Office of the Registrar

Evaluations are completed by Transfer Enrollment specialists with a new transfer student’s offer of transfer admission. Transfer credit evaluations are provided to new transfer students with their offer of admission materials.

Transfer credits include Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Cambridge Examinations, CLEP and courses completed at other colleges and universities. Christopher Newport follows the State Policy on Transfer when reviewing and awarding credit previously earned as part of a transfer associate’s degree program through the Virginia Community College System. CNU is also represented on the State Committee on Transfer.

• Enrollment specialists in Transfer Admission and Enrollment evaluate credentials for applicants transferring to the university from another college or university. Courses and credits from other colleges and universities are considered for review, provided that such credits carry a minimum grade of “C” and are comparable to courses offered at Christopher Newport. Please note that credit is not awarded for courses in which a grade of “C-” or lower was earned or for credit earned through departmental or institutional examination(s). Be advised that the grade of “C” is not appealable to the university.
• Credit is not awarded for grades of “no credit,” “unsatisfactory,” “incomplete” or any other grade which indicates unsatisfactory progress or that a course has not been completed.
• Grades do not transfer; only the courses and the credits transfer.
• Nontransferable credit: Credit awarded at a previous transfer college or university for AP, IB, Cambridge, CLEP or remedial/developmental courses do not automatically transfer to Christopher Newport. AP, IB, Cambridge and CLEP scores should be submitted directly to CNU from the Educational Testing Service of the College Board for evaluation. AP, IB, Cambridge and CLEP scores are evaluated according to university policies in place at the time of the student’s initial matriculation at Christopher Newport.
• With the exception of the portfolio accompanying certain AP scores, Christopher Newport does not typically award credit based on the presentation of a student portfolio. As a rule, Christopher Newport does not award undergraduate credit for professional certificates, life experience or work experience.
• A maximum of 66 semester hours may be transferred to CNU from a community college or two-year college. A maximum of 92 semester hours from a four-year college or university may be transferred.
• Academic policy requires that 30 of the last 36 semester hours, including the last 12 credit hours within the major field, must be completed in residence at CNU.
• Incomplete transcripts: If a student’s transcript from a previous college or university is incomplete (listed courses without grades or listed courses as “in progress”) at the time of the student’s first advising appointment or registration, the student should bring a list of those “in progress” courses to the advising appointment. Students should avoid registering for those “in progress” courses until the entire, official academic transcript has been received and officially evaluated.
• CNU degree holders must complete an additional 30 hours in residence to earn a second degree.
• A minimum of 45 credit hours must be completed in residence as a degree-seeking student at Christopher Newport.
• Due to accreditation requirements, there are additional conditions associated with awarding transfer credit for students with a major housed in the Luter School of Business. In order for coursework to articulate as upper-level courses counting toward any of the business majors, the student must have completed the course at a college or university accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB).
• Lower-level courses with clear Christopher Newport equivalents may be evaluated by the Director of Transfer Enrollment without prior approval from the relevant academic department chair. Lower-level course equivalencies about which the Director of Transfer Enrollment is unsure are submitted to the relevant academic department chair for review. Upper-level courses which have not previously been evaluated are submitted to the relevant academic department chair for review.
• Currently enrolled undergraduate students who wish to complete courses elsewhere so as to transfer credit back to Christopher Newport are required to obtain prior approval. This process is also handled by Transfer Enrollment and Admission. In granting approval, Transfer Enrollment staff determines whether a course equivalent currently exists, and if so, performs a degree analysis to determine whether the course equivalent will satisfy a specific requirement for the student, whether the course duplicates credit already earned and whether the course will count toward the student’s degree progress.
• Any undergraduate student transferring to Christopher Newport must provide official academic transcripts of all previously completed collegiate coursework. Transfer Admission staff utilize National Student Clearinghouse data to confirm that transcripts for all previous enrollments have been received. Upon receipt, each course on the student’s official academic transcript is evaluated by Transfer Enrollment staff to determine whether and how much credit will be awarded for the coursework.

Questions about transfer credit evaluations should be directed to the Director of Transfer Enrollment at (757) 594–7296 or transfer@cnu.edu.

Process for Evaluation of CNU Course Equivalents for Courses Completed Elsewhere

The Director of Transfer Enrollment works closely with academic department chairs to determine CNU course equivalents for courses completed elsewhere. To determine course equivalents, course descriptions and, in some cases, syllabi are reviewed along with information about the college or university typically outlined in the ACE Guide. Once a course equivalent has been identified, the specifics of that course and the CNU equivalent are recorded in the transfer enrollment database. A review of courses is conducted every three years with ongoing reviews done as updates are made to CNU curricula.

