CPL Frequently Asked Questions
Student Questions:
- I attended an institution that does not have regional accreditation. Will FHSU accept my credit?
- I submitted scores to my first university do I have to submit them to FHSU?
- When should I submit test scores if I take AP, CLEP or DSST tests?
- Why doesn’t FHSU record my CPL before I register?
Faculty & Staff Questions:
- What do you mean by a regular course and a variable topic course?
- How are Learning outcomes determined for a portfolio?
Student Answers
I attended an institution that does not have regional accreditation. Will FHSU accept my credit?
FHSU will not accept transfer credit from any school (located in the US, for international schools) that is not accredited by a regional accrediting body. However, having completed a course at a non-accredited institution might be the reason for you to complete an assessment with us to see if we will grant credit for prior learning. Students who have taken courses that do not directly transfer should consider what options are available for CPL assessment in courses that might duplicate the courses they took.
I submitted scores to my first university do I have to submit them to FHSU?
Students transferring from a state institution in Kansas may not need to submit an official score report. Contact the transfer application specialist in the registrar’s office to determine if your previous institution has sent complete records or if you will need to submit a score report. All students transferring from other schools with AP/CLEP/DSST/IB scores should contact the organization and arrange for a score report to be sent to FHSU.
When should I submit test scores if I take AP, CLEP or DSST tests?
Current and future FHSU students should submit their scores when taking the test. Students who have already taken tests but not submitted scores to FHSU may do so at any time. However, there are many reasons students should submit score reports as soon as possible. Doing so allows the courses to be noted on degree summaries, advisors to consider courses complete, and ensures that score requirements do not change before the score is submitted. Individuals not yet admitted to FHSU may list FHSU as the school to report scores to when taking a test. Such scores are generally held and can be accessed if the individual applies and takes courses at FHSU within the following 2 years. These scores will not be added to the student’s transcript until the student is admitted and takes courses from FHSU.
Why doesn’t FHSU record my CPL before I register?
FHSU does not immediately record CPL for students who are not registered. First, we are required by the state board to only award CPL to degree seeking students who are registered at FHSU. Second, transcript records are created when a student completes a course they have registered in and after that has taken place CPL credit can be added to the record.
Faculty & Staff Answers
What do you mean by a regular course and a variable topic course?
For the purpose of discussing CPL credit, two types of courses are offered at Fort Hays State University.
Regular courses are courses that have the same course outcomes from section to section and semester to semester. These outcomes change only with periodic course reviews. For these regular courses, CPL credit should be awarded when the student demonstrates they have obtained course outcomes substantially the same as those they would have obtained by taking and passing the course.
Variable topic courses (e.g. readings, topics, independent study) often have different outcomes [at least in part] from section to section and even student to student. CPL credit can be recorded using these course numbers when the department determines the course outcomes demonstrated by CPL are appropriate to the discipline and level of the course.
How are Learning outcomes determined for a portfolio?
Students submitting a portfolio for a regular course should be given a copy of the syllabi and the portfolio should demonstrate how they have obtained the outcomes associated with the course. For portfolios submitted for evaluation in variable topics courses, departments/assessors should work with the CPL coordinator and the student to determine how/or what course outcomes will be demonstrated in the portfolio.