The Educational/Competency Evaluation Program (ECEP)

Credit may be obtained by either examination or evaluation. The Educational/ Competency Evaluation Program (ECEP) at SSC is designed for students in career programs who have gained substantial knowledge or experience outside the formal classroom setting that is relevant to their chosen curriculum. ECEP credit is an alternative means to establish credit or advanced standing for students who believe they have mastered college level subjects either through previous course work, life/work experiences, or a combination of both. Credit by evaluation requires students to present either formal documentation or a portfolio of training and/or life experiences comparable to the knowledge and skills demanded by the course. Students wishing to make application to take a proficiency examination or evaluation should contact the Counseling Center or an appropriate program coordinator to determine whether sufficient evidence of ability exists to warrant pursuit of such a process.

Students may pick up an application in either the Counseling Center or the appropriate academic office.

To post ECEP credit on the student's academic record, a processing fee of $8 per credit hour must be paid before the proficiency examination or credential is evaluated. This fee covers the privilege of taking the examination or being evaluated and is non-refundable to a student who fails to qualify. No credit by proficiency examination or evaluation will be recorded until the student has earned at least six (6) semester hours of college-level credit at SSC. The student must be in good academic standing (minimum of 2.0 grade point average). The credit may not be used to establish full-time eligibility status. No grade received through the non-traditional mode is recorded for course credit nor is the credit calculated in the grade point average. The student's academic record will indicate only that the credit has been earned. The student is responsible for finding out if such credit will transfer to another college or university and if the credit will be applied toward a specific degree or certificate program. Once a student has received credit for a particular course, either through enrollment or proficiency, he/she may not apply or receive credit for a lower-level course in that sequence. A student may not take a proficiency examination for the same course more than once. The student may not take a proficiency exam in a course in which he/she has previously audited, received a course grade or has withdrawn from.

The Advanced Placement (AP) program sponsored by the College Entrance Examination Board gives high school students the opportunity to complete college level studies. The AP examinations are intended to measure the achievement of the student and to determine at what point the student should begin college work in the subject. SSC offers credit for most AP subjects. To receive college credit at SSC, a student must earn a score of three (3) or higher. Credit will be posted on the student's academic record after successfully completing six (6) semester hours at SSC, providing the student has maintained a minimum of 2.0 grade point average, In some instances, AP credit may be posted prior to completion of the six credit hour requirement to satisfy course prerequisite requirements. The number of AP units accepted for credit is determined by the evaluation of the AP grade report. For additional information regarding the procedure and regulations for awarding of AP credits, please contact the Counseling Center.

The CLEP and DANTES examination programs are methods by which college credit may be earned for prior knowledge acquired through independent study, non-academic classes, the armed forces, or on-the-job experiences. SSC accepts 15 hours of CLEP or DANTES credits towards degree and certificate programs. General credit may be awarded for the following examinations: English, natural sciences, humanities and social science-history. Course credit may be awarded for subject exams. CLEP credit will be posted on the student's academic record after successfully completing six (6) semester hours at SSC, providing the student has maintained a minimum of 2.0 grade point average. In some instances, CLEP and/or DANTES credit may be posted prior to the completion of the six credit hour requirement to satisfy course prerequisite requirements. Students must achieve the minimum score requirement established by SSC to qualify for CLEP/DANTES credit. Minimum scores required vary between subjects. The cost for taking an exam is $55 plus an additional processing fee of $20. The cost for taking a DANTES exam is $60 plus and additional processing fee of $20.

Since South Suburban College is designated as an "Open Testing Center" for both CLEP and DANTES, both CLEP and DANTES tests may be taken here. Additional information on CLEP and the DANTES tests are available in the Counseling Center and/or Assessment Center.

Veterans who present a copy of their Separation from Military Service (DD-214) form to the SSC Office of Admissions will receive 4 semester hours of physical education credit and 2 semester hours of health science credit. This credit is posted on the permanent record, but will not be used to compute a grade point average.

South Suburban College and the Career Development System have developed articulation agreements granting college credit to qualifying students for courses taken in high school.

To be eligible, a student:

1. Must have completed appropriate high school courses with an average of "B" or better.
2. Must submit a completed SSC application and registration form.

Credit will be posted on the student's South Suburban College transcript upon completion of the course. The student is responsible for finding out if such credit will transfer to another college or university and if the credit will be applied toward a specific degree or certificate program.

For an updated listing of articulated courses with district high schools, please refer to the Career Development System website.