Posted by Emily Peck on November 11 2009 at 16:30:07:
Pearson today launched a credit-by-examination program with Excelsior College designed to give future higher education students credit for their knowledge in the following course subjects: calculus, psychology, statistics, college writing, physics and political science. The testing program, dubbed UExcel, allows students to meet undergraduate degree requirements while saving significant tuition costs.
It is not tied to any high school related coursework, like AP, making it ideal for home schooled students. All UExcel exams have been evaluated and approved by the American Council on Education’s College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE CREDIT).
Pearson and Excelsior College Launch UExcel® Credit-By-Examination Program
Two leading education providers, Pearson and Excelsior College, today announced the launch of UExcel®, a new credit-by-examination program. UExcel provides students the ability to earn college credit by taking computer-based examinations in a number of subjects. Excelsior College, an accredited, nonprofit distance education institution, will report this credit on a transcript, which can be submitted for transfer credit to the college or university of the student’s choosing. UExcel allows students to meet undergraduate degree requirements more quickly while saving significant dollars in tuition costs.
Created by Pearson and Excelsior College, UExcel exams have been evaluated by the American Council on Education’s College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE CREDIT) for the award of college credit. Pearson is the global leader in developing educational products for children, schools, universities, adults, and corporations. Excelsior College is one of the nation’s leaders in distance education with more than 38 years of experience offering widely recognized credit-by-exam and online education programs.
“Students and parents around the world are struggling to pay for a semester’s worth of college tuition, let alone an entire two- or four-year education,” said Randy Trask, vice president of market development, Pearson VUE. “The UExcel program is designed to help students quickly and affordably earn college credit for knowledge they already have, or are willing to obtain through self study.”
In addition to time and cost savings, there are many other unique advantages to participating in the UExcel credit-by-examination program:
“Excelsior’s decades of experience and reputation in examination development and online education combined with ACE evaluation provides colleges and universities with assurance that the credit awarded is an accurate measure of expected college-level learning,” said Dr. Patrick Jones, dean of assessment at Excelsior College. “The cost benefit to students taking UExcel examinations can be significant. For employers who provide education reimbursement, UExcel can extend the reach of this valuable employee benefit.”
“UExcel has been created to provide greater choice and value for students who are looking for credit-by-examination options that provide maximum flexibility and geographic reach at minimal cost,” said Trask. “And it’s not only students who benefit from the UExcel program. Colleges and universities accepting UExcel credit gain a competitive advantage by recruiting the bright, motivated students our program attracts both abroad and here in the United States. Institutions also can use UExcel test results to determine a student’s academic readiness or placement within a particular program of study.”
UExcel offers students the opportunity to earn credits in six college-level subjects: Calculus, Writing, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, and Statistics. In the near future, UExcel will increase its offerings, including a Spanish exam set to launch in its beta phase later this year.