Compliance Status

Louisiana State University and A&M College is in compliance with this principle.

Narrative

Louisiana State University and A&M College (LSU) awards academic credit for course work taken on a noncredit basis only when the student demonstrates subject mastery equivalent to the credit granted. Subject mastery is typically demonstrated through examination programs and procedures. As noted in Comprehensive Standard 3.4.4, the institution uses examinations such as Advanced Placement (AP) and the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) to award credit to incoming LSU students. Additionally, students who have met the requirements of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB) may be granted advanced credit pending evaluation of the student record. The IB Program is a comprehensive curriculum leading to examination. The institution offers proficiency examinations and advanced-standing examinations and uses SAT and ACT examination scores to provide placement and, in some instances, to award credit.

AP and CLEP Examination or IB Diploma Programs

LSU allows credit to be awarded based on the Advanced Placement (AP) and the College Level Examination Programs (CLEP). AP examinations are administered by the College Board to high-school students who have participated in AP courses that are considered college-level. At LSU AP credit is granted to students who have earned scores deemed by the LSU faculty to reflect mastery of specific first-year- or sophomore-level LSU classes [1]. Subject examinations can also be accepted for credit through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). CLEP exams verify mastery of college-level material acquired through a variety of means - academic instruction, independent study, or extracurricular work. Policies governing minimum required scores and the acceptance of credit are established by the appropriate academic departments. LSU allows credit on CLEP subject examinations [2].

Incoming students who have met the requirements of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program may be granted advanced credit pending evaluation of the record. This is a comprehensive two-year curriculum leading to examinations and a possible IB diploma if the requirements of the full program are satisfied. Advanced placement credit may be granted to entering LSU first-year students in appropriate subjects if they earn a grade of 4 or better on the IB higher-level examinations [3]. Policies governing minimum required scores and the acceptance of credit of IB examinations are established by the National Council on the Evaluation of Foreign Credentials and by the appropriate academic departments.

Proficiency Examinations

Proficiency examinations that can lead to the awarding of credit are offered through academic departments [4]. Proficiency examinations are considered equivalent to final examinations in college-level courses. Attainment of sufficiently high scores on the proficiency examinations is considered to indicate mastery of the subject area in a designated LSU course. Students must obtain permission from their academic deans and from the chairs of the departments offering the courses prior to taking the examinations. Credit earned through proficiency examinations will not be used in computing the students’ grade point averages. Students may apply for these tests at any time after they have been admitted to the university. Tests are administered subject to the following conditions:

• The student must have been admitted to the university (includes all LSU System campuses) and must be in good standing.
• To initiate the examination, permission must be obtained from the appropriate dean and the chair of the department offering the course. After authorization is granted, the Office of the University Registrar will issue an Advanced-Standing or Proficiency Exam Grade Report upon payment of the required fees. No instructor may give a proficiency examination until he/she has received the official grade report.
• Students must pay a fee of $20 for each examination in which credit by proficiency examination is being sought; an additional $20 processing fee is assessed for each examination administered by the Office of Assessment & Evaluation.
• If a grade of “C” or higher is earned on the examination, a mark of “P” and regular credit in the course are entered on the student’s transcript. If a grade lower than “C” is earned, only the fact that the examination has been attempted will be recorded; credit will not be allowed. A student may take a proficiency examination in a particular course only once.
• Course credit will be posted to the semester that corresponds to the date entered in the date field on the Advanced-Standing or Proficiency Exam Grade Report, provided the student is enrolled.
• Students are not permitted to schedule proficiency examinations in courses in which they have earned unsatisfactory grades.

Credit and Placement Program

Although the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) and the ACT are most commonly used for course placement purposes at LSU, sufficiently high scores can be used to indicate a suitable level of mastery in mathematics and English to permit the granting of credit for designated mathematics and English courses [5].  These designated courses include college algebra and two semesters of first-year English composition.

All new students entering LSU may take advanced-standing examinations approved by the Department of Mathematics to obtain credit for courses such and college algebra, trigonometry, and analytic geometry and calculus [5].