Administrative Guide

Administrative Guide

Updated for 2024-2025 Academic Year

Thank you for your partnership with the University of Southern Indiana (USI) College Achievement Program (CAP)! CAP is a dual credit opportunity for qualified sophomores, juniors and seniors to earn USI credit that will help build a strong base for their future college careers.

We are thrilled to announce that, effective Summer 2023, CAP courses are offered at no cost to students! Students must meet program and course prerequisites to enroll. 

We hope this handbook provides answers to your questions, but do not hesitate to reach out if you need additional assistance. We are happy to hear from you!

Sincerely,

The CAP Staff
Jaclyn Dumond, Director, CAP and Lifelong Learning
Dana Drury, Manager, CAP
Zoe Meuth, CAP Program Associate
cap@usi.edu 
812-228-5022                

Policies and Enrollment Procedures for High School Instructors, Counselors and Administrators Partnering with the College Achievement Program

Table of Contents

• Program Overview
• Instructor Qualifications & Training
• Instructor Responsibilities
• Instructor Non-Compliance Policy
• Benefits of Serving as a CAP Instructor
• CAP Travel Policies
• USI CAP Faculty Liaisons
• Student Qualifications & Prerequisites
• Policy on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Student Costs
• Student Enrollment Timeline
• Student Enrollment Process
• Responsibilities and Benefits of Being a CAP Student
• Early Graduation Policy
• Withdrawals and Refunds
• Applying for Admission to USI
• Transferability & Requesting Transcripts
• USI's Core 39 (General Education Curriculum)
• FERPA Regulations
• Procedures for CAP World Language Courses
• High School Agreement Program
• Questions and Troubleshooting

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Program Overview

USI’s concurrent enrollment, or dual credit, program is called the College Achievement Program (CAP). Only certain advanced level courses in each high school are offered as dual credit—students can receive both University of Southern Indiana (USI) and high school credit if USI course prerequisites and enrollment deadlines are met. A CAP course contains all components of the equivalent on-campus course. CAP online applications, online course requests, and student permission forms are due by the following dates:

General deadlines to submit the online course request, the online CAP application, and signed Student Permission Form: Fall Enrollment Ends Friday, September 6, 2024 Spring Enrollment Ends Friday, January 31, 2025

Instructor Qualifications & Training

High school teachers should possess an academic degree relevant to what they are teaching and at least one level above the level at which they teach, except when equivalent experience is established. Instructors teaching general education courses, or courses that transfer, typically hold a master's degree or higher in the discipline or subfield. If a teacher holds a master's degree or higher in the discipline or subfield other than that in which he or she is teaching, that faculty member should have completed a minimum of 18 graduate credit hours in the discipline or subfield in which they teach.
--Requirements from the Faculty Guidelines from the Higher Learning Commission, a commission of the North Central Association

Each high school instructor applying to become a CAP instructor must be approved by the appropriate USI department chair as adjunct faculty and receive training from the faculty liaison before teaching a CAP course. More details are found on the page for prospective instructors. Once approved and trained, CAP instructors are asked to attend an annual, discipline-specific professional development workshop and will be observed by the liaison on a regular schedule.

To assist teachers in attaining the necessary graduate hours in the content area, USI has developed the CAP Graduate Fee Waiver.

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Instructor Responsibilities

New Instructors:

Prior to teaching, new instructors attend discipline-specific training and orientation to course curriculum, assessment criteria, pedagogy, course philosophy with USI faculty in the content area. New instructors also attend a separate training with CAP staff to overview administrative responsibilities and procedures.

Returning Instructors:

All CAP instructors are required to attend an annual discipline-specific workshop or make-up event. Additionally, they are required to adhere to the USI course content and any assessment components set forth by the sponsoring academic department. Non-compliance occurs when any of the outlined CAP instructor expectations are not adhered to. (See the CAP Instructor Non-Compliance Policy)

All instructors are asked to do the following:

1. Review USI rosters monthly to identify withdrawals; work with the CAP Office and student to resolve drops.

2. Utilize the updated CAP course syllabus template, provided by the CAP Office each year, and assure that each student enrolled for USI credit receives a syllabus.

