GEAC agenda 11/6/2012 Item 8
O'Donnell, Ken
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Attachments:
bwells@excelsior.edu
Monday, July 16, 2012 9:49 AM
O'Donnell, Ken
[WARNING : MESSAGE ENCRYPTED] Acceptance of Excelsior College Examinations and
UExcel Exams
ECEs and UExcel Exams Working Together_071512.docx; Excelsior_College_Exam_Users
Guide_July 13, 2012.pdf; 2011_Excelsior_College_Exams_Technical_Handbook.pdf;
UExcel_registration_guide_July 15, 2012.pdf; UEuexcel_technical_guide_2011.pdf
Good Morning Ken, I have attached a revised synopsis of the Excelsior College and UExcel Exam credit‐by‐exam programs (changes appears in bold) that you wanted to present to your committee in the Fall 2012. I have also attached new editions of the Excelsior College Examinations Registration and Information: A User's Guide; Excelsior College Technical Handbook for 2011, UExcel Exam Registration Guide, and the UExcel Exam Technical Handbook. Please let me know if there is any additional information you may need to present to your committee. We are looking forward to a favorable decision that Excelsior College Examinations and UExcel Exams will become accepted in transfer to the California Community College system. ‐ Barbara A. Wells Interim Director of Testing Services Excelsior College 7 Columbia Circle Albany, NY 12203 888‐647‐2388 ext. 166 518‐464‐8591 (See attached file: ECEs and UExcel Exams Working Together_071512.docx) (See attached file: Excelsior_College_Exam_Users Guide_July 13, 2012.pdf) (See attached file: 2011_Excelsior_College_Exams_Technical_Handbook.pdf) (See attached file: UExcel_registration_guide_July 15, 2012.pdf) (See attached file: UEuexcel_technical_guide_2011.pdf) This message and any attachments contain confidential Excelsior College information intended for the specific individual and purpose. If you are not the intended recipient, you should notify the College and delete this message. Any disclosure, copying, distribution or inappropriate use of this message is strictly prohibited. 1
Excelsior College is accredited - excelsior.edu
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GEAC agenda 11/6/2012 Item 8
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Accreditation
Excelsior College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher
Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. (267-284-5000). The
Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting
agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for
Higher Education Accreditation.
All the College’s academic programs are registered (i.e., approved) by the New
York State Education Department.
Middle States Reaccreditation Report
Nursing Degrees
The associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs in nursing at Excelsior
College are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting
Commission (NLNAC), 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326,
404-975-5000. The NLNAC is a specialized accrediting agency for nursing
recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher
Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Business Degrees
Excelsior College has received specialized accreditation for its business
programs through the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education
(IACBE), 11374 Strang Line Rd., Lenexa, KS 66215; 913-631-3009;
www.iacbe.org. The IACBE is a specialized accrediting agency recognized by the
Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The business programs in
the following degrees are accredited by the IACBE: Bachelor of Science in
Accounting (NYS CPA track) and Bachelor of Science in Business.
Electrical Engineering Technology and Nuclear Engineering
Technology – Bachelor's Degrees
The bachelor’s degree programs in electrical engineering technology and nuclear
engineering technology are accredited by the Engineering Technology
Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc., 111 Market Place, Suite 1050,
Baltimore, MD 21202, 410-347-7700. ABET is a specialized accrediting agency
recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Recognition
Nursing
The National League for Nursing (NLN) designated the Excelsior College School
of Nursing a 2011-2016 NLN Center of Excellence in Nursing Education in
recognition of the College’s sustained achievements in creating environments
that promote student learning and professional development.
The American Assembly for Men in Nursing (AAMN) presented their 2006, 2007,
2009, and 2011 Best School of Nursing award to the Excelsior College School of
Nursing.
The Master of Arts in Liberal Studies
The Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program has been accepted into full
membership by the Association of Graduate Liberal Studies Programs (AGLSP).
Excelsior College Examinations
The American Council on Education’s College Credit Recommendation Service
(ACE CREDIT) has evaluated and recommended college credit for Excelsior
College® Examinations. Excelsior College Examinations in nursing are the only
nursing exams evaluated and recommended for credit by ACE CREDIT.
