Valdosta State University

Excerpt from Valdosta State University Undergraduate Bulletin, 1998-1999 pp.29-36, 187

The admission policy of Valdosta State University is designed to admit those students whose academic backgrounds indicate a reasonable potential for success in the educational program of the university. Acceptance is based upon previous academic record, entrance examination scores, good conduct, and, when deemed necessary, results of personal interviews and psychological tests or other appropriate tests required to determine general fitness for admission to an institution of higher learning.

This policy is administered by the Director of Admissions, who makes the final decision as to an applicant's acceptability, subject to the applicant's right of appeal as provided by the bylaws of the University and of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. Any appeal must be made in writing to the Director of Admissions.

The University reserves the right to discontinue accepting admission applications when its enrollment limits have been reached. It reserves the right to reject the application of any individual who is not a legal resident of the State of Georgia. Furthermore, the University reserves the right not to accept the credits of any institution, notwithstanding its accredited status, if the University determines that the quality of instruction available at the institution is for any reason deficient or unsatisfactory.

Payment of fees for the processing of an admission application shall entitle the applicant to have his or her application form reviewed according to normal admissions procedures at the institution. Admission to the institution is not guaranteed by payment of an admissions application fee.

Please be aware that admission to the University does not guarantee admission to your intended major. Several programs of study have additional admission requirements. Information on admission to a particular degree program or major may be found in the appropriate section of this Bulletin.

Admission application forms will be provided by the Director of Admissions on request. All completed forms must be either on file or postmarked at least 20 days prior to registration and must be accompanied by a nonrefundable, nontransferable $20 application fee to cover the expense of processing the application.

A medical history and certification of immunization form is required of all applicants seeking admission to courses which carry academic credit. Required forms are furnished by the Director of Admissions. An applicant's registration cannot be completed until the medical history and certification of immunization forms have been made available to the University.

Applicants who do not enroll in the semester for which they are accepted must notify the Admissions Office if they wish to enter the University at a later time.

Valdosta State selects its beginning freshmen from two groups of applicants: high school graduates and individuals in possession of a Department of Education Certificate awarded on the basis of the General Education Development Tests.

High School Graduates. Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited high school or of a high school that has been approved by the University and must have completed the minimum requirements of the State Department of Education for graduation and must validate the required College Preparatory Curriculum.

The University System of Georgia requires that high school graduates complete the college preparatory curriculum course work for entrance to regular college programs leading to the baccalaureate degree.

The College Entrance Examination Board's Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the Assessment Battery of the American College Testing Program (ACT) is required of all applicants seeking admission from high school. The results of these tests must be filed with the Director of Admissions at least 20 days before the registration date of the proposed semester of entrance. Information pertinent to making application to take these tests may be obtained from the high school principal, the high school guidance counselor, or directly from the College Entrance Examination Board (SAT), P.O. Box 592, Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6200 or the American College Testing Program (ACT), P.O. Box 168, Iowa City, Iowa 52243.

General Education Development (GED) Tests. Individuals who did not graduate from high school and individuals who did not graduate from an accredited high school approved by the University may be admitted by presenting a State Department of Education Certificate of High School Equivalency and by validating the College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) by making passing scores on SAT II Subject Tests. See College Preparatory Curriculum on page 33. The High School Level GED Test is the testing instrument generally administered to applicants in this group. Satisfactory scores on the SAT or ACT are also required.

A freshman applicant's potential for success in the educational program of the university is gauged on the basis of ACT or SAT scores, high school curriculum, and high school grade point average. After an application form, SAT or ACT scores, high school transcript, and other required records are received and are found to be complete and in order, the applicant's credentials are evaluated. If the applicant's credentials are satisfactory to the University and if the applicant is judged to be acceptable in all other aspects, a formal letter of acceptance is promptly issued by the Director of Admissions.

The College Preparatory Curriculum requirements apply to all students who graduated from high school within the last five years. Transfer students who have not completed a minimum of 30 transferable semester hours are also subject to these requirements if they graduated from high school within the last five years.

