PSU Challenge Program :: Students & Parents

Welcome to Challenge, a 30-year old concurrent enrollment program between Portland State University and Portland-area high schools. If your high school offers Challenge courses, then that means PSU has identified instructors at your school with advanced degrees in their subject area, and has approved them for adjunct faculty status. These teachers partner with our faculty, to teach the same course at your high school that is offered on campus, for a fraction of the cost.

Enrolling for a Challenge course is enrolling as a part-time PSU student, and entitles you to the same benefits. Upon successful completion of your course, you will be awarded 4 college credits, your grade becomes part of your permanent college record, verified by an official PSU transcript.

Challenge is unique in that it is truly a partnership between your high school and the university, between your instructor and our faculty members, and between you and our on-campus students. Our compliments for taking the PSU Challenge.

 

Frequently Asked Questions for Students & Parents

Below is a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions about the Challenge Program. If you don't find an answer to your specific question, please contact us.

 

FAQ for Prospective Students

What distinguishes Challenge from AP or IB?
Challenge offers benefits that set it apart from the College Board’s Advanced Placement and the International Baccalaureate programs. Consider the following:

• Students are actually taking the college course but have the convenience of doing so at their high school. They follow the syllabus and use the same texts as students on campus.

• Because students are exposed to the rigor, expectations, and demands of a college course, Challenge has helped students with the transition to college.

• University standards, not test writers, define course curriculum.

• The instructors hold advanced degrees appropriate to PSU’s departmental academic standards.

• Challenge courses provide multiple and varied assessments to evaluate work—quizzes, homework, mid-terms, projects and finals—instead of a single, high-stakes exam. In this way, Challenge is more inclusive; students who may not test well have an opportunity to gain college credit.

• Challenge students and instructors have access to PSU services—computer accounts, the library with its research databases and available training, a web-based classroom management tool for instructors, and on-campus activities.

• Challenge students have opportunities to come to campus for workshops, special lectures, and to simply familiarize themselves with a college campus.

• Challenge students are exposed to university faculty; a faculty coordinator visits the classroom at least once a quarter to guest lecture, work with students, and partner with the instructor.

• Challenge instructors have opportunities to grow professionally in their content area. They are able to stay current and connected to the university department, and forge collegial and academic relationships through campus workshops and the faculty site visits.

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Why are there courses that are both Challenge and AP or IB?
In select disciplines, the content for AP or IB may fit within the PSU Challenge course syllabus which has made it possible for some of our participating high schools to offer PSU courses which also meet AP or IB requirements.  This gives students choices. Choosing to enroll in Challenge gives these students the assurance of college credit through their PSU enrollment, rather than having to depend on obtaining a high score on a single high stakes exam, and they still have the advantage of the AP or IB designation on their high school transcript.

Additionally, students in Challenge/IB courses have the advantage of access to the PSU library and its research databases, a great resource for their extended essays.

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Who is eligible?
Course offerings are normally restricted to qualified high school seniors.  However, students in their junior year are sometimes permitted to enroll in Challenge program PSU courses with approval from the University faculty coordinator and the Challenge Program administrator.

You must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and have completed six semesters of high school course work.

Just as with any college student at PSU, to receive credit, you must register at the beginning of each quarter/semester.

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What is the cost?
Challenge is a self-support program for which we charge a program fee. For the 2007-2008 year, the fee is $174.00 per quarter for enrollment in one 4-credit course and $325.00 per quarter for enrollment in two 4-credit courses. As a comparison, the same 4-credit course on the PSU campus costs $515.50; for 8 credits, the cost is $980.50.

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How do I register?
You register for the Challenge Program through your high school instructor at the beginning of the term. Once your teacher sends us back your blue registration form, your information is entered into PSU’s system and you are issued a PSU ID number.

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FAQ for Enrolled Students

How do I pay?
You will be billed the reduced program fee directly from PSU’s cashier’s office. There are a variety of ways to pay, including online by credit card, by check, and in installments.

