Navigating transfer credits and how to challenge them

Transferring to a university is a very familiar process to UHCL. However, what some students might be unaware of is the process in which the university goes about accepting or denying transfer credits.

Some students lose credits when they transfer or their credits are denied during the admissions process.

“I lost nine credits, and I talked to my faculty advisor about it,” said Taylor Langford, psychology major. “My credits were unable to transfer since they weren’t offered here at the school.”

In fact, some students have to start over despite the credits that they earned prior to being admitted to UHCL.

“I lost all my credits and had to start as a freshman, even though I’m technically a sophomore,” said Aston Nelson, computer engineering major.

There is a process that the Office of Admissions goes through and criteria that the student’s transcript must meet. There are ways in which students can check on the reasons why transfer credits were denied. If all else fails, there is a system in place that allows students to motion an appeal to challenge the denied credit.

The Office of Admissions is the first step in the transfer credit review process. The office reviews students’ transcripts before the admissions process begins.

“We review all undergraduate files, with all types of transfer work, to determine whether we can award credit toward their selected UHCL degree,” said Linda Hamilton, director of admissions, processing, and transfer credit. “This process occurs prior to admission.”

UHCL accepts transfer credits from multiple schools; however, there is an exception to this vast selection.

“We accept all credits in transfer from other Texas institutions; except when it is technical,” Hamilton said. “If a Texas institution transfers a core course using technical credit, we do not accept that credit, as approved by the Coordinating Board.”

However, there are exceptions for accepting technical credit.

“Some exceptions to this policy are that we accept specific amounts of technical credit toward the core computer requirement and toward technical degrees that we offer here at UHCL, such as nursing, etc,” Hamilton said.

Once a student has been admitted to UHCL, every college at the university has different guidelines and rules regarding how they review the admissions office’s work. However, one of the reasons credits do not transfer is due to major incompatibility. Even though these credits do not work for student’s major, they can be taken in as general electives if the degree plan allows for it.

“There are times when students take courses that are transferable but may not be applicable toward their intended major here,” said Kristi Rickman, associate director for the Office of Academic Transfer Advising. “However if their degree plan has room for general electives, then those additional courses typically fit nicely into the elective requirements.”

Students are advised to contact their academic advisors if they have any questions regarding their transfer credits. Also, students can visit the transfer credit guide at https://apps.uhcl.edu/tcg.

“Students are encouraged to contact their advisor and ask about anything they don’t understand about their degree requirements and transfer credits,” said Gayla Brashears, coordinator of academic advising, college of business.

In fact, some students are unaware of the credit guide.

“I was unaware of the guide,” Nelson said. “If I had known about it, it would’ve saved me some time and helped me a lot.”

In fact, after the Office of Admissions, the next step in the enrollment process is to work with the Office of Academic Transfer Advising. The office’s purpose is to guide students.

“The Academic Transfer Advising staff at UHCL serve as advocates for transfer students,” Rickman said.

“One of our key roles is helping transfer students understand how their transfer credits apply toward their degree requirements,” Rickman said.

For freshman and sophomore transfer students, there is a process and criteria that UHCL goes through in determining which credits are successfully transferred.

“Transfer students tend to pursue ‘Transfer Tracks’ (Associate of Science, Associate of Arts in Teaching, or Associate of Arts) at the nearby community colleges, which typically results in a positive transfer experience because the courses they complete are all academic-based courses applicable toward the Core Curriculum and the Field of Study for their major,” Rickman said.

For these students, the Office of Academic Transfer Advising is ready to lend a helping hand as Rickman further elaborates on the role the office plays in helping incoming students.

“Our job is to connect with these students while they are still at the community college, provide them with a bachelor’s degree plan, and advise them on all the courses they can complete at the community college which not only transfer, but fulfill course requirements for their intended degree here,” Rickman said.

Another aspect of the transfer credits that students may want to know about is how UHCL accepts these transfer credits.

“At UHCL, we accept all freshman- and sophomore-level hours a student completes at another regionally accredited institution as long as the courses completed are applicable to the degree requirements for their major here, which could be anywhere from 60-75 hours depending on the degree program,” Rickman said.

However, there are times when these credits are not accepted and students have to retake a course they have already completed. This is where challenging the denied credits can come into play.

For students who have been denied transfer credits, and after talking to their academic advisors still think they should be awarded the credit, there is a way to challenge the decision.

“Transfer credit challenges are typically experienced when students are attempting to transfer credits from a private institution, an out-of-state institution, or a technical or workforce certification program at one of the community colleges,” Rickman said.

However, students seem to be unaware that they can challenge credit denials.

“I feel like knowing about the challenge would have helped since I lost an entire semester,” Langford said.

“I was unaware of the challenge,” Nelson said. “If I had known about it earlier, I would’ve seen if I can get something done.”

The challenge is available for students to use, but Rickman said it is not often that students completely lose their credits.

“Since UHCL’s transfer credit policy is more flexible than most state universities, it is rare that students actually ‘lose’ credits here unless they are switching careers or majors entirely,” Rickman said.

The process to start a challenge to review transfer credits is detailed by Hamilton.

“A student can request a course review in one of two ways, through their advising office, by sending syllabus information,” Hamilton said. “The advising office can review the request and forward it to Transfer Credit. Or, the student can make the request themselves, by forwarding a request and syllabus to transfercredit@uhcl.edu.”