Policies & Procedures

Transfer of Credit

• Transferability of Credits
• Transfer of Credit Policy from Another Institution to The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale
• Transfer of Credit from International/Non-U.S. Schools
• Credit for Military Service
• Computer Science Proficiency Test
• Proficiency/Life Credit
• CLEP/AP Policy
• Non-Collegiate Sponsored Instruction
• Readmissions Procedures & Re-establishment of Financial Aid

- Transfer of Credit

The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale accepts transfer credits from educational institutions accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of Education through the U.S. Department of Education.

- Transferability of Credits

The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale is licensed by means of accreditation through the Florida Department of Education, Commission for Independent Education, and accredited by the Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges and Schools, an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education, to confer Bachelor of Science degrees, Associate of Science degrees, and diplomas. However, the fact that a school is licensed and accredited is not necessarily an indication that degrees or credits earned at that school will be accepted by another school. In the U. S. higher education system, transferability of credit is determined by the receiving institution, taking into account such factors as course content, grades, accreditation, and licensing.

The mission of The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale is to help students prepare for entry-level employment in your chosen field of study. The value of degree programs like those offered by The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale is their deliberate focus on marketable skills. The credits earned are not intended as a stepping stone for transfer to another institution. For this reason, it is unlikely that the academic credits earned at The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale will transfer to another school.

Programs offered by one school within The Art Institutes system may be similar to but not
identical to programs offered at another school within the system. This is due to ifferences
imposed by state law, use of different instructional models, and local employer needs. Therefore, if you decide to transfer to another school within The Art Institutes system, not all of the credits earned at The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale may be transferable into that school’s program.

If you are considering transferring to either another Art Institute or an unaffiliated school, it
is your responsibility to determine whether that school will accept your Art Institute credits. We encourage you to make this determination as early as possible. The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale does not imply, promise, or guarantee transferability of its credits to any other institution.

The foregoing notwithstanding, any Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale course that carries a course number designated by Florida’s Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS) is eligible for transfer to any other Florida postsecondary institution participating in the SCNS program. For further details, refer to Florida’s Statewide Course Numbering System in the Academic Affairs section of this catalog.

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- Transfer of Credit Policy from Another Institutionto The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale

1. Applicants who have attended accredited postsecondary institutions prior to The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale may apply for transfer of credits. All transfer of credit must be applied for and awarded before the end of the Add/Drop period in the student's first quarter of attendance. In no instance will transfer of credit be awarded after the Add/Drop period of the student's first quarter. Students must submit official transcripts from the institution(s) attended.
2. The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale program chairs and/or the transfer credit officer will award transfer of credit based on a course-by-course evaluation of the submitted transcripts. The school reserves the right to request additional information such as course descriptions, English translations, and academic catalogs prior to rendering the evaluation.
3. If requested, such additional documentation must also be submitted prior to the end of the Add/Drop period (the first seven academic days of the quarter, including Saturdays) of the student's first quarter. If official transcripts have not been received by The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale prior to the end of the eighth week of the student's first quarter of study, the credit will be removed and the course requirement must be fulfilled by the student at The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale.
4. Only college-level (100-level or equivalent) courses taken at a U.S. nationally or regionally accredited institution of higher education (or a non- U.S. equivalent) will be considered for transfer. No remedial or ESL courses (90- level or equivalent) will be considered.
5. Only courses with a grade of “C” or better will be considered for transfer. Only courses taken for a grade will be considered for transfer of credit. One exception: pass and satisfactory grades will be considered only if accompanied by an official statement from the college or university that the “P” or “S” is equivalent to a “C” or better grade.
6. The scope of the coursework must be comparable to the equivalent course taught at The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale.
7. Students may transfer in up to 75% of the program requirements.
8. Computer science course credits and all other transfer credits (including those from postsecondary institutions that are not accredited by a U.S. national or regional accrediting association as well as those from postsecondary institutions that are not within the 50 United States and the District of Columbia) will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis.
9. Grades earned prior to changing majors (grades earned in another major) before
   graduation will be computed in the CPGA.
10. Under no circumstances will transfer credit be awarded a student from another institution once they commence study in a program at The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. The school will not accept any transfer credit for outside school work completed after their matriculation into a degree or diploma program at The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale and prior to completion.

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- Transfer of Credit from International/Non-U. S. Schools

Transfer credits from international/non-U.S. schools generally follow the same guidelines as transfer credits from U.S. postsecondary institutions. The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale does not allow transfer credit from non-native English-speaking countries for the following subjects:

1. English composition or writing courses
2. English literature courses

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- Credit for Military Service

The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale encourages veterans and active-duty service personnel to apply for admission. Credit for military schooling and training may be given for successfully completing certain service schools. The credit awarded may be determined by utilizing the recommendations in A Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services (published by The American Council on Education). The Admissions officer should be notified prior to matriculation if credit for military training may be applicable to particular programs of study. The amount of credit awarded will vary with the type of courses successfully completed. The Admissions Office must receive an official transcript and/or official military records for the purpose of reviewing experience. It is recommended that the applicant make an appointment with the transfer credit officer to review the documents together.

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- Computer Science Proficiency Test (Effective Mid-quarter Spring, 2008)

For students starting mid-quarter of spring 2008 or later, The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale offers applicants the opportunity to earn proficiency credit for Computer Science CGS1160C by successfully passing an optional Computer Science Proficiency Test which can only be taken once prior to matriculation. A test score of 85% or greater is necessary to earn proficiency credit and to exempt applicants from taking CGS1160C.

The $50.00 fee for registering and taking the Computer Science Proficiency Test is non-refundable and must be paid in advance.

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