http://www.excelsior.edu/accreditation
10/19/2012
Excelsior College is accredited - excelsior.edu
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GEAC agenda 11/6/2012 Item 8
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10/19/2012
GEAC agenda 11/6/2012 Item 8
Excelsior College® Examinations and UExcel Exams 1. History of Excelsior College Examinations and UExcel Exams Excelsior College (formerly Regents College) has offered its credit‐by examination program for more than 40 years. UExcel® Exams debuted in 2009 and are developed jointly by Excelsior College and Pearson VUE, so their characteristics are very similar to those of the Excelsior College Examinations. Excelsior College exams provide flexible opportunities to demonstrate college‐level learning in the arts & sciences, business, education, and nursing. These examinations are available in computer‐delivered format through Pearson VUE worldwide. Excelsior College, 7 Columbia Circle, Albany, NY 12203; 888‐
647‐2388; Examination Line: (888) 723‐9267; and www.excelsior.edu. Note: In addition to the examinations listed below, the following examinations were made available on July 2, 2012: Basic Genetics* Principles of Marketing Business Law Workplace Communication with Computers Principles of Management *To be released later this summer Arts & Sciences Introduction to Philosophy Abnormal Psychology Juvenile Delinquency Anatomy & Physiology Life Span Developmental Psychology Bioethics: Philosophical Issues Managerial Accounting Cultural Diversity Earth Science Microbiology English Composition Pathophysiology Ethics: Theory & Practice Psychology of Adulthood & Aging Financial Accounting Research Methods in Psychology Foundations of Gerontology Social Psychology Interpersonal Communication World Conflicts Since 1900 Introduction to Music World Population Business Labor Relations Human Resource Management Introduction to Macroeconomics Organizational Behavior Introduction to Microeconomics Education Literacy Instruction in the Elementary School GEAC agenda 11/6/2012 Item 8
Nursing: Associate’s Degree Level Essentials of Nursing Care: Chronicity Fundamentals of Nursing Essentials of Nursing Care: Health Differences Health Differences Across Life Span 1 Essentials of Nursing Care: Health Safety Health Differences Across Life Span 2 Essentials of Nursing Care: Reproductive Health Health Differences Across Life Span 3 Focused Clinical Competencies Assessment: Head‐to‐ Maternal & Child Nursing toe Assessment and Nursing Process Maternity Nursing (this examination is no Focused Clinical Competencies Assessment: longer available – retired on June 30, 2012) Managing Multiple Patients Transition to the Registered Professional Nurse Focused Clinical Competencies Assessment: Role Participating in Intra/Interdisciplinary Health Care Teams Nursing: Baccalaureate Degree Level Adult Nursing Community‐Focused Nursing Maternal & Child Nursing Management in Nursing (this exam will be retired Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing on August 31, 2012 and will become an online Research in Nursing course) MBA Foundation Examinations Quantitative Analysis Organizational Behavior Finance Business Ethics Marketing UExcel Exams The UExcel exam program helps students earn college credit and meet lower‐level undergraduate requirements. Created by Pearson and Excelsior College, the new UExcel examination program offers exams in popular introductory college subjects www.uexceltest.com. Calculus Physics College Writing Political Science Introduction to Psychology Spanish Language Introduction to Sociology Statistics 2. Acceptance at Other Institutions of Higher Learning Excelsior College and thousands of other colleges and universities recognize the value of Excelsior College and UExcel Examinations as an efficient and affordable way to grant credit, waive requirements, or assign placement for successful completion of one or more of these exams. The American Council on Education’s College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE CREDIT) has evaluated and made college credit recommendations for Excelsior College Examinations and UExcel Exams. GEAC agenda 11/6/2012 Item 8
3. Test Administration and Verification of the Test Taker’s Identity Excelsior College maintains strict exam security in order to ensure the validity of exam results. Since Excelsior College Examinations and UExcel Exams are used to make decisions that have important consequences for both students and institutions, it is extremely important that the exams remain secure at all times. The Excelsior College and UExcel Exams are administered at Pearson VUE Testing Centers worldwide. In addition to verifying acceptable photo ID, Pearson VUE employs during the sign‐in procedures the use of digitized photo, signature, palm vein scan and fingerprints before a student can be admitted to the secure testing room. Digital audio and video surveillance are also used during the testing sessions. 4. How Examinations are Scored Information on how the Excelsior College Examinations and UExcel Exams are developed and scored can be found in their respective technical handbooks: Excelsior College® Examinations Technical Handbook and the A Student Guide to Credit by Examination at Excelsior College and the UExcel Exams Technical Handbook. 5. How Students Who Received Academic Credit for Excelsior College Examinations and UExcel Exams Have Performed in Subsequent Coursework In 2010, the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) completed a comprehensive study of the relationship between prior learning assessment (PLA) and student outcomes (Source: Fueling the Race to Postsecondary Success: A 48‐Institution Study of PLA and Adult Student Outcomes, CAEL, 2010; www.cael.org/pdfs/PLA_Fueling‐the‐Race ). With support from the Lumina Foundation for Education, CAEL researchers conducted a multi‐institutional study of 62,475 students at 48 colleges and institutions, including Excelsior, to address the following questions:  Do adult students who earn PLA credit have better graduation rates, compared with those who did not earn PLA credit?  