Challenge for Credit Option

Registration

Before you consider the Challenge for Credit option, please read the online course syllabus. It will help you determine your subject-matter knowledge of the course before you register.

Consultation with the AU course professor is also recommended and normally required before registration for challenge is allowed. A process determined by AU's course professor—which may include the submission of assignments, reports, projects, or written exams— evaluates a student's knowledge and skills. Email examunit@athabascau.ca to obtain the specific course coordinator's email address and phone number.

Students who choose to proceed with the challenge for Credit registration, must complete and submit the Challenge for Credit Registration Form available from the Office of the Registrar, or the forms Web site, accompanied by the non-refundable fee (refer to Section 5.4. Challenge for Credit Fees).

Challenge Learning Resources

Students have the option of purchasing the course's learning resources when they register. Once registered, students may complete and submit the required assignments, reports, projects, or written exams within a predetermined time period. Please allow approximately 3 weeks or more, depending on your geographic location, for the processing of the request and receipt of materials.

Challenge Exams

When the Challenge for Credit process involves an invigilated exam, the exam is written under the normal conditions for writing exams at AU described in Section 7 Evaluation. General exam regulations, except the supplemental and multi-exam options, are applicable to challenge exams.

Challenge for Credit exams are completed at an AU-approved exam invigilation centre. Students should consult their invigilator and inform the Office of the Registrar of the date they wish to write before they complete and submit their Examination Request Form, available in their learning resources package or online.

Most students must write their challenge exam within 3 months of registering in the challenge course. Students are allowed one attempt to write a challenge exam. Supplemental exam options do not apply to challenge courses. If the challenge exam is failed, it cannot be written again. An unwritten challenge exam will not be reissued.

All Challenge for Credit grade appeals are subject to an appeals process described in AU's Student Code of Conduct and Right to Appeal Regulations available also in brochure format.

Courses Available for Challenge

The Challenge for Credit option is available for existing AU course offerings only. Some courses at AU are not available for challenge.

The online course syllabus will indicate whether the option is available. The Office of the Registrar also maintains a list of courses that are unavailable for challenge.

AU does not grant transfer credit for field placements, professional seminars, work experience or elementary skills.

The following AU courses may not be challenged:

courses for which the student has received transfer credit

laboratory or practicum courses.

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Nursing program can challenge all nursing courses for credit with the exception of NURS 440.

Challenging a Failed Course

Students who have failed a course (or an equivalent course) may not challenge the course without the written permission of the course professor. This permission will be given only if students can document
significant learning after the unsuccessful attempt at completing the course.

Prerequisites

Prerequisites must be satisfied unless the course professor waives them. After completing a course successfully, students may not challenge a prerequisite to that course. Cancellation or failure to complete all components of the challenge evaluation will result in a failing grade.

Withdrawal/Cancellation

Students who register in an individualized study or grouped study course and discover they are familiar enough with the material to challenge it must first withdraw from the course and then request to challenge it. Students will be required to pay an additional Challenge for Credit fee.

Students can also withdraw from a Challenge course, provided the withdrawal form is received by the University within the first 30 days of the Challenge course contract period. (See Refunds below.)

Refunds/Returns of Learning Resources Package

Students will receive a refund of their learning resources fee if they return the entire learning resources package completely unmarked and undamaged within 30 calendar days of writing the challenge exam or completing the challenge project. If the learning resources and timeframe criteria are not met students will not be entitled to a refund.

AU's learning resources refund policy does not apply to materials provided electronically and downloaded from the Web.

Maximum Challenge Credits

The maximum number of credits that can be challenged is calculated from the total number of credits required for the program minus the number of credits required for residency. However, any course that is successfully completed through the challenge for credit process may count towards the AU residency requirements.

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