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What is the OneCard?
The OneCard is the PSU ID card that is mailed to you in early October from the Registrar’s office. This card resembles a credit card but does not have any financial function unless it is validated. Our recommendation is to NOT validate it because as a high school student you have little reason to use the financial functions of a validated card. But we suggest you DO keep the card handy for library use and quick access to your ID Number. If you lose your card, and do not remember your ID number, just contact our office and we can look it up for you.

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What is a PSU ID Number?
This number identifies you as a PSU student. You use this number to establish a computer account, to look up your records and receive unofficial transcripts, to order official transcripts, to access the library, to use the gym. In other words, this number is essential for performing a variety of activities. If you don’t want to keep your OneCard, then write this number down in a convenient place. If you lose the number, contact us and we’ll look it up for you.

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What is my status at PSU?
When you enroll through Challenge at the University, you are a part-time Portland State University student. You will have the privileges of any other part-time student including a computer account and full access to the Library, including its extensive online databases. When you complete your Challenge program course, you are entitled to an official Portland State University transcript.

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What is an Odin Account?
To access computer resources at PSU, including a PSU email account, dial-up internet access, use of the campus computer labs; for library databases, you will need to sign up for an Odin account. To do this, visit PSU Computer Account Management, click on “Create Your Odin Account” and follow the directions.

Once you’ve done this you can notify your instructor or our office directly to activate the account. You can also come to campus (with your PSU ID number and photo ID) to activate it. Locations where you can do this are the Help Desk in Smith 18, the Computer lab in Cramer Hall 322, the library, and at the Instructional Computing Center in Neuberger Hall 437 and 439.

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How do I use the Library?
Visit the Library's website here. Phone number is 503.725.5874. There is a page on the Library's site devoted to Challenge Program students. You are encouraged to visit the library and its vast resources. Bring your ID card or your number if you plan to check out books.

You are also eligible to access electronic resources online from remote locations. You do this by logging into the resources catalog. You will be prompted to enter your Odin login name and password.

In addition, the library offers a variety of classes and workshops to assist you in using its resources. Check the schedule for these drop-in classes on the Library's Website. You may also contact a librarian in a specific area for personalized help. A roster of librarian names, subject area, and contact information is available here.

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How Do Grades Work?

Students enrolling in PSU courses through the Challenge Program normally obtain dual high school and college credit. The Challenge Program grade for the course is determined in accordance with grading criteria established by Portland State University. The high school grade is determined in accordance with grading criteria established by the high school. Therefore, it is unlikely but possible that your PSU grade may not be the same as your high school grade.

PSU uses regular letter grades A, B, C, D, and F to indicate academic performance.  At the end of your course, your instructor will send the class grades to the Challenge Program Office at PSU where they will get recorded with the Registrar’s Office. The table indicates the points awarded on your transcript for any given grade and the asociated performance index.

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How Do I see my Grades/Unofficial Transcript?
To check your records, go to the PSU Information System (banweb), enter your PSU Student ID number (the on the bottom of your OneCard) and your initial pin (your birthday using six digits, e.g., 011094 for Jan 10 1994—you should change this pin later).

Click on “Student Services & Financial Aid,” then on “Student Records” to display your grades/unofficial transcript. If you do not see your grades listed, it may be because it has not yet been recorded. Challenge instructors sometimes record grades at the end of the semester instead of the university quarter.

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FAQ for Transcripts & Credit Transfer

How Do I Obtain Official Transcripts?
Requesting a transcript (an official record of courses you’ve taken at PSU) be sent to your college is the most important action in seeking recognition for your PSU University coursework.

Your transcript will not be sent automatically to your college or university as PSU has no idea where you go to school. Your request must go to the PSU Transcript Office and will cost $4.00.

Find out exactly where your college wants the transcript to be sent (the admissions office, the registrar’s office, etc.). You can get this information from your college application, the college catalog, or the college admissions office.

First, find out exactly where your college wants the transcript to be sent (the admissions office, the registrar’s office, etc.). You can get this information from your college application, the college catalog, or the college admissions office.