Do they have better persistence?  Do they earn their degrees in a shorter period of time? For the purposes of the CAEL study, PLA includes credit‐by‐exam (including ECEs, CLEP®, and other test providers’ CBE programs), individualized student portfolios or portfolio assessment, evaluation of corporate and military training by the American Council on Education (ACE), and program evaluations done by individual colleges of non‐collegiate instructional programs that result in credit awards. Approximately 56% of PLA students in the CAEL study earned a postsecondary degree within seven years, while only 21% of non‐PLA students did so. Nearly 43% earned a bachelor’s degree, compared to only 15% of non‐PLA students. PLA students in the CAEL study had better graduation rates than non‐
GEAC agenda 11/6/2012 Item 8
PLA students regardless of institutional size, level (i.e., 2‐year or 4‐year), or organizational structure (i.e., private for‐profit, non‐profit, or public). With respect to student characteristics, PLA students graduated from college at higher rates than non‐PLA students regardless of the student’s age, gender, race or ethnicity, and financial aid status. More than half of all PLA students who had not yet earned a degree by the end of 2008 accumulated 80% or more of the credits towards a degree, while only 22% of non‐
PLA students with no degree had made similar progress towards their degree. PLA students earning bachelor’s degrees saved an average of between 2.5 months and 10.1 months of time in earning their degrees, compared to non‐PLA students earning degrees. ECE and UExcel exams work together Credit for subjects in which students are knowledgeable, but have no college credit, can be gained through successful completion of the Excelsior College’s exclusive series of examinations, developed by some of the nation’s most distinguished faculty, which can be used to earn upper and lower level college credit. UExcel exams cover subjects in the lower college level and have been developed through an alliance with Pearson VUE, the global leader in computer‐based testing in information technology and academic, government and professional testing programs around the world. Unlike other credit‐by‐examination options, when students pass the Excelsior College exams and UExcel exams, they earn college credit on a transcript from Excelsior College, a private, non‐profit institution of higher learning, regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. GEAC agenda 11/6/2012 Item 8
UExcel Credit-by-Exam Program
Candidate Registration Guide
®
Turn Knowledge into Credit
with UExcel
Preparation resources: UExcel offers a complete
•
suite of resources including free content guides,
recommended textbooks, practice exams and
online tutorials.
What is UExcel?
UExcel is a convenient and cost-effective credit-byexamination (CBE) program. Credit-by-examination
allows you to prove your knowledge, gained through
independent study or prior knowledge, by taking an exam.
Unlike other credit-by-examination options, when you
pass UExcel exams, you earn college credit on a transcript
from Excelsior College, a private, non-profit institution
of higher learning, regionally accredited by the Middle
States Commission on Higher Education.
UExcel is a unique alliance between Pearson, the world’s
leading education company, and Excelsior College.
It is the only lower-level CBE program developed and
administered by a regionally accredited institution of
higher learning.
UExcel exams provide candidates with distinct
benefits:
Save time: Reduce time to graduation by testing
•
out of courses.
Save money: Meet degree requirements more
•
quickly while saving thousands of dollars on
tuition.
No hidden costs: UExcel exam fees are all•
inclusive. There are no hidden ‘seat fees’ or other
administration costs.
Prove you are prepared: Demonstrate your
•
mastery of post-secondary coursework.
Global reach: UExcel exams are available at nearly
•
4,200 test centers around the world, making them
convenient for everyone.
Convenient test times: Take exams at a time that
•
fits your schedule.
Earn college credit, not just a score: When
•
you pass UExcel exams, you earn college credit
on a transcript that may be transferred to the
institution of your choice. Other CBE programs
award only a score – not an actual grade on a
transcript. Furthermore, that score may only result
in advanced placement.
Immediate test results: Receive test results and a
•
letter grade immediately after completing an exam.
Free transcripts: Order unlimited free official
•
transcripts from Excelsior College to send to the
colleges or universities of your choice.
Integrated technology: Allows for easy exam
•
registration, either online or via phone. Your
appointment is confirmed immediately, and
you can sit for your exam within minutes of
scheduling.
• Enhanced customer service: Centralized service
centers provide convenient answers all your
questions. Whether you want to schedule a test or
have questions about transcripts, we offer a single
source to assist you.
Copyright © 2011 UExcel. “UExcel” is a registered trademark of Excelsior College. All rights reserved. The American Council on Education’s College
Credit Recommendation Service (ACE CREDIT) has evaluated and made college credit recommendations for UExcel examinations.
www.UExcelTest.com
GEAC agenda 11/6/2012 Item 8
Who can benefit from taking UExcel exams?
• International students can take UExcel exams
before leaving their home country to demonstrate
their ability to succeed at a U.S.-based university.
