Alternative Ways to Earn
Credit
Advanced Placement
It is possible for you to earn college
credits prior to enrollment at Valencia
under a Florida statewide Advanced
Placement Program agreement. In order
to receive college credits, you must
present a valid score of 5, 4, or 3 on the
examination administered by the College
Entrance Examination Board. No letter
grades or quality points will be assigned.
Advanced Placement credit granted by
Valencia is transferable among Florida
institutions of higher education
participating in the statewide advanced
placement agreement.
College Level Examination
Program (CLEP)
As a Valencia student, you may gain
credit in certain specified courses through
examinations of the College Level
Examination Program (CLEP) from the
College Board. The CLEP General
Examinations and CLEP Subject
Examination( s) are administered weekly
at Valencia. You may register for either
the CLEP General Exam( s) or CLEP
Subject Exam( s); you may take a
maximum of three exams at Valencia on
the same test date.
Fee schedules and information on specific
courses for which CLEP credit may be
granted are available in the Advising and
Counseling Centers. You may contact the
Assessment Center on any campus about
taking the CLEP.
If you earn acceptable CLEP scores and
request that these scores be sent to
Valencia, the credits will be recorded as a
part of your official Valencia transcript.
No letter grades or quality points will be
assigned.
Valencia will accept a maximum of 45
semester hours of credit through CLEP
general and subject examinations
combined.
Gordon Rule writing requirements cannot
be satisfied through CLEP. CLEP
examinations do not include the Gordon
Rule 6000-word writing requirement and,
therefore, do not meet Gordon Rule
requirements for an AA degree.
You may use CLEP credit under the
repeat course policy for D or F grades
only; CLEP credit will not be awarded for
courses in which you have earned a C or
better. Within the guidelines of the repeat
policy, only the last attempt of a course is
counted in your GPA. If you earn an
acceptable CLEP score in a course in
which you have earned a D or F, the
CLEP credit will be recorded and the D or
F no longer will be computed in your
GPA; no letter grade or quality points will
be assigned.
Students having CLEP scores sent to other
institutions must accept the responsibility
for securing the CLEP policies of those
institutions.
For further information about CLEP, visit
the Web site(http://valenciacc.edu/assessments).
Credit by Examination (Local)
You may receive credit by examination in
courses designed as career courses if you
have a substantial background, including
experience and training in a specified
field. This type of credit might not be
acceptable for transfer to other
institutions. (Transferability would be
determined by the "receiving"
institution.)
Applications and information regarding
the specific career courses available
through the local credit-by-examination
program should be obtained from the
department offering the course. There is a
local credit-by-exam fee and a clinical
testing fee required by some health
programs.
Defense Activity Non-Traditional
Education Support (DANTES)
The Defense Activity for Non-Traditional
Education Support (DANTES) program is
a test conducted by the Educational
Testing Service (ETS). The DANTES
Subject Standardized Tests (DSSTs)
measure earned achievement in specific
college courses. Valencia will award
credit for successfully passing the
following DANTES examinations:
Astronomy, Elementary German I,
Elementary German II, and Introductory
Anthropology.
You may use DANTES credit under the
repeat course policy only in select courses
and only for D or F grades; credit will not
be awarded for courses in which you have
earned a C or better. Within the
guidelines of the repeat policy, only the
last attempt of a course is counted in your
GPA. If you earn an acceptable DANTES
score in a course in which you previously
earned a D or F, the DANTES credit will
be recorded and the D or F no longer will
be computed in your GPA; no letter grade
or quality points will be assigned for the
DANTES credit.
Gordon Rule writing requirements cannot
be satisfied through DANTES.
Dual Enrollment
Dual Enrollment provides the opportunity
for qualified high school students to
enroll in Valencia Community College
courses while concurrently enrolled in
high school. Students receive both high
school and college credit for these
courses. Dual Enrollment students are
exempt from application, matriculation,
and laboratory fees. Courses may meet
before, during or after high school hours
and during the summer term as
requested.
Eligibility
High school counselors are responsible for
identifying students who demonstrate
social maturity and motivation and who
possess the academic capabilities to
pursue college-level instruction.
Recommended students must have a
cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on
a 4.0 unweighted scale. Additionally,
students must provide entry assessment
scores (SAT, ACT or CPTs) in English,
reading and mathematics to qualify for
college-level, dual enrollment course
work. College-preparatory and physical
education courses are ineligible for
inclusion in the Dual Enrollment Program.
