1. Updated:3/28/16 JessicaWard
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STEP 1: Initial Transcript Review 2016
PROCESS OVERVIEW
Purpose: The intentof initial transcriptreview istodetermine the coursesthatare applicable toan
Associate Degree atSierraCollege,determine the total numberof transferable unitsandGPA,andto
annotate the transcriptso thisinformationiseasilyunderstoodbycounselors,evaluators,andother
instructional assistants.
Programs Used:
 OnBase
 TES / CollegeSource
Havinga calculatorand scratch paper can make thisprocesseasier.
TRANSCRIPT REVIEW and ANNOTATING
1. Bringup the transcript in OnBase.
2. Accreditation
Reviewthe backof the transcriptand/or TES to determine the school’s accreditation.We ONLY
accept creditfrom REGIONALLYACCREDITED institutions,whichinclude:
 WesternAssociationof Colleges&Schools(WASC)
 SouthernAssociationof College&Schools(SASC)
 Middle StatesAssociationof Colleges&Schools
 NorthwestAccreditationCommission
 HigherLearningCommission –NorthCentral Associationof Colleges&Schools
 NewEnglandAssociationof Schools&Colleges
3. Course NumberingSystem
Reviewthe backof the transcriptand/or TES to findthe school’s course numberingsystem.Use
thissystemtodetermine whichcoursesare applicable tothe Associate Degree,CSU,andUC.
4. Unit Type – Semester/Quarter
While still lookingatthe backof the transcriptand/or TES, figure outwhetherthe school isona
quarteror semestersystem. some schoolsflipflopbetweenthe two,sobe sure tocheck
date rangesif necessary.

2. Updated:3/28/16 JessicaWard
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STEP 1: Initial Transcript Review 2016
5. AnnotationsinOnBase
Use the appropriate note type inOnBase toindicate whichcoursesare excluded,withdraws,
non-degree applicable,andupperdivision.Thesecourseswill notbe appliedtothe student’s
Sierrarecord,and theywill notbe usedintotal unitcounts or GPA calculations.
AnnotationsList:
 YellowHighlight: coursesnotapplicabletothe Associate Degree (usuallyremedialor
vocational courses).Includedinthiscategoryare coursessuchas arithmeticand pre-
algebra.
 RedHiglightorRed Arrow:coursesthat have beenrepeated,academicrenewals,
withdraws, APscores,transferredunits, NC/NPgrades, andupperdivisioncourses.
:counselors preferthatwe use the redhighlightasopposedtothe arrow.
 Blue Highlight:F,WU,and Incomplete grades
 RedElipse:use tocircle coursesthat are still inprogress.
 Redor GreenText Boxes: use thisfeature towrite textdirectlyonthe transcript.
Example:“NotRegionallyAccredited.”These notescanbe seenassoonas the transcript
isopened,andtheycome inhandywhenyouhave importantinformationthatyouwant
make sure no one else misses.
6. Unit Totalsand GPA Calculation
Make sure that the coursesyou highlightedinyellowand red are not included inthe final unit
and grade pointtotals to determine the following:
 AttemptedUnits
All unitsattempted excludinglinedoutcourses.AttemptedunittotalsincludeCR/P
grades,buttheyare NOT usedinGPA calculations.
 Passedor Earned Units
Unitsin whicha grade of A,B, C, D, CR, and P wasearned.
 GPAUnits
Unitsin whicha grade of A,B, C, D, and F was earned.These unitsdonotinclude any
CR, NC,P, NPunits.

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STEP 1: Initial Transcript Review 2016
 Quality or Grade Points
Grade Points
A 4
B 3
C 2
D 1
F 0
P/CR 0
 GPA=
𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑠
𝑔𝑝𝑎 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠
Units Grade →
Attempted
Units
Passed/Earned
Units
Graded
Units
Quality
Pt
3 B → 3 3 3 9
3 F → 3 0 3 0
3 CR or P → 3 3 0 0
3
NC or
NP  3 0 0 0
List these totalsonthe transcriptinOnBase by selectingthe “EvaluatedSemesterUnits”and/or
“EvaluatedQuarterUnits”from the note options.
If the school is onthe quartersystem, convertyourtotal unitsandgrade pointstosemesterby
multiplyingthemby
2
3
(or0.667). YourGPA will still remain the same.
12 quarterunitsx
2
3
= 8 semesterunits
Whendeterminingastudent’scumulative GPA andmanyschoolsare involved,divide the total number
of qualitypointsbythe total numberof gradedunits:
Attempted Units Passed/Earned Units Graded Units Quality Pt GPA
Sierra 12 6 6 9 9/6 = 1.5
ARC 10 10 10 40 40/10 = 4.0
CUM. TOTALS 22 16 16 49 49/16 = 3.06