NCSU Compliance - Program #3

Comprehensive Standards: Educational Programs 3.4.3 (publishes admissions policies)
The institution publishes admissions policies consistent with its mission.

Compliance
North Carolina State University is in compliance with this standard.

Explanation
The Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina (BOG) specifies minimum admissions course requirements for all 16 campuses of the university system, and it delegates the authority to develop specific admissions criteria to NC State University.

Undergraduate Admissions
Admission to NC State University has become very competitive as demand for admission continues to outpace available space. For instance, the Institutional Strategy and Analysis website provides demographic evidence to support this claim. In 1994, approximately 78% of applicants were admitted to NC State University. In 2002, however, only 59% of applicants were accepted, even though the university actually admitted almost 100 more freshmen in 2002 than in 1994 (freshman profiles).

It is believed that the increasing number of highly qualified applicants reflects NC State University’s strong reputation for exemplary academic programs befitting the university’s mission.

Our mission emphasizes intellectual rigor, strong problem-solving skills, curiosity, leadership and personal responsibility. Admissions policies accurately reflect this mission. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions posts a wealth of information about its policies on the Web. The Undergraduate Admissions page advises students of the factors that are considered in admissions decisions, including a clear indication of the degree of competition among our varied academic programs. In keeping with current cultural trends, NC State University also provides advice on non-public and home school requirements. Information for both traditional and nontraditional students is posted on the freshman admissions page.

Besides advice on coursework, NC State University also provides advice on admissions factors related to the mission of the university. For instance, the freshman admissions page advises interested applicants that admissions decisions consider leadership and community service.

Likewise, admission for students transferring from other colleges and universities is very competitive. Transfer applications greatly exceed available space. A minimum of thirty semester hours of college level work is required for transfer admission. Transfer admission is based on grade point average achieved and specific courses completed.

Admissions criteria are reviewed yearly by the director of Undergraduate Admissions with the dean of each college. The director of undergraduate admissions reports annually on admissions policies and admissions decisions to the Undergraduate Admissions faculty committee. Admissions policies are reviewed as needed by the admissions committee. Admissions criteria provided in the university Handbook for Advising and Teaching informs the campus community of the factors and process involved in admissions decisions.

In addition, a University Admissions Committee oversees the undergraduate admissions process. Specifically, this committee—comprised of faculty, staff, and student representatives—advises the director of Undergraduate Admissions on undergraduate admissions policy and reviews applications for readmission and continuation by students who are on or subject to suspension.

Admissions information makes clear to students that they may either seek admission in a particular college within NC State University or apply for admission to the First Year College.

Admissions requirements for distance education programs are the same as for on-campus programs.

Graduate Admissions
The minimum requirements for admission to the Graduate School are:

· The applicant must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university as determined by a regional or general accrediting agency. They must have at least a "B" average in their undergraduate major or in their last graduate degree program.

· The Graduate School may grant provisional admission to applicants with baccalaureate degrees from accredited institutions but who lack undergraduate work considered essential for graduate study in a major field.

These requirements reflect our research-extensive mission and are published in the Graduate Catalog, the Graduate Administrative Handbook and Graduate School Regulations.

Individual graduate programs may have more restrictive or additional requirements. The additional requirements are published by the programs and can be found in the NC State University Graduate Catalog and on the Web.

References

Detailed freshmen admissions information (http://www7.acs.ncsu.edu/uga/fradmiss.htm)

Detailed transfer admissions information (http://www7.acs.ncsu.edu/uga/transfer/transreqs.htm)

The Graduate Administrative Handbook, Chapter 2 (http://www.fis.ncsu.edu/grad_publicns/handbook/)

The Graduate Catalog: applications and admissions (http://www.fis.ncsu.edu/grad_catalog/cat-aai.htm), fields offering graduate degrees (http://www.grad.ncsu.edu/catalog/default.asp), and home pages for degree programs and minors (http://www.grad.ncsu.edu/calendar/scripts/dplinks.asp)

Graduate School Regulations on admission to the Graduate School (http://www2.ncsu.edu/prr/academic_affairs/grad_schl/REG235.00.2.3.php) and admissions requirements for international students (http://www2.ncsu.edu/prr/academic_affairs/grad_schl/REG235.00.2.4.php)

NC State University’s mission statement (http://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/UPA/strategicplan/mission.htm)

An overview of course requirements for all University of North Carolina institutions (http://www.northcarolina.edu/student_info/mcr.cfm)

Profiles of freshman for the past ten years (http://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/upa/admissions/fresprof.htm)

A statement on the authority to establish admissions criteria (http://www.northcarolina.edu/content.php/policies/Appendix_1_only_web.htm#VIII)

Regulation for Readmission of Former and Academically Suspended Undergraduate Degree Students (REG02.10.2) (http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/enrollment/admissions/REG02.10.2.php )

Transfer information in the University Handbook for Advising and Teaching (http://www.ncsu.edu/provost/hat/current/ch02/0101.html)