Grand Rapids Community College
Teaching and Learning Quality Report – Year 1
(External Testing)
(September 12, 2013)
Report History:
September 12, 2013 – This is the first presentation of the External Testing Report to Deans’ Council.
PURPOSE:
Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) provides many opportunities for students to earn college
credit by examining their prior learning and experiences through external testing, internal testing,
portfolio review, and articulating credit from non-credit programs and high school. This report will focus
on the external testing opportunities GRCC offers students as tested credit.
OVERVIEW:
The purpose of this report is to present data that shows how many students take advantage of the current
GRCC external testing opportunities, and to present data that shows how many of these students complete
a degree or certificate at GRCC, or transfer to another college or university.
This report will serve as a partial evidence of how the institution meets HLC:
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Criterion 4.A.2 The institution evaluates all the credit that it transcripts, including what it awards
for experiential learning or other forms of prior learning.
Criterion 4.A.3. The institution has policies that assure the quality of the credit it accepts in
transfer.
Criterion 4.B. The institution demonstrates a commitment to educational achievement and
improvement through ongoing assessment of student learning.
PROCESS MEASURES:
1) Process Measures:
 Number of external testing opportunities offered
 Number of students awarded credit from external testing
2) Outcome measure:
 Number of students completing a degree or certificate
 Number of students transferring
PROCESS
GRCC provides opportunities to earn college credit through the following external tests:
1. Advanced Placement (AP)
Students take college level course work in high school designated as AP courses that include a
GRCC Teaching & Learning Quality Model
External Testing for 2013-2014
(D. Patrick – September 12, 2013)
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placement test at the end of the course. GRCC awards credit for specific courses based on test
scores. Equivalencies for these test scores can be found at
http://cms.grcc.edu/sites/default/files/docs/registrar/forms/test_credit.pdf.
AP Process: Student Score Reports are sent directly to the Transfer Evaluation Coordinator in
the Student Records/Registrars’ Office from The American College Board. Unofficial scores or
transfer scores are not accepted. Students are identified from the student’s Social Security (SS) or
date of birth (DOB) and are searched on PeopleSoft for their student ID number and term. If
unable to identify student, the Student Score Report is forwarded to the Enrollment Center until
student is matriculated. Credits are posted in test panels of PeopleSoft to the equivalency guide
and criteria listed on the Student Records web page. Scores of a three (3) or higher are granted
credit.
2. American College Testing Proficiency Examination Program (ACT-PEP)
Students can take the Abnormal Psychology, Anatomy &Physiology, Microbiology and Statistics
exams through Excelsior College and be awarded credit for specific courses at GRCC based on
their test scores. The tests are administered at Pearson Learning Centers and students are required
to have Excelsior College send their test scores directly to the college(s) of their choice for
processing. These credits are not transferable; students must send their scores to each college that
they attend as each college awards different credit for specific courses and some colleges may not
accept ACT-PEP. Equivalencies for these test scores can be found at
http://cms.grcc.edu/sites/default/files/docs/registrar/forms/test_credit.pdf.
ACT/PEP Process: Official transcripts are received directly to the Transfer Evaluation
Coordinator in the Student Records/Registrars’ Office from Excelsior. Scores of C/50 or higher
are granted credit and posted as tested credit in PeopleSoft and on the student’s transcript.
3. College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Students can take specific tests through the College Board and have credit awarded for specific
courses at GRCC based on their test scores. A list of approved tests and scores can be found
online at http://cms.grcc.edu/sites/default/files/docs/registrar/forms/test_credit.pdf.
Students are required to tell the College Board which colleges to send their official test scores to
for processing. These credits are not transferable; students must send their scores to each college
that they attend as each college awards different credit for specific courses.
Tests are administered nationwide and the GRCC Academic Testing Center is an approved
testing site for any student who is interested in taking a CLEP exam to earn college credit. The
GRCC Academic Testing Center uses the following process to administer this test:
GRCC CLEP Testing Process:
1. Students can go to the GRCC website www.grcc.edu/testing and click on CLEP.
2. On the website the following is listed:
a. Listing of CLEP examinations administered at GRCC
b. GRCC equivalents for CLEP
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c. The schedule and the application (CLEP is offered every Wednesday at 11 a.m. and 2
p.m. and every Thursday at 9 a.m.)