Note: Currently enrolled CNU students must seek prior approval before enrolling in ANY classes off campus. To do so, please submit a Request to Take Course(s) Elsewhere form via CNU Live. It can be found in CNU Live under Student Services & Financial Aid. Select Student Forms, then select the appropriate term and click Request to Take Courses Elsewhere.

CNU has developed articulation agreements for guaranteed admission with the Virginia Community College System (VCCS). Additional information regarding guaranteed admission may be obtained from your community college representative.

Completion of a transfer-oriented degree (associate of arts, associate of science, or the associate of arts and sciences) from a Virginia community college will satisfy CNU lower-level liberal learning core requirements. This does not include other program or graduation prerequisite requirements. In addition, Christopher Newport requires completion of a 200-level language course or higher in a second language in order to graduate; thus, if this requirement is not fulfilled with completion of the associate degree it must be completed at CNU.

If you have been offered admission to CNU and have completed a university parallel program (associate of arts, associate of science, or the associate of arts and sciences) at a VCCS college or Richard Bland College (RBC), you should anticipate the following:

• Courses, with a grade of “C” or better, that have a CNU equivalent will transfer
• Courses completed in the VCCS with a grade of “C-” or lower will not transfer to CNU and must be repeated if it is a required course for your major at CNU
• No more than 66 semester hours will transfer to CNU from a two-year college
• To receive junior-level class standing, if you present at least 60 hours of college-level credit (not developmental or remedial course work)
• Completion of all lower-level liberal learning core requirements, excluding graduation requirements, upper-level requirements and concentration/minor/major requirements
• To complete concentration (if applicable), minor and major requirements in effect at CNU at the time of the student’s first term of enrollment at CNU
• Transfer credit is not granted for developmental work
• Transfer credit is not granted for orientation courses unless the student has earned the AS, AA or AA&S from the VCCS or RBC
• Two courses with the same principle content cannot both be counted toward the same degree

The cumulative GPA of each student will be calculated only on work taken at Christopher Newport. Transfer credit accepted from other institutions will be used to reduce the number of credits required for graduation, but it will not enter into the calculation of GPA.

Entrance into CNU majors or fields of study is competitive. Acceptance into the university does not imply admission to these programs. Transfer students and currently enrolled CNU students are treated identically with regard to admission to competitive programs.

For questions or more information, please contact Transfer Admission at (757) 594–7296.

Students may request to take a course(s) at a member institution of the Virginia Tidewater Consortium (VTC). Courses taken through the VTC will be recorded with the letter grade earned and will be computed in the grade point average. Participation in the VTC requires additional paperwork and has additional requirements.

When a student enrolled at one VTC HOME institution cross-registers to a VTC HOST school, the credit is earned at the HOME institution and will be posted on the student’s transcript as a resident credit. A VTC institution will not issue a transcript to a cross-registered student whom it hosts. The grading system of the HOME institutions will apply to cross-registered student. Tuition will be charged by the HOME institution for a cross-registered course. The cross-registrant must assume costs of all transportation, books, materials, lab fees, applied music fees, etc. A VTC cross-registration form must be complete and signed by the appropriate people at the Host and Home institution after approval is granted at the HOME institution.

Current students may also request to take a course through the Virginia Tidewater Consortium by completing the “Request to Take Courses Elsewhere” electronic form available within CNU Live. If approval is granted, students will be notified of the approval via email and will need to pick up additional paperwork in the Office of the Registrar at Christopher Newport. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain the appropriate signatures by the VTC representatives at the home and host institutions.

Note: No more than 11 credit hours may be completed through the Virginia Tidewater Consortium.

Christopher Newport University and the following institutions are members of the VTC:

• College of William & Mary
• Eastern Shore Community College
• Eastern Virginia Medical School
• Hampton University
• Joint Forces Staff College
• Norfolk State University
• Old Dominion University
• Paul D. Camp Community College
• Regent University
• Thomas Nelson Community College
• Tidewater Community College
• Virginia Wesleyan College

For questions or more information, please contact the Transfer Enrollment at transfer@cnu.edu. 

Through College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), students may earn college credit for knowledge acquired outside the classroom. Transfer Enrollment processes CLEP scores for individuals who are admitted or currently enrolled as degree-seeking students at CNU. Credit for qualifying CLEP scores is recorded on the student’s permanent record (transcript) as transfer credit. Prior to registering through the College Board’s testing center to take a CLEP exam, the student should thoroughly review the CNU CLEP Guide.

