The Transfer Center

The Transfer Center evaluates credentials for credit earned from another college or university. Students must provide official academic transcripts from all colleges attended. Upon receiving the student’s application for admission, we use National Student Clearinghouse data to confirm that transcripts for all previous enrollments have been received.

We consider courses and credits from other institutions for review, provided that such credits carry a minimum grade of C and are comparable to courses offered at Christopher Newport. The grade of C is not appealable to the university.

Grades do not transfer; only the courses and the credits transfer. The cumulative grade point average (GPA) of each student will be calculated only on work taken at Christopher Newport. Transfer credit accepted from other institutions may be used to reduce the number of credits required for graduation, but it will not be calculated into the student’s GPA at Christopher Newport.

A maximum of 92 semester hours from a four-year college or university may be transferred. Of the 92, a maximum of 66 semester hours may be transferred from a community college or two-year college.

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 Christopher Newport.

Christopher Newport 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.

We do not award credit for the following:

• Courses in which a student earned a grade of C- or lower
• Credit earned through departmental or institutional examination(s)
• Grades of “no credit,” “unsatisfactory,” “incomplete” or any other grade that indicates unsatisfactory progress or that a course has not been completed
• Courses that are listed as “in progress” on the official transcript. If a student’s transcript from a previous college or university is incomplete (courses without grades or courses listed 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 final, official academic transcript has been received and officially evaluated.

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.

We work closely with academic department chairs to determine Christopher Newport course equivalents for courses completed elsewhere. Course descriptions and, in some cases, course syllabi are needed to evaluate course equivalents. Once a course equivalent has been identified, the specifics of that course and the Christopher Newport equivalent are recorded in the transfer enrollment database. All Christopher Newport course equivalents are reviewed every five years.

Christopher Newport does not generally offer dual enrollment courses for high school students. However, Christopher Newport reviews and awards credit for coursework completed at other colleges and universities via high school dual enrollment programs.

Students matriculating at Christopher Newport who have earned college credit through dual enrollment programs at regionally accredited institutions while still in high school may have their credits evaluated for application toward degree requirements at Christopher Newport. When awarding credit for coursework completed elsewhere, Christopher Newport makes no distinction between high school dual enrollment credit and other college credit presented for evaluation. Students participating in dual enrollment programs who do not have enrollment at a college or university in a regular semester (fall or spring) post high school graduation, are considered first-year applicants when applying for admission.

Official college or university transcripts are required to receive credit and should be sent directly to Christopher Newport from the dual enrollment college or university. Students who have completed dual enrollment courses at more than one college or university are required to provide official transcripts from all colleges attended. Christopher Newport will not award credit for dual enrollment coursework presented only on the high school transcript. All Christopher Newport course equivalents are reviewed every five years. New courses are evaluated as they are presented.

New first-year students who present the transfer-oriented associate degree earned through the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) will be reviewed according to the State Policy on Transfer.

Christopher Newport follows the State Policy on Transfer when reviewing and awarding credit previously earned as part of a transfer-oriented associate degree program through the VCCS. Christopher Newport is represented on the State Committee on Transfer. All Christopher Newport course equivalents are reviewed every five years.

Christopher Newport has developed articulation agreements for guaranteed admission with the VCCS and RBC. Additional information regarding guaranteed admission may be obtained from your community college representative.

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

Completion of a transfer-oriented associate of fine arts degree from a VCCS college will satisfy Christopher Newport lower-level liberal learning requirements with the exception of one mathematics course (CNU's MATH 115 or higher) satisfying the Mathematical Literacy Liberal Learning Foundation requirement and one science lecture satisfying the Investigating the Natural World Area of Inquiry. Christopher Newport also requires completion of a 200-level language course or higher in a second language in order to graduate. If these requirements are not fulfilled during completion of the associate degree, they must be completed at Christopher Newport.

Transfer-oriented associate degrees

If a student has been offered admission to Christopher Newport and has completed a transfer-oriented associate degree (associate of arts, associate of science, or the associate of arts and sciences) at a VCCS college or RBC as shown on the official transcript, they should anticipate the following:

• Courses, with a grade of ‘C’ or better, that have a Christopher Newport equivalent will transfer
• Courses completed with a grade of ‘C-’ or lower will not transfer and must be repeated if it is a required course for the major at Christopher Newport
• No more than 66 semester hours will transfer to Christopher Newport 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 second language literacy, graduation requirements, upper-level requirements and concentration / minor / major requirements
• To complete concentration (if applicable), minor and major requirements at Christopher Newport in effect at the time of the student’s first term of enrollment
• 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 grade point average (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 be calculated into the student’s GPA at Christopher Newport.

Entrance into certain Christopher Newport majors or fields of study may be competitive. Acceptance to the university does not imply admission to these programs. Transfer students and currently enrolled Christopher Newport students are treated the same with regard to admission to competitive programs.

Transfer Virginia is an initiative to provide transparency and access throughout the college transfer process. Through the Transfer Virginia portal, consistent and current information is provided from all partner institutions. Students can research, plan and organize their transfer journey using the information and resources available within this portal from Virginia's institutions. The information in this portal is updated twice a year.

Entering students may receive academic credit for college-level work undertaken during high school by completing Advanced Placement (AP) 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 for the year the student matriculated at Christopher Newport.

Credit previously awarded at another college or university for AP examinations does not automatically transfer to Christopher Newport. AP scores should be submitted directly to the university from the Educational Testing Service of the College Board for evaluation. Scores are evaluated according to Undergraduate Catalog in place at the time of the student’s initial matriculation at Christopher Newport. All Christopher Newport equivalents are reviewed according to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) policy.

