School of Continuing Studies

As a student in the General Studies Degree program, you may be able to earn academic credits for professional experiences. These self-acquired competency (SAC) credits are awarded based on documentation you provide.

Please read the information below before seeking SAC credit. It includes practical steps for documenting your experiences and demonstrating how the competencies you derived from them satisfy general studies academic requirements.

The policies pertaining to this process, as stated in the School of Continuing Studies’ undergraduate General Studies Degree Bulletin, are given at the end of this document.

Step One - Consult Your Advisor Early

Consult with your general studies academic advisor as early as possible to develop a plan of study for the Associate of Arts in General Studies or the Bachelor of General Studies. Doing so will allow your advisor to recommend the best time for you to seek SAC credits in relationship to your future course schedule.

By talking to your advisor early, you’ll also avoid taking courses that might be covered through SAC. For example, if you have a recent license, you may already have credits that you can apply toward your degree. Awarding of SAC credits can be determined early if the basis for credit is a completed license or certificate that meets government or professional organization standards and that has been completed within the past five years.

Note: Most students do not seek SAC credits. Of those who do so, few provide adequate evidence for more than 6 to 12 credits. Typically, those who succeed at earning SAC credits have recently completed a license or certificate in a required competency area.

Step Two - Consider the True Merits and Value of Your Experience

Think realistically about whether you have completed significant experiences that could be considered for academic credit.

Keep in mind that you’re most likely to earn academic credits if your experience

• is professional in nature and has required you to not only participate, but to accept supervisory, managerial, or leadership responsibilities.
• has led to advancement, high praise, or a promotion. You must provide an original letter from your supervisor stating that the experience for which you are seeking credit led to the praise or promotion.
• was recent—normally within the past 10 years; better if within the past five years.
• lasted for a meaningful amount of time—normally two or more years.
• is documented with a completed license, certificate, formal evaluation, or other tangible means of recognition from the employer, civic organization, accredited association, or academic institution.
• relates directly to the stated academic objectives of a course as found in the Indiana University curriculum.
• does not duplicate academic credit already completed for the general studies degree and does not exceed the total SAC credits allowed (including options for exam credit).
• can be described in terms of theory and practice learned and substantiated through documentation gathered in a portfolio for review by an Indiana University faculty member who represents the relevant field and specific course for which credit would be awarded.

Step Three - Submit an Initial Plan

Once you have gotten approval from your advisor, you may submit an initial plan detailing your request for SAC credits.

Your initial plan should include

• a one- to two-page letter describing, in your own words, why you believe you deserve consideration for such credit.
• a list of courses for which you seek credit. The courses must be selected from the Indiana University curriculum and approved by your advisor.
• a copy of your plan of study, including courses completed.
• a resume that includes a life-history listing of all work, academic, and civic accomplishments.
• a copy of recently completed certificates, licenses, or formal evaluations.
• complete contact information, including your postal and email addresses.

Submit the plan, along with a cover memo from your advisor, to the SCS dean for review.

Step Four - Review the Dean’s Recommendations

The dean’s office will make recommendations based on the strengths of your case and the likelihood that an acceptable Indiana University faculty member will review your portfolio. (The SAC credit and portfolio review process may be delegated by the dean to the local campus director of general studies.)

The dean's office (or campus director of general studies) may determine that you have not provided sufficient evidence, and/or a professor is not available to consider SAC credit.

Alternatively, the dean's office may determine that you can seek SAC credit. The dean may recommend that the academic unit (approved professor) award credit based solely on the merits of your initial plan; or the dean may recommend that you develop a portfolio. The portfolio may be

• self-directed, which is usually the case for students hoping to obtain 1 to 3 academic credits.
• developed as part of an on-campus or distance “portfolio” course. This is usually the case for students hoping to obtain more than 3 academic credits. The course guides students in preparing the requisite, substantial portfolio.

Before pursuing one of the options in Step Five, be aware of the following:

• The reviewing professor makes the final determination of credit, not the SCS dean, academic advisor, or faculty council. The academic unit determines your grade, the course—and course level—for which credit is awarded, and the number of credits awarded.
• Some academic units refuse to review or consider SAC credit. That refusal is made at the discretion of the academic unit, not the School of Continuing Studies.
• Review of your portfolio may take from two to six months depending on the availability and efficiency of the reviewing faculty member and on the thoroughness of your documentation.
• The reviewing professor may recommend credit for a course other than the one you requested. The reviewer may also ask you for additional documentation or for an interview before credit is granted or denied.
• In rare cases, up to 15 SAC credits might be documented and granted toward the A.A.G.S. and up to 30 SAC credits toward the B.G.S. Normally, however, between 6 and 9 credits are awarded toward the A.A.G.S. and between 6 and 12 credits are awarded toward the B.G.S. Most students do not seek SAC credits.
• If you are under age 21, it is unlikely that you will have acquired sufficient experience to qualify for SAC credits. The SAC option is intended for adult learners who have substantial professional experience in civilian or military careers (normally 10 to 20 years) and for those who have established honorable service that has been observed and evaluated by supervisors, trainers, educators, or others in a position to pass such judgments.
• Application of the SAC credits is determined and approved by your advisor in accordance with A.A.G.S. or B.G.S. degree requirements.
• SAC credits granted by the School of Continuing Studies do not transfer to another academic unit at Indiana University. They are intended for application toward completion of the general studies degree.

Step Five - Submit Evidence for SAC Credit

As noted in Step Four, the dean may recommend that you pursue SAC credit following one of the options below.

The SAC credit and portfolio review process may be delegated by the dean to the local campus director of general studies.

Initial Plan as Basis for SAC Credit

The IU SCS Dean’s office identifies a faculty member to review your initial plan as the sole basis for awarding SAC credits. You pay tuition and fees (based on your local campus policy) for any SAC credit that is approved.

Self-Directed Development of Portfolio

You acquire recommended materials that will direct you in developing a formal portfolio. You submit the portfolio to the dean’s office for review. You pay tuition and fees (based on your local campus policy) for any SAC credit that is approved.

Recommended materials include Earn College Credit for What You Know (2006) from the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning. This document provides a workable outline for students capable of developing their own portfolio. You can purchase the publication online or through campus bookstores.

Normally with a self-directed portfolio, you gather documentation and present it—along with a narrative—in a three-ring notebook for review. You may also be able to submit portfolio materials by email, attaching any scanned materials.

Note: You may submit photocopies of certificates, licenses, and seminar certificates, but your letters of recommendation or testimonies of student accomplishments should be original.

This review process may take two to six months.

Formal Course Work in Portfolio Development

If you are seeking 3 or more SAC credits, you may be directed to enroll in a formal course to help you compile a more extensive portfolio. Such a course may be available at your local IU campus and is also available through independent study (Education F400).

Note: You must have approval from the SCS dean to enroll in a portfolio development course.

Portfolio development courses normally involve a semester of work. They are based on Earn College Credit for What You Know (2006) from the Council for Adult and Experimental Learning and on other resources recommended by your local campus or independent study instructor.

You pay tuition and fees for the course and earn academic credit for successful completion of the course. You also pay tuition and any related service fees for any SAC credits approved and granted. You may submit a portfolio or portfolios for review without additional service fees.

The review process may take two to six months. The IU SCS dean’s office will compile a directory of faculty approved for review of SAC credit plans and portfolios.