Foreign Academic Credential Evaluation

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• Foreign Academic Credential Evaluation
• August 2004
• Prepared by Anara Jamasheva
• Bishkek-IREX EIC

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Foreign Academic Credential Evaluation

• Information Needed to Evaluate Credentials
• Admissions Requirements for International
  Students
• How U.S. Admission Officers Use and Evaluate
  Credentials from around the World
• U.S. Foreign Credential Evaluation Agencies

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Information Needed to Evaluate Credentials

• Information about your institution
• The applicant
• Credentials

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Foreign Academic Credential Evaluation
The Application Form Some suggestions of items
needed on your application that will assist in
the evaluation process
1. Name 2. Other names 3. Phone, Fax and
E-mail Address 4. Birth date 5. Country of
Citizenship 6. Country of birth 7. Native
Language 8. Term Entry 9. Level of Intended
Education 10. Major Area of Study 11. Next of
Kin Information (Name, Address, Phone and
Email) 12. Name of Diploma (Certificate) or
Degrees 13. Month and Year of Graduation 14.
Institutions Attended listed in Order 15.
Location of Institutions 16. Dates of
Attendance for Each Institution 17. Signature of
Applicant
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Documentation

• Documents are legitimate and readable
• Verification of official records are vary by
  country

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Recognizing Legitimate Documents

• documentation is legitimate
• university should be credible
• networking with colleagues

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Translations

• The content of translations is important than
  the source
• Always use the original document in performing
  your evaluation

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Admissions requirements for international students

• Institutional application form
• Certified copies of original educational
  documents
• Certificate translations of these documents if
  not originally in English
• Evidence of English language proficiency
• Scores of any required academic entrance
  examinations
• Financial information, with applications for
  financial aid if requested
• Letters of recommendation from teachers, and
• Non-refundable application fee

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Admissions requirements for international students
Educational documents
As requested, send

• certified copies of the originals of diplomas,
  degrees or professional titles, or
• copies of full records of your performance in
  the comprehensive examinations
• administered in your home country
• verified copy of diploma and translation
• verified copy of transcript and translation
• If you have not yet received your diploma, you
  cannot send a copy of it.
• If you have not yet graduated, the transcript
  should include all classes taken and grades
  received so far.
• If you are applying to an undergraduate program
  as a first year student, you should prepare a
  transcript of all of your last classes.
• If you have not yet graduated, the transcript
  should include all classes and grades so far.
• If you are applying to an undergraduate program
  as a transfer student, you should include a
  copy and translation of the high school diploma
• You will also need to prepare a university
  transcript of courses taken and grades received
  so far.

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Admissions requirements for international students
Educational Background

• Do not send original documents unless there is
  no alternative
• Copies should be certified with an official seal
  from the school or university or certified by a
  public official authorized to certify documents.

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Admissions requirements for international students

• Always use the same spelling of your name, from
  the first inquiry through the entire
  application process.
• Keep everything neat
• Keep copies for your records of all documents
  and application forms submitted. Keep a record
  of when materials were mailed and where.
• Attach a note to each document which bears a
  different name of different spelling, giving the
  same first, second and family name you used on
  your application form.
• Along with other documents Preliminary
  application should include past and present
  education, in chronological order, including
  secondary schools, technical programs, colleges
  and universities attended, with examination
• results, grades and rank in class, if known.

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Admissions requirements for international students
Recommendations

• Translate directly to English items about your
  educational background and degrees which do not
  have US or European equivalents. For example,
  "Attestat," "Diplom" and "Candidate of Sciences."
• Diploma. Make a copy of the original Diploma and
  have it stamped and signed by rector of the
  university. Include an English translation
  verified by Notaries, an official translating
  agency, or the department of foreign languages at
  your university.
• If applying to an undergraduate program, include
  a copy of your high school diploma instead
• Transcript. If your institutions do not issue
  official transcripts, you will need to prepare a
  substitute. Make a copy of the addendum to
  diploma and follow the same procedure as for the
  diploma.
• Have the original version signed and stamped by
  the University. Include a translation of the
  "addendum." The English version must be stamped
  and signed by someone who is allowed to verify
  documents officially.