Homeschooled students can validate the
•
knowledge they have acquired and prove to
admission departments that they are capable of
college-level work. They may even earn credit
toward general education requirements or achieve
advanced placement at colleges and universities
nationwide.
High school students can demonstrate academic
•
preparation at the post-secondary level, setting
themselves apart from other applicants and
proving they have college-level knowledge. They
may earn college credit or advanced placement by
passing exams.
Adult learners can save money on college tuition,
•
bypass general education requirements and
validate knowledge they have previously acquired.
Military service members can meet degree
•
requirements while on active duty by taking a
UExcel exam at or near their military installation.
Section 1 — Before You Take a Test
Getting Started
1. Determine which exam you want to take.
The UExcel program currently offers eight exams in
the following subject areas: Calculus, College Writing,
Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Spanish
Language, and Statistics. Short descriptions and the
amount of equivalent credit are provided below. For
more detailed information about the exams, specific
content areas, study resources, and sample items, you can
download the exam content guides from
www.uexceltest.com/exams.
2. Register for a UExcel exam
The easiest way to register is to go online at
www.uexceltest.com. From here you can create your
student profile, find a test center most convenient for you,
and register for an exam. The process is simple and takes
only minutes. During the registration process you will be
asked to pay the $95 testing fee using a Visa, MasterCard,
American Express, or JCB credit card. Once you have
completed the registration process you will receive an
e-mail confirming the date, time, and location of your test.
You may also register for a test by calling a Pearson VUE
call center:
888.224.6383 (in the Americas)
00.6038319.1085 (in the Asia Pacific Region)
44.161.855.7455 (in Europe, Middle East,
and Africa)
NOTE: You will have a six-month eligibility window in
which you may schedule and take your exam.
List of UExcel Exams
The following UExcel exams are currently available.
Section 1 – Before you take a test................. page 2
Getting Started.....................................................page 2
List of UExcel Exams...........................................page 2
Preparing for UExcel Exams................................page 4
Registration Policies.............................................page 5
Section 2 – On the day of the test................. page 6
Admission to the Exam........................................page 6
Taking the Exam...................................................page 7
Academic Honesty and Test Security..................page 7
Section 3 – After the test................................ page 8
Grade Reports and Transcripts............................page 8
Using UExcel Examinations at
Other Colleges and Universities...........................page 9
MAT150 Calculus 4 credits
The UExcel examination in Calculus measures knowledge
and understanding of material typically taught in the
first semester of a lower-level sequence in Calculus. The
content of the examination corresponds with course
offerings commonly called Calculus I. The examination
assumes a familiarity with Precalculus topics including
algebra, trigonometry, and functions. It tests for a
knowledge of facts and terminology, an understanding
of concepts and theories, and the student’s ability to
apply this knowledge and understanding in an analysis
of problems in business, the sciences, and engineering.
(Multiple-choice examination.)
www.UExcelTest.com
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GEAC agenda 11/6/2012 Item 8
ENG110 College Writing 3 credits
PSY101 Introduction to Psychology 3 credits
The UExcel examination in College Writing corresponds
to an introductory, one-semester course in College
Writing. It measures the ability to persuade a reader
to pursue a specified course of action, using personal
knowledge and experience to support a proposal and
to analyze and respond appropriately to written text
that represents opposing viewpoints, using the Modern
Language Association (MLA) style of citation. In
general, the examination measures the ability to organize
knowledge, ideas, and information; to adopt rhetorical
strategies such as narration, illustration, explanation, and
description in appropriate ways; to adopt and maintain
a tone and point of view appropriate for a specified
audience and rhetorical situation; to develop and maintain
a controlling idea and a coherent organization; and to
write within the rhetorical, syntactic, and mechanical
conventions of Standard Written American English.
(Extended response examination.)
The UExcel examination in Introduction to Psychology
measures knowledge and understanding of the material
typically taught in a one-semester, three-credit, lowerlevel Psychology survey course. The examination
measures knowledge and understanding of the theories
and principles of general psychology and the ability
to apply this information to examples from everyday
life. The content of the examination consists of 11
major categories: The Science of Psychology, Biological
Influences on Behavior, Sensation and Perception,
Consciousness, Learning and Memory, Motivation
and Emotion, Cognition and Intelligence, Human
Development, Personality, Psychological Disorders and
Therapy, and Social Psychology. No prior course work in
psychology is assumed. (Multiple-choice examination.)