A list of the LIMITED number of exams accepted for credit is included in the guide. The student must obtain prior approval to take the CLEP exam for CNU credit. The student should submit the Request to Take CLEP Exam for CNU Credit Form. After obtaining prior approval and completing the exam, the student should request for the official CLEP scores to be sent directly from the College Board to the Office of the Registrar. Only the credit and the course will appear on the student’s academic transcript.

Beginning in fall 2014, entering students and current students with prior service in the Armed Forces of the United States may present the Joint Services Transcript or other official credentials to Transfer Enrollment for evaluation. The American Council on Education Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services will be utilized in the review and determination of course equivalents; however, the ACE Guide recommendations will not automatically apply. Although equivalencies to CNU courses rarely exist, in cases where a comparable course does exist, credit may be awarded to the student and recorded as part of the student’s official academic record.

Students may also earn credit for coursework completed at the Community College of the Air Force. Such coursework is reviewed based on the official credential presented and credit may be awarded depending on the existence of a comparable CNU course and whether a minimum score equivalent to a grade of “C” or better has been earned.

With the exception of the portfolio accompanying certain Advanced Placement scores, Christopher Newport does not typically award credit based on the presentation of a student portfolio.

In many cases, high school students who have not yet attended college full-time may be able to receive credit for dual-enrollment classes (college courses taken as part of their high school program). Students earning college credit through dual enrollment while still in high school will have their credits evaluated for possible application toward degree requirements at Christopher Newport University. Upon approval, dual enrollment credit will be awarded for academic courses completed at regionally accredited institutions of higher education. High school dual enrollment courses completed at institutions of higher education which are not regionally accredited will be evaluated on an individual basis. Students participating in dual enrollment programs are considered freshman applicants.

CNU will not award credit for dual enrollment coursework presented on the high school transcript. Official transcripts are required to receive credit and should be sent directly to Christopher Newport University’s Registrar’s Office from the credit-granting college or university will be evaluated for the awarding of dual enrollment or transfer credit. Students who have completed dual enrollment courses at more than one college or university should provide official transcripts all colleges attended.

Students must earn a minimum grade of “C” to be eligible to receive credit. While CNU credit may be awarded, grades earned will not transfer and will not be computed as part of the student’s GPA.

Christopher Newport University will review student records for prior learning credit in accordance with the Virginia Public Higher Education Policy on Course Credit for AP, Cambridge, CLEP, and IB and in compliance with Virginia Code §23.1–906, enacted by the 2015 General Assembly. These policies and the required minimum scores are reviewed annually by University faculty who serve as subject-matter experts in the discipline of the exam, and minimum required scores and equivalent institutional credit are updated accordingly. Official scores from each testing agency (electronic or hard copy) are required.

CNU has reviewed its policies regarding the awarding of academic credit to students for educational experiences gained from prior service in the U.S. Armed Forces and has consolidated existing policies and developed new policies to more clearly comply with the Code of Virginia. The following information is included in our undergraduate catalog and available on the Office of the Registrar and Veterans Affairs.

CNU may award credit, referred to as “transfer credit,” for certain documented knowledge gained outside of the college classroom. For military or ex-military personnel, credit may be given for military education, training and experience, as documented in the Joint Services Transcript (JST) and/or the community college of the Air Force transcript. Transfer credit may also be given for knowledge acquisition as documented via successful completion of College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) examinations, the University of Cambridge International Examinations, CNU Departmental Challenge Examinations, College Board Advance Placement (AP) examinations and examinations given in conjunction with the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme.

The university will review student credentials, to include official examination scores and official academic transcripts, for academic credit in accordance with the following policies. Please note that these policies and the required scores and credentials are reviewed and updated annually. Official score reports from each agency or educational institution are required. All awarded credit is recorded on the student’s academic record.

Credit earned through prior military training, coursework completed elsewhere, and/or examination programs will be applied toward the student’s degree program. Entering and current students may request that their examination scores and/or official credentials be reviewed for potential credit by presenting the official score report or credential to the Office of the Registrar for assessment.

A maximum of 60 credit hours, appearing as transfer credit on the academic record, may be granted for work completed through PLA which includes a combination of the College-Level Examination Program, Advance Placement Program, International Baccalaureate Program, Cambridge International Examinations and/or departmental challenge examinations. In all cases, students will be required to complete institutional residency requirements for the degree and for the major. See specific equivalent (comparable) courses and minimum required scores in the Credit by Examination Table.

