FEMA & FREE College Credit courses

[mapalo]

I have read so much on this Thread.

Has anyone been able to varify if Excelsior College with accept FEMA credits, from TESC credit Bank?

Mapalo

[barcotta]

Intrigued by the spirited debate on this topic (as well as the opportunity to acquire some "fill-in" credits) I decided to pursue the issue of FEMA credits for Excelsior students via Thomas Edison. If you don't know what I'm talking about, read the earlier messages in this thread first.

I just got off the phone with Jennifer (x1331) at Excelsior. She's a Business program advisor. I first spoke to her this morning re. this issue. She informed me that she would not expect that FEMA credits transferred through Thomas Edison would be accepted at Excelsior because Excelsior does not accept "3rd party" credits. She explained that, for example, if I had taken CLEP exams while enrolled at Thomas Edison that they would not accept the credit from Thomas Edison. Instead, they would transfer it directly from the College Board. I'm not sure if all this is true or if it even matters--but I figured I'll get everything down and those who have been exploring this longer and more intently than I may or may not benefit.

I then explained the cost issue and what had been discussed on this forum. She said she would research and call me back. When she called me back she informed me that FEMA credits transferred from Thomas Edison WOULD be accepted at Excelsior as elective credits. She also said that was true of Frederick Community College, Clackamus CC and Lewis & Clark CC. Turns out Lewis & Clark CC no longer supports this program and Clackamus CC is $60 per unit--just like Frederick. What we need is a California Community College to get in on this. My community college is only $20 per unit! In any event, Jennifer made it a point to tell me that FEMA credits are OK, but NETC (National Emergency Training Center?) credits would NOT be accepted this was. NETC would have to come through another channel (of which I'm not familiar and don't recall at the moment--since I had never dealt with NETC until this phone call).

Also, Jennifer told me that the Excelsior policy on this changed in November (assumably 2006) so anyone inquiring prior to that date may have received a different answer. Finally, to make sure I had this 100% correct, I called back and spoke with another advisor named Sandy, and Sandy confirmed for me that the credits could be transferred in to Excelsior specifically through the Thomas Edison credit bank.

So, obviously, the tipping point is at 6 credits. It costs $380 to join the credit bank at Thomas Edison and $60 per credit through the community colleges. In the Excelsior Business program, you only have 15 electives, so if you've met some of them in some other, less expensive way, the best deal may be to round out the last few you need using Frederick Community College. I'm trying to challenge some courses at my local community college at $20 per credit. Depending on how far I get, I'll likely just use the FEMA credits for 4-6 of my elective credits.

[mapalo]

Thank you very much this is so helpful.

Any idea which courses to take with FEMA, I am just starting so I have a long way to go, may not that long after all

Mapalo

[Katterina]

I just got off the phone with Jennifer (x1331) at Excelsior. She's a Business program advisor. I first spoke to her this morning re. this issue. She informed me that she would not expect that FEMA credits transferred through Thomas Edison would be accepted at Excelsior because Excelsior does not accept "3rd party" credits. She explained that, for example, if I had taken CLEP exams while enrolled at Thomas Edison that they would not accept the credit from Thomas Edison. Instead, they would transfer it directly from the College Board. I'm not sure if all this is true or if it even matters--but I figured I'll get everything down and those who have been exploring this longer and more intently than I may or may not benefit.

I then explained the cost issue and what had been discussed on this forum. She said she would research and call me back. When she called me back she informed me that FEMA credits transferred from Thomas Edison WOULD be accepted at Excelsior as elective credits. She also said that was true of Frederick Community College, Clackamus CC and Lewis & Clark CC. Turns out Lewis & Clark CC no longer supports this program and Clackamus CC is $60 per unit--just like Frederick. What we need is a California Community College to get in on this. My community college is only $20 per unit! In any event, Jennifer made it a point to tell me that FEMA credits are OK, but NETC (National Emergency Training Center?) credits would NOT be accepted this was. NETC would have to come through another channel (of which I'm not familiar and don't recall at the moment--since I had never dealt with NETC until this phone call).

Also, Jennifer told me that the Excelsior policy on this changed in November (assumably 2006) so anyone inquiring prior to that date may have received a different answer. Finally, to make sure I had this 100% correct, I called back and spoke with another advisor named Sandy, and Sandy confirmed for me that the credits could be transferred in to Excelsior specifically through the Thomas Edison credit bank.

I just got off the phone with my liberal arts advisor and got the same answer. She said several times that Frederick is the preferred place to transcript them and that they might not transfer as well from TESC, but later said that non- NETC FEMA credits should transfer from TESC. I'm going to try banking them with TESC and transferring them to Excelsior. I hope they transfer okay and I'm not wasting my time and money. :confused:

[mapalo]

Katarrina
Did you have any idea which FEMA, courses to take, because I understand some course they don't give credit for them.

Please let me know or anyone that can help me with this answer

Mapalo

[Katterina]

I chose courses from the list that Michael linked below. I'll be sure to update my transcripting progress when it is complete.

It is amazing how much discussion has been had over the fact that I sent my FEMA and USFA transcripts to Thomas Edison State College and got 39 credits for the FEMA Independent Study Courses and 3 credits for Fire Academy Independent Study Courses for a total of $250 using the TESC Credit Bank and military discount which gives a lower cost and unlimited credits, and then got Excelsior to transfer all of these to my Excelsior transcript at no additional cost. Wait till you see what I do next. No hints.

My FEMA Course Log
FEMA Independent Study Courses for College Credit

[mapalo]

Thank you very much this is very helpful.

[derek10rr3]

Can anyone other than U.S. Citizens take those courses?

Im in canada, but am working towards a degree at TESC and was just wondering If I'd be able to take any of these and apply them for credit.


EDIT: I see on Webpage, it is only limited to us citizens.

Oh well, that's too bad, could have been easy credits.

[greatlabguy]

i figure i should jump in on this as i had previously asked the fine folks at excelsior after my enrollment what is the deal with these fema credits. . .i was told that they can be accepted, but regardless of what they look like difficulty-wise, they would be considered lower level electives (this was in regards specifically to my program of bsls) I didn't need anymore lower level credits at all so at that point i stopped the questioning. as this was the third time i had contact with this same person at excelsior, and each time the information had been quite on spot, i see no reason that it would be invalid this time.

[Old Rusty Pipe]

FYI guys. I just got my response back from Charter Oak concerning their acceptance of FEMA credits. I'll just copy and paste the appropriate part of the email. Hopefully someone finds this useful.


-----------------------------
Thank you for your message. The credit registry/bank offered by Thomas
Edison State College may be used to transfer many of the FEMA credits.
However, at this time it is unclear if Thomas Edison State College
faculty is assessing the FEMA credits on their own. Therefore there
could be a few that appear on the Edison transcript that we cannot
locate from the Frederick evaluation or the Edison prior learning
course
reviews; those we cannot transfer.

If you have Edison transcript the FEMA courses you will need to make
sure Edison has this description as part of it's Prior Learning Course
descriptions Prior Learning Assesment Credit Description Database (under EDM) & it should appear on
the Frederick FEMA list as well.
--------------------------