Passing scores on SAT II Subject Test will be used in lieu of a high school transcript for students from non-accredited high schools, home schooled students, and for students who hold a GED. The following eight SAT II subject examinations or the appropriate exams as determined by the Office of Admissions are required:

Students admitted to Valdosta State University who do not meet regular freshman admission requirements will enroll in core curriculum courses for credit and may have a mandatory learning assistance component in specified courses. Learning assistance is designed to provide additional academic support, while promoting student success. Learning assistance is also available to any student who desires additional academic support.

Minimum total SAT score of 1100 with 530 verbal/480 math minimum or minimum score of 25 on Enhanced ACT-Composite with 24 English/21 math minimum and a 3.0 high school academic grade point average.

A non-traditional student is defined as a student who has been graduated from high school for a minimum of five years or a student who holds a General Education Diploma (GED) and his or her class has graduated at least five years ago. Students who have been away from formal education and have attempted fewer than 14 semester hours are also eligible for this category.

Foreign Language (2) - Two courses in one language emphasizing speaking, listening, reading, and writing

The University System will accept algebra I, physical science, and foreign language taken in the eighth grade to fulfill its College Preparatory Curriculum requirements.

Out-of-state high school students may be granted some flexibility in the Social Science area only.

Those students admitted to Valdosta State University with a deficiency in the College Preparatory Curriculum will make up the deficiency in the following manner:

English Students graduating with fewer than the four required units of English will be required to take and pass the Compass Placement Exams in English and reading for admission to the University.

Mathematics Students graduating with fewer than the three required units of mathematics will be required to take and pass the Compass Placement Exam in mathematics for admission to the University.

Science Students graduating with fewer than the three required units of science will be required to complete with a grade of "C" or better a course in a laboratory science chosen from the approved laboratory sciences of the System Core Curriculum. A course used to fulfill a deficiency will not apply toward graduation.

Social Science Students graduating with fewer than the three required units of social science will be required to complete with a grade of "C" or better a three-semester-hour course chosen from the approved social science courses of the System Core Curriculum. A course used to fulfill a deficiency will not apply toward graduation.

Foreign Language Students graduating with fewer than the two required units of the same foreign language will be required to complete with a grade of "C" or better a three-semester-hour introductory foreign language course. A course used to fulfill a deficiency will not apply toward graduation.

All students admitted with a College Preparatory Curriculum deficiency must complete the required course(s) to fulfill the deficiency before accumulating 30 semester hours of credit.

A transfer student is defined as one who terminates enrollment in one institution and subsequently enrolls in another. Students who have been enrolled in other institutions are warned that they may not disregard their records in these institutions. Failure to report previous college attendance is considered to be sufficient cause for cancellation of the student's registration and of any credits earned. Students who are enrolled in a Developmental Studies Program within the University System of Georgia are not eligible for transfer admission at Valdosta State University.

Students who are enrolled in joint high school and college programs while still in high school must meet the joint enrollment requirements of the University System of Georgia before credit will be awarded. Current requirements are a minimum SAT of 970 or ACT composite score of 21 and a high school grade point average of 3.00 (B) on a 4.0 scale.

Admissions applications will be evaluated in accordance with one of the following categories:

As a rule, students entering from institutions which are not members of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or other regional associations of equal standing must take examinations on the work presented. However, students may be granted the same transfer credit as that accepted by the principal state university in the state in which the credit was earned. Necessary adjustments between students' academic work done at another institution and the requirements for their major program at Valdosta State University shall be the responsibility of each student, working with the head of the department of the student's major, subject to the approval of the dean or director of the appropriate College or Division.

Students will be permitted to transfer academic credits earned with grades of D at other accredited institutions and apply them toward degree requirements in the Core Curriculum or lower division. Credits with the grade of D earned in upper division work will be transferred, and the department of the student's major will determine if those credits are acceptable toward a degree.

