Evaluating a Course for Equivalency in Transfer Evaluation System (TES)

Overview

This article provides department chairs or faculty who are evaluating a transfer course for an equivalency with step by step instructions on evaluating the course in the Transfer Evaluation System (TES). 

How-To

Typically, all reviews for an equivalency are routed through the department chair.  

Step 1. Getting Started 

  • When a course is assigned to you, you’ll receive an email with course details and a link to TES. 
  • You can click that link or go directly to https://tes.collegesource.com. 

Step 2. Logging In 

  • Log in using your MSU email address and the password you set when you created your account. 
  • TES uses multi-factor authentication. 
  • If you haven’t logged in within 90 days, you’ll need to enter a code sent to your MSU email. 

Step 3. Finding Your Assigned Courses 

  • Once logged in, hover over the “Track” menu at the top. 
  • Click on “My Evaluations.” 
  • Courses will be grouped by institution. Click the arrow next to the school name to see your assigned evaluations. 

Step 4. Reviewing a Course 

  • On the left side, you'll see the course info from the sending institution. 
  • On the right side, you'll find notes and support documents (like a syllabus or course outline). 
  • Click the PDF icon to open the support file (it may open in a new tab or download). 
  • Use MinnState policies when deciding if the course is equivalent. 

Step 5. Adding an Equivalent Course 

If no proposed equivalent is listed: 

  • From the “Select an Action” drop down, choose “Add/Edit Course.” 
  • On the left, you’ll see the transfer course details. 
  • On the right, select the correct department from the catalog drop down. 
  • Click the blue plus (+) next to the matching course. 
  • Double-check the details and click “Done.” 

Step 6. Approving or Denying 

  • On the next screen, use the “Select an Action” drop down: 
  • Choose “Approve” to accept the match. 
  • Choose “Deny” if the course isn’t equivalent. You must write a reason and assign it to Lindsay Smith. 
  • Use this guide for equivalency: MinnState Course Equivalency Policy 

Equivalency Standard: 

  • A course must be at least 75% similar in content. 
  • Courses in a sequence may need higher comparability. 
  • Credit hours must match or be within 1 credit. 
  • Courses must be evaluated based on content, not accreditation, grading methods, textbook used, or assignments. 

Step 7. Need More Info? 

  • If the syllabus or course outline is missing learning outcomes, you can request more information. 
  • This keeps the evaluation open until you get the needed documents. 

More Resources

Still Need Help?

Contact Registration and Academic Records

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