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Unofficial Transfer Evaluation

Interested in how a transfer class may come into Colorado Mesa University? You can look it up yourself in this online tool. You simply need to know which college/university and the course subject/number.

Transfer Equivalency Self-Service (TESS) - Best if viewed in Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, or Safari.

For information on how to use it, check out the TESS Help/FAQ page.

The Registrar's Office evaluates transcripts and prepares a Transfer Equivalency Report (TER) to determine the courses that are transferred to Colorado Mesa University. The TER is produced by the Registrar's Office after the student has been admitted and all official transcripts are received. It consists of a computer printed page showing course transfer equivalents but will not show how courses are used in the major program; you will need to see an advisor to determine that.

If you have any questions regarding your Transfer Equivalency Report please contact the Registrar's Office at:

Phone: 970.248.1555

Email: [email protected]

Advanced Placement (AP)

Advanced Placement (AP) transfer credit may be obtained by students who have successfully completed AP courses and tests while in high school. To receive credit, an official copy of the AP transcripts must be sent directly from the testing agency to the CMU Registrar's Office.

The faculty and department head of each department determine if and under what conditions non-traditional credit is allowed. If allowed, the following limits apply:

  • Maximum of 30 semester credit hours for a baccalaureate degree
  • 15 semester credit hours for an associate's degree
  • 6 semester credit hours for a technical certificate

The total combination of any non-traditional credit cannot exceed:

  • 30 semester credits for a baccalaureate degree;
  • 15 semester credits for an Associate of Science or Associate of Arts degree;
  • 20 semester credit for an Associate of Applied Science degree;
  • Twenty-five percent of the semester credits required for a technical certificate.

Advanced Placement Exams and Scores Accepted by CMU

International Baccalaureate (IB)

International Baccalaureate (IB) transfer credit may be obtained by students who have successfully completed IB courses and tests while in high school. The subject exams and scores shown on each student's transcript will determine the number of semester credit hours allowed.

To receive credit, an official copy of the IB transcripts must be sent directly from the testing agency to the CMU Registrar's Office.

The faculty and department head of each department determine if and under what conditions non-traditional credit is allowed. If allowed, the following limits apply:

  • Maximum of 30 semester credit hours for a baccalaureate degree
  • 15 semester credit hours for an associate's degree
  • 6 semester credit hours for a technical certificate

The total combination of any non-traditional credit cannot exceed:

  • 30 semester credits for a baccalaureate degree;
  • 15 semester credits for an Associate of Science or Associate of Arts degree;
  • 20 semester credit for an Associate of Applied Science degree;
  • Twenty-five percent of the semester credits required for a technical certificate.

International Baccalaureate Exams and Scores Accepted by CMU

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Exam

The faculty and department head of each department determine if and under what conditions non-traditional credit is allowed. If allowed, the following limits apply:

  • Maximum of 30 semester credit hours for a baccalaureate degree
  • Maximum of 20 semester credit hours for an Associate of Applied Science degree
  • Maximum of 12 semester credit hours for an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree
  • Maximum of 6 semester credit hours for a technical certificate.

Students may not earn CLEP credit in a class in which they have been previously enrolled including a class from which the student withdrew, so that the transcript shows a "W," "WP," or "WF."

The total combination of any non-traditional credit cannot exceed:

  • 30 semester credits for a baccalaureate degree;
  • 15 semester credits for an Associate of Science or Associate of Arts degree;
  • 20 semester credit for an Associate of Applied Science degree;
  • Twenty-five percent of the semester credits required for a technical certificate.

For more information about the CLEP exams, visit coloradomesa.edu/testing and view the CLEP brochure.

DSST Exam

The faculty and department head of each department determine if and under what conditions non-traditional credit is allowed. If allowed, the following limits apply:

  • Maximum of 30 semester credit hours for a baccalaureate degree
  • Maximum of 20 semester credit hours for an Associate of Applied Science degree
  • Maximum of 12 semester credit hours for an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree
  • Maximum of 6 semester credit hours for a technical certificate.

Students may not earn DSST credit in a class in which they have been previously enrolled including a class from which the student withdrew, so that the transcript shows a "W," "WP," or "WF."

