Office of Academic Affairs
Credit for Life Experience Program [CLEP]
“Creating Success, One Student at a Time”
A Message to the Students
Access to higher education is the cornerstone of our educational philosophy. As adults in the world of work, the experiences you have gained are invaluable and can be evaluated for college credits.
The Credit for Life Experience Program (CLEP), offers the mature individual with considerable life and work experiences, an opportunity to transform those experiences into college credits and to apply them towards a degree at Medgar Evers College of The City University of New York.
In addition to the Credit for Life Experience Program, Medgar Evers College also participates in the College-Level Examination Program, (CLEP by examination). CLEP by Exam will be administered at Medgar Evers College beginning in spring 2005. Information about CLEP by examination is available in the Office of Academic Affairs.
This handbook is intended to assist the applicant in determining how to make his/ her life experiences count towards their college credits. We encourage you to examine and evaluate your rich life long work experiences and take advantage of the Credit for Life Experience process at Medgar Evers College of CUNY.
Thank you.
- Applicants must be enrolled full-time or part-time at Medgar Evers College to initiate the process.
- A student must have completed 24 college credits, these credits must include English 112 and English 150. if enrolled in English 150, a student may request permission to apply at that time.
- A student may wish to consult first with the Campus Coordinator or the Chairperson of the Department of his or her declared course of study.
- If the student has completed the college requirements in his/ her major, the amount of credits requested and approved must be less than that which is needed for graduation.
- Applications can be obtained in the Office of Academic Affairs, Room B-3010.
- Before submission of the application, a student must have paid a non-refundable fee of $75.00 to the Bursar’s Office.
- Take the completed application and a copy of the Bursars receipt to the Coordinator of the Credit for Life Experience Program.
- After the student meets with the Coordinator for application review interview, the student will be informed of a date for attending a portfolio seminar conducted by the Office of Academic Affairs.
- A student can earn a maximum of (15) credits as Credit for Life Experience (CLEP).
Your portfolio must contain the following essential components:
- An introduction which must clearly state the total number of credits requested and the distribution desired (e.g. “I am requesting a total of 12 credits to be distributed as follows: 3 credits in World History to satisfy the requirements of History 101”) etc.
- A well written essay in which the student is expected to associate job functions and educational experiences with the specific subject matter of the course for which the student is requesting credits. The portfolio will be the only contact that the assessors will have with you, so your essay should be presented in a typed, well organized format and comprehensive. Appropriate use of grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, accurate spelling as well as appropriate footnotes where applicable will be evaluated.
Support your accomplishments and/ or experiences with appropriate documentation. Some samples of documentation are listed below:
- Letters from previous and/ or current employer.
- Transcripts, certificates or letters from non-accredited schools and/ or teachers.
- Copies of art work, design, interior decorations, etc.
- Samples of materials developed such as manuals, pamphlets, and course offerings.
Submit two copies of the portfolio to the coordinator of Credit for Life Experience Program. The Coordinator will initial and date the bursar’s receipts and advise you of the approximate length of time it takes for a portfolio review. Each portfolio will be reviewed independently, by two assessors as determined by the department of the student’s major course of study. One copy of the portfolio remains in the files in the Coordinator’s office.
Upon receipt of departmental approvals the coordinator of CLEP will inform the student of the outcome and communicate the said approvals to the Office of the Registrar and a copy to the Admissions Office for their records and appropriate actions.
Normally, the number of credits awarded may be appealed by the student requesting a second review. To exercise your right of appeal, the following are the steps in the appeals process:
- A student must submit a written appeal, one semester following the initial portfolio evaluation notice.
- The specific appeal statement, plus appropriate additional documentation will be submitted to the Academic Standing Committee thorough the Office of Academic Affairs whose decision will be final.
- All inquiries about the CLEP process should be directed to the Testing Center at (718) 270-4835.
