Ohio Department of Higher Education
Like all institutions of higher education, Franklin accepts transfer credit from regionally accredited institutions of higher education and applies that credit to the various degree programs. As stated by ODHE, “the determination of the acceptance of transfer credit and the determination of the application of transfer credit to graduation requirements and specific program or major requirements are to be treated separately by the receiving institution within the stipulations of this policy.” (Ohio Department of Higher Education, Transfer Policy) Because most Franklin graduates have transfer credit from one or more institutions, the Office of Transfer and Articulation reviews transfer credit requests continuously and maintains an extensive database of courses and their Franklin comparability and applicability.
Ohio Department of Higher Education Course Equivalency Standard
The ODHE equivalency standard focuses on the match of learning outcomes to articulate specific levels of learning mastery. Franklin, in developing course equivalencies and comparability, uses the 70% industry standard of OHE, along with course descriptions, syllabi, textbooks, and other more traditional processes in determining comparability.
Bilateral Articulation Agreements
OHE defines bilateral articulation agreements as the written agreements that are reached between individual colleges and universities or between a post secondary institution of higher education and another post secondary institution of learning, which detail course equivalency, program-to-program linkages, and undergraduate requirements. Franklin maintains bilateral articulation agreements, particularly for the Community College Alliance, and it will continue to maintain those agreements as described in "Transfer Credit from Non-Regionally Accredited Institutions /Organizations and Non-coursework Credit."
Transfer Module
The Transfer Module is a subset or a complete set of a college’s or university’s general education requirements that represents a body of knowledge and academic skills common to Ohio’s colleges and universities. For Ohio’s state assisted colleges and universities, a transfer module completed at one institution is accepted in total by another institution. The Transfer Module contains 36-40 semester hours (54-60 quarter credit hours) of course credit. (Additional information from ODHE about the transfer module can be found on this page Department of Higher Education, Appendix C).
Franklin University accepts the Transfer Module from all of Ohio’s colleges and universities, and equivalent models from schools outside of the state of Ohio.
Regional Accreditation
The Ohio Department of Higher Education guidelines and requirements that govern the acceptance of transfer credit define transfer credit as college-level courses from Ohio institutions of higher education which are accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Higher Learning Commission or other regional accrediting commissions which have been recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). For the purposes of the ODHE policy, institutions accredited by national or professional agencies which are recognized by CHEA, but not also accredited by a regional accrediting commission, will be considered non-accredited. Transfer credit may be granted for courses taken at non-accredited institutions, and Franklin faculty considers such credit on a course-by-course basis if deemed appropriate. (See "Transfer Credit from Non-Regionally Accredited Institutions /Organizations and Non-coursework Credit" for the awarding of transfer credit from non-accredited institutions and organizations.)
Recognition of Associate’s Degrees
OHE has established policies to encourage the completion of the associate’s degrees. Individuals who have earned A.A., A.S. or Applied Associate degrees with an overall GPA of 2.0 or better, receive transfer credit for all college-level courses which they have passed. Pass/fail courses, Credit by Examination courses, Experiential Learning courses and other non-traditional credit courses which meet these conditions will be posted to the record and will appear on the student’s transcript.
Franklin University offers both associates and bachelor’s degrees and recognizes the successfully completed A.A. degrees, A.S. degrees, and Applied Associate degrees from other colleges and universities. The process for accepting and applying technical credit gained as part of Applied Associate’s degrees is further explained "Degree Structure and Completion Programs."
College-level Coursework
As defined by OHE, college-level coursework is a course that 1) is not remedial or developmental, 2) carries one or more credit hours, and 3) is eligible to count toward graduation at the sending institution. These courses are taught at an institution of higher education for which credit is granted toward a particular degree(s). These courses are taught at an intellectual and content level which goes beyond courses taught at the high school level. For the purposes of the ODHE policy, the sending institution determines which courses are college-level and thereby eligible for transfer to a receiving institution.