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

A maximum of 60 credit hours may be awarded for the successful completion of AP exams.

See specific equivalent courses and minimum required scores for the current academic year in the AP score chart.

Entering students who completed IB examinations as part of their high school curriculum may receive academic credit for their work. 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.

Credit awarded at a previous college or university for IB examinations does not automatically transfer to Christopher Newport. IB scores should be submitted directly to the university for evaluation. To qualify for academic credit, in addition to earning the required minimum score, students must have completed the IB examination(s) no later than six months after their high school graduation and prior to matriculation at Christopher Newport.

Scores are evaluated according to Undergraduate Catalog in place at the time of the student’s initial matriculation at Christopher Newport. All Christopher Newport equivalents are reviewed according to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) policy.

Scores are evaluated according to university policies in place at the time of the student’s initial matriculation at Christopher Newport. A complete list of approved IB examinations and minimum scores is available in the Undergraduate Catalog for the year the student matriculated at Christopher Newport.

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

A maximum of 60 credit hours may be awarded for the successful completion of IB exams.

See specific equivalent courses and minimum required scores for the current academic year in the IB score chart.

Entering students may earn credit for successfully completing certain CIEs based on the minimum score earned. Approved examinations have been reviewed by the faculty for content and relevance to the Christopher Newport degree. Detailed information regarding examinations approved for credit with minimum scores required to receive credit is found in the Undergraduate Catalog.

Credit awarded at a previous college or university for CIE does not automatically transfer to Christopher Newport. Scores should be submitted directly to the university for evaluation. Scores are evaluated according to university policies in place at the time of the student’s initial matriculation at Christopher Newport. Scores are evaluated according to Undergraduate Catalog in place at the time of the student’s initial matriculation at Christopher Newport. All Christopher Newport equivalents are reviewed according to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) policy.

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

A maximum of 60 credit hours may be awarded for the successful completion of CIE.

See specific equivalent courses and minimum required scores for the current academic year in the Cambridge score chart.

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 Christopher Newport degree. Although there are two categories of CLEP exams available, general and subject, Christopher Newport accepts only one general examination: college mathematics.

Subject examinations cover material taught in undergraduate courses and carry a course title which is similar at most colleges and universities. Detailed information regarding examinations approved for credit with minimum scores required to receive credit is found in the Policy for CLEP and Course Challenges.

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

A maximum of 60 credit hours may be awarded for the successful completion of CLEP exams.

CLEP scores are processed for individuals who are admitted or currently enrolled as degree-seeking students at Christopher Newport. Credit for qualifying CLEP scores is recorded on the student’s permanent record (transcript) as transfer credit. Credit awarded at a previous transfer college or university for CLEP examinations does not automatically transfer to Christopher Newport.

Prior to registering through the College Board’s testing center to take a CLEP exam, students should thoroughly review the Policy for CLEP. A list of the limited number of exams accepted for credit is included in the policy. Students must obtain prior approval to take a CLEP exam for Christopher Newport credit by submitting the Request to Take CLEP Exam for Christopher Newport Credit Form. After obtaining prior approval from the Office of the Registrar and completing the exam, the student should request for the official CLEP scores to be sent directly from the College Board to the Christopher Newport Transfer Center. Only the credit and the course will appear on the student’s academic transcript.

Students who have prior service in the U.S. armed services may present the Joint Services Transcript or other official credentials for evaluation. Christopher Newport will use the American Council on Education (ACE) Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services in the review and determination of course equivalents; however, the ACE guide recommendations will not automatically apply. Although equivalencies to Christopher Newport 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 Christopher Newport course and whether a minimum score equivalent to a grade of ‘C’ or better has been earned.

Christopher Newport does not typically award credit based on the presentation of a student portfolio. We do not award undergraduate credit for professional certificates, life experience, work experience, DANTES/DSST exams or the Excelsior College exams.

Current Christopher Newport students must seek prior approval from the The Transfer Center before enrolling in any courses elsewhere. Current students may request approval by completing the Request to Take Courses Elsewhere (RTCE) form available through CNU Live. In granting approval, Christopher Newport will determine whether a course equivalent currently exists, and if so, perform 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. If approval is granted, students will be notified of the approval via email. Students must request an official transcript from the institution awarding credit to be sent to Christopher Newport for review upon completion of the course(s) elsewhere in order for transfer credit to be awarded.

Virginia Tidewater Consortium (VTC)

Students may request to take a course(s) at a member institution of the VTC when such action is necessary and the course is not available at Christopher Newport. Current students must request approval in advance by completing the RTCE Form available through CNU Live or on the forms section of the Office of the Registrar website. Participation in the VTC requires additional paperwork and has additional requirements. If approval is granted, students will be notified of the approval via email and will be sent additional paperwork from The Transfer Center. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain the appropriate signatures by the VTC representatives at the home and host institutions on the cross-registration form.

Courses taken through the VTC will be recorded on the student’s Christopher Newport transcript with the letter grade earned and will be computed in the student’s grade point average (GPA). A VTC institution will not issue a transcript to a cross-registered student whom it hosts. The grading system of the home institution (Christopher Newport) will apply to cross-registered students. Tuition will be charged by the home institution for a cross-registered course. The cross-registrant must assume all costs (e.g., transportation, books, materials, lab fees, applied music fees).

Please note that a maximum of 11 credits or three courses with required labs completed through the VTC may be applied toward degree completion.

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

• Eastern Shore Community College
• Hampton University
• Norfolk State University
• Old Dominion University
• Paul D. Camp Community College
• Regent University
• Tidewater Community College
• Virginia Peninsula Community College
• Virginia Wesleyan College