3. Schedule a time at least once every two years for the faculty liaison to observe the CAP course (if students are enrolled for USI credit).

4. Present CAP details to students, either personally, via USI staff visit or online videos.

5. Assist with enrollment each year.

6. Direct CAP students to the online Student Guide.

7. Distribute enrollment verification letters to enrolled students and help students use the enclosed directions to activate their myUSI student accounts.

8. Become familiar with FERPA regulations, found at the end of this handbook, and complete online FERPA training.

9. Remind students to complete the online Course Perception Survey at the end of the term.

10. Enter final CAP grades online through myUSI by the established deadline (date will be emailed to you prior to the end of the course).

11. Inform CAP staff of prolonged absences from the classroom (more than two weeks), so that the liaison can work with the substitute as required.

12. Inform CAP staff if moving to a new school (approval follows the instructor and in most cases, more than one instructor may offer the same USI course in a school).

13. Inform CAP staff if scheduling changes occur and an approved instructor is no longer teaching the CAP course; approval does not automatically occur for the new instructor. The new instructor must meet the USI criteria to teach the course, complete the appropriate paperwork, and attend the discipline-specific orientation and training prior to offering the course for USI credit.

14. Complete periodic online trainings, as required by the University. 

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Instructor Non-Compliance Policy

All CAP instructors are required to attend an annual discipline-specific professional development workshop or make-up event. Additionally, all CAP instructors are required to adhere to the USI course content and any assessment components set forth by the sponsoring academic department. Non-compliance occurs when any of the outlined CAP instructor expectations are not adhered to.

Workshops

The CAP staff will remind instructors of past workshop attendance and indicate when instructors might be in danger of non-compliance. The occasional absence due to other obligations is understandable; if the instructor attended the workshop the year before, CAP staff and the liaison will follow up with the instructor by phone or email. With prior approval from the faculty liaison and CAP staff, other events occasionally may substitute for the annual workshop (observing the course at USI, attending a conference in the discipline being taught for CAP, etc.).

In the event an instructor misses two consecutive annual professional development workshops and does not make arrangements to meet individually with the faculty liaison during this time, the following will result:

1. The CAP staff will contact the instructor and the liaison to coordinate a meeting and will follow up with the liaison to be certain the meeting has taken place. An individual meeting with the course liaison can substitute for the annual workshop, if all workshop content is reviewed. The typical workshop stipend may be paid for the meeting, if it occurs outside the instructor's regular school hours.
   
   
2. If the CAP instructor is unable to meet with the liaison, cancels the meeting, or is unwilling to find a time to meet, the CAP staff will advise the instructor that his/her course is in jeopardy of being cancelled, and CAP staff will again attempt to set up a time for the instructor to meet with the liaison.
   
   
3. If the instructor misses two consecutive annual professional workshops and DOES NOT meet with the USI faculty liaison prior to the start of the succeeding academic year, the instructor will be put on probation for a one year period.  During the probationary period, the CAP instructor MUST meet with the liaison and/or attend the next professional development opportunity. The high school principal and liaison will both be informed of the probationary period and consequences of non-compliance.
   
   
4. If, at the end of the probationary year, the instructor is still non-compliant, the CAP course is cancelled and the instructor is no longer considered a CAP instructor for that course. 

Workshop attendance is tracked, as required to maintain compliance with NACEP standards. For an instructor approved to offer CAP courses in more than one discipline, cancellation of one CAP course due to non-compliance does not automatically cancel other CAP courses.

