FCC Fema credit problem -shocking!

knucyt · #11 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 01:47 PM

Tester,

I may be misunderstanding the issue, but it seems the IU wants a transcript directly from FEMA and not Frederick Community College's interpretation of those FEMA credits.

If I interpreted this correctly, then can you request FEMA issue a new transcript to IU. That seems to be what IU is asking for.

I think (not 100% sure since I've never used this option, that the form you might be looking for is here

http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/downloads/tranrqst1.pdf

and the instructions for filling out this form are here:

http://training.fema.gov/IS/docs/Sel...%20Request.pdf

and if the schmucks want the curriculum details to evaluate course match ups (they should not need to do this, so don't offer it, just hold this in your back pocket for now), then go here and print out the descriptions and fax/mail it to IU:

Emergency Management Institute - FEMA Independent Study Program

Let us know if this approach works for you.

tester · #12 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 02:01 PM

Hi there Knucyt: Yes, IU is requesting the FEMA transcripts directly from FEMA but they told me that they will only give credits for the courses that are ACE recommended. None of the courses on that particular FEMA list are ACE recommended so that's why FCC has credentialed them as their courses but failed to take out the word "FEMA" from the official transcript.

I guess I should have just sent the FEMA transcript directly to IU instead of paying to get credits on the FCC transcript as promised by FCC.

This would have put me in the same position I'm in now - NO CREDITS
FOR FEMA TRANSCRIPT and NO CREDITs for FCC TRANSCRIPT ....well no not in the same position since I've just lost $960.00!!!

BTW; Thanks for all the links!

knucyt · #13 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 02:30 PM

Got it. Oh What a mess! It really sucks! How attached are you to IU? Some of these 4 year univerisities are incredibly difficult to deal with - they look for whatever is going to bring them in the most money and don't put the student first. It would be nice if you could vote with your feet. Sometimes just that threat and persistence will make them change their mind.

Your only other option would be to try again at a later date w/a different registrar, academic advisor, or department head. I had a less serious, but not disimilair issue for two classes I wanted to substitute with CLEPS/DANTES and eventually after 2 years of campus classes and high grades they finally gave me an exception (if I scored >63 or higher) and agreed to match up the two classes....I just kept asking!

I also had a project management class I took in 2004 with a third party that was not ACE credited originally but eventually the training comany was able to get an ACE credit rating in 2007 and so I got credit for it in my electives. Ya never know....bug FEMA...see if they have plans for this - a few of their in person classes do have ACE credit already from what I have read elsewhere.

Sorry you are having this problem after spending all the money.

Good luck!

BrandeX · #14 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 02:03 PM

When you get bad service from any business, you typically don't just "sit there and take it", you go to the competitor instead. Universities are just businesses, there is no reason to just accept bad service from them. I would go somewhere else (and I have in fact switched Uni's mid-stream too).

tester · #15 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 10:55 PM

At this point I'm trying to determine who really is the bad person here:

- Is it IU for not recognizing FCC's transcript because they know that these are FEMA courses??

OR
- Is it Frederick Comm College for promising the students to give them college credits as FCC courses when in fact they are still listing them as FEMA courses?

-What exactly is FCC really offering?? Is this legitimate?

The problem is bigger than me and I was hoping the FCC will help me find a solution which doesn't seem to be the case. I just don't want to lose my money for nothing.

I was thinking that maybe I should enroll in the Emer Mgmt Degree at FCC then request a transcript, maybe then the transcript would not reflect FEMA?? What do you guys think??

Greggy_D · #16 (**permalink**) 05-11-2008, 07:56 AM

I think the two colleges (IU and FCC) need to talk to each other and get this straightened out.

a4tunatemom · #17 (**permalink**) 05-11-2008, 09:37 AM

Do you know if they will accept the credits if they come from TESC instead fo FCC? TESC lists them as EDM on their transcript not FEM. I may be wrong but I think you would have to pay to open a credit bank with them for them to send you a transcript. Some people have posted that you can get them free from TESC but I don't know how that works. I'm sure you would hate to pay more money but it might be better than losing the credits altogether.

cookderosa · #18 (**permalink**) 05-11-2008, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tester

At this point I'm trying to determine who really is the bad person here:

- Is it IU for not recognizing FCC's transcript because they know that these are FEMA courses??

OR
- Is it Frederick Comm College for promising the students to give them college credits as FCC courses when in fact they are still listing them as FEMA courses?

-What exactly is FCC really offering?? Is this legitimate?

The problem is bigger than me and I was hoping the FCC will help me find a solution which doesn't seem to be the case. I just don't want to lose my money for nothing.

I was thinking that maybe I should enroll in the Emer Mgmt Degree at FCC then request a transcript, maybe then the transcript would not reflect FEMA?? What do you guys think??

>>

I know your grasping at straws- so here is an idea that might not otherwise be a first choice. Stay with me, this might be confusing.

University of Iowa and other universities (perhaps yours) will accept more in transfer if you bring in a degree vs loose credit. For example- at University of Iowa, a student can come in with a bunch of CLEPs, and they will only accept a handful-maybe none- and even then, only in specific areas. BUT, if they come in with an associate degree awarded by an RA college (my community college for example) whatever is on that transcript is accepted 100% of them without question. (which could be FULL OF CLEPs) We (my employer) have transfer agreements in place with several universities. My CC actually has a "guarantee" transfer policy in which we refund your $ if the college you transfer into doesn't accept your credits. (but they do- that's why we can say that!)

So, here is where you could look- Does your University have a similar Associate degree policy? (search your university website- keywords transfer, articulation) They probably do. You'll need to speak with an academic adviser (it's your call, but I would do this anonymously) and find out. You want to see written copies of the articulation/transfer agreements. (This is very easy, each adviser has them at arm's reach I promise you). IF you discover that your college will accept your AA from elsewhere in entirety- then you need to find out if it makes sense to come in with your AA degree from elsewhere, thus laundering your FEMA credits. Start with your local (state wide) community colleges. You can call them all and ask for them to confirm that they have transfer agreements with your university.

Once you have a list of all the qualified AA community colleges (note- they may not have this policy for out of state schools- please check all the details) , start digging to see if any/all of them would take your FEMA credit. Also, would an AA from FCC be accepted in it's entirety? It's worth checking into. In our transfer agreements, your AA meets all of the gen ed requirements. So, you are starting as a junior.

I know this seems involved, but really, I think you could find out if this would work in a day or two worth of digging.

If it makes you feel any better, I had 63 credits from my associate degree that TESC wouldn't accept for my bachelor degree. In the end, you just have to figure out what path you want to take and go for it. This is only a speed bump- granted a $900 speed bump- but don't let it derail your dreams.

BrandeX · #19 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 09:54 AM

The degree from FCC, is actually an "AAS", and not typically accepted by universities that have a full transfer "AA/AS" policy. Also note that it does require completing an internship to obtain the AAS in EM from FCC.

cookderosa · #20 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrandeX

The degree from FCC, is actually an "AAS", and not typically accepted by universities that have a full transfer "AA/AS" policy. Also note that it does require completing an internship to obtain the AAS in EM from FCC.

>>

BrandeX,
Thanks for pointing that out. So, if FCC has an AA transfer policy, she is looking at probably only getting free electives out of the FEMA. That's not many- 6 maybe? I still think checking with her local community colleges might work. The AA degree could include the FEMA credits as electives.

...of course, she could change schools all together. I'd suggest TESC. Through TESC, you can bring in 27 FEMA credits (for free).

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