All credit for prior learning is recorded on the student’s academic record. Minimum scores, equivalent institutional courses and associated credit are published in the Undergraduate Catalog and on the Office of the Registrar.

Departmental or elective credit is awarded for each eligible examination based on the official score presented. Students who wish to have exam scores reviewed for collegiate credit must authorize the College Board to release their AP scores to Christopher Newport. Entering students may receive academic credit for college level work undertaken during high school by completing College Board Advance Placement examinations. These examinations are graded by the College Entrance Examination Board on a five-point scale. A complete list of approved AP examinations and minimum scores is available in the Undergraduate Catalog.

All other AP examinations with comparable academic departments or courses at CNU have been reviewed, and credit will not be granted based only on examination scores.

Departmental or elective credit is awarded for each eligible examination based on the score presented. New students who wish to have exam scores reviewed for collegiate credit must present an official copy of the CLEP score from the College Board. Enrolled students must receive prior approval to take a CLEP exam in order to receive Christopher Newport academic credit. Enrolled students who wish to have exam scores reviewed for collegiate credit, after receiving prior approval to take the CLEP exam, must present an official copy of the CLEP score from the College Board. CLEP credit cannot replace equivalent institutional coursework which has been completed with a grade of C- or higher. Credit will not be awarded for a CLEP subject examination if the student has previously attempted a college-level course in the same discipline.

All other CLEP examinations with comparable academic departments or courses at CNU have been reviewed, and credit will not be granted based only on examination scores. Additional information regarding credit for CLEP work is available in the Policy for CLEP and Procedures for Course Challenges.

With the exception of the portfolio accompanying certain Advanced Placement scores, Christopher Newport University does not typically award credit based on the presentation of a student portfolio.

Christopher Newport offers a limited number of Course Challenge Examinations. Only those courses in which a student has not enrolled may be attempted via a Challenge Exam. A course may be challenged only once during a student’s academic career at Christopher Newport. Students who are successful on the Challenge Exam will receive credit for the course, and the credit will appear as transfer work on the student’s academic record.

Current students who have become exceptionally knowledgeable through life experiences in the subject matter of certain courses offered at the university may challenge these courses. To challenge a course, current students must pay the required fee, present a Request to Challenge a Course to the Office of the Registrar, meet all other requirements as detailed in the Policy for CLEP and Course Challenges, demonstrate proficiency established by the academic department responsible for the course. Specific information regarding credit available through Challenge Examinations is available in the Policy for CLEP and Course Challenges.

Departmental or elective credit is awarded based on individual exam scores provided by IB. Students who wish to have courses reviewed for collegiate credit must authorize IB to release their scores to Christopher Newport.

Entering students who completed IB examinations as part of their high school curriculum may receive academic credit for their work done through the IB Programme. These examinations are graded by the International Baccalaureate Organization on a seven-point scale. Credit is awarded based solely on examination results. Although the IB Diploma Programme is recognized as a strong college preparatory curriculum, credit will not be awarded for the diploma itself. To qualify for academic credit, in addition to earning the minimum score stated, students must have completed the IB examination(s) no later than six months following his/her high school graduation and prior to matriculation at CNU. A complete list of approved IB examinations and minimum scores is available in the Undergraduate Catalog.

All other IB examinations with comparable academic departments or courses at CNU have been reviewed, and credit will not be granted based only on examination scores.

Departmental or elective credit is awarded for each eligible course based on the exam score presented. Students who wish to have exam scores reviewed for collegiate credit must present the official Cambridge credential to Christopher Newport for assessment. Entering students may earn credit for successfully completing certain examinations based on the minimum score earned. Approved examinations have been reviewed by the faculty for content and relevance to the CNU degree. Detailed information regarding examinations approved for credit with minimum scores required to receive credit is found in the undergraduate catalog.

Entering students and current students with prior service in the U.S. Armed Forces may present the Joint Services Transcript or other official credentials to the Office of the Registrar for evaluation. The American Council on Education Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services will be utilized in the review and determination of course equivalents; however, the ACE Guide recommendations will not automatically apply. Although equivalencies to CNU courses rarely exist, in cases where a comparable course does exist, credit may be awarded to the student and recorded as part of the student’s official academic record.

Students may also earn credit for coursework completed at the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF). Such coursework is reviewed based on the official credential presented and credit may be awarded depending on the existence of a comparable CNU course and whether a minimum score equivalent to a grade of “C” or better has been earned.