Course Content

If the faculty liaison and academic department have concerns regarding a CAP instructor’s adherence to the USI course content and/or assessment components, instructional issues will be addressed on a case-by-case basis, with the goal of assisting the CAP instructor in addressing the concerns. Concerns raised by liaisons will be addressed in the following manner: 

1. The written documentation of the faculty liaison's concerns will be included in the observation form that is submitted to the CAP Office. The observation form will be sent to the department chair and the instructor as well. 
   
   
2. The CAP Office will coordinate a meeting between the instructor and the liaison to allow discussion of the concerns raised by the liaison. 
   
   
3. The faculty liaison will follow up with the instructor, either through another meeting or through a classroom observation, to determine if the concerns have been addressed. An instructor stipend will NOT be paid for these meetings.
   
   
4. If the concerns have not been resolved after the second meeting or classroom observation, the CAP Office and the academic department will place the instructor on a one-semester probationary period, and the faculty liaison will create an instructor improvement plan. Further meetings and classroom observations will follow as needed. The high school administration will be notified of the probationary status and the substance of the instructor improvement plan.
   
   
5. At the conclusion of the one-semester probationary period, if the faculty liaison determines that the instructor has addressed, or has made significant progress toward the improvement plan, probationary status will be rescinded. The faculty liaison will continue to work closely with the instructor through meetings, classroom observations and the annual discipline-specific workshop. 
   
   
6. If the faculty liaison determines that the instructor has not made progress toward addressing the concerns in the improvement plan, and the academic department determines that the course does not maintain University quality, USI credit will be withdrawn from the course for the subsequent academic year, and the instructor will lose his/her status as a CAP instructor in that discipline. The high school administration will be informed of the University's decision, and the CAP Office will work with the high school to identify another instructor, if possible.

If an instructor has been approved to offer CAP courses in more than one discipline, the faculty liaison for each area will assess adherence to course content and/or assessment components. Cancellation of one CAP course due to non-compliance does not automatically cancel other CAP courses. 

An instructor who can no longer offer a CAP course due to non-compliance may re-apply to be reinstated as a CAP instructor for the course, understanding he/she must go through the entire application and orientation process again.

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Benefits of Serving as a CAP Instructor

Instructor Stipends

Professional Development Stipends:

Stipends for attending CAP professional development are paid directly to the instructor. The stipend rate is $25/hour.

Enrollment Stipends:

Enrollment stipends are paid at the end of the term in which the course is taught. Stipends are based on the number of students who are enrolled in the USI course. The enrollment stipend for year-long CAP courses is paid in two installments, with one payment issued at the end of the fall semester and another at the conclusion of the spring semester. Drops following the official University census count will be factored into the count, if the enrollment count is close to a higher payment tier. Stipends are payable to the CAP instructor. If, due to extenuating circumstances, a student is added late to a year-long course, that enrollment will be merged into the fall counts. 

Enrollment Stipend Rates
1 - 30 CAP students enrolled                                         $100 per course
31 – 50 CAP students enrolled                                       $200 per course
51 - 70 CAP students enrolled                                        $300 per course
71 - 90 CAP students enrolled                                        $400 per course
91 - 110 CAP students enrolled                                      $500 per course
111- 130 CAP students enrolled                                     $600 per course
131 - 150 CAP students enrolled                                    $700 per course
151 - 170 CAP students enrolled                                    $800 per course
171 - 190 CAP students enrolled                                    $900 per course
191+ CAP students enrolled                                          $1,000 per course 

Core 39 Assessment Stipends:

Some CAP instructors teach courses that are part of the University of Southern Indiana’s (USI) general education curriculum (Core 39). Every three years Core 39 course instructors are asked to complete the formal Core 39 assessment process. This process can entail gaining approval for, administering, and scoring a key assignment on a provided rubric as well as uploading each student’s scores to the Tk20 system.

Core 39 instructors may receive a stipend for additional work associated with the University’s Core 39 assessment process, in the years in which the named course is undergoing assessment. Instructors who teach a course in both fall and spring only undergo formal Core 39 assessment once and therefore only qualify for one Core 39 stipend per year. 

