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Transferring Credit to Sauk

Transfer Courses

Sauk will accept credits earned at other regionally accredited institutions. A Transcript Evaluation Request form must be completed and filed in the Office of Admissions and Records if you are pursuing a degree or certificate and would like your transcripts to be evaluated.

Transfer Credit Evaluation Process

Sauk Valley Community College (SVCC) evaluates transfer credit to support seamless student progress toward a degree or certificate. SVCC follows consistent practices to ensure that credit from other institutions is reviewed fairly and applied transparently whenever possible.

1. Who Can Receive Transfer Credit

SVCC accepts transfer coursework from colleges and universities that are formally recognized by a regional accrediting agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education. Credit may also be awarded for prior learning, examinations, and other evaluated experiences in accordance with SVCC policy.

2. How to Request a Transfer Credit Evaluation

To have transfer credit evaluated:

  • Submit an official transcript from each college, university, or approved provider you have attended to the SVCC Admissions & Records Office.
  • Ensure the transcript is sent directly from the issuing institution or its authorized transcript service.​
  • Complete the SVCC Transcript Evaluation Request form.
  • If applicable, submit supporting documentation for prior learning credit (such as test score reports or evaluation of work experience).

Transfer credit evaluations begin after SVCC has received both the official transcript(s) and a completed Transcript Evaluation Request form.

3. Timeline for Review and Decision

SVCC is committed to reviewing transfer‑credit requests in a timely manner and publishing a clear timeline, as required by the Illinois Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act.

  • During peak periods (August–October and January–February), SVCC will complete most transfer‑credit evaluations within 15–20 business days of receiving all required documents.
  • During non‑peak periods, SVCC will complete most transfer‑credit evaluations within 10–15 business days of receiving all required documents.
  • If additional information is needed (for example, detailed course syllabi), SVCC will contact the student’s SVCC email to request materials and will complete the evaluation within 10 business days after all requested information is received.

Students are encouraged to submit transcripts at least 4–6 weeks before their planned registration date so that evaluations can be completed and applied to degree planning.

4. How SVCC Determines What Transfers

In evaluating transfer credit, SVCC considers:

  • Accreditation status of the sending institution.
  • Course level, content, and credit hours, including general education and program‑specific requirements in the current SVCC catalog.
  • Minimum grade requirements established in SVCC academic policies.​
  • Limits on the number of transfer and prior‑learning credits that may be applied toward a specific degree or certificate.​

SVCC will generally accept transfer coursework that is comparable in level and content to courses offered at SVCC and that contributes to the student’s declared program of study.

5. Notification of Results

Once the evaluation is complete:

  • Approved transfer credit will be posted to the student’s SVCC academic record.
  • SVCC will notify the student via SVCC email that the evaluation is complete and viewable in the student portal.​
  • Students are encouraged to meet with an academic advisor to review how transfer credits apply to their degree or certificate plan and to confirm remaining requirements.

6. Questions, Clarifications, and Appeals

Students who have questions about how their transfer credit was evaluated, or who wish to request a reconsideration, may:

  • Contact the Admissions & Records Office to request clarification about a specific course evaluation.
  • Provide additional documentation (such as a syllabus or detailed course description) for further review.​

SVCC will respond to transfer‑credit questions and appeals within 10 business days of receiving all necessary information.

7. Reverse Transfer and Sending Credit Back to SVCC

Former SVCC students who transferred to an Illinois public university before completing an associate degree may be eligible to use university coursework to complete that degree through Reverse Transfer of Credit. Students should:​

SVCC will evaluate the combined SVCC and university credits and notify the student by email if degree requirements have been met.​

Notes:

SVCC evaluates transfer credit for students who have submitted an admission application and have an SVCC student record.

Transcripts received for individuals who have not applied for admission can only be held for a limited period; a transfer evaluation will be completed once an admissions application is submitted.

For additional information, contact the Records Analyst, Sherri Whitlock at (815) 835-6327 or sherri.s.whitlock@svcc.edu.

Other Ways to Earn College Credit

Credit for prior learning can be awarded only after the assessment of prior learning experiences and only for documented learning that demonstrates achievement of all terminal objectives for a specific course. Students enrolled at Sauk may earn credits based on prior experience in the following ways:

  • Armed service experience
  • Evaluation (certifies knowledge gained through work experience, technical/vocational training, and other learning experiences)
  • Proficiency examination
  • CLEP (College Level Examination Program)  CLEP information
  • Dantes tests
  • Advanced Placement Examination program
  • Credit by Certification, License or Registry
  • The International Baccalaureate Program
  • State Seal of BiLiteracy

Credit for prior learning does not count toward the residency requirement for a certificate or degree at SVCC except for credits earned by proficiency examination. A maximum of 30 credits gained through prior experience can be used toward a degree at SVCC; up to 50 percent of the credits earned through prior experience may be applied toward a certificate at SVCC. Students should be aware that acceptance of credit for prior experience varies among transfer institutions.

Fifteen hours toward a degree or 25% of the required credits for a certificate must be completed at the college prior to awarding credit for prior learning for degree or certificate seeking students.

For additional information contact an advisor or the appropriate dean.