Application Process
A student applying for admission to the
Dual Enrollment Program at Valencia
must complete the Valencia Admissions
Application and the Dual Enrollment
Application, including signatures of the
student, his/ her counselor, and his/ her
parent/ guardian. The completed forms
must be submitted to the student's high
school guidance department when the
student registers for classes for the next
academic year (usually in the spring). No
student will be permitted to participate in
Dual Enrollment classes without having
met eligibility and application requirements.
Early Enrollment
Early Enrollment is a form of dual
enrollment through which eligible high
school seniors enroll at Valencia in
courses that are being taken for personal
interest. Students taking Early
Enrollment courses will not receive high
school credit for these courses and are
responsible for paying the application,
tuition, and textbook fees. Participation
in the early enrollment program is limited
to students who have completed a
minimum of 6 semesters of full-time
secondary enrollment, including studies
undertaken in the ninth grade, earned a
minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0
scale, attained appropriate assessment
scores for math and English courses, and
submitted a completed Early Enrollment
Application.
To apply the college credit you earn
through Early Enrollment toward a
degree at Valencia, you must provide a
high school transcript showing your
graduation date. No high school credit is
granted by Valencia.
Correspondence and Extension
Course Credits (Acceptance Only)
Under certain conditions, you can earn up
to, but not exceed, 15 semester hours
credit through correspondence and/ or
extension courses and apply these toward
a degree at Valencia.
1. You must have permission from the
director of admissions to register for
correspondence or extension courses.
2. The course or courses must be offered
by an institution accredited by one of
the six regional accrediting
associations (example: Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools).
3. The minimum grade acceptable must
be at least the equivalent of a D at
Valencia.
4. The credit must be acceptable toward
one of its own degrees by the
institution conducting the
correspondence and/ or extension
course.
If you plan to transfer from Valencia to
another institution, you should learn its
acceptance policy regarding
correspondence and extension courses.
Experiential Learning
Valencia will award appropriate credit for
a student's demonstrated knowledge
gained from non-college experience or
experiential learning. This learning may
result from such activities as work
experience, volunteer activities,
community service, travel, military
experience, work-related in-service
training, homemaking, or self-directed
independent study.
Credits are not awarded simply for years
of experience. Students must
demonstrate the important knowledge,
skills, or competencies attained through
completion of a specific application that is
available in the Career Center on each
campus. The application, with
appropriate fees, must be submitted to the
Finance Office. The application and
documentation will be reviewed by
appropriate faculty members and if
approved, credit will be awarded
Internship Program
One of the major premises underlying
Valencia's educational model is that
learning takes place in many different
settings, both in and outside the
classroom. Through the Internship and
Placement Office, Valencia provides
students with learning experiences that
assist them in realizing their full potential
in the workplace.
° Explore various career options or
confirm career plans;
° Apply classroom learning to real work
situations;
° Practice and strengthen interpersonal
and technical skills; and/ or
° Develop industry contacts to transition
from school to work upon graduation.
Types of Internships
There are two types of internships offered
at Valencia:
° Internship Exploration -a planned
work-based experience that provides
students with career-exploration
activities to confirm their educational
plans. Most often, the Internship
Exploration experience involves a
single employer and a defined
agreement with Valencia. Under the
supervision of an employer
representative, the student performs
work based on his/ her educational
goals. In most cases, the Internship
Exploration does not involve pay, but
the student earns college credit for the
work experience.
° Internship -a planned work-based
experience that provides students with
the opportunity to fine-tune skill sets
learned in class in preparation for
employment. Most often, the
Internship experience involves a single
employer and a defined agreement
with Valencia. Under the supervision
of an employer representative, the
student performs work based on
his/ her program of study. The
Internship often involves pay, but
sometimes the student is not
compensated. College credit is
awarded for the work experience.
Steps to an Internship
Students interested in the Valencia
Internship Program must have:
° Completed at least 12 Valencia college-level
credits,
° Completed successfully all required
college-preparatory courses in reading,
English and mathematics,
° Earned a minimum 2.0 overall GPA,
and
° Satisfied the prerequisites for an
internship for their major or program
area. (Note: Refer to the Course
Descriptions section in this catalog for
details.)
The Experience
Students may register for a maximum of
four internship courses (equivalent to four
credits) while attending Valencia. For
example, students may enroll for a one-credit
hour internship course for four
semesters or students may take a one-credit
hour course one semester and a
three-credit course another semester.