An additional stipend is available to CAP instructors during the Core 39 assessment year; the Core 39 stipend is in addition to the enrollment stipend which is paid every year. The Core 39 stipend total is based upon the total number of students assessed and completion of the following tasks:

1. Administering and grading the key assignment using the Core 39 rubric, as well as electronically or physically providing the CAP Office with the graded student work for archival purposes.
2. Uploading student scores into the Tk20 system by the last day of May. Note: this is a separate process from entering final grades into myUSI. Students who dropped the course may appear in Tk20 as it is a static list. Students who dropped the course (no longer appear on your myUSI roster), do not need to have Tk20 assessments completed.

*Should a CAP instructor prefer, the CAP Office can upload students’ scores into Tk20, but the instructor would not receive the portion of the stipend affiliated with Tk20 data entry.

Total Number of CAP Students Enrolled for USI Credit	Stipend Rate for Core 39 Facilitation, Grading & Submission of Graded Student Work	Stipend for Tk20 Data Entry (Optional; Paid to Instructor Upon Completion of Data Entry in Tk20 System)	Total Possible Stipend for Core 39 Work (To be Paid to Instructor Upon Completion of Tasks in First Two Columns)
1 – 30 Students	$50	$50	$100
31 – 50 Students	$100	$100	$200
51 – 70 Students	$150	$150	$300
71 – 90 Students	$200	$200	$400
91 – 110 Students	$250	$250	$500
111 – 130 Students	$300	$300	$600
131 – 150 Students	$350	$350	$700
151 – 170 Students	$400	$400	$800
171 – 190 Students	$450	$450	$900
191+ Students	$500	$500	$1,000

David L. Rice Library 

USI's Rice Library is available to support CAP instructors and their students. You can schedule virtual or in-person library instruction (at USI or in your high school) by contacting Leah McAlister, Associate Director of Resource Management & User Experience: lmcalister@usi.edu or 812-461-5328. 

Visit the Rice Library CAP LibGuide homepage for access to your high school's customized LibGuide, which includes databases relevant to each discipline, including public-access resources for non-CAP students.

Eagle Access Cards

During a visit to the USI campus, CAP instructors can obtain an Eagle Access ID Card. 

Cardholders…

• receive a discount on season tickets for men's and women's basketball. Discounts are not available for individual basketball games. 
• receive free admission to all other home athletic events.
• can utilize USI’s Recreation Fitness and Wellness Center; visit USI.edu/rfw/
• have faculty check-out privileges at USI’s Rice Library; 
• receive discounts at area businesses; visit USI Employee Discounts

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CAP Travel Policies

Student Qualifications & Prerequisites

Students that are juniors or seniors enrolling in CAP should have a cumulative high school GPA of 2.5 (based on a 4.0 scale). Sophomores enrolling in CAP should have a minimum high school GPA of 3.0 along with permission from a counselor or instructor.

Also, students previously in CAP must have attained a USI grade of C or better to enroll in further coursework in the same subject area (i.e. English 101 and English 105) per state law (see 21-43-4-15).

Some courses have additional criteria as listed on the CAP prerequisites page.

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Policy on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Students with disabilities who meet the eligibility standards (usi.edu/cap/prereqs/) are invited and encouraged to enroll in CAP. Each high school retains the responsibility for providing and coordinating any accommodations or services as described in the student’s current IEP, 504 Plan, or similar educational plan. The CAP Office only needs to be informed about accommodations related to placement testing or if there is an accommodation which would fundamentally alter the content of the University course, as these may not be provided by USI. Students in fully online or hybrid courses should be aware that, due to the nature of online courses, some accommodations approved for traditional USI classroom courses may not apply. Please discuss this with your CAP instructor to clarify as needed. To learn more about the differences between high school and college for students receiving disability-related academic accommodations, please take a moment to review the U.S. Department of Education’s publication “Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities” at: ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transition.html

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Student Costs

Effective Summer 2023, CAP courses are offered at no cost to students. Any tuition, fees, and other associated costs incurred in prior semesters must be paid. 

