Excess Credits Study - York University

Authors
York University
R. Sidhu
S. Lin
Y. Munro
R. Smith
J. Parna
E. De Oca Sarasua
Reference Number
2014-32
Date
Status
Abstract
The present investigation is the first large scale study within a single Ontario institution to examine whether the phenomenon of excess credits exists amongst transfer and non-transfer students. The study examines: the magnitude of excess credits, factors associated with excess credits, the degree types and programs in which they occur and what, if anything, should be done to mitigate their occurrence. The accumulation of excess credits could be seen to be symptomatic of problems that may depend on the structure of the receiving program or the transfer process itself. Using York University as a case study, the present investigation revealed that the magnitude of excess credits was extremely small and localized to a small number of programs/degrees. That being said, continual monitoring of programs and degree structures is warranted so that decision makers can take action to mitigate the existence of excess credits.