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Admissions requirements for international students
Recommendations
Your grades should be translated as follows
Excellent - 5 Good - 4 Satisfactory - 3 Bad -
2 not passed
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Admissions requirements for international students
Recommendations

• Class ranking
• GPA /Grade Point Average
• English language study
• When describing your knowledge of English and
  other foreign languages evaluate your ability
  honestly
• If you are applying to an undergraduate program
  as a first year student, you should prepare, a
  transcript of all of your classes of the last
  years
• If you have not yet graduated, the transcript
  should include all classes and grades so far
• If you are applying to an undergraduate program
  as a transfer student, you should include a copy
  and translation of the high school diploma
  following the steps outlined above

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How US admissions officers use and evaluate
credentials from around the world
The evaluation of a foreign credential usually
entails several steps, such as

• gathering information on a country's educational
  system,
• gathering information on a particular
  credential,
• determining where the credential falls on the US
  credential benchmark spectrum,
• determining if the student is admissible given
  institutional policies,
• and determining placement and transfer credit,
  if any is warranted.

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How US admissions officers use and evaluate
credentials from around the world
The main criterias are

• the length of the program and the content. Are
  both
• of these similar to the U.S. degree?
• the entry requirements to the credential similar
• this credential should require 12 years of
  general
• primary/secondary education

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How US admissions officers use and evaluate
credentials from around the world
Methods of evaluating foreign credentials

• Credentials evaluators must be experienced in
  knowing what official academic records should
  look like from the various countries
• They need to compare the dates of credentials and
  make sure they make sense, verify names, verify
  the existence and recognition of the issuing
  university or college, and verify that the
  student attended the university

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Fraudulent credentials

• Unfortunately, it is impossible to eliminate
  every opportunity for fraud or misinformation.
• Have a comprehensive application with clear
  instructions that must be followed by the
  prospective student
• Instruct the applicant that the application is
  to be completed fully and accurately, and if not,
  the application will be rejected
• The application should be completed by the
  student only and not by an agent or sponsorto
  allow this opens the opportunity for
  misinformation
• Many institutions consider the application for
  admission a legal document. In these cases
  knowingly providing false information is against
  the law

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Fraudulent credentials

• Applicants for admission should be required to
  complete an educational history or comprehensive
  listing of all institutions attended, beginning
  with primary education through the present
• The names of all diplomas or degrees awarded
  should be listed in English and the native
  language with dates of the award
• Your application should clearly state that
  institutions attended and credentials received
  that are not listed, will not be considered for
  academic transfer credit at a later date

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Fraudulent credentials

• The educational history should be reviewed in
  conjunction with the student's academic
  credentials
• Additionally, foreign applicants should provide
  a brief statement of purpose (written in their
  own hand) that describes why they want to attend
  your institution. The statement of purpose can be
  used to verify their English-language skills
  against their TOEFL scores and, if necessary, to
  compare handwriting.

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Fraudulent credentials
Steps in Guarding Against Fraud

• Accept Only Official Documents
• Develop a Document Checklist
• 3. Knowledge and Experience

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Fraudulent credentials
What To Do When You Suspect Fraudulent
Credentials

• Ask direct yet simple questions
• Use basic English when writing to a country
  where English is not a commonly spoken language
• Address your letter to a specific individualat
  most institutions this is the Academic Registrar
  or Academic Secretary
• Unmarked photocopies of the document(s) in
  question should be sent for verification to the
  appropriate authority
• Include a reference number or other identifier
  known only to your office and file the documents
  using this system
• Consider writing the letter in the native
  language if you have the capability

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How admissions officers use and evaluate
credentials from around the world
What they do if they suspect fraud

• Contact the issuing university or school and see
  if the academic record is legitimate
• Verify test scores with the testing agency
• If fraud is confirmed, the student's application
  will be cancel

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Resources for International Admissions
Developing a Resource Library

• NAFSAs International Admissions Bibliography
• NAFSAs Admission Section (ADSEC) and its
  Overseas Advisers Group (OSEAS) joint project
• AACRAOs International Academic Credentials
  Handbook
• The Guide A Resource for international
  Admissions Professionals
• Foreign Educational Credentials Required for
  Consideration of Admission to Universities and
  Colleges in the United States (fourth edition)
• A Guide to Educational Systems Around the World

