A transfer student is defined as any student who has previously matriculated as a degree candidate at another institution and has earned or is earning college-level academic credit at the undergraduate level.
Students applying for transfer to Great Commission University must follow the admission procedures. Official college transcripts from all schools attended must be sent directly from the previously attended college(s) to:
Great Commission University
Attn: Admissions
5755 IN-9
Howe, IN 46746
Coursework transferred or accepted for credit toward any GCU degree must be relevant to the degree program, with course content and level of instruction resulting in student competencies at least equivalent to those of students enrolled in this university’s own degree programs. In assessing and documenting equivalent learning and qualified faculty, GCU personnel consult official institutional catalogs and employ recognized guides which aid in the evaluation for credit.
Such guides include those published by the American Council on Education, the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), and the National Association of Foreign Student Affairs, or such services as are provided by AACRAO or the World Education Services (WES).
GCU accepts transfer credit from other accredited educational institutions subject to the following general criteria:
a minimum grade of “C”(or equivalent); courses graded “pass/fail” are not transferred unless it is stipulated on the transcript that a “pass” required a grade of “C” (2.0) or above;
Credit is applicable to the GCU program of study in which the student intends to enroll.
In order to assist students with curricular planning, the transfer evaluation process must be completed as soon as possible. After enrollment at the university, courses taken at another institution are evaluated for transfer by the Registrar’s Office.
Transfer courses are evaluated in the Office of Admissions for acceptance of core curriculum requirements and general elective credit. Transfer credits applied toward major requirements are determined in consultation with the appropriate academic divisions.
Transfer credit is awarded based on specific requirements:
Credit must be awarded from an official college or university transcript, from an official Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate test score report, or from an official document considered equivalent to a transcript by the Registrar.
Courses taken in a college or university in a continuing education or extension program must be applicable toward the degree being pursued by full-time students at that institution.
Only equivalent level course work will be accepted toward their respective degrees.
A student who fails to finish by his/her anticipated graduation date may transfer credits necessary to graduate for up to two years afterwards. After two years, the student will be withdrawn automatically from the university, but may petition the Academic Council for permission to complete the degree.
Previously awarded transfer credit will be deducted if coursework is repeated.
Developmental courses that are similar in content to credit earning courses at Great Commission University will be accepted; however, those courses that are not applied toward a degree at the transferring institution will not be accepted.
No transfer credit is granted for Certificate programs.
Great Commission University has not entered into an articulation or transfer agreement with any other college or university.
Transfer students with an earned baccalaureate degree from CHEA- or USDE-recognized accredited institutions normally will have the core curriculum requirements for the undergraduate program waived.
Courses that are over 10 years old are not transferred directly to Great Commission University unless the courses are part of a baccalaureate or associate degree. However, credits that are over 10 years old may be validated by the student’s successful completion (“C” or better) of a recent upper level college course in the discipline.
Students seeking to transfer credit from institutions outside the United States and Canada are subject to having their transcripts reviewed by a credentials evaluation service as a guide for transfer credit evaluation (see “Transfer Students – Specific Policies” section of this Catalog for more information).
Great Commission University reserves the right to notify applicants that they must have their non U.S. academic transcripts evaluated by an academic transcript evaluating agency using a course-by-course report. GCU prefers that transcripts be evaluated by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO). In such cases, credit and placement decisions are based on recommendations of AACRAO. (Credentials evaluation reports are the financial responsibility of the applicant.)
The credit hour minimums are based on courses from quarter calendar institutions. If a course at another institution is offered for fewer credit hours than an equivalent course at Great Commission University, the student will be given transfer credit for the equivalent course at Great Commission University but only for the number of credit hours earned at the other institution. In such cases, the student may need to take an additional course to fulfill credit hour requirements.
The credit hour minimums are based on courses from quarter calendar institutions. If a course at another institution is offered for fewer credit hours than an equivalent course at Great Commission University, the student will be given transfer credit for the equivalent course at Great Commission University but only for the number of credit hours earned at the other institution. In such cases, the student may need to take an additional course to fulfill credit hour requirements.
A student’s grade point average at Great Commission University is based only on courses completed at this institution. The Great Commission University grade point average is used to determine academic standing and graduation.
Transfer grade equivalents will be determined and recorded with the student’s transfer credit. Credit will be awarded for courses in which a “C” or higher was earned. Grades of “F” are included in the calculation of the transfer grade point average.
Transfer grades and grade point averages are assigned on the basis of the Great Commission University grading policy. For courses taken at institutions that use combined grades (e.g., “AB”), the lower grade will be used.
Courses taken at institutions that use a grading system not comparable to the Great Commission University grading system will be evaluated with the transfer grade equivalents of Pass or Not Pass. “Withdraw failing” grades are calculated in a student’s transfer grade point average as “F” grades.
When fractions are accumulated and awarded as general electives, grade points are accumulated in similar fashion. For example, a student who took one four quarter hour course with an “A” and two four quarter hour courses with a “B” would receive general elective credit (to compensate for fractions) for two credit hours and six grade points.
Lower division transfer is for transfer applicants who meet the following eligibility standards:
Meet freshman admission requirements
Good standing at the last college or university attended
Fewer than 90 quarter or 60 semester units in college or university transferable units
Overall grade point average of 2.0 (C) or better in all transferable units attempted
NOTE: An applicant with less than 45 quarter hours completed at their previous college or university may be required to submit a high school transcript. Great Commission University evaluates each applicant’s academic performance and history as well as the subjective application materials.
Upper division transfer is for transfer applicants who meet the following eligibility standards:
Meet freshman admission requirements
Good standing at the last college or university attended
90 units or more quarter units (60 semester units) in college or university transferable unit
Have completed at least 45 quarter (30 semester) units of general education courses, graded or better in each course. Recommended components:
1 course of 4 quarter (3 semester) units in written communication
1 course of 4 quarter (3 semester) units in oral communication
1 course of 4 quarter (3 semester) units in information literacy
1 course of 4 quarter (3 semester) units in mathematics/quantitative reasoning (abovethe level of intermediate algebra.)
Overall grade point average of 2.0 (C) or better in all transferable units attempted
NOTE: Great Commission University also evaluates each applicant’s academic performance and history as well as the subjective application materials.