A complete list of USI CAP courses and links to full course descriptions is available. Visit Participating High Schools to see which courses are offered in each school. 

USI is not responsible for purchasing required textbooks and materials. 

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Student Enrollment Timeline 

Note: Particulars of this process vary from school to school. Approved CAP instructors and counselors should work together to develop a smooth internal process. One suggestion for schools with three or more CAP courses is to designate a representative as CAP Building Coordinator. The building coordinator is responsible for organizing the enrollment process among the school’s various instructors and receives a modest stipend each semester.

The 2024-25 building coordinators are: Elizabeth Rohl (Boonville HS), Sarah Elaman (Castle HS), Ali Henson (Central HS), Holly Simms (Evansville Christian HS), Kari Stein (F.J. Reitz), Mark Rohrer (Gibson Southern), Karen Santana (Harrison HS/Shepard Academy), Todd Wilkerson (Heritage Hills HS), Shea Reneer (Mater Dei HS), Tina McCloud (Mt. Vernon HS), Ann Gomoll (New Tech), Maren Smith (North HS), Michele Parrish (North Posey HS), Deena Gibson (Princeton Community HS), Dorrinda Cullum (Reitz Memorial HS), Jan Aylsworth (SICTC), Coriann Arts (Southridge), and Annie Alcorn (Tecumseh HS). 

Building Coordinators are provided a stipend for their assistance with enrollment based upon the number of unduplicated students each enrollment semester.

Number of Unduplicated CAP Students Per Semester	Stipend
0-24 Students	$0
25-100 Students	$100
101-200 Students	$200
201-300 Students	$300
301-400 Students	$400
401-500 Students	$500
501+ Students	$600

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Student Enrollment Process 

Students should commit to a year-long CAP course during fall registration. High school courses that meet only in the spring will have a spring registration.

1. The instructor distributes the paper Student Permission Form several weeks prior to the online application and registration deadline. Students submit the online course request, complete the online application (if new to CAP) and submit the signed Student Permission Form by the deadline. Students must complete the process each semester if enrolling in a new course. 
   
   
2. The Student Permission Form contains language allowing the high school to release a student transcript to USI. This language is in the area parents and students read and sign. The instructor and/or counselor should verify that the student’s GPA meets or exceeds the CAP minimum requirement of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale and that the student meets or exceeds the course prerequisites, if applicable. Transcripts may be required if course prerequisites include standardized test scores (ACT, SAT).
3. As Student Permission Forms are collected, the building coordinator or CAP instructor should alphabetize forms and double check that all signatures are in place. 
   
4. Student Permission Forms and transcripts (if applicable) should be emailed to cap@usi.edu. Forms should not be sent via postal mail. 
   
5. Effective Summer 2023, no bills will be mailed and no tuition will be charged. Questions about past CAP bills should be directed to the USI Bursar’s Office (812-464-1868).
6. Each CAP instructor will be asked to regularly review the official USI course roster for accuracy. 
7. Official CAP course rosters are available to a designated contact (typically a counselor).
8. About four weeks after the enrollment deadline, each CAP instructor will receive a packet of enrollment verification letters to distribute to enrolled students. In addition, paper acceptance letters are mailed home. The enrollment verification and acceptance letters contain more information about CAP and directions for accessing myUSI for official course registration, transcript requests, and grades, as well as Rice Library's online databases. Be sure students realize how important this information is, and encourage them to save these letters for future use.

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Responsibilities and Benefits of Being a CAP Student

Student Conduct

While students are enrolled in USI’s College Achievement Program, they are expected to abide by the academic rules of behavior befitting a university student. CAP requests that CAP students read the policies regarding student behavior and academic dishonesty, available in Student Rights and Responsibilities: A Code of Student Behavior. Of particular note are the definitions for cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, and interference with another student’s work and the penalties related to these activities. 