Academic credit allowed for work done in another institution within a given period of time may not exceed the normal amount of credit that could have been earned at this University during that time. Courses required at the senior college level should not be taken in junior colleges.

Applicants for advanced standing will not be given credit for more than 90 semester hours of academic credits of work done in other colleges to be applied toward a degree from Valdosta State University. Of those, only 60 semester hours may be Junior College Courses. Additionally, no degree credit will be given for work earned more than 30 years prior to admission to VSU.

Transient admission is defined as admission for a limited period of time of students who are regularly enrolled in another institution and who ordinarily expect to return to that institution.

To be considered for transient admission to Valdosta State University, a student must be regularly enrolled in an accredited or approved institution and must have an academic record of a satisfactory or superior quality.

Students on scholastic probation, academic suspension, or disciplinary suspension may not be eligible for consideration.

Applicants for transient admission must supply the Director of Admissions a statement from the Registrar of the institution where they are regularly enrolled, which clearly sets forth their current status and recommends their acceptance.

Since the primary obligation of Valdosta State University is to its regularly enrolled students, it will consider accepting students applying for transient admission only when their admission will cause no hardship or inconvenience to either the University or its regularly enrolled student body. In any case, transient admission will be granted for only one academic semester. Students desiring to continue in the University beyond that point must apply for admission as transfer students and comply with transfer regulations.

Transcripts must be requested in writing and appropriate fees paid in order for copies of the academic record of transient students to be mailed to another institution.

Former students who have not been in attendance within the last calendar year and were in good standing at the time of their withdrawal or students who have attended another institution must apply to the Director of Admissions or to the Registrar for readmission.

Students seeking readmission following an academic suspension must also apply to the Director of Admissions or to the Registrar.

Valdosta State University encourages applications from international students. At Valdosta State University, international students are defined as citizens of countries other than the U.S., who require a visa in order to enter this country. To be considered for admission, international students must submit the following materials to the Office of International Programs, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA 31698:

Once these materials are received, the Admissions Office will evaluate the international applicant's credentials and make an admissions decision. The applicant will be notified of the University's decision and, if admitted, will be issued an I-20 certificate of eligibility. This form must be taken to the nearest U.S. Embassy or consular office, which will issue a visa for entry to the United States.

Additional information on international student admissions at Valdosta State University is available from the Office of International Programs, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA 31698.

The Special Services Program is committed to assisting students to pursue educational goals to the fullest of their abilities. The program is responsible for coordination of services for students with disabilities. The primary objectives are to provide reasonable accommodations and ensure that campus programs and activities are accessible to disabled students. Some of the services available to meet individual needs of students include, but are not limited to, assistance with registration, alternative testing arrangements, text books on tapes, individual tutoring, instruction in learning strategies, access to technology, liaison with faculty, referral to other services, and diagnostic testing.

Eligibility for services can be established by students' providing current documentation of the disabling condition as defined under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. All the services are provided at no charge. For more information, contact the Special Services Program, Telephone 912-245-2498.

All undergraduate students seeking a degree from a teaching field program are required to apply for Admission to Teacher Education prior to taking senior college (3000 and 4000 level) courses. Applications are available in the Dean's Office, Col lege of Education, and should be submitted when the student has accumulated 45 semester hours towards an education degree program.

3. have achieved at least a 2.50 Grade Point Average on all coursework. Note that majors in Communication Disorders must have a 3.0 GPA. All trans fer credits are included in the GPA calculation;

5. have passed the Reading, Writing, and Mathematics portions of the Pre -Professional Skills Test (PPST) or the computer version, CBT, or exempted this requirement with appropriate scores on the SAT, ACT or GRE;

7. not have a criminal background, a dishonorable discharge from the Armed Services, not have been discharged from any position for unprofessional conduct, or not have any record that indicates behaviors not compatible with those expected of a professional educator in Georgia. Any pending investigations similar to these items must be resolved before admission to Teacher Education;

