Transfer Credit

Scope

This procedure forms part of JIBC’s Transfer Credit Policy (the “Policy”) and provides direction and processes for the awarding of transfer credit towards completion of a JIBC credential program. Terms not otherwise defined in this procedure are as defined in the Policy.

Procedural Guiding Principles

• JIBC encourages formal Credit Transfer and Articulation Agreements with post-secondary institutions and with other organizations and accrediting bodies outside of the BC Council on Admissions and Transfer’s (BCCAT) system.
• Equivalencies may be established on a course-to-course basis or as Block Transfer.  Articulation may be instigated at the request of an institution or an individual Student.
• English (ENGL) credit may be granted to those Students who have studied English in a country where English is the language of instruction.
• Successfully completed courses not listed in the online BC Transfer Guide may also be eligible for Credit Transfer as a result of a formal assessment by JIBC.

Applying for Credit Transfer

• Students are responsible for initiating the Credit Transfer process upon admission to their program.
• Students applying for Credit Transfer must complete and submit the Request for Credit Transfer form. Students are responsible for submitting supporting documents with their application, including Official Transcripts. (Note: Official Transcripts should be sent directly from the issuing institution to JIBC).
• Students may submit their completed Request for Credit Transfer forms to JIBC electronically, by mail, or by fax. Forms are available on the JIBC website and from Student Services.
• Students submitting documents from institutions outside Canada may be required to have their documents evaluated by an accredited international credential evaluation service such as the International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES).
• JIBC does not commence the assessment of transcripts for Credit Transfer until the Student is accepted into the program.
• Students accepted into JIBC programs are required to meet the residency requirement as per Policy 3306 Program Completion and Credentials. In cases where a Student in a degree program is applying for both Credit Transfer and prior learning assessment and recognition (see Policy 3202 Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition) and the combined total of possible credit exceeds the residency requirement, the Student may request an exemption to this policy from the Registrar. If the Registrar grants an exemption, at least 50% of upper-level credits (i.e. 3rd & 4th year courses) in a program must be completed at JIBC.
• The Registrar’s Office will keep a record of all courses assessed for Credit Transfer.
• The Registrar’s Office will inform Students of the result of the Credit Transfer request.

If courses are from within Canada

• The Credit Transfer will be assessed by the Registrar’s Office upon receipt of a Credit Transfer Request form and an Official Transcript, which has been forwarded in a sealed envelope directly from the issuing institution to JIBC or transmitted via electronic transcript exchange service where applicable.
• Course work previously assessed and listed in the BC Transfer Guide will be automatically posted to the Student's official academic record by the Registrar’s Office.
• Course work not listed in the BC Transfer Guide that has been previously assessed and awarded by JIBC will be granted by the Registrar’s Office.
• In the event the course work is not in the BC Transfer Guide and has not been previously assessed and awarded by JIBC, Students must provide course outlines/syllabi to determine if Credit Transfer is appropriate.
• Students applying for Credit Transfer for courses taken outside BC, may be required to submit a course outline or syllabus from the institution in addition to an Official Transcript.
• Official course outlines/syllabi must be from the year and/or semester/term in which the courses were successfully completed. These outlines/syllabi will be evaluated by JIBC faculty with subject matter expertise. (Note: Catalogue or calendar course descriptions are not adequate for the purposes of Credit Transfer evaluation.)
• Each course outline/syllabus must include the following information: a statement of course objectives, the number of weeks duration and/or course contact hours, the method of evaluation and grading, the number of credits, a comprehensive description of course content, and learning materials used.

If courses are from outside Canada

• Students must send an Official Transcript to JIBC. In the event the transcript is deemed irreplaceable, JIBC will accept a certified copy or will return the original copy to the student.
• Official Transcripts should be in the original language of instruction and should prominently display the institution's logo/stamp/seal. Where the Official Transcripts are not in English or French, Students will need to provide certified translations to accompany their request.
• Course outlines/syllabi must also be provided and should (where applicable) include the following information: course name, course number, length of instructional period, total number of hours by instructional type, learning objectives/learning outcomes, and content of the course including texts and required readings, methods of instruction and grading/evaluation structure for each course. Where the official outlines/syllabi are not in English or French, students will need to provide certified translations to accompany their request.

Types of Transfer

Transfer credit can be recognized in several different ways:

• Direct assigned credit (for courses that are deemed equivalent to JIBC course).
• Unassigned credit (for courses that are related in content to curriculum taught within the discipline but for which there is no equivalent JIBC course).
• Block Transfer for credentials for program-specific clusters of courses. (Credit granted may be different from the amount of credit available on a course-by-course basis. Students receiving Block Transfer may still be required to complete additional bridging courses to satisfy lower-level (i.e. 1st & 2nd year) degree requirements, prerequisites for upper-level (i.e. 3rd & 4th year) course requirements, or a residency requirement.)

Limitations

• This procedure applies only to credit transferred from public post-secondary institutions. Credit transferred from private post-secondary learning institutions will be dealt with on an institution-to-institution basis.
• JIBC will not grant more credit than what is earned at the home institution.
• JIBC will not grant Credit Transfer under this Policy to any course that is offered on a non-credit basis at the home institution, but may do so under JIBC Policy 3202 Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition.
• No credit will be granted for courses completed at the secondary school level (the equivalent in British Columbia is considered to be the first 12 years of formal education beyond kindergarten). This includes overseas secondary school equivalents such as the UK system of "A", "O" and "AS" levels. Relevant Advanced Placement (AP) courses may be accepted.
• Students who present transcripts from outside of Canada or the USA must have their transcripts evaluated by ICES or other approved credential evaluation service (Students must request a detailed/comprehensive assessment). Students must also provide to JIBC a copy of the original transcript.

Related Policies and Procedures

• 3202 Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition Policy
• 3212 Transfer Credit Policy
• 3306 Program Completion and Credentials Policy

Documents and Forms

• BCCAT Principles & Guidelines for Transfer
• BC Transfer Guide
• Request for Transfer Credit Form
• International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES)