Transferring from a community college to a university like Western Governors University (WGU) is a significant step for many students. A crucial part of this process is understanding transcripts and how they play a vital role in your admission and credit transfer. For students exploring Wgu Transfer Partners From Community College, knowing the different types of transcripts WGU recognizes and requires is essential. WGU offers distinct transcript options, each serving a specific purpose in the evaluation of your prior learning and academic history.
WGU provides two main types of transcripts: the Academic Transcript and the Record of Achievement Transcript (ROAT). It’s important to understand the differences between these to ensure you are providing the correct documentation during your transfer application process.
Academic Transcript: A Comprehensive View
The Academic Transcript is designed to be a complete record of your academic journey at WGU. It includes all courses you’ve registered for, regardless of whether you passed or not. This transcript details the competency units you’ve earned, any certifications or credentials obtained, honors and awards received, and degrees conferred. Notably, the Academic Transcript is the standard, traditional official transcript typically requested by other institutions of higher education. If you plan to further your education beyond WGU in the future, this is the transcript type that will likely be requested. It provides a full, transparent view of your academic engagement and progress at WGU.
Record of Achievement Transcript (ROAT): Highlighting Your Successes
In contrast, the Record of Achievement Transcript (ROAT) focuses specifically on your accomplishments. It presents a comprehensive statement of verified learning, but only includes completed coursework, certifications/credentials earned, honors/awards, and degrees conferred. The key difference from the Academic Transcript is that the ROAT omits any terms or courses where you did not achieve a passing grade. This type of transcript can be particularly useful for employers, licensing bodies, or other parties who are primarily interested in your demonstrated competencies and achievements. For community college transfer students, while WGU might primarily need the Academic Transcript for transfer credit evaluation, understanding the ROAT can be beneficial for showcasing your successful learning outcomes to future stakeholders.
Key Differences for Transfer Students to Consider
When transferring to WGU from a community college, you will likely be required to submit transcripts from your previous institutions. While the original article focuses on transcripts from WGU, understanding the types of transcripts WGU offers gives you insight into how WGU views and presents academic records. The core distinction between the Academic Transcript and the ROAT lies in their inclusiveness. The Academic Transcript is comprehensive, showing all attempted coursework, while the ROAT is selective, highlighting only achievements.
It’s also important to note how GPA is presented on each transcript type, although WGU itself doesn’t calculate a traditional GPA. The Academic Transcript explicitly states, “Western Governors University and its state affiliates do not calculate a grade point average (GPA) or class rank.” Conversely, the Record of Achievement Transcript includes a statement in the header indicating, “GPA: This student completed each of the listed courses with a GPA between 3.0 and 4.0 on a 4.0-scale.” This difference in GPA representation reflects the different purposes of each transcript.
For students transferring from community colleges and exploring wgu transfer partners from community college, understanding transcripts is a foundational step. While this article explains WGU’s transcript types for students completing programs at WGU, the underlying principles of academic record-keeping and the importance of official documentation are universally applicable to the transfer process. Ensure you understand what types of transcripts WGU requires from your community college to facilitate a smooth and efficient transfer of your credits and academic history.