PHY140 Physics 6 credits
The UExcel examination in Physics measures knowledge
and understanding of material typically taught in
a two-semester, lower-level (lecture only) algebra/
trigometry-based Physics course sequence. The content
of the examination corresponds with course offerings
commonly called Physics I & II. The examination
assumes a familiarity with units and conversion; scientific
notation and orders of magnitude; algebra, trigonometry,
and graphing techniques. The examination tests for a
comprehensive knowledge of facts and terminology,
an understanding of physical concepts and theories,
and the student’s ability to apply this knowledge and
understanding to analyze and solve a variety of practical
problems. (Multiple-choice examination.)
POL170 Political Science 3 credits
The UExcel examination in Political Science measures
knowledge and understanding of the material typically
taught in a one-semester, three-credit, lower-level course
in Political Science. The content of the examination
corresponds with introductory course offerings such
as Introduction to Political Science, Comparative Law,
and International Relations. It tests for a knowledge of
facts and terminology, an understanding of concepts and
theories, and the student’s ability to apply this knowledge
and understanding in an analysis of politics, government,
and world affairs. (Multiple-choice examination.)
SOC105 Introduction to Sociology 3 credits
The UExcel examination in Introduction to Sociology
measures knowledge and understanding of the
material and skills typically taught in a one-semester,
undergraduate survey course in a baccalaureate
program. The examination content reflects common
knowledge drawn from courses with such titles as
Introduction to Sociology or General Sociology. No prior
knowledge or understanding of sociology is assumed.
The examination tests for a knowledge of facts and
terminology, an understanding of concepts and forms,
and for the student’s ability to apply the concepts learned
in an introductory sociology course. (Multiple-choice
examination.)
SPA102 Spanish Language 6 credits
The UExcel examination in Spanish Language measures
knowledge and understanding of material typically
taught in a two-semester, six-credit elementary course
in Spanish. The content of the examination corresponds
with course offerings such as Elementary Spanish. The
examination assesses basic Spanish language proficiencies
in the areas of receptive skills, expressive skills, and
cultural skills (applying language proficiencies within
authentic cultural contexts), through four question types:
listening comprehension (using audio stimuli), reading
comprehension, verbal communication, and structures:
grammar. (Multiple-choice examination.)
3
www.UExcelTest.com
GEAC agenda 11/6/2012 Item 8
MAT210 Statistics 3 credits
Online Writing Help
The UExcel examination in Statistics is based on material
typically taught in an introductory, one-semester course
in Statistics. It measures knowledge and understanding
of the fundamental concepts of descriptive and inferential
statistics and is designed to correspond to a service
course applicable to many majors. A basic knowledge of
algebra is assumed. Questions about the meaning and
application of basic statistical ideas are included. (The
on-screen calculator is provided as a button in the upper
left-hand corner of each question screen. Multiple-choice
MY Access!® College: UExcel® Edition is a valuable
online learning tool that can help students improve their
academic writing skills. It provides writing assignment
topics, feedback in five categories, and a complete suite of
writer’s tools, including grammar and spelling checkers, a
thesaurus, and a writing portfolio. MY Access!® College:
UExcel® Edition uses the same scoring engine — called
IntelliMetric™ — used to score a College Writing exam at
Pearson VUE testing centers. Use it as many times as you
wish to practice different aspects of writing and receive
detailed feedback.
examination.)
Preparing for UExcel Examinations
Preparing for UExcel Exams
Each UExcel examination is a means to document that
you have learned material comparable to the content
of one or more college-level courses. UExcel exams
are developed in cooperation with college faculty, and
you should plan to allot the same amount of time for
preparation and study as you would if you were taking a
college course. These college professors advise that you
should plan on spending three hours a week studying
for every semester hour of credit you expect to earn.
For example, for a three-credit course, you can expect to
study nine hours each week for 15-weeks, the length of a
typical semester.
Online Practice Exams Available for All UExcel
Examinations
One of the most popular study resources, the online
UExcel Practice Exams, enable you to:
•Review the types of questions you may encounter
on the actual exam.
•Practice testing on a computer in a timed
environment. Practice whenever and wherever it is
convenient for you.
•Receive your score immediately after you complete
the practice test.
•Receive valuable feedback. After testing, you
can check online to see how you performed on
each question and why your answer was right or
wrong. Feedback is not intended to predict your
performance on the actual UExcel examination
you will take for credit; rather, it will help you to
improve your knowledge of the relevant subject
and upgrade your test-taking skills.
If you wish to use the MY Access!® College: UExcel®
Edition learning tool, you may purchase a 90-day
subscription for $30.
To find out more about this service, visit
www.uexceltest.com and click on the Resources link
at the top of the page.
Additional Study Resources
We have a variety of other study resources available to
help you prepare for your UExcel exam. In addition to
the resources below, we continue to explore additional
learning activities that will help you prepare for the exam.
For the latest list of study resources, please visit
www.uexceltest.com/resources.
