The University of Southern Colorado welcomes applications from all persons interested in post-sec­ondary education.  The Office of Admissions and Records is located in the Administration building.  Prospective students may obtain information about all USC programs, as well as university admission procedures, from the Office of Admissions and Records.  Campus tours are available Monday through Friday. 

Prospective students should make advance arrangements for a tour by calling (719) 549-2461.

All correspondence concerning admission and campus visits should be addressed to the Office of Admissions and Records, University of Southern Colorado, 2200 Bonforte Boulevard, Pueblo, CO  81001-4901 or by e-mail to info@colostate-pueblo.edu.

ENTERING FRESHMEN

Admission Standards

The University of Southern Colorado’s admission process is designed to promote diversity within the student population and to assure equal access to qualified applicants.  The final admission decision is based on the applicant’s potential for attaining a degree  at the university.

First-time applicants are eligible for consideration for admission to the University of Southern Colorado if the CCHE admissions index score is 80 or higher. The score can be achieved by various combinations of high school grade-point average and ACT composite or SAT combined scores.  Such combinations include:

If applicants do not achieve an index score of at least 80, the credentials will be reviewed by an admissions committee which will base a recommendation for admission on:

1) the applicant’s academic and personal potential to benefit from or contribute to university programs; and 2) the applicant’s previous academic record.

Students with non-traditional backgrounds are encouraged to apply

• NOTE: Acceptance by the university does not 
  necessarily mean acceptance into a particular 
  degree program, some of which have admission 
  requirements beyond those of the university.

Admission Requirements

Students may apply any time after the completion of their junior year in high school.  One official transcript of high school work should be sent directly to the Office of Admissions and Records from the high school, and a final transcript must be submitted after the applicant graduates from high school.  Students who apply on the basis of the General Education Development (GED) tests in place of high school  graduation must have the agency issuing the GED tests forward the test scores (not the certificate) to the Office of Admissions and Records.

Applicants must submit:

1) a completed USC application;

2) a $25 application fee (non-refundable);

3) an official transcript of high school records or GED scores (Transcripts must be sent directly to USC from the high school to be considered official); and

4) scores from either the ACT or the SAT.

NOTE:  Applicants who have completed their secondary education through alternative options such as home schooling should submit documentation of that education (i.e., transcript, portfolio, narrative statements of accomplishment, etc).  Consideration for  admission will be in a similar manner as that for applicants from traditional high school programs,but additional emphasis will be placed on scores obtained on standardized examinations.

Graduates of Colorado high schools participating in the standards based admissions project will be considered according to the current state guidelines for that project.  Application Deadlines

For the best scholarship, registration time, and housing considerations, applicants should apply and be admitted as early as possible.  Those still in high school may apply once they have completed six semesters.  To be considered for a specific term, all documents required for admission must be received in the Office of Admissions by the deadline for that term.  Transfer students should allow sufficient time to have transcripts sent from all institutions previously attended.

Application forms and credentials must be filed by the following deadlines:

For application information for off-campus programs in Colorado Springs and for the External Degree Completion Program, please contact an advisor in the Division of Continuing Education.

Minimum High School Academic Preparation Standards (MAPS)

Students who meet the course requirements for graduation from a Colorado high school also meet the minimum academic preparation standards for admission to the University of Southern Colorado.  However, to be prepared to take full advantage of the university’s academic programs, and to strengthen the probability of graduation and career success, the university strongly recommends that students  complete the following course work while in high school:

four years of English;

three years of mathematics including two years of algebra and one year of geometry;

two years of natural science including at least one year of physical science;

two years of social studies including American government; and two years of a single foreign language.

Advanced Placement

See Credit by Examination (Academic Policies section).

TRANSFER STUDENTS

Students who have attended other colleges or universities and are seeking admission to USC for the first time must submit:

1) a completed USC application;

2) a $25 application fee (non-refundable);

3) official transcripts sent directly to USC from each 
    college attended. Transcripts must be sent 
    directly to USC from each college/university 
    attended to be considered official; and

4) Final high school transcripts and ACT or SAT 
    scores must also be submitted if total transfer 
    credits earned are less than 15 transferable 
    semester hours.

Note: Transfer students who have less than 15 
transferable collegiate semester credit hours must 
meet the first-time freshmen standards and have a 
2.000 GPA in previous college courses.  This includes 
international applicants.

Transfer students must be in good standing at the institution last attended and have at least a 2.000 cumulative grade-point average.   If not, the records will be reviewed and a recommendation on admission will be made by the admissions committee.

