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Additional Credit-Bearing Programs & Activities

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Students taking College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams may receive transfer credit, provided the exam is in one of the subjects offered at Saint Michael’s. All exams taken prior to beginning a degree program at Saint Michael’s will be considered for transfer credit. Once matriculated at Saint Michael’s, students are limited to earning credit for one CLEP exam, which typically corresponds to four credits at the introductory level. The minimum score for earning credit is 50 (comparable to a grade of C). To receive CLEP credits an official score report must be sent directly by the College Board to the SMC Registrar’s Office.

Seal of Biliteracy

The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by a school, district, or state in the United States to recognize students who have achieved proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation. To earn the Seal of Biliteracy, students typically must demonstrate proficiency in English and one or more additional languages. The criteria for proficiency can include standardized assessments, coursework, or other approved methods. Requirements vary by state and/or district. The award is typically noted on the student’s high school diploma and/or transcript.

Upon request from the student, the Registrar’s Office will verify the Seal of Biliteracy on the official final high school transcript and/or through other official documentation. Students with a verified Seal of Biliteracy will earn up to 8 hours of foreign language credit. The credit will appear as 8.00 earned hours of transfer credit from Seal of Biliteracy on the official Saint Michael’s College transcript. There are no grades associated with the seal, and this credit will not be included in the calculation of the student’s Grade Point Average (GPA). The Registrar’s Office will determine specific course and level equivalencies on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the Chair of Classical & Modern Languages.

American Council on Education (ACE) – Nonmilitary & Military Credit Recommendations

Saint Michael’s College awards transfer credit based on ACE recommendations in accordance with the tenets of the transfer credit policy. The coursework must be comparable in content, nature and rigor to courses offered at SMC. Nonmilitary learners must provide the SMC Registrar’s Office with an ACE Transcript, which includes credit recommendations and competencies that learners have earned through workplace training, exams, certifications, and alternative educational experiences.

ACE provides credit recommendations for military training in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard through the Joint Services Transcript. Students with military experience in these branches must request an official Joint Services Transcript, which must be sent to the SMC Registrar’s Office for review. Students with military experience in the Air Force may have credit from the Community College of the Air Force and/or Air University, which are fully accredited institutions and thus fall under the standard transfer credit policy.

Credit for Life & Work Experience

Saint Michael’s College does not assess life or work experience for academic credit. Recognition is solely granted to life or work experiences evaluated and considered worthy of college-level credit by reputable entities like the American Council on Education or the Vermont State Colleges Office of Prior Learning Assessment.

Saint Michael’s is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. The College is a member of the College Board, Vermont Higher Education Council, Association of Vermont Independent Colleges, Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, Vermont Campus Compact, and Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. Saint Michael’s College is committed to affirmative action and equal opportunity. It does not discriminate against students, employees, or applicants for admission or employment, on the basis of race, color, gender, age, national origin, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical characteristics. Members of the College are encouraged to communicate in a gender-neutral manner. The provisions of this catalog are not to be regarded as an irrevocable contract between the student and the College. The College reserves the right to change its policies without prior notice.

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