Understanding Your Transfer Credits

Overview

When ECU receives an official transcript, an initial transfer evaluation is completed.

  • Evaluations are completed by individual transcript, not by student application.
    • What this means is that applicants/admitted students with multiple previous institutions may be notified of an initial transfer evaluation completed for one transcript before other additional transcripts, depending on when the transcripts were received.
  • Based on the type of transcript, the transcript evaluation may be completed by a different office on campus.
    • US Colleges and Universities: Credit Evaluation Staff in the Office of the Registrar
    • CLEP/DANTES: Credit Evaluation Staff in the Office of the Registrar
    • Military/Joint Services Transcript: Veterans Affairs Staff in the Office of the Registrar
    • AP/IB: Staff in Office of Undergraduate Admissions
    • International: Staff in Office of Global Affairs
  • Transfer coursework on each official transcript is evaluated based on
    • The accreditation of the previous institution.
      • The previous school must have been institutionally accredited.
    • The grade earned in the course.
      • Must have earned a “C-” or higher.
    • The credit hours completed.
      • Course must have equivalent hours to be considered directly equivalent to an ECU course.
What Transfers?
  • Any college-level course where a “C-” or higher was earned is potentially eligible for transfer.
    • If the course was taken a a community college or other two-year institution, only courses that would be considered General Education will transfer without a department review.
    • If the course was taken at a four-year college or university, it will transfer as either an elective credit (1XXX/2XXX) or direct credit.
  • If the course has never been transferred to ECU by another student, it has not been articulated.
    • Un-articulated courses will initially be given 1XXX, 2XXX, or 3XXX “elective” or non-direct credit.
    • Transfer Articulation refers to the process by which an individual department reviews the course to determine if it is equivalent to an ECU course.
      • Each department’s faculty “own” the curriculum taught in that department and retain the right to determine course equivalencies through the articulation process.
        If the department determines the transfer course is not equivalent to an ECU course taught in their department, students still receive the elective/non-direct credit.
Getting a Course Reviewed for Direct Credit
  • For any course where direct credit is not initially awarded, the department where the course is taught must review the course description.
    • For example, a transfer course where the subject is English would be reviewed by ECU’s English Department; a transfer Calculus course would go to ECU’s Math Department for review; a transfer Chemistry course would go to ECU’s Chemistry Department, etc.
    • In some cases, the department will ask for a course syllabus to assist in determining if direct credit can be awarded.
      • If applicants/admitted students have a course syllabus, they should submit it as soon as possible to either their Academic/Faculty Advisor, Admissions Contact, or directly to crediteval@ecu.edu.
      • The course syllabus should include the topics covered in the course, as well as any learning objectives or assignment outlines.
    • Each department has a designated contact within the department to review transfer courses and determine possible equivalent courses at ECU.
      • Departments are looking for a minimum of 70% content match in course content between a transfer course and its ECU potential equivalent.
      • The credit hours of a transfer course must match ECU’s potential equivalent course for direct credit to be awarded.
    • ECU staff evaluating transcripts automatically put un-articulated credit into the Transfer Evaluation System (TES) for review.
    • TES reviews can take up to 2 weeks.
Getting Direct Credit Changed to Elective Credit
  • In some circumstances, students may ask to have direct credit changed to elective credit.
  • Examples of reasons for asking for credit to be changed:
    • AP Credit awarded but equivalent needs to be taken at ECU
    • College/University Transfer Credit awarded but equivalent needs to be taken at ECU
    • Military credits excess/issues
  • Please note:
    • We cannot remove any credit taken at ECU; this request only applies to transfer credit.
    • We cannot guarantee a credit change request will be approved.
    • Once credit is changed to elective, it cannot be reverted to direct.
  • Complete the Direct Credit Change Request form.
Getting Credit Removed
  • In some circumstances, students may ask to have credit removed from their evaluation.
  • Examples of reasons for asking for credit to be removed:
    • AP Credit awarded but equivalent needs to be taken at ECU
    • College/University Transfer Credit awarded but equivalent needs to be taken at ECU
    • Military credits excess/issues
  • Please note:
    • We cannot remove any credit taken at ECU; this request only applies to transfer credit.
    • We cannot guarantee a credit removal request will be approved.
    • Once credit is removed, it cannot be added back.
  • Complete the Credit Removal Request form.

Per UNC 400.1.5.3 [R], admitted transfer students shall have their final transfer credit evaluations no later than 24 hours prior to the end of the add/drop deadline of their first term of enrollment. 

Appealing Transfer Evaluations

There are three appeal levels. All applicants/admitted students should begin at Level One.

Level One
  • If a course/courses should have transferred but did not, applicants/admitted students should complete the Transfer Course Evaluations Form.
  • If elective/non-direct credit was awarded, but applicants/admitted students would like the department to reconsider, they should complete the Transfer Course Evaluation Form. 
  • Appeals may take up to 2 weeks to be resolved and do not guarantee direct or elective credit.
  • Once the result of Level One is received, if an applicant/admitted student is not satisfied with the result, they may move to Level Two.
Level Two
  • Level Two is an additional appeal with the Chair of the Department or Dean of the College.
  • Applicants/Admitted Students should email crediteval@ecu.edu for directions on filing a Level Two appeal.
  • There is no timeline for a Level Two Appeal resolution, though every effort will be made to complete this process within a 2 week time-frame.
  • Once the result of Level Two is received, if an applicant/admitted student is not satisfied with the result, they may move to Level Three.
Level Three
  • A Level Three appeal is through the Transfer Student and Credits Appeal Portal and must be filed within 15 business days of receiving the resolution from Level Two.
  • Using the portal, students must complete a secondary electronic appeal form and upload supporting documentation, including details from the university’s transfer appeals process, to be reviewed by TAC members.
  • To complete the appeal to the Transfer Advisory Committee, students must:
    • Access the Transfer Student and Credit Appeals Portal: https://transferappeal.northcarolina.edu
    • File the appeal using university log-in credentials or by creating a log-in using a personal email address.
    • Submit the appeal’s related documentation within the Transfer Student and Credits Appeal Portal.
      • All documentation and communication from TAC’s review will be maintained within the portal.
  • TAC Members will make every effort to review the appeal and notify a student of a response within 15 business days of receiving the appeal in the Transfer Student and Credit Appeals Portal. In some instances, an appeal may take longer than 15 business days to view by TAC. In these instances, the appeal will remain open and under review until a final decision is rendered.
  • The student will be notified by TAC should additional time be needed to review the appeal.