• Exam Content Guide
Each exam has a free Content Guide that provides
general information about the exam, including an
examination description, recommended textbook(s),
and learning outcomes. Download the free content
guides by visiting www.uexceltest.com/exams. We
strongly advise you to prepare for your examination(s)
by studying from the resources recommended in each
content guide.
• Sample Questions
Toward the back of each content guide you will find
sample questions that will help you prepare for the
exam. The sample questions are representative of the
types of questions you will find on the actual exam.
4
www.UExcelTest.com
GEAC agenda 11/6/2012 Item 8
• Online Tutorial
We encourage you to use the online tutorial prior to
taking your exam. If you wish to access the tutorial,
go to www.uexceltest.com/resources and click on the
Computer-Based Testing Tutorial link. A tutorial will
not be available at the test center.
• Order Textbooks Online
You can order the recommended textbooks from our
bookstore. You may contact the bookstore by calling
800.325.3252 (US toll-free) or through the Web at
www.uexceltest.com/bookstore.
• Free Online Courseware and Tutorials
Availability of good quality free, noncredit online
courses in college subjects is increasing rapidly. Check
out one of the following sites for material related to
your chosen exam topic.
•OpenCourseWare: www.ocwconsortium.org
•NIXTY: www.nixty.com
• Khan Academy: www.khanacademy.org
Registering for a Practice Exam
To register for and take UExcel Practice Exams:
1.Check the most up-to-date list of practice exams
(available through the Practice Exams link located
on www.uexceltest.com/resources).
2.Register and pay the $18 fee for the practice exam
(visit www.uexceltest.com/resources).
The practice exam test site is designed to support all
major platforms.
Re-Registering for a Practice Exam
If you re-register for a practice exam, you will receive a
different form than the one you were originally given.
Note: The practice exams can be only taken once with
an option of taking one or two hours to complete. You
should plan to complete the practice exams within a
single, continuous one- or two-hour period. Once you
click the Begin Assessment button, the timer will start. If
you do not submit your practice exam within the allotted
time chosen, your answers will not be scored and you will
forfeit the opportunity to retake this practice exam.
Registration Policies
Rescheduling or Canceling an Exam
You may access the details of an existing exam
appointment by logging into your online account at
www.pearsonvue.com. Once you log in, you can verify
the date and time of your appointment as well as details
about the test center and directions to it.
You may also reschedule or cancel an exam online, or by
calling the UExcel registration line. The request to cancel/
reschedule must be made 3 business days (a minimum
of 72 hours) in advance of your scheduled appointment
time. You will be charged $15 each time you reschedule
an appointment to test. If your request is made less than 3
business days (72 hours) before your scheduled time, you
will not be entitled to a refund.
Refunds for UExcel Examinations
If you decide not to take an examination for which you
are registered and wish to receive a refund, you will
need to cancel your examination appointment at least
3 business days (a minimum of 72 hours) in advance of
your scheduled appointment time with UExcel online at
www.uexceltest.com or by contacting a UExcel call center
representative at one of the following numbers:
888.224.6383 (in the Americas)
00.6038319.1085 (in the Asia Pacific Region)
44.161.855.7455 (in Europe, Middle East, and
Africa)
Either one of these actions will automatically apply a
credit (minus a $15 cancellation fee) to the credit card
used to register for the exam.
Note: If you fail to arrive for your appointment, or fail
to reschedule or cancel without giving 3 business days’
notice (a minimum of 72 hours prior to your scheduled
test time), you will forfeit your examination fee and be
required to register and pay the examination fee again.
5
www.UExcelTest.com
GEAC agenda 11/6/2012 Item 8
Requests for Accommodations
Section 2 - On the Day of the Test
Accommodations will be considered for examinees
requesting reasonable accommodation(s) due to a
disability. Contact UExcel at 888.224.6383 if you are
requesting an accommodation.
Admission to the Examination
Reasonable accommodations provided for computerdelivered testing include:
• Additional time (double time/time and a half )
• A reader
• A recorder of answers
• Scheduled break
• Separate room
• Special mechanical devices (limited)
Limit on Retaking UExcel Examinations
A candidate may retake a UExcel exam 60 days after
the first attempt, and 120 days after the second and
subsequent attempts. A single exam can only be taken
3 times in a given year and a maximum of 4 times overall.
You may not retake an exam if you received a grade of
“A” on a previous attempt.
Be sure to arrive at the Pearson VUE testing center 30
minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time. This
will give you adequate time to complete the necessary
sign-in procedures. You will be asked to store all of your
personal belongings, and you will not be allowed to
study while in the waiting area at the Pearson VUE
testing center.
You are required to bring one (1) valid form of
identification with you to the Pearson VUE testing center.
