Transfer Students

Transfer applicants are considered for admission on the basis of their previous college records. Applicants must submit a completed “Application for Admission” form and official transcripts from all colleges previously attended. Transfer applicants must be in good standing with all institutions previously attended, regardless of the length of time in attendance and regardless of whether credit was earned.

Students unable to provide transcripts may sign a Waiver with the Registrar’s Office to allow them to register and attend LSCPA for one term, while awaiting their transcripts. Students in certificate or associate degree programs may petition for a permanent waiver of the transcript requirement for special circumstances, including but not limited to, prior school closed, money owed to a previous institution, classes taken do not apply to the current degree plan, and/or ten years or more have passed since last attendance at previous school. Written petitions for permanent waiver of the transcript requirement must be submitted to the Registrar and the department chair no later than the first day of registration for the following semester. Following review by the Registrar, Department Chair, Dean, and VP of Academic Affairs, the student will be notified of the final decision within 30 business days of submission. Contact the Registrar at registrar@lamarpa.edu for additional guidance.

Students on scholastic or disciplinary suspension from another institution must petition the Dean of Academic and Technical Programs or the Vice President for Academic Affairs for individual approval.

Students transferring from a Texas public college or university are subject to the same Texas Success Initiative Assessment requirements that apply to current students. Therefore, transfer students from Texas public colleges and universities who began their college careers in the 1989 fall semester or later must have TSIA scores on file from an approved test for placement purposes. Otherwise, enrollment will be limited to remedial and/or other courses which will not count toward graduation.

Students transferring from a non-Texas public college or university who began their college career in the 1989 fall semester or later and have not attended college since then must take the TSIA assessment test prior to enrollment at Lamar State College Port Arthur.

Placement scores and developmental courses transferred by students from other regionally accredited Texas public institutions of higher education (IHE) will be used for initial placement.

Transfer of Credit

Credit earned at another accredited institution is acceptable for transfer and may be used to meet degree requirements, provided the courses are applicable to the program and curriculum in which the student enrolls. A transcript evaluator is employed by the College and the instructional deans may be consulted to make a final determination in order to ensure the integrity of programs of study.

Transfer Students and TSIA

Transfer students are subject to the Texas Success Initiative Assessment requirements (TSIA). Students transferring to LSCPA from another Texas public institution must meet TSIA requirements to enroll. Transfer students from outside Texas or from a private Texas college or university who have made a ‘C’ or better in approved courses for all three skill areas are exempt from TSIA. Contact a Student Services Advisor for additional information.

Transferring Coursework

Official transcripts from all colleges or universities must be submitted for evaluation of transfer coursework. Additional documents that demonstrate completion of learning from formal courses sponsored by associations, business, government, industry, and unions will be evaluated to determine transfer of credit. In some instances, students may be asked to supply additional information to assist in the evaluation of transfer coursework. Failure to provide transcripts from all colleges or universities attended and/or other documentation of formal courses may result in denial of the awarding of credit.

Students will be notified of acceptance of transfer work. The period of evaluation may be completed prior to enrollment but may occur at the end of the first academic term in which the student is enrolled.

Transfer Guidelines

LSCPA accepts transfer coursework from regionally accredited colleges and universities, non-regionally accredited colleges and universities, military educational training facilities, foreign educational institutions, and limited non-collegiate training facilities.

Regionally accredited colleges and universities. Students must submit all official transcripts from all colleges attended.
Non-regionally accredited colleges and universities. Students must submit all official transcripts from all colleges attended. Official transcripts must be submitted. Additional documentation may be required prior to acceptance of credit. Coursework will be evaluated in terms of level, content, quality, comparability, and degree program relevance.
Military educational training programs. Evaluation of military credit is based upon the evaluation recommendations outlined in the American Council on Education (ACE) Guide to Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services manual. Students must submit either a Form DD214 or Form DD256, and a Military Transcript Summary.
Foreign educational institutions. Students wishing to transfer college level work to Lamar State College Port Arthur from foreign educational institutions must have their official transcripts evaluated by an evaluation service approved by LSCPA. Credit for courses taken at foreign institutions will be awarded according to the policies outlined for transfer students.
Non-collegiate training facilities. Credit may be awarded for successful completion of learning acquired from participation in formal courses sponsored by associations, business, government, industry, and unions to the extent that the material is applicable and official certification and/or documentation of skills or competencies achieved is provided. Transfer credit for work accomplished in a non-collegiate setting may also be granted upon individual review only for the programs listed and under the provisions expressed in the LSCPA Catalog. Many of the recommendations in the American Council on Education (ACE) publication, The National Guide to Educational Credit for Training Programs and Transfer Credit Practices of Designated Educational Institutions are used to determine the award of credit.

The following guidelines may determine the extent of transfer courses, the impact of transfer coursework on grade point average, status at graduation (honors), and transcripted grades.

Grades of ‘C’ or better will be accepted as transfer credit for a course within a degree plan.
Courses transferred and applied to a degree plan will be used in the calculation of the cumulative grade point average.
Grades of ‘D’ will be accepted as transfer credit for a course not within a major. Some programs have additional policies that will not allow a grade of ‘D’ to transfer. Students are advised to contact individual program advisors for policies about the transfer of a grade of ‘D’.
Grades of ‘F’ will not transfer to LSCPA.
Courses transferred and applied to a degree plan will be used to determine ‘honors’ upon graduation.
At least 25 percent of the semester credit hours required for the degree must be earned at Lamar State College Port Arthur.