TESU Academic Evaluation & Maximum Transfer Credits

[bradonomics]

I got my initial Academic Evaluation from Thomas Edison today. While I was trying to understand all the acronyms, I saw a note on limits to the number of semester hours that are accepted for transfer. It said a maximum of 90 semester hours—which I'd read before—but then went on to say that the classes I transferred from Community College were also counted in this. Meaning students are required to take 30 credits from Thomas Edison no matter what? I was under the impression that if the classes were from regionally accredited schools they didn't count against that 90-hour transfer quota. I thought if I transferred in enough RA credits I could pay the residency waiver and only take SOS-110 and LIB-495 at TESU.

[rachel83az]

What is the exact wording? Please post a screenshot of this section. The easiest way to do this is probably with the FireShot browser extension. https://getfireshot.com/

[bradonomics]

The section in question is "NCCRS and ACE Semester Hours (SH)." It says:

Thomas Edison State University limits the number of semester hours (SH) that are accepted in transfer based on courses and examinations approved through the National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS) or the American Council on Education's (ACE) College Credit Recommendation Service.

Specifically, a maximum of 90 semester hours (SH) in total, from both ACE and NCCRS reviewed organizations, like corporate training, CLEP, DSST, AP exams, Study.com, Sophia, Ma'alot Educational Network, Military Joint Services Transcript (JST), can be used toward a bachelor's degree and 45 SH toward an associate degree. This is a policy revision made in December 2020.

The total amount of ACE/NCCRS semester hours (SH) applying to your degree program is currently: 12.00

Now that I'm looking this over again, I realize I skipped a section in the Program Requirements list. In the AOS Electives area there is a Group 2 that doesn't have a heading as all other sections do. There is a course listed there and my eyes just skimmed over it thinking it was the heading of that section. Now I see "SH Applied to Degree: 18.00, " meaning the 6 Community College credits plus the 12 ACE credits are accounted for.

Although, for my own sanity (and posterity), I'd like to confirm that I can pay the residency waiver and only have to take SOS-110 and LIB-495 at TESU.

[rachel83az]

Yeah, it's:

90 credits from ACE/NCCRS sources.
90 credits from foreign sources
90 credits from CCs
theoretically unlimited from other 4-year universities

Assuming you meet all degree requirements with transfer credits, you can definitely just take SOS-1100 and LIB-4950 then pay the waiver and graduate.

[bjcheung77]

@bradonomics, Question: Meaning students are required to take 30 credits from Thomas Edison no matter what?
Answer: No, they just need 30 RA, you can have as many non RA but only a max of 90 will come through.

Question: I thought if I transferred in enough RA credits I could pay the residency waiver and only take SOS-110 and LIB-495 at TESU. Although, for my own sanity (and posterity), I'd like to confirm that I can pay the residency waiver and only have to take SOS-110 and LIB-495 at TESU.

Answer: That's correct, you just need 6 credits at TESU because they allow up to 114 credits transferred into your degree.

Reference: You can transfer unlimited credits from all sources regardless of where they're from, but what will come into the degree is as follows, a mix/match to get you to the max of 114 credits.

114 from 4 year colleges/universities
90 credits from ACE/NCCRS sources.
90 credits from foreign sources
90 credits from CCs

[bradonomics]

I was under the impression that my ECE evaluated credits would be considered regionally accredited due to being evaluated by ECE but also from the note on the wiki which says "university courses in Finland that can be used to meet the 'RA credit requirement'."

I have been emailing my TESU advisor and the registrar about these foreign credits and this morning I got this reply:

Foreign credits are not considered regionally accredited as far as the 90 SH requirement for regionally accredited credits for our degrees. These must be regionally accredited from a US school.

Am I mistaken about this whole business of evaluation of foreign credits? Is there anything I can do so they will accept them as regionally accredited credits?

[rachel83az]

Who told you this? What was the advisor's name? Because the advisors are usually wrong. There are only a couple of them at TESU that are actually trustworthy and don't make stuff up when they don't know the answer.

Which is why we usually tell students not to email advising unless strictly necessary. Email 3 advisors and you'll get 5 different answers.

[bradonomics]

My advisor's name is Steven Mazzilli. He said he heard the above quote from the registrar.

I've tried verifying the statements in the Credit Requirements section of the Thomas Edison State University page on the Wiki but can't find anything on tesu.edu that says there is a requirement of 30 Regionally Accredited credits. Where do I find this on their site?

I've read the advice on this forum many times about not emailing advising unless strictly necessary, but it seems necessary that they treat those foreign credits as Regionally Accredited if that is a requirement for the degree.

[rachel83az]

My advisor's name is Steven Mazzilli. He said he heard the above quote from the registrar.

I don't know this guy. He's not on the "good" list. See https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid402329

I've tried verifying the statements in the Credit Requirements section of the Thomas Edison State University page on the Wiki but can't find anything on tesu.edu that says there is a requirement of 30 Regionally Accredited credits. Where do I find this on their site?

https://www.tesu.edu/admissions/ug-polic...e-progress
https://tesu.smartcatalogiq.com/current/...er-credit/

While we phrase it here as a 30 RA credit minimum, the reality is that it's actually a 90 credit maximum from ACE/NCCRS sources. Where the remaining 30 credits come from is up to the student. A mix of TESU, foreign credit, local CCs, whatever.

I've read the advice on this forum many times about not emailing advising unless strictly necessary, but it seems necessary that they treat those foreign credits as Regionally Accredited if that is a requirement for the degree.

The advisor is confused. Which is why we recommend against contacting advising, because they will give you bad advice and make you confused as well.

[bradonomics]

While we phrase it here as a 30 RA credit minimum, the reality is that it's actually a 90 credit maximum from ACE/NCCRS sources. Where the remaining 30 credits come from is up to the student. A mix of TESU, foreign credit, local CCs, whatever.

To my way of thinking, 30 RA credit minimum ≠ 90 credit maximum. If I understand you correctly there is no Regionally Accredited requirement. The only true requirement is to take SOS-1100 and LIB-4950 at TESU and have 120 credits. Is this right?