College Credit
Earn College Credit on your Alzar Gap Experience
During the Alzar Gap experience, students have the option to earn college credits through Western Colorado University. Our college credit opportunities are entirely optional and designed to add depth, and value to your Alzar Gap experience. Please reach out to the Director at director@alzargap.org with any questions!
College Courses:
As part of your Alzar Gap program, you can consider earning college credits through a course we have established with a partner university. These options can change from year to year, so if this is an exciting aspect of the program for you, please let us know. One established course that we offer is COM 197: The Culminating Leadership Project.
The Culminating Leadership Project (CLP) can follow two directions; a project designed to improve a student’s home community and/or an internship/vocational experience that incorporates leadership components from a student’s Alzar Gap program. The experience involves leading a group of peers in action and/or working closely with coworkers to address a common issue. Students can expect to spend approximately 75 hours working on their CLP project outside of the 15 hours spent planning their project during the Alzar Gap program. If they complete the project and the coursework for the practicum course, they earn 2 college credits through Western Colorado University.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Here are some of the questions prospective students often have around earning college credit, which centers around our Culminating Leadership Project, which is meant to be partially planned on an Alzar Gap program, and completed independently after the program. The course is completely optional, included in tuition, and is eligible for credit through Western Colorado University.
Western Colorado University charges $340 if a student is seeking college credit for the Culminating Leadership Project course. Please see “Important Dates” below for information about late and cancellation fees.
As long as students register by the deadline for college credit, they are eligible to use 529 funds for both WCU courses and for Alzar Gap tuition. Students will receive an invoice with their WCU ID number and will have the funds sent directly to WCU.
Western Colorado University is accredited through The Higher Learning Commission. WCU credits are generally accepted at both private and public universities/colleges. However, we encourage students to contact their college or university’s admissions office to ensure that all credits will transfer and not interfere with a student’s deferral plan.
You must register for courses by the enrollment deadline for your particular program. You may cancel enrollment in college courses up to 4 weeks prior to your program.
Enrollment Deadlines:
Fall Programs: August 1st
Spring Programs: January 8th
Coursework Submission Deadlines:
Fall Programs: January 20th
Spring Programs: June 20th
What is the Process for Enrolling in College Courses?
Step One: Enroll in either the Rockies to Patagonia Program or the Patagonia Exchange Program.
Step Two: Contact your college or university’s admission office to ensure that WCU credits will transfer and not interfere with a student’s deferral plan.
Step Three: Register and pay for your course by submitting a Course Registration Form to Alzar Gap before the April 1st registration deadline. The Course Registration Fee is a $340 flat fee.
Step Four: Complete and submit the course requirements. Please refer to the Culminating Leadership Project page to find out more information about this course.
Step Five: Receive grades and request a transcript.
Step Six: Transfer credit to your university or college. Portland State University is accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, and PSU credits are generally accepted at both private and public universities/colleges. However, we encourage students to contact their college or university’s admissions office to ensure that all PSU credits will transfer and not interfere with a student’s deferral plan.