Each internship period is one semester in
length, and each credit hour earned
requires 135 hours of work
(approximately 10 hours per week).
While an internship is optional in most
cases, it is highly recommended for
students seeking to develop insights
about their career field and desiring to
develop their personal, professional and
technical skills.
Internship information is available from
the Internship and Placement Office on
the Osceola Campus, the Career Center on
the Winter Park Campus, and the
Internship and Placement Offices located
in the Career Centers on East and West
Campuses or from the Web site:
http://valenciacc.edu
School-To-Work
The School-to-Work system is an
educational initiative coordinating
educational reform, economic
development, and workforce
development through partnerships with
Orange and Osceola school districts,
colleges and universities, business and
industry partners, and public sector
partners that will assist all students in
competing in a workforce within the
constantly-changing global economy.
The School-To-Work system contributes to
the development of Valencia students
through: (1) a comprehensive career
guidance system that facilitates students
in the transition from high school to the
community college and from the
community college to the workplace
and/ or to four-year institutions;
(2) comprehensive support services to
students; (3) integrated, applied, and
contextual classroom learning strategies;
and (4) work-based learning experiences,
such as job shadowing, clinicals,
practicums, internships, and workplace
mentoring. The School-To-Work system
provides the umbrella framework for
programs and services that connect
schools to the workplace and learning to
careers through such programs as the
Tech Prep Program.
Tech Prep
Tech Prep is an exciting alternative that
gives high school students traditionally
enrolled in unfocused general education
programs the opportunity to earn college
credit and make a smooth transition to
Valencia Community College. Tech Prep
is available through the local partnership
consortium of Orange County Public
Schools, Osceola District Schools, and
Valencia Community College. Tech Prep
features a specialized curriculum
consisting of technical and higher-level
academic courses offered to students as
early as the ninth grade. This gives
students the option to follow a sequenced
program of study which better prepares
them to advance into the postsecondary
educational system and enhances their
careers. Tech Prep high school students
have the opportunity to participate in
articulation for advanced credit at
Valencia through an assessment given in
the high schools. The Orange/ Osceola/
Valencia Tech Prep Consortium was the
recipient of the 1994 Excellence in
Education, Dale Parnell Tech Prep Award.
Tech Prep is:
° Four years of high school linked with
two years of postsecondary education
that lead to an Associate Degree
and/ or a two-year certificate.
° Technical Preparation to develop
higher-level technical skills in
agribusiness, business, health,
marketing, public service, and
technical/ industrial fields.
° Sequential programs of study that
build students' competence in science,
mathematics and communications by
integrating academics and technology.
° Enhancement of student retention at
the high school and postsecondary
levels by integrating real life
applications with academic
knowledge.
° Preparation for immediate
employment in an increasingly
competitive and technical workforce.
° Incorporation of special features to
encourage individuals with special
needs to enroll and be successful.
Alternative Methods of
Instruction
Self-Paced Courses
Some courses are offered in a self-paced,
competency-based mode of instruction.
In this mode, students must attend class,
but the students and instructors set the
pace at which each individual works
through the course material and takes
tests. A minimum rate of progress is
provided by the instructor for course
completion in one session. The instructor
serves as a resource person, working
individually with students to answer
questions and to assist in the use of
materials and resources such as
videotapes, computer software and tutors.
In a self-paced course, if the course is not
completed in one session, it is sometimes
possible to register and pay the full cost of
the course for the next session and begin
work from the point of completed work
the previous session. In some courses the
opportunity is provided to complete more
than one course during a session.
Mathematics: Individualized Learning
for Motivated Students
This approach is for highly-motivated
students. Those planning to take two
sessions to finish a course or complete
two courses in one session may find this
approach appealing. Students must
attend class, individually complete all
course material and pass each test at the
70% mastery level. The instructor does
not present explanations of the course
material to the class but serves as a
resource person when students have
questions. The instructor assists in the
use of various multimedia resources.
For further information, contact a campus
Mathematics Lab Faculty Coordinator
and/ or purchase a syllabus packet in the
campus bookstore.
Mathematics: Computer-Assisted
Individualized Learning Approach
This approach is for highly-motivated
students. Those planning to take two
sessions to finish a course or complete
two courses in one session may find this
approach appealing. Students must
attend class, individually complete all
course material and pass each test at the
70% mastery level. This approach offers
the newest innovations of computer and
instructional technologies and features
video animation clips, historical and
applications-based perspectives, precise
graphing tools, and immediate feedback
to students. The instructor does not
present explanations of the course
material to the class but serves as a
resource person when students have
questions. This approach allows the
students 24-hour electronic access to
computer lessons via the Internet.
