Senate Document #2 (APC Document #3) Policy on Admissions Revision BACKGROUND: The Chancellor requested revision of Senate Document #44. He wrote that the document reflected an inaccurate view of the relation between the Admissions Committee and the Director of Enrollment Services; he asked for "strong reference to the responsibilities of the Consent Decree and the authority of the Director of Admissions to admit minority students"; and he objected to the document's requirement that all students take placement tests before registration. In attempting revision, the APC noted that these are all matters of internal policy, while the document took the form of a catalog statement addressed to prospective students. It seemed appropriate to discard the original text and construct a new document designed as an internal policy statement. The text on admissions for the next Catalog will be edited in accordance with these policies, if they are approved. SUBSTANTIVE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN APC #3 AND SENATE #44: 1. The Senate document's statement on placement tests (para. 1.c,p.2) is ommitted. The APC has requested (Document 3B) that the Admissions Committee study the issue. 2. Statements on the roles of administrative officers and the Admissions Committee have been added. 3. A policy on discretionary admissions has been added. 4. All statements directed to prospective students have been omitted. POLICY ON ADMISSIONS 1. UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS POLICY consists of a set of requirements defining minimum qualifications for admission plus provision for exceptions. Admissions policy is administered by the Director of Admissions and Director of Enrollment Services in consultation with the Admissions Committee. The Directors should inform the Committee of the course of applications and admissions through the year and provide the Committee with an annual report concerning the use of discretionary authority to admit students who would not have qualified according to the Page 2 normal standards. The responsibilities of the Committee include 1) recommending, after consultation, changes in admission policy to the Academic Policies Committee; 2) monitoring the administration of admissions policy; 3) aiding in the formulation of guidelines for the exercise of discretionary authority to admit applicants and readmit dismissed students; 4) monitoring, with the assistance of the Director of Institutional Research, the relationship between student's qualifications upon entry and their later success; 5) hearing appeals by students denied admission or readmission and making recommendations. 2. DISCRETIONARY ADMISSIONS. Some students who do not meet the regular standards for admission, including minority students, older students, and borderline transfers, may be admitted on the authority of the Director of Enrollment Services. Generally the Director should exercise this authority within limits and guidelines established in annual consultation with the Admissions Committee, both parties recognizing the University's obligation to pursue affirmative action. As a preliminary guideline for the present, 8 to 10% of annual admissions seems a reasonable proportion of discretionary admissions. The Director should exercise only when, in his judgment, the student's credentials reveal strengths that would allow a reasonable probability of success at UNC-Asheville. The Director should keep records and make an annual report to the Admissions Committee characterizing this group statistically. 3. "AUTOMATIC" ADMISSIONS. Students qualify for admission through the Admissions Office by meeting established requirements for one of the six categories of enrollment. If there appear to be more applicants than space, the Office will select students for admission according to guidelines established by the Director of Enrollment Services in consultation with the Admissions Committee. A. BEGINNING FRESHMEN may qualify for automatic admission by satisfying one of three tests: 1. Student is in the upper half of high school class rank AND has completed with a minimum of a C average in each subject area the following college Preparatory curriculum: English 4 units Algebra, and Geometry or Algebra II 2 units Biology, Chemistry, or Physics 2 units Page 3 2. Student satisfies either class rank OR curricular requirements listed above and has a combined SAT score of 900-999. 3. Student scores 1,000 or above in combined SAT's. Procedures for applying remain as stated in the 1983-84 Catalog, p. 7-8. B. TRANSFER STUDENTS may qualify for automatic admission by means that differ according to the amount of post- secondary experience. There are two tests which a transfer may meet to qualify for automatic admission: the requirements for Beginning Freshmen (FR) specified above or a transfer GPA of 2.0. The GPA is computed on all coursework attempted at post-secondary institutions, excluding courses that by their content or school of origin would not be considered transferrable to UNC- Asheville. "Hours attempted" is calculated on the same basis. This matrix shows whether the freshman (FR) test or the GPA test shall be used. Student has been Student has been enrolled for 1 or enrolled for 3 or Hours attempted 2 semesters more semesters --------------------------------------------------------------- 0-23 FR test Both FR and GPA test met 24-35 Either FR or GPA GPA test test met 36 or more GPA test GPA test --------------------------------------------------------------- Procedures for applying remain as stated in the 1983-84 Catalog, p. 9-10, except that requirements (5) and (6), high school transcript and SAT scores, apply to applicants who have attempted 0-35 hours, rather than 0-23. Procedures for determining transfer credit remain as stated in the Catalog, pp. 8-9, except that a grade of C or better is required for transfer credit. C. VISITING STUDENTS, RETURNING STUDENTS and POST- BACCALAUREATE STUDENTS: these policies remain as stated in the Catalog, pp. 10-11. Page 4 D. SPECIAL ADMISSION STUDENTS: This category is discontinued. E. UNCLASSIFIED STUDENTS: Persons who wish to take college courses but have no clear intention of obtaining a degree may be admitted to the University as Unclassified Students. Unclassified Students may take up to eight credit hours each semester for credit. The usual University admissions requiremens are waived for students in this classification and no application processing fee is required. Students who have applied for admission as regular degree seeking students and have been denied admission for reasons of academic deficiency, or previously enrolled students who have been dismissed, may not then be enrolled as Unclassified Students. Admission as an unclassified student does not of itself constitute regular admission to the University. Unclassified students in good standing (2.0 grade average) who have accumulated 24 semester hours of credit must submit a complete application with appropriate fee to the Admissions Office to register for additional courses. Non-degree students who wish to continue as unclassified students beyond 24 hours may apply for exemption to the Director of Enrollment Services. 4. STUDENT APPEALS. A student denied admission or readmission may appeal in writing through the Admissions Office. The Committee reviews such appeals and recommends to the Director of Enrollment Services. Guidelines for discretionary readmission of dismissed students should be established in consultation with the Admissions Committee.