It is the decision of Texas State Technical College to evaluate credit for previous military sponsored learning that is appropriately documented. Credit is not awarded for "experience," but for college-level "learning" which entails knowledge, skills, and competencies obtained as a result of the successful completion of military schools or formal training modules. This learning must be evaluated through formal procedures by qualified faculty, meet standards of specific courses at the college, and relate to the student’s educational program. Armed Forces experience not acquired in a formal classroom/laboratory environment or corroborated by a formal certificate, transcript or diploma will be evaluated as experiential learning (see College Operating Procedure 4.5 Experiential Credit Assignment.) utilizing the appropriate guidebooks designated for this purpose.

Recognition of the importance of providing educational opportunities for the widest range of students resulted in the designation to Texas State Technical College Harlingen as a Service member’s Opportunity College (SOC). Provision for the awarding of college credit for armed forces and service schools can be found in the most recent edition of the SACS Criteria for Accreditation Manual.

Student:

1. Student will request the department or appointed designee to evaluate Armed Forces and Service Schools documents prior to but no later than the end of the first term of enrollment.

Faculty:

1. The department chair or designee will review the documentation that is submitted to corroborate the armed forces and service school experience and determine its appropriateness to the student’s field of study. The department chair or designee will consult the ACE’s Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Forces available in the Office of Admission and Records to determine the appropriate assignment of credit and insure that the assignment of credit is in compliance with commonly accepted standard.
   
   
2. The department chair or designee will submit a “Request for Transfer/Substitution of Credit” to the Office of Admissions and Records along with,
   
   
   • A narrative that clearly and concisely explains the relationship between the armed forces and service school training and the TSTC course that will be awarded. This narrative must reference the ACE credit recommendation, volume and page number.
     
     
   • The certified/notarized copy of official certificate(s), diploma(s), or transcript(s), which document the armed forces and service school training. These documents become a part of the student’s permanent record and will not be returned to the student.

Office of Admission and Records:

1. Upon receipt of the department chair’s or appointed designee supporting documentation and the “Request for Transfer/Substitution Credit” form, the Office of Admission & Records will make the appropriate assignment of credit based upon the department chair’s request.
   
   
2. The credit will appear on the student’s transcript under the "Armed Forces and Service School Credit" rubric with the replaced TSTC course title, a grade of "CR" and the recommended number of credits reported in semester hour units.