Have the Arnold Fletcher Award requirements changed?

[Laura.C]

Hi everyone,

This forum has been a wealth of support for me while earning a degree. While browsing TESU's website today I saw that the requirements for the Arnold Fletcher Award might be changed at this link:

51% of the credits earned at Thomas Edison State University toward the degree must be earned through Thomas Edison State University's online courses with a minimum of 10 courses necessary to be considered for the award.

Students must have earned an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher
Thomas Edison State University Courses (online, Guided Study and e-PackÂ)

Do CLEPs and DSST exams not count for the award anymore?

[RANSOMSOUL]

The requirements have definitely been updated. Here is how the Award previously read:

The Arnold Fletcher Award recognizes Thomas Edison State College bachelor’s degree graduates forexceptional achievement in nontraditional learning. Students selected for this award havedemonstrated outstanding achievement by earning a minimum total of 90 credits from one ormore of the innovative nontraditional learning modes recognized by the College. The award isnamed in honor of Dr. Arnold Fletcher, vice president emeritus, who was the College’s first academicvice president and pioneered many innovative methods of earning a College degree. Graduateswearing the gold double honor cords are the Arnold Fletcher Award recipients.


The following areas are examples of appropriate nontraditional learning modes:

Credit for courses taught
Thomas Edison State University Courses (online, Guided Study and e-PackÂ)
Licenses/Certificates/Registries
Military training evaluated by the American Council on Education (ACE)
ACE
Prior learning assessment (PLA)
Testing programs
Students selected for the award are required to have earned a minimum total of 90 credits from nontraditional learning.

As shared, it clearly now has a new break down to meet the award requirements:

[FONT=&quot]Dr. Arnold Fletcher was the University's first vice president and played an instrumental role developing and leading the institution's academic enterprise. Under his leadership, Thomas Edison developed its first degree programs, appointed its first Academic Council, created its first exam programs and courses and became a pioneer in prior learning assessment. The Arnold Fletcher Award recognizes Thomas Edison State University bachelor’s degree graduates for exceptional achievement in online learning. Award recipients are selected from each graduating class. The following criteria must be met to earn the award: [/FONT]

• 51% of the credits earned at Thomas Edison State University toward the degree must be earned through Thomas Edison State University's online courses with a minimum of 10 courses necessary to be considered for the award.
  
• Students must have earned an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher
  Thomas Edison State University Courses (online, Guided Study and e-PackÂ)
  

It is more difficult to achieve compared to the prior requirements. However, just on first impressions, the award now has a much stronger value for a young or seasoned resume (value search for HR & Hiring Manager).

[davewill]

It looks to me like they've made the requirements VERY narrow. 10 courses are essentially 30 credits, which leaves 90 credits left in a bachelor's degree. So basically you have to take 10 TESU online courses and all the rest have to be alternative credit. Transfer much of anything in the way of CC credits and you're toast.

[cookderosa]

that's a bummer. It feels like they've completely shifted away from the original intent of the award.

[bjcheung77]

that's a bummer. It feels like they've completely shifted away from the original intent of the award.

+1, I was looking forward to at least getting a chance at that award later in the year... but now there's no need for me to actually go for it.

[jsd]

that's a bummer. It feels like they've completely shifted away from the original intent of the award.

Exactly. It's so drastically different that they really should have just created a separate award for it. Keep the AFA for non-traditional paths, or get rid of it altogether. No reason to conflate two entirely different paths.