Students need to be able to point and click
a computer mouse.
For further information, contact the
Mathematics Department on the
appropriate campus.
Independent Study
Valencia offers Independent Study (IS) in
various courses to allow you to progress
at your own rate. IS helps you meet
course requirements through individual
student/ faculty interaction in a non-classroom
situation. IS arrangements are
dependent on the availability of a
professor and upon the approval of the
respective department chair. Regardless
of the date of enrollment in an IS course,
you must complete the course or
withdraw from it prior to the end of the
session in which you register for the
course. (The conditions of the
Withdrawal and Forgiveness rules apply
to Independent Study courses. See the
Withdrawal and Forgiveness entry in this
catalog.)
If you wish to take an IS course, you will
have to make arrangements with a
professor and the appropriate department
chair. Application forms are available in
the office of the department responsible
for the course. A non-refundable fee of
$25.00 per credit hour is charged in
addition to regular fees for each IS course
in which you enroll. If you receive
financial aid, you should verify that your
financial aid will cover the fees associated
with Independent Study.
Additional Educational
Opportunities
Academics in Motion (AIM)
Program
AIM is a Student Support Services
program which provides opportunities for
academic development, assists students
with basic college requirements, and
serves to motivate students toward
successful completion of their educational
goals.
Services provided by the AIM program
include:
° Coordinating accommodations for
students with disabilities
° Tutoring assistance
° Mentoring
° Cultural enrichment
° Group support activities
° Transfer workshops
The AIM program is located at the Winter
Park Campus, and students must be
enrolled in at least one class on that
campus each semester in order to be
eligible to participate in the program.
Other requirements for eligibility are:
° Must be low-income
° Must have academic need
° Must be either a first-generation
college student or have a diagnosed
physical or learning disability
For further information, contact the AIM
Program at the Winter Park Campus.
International/ Intercultural
Education
Valencia Community College continues to
respond to the opportunities of an
international economy. Since the
founding of the College in 1967, Central
Florida has grown from a state and
regional vacation spot to a hub for
international business, industry, and
entertainment. Indeed, Orlando has
become an international city. To prepare
students for effective citizenship and
employment, Valencia responds to the
educational demands made by students
seeking prosperity and security in what
has become a world community.
To promote its students' effectiveness in a
world community, Valencia develops and
offers a curriculum that promotes
mutually-beneficial
international/ intercultural exchanges for
students and faculty. Since 1986, a
partnership has existed with Costa Rica
and Florida State University through a
Linkage Institute known as FLORICA.
Several international student exchange
programs are underway including
partnerships with the University of
Puerto Rico and Qingdao Tourism School
in China. New international partnerships
include agreements with Estacio de Sa in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Technologico
Espiritu Santo (TES) and Universidad
Espiritu Santo (UEES0) in Guayaquil,
Ecuador. In addition, nearly 700
international students from more than 85
countries study at Valencia, contributing
global experience and perspective to the
local college community.
Learning in Community (LINC)
Learning in Community (LINC) includes
the best practices for student success: a
block of prime-time classes which a group
of students attend together, selected
faculty who teach collaboratively,
developmental advising to assist students
with educational and career planning, and
support systems for each student.
Enrollment information is available at
New Student Orientation or from the
Advising and Counseling Centers.
ALCANZA (Spanish for "Reach!") is an
after-school program for Hispanic and
other high school students that provides
peer support to increase student success
and motivation and to prepare for college
attendance. Improvement of grades,
exploring career options, and preparing
for life after high school are expected
outcomes. Valencia staff and student
volunteers work with ALCANZA groups
at Colonial, Cypress Creek, Oak Ridge,
and University High Schools.
College Reach Out Program (C. R. O. P.)
The College Reach Out Program is
composed of three programs aimed at
increasing the academic and personal
success of disadvantaged youth.
READINESS is a seven-week summer
program for 6th to 8th grade students that
takes place on a Valencia campus. The
focus is on increasing student awareness
of postsecondary education and exploring
career options. REACH is an academic-year
program for 9th to 12th grade
students that takes place on Saturdays on
a Valencia campus. The focus is on
academic skills in English, mathematics
and reading and on career exploration
through presentations by local
professionals. A highlight is a spring
college tour. BRIDGES is a seven-week
summer transition program for recent
high school graduates to enhance skills
needed for academic success. Students
receive a summer scholarship for course
fees and books and can earn up to six
college credits. Successful completion
makes students eligible for a two-year
scholarship at Valencia.
