Expired CLEP Credits - No Transcript Provided

[Andercomm]

Has anyone dealt with CLEP credits awarded over 20 years ago?

I recently discovered a recent administrative policy of CLEP to eliminate all score records over 20 years from the date of exam, such that you can no longer receive an official transcript of your scores.

Back in 1976 I took four CLEP General Examinations in Humanities, Mathematics, Natural Science, and Social Sciences while attending a university in Arizona.

I later received notice had received passing scores on all four exams - and received 6 semester hours of credit for each - totalling 24 semester hours.

These CLEP credits are reflected on at least five of my college transcipts over the passing years, and was used for meeting general education requirements for my A.A.S. degree. I had hoped to use them for the same purpose for a TESC BSHS degree.

I recently applied to TESC, as it was reportedly known for drawing and catering to 'older' students such as myself, and having a flexible transfer credit policy. TESC has indicated without a CLEP transcript - they would not allow me any exam credit - and also would not allow me to use the 24 semester hours noted on my various transcripts as transfer credit.

I have never heard of your college credits "expiring" and rendered useless before - definitely a hard knock for older returning students like myself. There seems something wrong about having to repeat courses or exams over again after they have been successfully passed...!

I would be interested in anyone with similar experiences - or suggestions related to my credits relating to TESC. I really do not feel like taking all of the exams over again.

Thanks....William

[cookderosa]

Has anyone dealt with CLEP credits awarded over 20 years ago?

I recently discovered a recent administrative policy of CLEP to eliminate all score records over 20 years from the date of exam, such that you can no longer receive an official transcript of your scores.

Back in 1976 I took four CLEP General Examinations in Humanities, Mathematics, Natural Science, and Social Sciences while attending a university in Arizona.

I later received notice had received passing scores on all four exams - and received 6 semester hours of credit for each - totalling 24 semester hours.

These CLEP credits are reflected on at least five of my college transcipts over the passing years, and was used for meeting general education requirements for my A.A.S. degree. I had hoped to use them for the same purpose for a TESC BSHS degree.

I recently applied to TESC, as it was reportedly known for drawing and catering to 'older' students such as myself, and having a flexible transfer credit policy. TESC has indicated without a CLEP transcript - they would not allow me any exam credit - and also would not allow me to use the 24 semester hours noted on my various transcripts as transfer credit.

I have never heard of your college credits "expiring" and rendered useless before - definitely a hard knock for older returning students like myself. There seems something wrong about having to repeat courses or exams over again after they have been successfully passed...!

I would be interested in anyone with similar experiences - or suggestions related to my credits relating to TESC. I really do not feel like taking all of the exams over again.

Thanks....William

>>

Wow, that's the first time I have ever heard about this kind of situation. Well, I have no idea how this will play out- but you need to go higher on the food chain. Absolutely do NOT accept this as your final answer. You need to start with the head of advising- Dr. Keel. You will have to make a phone appointment (secretary might be hesitant since your not technically enrolled- but insist) with him, but HE is the one who can help you with this. I am sure you are getting some flunky following directions. (no disrespect to TESC non-flunky workers ) TESC is a giant machine- they will just keep moving on with or without you- you need to toss in a big monkey wrench if you want to get noticed...toss it into Dr. Keel's lap.

[peace123]

William,

Can the school that accepted them for the A.A.S degree give you a copy of
what was sent to them from ACE? If so maybe you could send that documentation to ACE with a letter asking them to contact TESC to verify you did complete the CLEPs. I realize ACE can not send them a transcript due to their age ( which btw this is the first time I ever heard that Clep records are only kept 20 years) but maybe they can send them a letter or something else. If ACE won't help maybe your A.A.S college can talk to TESC and fax over a copy of your clep records.

If this does not work, try appealing on the fact that you have at least 5 other school transcripts showing the cleps, this means all the other schools already received copies of the Clep transcript prior to it expiring. And explain to TESC you would give them a ACE transcript if it was possible, but due to ACE purging CLEP records over 20 years old, that this is the best proof you have.

I hope you find a way to get the credits recorded by TESC.
Keep trying remember the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Peace123

[cannoda]

Do the CLEP credits posted on your transcripts also show the exam scores? This could be an issue if TESC uses different cutoffs.

[johnysc430]

I didn't even know clep was over 20 years old, lol

[Andercomm]

After hearing about the CLEP situation first, I contacted a couple of the schools before I applied to TESC, and they searched their archived student records, but copies of CLEP scores are not routinely archived. They award the credit, post it to the stident's transcript as 'CLEP credit', and throw away the scores.

I went this extra mile first, wrote a seperate letter about the CLEP problem, attaching one letter from the community college where I earned my A.A.S. about the scores not being maintained, and sent it to TESC with my application.

They still refused to acknowledge the CLEP credit or previous credits listed on my transcripts as transfer credit.

And 'no', colleges not list exam scores on transcripts - they interpret the scores as pass or fail, and award the amount of credit based on the scores. The transcripts only notate the fact it is CLEP credit, the subject, exam date, exam location, and the number of semester hours granted.

I did not archive the CLEP Scores at 'ACE' - not sure if ACE was available for that in 1976 - the only thing I remember back then is you could send a check to CLEP and they would send out an official transcript to the college(s) of your choice. Destroying your scores after 20 years is something new.

On a side note, I also took Advanced Placement (AP) exam(s) in 1976 - from which I also received college credit. They still maintain exam records and sent a transcript to TESC for $25, and I was awarded some semester hours.

Go figure - some exam credits expire and some don't - a real fair system....!!!

[jkfuss]

Some schools will allow a "block transfer." This means that, since you have completed an associate's degree, they will let you have all 60 credits toward your bachelor's as a block or unit. You might have to test out for gen ed credits which are different than the gen ed requirements you met at your old school. I know I've read about schools that do this, so perhaps asking about a "block transfer" would be a good way to approach it.

[cookderosa]

Some schools will allow a "block transfer." This means that, since you have completed an associate's degree, they will let you have all 60 credits toward your bachelor's as a block or unit. You might have to test out for gen ed credits which are different than the gen ed requirements you met at your old school. I know I've read about schools that do this, so perhaps asking about a "block transfer" would be a good way to approach it.

>>

A block transfer is awesome if you are looking at a school with an articulation agreement....the only problem is that TESC won't take a block, (I don't think EC or COSC do either) and if you look into your local schools, your "block" isn't an AA, its an AAS, so your still going to be short on gen eds- and probably more than 24.

I still stand by my suggestion, speak with Dr. Keel. I wouldn't take "no" from anyone lower on the food chain than him.

Additionally, it's 24 credits. I know it's a lot, but in the big picture it's not. I tried so hard to use my associate's degree in some way toward my bachelor's degree. In the end I got 0 of the 63 credits to come over. For years, that was enough of a road block to prevent me from getting my bachelor's....but in the end, I wanted it bad enough. It took me 18 months to go from 0 to 123 and earn my bachelor's degree. So, my road took 186 credits, that's ok. You can do! With or without these 24- it will still be worth it.