Chapter 2
ADMISSIONS INFORMATION
ADMISSION OF
STUDENTS NEW TO Clayton State University
READMISSION OF FORMER Clayton State University STUDENTS
REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL APPLICANTS
To be admitted to Clayton State University, a new
student must qualify under one of the admission categories listed below. Applicants in all categories must submit (1) a completed application for
admission with immunization form, (2) the required application fee, and (3) all
documents required by the appropriate category under which they are
applying.
The admissions application and immunization form may be obtained
from the Office of Recruitment in the Student Center Building or on-line at www.clayton.edu. If you need assistance or have questions
about admission, please contact the Office of Recruitment by email Clayton State University-info@mail.clayton.edu
or call 770-961-3500. If you have
questions after your application has
been submitted, please contact the Office of Enrollment Services
(770-961-3511).
Application
DEADLINES
To
insure admission consideration for a given term, applicants in all categories
must meet the appropriate application deadline* as follows:
Fall
Semester...........................July 1
Spring
Semester......................December 1
Summer
Semester...................April 1
* Next business day when the first falls on a weekend.
Applications
received after the deadline may be considered if workload allows, but the
University cannot guarantee that processing will be completed in time for the
beginning of the upcoming semester.
Students admitted late may find that class availability is limited and
access to limited space programs may be unavailable. Procedures for late applications may be found at www.clayton.edu.
TRANSCRIPTS AND TEST SCORES
High school and/or college transcripts must be official copies in
sealed envelopes provided by the high school and/or college; student copies are
not acceptable.* Test scores (SAT I
& II, ACT, AP) must be submitted to Clayton State University directly from the testing service
or on the official high school transcript; copies provided by the student are
not acceptable. In cases requiring the SAT II, the University will provide
information about which tests are needed and what scores are acceptable.
*Clayton State University
will accept electronic transcripts from some University System of Georgia
institutions.
Admission
Categories
Applicants for admission to Clayton State University are
classified into one of the following categories:
• Recent High School Graduates (graduation class in the past five
years)
• Non‑traditional Applicants (graduation class more than five
years ago and not a transfer)
• Transfer Students
• Freshmen Scholars (concurrent high school/university enrollment)
• Transient Students
• International Students
• Other
Categories (post-baccalaureate, auditors, age 62 and older)
These categories are defined and
explained under the headings that follow.
Program
admission
General admission to the University does not guarantee admission
to certain programs that have limited enrollment capacity and/or additional
standards. This includes such programs
as nursing, dental hygiene, music, teacher education, and information
technology. Please consult the
appropriate chapters of this catalog for full information.
The new student orientation program is an important set of
activities designed to acquaint new students with the resources available at
Clayton State University. The program is tailored for the unique
needs of all students, and there are programs for freshmen, transfer students,
transients, and families of new students.
All new students are encouraged to participate.
During the program, students will have an opportunity to meet
faculty and students, become familiar with campus facilities, and be introduced
to the wide variety of student services and activities available to the campus
community.
At the conclusion of orientation, students will meet with faculty
advisors and register for courses. New
freshmen are strongly encouraged to enroll in Clayton State University 1000 - Student Success
Seminar.
Orientation details are provided after the student has been
accepted to the University. Call
770-961-3510 for additional information.
This category
is designed for students who have recently graduated from high school or who
will do so soon. Students in their
senior year of high school who anticipate graduating prior to their admission
to Clayton State University (Clayton State University) are in this category. Applicants in this category must have
graduated from high school within the past five years, and if they have been to
college they must have completed fewer than 30 semester hours (or quarter
equivalent) of college-level credit. Applicants who have 30 or more credit
hours of college-level work must apply under the transfer category.
Clayton State University’s admission standards are based on grade point
average, College Preparatory Curriculum, and standardized test scores as
explained under the headings below.
Depending of their level of achievement in high school, accepted
applicants are classified into “regular” or “limited” admission status.
STANDARDS FOR “REGULAR” ADMISSION STATUS
1. College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC)
Completed.
To qualify for regular admission to Clayton State, an applicant must
have graduated from an accredited high school and completed the “college prep”
high school courses specified by the University System of Georgia College
Preparatory Curriculum as follows:
·
four years of college prep English
·
four years of college prep mathematics
·
three years of college prep science
·
three years of college prep social
studies
·
two years of college prep foreign
language
Applicants
with questions about the CPC should contact their high school counselors or
call the Clayton State University Office of Recruitment (770-961-3500). Alternate ways to meet the CPC requirement are explained later in
this chapter under the heading Alternate Methods to meet CPC requirement.