Your ID must be current (dated and not expired), must
bear your name as it appears on your confirmation letter,
and must include your signature and a recent recognizable
photograph. In case your photo ID is questioned by
the test administrator, please be prepared to present a
second current ID bearing your signature and a recent,
recognizable photograph. If you do not have the proper
ID, you will not be allowed to test.
Following are the acceptable forms of photo ID which
must be current (dated and not expired):
• Driver’s license with signature
• Driver’s permit with photo and signature
• Employee ID card (signature should be clearly
displayed and legible)
• Military ID card with signature
•Passport
• State/federal government ID card (to include
naturalization card with photo and signature)
• Student ID card (with photo and signature which
should be clearly displayed and legible)
• Voter ID card with photo and signature
We cannot accept these forms of ID:
• Check cashing card
• Credit card of any kind
• Classification card
• Green card (Permanent Resident Card)
• Military Common Access card (CAC)
• Social Security card
You will be asked to read and complete the
Candidate Rules Agreement policy and return it to the
Test Administrator. In addition, the Test Administrator
will take your digitized photo, signature, and palm vein
scan.
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GEAC agenda 11/6/2012 Item 8
Taking the Examination
Completing the Examination
UExcel multiple-choice examinations consist of
approximately 60 to 120 objective questions, some of which
are unscored, pretest questions. You will have (2) hours to
complete your UExcel examination and should have ample
time to answer all questions within this time frame. Pretest
questions will not affect your score on the examination.
Simply enter your answers on the computer using either
the keyboard or the mouse. When you have finished the
exam, you may review all items in sequence or only those
you marked for review or purposely left unanswered.
However, be aware that if you press the Finish button and
exit the review, you will end the exam and not be allowed
to return to the questions.
The UExcel examination in College Writing consists of
two questions and you will have two (2) hours within
which to complete this exam. You will be required to use
the computer to answer the questions. Certain basic editing
features are available, including cut, copy, and paste.
Use the scroll bars. A scroll bar appears when a question
does not fit on a single screen. Scroll bars may be
horizontal or vertical. To scroll through the screen
contents for a short distance, click the scroll arrow that
points in the appropriate direction or press an arrow key
on the right side of your keyboard. To scroll up or down
one screen at a time, click within the scroll bar above or
below the scroll box.
Note: If the examination title on the screen is not the
examination you have been scheduled to take, please notify
the Test Administrator immediately, before beginning
the examination. In addition, should you experience
any technical problems with the computer, the Test
Administrator should be notified immediately.
Breaks
You may take unscheduled breaks during the examination.
During these breaks; however, testing time will continue to
elapse; as a result, you will have less time to complete the
exam.
After a break, you may not be admitted back into the
testing room immediately. Instead, you must wait your turn
while the Test Administrator checks in other examinees
who have taken breaks. You will be required to provide
a palm vein scan each time you enter and exit the testing
room.
Under no circumstance will you be allowed to go to your
locker or leave a test center during a break. If you do leave
the testing center, you may not be allowed to complete
your examination, and your grade will be invalidated.
Grades
After you complete an examination, you will be
handed a detailed grade report before you leave the
testing center. You can also check your grade on the
Pearson VUE Web site. To access this information, go to
www.pearsonvue.com and log in to your online account.
Academic Honesty
and Test Security
We strongly recommend that you review the following
policies and procedures relating to the testing process.
If you have any questions about these policies, please
contact UExcel at www.uexceltest.com/contact.
Academic Honesty
All test takers must agree to abide by the terms of
the UExcel Nondisclosure Agreement before taking
an examination. This agreement will be presented on
screen at the Pearson VUE testing center prior to the
start of your examination. Only by accepting the terms
of the agreement will you be able to proceed with your
examination. If you choose not to accept the terms of this
agreement, your examination will be terminated and you
will be required to leave the testing center. Refer to
www.uexceltest.com for complete policy information.
Student behavior will continue to be monitored postadministration, and electronic measures are used to
monitor the security of test items and scan for illegal use
of intellectual property on the Internet. This monitoring
includes surveillance of Internet chat rooms, Web sites,
and other public forums. Violators may be prosecuted by
Pearson VUE or Excelsior College.
Contact Pearson VUE Test Security
UExcel places a high value on test security, and
Pearson VUE has a Web site where test takers can report
any cheating they may have observed during a test session.
The site can also be used to report misconduct by a
test center employee. This form is located at
www.pearsonvue.com/contact/security.
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GEAC agenda 11/6/2012 Item 8
Rules of Conduct and Behavior
Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled
appointment. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late for
your appointment, you may not be allowed to take the
exam.
The Test Administrator will provide you with an erasable
note board that will be collected before you are allowed
to leave the testing room. Removal of the erasable
note board from the testing center may result in the
invalidation of your examination.
