Pursuing Academic Credit
University of Montana Course Credit Options
ARCC Gap Students have the option to earn college credit through The University of Montana (UM) and their partnership with the Gap Year Association (GYA). UM is accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities which is widely accepted throughout the country at both public universities and private institutions.
The courses do not require you to attend UM and there is no physical classroom. The courses are designed as field-based, independent self-studies. The course instructor will correspond with the student and provide written feedback on course assignments via email and other remote communication. Course requirements include maintaining a daily journal and completing required reading while on program. In addition, students will write a 8-10 page final paper post-program. There is a high degree of latitude for you to determine what you would like to study within each course – you can focus on the aspects of the region or culture that are of most interest to you, and the courses fit into the structure of the ARCC Gap Curriculum.
This course is designed to introduce students to the principles, theories, and practices of leadership development. Through a combination of theoretical frameworks, self-reflection, and practical applications to lived experiences, students will gain insights into effective leadership strategies, communication skills, and ethical decision-making. The course facilitates critical self-assessments of students’ leadership styles and examines successful leadership qualities in various personal and professional contexts.
This course is designed to use a student’s real-world experiences as a foundation for understanding fundamental principles of communication, relationship-building, cultural development, and other group dynamics within an experiential cohort-based program. Students will engage in self-reflection and explore group dynamics in various contexts, gaining essential skills for personal and professional communication while examining the particular dynamics of a cohort-based experience in various cultural settings. Through readings, reflections, and applications to real-world examples, students will examine the roles that culture, identity, and communication play in cohort formation within personal, academic, and/or professional settings.
Tuition & Fees:
There is a flat fee of $2,050 for college credit which must be paid to ARCC prior to being registered for courses with UM. The tuition will be collected by ARCC who will then submit this payment to the Gap Year Association for processing. The enrollment deadline for college credit with UM is two weeks prior to the ARCC Gap Program start date, August 12th (for fall programs) or January 28th (for spring programs). Late registrations will be granted on a case-by-case basis (depending upon the length of the program) and will incur a $100 late registration fee by GYA.
It is possible to use 529 funds to pay for the college credit fee and the ARCC tuition. To do this, we recommend you contact your fund management company to confirm eligibility. AmeriCorps Education Awards may also be used to pay for your program tuition and college credit registration fee. GYA and UM will work individually with students wishing to use these payment options.
Students will NOT receive a tuition statement tax form (1098-T) for receiving college credit. In lieu of a Form 1098-T, it is recommended that you maintain proof of tuition payment to ARCC and documentation of enrollment with the University of Montana in the form of a student ID number and/or official transcripts.
Grades:
Students will submit their journals and coursework to the course Instructor-of-Record within 30 days of the completion of the program – December 9th (for fall programs) or May 25th (for spring programs). The Instructor of Record will submit grade reports to GYA within 30 days of receiving completed coursework. GYA will submit grade reports to UM on the last business day of the month. Grades will be available by the 15th day of the following month. You will be sent detailed instructions on how to order and transfer the transcript.
Students who do not complete their program will be withdrawn from the college credit, placing a “W” on their official transcript at UM. Incomplete or missing coursework will result in an assessment of “Incomplete” (I) on the official UM transcript. Students that choose to leave or are dismissed from an ARCC Gap Semester are not eligible for a refund on their college credit or ARCC tuition.
All Instructors of Record are vetted by University of Montana for academic integrity and quality. Each grading instructor holds an advanced degree in relevant subject matter to grade for lower-level courses.
Transferring Credit:
To ensure that UM credit will successfully transfer and not interfere with a deferral plan, we encourage students to contact their college or university’s admissions office directly. If students have trouble convincing an institution to accept transfer credits in this way, they can always encourage the receiving institution to contact GYA to request verification from the appropriate parties at the University of Montana that the coursework is academically sound.
Next Steps:
If you are interested in earning college credit on your gap year, please contact ARCC’s in-office College Credit Liaison, Emily Rosser, at [email protected] or at (415) 332-5075 ext. 201. Emily will provide additional information and step-by-step instructions on how to register with The University of Montana.