2. Freshman Index (FI) of 2000.
The FI is calculated based on a sliding
scale between high school grade point average in CPC courses (HSGPA) and
standardized test scores (SAT or ACT). To qualify for regular admission to Clayton State University, an applicant must have
achieved the following:
·
SAT-ACT Minimum: SAT-I score
of at least at least 830 with subscore minimums of 430 verbal and 400 math (or
ACT score of at least 17 English and 17
math).
·
Freshman Index (FI) of at least 2000. The FI is calculated as follows:
-- Using SAT-I:
SATV + SATM + (HSGPA x 500).
-- Using
ACT: (ACT composite score x 42) +
(HSGPA x 500) + 88.
For example, using the SAT, a student with scores of 510V and 520M
and a HSGPA of 3.00 would have an FI of 2,530 (510 + 520 + [3.00 x 500] =
2,530).
STANDARDS FOR “LIMITED” ADMISSION STATUS
Students who
meet the minimum standards for “limited” admission but not for “regular”
admission will be reviewed by the Admission Appeals Committee, and a restricted
number of students will be admitted based on the committee’s judgment of the
applicants' likelihood for academic success.
Students admitted in this status may be required to take additional
placement tests and may be required by the institution to take Learning Support
courses if indicated by test results.
To qualify for consideration based on “limited” admission status, an
applicant must have achieved the following:
·
Freshman Index (FI) of 1830.
-- SAT-ACT Minimum: Same as “regular”
status; i.e., SAT-I score of at least
at least 830 with subscore minimums of 430 verbal and 400 math (or ACT score of
at least 17 English and 17 math).
-- Freshman Index (FI) of at least 1830. See the
“regular” status heading for details on calculation of the FI.
Vocational ONLY Admission
Students who wish to enter a certificate or career associate
degree program (except Information Technology) may be admitted under the
limited category if they do not qualify for regular admission. This applies especially to students in “Tech
Prep” programs in high school. Certain
substitutions in CPC requirements may be made for such students. Students limited to a vocational only
admission may not change majors to a non-vocational major until they have
exempted or exited from all Learning Support requirements and have completed
all of the Core Curriculum courses (Area A-E) in the A.A.S. (minimum 18 hours)
with a GPA of at least 2.00 in Core.
Contact the Office of Recruitment for details (770-961-3500).
HOME SCHOOL GRADUATES
Clayton State University can admit home-schooled students whose SAT/ACT test scores
indicate strong potential for academic success. Contact the Office of Recruitment for details (770-961-3500).
Alternate Methods to meet CPC
Requirement
Students who did not meet CPC requirements by coursework at a
recognized high school may meet the requirements by earning the required score
on the appropriate SAT II examination(s).
Contact the Office of Recruitment for details (770-961-3500).
In certain cases, a student who has a deficiency in the 16
required CPC units may be admitted by Presidential Exception. Such students will be required to take one
course in each area of deficiency. The
approved courses are as follows:
Science (laboratory): BIOL 1111/1111L, SCI 1111/1111L, CHEM
1151/1151L, or PHYS 1111/1111L.
Social Sciences: SOCI 1101, PSYC 1101, POLS 2201, HIST 1110.
Foreign Languages: any course numbered 1001.
Courses taken to meet CPC requirements cannot be used to satisfy any
other requirements but may count as prerequisites.
Students are strongly
encouraged to enroll in CPC deficiency make-up courses during their first term
of enrollment. Any students who have
not made up their College Preparatory Curriculum deficiencies by the time they
have earned 24 semester hours of college degree credit must be enrolled in CPC deficiency courses. Students who have not removed College
Preparatory Curriculum deficiencies by the time they have earned 30 hours of
college degree credits may not enroll in any college degree courses until all
CPC deficiencies are satisfied.
Special
Admission Circumstances
A recent high school graduate otherwise not eligible for admission
may be considered for admission in two circumstances: (1) if the applicant has
(SAT I or ACT) scores in the upper five percent of national college-bound
seniors and shows other evidence of college readiness, and (2) if the President
determines that the applicant shows exceptional talent and promise for
success. Such presidential exceptions
are very limited. Contact the Office of
Recruitment for details.
The non-traditional
category applies to applicants who have been out of high school for at least
five years and who have no (or very little) college credit. Non-traditional students are encouraged to
consider taking the “Academic Skills Tune-up” or other courses offered in
Continuing Education (770-961-3550) prior to applying for University admission.
