The undergraduate elective program enables students to complete the credit requirements they may need for graduation. These electives include classes that satisfy liberal arts requirements as well as general elective credit. The elective classes are offered in key locations and in an online format and are scheduled to match the credit needs of our students. Most elective classes are "enrollment driven," which means there must be at least six (6) students registered for the class to meet.
A complete listing of undergraduate electives is published twice yearly (normally in November and May). See the Undergraduate Electives listing for additional information or http://caps.indwes.edu/electives/undergraduate/.
Indiana Wesleyan University offers CLEP and DANTES tests as an option for students needing to fulfill liberal arts and general elective credits for a baccalaureate degree. The CLEP (College Level Examination Program) examinations are offered by The College Board, a nonprofit membership organization that provides tests and other educational services for students, schools, and colleges. CLEP is the most widely accepted credit-by-examination program in the country. The DANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support) examinations, originally developed for military personnel, are offered by Thomson Prometric.
Students may take both CLEP and DANTES examinations at Indiana Wesleyan University at all regional education centers. Upon receipt of the official test scores, Indiana Wesleyan University will award credit based on The American Council on Education recommendations.
Students desiring to take an examination will pay a registration fee to IWU and test fee to the company sponsoring the test. In addition, students who choose to take CLEP or DANTES tests are assessed an IWU transcription fee of $25 per credit hour satisfactorily completed. This applies to all CLEP/DANTES credits which are placed on Indiana Wesleyan University records whether taken at Indiana Wesleyan University or accepted in transfer. Credit is not placed on the academic record until payment for the credits and the official transcript are received. Before taking a CLEP/DANTES test, students should check with an academic advisor to ensure the test will apply toward degree completion plans.
Students may transfer credit from another university to fulfill liberal arts and general elective requirements for applicable degrees. Credit can only be transferred from an institution accredited by a regional accrediting body or by the Association for Biblical Higher Education and for courses in which a grade of "C" or higher was earned. All credits are accepted as semester credits. Quarter credits are converted to semester credits using the two-thirds conversion ratio. Students should check with an academic advisor before planning to fulfill requirements in this way. See "Transfer of Credit Policy" for limitations on transfer work.
Indiana Wesleyan University assesses students' non-credited learning for academic credit toward an undergraduate degree. Non-credited learning is that which has taken place outside the traditional college classroom. The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), an educational association founded in 1974 to promote the acceptance of the awarding of university credit for experiential learning, has led the way in developing and implementing assessment techniques. Indiana Wesleyan University uses the guidelines developed by CAEL.
The student-prepared assessed learning portfolio is the most commonly accepted method used to evaluate non-credited learning. These portfolios are collections of narratives and documentation which articulate a student's academically relevant, non-university learning. Portfolios can vary greatly in form and content, but in their preparation all students assume the responsibility for self-analysis, preparation, and presentation. The preparation itself is a learning experience.
At Indiana Wesleyan University the purpose of the portfolio is twofold:
In preparing the portfolio, the student must pause and recollect a history of learning and growth in order to develop a meaningful "learning autobiography." The student describes and analyzes learning experiences and then provides documentation that clarifies and validates the learning, e.g., letters, statements, products of work according to the Assessed Learning Portfolio Manual.
Undergraduate students enrolled in or accepted to the CAPS programs are eligible to complete an assessed learning portfolio. Credit hours awarded may be counted toward liberal arts or general elective requirements as applicable to the undergraduate degree. Baccalaureate students may earn a maximum of 40 hours of credit through the portfolio. Undergraduate students may use portfolio credit to accrue toward the 60 hours of credit required for admission to the core curriculum. The opening fee is paid one time only.
Applicants denied entry to the program based on low GPA or insufficient work experience are not eligible to complete the portfolio process until such deficiencies have been removed. In addition, students who are suspended from the program are not allowed to complete the portfolio process. The student is responsible to develop the portfolio independently, following guidelines given at an academic advising interview. The Assessed Learning Portfolio Manual includes all instructions necessary to submit material for evaluation. All assessment of items submitted is performed by faculty assessors whose knowledge and expertise qualify them to evaluate learning gained through experience.
The portfolio opening fee is due when the portfolio is submitted to the Office of Student Services for evaluation. All assessed fees for credits awarded through the portfolio will be billed after each assessment and are due 30 days from that date. Credits will not be posted to the student's permanent record until payment is received.
The portfolio will be viewed only by those who have an official reason for doing so: the assessment staff, faculty evaluators, and accrediting association members. Any data from portfolios that may be made public will be generalized and will in no way be attributed to an individual unless the individual student has given a signed authorization. Students are also advised not to include any materials in the portfolio that will violate the legal and moral rights to privacy of other individuals.
Portfolios may be submitted at any time; however, if the credits are needed for graduation, the portfolio must arrive at the Office of Student Services at least three months prior to the expected graduation date. Portfolios may be submitted only up to one (1) year after the student's core completion date.
Students petitioning for prior learning credit are required to remit a $100.00 opening fee for Portfolio Option I or a $150.00 opening fee for Portfolio Option II. This is to be included with the portfolio at the time it is submitted. In addition, there will be a $40.00 transcription fee for each credit awarded. The student will receive an invoice/credit by assessment report for the amount of the credit awarded. Credit is not placed on the academic record until all fees have been paid. Therefore, before starting a core program or graduating from IWU, all fees must be paid. All assessed credit fees are due 30 days from the invoice date unless payment is required sooner due to the aforementioned special circumstances.