No testing aids are permitted in the testing room. This
includes beepers, calculators, books, pamphlets, rulers,
cellular phones, dictionaries, translators, National
Technology Services (NTS) hand-held computers,
iPods, personal digital assistants (PDAs), a FLY Pentop
computer, bags, and notes. Attempting to tamper with
the operation of the computer can result in your dismissal
from the examination.
A calculator will be available on screen at the test center
for examinations requiring one. If at any time during the
test you have a problem with your computer or need the
Test Administrator for any reason, raise your hand to
notify the Test Administrator.
Cancellation of Test Grades
UExcel exams are delivered in a proctored environment.
If you are suspected of giving or receiving any assistance
with the test, you may be dismissed from the examination
room without being allowed to complete the test.
UExcel reserves the right to cancel test grades when
there is reason to believe the grades are invalid. Cases of
irregularities in the test administration process, falsifying
one’s identity, impersonating another examinee (proxy
testing), or other student misconduct may result in
UExcel cancelling your test grades. When an examinee’s
test grade(s) is cancelled, the examinee is always notified
prior to UExcel taking this action.
Section 3 – After the Test
Grade Reports and Transcripts
Interpreting your Grade Reports
A detailed grade report will be handed to you as you
leave the testing center. It will identify the percentage of
test items that you answered correctly in each content
area. If you wish to retake a failed exam or enhance your
performance in a particular content area, you should
plan to focus especially on those areas where your
level of performance, as indicated by the percentage
correct in the content area, is 75% or lower. Please see
the information in this document related to Limits on
Retaking UExcel Exams. After completing the College
Writing examination, you will receive your actual test
results or information on when you can expect to receive
your results before you leave the test center.
Official Examinations Transcript
UExcel reports the results of the examinations with a
letter grade on an official Excelsior College transcript.
Transcripts are released in compliance with the Family
Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, with the condition that
no third party may be given access to this information
without the written consent of the student.
If you would like an official transcript listing your UExcel
examination(s) sent to an institution, employer, regulatory
board, or other organization, you may place an online
request by going to www.uexceltest.com/credit.
For questions regarding the transcript service, please
contact Test Administration at Excelsior College at
testadmn@excelsior.edu. If you have taken UExcel exams
only, and have no academic history with Excelsior College,
your transcript is free. Candidates with an Excelsior
College history must pay the standard $12 transcript fee
because both UExcel and Excelsior College Examinations
grades are reported on the transcript. Your request will be
processed within 5–7 business days.
Transcript Rush Fee
A Transcript Rush Fee of $30 will be charged for all rush
requests. Your rush request will be processed within
two-to-three business days of our receipt of your request.
If you require a faster turnaround, we can fulfill this
requirement if you provide a charge card authorization to
have your transcript sent via overnight mail. The charge
for overnight mail is $11.
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GEAC agenda 11/6/2012 Item 8
Using UExcel Examinations at
Other Colleges and Universities
UExcel examinations are an efficient and affordable
way to earn credit, waive degree requirements, or
assign placement for successful completion of one
or more of these exams. The American Council on
Education’s College Credit Recommendation Service
(ACE CREDIT) has evaluated and made college credit
recommendations for UExcel examinations.
The ACE College Credit Recommendation Service office,
located in the Center for Lifelong Learning, may also be
reached by email at credit@ace.nche.edu or by phone at
866.205.6267.
The ACE CREDIT by Examination review is a thorough
process by a team including faculty from relevant
academic disciplines and a psychometrician that reviews
exams, testing protocols, and procedures to ensure
that learning outcomes align with courses currently
being taught at accredited institutions. The team also
recommends the equivalent amount of academic credit
that may be transferable to a college or university.
For more information visit www.acenet.edu/credit.
Before registering for your exam, verify with your
academic department/advisor that their institution
will accept the UExcel examination you have selected,
since acceptance policies will vary by department within
individual institutions.
Ask your academic advisor to consider UExcel
examinations as a credit-earning option for you and
your degree completion plan. You can also address any
questions regarding the minimum required grade and/
or the amount of credit awarded for the examination.
Colleges are not required to grant the amount of credit
recommended by the American Council on Education’s
College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE
CREDIT) or the UExcel credit-by-exam program.
If your desired institution does not yet accept UExcel
examinations, ask your academic advisor to consider
this credit-earning option. Your advisor may contact the
Assessment Unit at Excelsior College at 888.647.2388
(ext. 166) for additional information regarding the
ACE CREDIT-evaluated UExcel examination series.
Should you or your advisor wish to learn more about
the ACE College Credit Recommendation Service, visit
the ACE Web site at www.acenet.edu, then click on the
following:
• Programs & Services
• College Credit Recommendation Service
• College & University Services
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