The total combination of any non-traditional credit cannot exceed:

  • 30 semester credits for a baccalaureate degree;
  • 15 semester credits for an Associate of Science or Associate of Arts degree;
  • 20 semester credit for an Associate of Applied Science degree;
  • Twenty-five percent of the semester credits required for a technical certificate.

For more information about the DSST exams, visit coloradomesa.edu/testing and view the DSST brochure.

Military Transcripts

To receive credit for military service, the student must request an official copy of the Joint Services Transcript (JST) or Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) transcript to be sent to the CMU Registrar's office. Documents are evaluated based on recommendations from the American Council on Education (ACE) Military Guidelines with input from academic departments. If allowed, the following limits apply:

  • Maximum of 30 semester credits hours to be used toward lower and upper division courses

The total combination of any non-traditional credit cannot exceed:

  • 30 semester credits for a baccalaureate degree;
  • 15 semester credits for an Associate of Science or Associate of Arts degree;
  • 20 semester credit for an Associate of Applied Science degree;
  • Twenty-five percent of the semester credits required for a technical certificate.

Obtaining military transcripts.

Non-traditional Credit and the Colorado Statewide Guaranteed Transfer Pathways

Colorado Statewide Guaranteed Transfer (GT-Pathways) is a program that focuses on the Essential Learning/General Education categories and how the classes transfer between colleges and universities in the state. The following charts show how the non-traditional credit above will count toward the GT-Pathways designations:

Colleges/Universities

It is the policy of Colorado Mesa University to accept academic credits from:

  • All public colleges and universities in the state of Colorado, provided they are currently regionally accredited. This applies regardless of the institution's accreditation status at the time the credit was earned.
  • Private and out-of-state colleges and universities, provided the institution is currently regionally accredited and was accredited or was a candidate for accreditation at the time the credit was earned.
  • Regionally accredited two-year community or junior colleges.
  • Regionally accredited institutions that award "S" or "P" grades, if the granting institution states that such grade is equal to a grade of "C-" or better.

PROCESS:

Each course is evaluated using the abbreviation, level, title and description. On occasion, a course syllabus is necessary to complete the evaluation. With this information, the course is compared to the classes offered at Colorado Mesa University. Courses with an exact match are given the Colorado Mesa course equivalent while those without an exact equivalent are coded with the department prefix and level (i.e. MANG 1XX) or as an elective (i.e. ELEC 2XX). Once an equivalent course decision is made, it is entered into the permanent database.

GRADES:

A grade of "C-" or higher must be earned in each transferable course. Courses with a "Pass",

"Satisfactory" or other non-letter grade will only be considered if the transcript key confirms that it is equivalent to a "C-" or higher on the grade scale.

RESTRICTIONS:

Preparatory classes taken in preparation for college level English Composition or College

Mathematics will transfer as zero credits. Other "pre-college" classes do not transfer. Religious classes are generally not accepted. No more than eight physical activity courses are accepted for a baccalaureate degree; no more than four for an associate's. Technical trades classes generally do not transfer unless they are applicable to your Colorado Mesa University/CMU Tech program. Classes over 15 years old are looked at on a course-by-course basis. Some Colorado Mesa University majors have "age" restrictions on the use of certain courses in those majors. The final approval of how classes are used toward major area requirements is done by the department chair.

Quarter to semester hour conversion: Classes taken at an institution using a quarter hour system are converted to semester hours by multiplying by two-thirds (i.e., 3 quarter hours = 2 semester hours).

Complaint Procedure for Transfer Credit

If there are concerns about how your credits transfers, follow the steps below: 

  1. Discuss the concern with the Transfer Evaluator in the Registrar's Office. Additional information such as the course description, syllabi, or the list of approved general education courses from the institution granting the original credit may influence or change the transfer decision. The Registrar's Office will work with the Academic Departments on courses outside of general education. If unresolved, discuss the situation with the Associate Registrar.
  2. Submit a written request to the Registrar to include: 1) a description of the issue, including the steps taken to informally resolve the problem, and 2) any relevant documents you would like to be reviewed. The request will be reviewed and a written reply will be given within 30 days.  
  3. Submit a written complaint to the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The relevant administrator (or designee) will investigate the complaint and respond in writing to the student with his/her decision within 30 days of receipt of the complaint. 
  4.  Submit a formal complaint to the Colorado Department of Higher of Education.