CS 3.4.3.The institution publishes admission policies consistent with its mission.
Judgment of Compliance
___X___Compliance ______Non-Compliance
Columbus State University (CSU) publishes undergraduate and graduate admission policies which are consistent with the mission of the university. The institution has a well-defined mission which, in addition to the mission, includes the articulation of a Vision, Values, and Strategic Goals and Objectives. The CSU admission policies reflect this comprehensive plan and also the institution’s designation as an access institutionas determined by the University System of Georgia (USG).
Publication of Columbus State University’s Undergraduate and Graduate Admission Policies
Columbus State University’s primary source for admission information is found online in the Columbus State University 2011-2012 Academic Catalog.[1]The online catalog is the most broadly utilized publication of the university’s official admission policies. Undergraduate[2] and graduate[3] admission policies are published in the catalog for prospective students, applicants,and officials and are available 24/7. The Board of Regents (BOR) Academic and Student Affairs Handbook provides minimumguidelines for undergraduate admission policies for Columbus State University.[4]In addition to the BOR minimum undergraduate admissionrequirements, the university has established an Admission Policy Committee to review and make recommendations on institutional admission policies. The Director of Admission, along with the Admission Policy Committee, meetseach term to review the published admission information to confirm the accuracy of the information published. When updates are necessary, the Director of Admission works with the Office of Academic Affairs to ensure the information is updated in a timely manner. The USG does not provide guidelines for graduate admission policies. To that end, the Director of Admission works directly with the Associate Provost for Graduate Studies to determine graduate admission policies.
Because publications are occasionallycreated byundergraduate and graduate programs at the departmental or college level, the Director of Admission worked with Public Relations to ensure that departments and colleges refer to the online catalog for admission policies to avoid the production and dissemination of erroneous or outdated information. The institution has also eliminated the practice of using brochures that publish specificadmission requirementsand encourages reference to admission information in the online catalog. Columbus State University is committed to reviewing publications on a regular basis to ensure publications regarding admission policies are reflected accurately.
Consistency of Admission Policies with the Mission of Columbus State University
Admission policies at Columbus State University are consistent with the mission, values, and goals of the university. The university mission statement reflects an intentionality“To achieve academic excellence through teaching, research, creative inquiry, and student engagement” and “To achieve excellence in the student experience and prepare individuals for a life of success, leadership, and responsibility through community awareness, engagement, and service to others.”[5]These elements of the mission directly impact the admission policies of the university. To that end, the Admission Policy Committee, a Faculty Senate Committee comprised of faculty and selected administrators,has establishedhigher-than-minimumundergraduate admissionrequirements. An analysis of historical enrollment data allowed the Admission Policy Committee to develop increased admission requirements for incoming undergraduate students to ensure that they have the academic preparation requiredfor success at the university level.
The values statement in the Columbus State University Strategic Plan incorporates the value of inclusion and seeks to foster a campus of diverse people, ideas, views, and practices.[6]The admission policiesof the institution provide enrollment opportunities to populations beyond that of traditional freshmen to include nontraditional and international undergraduate[7] and graduate students.[8]Institutional policies regarding the admission of Dual Enrollment, Homeschooled, International, and other populationssupport the admission of qualified candidates in these areas and are consistent with the policies established by the Board of Regents.[9]These policies support a campus climate which appreciates and embraces diversity as each of these student populations contribute a wide range of cultural awareness and diverse perspectives to the greater university community.
Admission policies at Columbus State University mirror the strategic goals and objectives of the CSU Strategic Plan. Goal 1, Objective 4focuses on meeting the community’s needs through offering expanded educational opportunities throughout the region. Columbus State University has been designated as one of three “access” institutions within the University System of Georgia. This designation isdue tothe lack of a two year college within the CSU service region. The institution’s admission policies are consistent with the role of an access institution and offer admission standards for students in the service region who need additional academic preparation through the CSU Department of Basic Studies.
The mission of Columbus State University to “expand educational opportunities throughout the region” is consistent with the vision of the Board of Regents “to create a more educated Georgia…”and supports the preservation of access opportunities for students in the region whomay not otherwise have access to higher education. To that end, the Board of Regents implemented new admission standards for students served through the access mission in the CSU service region. These requirements were implemented in Fall Semester 2011 and now include minimum scores in each area of the COMPASS exam (reading, English, and mathematics). They also prevent students from being admitted who score below thestate-prescribed minimumin all three areas. While these higher admission standards do somewhat limit admission opportunities, they reflect a genuine desire to continue toserve local students and to create a more educated citizenry in Georgia, while ensuring that studentsadmitted to CSU are ready for the academic challenges of a four-year institution.
