How can I receive college credit for my work at CSM?

When a student chooses to enroll and attend an accredited educational institution, he or she may present a Student Academic Portfolio to the admissions office of that college, along with a cover letter requesting that the work be evaluated for the granting of college credit.  If there is an evaluation fee for each credit hour, the payment should be included with the cover letter.

What is a Student Academic Portfolio?

The Student Academic Portfolio includes a student's personal academic record, a demonstration of the student's academic accomplishments, a sampling of a student's academic projects and product - a way to ask a college to grant credit for the work accomplished by the student in another setting.

The Student Academic Portfolio can be just a stack of papers, but it is best if the work appears attractive and well organized, and in a way that the evaluator can handle the "package" with ease.  Nice file folders or three-ring binders tend to enhance the appearance of the portfolio.   Remember that the purpose is to persuade a college official to grant college credit for the work completed and the learning gained.  The clearer and more complete the portfolio, the more likely it is that credit will be granted.

What should the Student Academic Portfolio include?

The Student Academic Portfolio may include the course syllabus, graded written assignments and exams, class notes, instructional handouts, and any other information pertaining to the course subject that was used to aid the student's learning.  When creating a portfolio for more than one course, it may be a appropriate to use the three-ring binder, using dividers to separate the materials from each course.

If you would like more detailed information, you may request a brochure from the CSM office.  Send your request with your name and mailing address to the director.