Transfer Credit to Toccoa Falls College

Evaluation Criteria and Transfer Policy
The following criteria for transfer credit apply for acceptance and suitability:

1. Submission of Official Transcripts.

An official transcript from each institution attended must be submitted to TFC’s Office of Admissions. For students currently enrolled in another institution, an updated complete official transcript must be submitted to TFC within 30 days of completion for the additional transfer work to be considered.

2. Responsibility and Final Authority.

The Registrar’s Office evaluates transferability of credit from institutions accredited by agencies authorized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The Registrar serves as the final authority in determining the general acceptability of work completed at other institutions.

3. Application of Open Elective Credit.

Only transfer work applicable to core and major programs at Toccoa Falls College is accepted in transfer. However, a maximum of 15 semester hours of baccalaureate open elective credit may be transferred from another institution.

4. Applicability of Transfer Work to TFC Programs.

While much or all of a student’s transfer credit may be acceptable at TFC, all of the transfer credit may not be applicable to the student’s major of choice. The final transfer credit evaluation should be compared to the major program of choice listed in the catalog. Courses accepted in transfer that do not fulfill a specific course requirement in the chosen major count as open electives.

5. Course Equivalency.

Transfer course work must have at least two-thirds equivalent content and credit to be granted course equivalency. When this occurs, the lacking hour must be balanced with open electives to meet the total graduation credit hour requirement.

6. Developmental and Remedial Courses.

Developmental or remedial courses are usually designed for institutional credit only and are therefore not eligible for transfer.

7. Vocational and Technical Courses.

Vocational and technical credit is accepted in transfer only when it bears a clear and direct equivalency to academic courses offered at TFC.

8. Lower and Upper Division Courses.

Lower division (100 and 200 level) coursework can only be transferred as lower division credit. In addition, lower division courses with similar content may not be substituted for upper division (300-400 level) TFC major requirements.

9. Transfer Grade Criteria and TFC GPA.

Only those courses with a C- or better are considered for transfer. Grades and GPA do not transfer.

10. Pass/Fail Courses.

Courses other than Physical Education activity courses that are graded on a Pass/Fail or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis are generally not accepted in transfer.

11. Quarter to Semester Hour Conversion.

Credits transferred from institutions on the quarter system are granted the standard two-thirds equivalency according to the following: 5 and 4 quarter hours = 3 semester hours; 3 and 2 quarter hours = 2 semester hours; 1 quarter hour = 1 semester hour. Total semester hours converted can not equal more than two/thirds of the total quarter hours courses being transferred.

12. The Transfer Evaluation.

Upon receipt of an official transcript from the transferring institution, the Registrar’s Office completes a transfer credit evaluation and sends the results to the prospective student. All acceptable transfer coursework is entered on the TFC transcript upon enrollment.

13. Considerations on Correspondence Courses.

Up to 16 hours may be accepted for work taken by correspondence from approved institutions. Courses taken by correspondence must be approved in advance and in writing by the Registrar. No correspondence courses in Homiletics are accepted and no correspondence in Bible, theology, or pastoral ministry may be accepted without specific prior approval of the Registrar’s Office and the School of Bible and Theology, subject to its criteria on accredited institutions, academic quality, and examination methods. Students having taken approved correspondence courses may be asked to validate their learning through testing.

14. Transfer Students and Declaring a Major.

Transfer students with at least 12 hours of transferable credit are eligible to make an application to declare their major immediately upon enrollment. Some departments may choose to hold the application until at least one semester of coursework has been completed and a TFC GPA established.

 

Related Transfer Policy Issues

1. Statue of Limitations on Transfer Work

As a general rule Toccoa Falls College does not place a statute of limitations on transfer work completed. However, any credit over 15 years of age will be reviewed on a course by course basis to protect the integrity of TFC’s programs and degrees. Validation by testing may be stipulated for certain coursework over 15 years of age.