As the university embraces the role of access institution for students in the region, it also strategically seeks to recruit more academically qualified undergraduate and graduate students (Goal 2, Objective 4).[10]This effort has been supported by increased selectivity in the admission standards for the undergraduate student population. The staff of Enrollment Services and the faculty and staff of the Admission Policy Committee have reviewed past student retention rates and initial admission standards of incoming freshmen cohorts to determine their long term success at the institution. The factors reviewed include high school grade point averages, standardized test scores, and dates of application. This data strongly influenced the Admission Policy Committee to revise and implement a three year phase in plan to increase the minimum high school grade point average required for admission. The minimum high school grade point average required for admission was increased to 2.3 in Fall 2011 and will be increased to 2.4 and 2.5 for Fall 2012 and Fall 2013, respectively.
Columbus State University, in accordance with the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia has a number of admission categories. All categories of the admission policy are consistent with CSU Strategic Goal 2, “To increase enrollment to 10,000 students…”[11]Each category of undergraduate and graduateadmission policyis described below with an explanation of how each is consistent with and supports the institutional mission.
Undergraduate Admission at Columbus State University
Columbus State University is classified as a “state university” by the University System of Georgia. As a state university, CSU adheres to the USG-established minimum requirements for admission of students.[12]However, the Board of Regents also allows institutions to set standards higher than the minimum. As part of the University’s goal to recruit and retain academically talented students, the university has instituted requirements that exceed the minimum requirements established by the BOR.
The minimum standardized test score requirements are published in the Board of Regents Academic and Student Affairs Handbook.Applicants for regular admission must earn a minimum SAT score of at least 430 on the Verbal/Critical Reading section and at least 400 on Math (or an ACT score of 17 on the English and Math portions of the exam).[13]The standardized test scores required for admission to Columbus State University are ten points higher than the state minimum on the SAT exam (440 Verbal/Critical Reading and 410 Math).
Standardized test score requirements are published in the CSU catalog.[14] These increased standards as well as other admissions policies are published on the Admission website and included in undergraduate admission materials. Entering freshmen admission requirements are:
440 Critical Reading/410 Math (SAT) and a 2.4 High School GPA
Columbus State University undergraduate student admission categories are classified according to the student’s academic history and incoming admission status request. The Columbus State University admission categories and classifications are outlined below along with a description of related publications and types of communication related to the policy. Each category includes an explanation of how the university mission is supported.
Dual Enrollment/Early Admission of High School Students
Columbus State University supports the USG philosophy of providing “academically talented high school students with opportunities for acceleration of their formal academic programs.”[15]Students who wish to enroll concurrently in high school and college level courses may enroll in the Dual Enrollment program. Interested high school students who desire to enroll in college on a full-time basis following their junior year, may enroll in the Early Admission program. Students admitted under this category must meetadditional requirements as established by the Board of Regents.[16]The institution has made a strong commitment to this program and provides a comprehensive support system to assist Dual Enrollment or Early Admission students. Within the university mission statement, it is noted that the university seeks “to achieve excellence in student experience and prepare individuals for a life of success, leadership, and responsibility through community awareness, engagement, and service to others.”[17] The Dual Enrollment and Early Admissionprograms provide a support system to the public and private schools in the region through the delivery of academic course work which might not otherwise be available for students in the secondary school.This provides the opportunity for these students to graduate from high school with advanced post-secondary education preparation.
Entering Freshmen
The admission requirements for entering freshmen are:
- Completion of the College Preparatory Curriculum(CPC)/Required High SchoolCurriculum RHSC(as stated in BOR policy);[18]
- a minimum SAT I verbal score of 440 and a minimum SAT I math score of 410(BOR policy);[19] and
- 2.4 high school grade point average based on the CPC or RHSC.
These requirements are available online to prospective students in the region, state, and abroad.Each year CSU sends high school studentsenrollment information indicating the admission requirements and describingthe programs available at CSU. Prospective students may receive multiple e-mail messages referencing specific points of interest at the institution.High school counselors and career counselors are provided publications which describe admission requirements as well as academic programs.The admission of freshmen supports Goal 1 of the CSU Strategic Plan[20] to “Achieve excellence in undergraduate and graduate education to meet student and community needs” and to providestudents an opportunity to reach their educational and career goals which will subsequently improve the cultural and economic statusof the region.
