submitted for evaluation?
   
2. My larger concern --- can a school retroactively downgrade my other 6-credit CLEPs to 3 after they've been evaluated and posted to my transcript? 
   

I've reached out to my advisor, so I'll hopefully hear back from her tomorrow. But I want to hear about others' experiences so I can gain an understanding of what's considered above-board.

Question 1- yes, but not for the reason you stated. When you enroll, you do so as a student under a catalog. That catalog is your framework for earning your degree- it's the soup to nuts criteria you'll follow (colleges change policies all the time, some every year, so it's not realistic or fair to expect a student's degree process to change - that's why you lock in when you enroll.) If you weren't enrolled, rather you only applied, it is unlikely that you'll make any headway....but.... it is common for colleges to award credit based on what it was when the student took it. So, since the VERSION you took was 6 credits, and WHEN you took it, your college awarded 6, you can explain to your advisor as much. Know that the ACE catalog shows this date range for 3 credits: 3/1/2015 - 11/30/2018, and the PREVIOUS date range as being worth 6, so if you're talking about pre 3/1/2015 you're going to have an easier time in my estimation.

Question 2- that's possible, but is very sketchy. They can claim an error was corrected, but again, if you can show your version matches a version "worth" more credit, you can put a little evidence behind your words. Honestly, it is something I would press forward on if I were in your shoes, but if they do change all your exams, you'll have to decide where the line in the sand is for you. 3 credits? 6? 12?
I'd probably be a p.i.t.a.

[greencouch]

Very helpful!  Thank you!

[a2jc4life]

ACE didn't change that recommendation way back in 2015 did they?

[greencouch]

Welp, I'm a little pissed. The advisor told me that they updated their credit equivalencies based on ACE's recommendations. However, after digging around the metadata of SNHU's CLEP credit table, they didn't alter their credit equivalencies until a week after I submitted my scores for evaluation. I've reached out directly to the registrar to make my case. I understand schools have the prerogative to update their credit tables. But when it comes to enrolled students, they should honor the values publicly-advertised at the time scores are submitted.

[greencouch]

Update:  The registrar responded quickly. I was worried because I figured a quick response would = instant shutdown of my request. But to my surprise, they've decided to honor the exam for 6 credits. I'm super happy with how they handled the situation.

[jsd]

Great news, good on them for honoring it.

[a2jc4life]

Always good to hear a positive update!

[cookderosa]

Great outcome!! Good for you for pressing the issue. Lots of students would have accepted the 3 and moved on. You saved big bucks with that email!