Admission to Teacher Education is a prerequisite for all senior-college level courses in the program of study. Students not meeting the criteria are informed of their defi ciencies and not allowed to take 3000-level or 4000-level courses until the deficiencies are removed. The Grade Point Average for admission to Teacher Education is calcu lated using all coursework taken within the past five years, including transfer credits. All grades and hours for courses that are repeated will be included in this calculation there is no "forgiveness" policy. If extenuating circumstances have led to denial of admission to Teacher Education, students may appeal to the Undergraduate Policies Committee. On registration day each semester, the Committee meets individually with all students submitting appeals. Appeal forms are available in the Dean's Office in the College of Education.

Transfer students enrolling in the College of Education with a Grade Point Aver age below 2.50 will not be allowed to take senior-college level courses in their programs of study until they are admitted to Teacher Education.

Excerpt from Valdosta State University Graduate Bulletin, 1998-1999 pp.13-17, 46-47

THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
Dr. Ernestine H. Clark
Dean of the Graduate School
Dr. Lynn A. Corbin, Associate Dean
Mr. Chuck Hudson, Assistant to the Dean for Recruitment and Retention
Mrs. Judy Tomberlin, Coordinator of Graduate Admissions

Graduate programs at Valdosta State University are administered by the Graduate School. Graduate coursework is taught by faculty members serving on the Graduate Faculty. The primary purpose is to provide opportunities for dedicated students, who have completed a baccalaureate degree, to pursue the mastery of an area of learning and to develop the qualities of scholarship and academic discipline necessary to pro vide creative contributions to their chosen field of work or interest.

After having successfully completed a university program on the undergraduate level, as evidenced by the receipt of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institu tion, a person may apply to a program in the Graduate School at Valdosta State University. Application packets for admission to the Graduate School may be secured from the graduate office. Prospective students are urged to submit completed applica tion packets as early as possible and by the following dates:

The M.S.W., the M.Ed. in Speech and Language Pathology, the Nurse Practitioner component of the M.S.N., and the Ed.D. programs have different deadlines. Appli cants should contact the Graduate School for the specific deadlines for these programs.

Applicants must include one copy of an official transcript from each institution of higher education previously attended as part of their application packets. Degree-seek ing applicants are also required to provide an official copy of scores on one of the following appropriate examinations:

1. The Graduate Record Examination - required for all programs except those in the

College of Business. May be used for the Master of Public Administration program.

2. The Graduate Management Admission Test - required for all programs in the College of Business. May be used for the Master of Public Administration program.

The GRE or GMAT scores are considered official when they are sent directly to the Graduate School from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Student copies are not considered official

Students whose first language is other than English must also present evidence of English language proficiency. Evidence may be presented in either of the following ways:

1. Submit proof of satisfactory completion of ELS Language Centers' Level 109 course;

2. Submit official test scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) of 500 or more. Some programs may require a minimum score of 550 or 600.

Application forms and other information related to the examinations may be ob tained from the Graduate School. Applicants who wish to take graduate courses for other than degree-seeking purposes, such as add-on or renewal certification or for per sonal growth, must supply, in addition to the application forms, one of the following:

1. A copy of a baccalaureate diploma from an accredited or approved institution.

2. A copy of a transcript from an accredited or approved institution indicating that a baccalaureate degree has been completed.

3. A copy of a teaching certificate of a type which requires a baccalaureate degree for its issuance.

Students who are currently admitted as graduate students in good standing at an other accredited college or university may be accepted on a transient basis. Transient students must furnish a letter of good standing from their institution in addition to the application.

All applicants must pay a $20.00 application fee. The fee is not credited toward the matriculation fee when the student is accepted, nor is it refunded in the event that the application is denied or if the applicant does not enroll as a student.

All documents and materials submitted to fulfill the application requirements for entry to a program in the Graduate School at VSU become the property of the Univer sity and will not be returned. These materials are kept for one year. Applicants accepted to a program who do not begin taking courses the semester for which they are admitted must submit a new application.

