A-9: EXPERIMENTAL ADMISSIONS PROGRAMS

Special Admissions Programs

Policy:

Policies governing experimental programs of special admission for groups of students who do not meet all regular admission requirements were last updated by the University Faculty Senate on April 16, 1991. (Ref: Senate Record, 4-16-91)

1. The policy permitting students who have not yet graduated from high school to enroll in Penn State credit courses as nondegree students applies equally and uniformly to students taking credit coursework from any Penn State location, including the World Campus.

2. Such enrollments are available to students who have completed the 11th grade, have not yet graduated from high school, who predict a 2.00 or better college grade-point average based on either SAT I, PSAT, or ACT scores (students without standardized test scores will be evaluated by the Undergraduate Admissions Officer designated to handle high school students), and whose application is accompanied by a letter from his or her high school counselor recommending the student as capable of work beyond the high school level and able to profit from the challenge.  Such students would complete the nondegree application forms and undergo normal admissions office screening.  Certain programs may use additional criteria (e.g., language skills, talent portfolios, etc.) as the primary basis for participation.

3. All high school students applying for enrollment in Penn State credit courses must be reviewed and approved by the Undergraduate Admissions Office or campus admissions officer at the particular Penn State location. Younger students (those in 11th grade or lower) will only be considered for enrollment as exceptions. Their applications will be subject to Senate Admissions, Records, Scheduling, and Student Aid Committee approval (unless the committee has previously approved a program for younger students in which they wish to enroll), and they must present compelling evidence that they have the academic preparation and maturity to successfully complete college-level work. In all cases a student must remain a student of record in his or her school district, making progress towards completing all high school credits requisite for a high school diploma.

4. High school students taking Penn State credit courses are enrolled as nondegree students and are subject to the normal restrictions (such as space-available enrollment and term-to-term renewal status) placed on such students. High school students may not be enrolled as provisional students.

5. High school students may enroll for a maximum of 8 credits in either semester or the summer session. Requests to permit students to exceed these limits must be specially justified to the Senate Committee on Admissions, Records, Scheduling, and Student Aid by the student or by the academic administrator proposing a special program or institute.

6. Individual student credit loads and course selection are subject to approval by the coordinator for advising high school students assigned by the chief academic officer at the particular Penn State location. Those students who demonstrate unsatisfactory performance will have a hold placed on their registration and must secure permission from their Penn State adviser to have the hold released before registering. All high school students enrolled in credit courses must receive advising by an appropriate academic adviser, usually from the Division of Undergraduate Studies, except in special programs for which the sponsoring unit would provide the advising.

7. High school students may not enroll during the academic year in Penn State credit courses that are equivalent to course content available in their high schools.

8. Special programs and institutes offering Penn State credits to high school students must be approved by the Senate Committee on Admissions, Records, Scheduling, and Student Aid. Programs that are approved to enroll students who have not completed the 11th grade must have these students' applications reviewed by the Undergraduate Admissions Office without further approval by the Senate Committee on Admissions, Records, Scheduling, and Student Aid.

9. Such enrollments are exceptions to general admissions policies in that regular admission to Penn State requires the applicant's possession of a high school diploma or its equivalent. Consequently, the Senate Committee on Admissions, Records, Scheduling, and Student Aid must present annual reports on these enrollments to the Faculty Senate. The reports must include the following data, to be supplied by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, broken down by location, and whether resident instruction, continuing education, or special institute or program:

1. Number of applications
2. Number of offers
3. Number of courses (credits) attempted
4. Number of courses (credits) completed
5. Distribution of grade-point averages achieved
6. Any additional information indicating the success of the program

Procedure:

1. Proposals for special admissions programs for groups of students who do not meet all regular admission requirements are to be presented to the Senate Committee on Admissions, Records, Scheduling, and Student Aid for approval.

2. Each proposal must be submitted by its experimental program director/coordinator, through the sponsoring college dean, to the Senate Committee on Admissions, Records, Scheduling, and Student Aid not later than October 1 preceding the academic year the program is to be offered. Approved proposals must be submitted to the vice provost and dean for enrollment management and administration by November 1 for authorization to implement.

3. Criteria to be used for admissions through such programs are to be reviewed, prior to their enactment and annually thereafter if the program in question is continued by the Senate Committee on Admissions, Records, Scheduling, and Student Aid.

4. Each proposal must include, but is not limited to, the following information:

Name. Name of the experimental program.

Director/Sponsor. Name of the experimental program director/coordinator; name of the sponsoring unit or college; approval of the chief academic officer of the sponsoring unit or college; and proposed timetable for implementation. If implementing the program will involve other academic units, a statement of awareness and concurrence of the chief academic officer of each such unit must be appended.

Objectives. Statement of the scope and objectives of the experimental program, method(s) of delivery, and justification for special admission request.

Special Admissions Criteria. Specific bases and procedures to be followed with regard to admission. The Faculty Senate policies that are thought to be contravened should be enumerated, and the exception that is desired for each should be clearly stated.

Demand. Number of students, educational level, location, and degree courses for total program and in the special admission category.

Advising and Guidance. Methods for monitoring the performance of students participating in the program and/or for providing additional academic or nonacademic support. Specify all additional supporting services by kind, amount, and duration.

Review and Evaluation. A statement as to how the program will be reviewed, modified, and updated must be provided. A statement as to how information will be collected for the annual Faculty Senate review must be included.

5. Each annual report must include, but is not limited to, the following information in this format:

1. Number of applications
2. Number of offers
3. Number of enrollments
4. Number of courses attempted
5. Number of courses completed
6. A list of all Penn State courses taken and the number of special admission students in each
7. Number of students with Penn State grade-point averages from 0.00 though 0.99, 1.00 through 1.99, 2.00 through 2.99, 3.00 through 4.00
8. Mean Penn State grade-point average
9. A statement indicating the extent of faculty involvement in defining, maintaining, and monitoring the effectiveness of the program
   

The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. Please consult a Penn State academic adviser for more detailed information. Penn State is an affirmative action, equal opportunity university.