Wait until your instructor has submitted final grades to PSU before requesting a transcript so that all your coursework will be accounted for. (You can indicate, on your applications, that the PSU transcript will be forwarded once you’ve completed your course).

For complete information on how to place an order for an official transcript, go to PSU Registration & Records Transcript Requests. You may either order your transcript online (and pay the $4.00 by credit card) or you may download a form to fill out and return, with a check, to the Transcripts Office.

In either case you will need to know your PSU ID number (the number on the bottom of your OneCard; if you cannot find this number, call the Challenge Office and we can look it up for you).

You may indicate, on the transcript form, how many transcripts you require and to which universities they need to be sent. There are a variety of ways to have your transcripts sent, including a rush courier service, if you are trying to meet a deadline.

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How does Credit Get Transferred?
Because Challenge courses are approved by Portland State, they count toward the completion of your bachelor’s degree at PSU or any college or university in the Oregon University System (OUS), and any Oregon community college. Beyond the OUS system, credit recognition remains the exclusive prerogative of the institution granting it. College policies vary in regard to transfer credit, and may be applied differently from year to year and from student to student.

Many factors affect the decision to accept transfer credit, including the grade the student earned in the course. Usually, however, colleges will accept courses in which you’ve earned a C or above and that are a good match for those you would have taken on that campus. Courses that differ from those the college offers may also be transferred, but often as elective credit. Some colleges will not give credit for a college course that also fulfilled a high school graduation requirement.

Increasingly, transfer credit decisions for some combination of degree credit, exemption, and/or placement are made on an individual basis, on the work the student can show he or she has done in the course. Even at schools where transfer credit is not normally granted, you may be able to negotiate to have your PSU coursework recognized. So keep your course portfolios and your syllabi so you can show them to college officials who need more information before accepting your transfer credit.

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How do I know whom to talk with about transferring credit? 
The first person to talk with about transfer credit is the person at your college who has the power to make transfer credit decisions. That person varies from institution to institution. Begin by asking your academic advisor whom you need to see. If she or he doesn’t know, talk with a college official such as a dean or department chairperson.  Some things to remember:

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How do I talk about getting my PSU credit recognized?
It is important you refer to the PSU courses you took as PSU courses, not as Challenge courses. You should also bring your course syllabi or manuals, course descriptions and, if appropriate, your student portfolios from the PSU courses you took when you meet with the faculty member or college official who will make the decision about your PSU credits.

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How can The Challenge Program help?
If you continue to find that your college is reluctant to give recognition for your PSU courses, please contact us as we are happy to help. Be sure to find out the reason for their reluctance; the more information we have the more useful we can be. Although we can’t force any college to accept PSU credit, we can write letters and/or make phone calls on your behalf.

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What if I’ve exhausted all avenues of persuasion and my college or university still will not accept my PSU credit?
If your college or university will not transfer your PSU credits after you have: (1) sent your transcript, (2) talked with the appropriate college official, (3) shown your syllabus and course portfolio to the appropriate official(s), and (4) called our office and asked us to contact on your behalf the appropriate person at your school, you may need to resign yourself to the fact that some institutions, for various reasons, simply will not accept the transfer credit itself.

But there are other ways your PSU credit can be recognized by your college. You may be able to be exempt from taking a similar required course. Or you may be placed in a higher-level course as a result of your PSU experience. Both forms of recognition will benefit you by allowing you more room in your program to take courses in your major and interesting electives. Talk about the PSU coursework you have taken with your advisor or with another college official. Typically colleges will not force you to take coursework you’ve already had. Your job will be to make and support that argument.

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If my college doesn't accept my transfer credit, has my tuition to PSU been wasted?
Of course not! First of all, that credit (and the educational experience) is always yours. If for some reason you transfer to a different school, you may well be able to transfer the credit to that institution. If you leave college for some reason, the work you completed at PSU will always be there for you. Whatever your situation, the coursework you took from Portland State University will always serve you well throughout your life

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