Non-traditional Student Admission
In accordance with BOR policy, non-traditional applicants are defined as individuals who meet all of the following criteria:
1. have been out of high school at least five years or whose high school class graduated at least five years ago;
2. hold a high school diploma from an accredited or approved high school or have satisfactorily completed the GED; and
3. have earned fewer than 30 transferable semester credit hours.[21]
Non-traditional students comprise 17%ofthe CSU student body.Applicants with less than 30 semester hours of transferable credit arescreened for placement in Learning Support courses using the COMPASS exam and must meet Board of Regents criteria for exemption or exit from learning support in reading, English, and mathematics. As an alternative, non-traditional students who have posted SAT scores of at least 500 in both verbal and mathematics (or ACT scores of at least 21 on both English and mathematics)within the past seven years may exempt the COMPASS placement exam. Non-traditional student applicants who completed the College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) in high school (or who graduated from high school prior to Spring 2006) may be admitted based on minimum freshman admission requirements.
These policies are presented on the Admissionwebsite,[22] in the Columbus State University 2011-2012 Academic Catalog,[23]and in the undergraduate admission application packet.[24]The university actively communicates with area businesses, public schools, and community organizations to provide admission policies and academic program information for prospective non-traditional students. Numerous support services, such as adult re-entry, are used to introduce non-traditional students to university policies and programs and to help guide them through the admission process. This effort supports Goal 1, Objective 4 of the CSU Strategic plan to “expand educational opportunities throughout the region.”[25]
Home-Schooled Student Admission
CSU promotes admission opportunities for qualified home-schooled students. This underscores the Strategic Goal 1 to “Achieve excellence in undergraduate and graduate education to meet student and community needs.”[26]Guidelines for admission of home-schooled students and of students from non-accredited/recognized high schools have been established by the Board of Regents and by CSU. Requirements are found within the institutional catalog.[27]Due to the special needs and complexity of the admissions requirements for these students, trained admissions counselors are available to guide them through the admission process. Students with a diploma from a regionally accredited home-study program or a diploma from the Center of the Accrediting Council for Independent Study (Georgia only) may be considered for admission based on meeting the minimum requirements for admission as shown in the Board of Regents admission policy[28] as well as the CSU catalog[29] and the Columbus State University website.[30]
Transfer, Transient, and Re-Entry
CSU serves a large population of transfer students and has experienced an increase of 5.9% of transfer students since Fall 2006. In 2010, 185 of the transfer students came from institutions within Georgia. Students who are eligible to return to the institution last attended and who have earned transferable credit may be classified as a transfer student. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended must be submitted. Applicants who have earned 30 or more semester hours of transferrable credit must have a minimum transfer grade point average of 2.0 and meet all learning support requirements. Transfer students who have earned fewer than 30 semester hours of transfer credit must satisfy all requirements for admission as an entering freshman. Transfer students receive detailed information regarding their transfer credit and may review course work accepted as transfer credit by visiting the CSU Integrated Student Information System (ISIS) which is a secure site available to each student.
A student enrolled at an approved institution may enroll for one semester at CSU as a transient student. Applicants must provide a statement signed by the registrar of the institution last attended approving enrollment as a transient student as CSU. These policies are publishedwithin the Columbus State University 2011-2012 Academic Catalog[31] and in the BOR Policy Manual.[32]
Former CSU students who wish to enroll after being out for a year or more must submit an application for re-entry (readmission). Students who have enrolled at other institutions must request that official transcripts be sent to the Admissions Office. Admission policies for returning students are found in the institutional catalog.[33]
Serving students classified with transfer, transient, and re-entry status supports the institutional mission to “prepare individuals for a life of success, leadership, and responsibility through community awareness, engagement, and service to others” in an environment focused on academic excellence.[34] Recent economic challenges around the globe have forced students to reconsider their plans related to higher education due to permanent relocation requiring transfer of coursework, temporary relocation requiring transient coursework, or re-entry because they were forced to take time off of their education for financial or personal reasons. Transfer, transient, and re-entry status allows students to continue to make progress toward their educational and career goals in a supportive and inclusive environment.
Post-Baccalaureate Students
An applicant with a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution may enroll under the classification of post-baccalaureate student by submitting an official transcript from the institution that conferred the baccalaureate degree.The core curriculum regulations do not apply to students in this category. Students pursuing an additional baccalaureate degree must satisfy degree requirements and must complete a minimum of 30 semester credit hours in residence at Columbus State University. Post-baccalaureate policies are found in the institutional catalog.[35]Although students admitted in this category have already earned baccalaureate degrees, they also contribute to the mission to provide excellence in the undergraduate student experience.
International Student Admission
CSU currently has more than 100 international students enrolled and actively recruits students from all over the world. This category supports the value of inclusion in the Columbus State University Strategic Plan and seeks to foster a campus of diverse people, ideas, views, and practices. International Students must meet all requirements as prescribed by the Board of Regents.[36]At CSU, admission for international students at the undergraduate or graduate level is equivalent to admission for non-international students.International students must also show proof of English proficiency and meet admission requirements as outlined in the institutional catalog.[37]