Academic integrity is the hallmark of truth and honesty in an engaged university community.  Students have the right and responsibility to pursue their educational goals with academic integrity.  All members of the University are accountable for their actions in maintaining high standards of academic integrity.  Students are responsible for completing academic requirements without action and/or material that violate academic integrity.  Please view the Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures. 

Benefits

CAP students have access to myUSI, the University's student portal. Students are able to request transcripts, view grades, and print unofficial transcripts. CAP students also receive a USI email account they can choose to utilize. Detailed screenshots of the myUSI account activation process are available.

CAP students have the privilege of checking out materials from the Rice Library on USI’s campus. The student can obtain a CAP library card at the library front desk by showing a state-issued photo ID (driver’s license or ID card). The library card may be used to check out materials during the semester(s) in which the student is enrolled in the CAP course. CAP students can accrue library fines if books are overdue; library fines will prevent students from registration in further CAP or USI courses and also will prevent access to transcripts. Because CAP students do not pay the same on-campus activity fees, they are not able to use the Recreation and Fitness Center.  

Students also have access to success series workshops from USI’s Academic Skills’ Office as well as either virtual or in-person tutoring in the course they are taking through CAP (if tutoring is available for that course). Call Academic Skills (812-464-1743) to schedule a tutoring session; view the tutoring schedule on Academic Skills’ website (USI.edu/university-division/academic-skills/tutoring).

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Early Graduation Policy

A student who will complete high school one semester early may choose to enroll in a fall-only CAP course, if all other qualifications are met. However, if the CAP course is year-long, the student will not be permitted to enroll for USI credit.

Withdrawals

Once enrolled, CAP students must abide by the dates in the CAP Withdrawal Calendar. Enrolling in a college course is an academic commitment. 

If a CAP student is considering withdrawal from the high school course, responsibility is shared by the instructor and counselor to be certain the student understands that withdrawal from the high school course does not automatically qualify for withdrawal from the USI course.

The student must complete the CAP Course Drop Request Form by the last day of classes preceding final exam week. The student will receive a final grade of ‘W’ on the USI transcript, if withdrawing during the Withdrawal Without Evaluation period. A counselor or instructor also can make the drop request, but ultimately the student must sign the form Drop Form that will be sent via email with appropriate school officials copied.

A withdrawal that occurs during the Drop With Evaluation period means a student passing the course at the time of withdrawal may still earn a ‘W’. If the student was failing at the time of the withdrawal, the instructor may assign a letter grade of ‘F’.

Students Leave Classroom without Completing Withdrawal Paperwork

Students who depart from the high school section of the CAP course by the Friday before their high school's finals week did not complete the course content and cannot be assigned a letter grade. It is the instructor's responsibility to notify the CAP Office about students who are no longer in their classroom but are officially enrolled prior to grade entry. Students who leave the classroom but are still officially enrolled are not to be assigned a failing grade in the course. 

No Withdrawals Permitted

Starting with the first day of the high school’s final exam week – exact dates vary by district and school -  students may no longer complete paperwork to withdraw from a USI course. Students will be held responsible for all academic obligations.

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Withdrawal during the Online Drop or “Grace Period”

If a CAP-enrolled student departs from the high school section of the CAP course on or prior to the 4th Friday of USI's semester, it is considered part of the online drop or "grace period."

• A request to be removed from the course can come via email from the student, counselor, or instructor but will be verified with the student and instructor.
• No additional paperwork is required; the course will be struck from the CAP application by USI staff, and the written request will be electronically filed for future reference.
• The course will not appear on the USI transcript.
• The student’s academic obligation is excused.
• View the current year's Withdrawal Calendars, organized by school calendar type. 

