TESC No Longer Planning Credits on Academic Evaluations!?

[mikebaz1]

After many frustrating emails back and forth, including copying Dr Gary Keel, TESC is standing firm that it is their policy to NOT plan in any courses on your academic evaluation from ACE, NCCRS or ALEKS.

This contradicts my current evaluation which currently has some of these already. I was trying to get the TEEX ones added and move some courses around like I have done previously, but this was the last detailed reply from TESC:

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Hello ****,

I'm sorry that you are frustrated with the Advisement Office policy of not planning courses/exams from ALEKS, ACE and NCCRS. I spoke with the Associate Director of Advisement, Nia Abuwi regarding your situation. She is in agreement with me that the planning of these types of courses/exams are contrary to Advisement's policy .

ALEKS, ACE and NCCRS frequently update their courses and make revisions. When Advisement plans a course we are entering into a contract with a student that ensures TESC will accept that course for application in the student's degree upon transfer. If the updated course does not meet the required criteria then TESC remains obligated to apply the credits to a student's degree, even if the content of the course is no longer appropriate. This may cause a problem for the student when they submit their request for graduation and the degree is audited.

I am not sure why these courses were planned previously for you and your wife but from this point forward we will not able to plan the courses that you are requesting.

I apologize for this inconvenience.
Andrea O. Mirsky, M.Ed.
Academic Program Advisor
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Any ideas? The one email told me to take the course, send the transcripts then they would see if it would fit into my degree plan.

I understand TESC usually follows ACE's recommendation, but that is totally ridiculous to take a course without knowing if it will be accepted and where!

[Publius]

Well if you already have the courses planned in your current plan, looks like they're obligated to follow through?

I wouldn't worry to much about it. They're still going to accept these sources of credit, they just won't plan them in. They should still tell you which course(s) will transfer in and where, prior to taking the course.

I understand your frustration, and see where you're coming from. Personally, I'd like to see them accept and plan the courses if the status quo remains unchanged.

[cooperalex2004]

In their mind course planning is meant for courses which are either completed or will be taken from either TESC or another regionally accredited school to ensure transfer. For exams and other ACE credit it sounds like they still know what they take and where it goes but don't want to put themselves into an indefinite contact with students to accept things which may not appear for months or even longer. They will still honor the credits, it sounds like they probably had someone plan a bunch of stuff and then come back months later and want them to honor the credits once they might have changed a policy. If they won't plan things out you'll just have to go one step at a time to fill things in.

[AlbaTiVo]

I too can see where they are coming from and it is probably mostly from Penn Foster as their courses seem to come and go on ACE.

[mikebaz1]

I understand coming back months later. But as an enrolled student, shouldn't they provide me with HOW they will be transcripted?

Instead of planning, do they not have the obligation that if I were to complete ACE recommended course ABC123, it would equal TESC XYZ321?

To pay and complete a course, then HOPE it fits in the degree plan somewhere doesn't seem right.

The ACE recommendation is only important on the course completion date anyways. If it's current and showing present, I don't understand why TESC refuses to provide their equivalencies as if they were completed today.

[Publius]

I understand coming back months later. But as an enrolled student, shouldn't they provide me with HOW they will be transcripted?

Instead of planning, do they not have the obligation that if I were to complete ACE recommended course ABC123, it would equal TESC XYZ321?

To pay and complete a course, then HOPE it fits in the degree plan somewhere doesn't seem right.

The ACE recommendation is only important on the course completion date anyways. If it's current and showing present, I don't understand why TESC refuses to provide their equivalencies as if they were completed today.

If you contact them and ask them "How will x course be transferred and what is TESC's equivalence RIGHT NOW" and then take the course, I doubt they'd change it in a month or two. That's going to be your best plan of attack IMO. I did this with some StriaghterLine courses and an ALEKs and it worked pretty smoothly.

[mikebaz1]

If you contact them and ask them "How will x course be transferred and what is TESC's equivalence RIGHT NOW" and then take the course, I doubt they'd change it in a month or two. That's going to be your best plan of attack IMO. I did this with some StriaghterLine courses and an ALEKs and it worked pretty smoothly.

Will try that for a 3rd time. I can't believe how terrible this advisor is to deal with. The reason I have now CC'd so many others in their department.

When I wrote almost exactly what you suggested days ago, saying not to plan, but tell me their equivalencies then, so I don't take a course that won't fit... this was their reply:

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If you wish to determine equivalencies for the courses/exams that you listed please review the ACE website for their recommendations.

ACE CREDIT | The National Guide to College Credit for Workforce Training

Thank you.
Andrea O. Mirsky, M.Ed.
Academic Program Advisor
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ACE makes recommendations in multiple areas of studies, it's totally unacceptable for me to know how TESC will evaluate that.

[chiquitacobbe]

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If you wish to determine equivalencies for the courses/exams that you listed please review the ACE website for their recommendations.

ACE CREDIT | The National Guide to College Credit for Workforce Training

Thank you.
Andrea O. Mirsky, M.Ed.
Academic Program Advisor
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ACE makes recommendations in multiple areas of studies, it's totally unacceptable for me to know how TESC will evaluate that.

Well you can't always go by ACE recommendations beacuase TEEX was recommended as CIS for all classes and one is a MAN. So please don't base it on that or you could end up needing another class.

[mikebaz1]

Well you can't always go by ACE recommendations beacuase TEEX was recommended as CIS for all classes and one is a MAN. So please don't base it on that or you could end up needing another class.

Great example, and my point exactly. How can TESC tell me to goto the ACE webpage and then automatically know how it will fit into my degree plan and academic evaluation.

I understand that for non-enrolled students, that they won't be performing detailed analysis on all the courses people throw at them, but I am enrolled and need to know exactly how they will fit.

Always heard horror stories on TESC customer support, I guess it was bound to happen eventually I'd run across one. LOL

[AlbaTiVo]

I don't think you are going to get any sympathy or support while using language like that on a family forum.