Franklin University has adopted ODHE’s definition of college-level coursework, however, University faculty reserve the right to determine whether a course applies to a degree program.
Passing Grades
As of Fall 2005, Ohio public institutions of higher education accept and apply all transfer coursework with a letter grade of D or higher as the institution would for a native student under the business rules and academic policies of the receiving institution. This policy was adopted to ensure the equitable treatment of transfer students with native students across Ohio’s public institutions. The 1990 Ohio Articulation and Transfer Policy section which requires the acceptance of all college level courses which students have passed (“D”) remains in effect for all students. This policy does not override institutional admissions standards and/or requirements of entrance into a specific academic program. Consistent with the spirit of the policy, there is no universal minimum grade or quality points for the acceptance of credit and thresholds for this are set by institutional policy.
Franklin University has institutional policies that incorporate portions of the Transfer of D Grades Policy of the Ohio Department of Higher Education.
Course Numbering
Because of variance in the curricular design and course numbering among two-year and four-year institutions, the division of upper and lower courses is not always clear and absolute. ODHE suggests that there must be latitude for exceptions to the ODHE guidelines. For example, faculty may consider a community or technical college course equivalent in nature and content to an upper division university course. In this instance, faculty could accept the course as upper division credit. Courses may be deemed comparable in content and learning outcomes, regardless of their lower and upper division status. Franklin adheres to ODHE and Servicemembers Opportunity College guidelines which encourage accepting the course at the level at which it is taught at the receiving institution.
Course Length
If the credit from a course with fewer hours is at least two-thirds of the course with greater hours, the course should be deemed comparable in length. For example, a two-semester hour course may not be comparable to a four-semester hour course, according to ODHE guidelines.
Free Electives
ODHE guidelines define a free elective as college level courses taken for credit outside of specific university, collegial or departmental degree requirements. Franklin University classifies General Education electives and University electives as free electives in its degree requirements.
Adult Career-Technical Education
“The language in section 3333.162 of the Ohio Revised Code requires the Board of Regents and the Ohio Department of Education to develop policies and procedures ensuring that students at an adult career-technical education institution or secondary career-technical education institution can transfer agreed upon technical courses completed there (that adhere to industry standards) to any state institution of higher education ‘without unnecessary duplication or institutional barriers’" (Ohio Department of Higher Education, Background). Specific fields of study where course equivalencies are considered include nursing, information technology, and medical assisting.
Franklin accepts career-technical education programs and applies these credits to degree requirements in the completion majors offered by the University ("Degree Structure and Completion Degrees"). Some coursework can be applied, course by course, if deemed equivalent by the faculty. (See "Purpose Statement of University Electives and the Role They Play in the Bachelor’s Degree")
Degree Structure and Completion Degrees
Franklin recognizes the value of credit and knowledge obtained from adult career-technical education programs and applies this credit to degree requirements in the university’s undergraduate degree completion programs. The completion degree allows students to transfer coursework into a baccalaureate degree designed to complement their technical expertise. For example, students with an AAS degree in Law Enforcement can apply that degree toward a B.S. degree with a major in Public Safety Management.
The completion degrees allow the students to extend their education into studies that build on their body of knowledge acquired in paraprofessional/professional programs of study. Up to 24 credit hours may be counted toward the students’ Bachelor’s degrees. The degree completion programs provide students with the theory and tools to support intelligent leadership practices in their professions.
Placement and Assessment
New degree-seeking students are required to take Franklin University placement tests in reading, writing, mathematics and computer literacy. Results of these tests determine if any preparatory and developmental education courses are required. Transfer students may have certain tests waived due to previous course credit at another institution. Additionally, students who have taken college entrance exams, such as the SAT or ACT, and score at a certain proficiency threshold may be exempt from taking certain placement tests. Student Enrollment Advisors or Academic Advisors will advise students on the placement tests required, ways to prepare for tests, and appeal procedures.