Admission to the Graduate School does not necessarily imply admission to one of the degree-granting programs at the University. Some programs have program-spe cific requirements which are not listed in the admissions criteria presented here. In general, no student should apply for admission to the Graduate School without first contacting the head of the department in which the student intends to do the major portion of his or her work.

Students who are denied admission into their chosen program may be eligible for other areas and should contact the Graduate School to determine additional options.

Valdosta State welcomes applications from international students. At Valdosta State University, international students are defined as citizens of countries other than the United States who require a visa in order to study in the U.S. To be considered for admission, international students must submit the following materials to the Graduate School, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA 31698-0005:

1. A completed Application for Admission to the Graduate School, along with a $20.00 check or money order in U.S. currency. Application packets are available from the Graduate School Office.

2. Official original language and English (translated) copies of college and university transcripts, as records of past academic work, along with copies of academic de grees and certificates that the applicant has received. To be considered official, these transcripts must be submitted directly from the educational institutions to the Graduate School.

3. If the applicant's first language is other than English, proof of satisfactory comple tion of ELS Level 109 or official results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum score of 500 on the TOEFL is required for ad mission. Some academic departments require a score of 550 or 600 on the TOEFL.

4. Official results from the Graduate Record Examination or the Graduate Manage ment Admissions Test. See admission requirements for specific programs to determine which test is needed. Information on the administration of these tests is available from U.S. Embassies and from American Cultural Centers.

5. A completed Certificate of Finances statement guaranteeing that the student will have $17,850 (for 12 months) or $14,120 (for nine months) available for educa tional and personal expenses. The Certificate of Finances form is available from the Graduate School.

Once these materials are received, the Graduate School will evaluate the interna tional applicant's credentials and make an admissions decision. The applicant will be notified of the University's decision and, if admitted, will be issued an I-20 immigra tion form. This form must be taken to the nearest U.S. Embassy or consular office, which will issue a visa for entry to the United States.

Additional information on international student admissions to the Graduate School at Valdosta State University is available from the Office of International Programs, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA 31698.

Official acceptance or denial is verified by a letter from the Graduate School. Stu dents who are admitted but do not enroll for the semester in which they were admitted must submit another application if they want to attend Graduate School at a later date. Students who were previously enrolled but have not been in attendance within the last 3 semesters must apply to the Graduate School for readmission.

Valdosta State University offers several admission classifications to graduate stu dents that are intended to facilitate enrollment and admission and accommodate a variety of situations. These apply to postbaccalaureate students only. They do not apply to Education Specialist or Doctor of Education programs.

Regular Admission To be considered for admission as a "regular" graduate student the applicant must have received a bachelor's degree from an accredited or approved college or university with an undergraduate major in, or prerequisites for, the planned graduate field of study, where applicable. The applicant must have a cumulative un dergraduate grade-point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, calculated on all work attempted in which letter grades were awarded. Verification in the form of an official transcript is required. All master's degree programs require an acceptable GRE or GMAT score. Please refer to the departmental listings for these specific requirements.

Probationary Admission A person failing to meet one or more of the requirements for admission as a regular student may be considered for probationary admission under conditions specified at the time of admission by the appropriate department and ap proved by the Dean of the Graduate School. In any event, the undergraduate grade-point average must be 2.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale; the GRE General Test verbal 350 or higher, and either the quantitative or analytical score 350 or higher; or the GMAT score 350 or higher.

Students admitted on a probationary basis remain in this category for 9 semester hours of work. The grade-point average for these 9 semester hours must be 3.0 or higher, unless different conditions were specified at the time of admission. After comple tion of the probationary period, students may be reclassified as "regular" students, with the approval of the Dean of the Graduate School and the department concerned.

Regular - has met all entrance requirements for regular admission as outlined above.

Irregular - has not submitted all application requirements for admission to the Gradu ate School. Students in this category will not be admitted to a degree program until they have met all admission requirements. A maximum of 9 hours of course work may be applied toward a degree while the student is in this category.