2. Class Standing

Class standing will be determined by the number of transferred semester hours entered on the Toccoa Falls College transcript in addition to hours earned at TFC according to the following scale:

0 -29 hours  Freshman

30-59 hours  Sophomore

60-89 hours  Junior

90 or more  Senior

3. Admission Standing

If a student has less than 12 semester hours acceptable for transfer, he or she will be considered a New Freshman for first semester admission standing status. If a student has 12 or more semester hours accepted in transfer, he or she will be considered a New Transfer for first semester admission standing status.

4. Request for Transfer of Credit/Transient Student Issues

Sometimes a TFC student may wish to take some courses during the summer from an accredited college or university at home in order to transfer these credits back to TFC. The form “Request for Transfer of Credit” is available in the Registrar’s Office. When properly completed this form serves two purposes:

a. To verify to the other college that the student is in good academic standing. This form takes the place of a Transient Student Letter often requested by institutions.

b. To guarantee the student that, with proper grades, the courses will be accepted back at TFC as the equivalent courses listed on the form.

The form should be completed and submitted for approval while the student is still enrolled at TFC before leaving campus to take courses as a transient student. Coursework taken at home over the summer and transferred back to TFC will not affect the TFC grade point average. Students must have an official transcript of those courses sent to the TFC Registrar’s Office by the transferring institution within 30 days of completion of the coursework.

Courses in which a D or F were earned at Toccoa Falls College must be repeated at Toccoa Falls College. Students may not repeat courses at another institution for transfer back to Toccoa Falls College.

5. Residency Requirements

Residency Requirements at Toccoa Falls College apply to three areas of the curriculum: At least the final 32 hours or final 25 percent of the degree, whichever is greater must be completed in residence through TFC. A minimum of 50 percent of major course hours must be completed through TFC. A minimum of 50 percent of minor course hours must be completed through TFC.

6. Transfer Credit and the HOPE Scholarship 

Although grades and grade point averages do not transfer to Toccoa Falls College, Georgia State HOPE Scholarship criteria mandates that all college degree credit hours attempted after high school graduation and corresponding grades are counted toward the HOPE cumulative grade point average and hours attempted totals, even if those hours and grades are not accepted by TFC. Therefore for HOPE Scholarship purposes, the HOPE gpa and hours attempted may be different from the TFC transcript gpa and hours attempted.

“All attempted hours and corresponding grades as shown on official transcripts are counted toward the HOPE cumulative grade point average, including remedial study. Additionally, withdrawals are counted as attempted hours even if there is no academic penalty. Any college degree credit hours attempted or earned before high school graduation and hours exempted by examination do not count as hours attempted and are not included when calculating the HOPE cumulative grade point average.” (Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship Program Highlights)

7. Requesting a TFC Transcript

Official copies of transcripts are those provided by the Registrars Office of Toccoa Falls College and mailed directly to a college, business, etc. requested by the student or alum. Some colleges may accept a transcript as official if delivered by the student in a sealed envelope from TFC. This should be verified with the recipient.

In order to protect the privacy of student records, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1973 as amended, requires a student signature for each transcript request. Because of this, telephone requests can not be honored. There is no charge for the release of transcripts; however, the college only releases transcripts for students who do not have outstanding balance.

To request a transcript, a transcript request form should be printed, completed, and mailed it to the address indicated on the form, or faxed to 706-282-6011. If the student’s name has changed since attending TFC, a copy of the marriage license should be faxed or mailed so that the student’s transcript and records may be updated.

8. Appeal Procedure for Acceptability and Course Equivalency

The Registrar serves as the final authority in determining acceptability and equivalency of transfer coursework, and of course substitutions where transfer coursework is concerned.

Students who believe that TFC’s transfer credit policy was not implemented accurately in the evaluation of their transfer credit may initiate the appeal process with the Toccoa Falls College Registrar. If necessary, the Registrar will collaborate with the appropriate Dean or School Director where additional input is needed.