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Resources for International Admissions
International Handbook of Universities
Includes information available on the higher
education systems of some 184 countries and
territories worldwide and contains almost 9200
university level institutions from countries.
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Resources for International Admissions
World Higher Education Database 2003/4 CD-Rom
Provides exhaustive coverage of more than 16,000
higher education institutions worldwide, as well
as descriptions and definitions of some 2,000
degrees and diplomas, is the most comprehensive
reference tool available in the field of higher
education worldwide.
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Resources for International Admissions
World List of Universities and Other Institutions
of Higher Education
It is a concise directory including some 15,000
universities and other institutions specifically
offering terminal degrees after three to four
years of higher education. Details are also
provided on all major national academic bodies
directly concerned with higher education as well
as on agencies dealing with recognition of
degrees.
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Resources for International Admissions
Assistance is available through networks of people

• NAFSAs ADSEC
• Educational advisers
• The Inter-l listserv
• The Internet

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Typical reasons for which a foreign credential
evaluation is required

• H1-B (and other work-related) Visas
• College/university admission
• Professional licensing

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Foreign Credential Evaluation Agencies

• There is no governmental authority that approves
  or
• Certifies foreign educational credential
  evaluation
• agencies in the United States.
• Education credential evaluation services exist to
  provide objective reports to help applicants
  determine the US equivalent of their foreign
  education credentials
• Evaluations may be required by US employers, but
  are rarely required by US educational
  institutions
• Credential evaluators charge for their services

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Foreign Credential Evaluation Agencies

• There currently is no single, comprehensive
  source of all foreign credential evaluation
  service providers.
• Credential Evaluation Services
• AACRAO Foreign Credential Evaluation Service -
  The American Association of Collegiate Registrars
  and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) is the national
  professional organization for admissions and
  credential evaluation
• National Council for the Recognition of Foreign
  Academic Credentials in the U.S. is the U.S.
  national body responsible for developing and
  publishing comparability statements in
  determining how international qualifications
  correspond to U.S. certificates, diplomas, and
  degrees at various educational levels

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Foreign Credential Evaluation Agencies

• U.S. Institutions and Programs provides
  directories of U.S. schools, colleges,
  universities, and other accredited educational
  providers who are the competent authorities for
  recognition and placement decisions having to do
  with admission to study in the United States
• National Association of Credential Evaluation
  Services (NACES) http//www.naces.org is the
  principal national professional association
  representing private credential evaluation
  services
• Center for Applied Research Evaluation
  Education, Inc. Member of NACES

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Foreign Credential Evaluation Agencies

• Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE) -
  ECE provides a variety of credential evaluation
  services and publishes a series of guides to the
  educational systems of other countries.
• The Foreign Academic Credentials Service, Inc.
• Foreign Credentials Service of America
• Global Credential Evaluators, Inc. (GCE)
• International Education Research Foundation Inc.,
  Credentials Evaluation Service (IERF-CES)

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Foreign Credential Evaluation Agencies

• Josef Silny Associates, International Education
  Consultants
• Spantran Educational Services, Inc. - Spantran
  provides credential evaluation and translation
  services
• World Education Services (WES) - The WES
  evaluation is a document that converts
  educational credentials from any country in the
  world into their U.S. equivalents by describing
  each certificate, diploma or degree you have
  earned and stating its academic equivalency in
  the United States
• Association of International Credential
  Evaluators, Inc. (AICE) http//www.aice-eval.org
  is a California-based organization of credential
  evaluating services and consultants.

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The Application Process

• A completed and signed application
• Photocopies of your official documents
  (transcripts, degrees, certificates, etc.) in the
  original language
• Official English translations of all documents
• You may sometimes be required to submit your
  original documents, so be prepared.
• A personal check, cashier's check, or money order
  (the amount will vary depending upon which
  evaluation service you choose, what type of
  report you need, etc.)

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Resources

• The AACRAO International Guide A Resource for
  International Education Professionals
• NAFSAs Guide to International Student
  Recruitment
• NAFSA Foreign Education Credentials Analysis