Withdrawal without Evaluation

If a CAP-enrolled student departs from the high school section of the CAP course after the 4th Friday of USI's semester but on or by the Without Evaluation deadline:

• A request for a withdrawal can come from the student, counselor, or instructor but will be verified with the student and instructor.
• A withdrawal form will be generated by the CAP Office and sent to the student, with the counselor and instructor copied.
• Withdrawal paperwork must be completed and submitted to USI by the last day of classes preceding the high school’s final exam week (in December for fall courses; in May for year-long or spring courses).
• Once paperwork has been returned to USI and processed, the course will appear on the USI transcript with a grade of ‘W’ (or Withdrawal).
• View the current year's Withdrawal Calendars, organized by school calendar type.  

Withdrawal with Evaluation

If a CAP-enrolled student departs from the high school section of the CAP course after the Without Evaluation period but before the last day of classes preceding the high school’s final exam week (in December for fall courses; in May or June for year-long or spring courses, depending on high school calendar):

• A request for a withdrawal can come from the student, counselor, or instructor but will be verified with the student and instructor.
• A withdrawal form will be generated by the CAP Office and sent to the student, with the counselor and instructor copied.
• Withdrawal paperwork must be completed and submitted to USI by the last day of classes preceding the high school’s final exam week (in December for fall courses; in May or June for year-long or spring courses, depending on high school calendar).
• Once paperwork has been returned to USI and processed, the course will appear on the USI transcript with a grade of ‘W’ or (Withdrawal), if passing the course at the time of withdrawal. If failing at the time of withdrawal, the student may receive an ‘F’, at the discretion of the CAP instructor. This option is referred to as "Withdrawal with Evaluation."

Medical Withdrawal
Extreme circumstances may warrant a medical withdrawal, which is further outlined here. Medical withdrawal documentation includes a physician letter explaining the impact of the illness on the student's ability to complete the CAP coursework as well as other forms. The evidence is then evaluated by a University committee to deem if the situation warrants a medical withdrawal. Students granted a medical withdrawal will be required to obtain a release from a healthcare provider to register for future coursework. A student who might qualify for a medical withdrawal should contact the CAP Office at 812-228-5022.  

No Withdrawals Permitted

Starting with the first day of the high school’s final exam week – December for fall courses and May or June for spring or year-long courses (exact dates vary by district and school), students may no longer complete paperwork to withdraw from a USI course. Students will be held responsible for all academic obligations.

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Applying for Admission to USI

Students who plan to formally apply for admittance to the University should be certain to complete a regular USI Application for Undergraduate Admission. Everything a student needs to know can be found here!

Transferability & Requesting Transcripts

If a student attends USI, no verification of transfer is necessary. However, even while in high school, the student should contact a USI advisor to help plan CAP courses into a future degree. The student should also educate him/herself about USI's Core 39 general education curriculum and particular degree requirements in the anticipated major. The same CAP course could fill a major requirement for one student and an elective for another student, based on majors. Grades earned for CAP courses will become part of the student’s GPA and transcript at USI, unless the student chooses to retake the course. The initial course remains on the USI transcript, but the repeated course grade is calculated into the GPA, even if the grade earned was lower than when the initial course was taken.

Recognition of credit attained at another university is always the choice of the receiving institution. Refunds will not be issued if USI credits are not accepted. It is the student’s responsibility to determine transferability of USI credits before enrolling in CAP courses.

In most cases, USI credits transfer to other colleges for comparable courses or as elective hours. Students should contact the Registrar’s Office of the college they plan to attend to ensure transferability. Reading the USI course description or emailing the description to the credit transfer analyst will usually provide enough information for the college to determine transferability. (All descriptions are linked from the CAP web site.) Students may also wish to ask the receiving institution how transferred course grades come into the institution. Some institutions accept credit with the grade and some accept only the credits without factoring the grade into a student’s GPA.  It is wise for students to retain portfolios of their CAP coursework and copies of course syllabi to take when they meet with their college advisors, before enrolling in their first year of college.

Students pursuing certain pre-planned, specialized programs (such as physical therapy, nursing, or engineering) will want to research degree requirements and determine if the program requires the USI course or allows for elective hours.