Applicants in this category do not have to meet the same standards as recent
high school graduates and do not have to submit SAT or ACT test scores. (Non-traditional applicants may submit
recent SAT/ACT scores if they wish to.)
To qualify for non-traditional admission, all four of the
following criteria must apply:
1. Applicants must have graduated from an accredited or approved high
school or have satisfactorily completed the General Educational Development
(GED).
2. Applicants must have been out of high school
for at least five years. (For GED holders, their original high school class
must have graduated at least five years ago.)
3. Applicants who have attended college must have
earned fewer than 30 semester hours of transferable credit. (Official transcripts required.)
4. Applicants who have attended college must
either
a) have not attended within the past five years,
or
b) have been admitted to their last college as a
non-traditional student and be in good standing at that institution.
Students admitted in the
non-traditional category must take the COMPASS placement test prior to
enrolling in any classes.* If the
COMPASS indicates the need for Learning Support courses, the non-traditional
student will be required to enroll in
such courses and must exit Learning Support in accordance with general Learning
Support policy. (See the Academic
Information chapter.)**
* A non-traditional applicant is exempt from taking the COMPASS if
he or she has taken the SAT within the past seven years and scored at least
500V and 500M (or ACT 21E and 21M).
** Prescreening tests may be required before the student is
admitted. When this requirement is in
effect, applicants are notified.
TRANSFER APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Like all applicants,
transfers must submit a Clayton State University application form and immunization form by the
deadline mentioned earlier in this chapter.
In addition, transfer applicants must submit official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended
regardless of whether the student has any transferable hours from the
institution. Official transcripts must
arrive in sealed envelopes. (Clayton State University will
accept electronic transcripts from certain other University System
institutions.) Student copies of
transcripts are not acceptable.
Special note for transfer applicants with fewer than 30 semester hours
of transferable credit*: In addition
to meeting the transfer standards explained below, applicants in this status
must also meet freshman admission standards as either a "recent high
school graduate" or "non-traditional student" depending on the
date of high school graduation. This requires
submission of the official high school transcript (or GED record) in addition
to submitting college and university transcripts.
TRANSFER ADMISSION STANDARDS – REGULAR ADMISSION
1. Students transferring to
Clayton State University must have a transfer GPA** of at least 2.00.
2. A student transferring 30
or more semester hours* from within the University System of Georgia must have
met any CPC deficiency or Learning Support requirements of the sending
institution before transferring to Clayton State University.
Any student who meets the
regular status transfer admission standard and complies with all deadlines and
document requirements will be admitted to Clayton State University. Admission to selective admission programs such as nursing, dental
hygiene, teacher education, and information technology is not guaranteed and
may require a separate application form.
* Transferable credit
excludes institutional credit courses, CPC deficiency make-up courses, and
vocational courses unless accepted to apply to a Clayton State University program.
** The GPA is based on all
transferable hours plus attempted but
unearned hours in courses that would have transferred to Clayton State University if credit had
been awarded.
TRANSFER ADMISSION STANDARDS – LIMITED
A restricted number of
transfer students who do not have a transfer GPA of at least 2.00 may be
admitted if they show “promise for success” as determined by the Clayton State University Admission
Appeals Committee. (Often this involves
cases in which recent grades are acceptable, but older grades keep the overall
GPA down.) Applicants may be required
to submit essays or documentation in support of their applications. If granted admission, the student may have
to abide by certain restrictions.
GENERAL POLICIES ON TRANSFER STUDENTS
1. Appeal of Admission Rejection. Transfer applicants who are
rejected for either of the following reasons may submit an appeal for
reconsideration:
a. any applicant who
fails to meet the standards for Regular Transfer admission as described above,
i.e., 2.00 transfer GPA and other standards, if applicable.
b. any applicant who is ineligible to return to his or her previous
institution because of academic or disciplinary suspension or dismissal
(expulsion, exclusion, etc.).
The applicant must file a statement of appeal and may be required
to submit documentation. Admission to
Clayton State University will be based on the Admission Appeal Committee’s judgment concerning the
likelihood of the individual’s academic and/or disciplinary success at Clayton State University.
2. Academic Standing. A student admitted as a transfer is
subject to the academic standing regulations at his or her previous
institutions(s) and to the academic
standing regulations for students already attending Clayton State University. This means that all probations, suspensions,
and dismissals (exclusions, expulsions, etc.) carry over from the sending institution(s). In certain relatively rare cases, this can
also mean that a student who was in good standing at his or her previous
institution will be admitted to Clayton State University on probation because of the student’s
total transfer GPA.
