Policy
Original Issuance Date: September 1, 1988
Last Revision Date: July 25, 2025
1. Policy Purpose
This policy establishes academic and financial expectations for the Universities of Wisconsin (UW) universities and participating Wisconsin schools for credit-bearing courses taught in Wisconsin schools by school instructors that have been authorized to do so by a UW university. It is important for UW System Administration to establish standard policies, procedures, and guidelines for such credit -bearing courses to ensure that university credit is being awarded consistently and equitably across participating institutions.
2. Responsible UW System Officer
Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs
Vice President for Finance and Administration
3. Scope and Institutional Responsibilities
This policy establishes academic and financial expectations for the UW universities and participating Wisconsin schools for credit-bearing courses taught in Wisconsin schools by school instructors that have been authorized to do so by a UW university. For policies addressing the transfer of extra-institutional award of credit, see Regent Policy Document (RPD) 7-1, Transfer and Award of Credit for Extra-institutional Learning, UW System Administrative Policy (SYS) 135, UW System Undergraduate Transfer Policy, and SYS 138, Award of Credit by Prior Learning Assessment.
4. Background
High school to college transition programs demonstrate the Universities of Wisconsin’s commitment to maintaining access and affordability in higher education while advancing the Wisconsin Idea through collaborative efforts with Wisconsin schools. UW credit-bearing courses offered for credit at Wisconsin schools provide an opportunity for high school students to engage in a college-level learning experience and to pursue advanced coursework sometimes available only at the college level. These programs may also assist school districts in supporting gifted and talented education programs. Students may benefit from accelerating completion of a college degree, reducing the cost of their college education, and entering the work force sooner. Wisconsin school instructors and university faculty forge strong working relationships as they cooperate to develop curricula and assessment instruments, infuse technology into instruction, and create a better understanding of the respective disciplines and pedagogy; such working relationships benefit both faculties, their institutions, and their students.
5. Definitions
Credit-bearing Courses: Courses approved by UW universities as meeting the university’s requirements for awarding of credit.
Extra-institutional award of credit: Credit earned or awarded based on external exams or other means of evaluation used to demonstrate and document students’ learning.
6. Policy Statement
A. Quality Assurance
I. Credit-Bearing Courses
Credit-bearing courses must meet the standards for instruction, content, student work expectations and evaluation that exist for the same course work offered within the UW university’s on-campus degree programs as determined by university standards.
II. Instructor Qualifications
Instructors who teach UW credit-bearing courses at participating Wisconsin schools must meet the faculty qualifications criteria as articulated by the Higher Learning Commission and must have the approval of the appropriate university academic department. Each university should have policies in place to determine instructor qualifications.
III. Professional Development
UW universities should provide professional development opportunities that promote professional interactions between university faculty and Wisconsin school instructors teaching credit-bearing courses in Wisconsin schools that are in accordance with the Higher Learning Commission criteria, assumed practices, and guidelines.
IV. Students
Students should have equitable access to credit-bearing courses offered in Wisconsin schools. Student eligibility is addressed in the procedures section of this policy.
B. Student Records
Successful completion of a credit-bearing course is recorded on an official UW university transcript. All student enrollments should be reported in the UW Central Data Request (CDR).
C. Tuition
UW universities will assess the full per credit, resident, undergraduate tuition rate for college credit in Wisconsin schools less a reimbursement to the school districts for costs incurred by the districts in providing instruction for these credit-bearing courses. After this reimbursement, tuition will be assessed based on the tuition rates established in the prior academic year within the range noted below.
| Type of University | Tuition Rate Floor | Tuition Rate Ceiling |
|---|---|---|
| Four-Year University | 50% of the full per credit resident undergraduate tuition rate of the of the UW university with the lowest tuition rate | 50% of the full per credit resident undergraduate tuition rate of the university offering the course |
| Branch Campus | 50% of the branch campus’ full per credit resident undergraduate tuition rate | 50% of the lowest full per credit resident undergraduate tuition rate of UW universities |
D. Transfer of Credit
Transfer of credit earned for UW credit-bearing courses taught in Wisconsin schools will be subject to SYS 135, UW System Undergraduate Transfer Policy.
7. Related Documents
Section 118.55, Wis. Stats., Early college credit program
Higher Learning Commission Assumed Practices B. 2.
RPD 7-1, Transfer and Award of Credit for Extra-institutional Learning
SYS 135, UW System Undergraduate Transfer Policy
SYS 138, Award of Credit by Prior Learning Assessment
8. Policy History
Revision 7: July 25, 2025
Revision 6: June 22, 2023
Revision 5: December 9, 2019
Revision 4: September 16, 2016
Revision 3: June 13, 1998
Revision 2: September 1, 1988
First approved: January 1, 1986
9. Scheduled Review
July 2030