Recognition of Accredited Institutions
Excelsior will consider transfer credits from institutions holding institutional accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). The accrediting body must be recognized by the USDE at the time of the student’s attendance. In addition, Excelsior will consider in transfer credits from higher education institutions within New York State that are authorized by the New York State Board of Regents to award college degrees and whose programs are registered by the New York State Education Department.Such institutions must award at a minimum an Associate or Baccalaureate college degree. Transfer-eligible credit must be applicable to the previously mentioned college degree programs. Certificate-only credit and continuing education units (CEUs) are not eligible for transfer under this policy. Additional verification from a specific institution will be required if the student attended prior to its institutional accreditation or New York State Board of Regents recognition (i.e. during candidacy and/or earlier). Excelsior reserves the right to accept or deny credit from any specific institution or program.
Acceptable credit includes challenge examinations from institutionally accredited institutions which have been developed for the matriculated students of that institution and reported for credit on their transcripts. It is not necessary for the student to have been matriculated at the outside institution to have the challenge examination considered for credit.
Restrictions – The following degree program requirements can only consider transfer course work from schools accredited by the following accreditors: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (Senior and Junior Colleges).
PROCEDURES
Registrar’s Office staff will: a. Determine the accreditation of the institution by checking the TES website or ACE Accreditation Guide. Annotate transcript with accrediting body and dates of accreditation, institution type, calendar system, degree levels. If the student attended prior to the institution achieving accreditation/recognition, see the Pre-Institutionally Accredited procedure below.b. Determine whether the accrediting agency was recognized by USDE at the time the student attended by checking the “Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs” https://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Agencies.aspx. Click on the agency to see if the recognition is Active or Inactive, including dates of original recognition, latest renewal, and upcoming renewal.
c. If the institution is not recognized by USDE and is in New York State, check the College and University Campuses in New York State Web site information to verify the degree-granting status of schools in New York State (www.highered.nysed.gov).
d. If the institution is accredited and the accrediting body is recognized by the USDE or falls under the NYS Board of Regents, determine if the courses taken are degree applicable.
e. Apply appropriate credit following policy guidelines.
Pre-Institutionally Accredited or New York State Board of Regents Recognized Course Work (i.e. Candidacy Status) a. If the candidacy date is not known, then evaluators can accept courses only one year prior to full accreditation/recognition.
b. If the candidacy date is known, evaluators can accept courses completed back to the institution’s candidacy date (regardless of number of candidacy years).
c. For courses taken prior to candidacy, evaluators will send the Accreditation Information Form to the institution to verify that the credits would be applicable toward an associate and/or bachelor’s degree the institution currently offers.