Probationary - has met all entrance requirements for probationary admission as out lined above. There is no probationary admission for Education Specialist or Doctor of Education programs.

Transient - is currently enrolled as a graduate student in good standing at another college or university and desires to participate through the VSU Graduate School for the purpose of taking no more than six semester hours of graduate work.

Non-Degree - holds an undergraduate degree and wishes to take graduate or under graduate courses for add-on certification, personal enrichment, or the post-master's certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy without pursuing an advanced degree . A student who maintains a cumulative average of B or better in graduate courses taken may later be granted entry to a degree program upon proper application to the Graduate School. A maximum of 9 semester hours may be considered by the appropriate department involved for transfer into a degree-granting program.

A student with senior standing at Valdosta State University, with an overall aca demic grade-point average of 3.0 or better, may register for graduate courses during the final two semesters of undergraduate work under the following conditions:

1. No more than a total of 9 semester hours may be taken for graduate credit, and not more than 6 semester hours of graduate work may be taken in a given semester.

2. A student registering for one or more graduate courses is limited to the normal graduate academic course load of 12 semester hours per semester.

3. Permission for a student to take graduate courses under this provision is granted only by the Dean of the Graduate School.

4. Permission must be obtained for each semester in which the student desires to take graduate courses.

The semester hour is the basic unit of work, in which each course offered has credit value in terms of a certain number of semester hours normally conforming to the num ber of contact class hours per week. For example, courses meeting three hours a week carry three hours credit. A typical exception occurs in laboratory work, in which two or three hours of class contact time would have a one-credit-hour value.

The College of Education recognizes the need for taking proactive steps to en hance multicultural and global perspectives and promote diversity. In addition to supporting multicultural perspectives throughout educational programs, the College of Education actively seeks a diverse student and faculty population.

For initial guidance, new graduate students in the College of Education should consult with the head of the department in which they plan to pursue a degree. Each student will be assigned an advisor in the appropriate area of study. The student and advisor will collaborate in designing the program to meet the individual needs of the student within the guidelines of the approved program of study. Students are expected to initiate contact with their advisors on a regular basis to ensure that all program re quirements are being met.

Graduate students are expected to become familiar with the rules and requirements of the College of Education and to assume full responsibility for the regulations con cerning their programs of study. In addition, students are expected to attend all classes regularly and abide by the student code of conduct published in the Valdosta State University Student Handbook.

The College of Education offers three levels of graduate degree programs: the Master of Education degree, the Education Specialist degree, and the Doctor of Educa tion degree. Course descriptions and programs of study leading to these degrees are listed by department.

1. Admission to graduate programs in the College of Education is granted by the Graduate School, in consultation with the department concerned. Students are urged to contact the department in which the major portion of the work will be taken before making formal application for admission.

2. Formal applications are obtained from, and must be submitted directly to, the Graduate School for initial evaluation.

3. The Graduate School will contact the department head for the department in which the student wishes to pursue graduate work to obtain approval for the student's entry into a graduate program within that department.

4. A student who is admitted to a graduate program will be notified by the Gradu ate School of his/her acceptance.

5. A student who is denied admission to a graduate program will be notified by the Graduate School and apprised of the procedure to follow if he/she wishes to appeal the denial.

The Master of Education degree is designed to enhance and extend the knowledge and skills of students beyond the undergraduate level. The core courses at the master's level develop the students' ability to use and apply research skills, become familiar with current issues and trends in their field, and review material related to legal issues and ethics. The degrees offered are as follows:

Department of Secondary Education, Curriculum, and Instructional Technology M.Ed. Secondary Education

Submitted by:	Chief Compiler:	Date:
Valdosta State University 1500 N. Patterson St. Valdosta, GA 31698-0102	Susan R. Worth sworth@valdosta.edu Phone: 912-333-5932 Fax: 912-333-7167	February 1, 1999