Before testing, students must submit a $20 check or money order, which is required with the
CLEP application, payable to GRCC. Registration/application and fee is due the Monday
before testing.
On the day of testing students must arrive at the Assessment Center 15 minutes before
testing, present two forms of ID, one must be a pictured ID, and an additional $80 payment
for CLEP.
Each CLEP test is 90 minutes with the exception of College Composition which has an essay
component and is a two hour test.
Students see their test results on the computer screen upon completion of their exam. A hard
copy print out of their scores is also given to them by the Assessment Center staff.
After testing the Assessment Center staff runs an end of the day CLEP report and submits it
to the American College Board.
Within 7-10 days The American College Board (CLEP) sends the official score to the score
recipient (the student’s school of choice) to be osted on their transcript.
GRCC’s Posting of CLEP Credit:
Student Score Reports are sent directly to the Transfer Evaluation Coordinator in the Student
Records/Registrar’s Office from The American College Board. Unofficial scores or transfer
scores are not accepted. Students are identified from the student’s Social Security (SS) or date of
birth (DOB) and are searched on PeopleSoft for their student ID number and term. If unable to
identify student, the Student Score Report is forwarded to the Enrollment Center until student is
matriculated. Credits are posted in the test panel of PeopleSoft to the equivalency guide and
criteria listed on the Student Records web page. Exams with score of 50 or higher are granted
credit and posted as tested credit on the student’s transcript.
4. Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support Subject Standard Test (DANTESDSST)
These external tests are specific for veteran students and civilians may not take these tests.
Veterans can take specific tests through National Test Centers either on college campuses or on
military bases and credit is awarded for specific courses at GRCC based on their tests scores. A
list of approved tests and scores can be found online at
http://cms.grcc.edu/sites/default/files/docs/registrar/forms/test_credit.pdf. GRCC does not
currently offer these tests on campus.
DSST/DANTES Process: Official transcripts are received directly from the source and credit is
granted based upon required scores. Equivalencies are posted to the Student Records web
page. These are military-based exams, similar to CLEP and often appear on the military
transcript as well.
NEXT STEPS/OBSERVATIONS:
GRCC currently offers four external testing opportunities for students to take advantage of and has
recently been approached by Grand Rapids City High School to consider accepting International
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Baccalaureate (IB) credit by exam. Over the 2013-2014 academic year, we intend to have faculty review
the IB curriculum and make determinations so that GRCC can begin to award credit to students for this
experience and education. Many of our partner institutions (GVSU, FSU, WMU) and similar community
colleges (Macomb Community College, Jackson Community College), have already established this
practice, and since we have a close community partner who has established an IB school, we will work to
award credit to these students.
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PROCESS MEASURE
Table 1: Number of students awarded credit from external testing
Advanced Placement (AP)
YEAR
NUMBER OF STUDENTS
2009
432
2010
527
2011
620
2012
635
2013
490*
Data pulled from PeopleSoft August 23rd, 2013
*It is possible for more AP scores to be sent in for 2013-2014
Table 2: ACT-PEP - Number of Students Tested
American College Testing Proficiency Examination Program (ACT-PEP)
YEAR
NUMBER OF STUDENTS
2009
0
2010
0
2011
1
2012
0
2013
0*
Data pulled from PeopleSoft August 23rd, 2013
*It is still possible for more ACT-PEP scores to be sent in for 2013-2014
Table 3: CLEP – Number of Students Tested
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
YEAR
NUMBER OF STUDENTS
2009
79
2010
163
2011
111
2012
184
2013
103*
Data pulled from PeopleSoft August 23rd, 2013
*It is still possible for more CLEP scores to be sent in for 2013-2014
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Table 4: DANTES-DSST – Number of Students Tested
Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support Subject Standard Test (DANTES-DSST)
YEAR
NUMBER OF STUDENTS
2009
0
2010
3
2011
0
2012
0
2013
1
rd
Data pulled from PeopleSoft August 23 , 2013
*It is still possible for more DANTES scores to be sent in for 2013-2014
NEXT STEPS/OBSERVATIONS:
In tables 1-4 AP and CLEP are the two external tests utilized the most by students to earn college credit
for prior learning and experience at GRCC. Students rarely utilize the ACT-PEP or DANTES-DSST
external tests, which is most likely due to the fact that these opportunities are not as well known or
advertised as AP and CLEP.
