FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
John L. Winn
Commissioner of Education
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
JULIA L. JOHNSON
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
LINDA K. TAYLOR
July 20, 2005
MEMORANDUM
TO:
State University Presidents
Community College Presidents
FROM:
John L. Winn
SUBJECT:
Nonpublic Institution Participation in the Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS)
The Florida State Board of Education is committed to improving student opportunities for higher learning by
coordinating the efforts of all education sectors to facilitate progress toward a degree. Nonpublic colleges and
universities play an important role in achieving this goal. Many Florida students at non-regionally accredited
institutions, however, continue to encounter difficulties when transferring credit.
Section 1007.24(6), Florida Statutes (F.S.), states that “Nonpublic colleges and schools that are fully
accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of
Education…may participate in the statewide course numbering system.” Furthermore, Section 1007.24(7),
F.S., guarantees the transfer of credit between all participating institutions:
Any student who transfers among postsecondary institutions that are fully accredited by a
regional or national accrediting agency
recognized by the United States Department of
Education
and that participate in the statewide course numbering system
shall be
awarded credit by the receiving institution for courses satisfactorily completed by the
student at the previous institutions. Credit shall be awarded if the courses are judged by
the appropriate statewide course numbering system faculty committees representing
school districts, public postsecondary educational institutions, and participating
nonpublic postsecondary educational institutions to be academically equivalent to
regardless of the public or nonpublic control of the previous institution.
We ask that you make your staff aware that students who transfer from nonpublic institutions that participate in
the SCNS enjoy the same rights to guaranteed course transfer as students from Florida public institutions.
Courses with the same prefix and last three digits
—those that have been deemed equivalent by an SCNS
faculty discipline committee—
are guaranteed transfer to another institution offering that course
(subject
to standard system-wide exemptions). This credit will satisfy institutional requirements as though the student
took that course at the receiving institution. No additional supporting documentation is required to validate the
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 1514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0505 • www.fldoe.org
State University Presidents
Community College Presidents
July 20, 2005
Page Two
transfer of equivalent courses; in the process of assigning course numbers, the Department of Education has
already ensured that the teaching faculty possess credentials comparable to those at regionally accredited
institutions.
Moreover, the Department continues its efforts to ensure improvements in all facets of the faculty
credential evaluation process.
Again, receiving institutions
must
award this transfer credit for equivalent
courses regardless of whether the accreditation of the participating institution is regional or national.
The State Board of Education and I take very seriously our responsibility to ensure and enforce appropriate
policy implementation. To test and improve quality assurance in the implementation of this policy, the
Department of Education, in conjunction with the Articulation Coordinating Committee, will be reviewing
transfer policies and sampling student records across institutions. Results of sampling will be publicly
reported along with specifically reported and confirmed incidents of violation. I encourage your attention to
your institution’s policies and practices to facilitate student success in this policy area.
For your convenience, attached is a list of nonpublic institution courses on the SCNS. You may also download
updated copies of this report in the “Latest News” section of the Statewide Course Numbering System website
at http://scns.fldoe.org. Should you have any questions about the transfer of credit from nonpublic institutions,
please contact the Office of Articulation at (850) 245-0427. Thank you for your consideration regarding this
matter.
JW/mb
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Chancellor Debra Austin
Chancellor David Armstrong
State University Registrars and Admission Directors
Community College Registrars and Admissions Officers
State University Council of Academic Vice Presidents
Community College Council on Instructional Affairs
Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida Presidents
Florida Association of Private Schools and Colleges Presidents