G. E. A. R. U. P. (Gaining Early Awareness
and Readiness for Undergraduate
Program)
G. E. A. R. U. P. focuses on an entire grade
level of selected middle schools and
provides ongoing services, programs, and
tracking of the students as they progress
from 7th grade to 12th grade and enter
into college. Services and programs
include an enriched curriculum, career
and educational planning, mentoring and
tutoring, motivation and personal
development, cultural programs, and
college visits. Programs are provided
during the academic year, and a special
summer component takes place on a
Valencia campus. Valencia GEAR UP staff
serve the students in Carver, Denn John,
Jackson, Meadowbrook, Parkway,
Robinswood, and Westridge Middle
Schools.
Upward Bound
Upward Bound involves selected high
school students in an enriched academic-year
and summer program that prepares
them for college. Students receive
mentoring and tutoring, motivational and
personal development, and cultural
programs that prepare them for a rigorous
high school curriculum. College visits
and specific assistance with college
applications, financial aid, and
scholarship opportunities help to ensure a
successful transition to college. Valencia
Upward Bound staff serve the students in
Evans, Gateway, Oak Ridge, and
Poinciana High Schools.
ROTC and Cross Enrollment
All Valencia students are eligible through
a cross-enrollment agreement to apply for
the United States Army ROTC program at
the University of Central Florida with
Army Military Science classes conducted
at Valencia and University of Central
Florida campuses. A maximum of eight
semester hours of ROTC credit may apply
as elective credit toward a degree at
Valencia. Further information is available
through the ROTC office at the University
of Central Florida (407) 823-5383.
Servicemembers Opportunity
College
You may benefit from Valencia's special
efforts to aid servicemen in securing a
postsecondary education. The
Servicemembers Opportunity College
(SOC) has designated Valencia as a
participating institution of higher
education. Aside from stated and
traditional means of obtaining credit
toward most associate degrees, the
following special policies, procedures and
services are available to you as active-duty
military personnel:
1. You may earn certain credits by
satisfactory completion of Advanced
Placement examinations. (See
Advanced Placement entry in this
catalog.)
2. You may earn a maximum of 15
semester hours credit through
extension and/ or correspondence
courses. (See catalog section on
Correspondence and Extension
Credit.)
3. Credit can be earned through relevant
validated military service training
including military service schools,
United States Armed Forces Institute
(USAFI) courses, and acceptable
college-level G. E. D. Test scores.
In recognition of the advanced academic
and technical content of many military
education experiences, Valencia will grant
credit for military education that has been
evaluated and recommended as suitable
for postsecondary credit. After enrolling
at Valencia, you may initiate the request
for such credit by providing appropriate
documentation to the Admissions Office.
Recommendations in the ACE Guide are
advisory in nature and are not binding
upon the College.
Teacher Recertification
Valencia's Teacher Recertification Program
offers courses especially designed to meet
the requirements of teachers seeking
recertification. Many of these courses are
scheduled on the weekends. Most
courses are open to all Valencia students.
Courses offered through the Teacher
Recertification Program often include:
computer literacy, biology and earth
sciences, Internet and technology for
educators, health and nutrition, and
communicating with diverse populations.
Contact the Winter Park Campus for more
information.
Registration for teacher recertification
courses starts at the beginning of
registration for returning students and
continues until one week prior to the start
of the specific course, provided space is
available. Students may register at any
Valencia location. Telephone, Cyber, and
home computer registration are available
according to the dates listed in the credit
schedule. Students enrolling for the first
time must complete an application which
requires a $25. non-refundable fee.
Students who wish to drop a weekend
teacher recertification course after the first
class meeting must contact the Winter
Park Campus on the first business day
following the first class meeting in order
to receive a refund.
Weekend College
The Weekend College provides a program
of Friday evening, Saturday and/ or
Sunday classes for individuals who are
interested in obtaining a college education
by attending on weekends. Weekend
credit classes are available at all Valencia
campuses.
Weekend classes are scheduled to allow
students to receive from 3 to 12 hours of
credit during each of the full sessions-
Sessions 1, 2 and 5. Students who enroll
continuously and complete six credit
hours each session can complete an
associate degree in three to four years.