2026 International ACAC Conference Session Proposal Form

As universities expand credit and advanced standing policies for incoming students, an important question remains: when should students take credit—and when might it be better not to? This session explores credit and advanced standing through the lens of student choice, academic readiness, and long term success. Drawing on perspectives from secondary counselors and higher education professionals, the session will examine how students navigate decisions about acceleration, workload, academic transition, and degree planning. They will consider how clear, transparent, and well communicated credit policies are essential to enabling students to make informed choices that align with their goals, rather than defaulting to credit because it is available. The session will also address the university’s role: when universities lack clear or consistent credit frameworks, students are often unable to make meaningful choices at all.