Zero Credit Students Policy

Statement of Policy

As a degree completion institution, Excelsior College is poised to serve students who have already begun college level work and are seeking to complete the process of earning a degree, generally on a part time basis.

In order to ensure that students who may be new to higher education do not overextend themselves before they are fully aware of the nature of college level work, any student enrolling at Excelsior College without any previously existing college-level credit and wishing to take Excelsior College courses shall be limited to registering for no more than four credits in an 8-week term or seven credits in a 15-week term during their first course term. Refer to Full-time and Half-time Status for Students.

Students enrolled in full-time Excelsior College study-abroad programs are exempt from this policy.

Procedure

  • Upon receipt of the Undergraduate Application, if a student does not report any previously earned credit, the UA will be treated as a zero credit.
     
  • The UA counseling team will run a preliminary review and the following statement will print on the review to notify students of the current policy:

    • As a degree completion institution, Excelsior College is poised to serve students who have already begun college level work and are seeking to complete the process of earning a degree, generally on a part time basis. In order to ensure that students who may be new to higher education do not overextend themselves before they are fully aware of the nature of college level work, any student enrolling at Excelsior College without any previously existing college level credit, and wishes to take Excelsior College courses, shall be limited to registering for no more than four credits in an 8-week term or 7 credits in a 15-week term during their first course term. Students will not be allowed to register online and must obtain prior approval for courses from their advisor. Refer to Full-time and Half-time Status for Students.
  • Matriculated students wishing to enroll in more than four course credits during their first course term must submit transcripts from prior college attendance, even if they do not wish all credits from prior attendance to be applied toward their Excelsior College degree.