The Indiana Core Transfer Library (CTL) is a guarantee of transfer, for specific courses among Indiana’s public and some independent institutions, as long as the course is completed with a grade of C or higher. The CTL is available at the Transfer Indiana web site (transferin.net/earned-credits/core-transfer-library/). If the USI course is part of the CTL, students should check the web site to determine if comparable courses are offered at the institutions they plan to attend. How the particular course applies to each degree program remains the prerogative of the receiving institution.

Following is a suggested script for students who wish to call another university to check on transferability: “I’m considering taking a three credit hour history class offered by the University of Southern Indiana. Before I enroll, I want to be sure the credits will transfer to your institution. I can read you a course description....” Remind students to request written verification (email or letter) of the credit transfer, if a university employee states that the institution will accept USI credits.

Requesting Transcripts

The student’s CAP courses and grades will appear on his/her USI transcript as courses are completed. A student who enrolls at USI as a degree-seeking student does not need to request a USI transcript but should mention having earned USI credit to his/her advisor, to be assured of proper placement in subsequent courses. A student who enrolls in another university should request an official USI transcript after high school graduation by visiting the Registrar’s transcript request link: USI.edu/registrar/transcripts. This transcript must be sent directly from USI to his/her college or university to be considered an official record. Due to the method in which USI processes spring grades, transcripts are not able to be sent until mid-June; students should keep this in mind when scheduling advising visits and should print an unofficial transcript from myUSI as proof of completion of a college course.  

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Core 39

As part of a bachelor's degree, students at USI must fulfill Core 39 requirements, which is USI's general education curriculum. Learn more at USI.edu/core39

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FERPA Regulations

When in doubt, DO NOT release information to others; consult the Office of the Registrar at 812-464-1762. For additional Do’s and Don’ts visit USI.edu/registrar/academic-records/privacy. 

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Procedures for CAP World Language Courses

Students that earn a final grade of an A or B in a world language 203 course are eligible to request and pay for a departmental challenge exam that could earn them credits in 101 and 102 to help satisfy a degree requirement. A student who needs those hours would then complete the World Languages & Cultures Departmental Challenge Exam form and pay $50 per credit hour (or $150 per course), via the Prior Learning Assessment payment portal. It is recommended that students wait to make this decision until they meet with a USI advisor. The opportunity to request this additional credit does not expire. Students who are not attending USI should not request and pay for the departmental challenge exam and should speak to an advisor at the university they plan on attending.

World Language Procedures:

1. Student enrolls in a world language 203 course.
2. If the final grade in 203 is an A or B, the student is eligible to request and pay for a departmental challenge exam AFTER they decide to attend USI and speak with an advisor.
3. The student can enroll in a world language 204 course. 
   1. If the final grade in 203 is a C or lower, the student will need to meet with their instructor to decide if moving to 204 is appropriate. If so, the student may enroll in 204 when it is next offered at their school.
4. If the student earns a D or better in 204, they earn 3 credit hours for each completed world language course. (For example, completing a 203 and 204 course earns the student a total of 6 world language credit hours).

Ultimately, the student has earned 6 credit hours that apply toward the major or minor or that are guaranteed to transfer to institutions who are a part of the Indiana Core Transfer Library, if the coursework was completed with a letter grade of C or higher.

The full policy can be found here.

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High School Agreement Program

For students who wish to take courses on USI’s campus, visit USI Undergraduate Admissions for more information and an application. Students should be prepared to pay full USI undergraduate tuition plus the cost of books and additional fees. No tuition waivers are given for students on free/reduced lunch or 21^st Century Scholars program.   

Questions & Troubleshooting

All correspondence regarding CAP should be addressed to the CAP Office, USI Outreach & Engagement, 8600 University Blvd, Evansville, IN 47712. If you require any additional forms or have a question concerning CAP, call 812-228-5022 or use the email link on the side of the page.