A recommendation to take into consideration is to look at both ACT-PEP and DANTES and make a
decision if we want to continue to award credit for these external tests since students are not utilizing
them. In addition, for each external test for which we award credit, we are responsible for maintaining the
equivalencies that we award. If students are rarely utilizing ACT-PEP and DANTES should we ask the
faculty to maintain the equivalencies?
A next step that is already in progress is embedding the external testing equivalency work into the
curriculum review process. It is important that we stay up to date on what courses we will award based on
test and test score, and embedding it into the curricular work that faculty are already doing. This will
ensure up to date equivalencies.
An additional next step that is already in progress is a review of all equivalencies for the external tests
that GRCC awards credit for to ensure that the equivalencies are still valid.
OUTCOME MEASURES:
Table 5: Number of Students Completing a Degree or Certificate
YEAR
TEST
2009
AP
CLEP
NUMBER OF STUDENTS
COMPLETING GRCC
DEGREE/CERTIFICATE
4
16
2010
AP
CLEP
42
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GRCC Teaching & Learning Quality Model
External Testing for 2013-2014
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2011
AP
CLEP
118
92
2012
AP
CLEP
116
80
2013
AP
CLEP
118*
52*
Data pulled from PeopleSoft August 23rd, 2013
*It is possible for more students to graduate in 2013
NEXT STEPS/OBSERVATIONS:
In Table 5 the data shows that students are utilizing both AP and CLEP credit by exam to assist them on
their path to completing a degree or certificate at GRCC. The number of students who are completing a
degree or certificate increased from 2009 – 2011 and the number of students who have completed have
been holding steady. GRCC should continue to offer both AP and CLEP as external tests that we award
credit for, and as stated before in the report, we are currently working on updating our equivalencies to
ensure we are awarding credit that is appropriate.
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OUTCOME MEASURE
Table 6: Number of Students Transferring
YEAR
TEST
NUMBER OF STUDENTS
TRANSFERRING
Fall 2010 – Summer 2012
AP
176
CLEP
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GRCC Institutional Research & Planning; Bruce Morrison; 8/23/2013
In Table 6 the data shows that students are transferring to other institutions that also brought in AP or
CLEP credit to GRCC when they enrolled. Data is not yet available past summer 2012 as four year
institutions are still reporting on transfer numbers.
ISSUES/CONCERNS
Even students who intend to transfer to a four year institution can still benefit from taking an AP exam or
CLEP exam prior to starting at GRCC. An initiative to communicate to students of these options might
serve to enhance enrollment, persistence and completion for some students.
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External Testing for 2013-2014
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RECOMMENDATIONS/NEXT STEPS FOR NEXT YEAR
Next Steps
a.Work with faculty to review
equivalencies for our external
exams. Faculty was given
links so that they can view the
equivalencies that our partner
institutions award for the
exams.
Once evaluations are
completed, Student Records
staff will update the needed
informational sites.
(The more in line we can stay
with our four year partner
institutions as far as what
equivalencies we award, the
more seamless the transfer will
be for our students.)
Responsible
Department Heads/Program
Directors, Associate Deans,
(Student Records Staff:
Transfer and Articulation
Coordinator, Evaluation
Transfer Specialist, Registrar
and Associate Registrar.)
Timeline
Process began the beginning
of August. Completion and
updating of information to be
completed March of 2014.
b.Currently we do not notify
students when transfer, PLA or
test credit is posted due to
volume. It would be efficient
if a mass communication email
automatically generated to
students who have received
test or transfer credit on a
weekly or daily basis notifying
them of such.
Student Records staff: (Senior
Tech Specialist, Evaluation
Transfer Specialist.)
Admissions Office, IT
Winter Semester 2014
GRCC Teaching & Learning Quality Model
External Testing for 2013-2014
(D. Patrick – September 12, 2013)
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