3. Acceptable Credit. Clayton State University will normally and
routinely accept credit for all college-level work earned with acceptable
grades (see item 4) at regionally accredited colleges and universities provided
that the courses are comparable to one ones offered at Clayton State University or otherwise
appropriate for application to the Clayton State University curriculum. Credit from non-accredited institutions is not normally
accepted.*
Important note: Due to variations in curricula in specific majors (e.g.,
nursing, information technology), courses completed at another institution may
not apply to the major at Clayton State University.
* An applicant with
credit from institutions that are not regionally accredited may appeal for
acceptance based on evidence that the work is equivalent to college-level
courses offered by accredited institutions.
The burden of proof rests with the applicant. The appeal will be reviewed by the Registrar and the appropriate
dean with the final decision resting with the Office of the Vice President for
Academic Affairs.
4. Grade Requirements. A
minimum grade of D will be accepted
for transfer credit in lower division (1000‑2000) courses except ENGL
1101, which requires a grade of C. A minimum grade of C is required for transfer credit in upper division (3000‑4000)
courses. Some programs of study
(majors) at Clayton State University require a grade of C or better (or K) in all or some courses in the field. Acceptance of a course with a grade of D by the University does not guarantee acceptance in the specific
program.
5. “2 + 2” Programs. A student who has earned a career associate degree (A.A.S.,
A.A.T., A.S.N., A.S.D.H., etc.) may be admitted to a “2+2” baccalaureate
program (B.S.N., B.A.S.) in accordance with the policies in the School of
Technology and School of Health Sciences chapters.
6. Placement
Examinations. Transfer students may be required to
participate in the University’s placement examination process and, based on
those results, may be strongly recommended or required to enroll in specified
courses or other learning experiences.
Specifically, any applicant without credit for MATH 1111 or higher must
take the math placement test before enrolling in a math class at Clayton State University.
7. Learning Support. Transfer applicants will be screened for previous participation
in the University System of Georgia Learning Support program. Previous
participants must furnish Clayton State with a complete record of their test
performance on all required tests. Students who have not exited an area at the
sending institution will be bound by Clayton State University’s
Learning Support requirements, and the University may require additional
testing to help determine an applicant’s qualifications for admission.
Important Note: Transfer students who have questions about the evaluation of their
transfer work should contact the Registrar’s Office (770-961-5110). Specific concerns about the transfer or
degree applicability of core curriculum courses from University System of
Georgia institutions should be directed to the Associate Vice President for
Academic Affairs (Transfer Ombudsman), 770-961-3538.
Concurrent High School / University Enrollment
The Freshman Scholar
Program offers outstanding high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to accelerate
their academic programs by taking courses at Clayton State University. The Freshman Scholar
Program includes three options available to qualified high school students:
• The
Joint Enrollment Program allows outstanding high school students to
accelerate their education by earning college credit at Clayton State University. This program enables
participants to fulfill high school graduation requirements and, at the same
time, acquire fully accredited college credits. Qualified students may enroll in the program at the beginning of
any academic semester.
• The Postsecondary Option
Program (PSO) offers the same
opportunities as the Joint Enrollment Program but also involves a grant for
tuition. PSO is available to both
qualified juniors and seniors enrolled in Georgia’s public high schools. Matriculation fees for students electing the
PSO program are paid through the Tuition Grant Program. A student wishing to enroll in the PSO
program must obtain a Tuition Grant form from his or her high school guidance
counselor prior to registering for classes each semester. (This program is not available during Summer
Term.)
• The Early Admissions Program
allows qualified high school seniors to accelerate their education by enrolling
as full‑time students at Clayton State University before
they actually graduate from high school but credit does not apply to high
school. Qualified students may enroll
in this program at the beginning of any academic semester at Clayton State University.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
To be considered for Freshman Scholar admission, a student must submit
the following documentation by the deadline for the academic term:
·
Freshman Scholar
application
·
Clayton State University application
and immunization form
·
official high
school transcript(s)
·
SAT or ACT
scores.
Because the Freshman Scholar Program involves close cooperation between Clayton State University and the high school, it is important that students considering one of these options work closely with their high school counselors and/or principals. For further information, students should contact the Freshman Scholar Advisor in the Office of Counseling and Career Services (770