Students who are enrolled at another institution at the time application for admission is made to USC should arrange to have one official transcript from the current institution sent with the application.  A final transcript should be sent when the final term is completed.  Transferred credit will be evaluated as soon as possible after official transcripts have been received from all colleges previously attended and the students been accepted for admission.  Each student must indicate all previous college experience on his or her application. Applicants may not ignore previous college attendance.  Students who fail to inform the Office of Admissions and Records of all previous college work will be subject to delay of admission, loss of credit, rejection of application and/or cancellation of enrollment.

Transfer Agreements

USC is dedicated to the concept of guaranteed transfer opportunities for students enrolled at any of Colorado’s public two-year and four-year institutions.  Information on transfer agreements is available in the Office of Admissions and Records.  Additional information appears in the Academic Policies section of this catalog.

Transfer of Credit

Transfer students should be aware of the 10-year time limit on credit earned toward a bachelor’s degree, which applies to both transfer and resident credit.  (Additional information appears in the Academic Policies section of this catalog.)

Credit is accepted by USC from institutions accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools or similar regional accrediting bodies.  For credit toward degree requirements, USC accepts a maximum of 60 semester hours from community or junior colleges and/or a maximum of 90 semester hours from four-year institutions.

Transfer grades and credits are not computed within the cumulative grade point average earned at the University of Southern Colorado. Courses with grades of D or F are not accepted for transfer with two exceptions: (1) Grades of D in General Education courses are accepted in transferring Colorado Community College and Occupational Educational System core courses if the student has fully completed either an AA or AS degree with at least a 2.000 cumulative grade-point average; (2) Credit earned by a USC student participating in the National Student Exchange will be treated as resident credit.  The courses, grades and credits will be recorded on the USC transcript as if they were earned in residence at this university.

The University of Southern Colorado may accept the AA or AS degree from other states as fulfilling the university’s general education requirements.  Transcripts will be reviewed on request by the Office of Admissions and Records to determine if general education requirements are satisfied.  Credit from an institution without regional accreditation may be accepted by petition for transfer after the student has completed at least 24 semester hours at USC with a C (2.000) average or better.

The university accepts up to eight semester hours of cooperative education courses in transfer. Cooperative education course work, to be acceptable, must include a clearly defined academic element,  such as a study plan or reading assignments.

Military service credit is evaluated when official copies of certificates are received at USC.  Courses are evaluated according to the American Council on Education (ACE) Guidelines.  A maximum of 20 semester hours of credit is counted toward a bac­calaureate degree.  Credit is not given for military service work experience.

Acceptance of credit does not necessarily mean that a specific department will accept the same credit toward its major requirements. Each department evaluates transfer courses to determine applicability to major and minor requirements.

All application materials for applicants who decide not to enroll for the term for which they applied will be kept on file in the Office of Admissions and Records for one year.

College Level Examination Program

See Credit by Examination (Academic Policies section).

Appeals Process

If a student disputes the university’s evaluation of credits from other Colorado public institutions, the student must file a written appeal with the Director of Admissions and Records within 15 calendar days of  receiving the evaluation.  If the student fails to file an appeal within the 15-day period, the decision made in the transfer evaluation will be binding.

The Director of Admissions and Records will have 30 calendar days to review the appeal and notify the student in writing of the decision including the rationale for the decision.  In addition, the student will be notified in writing about the process for appealing and the appeal decision should the student feel that reasonable doubt exists.

If the Director of Admissions and Records fails to inform the student of the available appeal options, the appeals decision shall be null and void.  The student’s request prevails and cannot be overturned by any institutional administrator or committee.

A student may appeal the first appeal decision in writing to the provost.  The appeal must be filed within fifteen (15) calendar days of the postmark date of the letter from the Director of Admissions and Records regarding the first appeal decision.

The university must hear and reach a decision on the appeal within fifteen (15) calendar days after the appeal is filed.  The student will be notified in writing by the university of the decision regarding the appeal and the rationale for the decision.  In addition, the student shall be informed in writing about the subsequent process for appealing the institutional transfer decision, if the student chooses to do so.  The student may appeal the institutional decision by writing the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs of the Colorado State University System (CSUS). The appeal must be filed within five (5) calendar days of the postmark date of the letter notifying the student of the institutional decision.  If the student fails to file an appeal within this time period, the institutional decision shall be binding.

The Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs shall review and reach a decision on the appeal within five (5) calendar days after the appeal is filed.  The student  will be notified in writing of the decision regarding the transfer appeal and the rationale for the decision. In addition, the institution shall inform the student that the decision may be appealed further by writing to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE). The appeal must be filed within five (5) calendar days of the postmark date of the letter notifying the student of the vice chancellor’s decision.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Students who are residents of another country must submit the following to be admitted to USC the official international application for university  admission, accompanied by a $30 fee;

2) two official transcripts of all work completed either in high school or in college (or the equivalent).  One transcript must be in the native  language, one in English.  Both must show courses taken, grades earned, length of classes and length of school terms.  All transcript must bear the official seal of the issuing institution and must be sent by that institution directly to the  Office of Admissions and Records. An explanation of all transcript terminology must be included;

3) results of an English language proficiency test.  First-time freshmen students: A score of 500 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) paper-based test, a score of 173 on  the TOEFL computer-based test, a minimum score of 80 on the Michigan Test of English Proficiency, or completion of the advanced level at an English language training center is required.  Transfer students: A score of 500 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) paper-based test, a score of 173 on  the TOEFL computer-based test, or a minimum score of 80 on the Michigan Test of English  proficiency is required.  In addition, transfer students must have an overall cumulative grade-point average of 2.000 or above.  English  language proficiency tests are not required of students from countries where English is the native language.  4)a financial statement regarding the resources available to the student during his or her stay in the United States.  An international student cannot be accepted without this statement, since no institutional funds are available to support international students.

The Office of Admissions and Records reserves the right to change policy.  Exceptions are at the discretion of the Director of Admissions and Records.

No international student application for admission 
will be considered until all required materials are 
complete.  The Office of Admissions and Records 
must receive all materials by the application 
deadlines.

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA 
PROGRAM

See Credit by Examination (Academic Policies 
section).

RETURNING STUDENTS

Students who have been enrolled and received a grade notation in a course (see Academic Policies for grade notations), but whose attendance was interrupted for two or more regular semesters,  excluding summer, are required to file an application for readmission by the admissions deadline of the semester in which they wish to enroll.  Students seeking readmission must submit a $25 reapplication fee (non-refundable).  Students whose previous USC  work resulted in a cumulative grade point average below 2.000 (“C”) must also provide a written statement detailing the previous academic difficulties, the student’s plans to overcome these difficulties and any other pertinent information to assist the admissions committee in making a decision.

Students who withdraw, or are withdrawn, from the university for any reason and are subsequently re-admitted after an absence of two or more semesters excluding summers, are governed upon readmission by the catalog current at the time of readmission.  Any  exceptions to the policy must have prior approval from the provost. Degree-seeking students who have attended another post-secondary institution or have taken college-level correspondence or extended  studies courses must provide complete official transcripts of such studies.

ACADEMIC RENEWAL

Students who return to the University of Southern Colorado after an absence of at least two years, have not attended full-time at any other college or university, and whose cumulative USC grade point average is below 2.000, are eligible for academic renewal.  Students who take advantage of the Academic Renewal Policy will not have grade-point  averages carried forward upon readmission.  Courses with grades of A, B, or C are eligible to count toward graduation; courses with grades of D or F are not.  Students must be currently enrolled for academic renewal to be processed. Academic renewal will not be granted more than once.

Any college credit earned more than 10 years before the date of readmission is not applicable toward the degree desired unless approved by the chair of the department offering the course(s) [or equivalent(s)], and by the appropriate dean.  Courses petitioned for general education credit must also be approved by the Office of Admissions and Records.

Students who elect academic renewal will be required to complete at least 30 hours of credit after readmission before they are eligible for a baccalaureate degree.

The Academic Renewal Application can be obtained from the Office of Admissions and Records.

UNCLASSIFIED STUDENTS

Students may enroll at the University of Southern Colorado as unclassified (non-degree seeking) students if one of the following categories applies.

Special Student:

Special student status is reserved for applicants who are 20 years of age or older and who wish to enroll in courses without degree-seeking status.  Applicants who wish to register as special students are required to file an application with the Office of Admissions and Records each term that they wish to enroll.

A special student may carry up to 15 hours per semester and may earn a maximum of 30 semester hours while maintaining special student status.  The student must maintain a 2.000 cumulative grade-point average as a special student. Special students who 
wish to exceed the 30-semester-hour maximum may file a petition with the Office of Admissions and Records. However, no more than 30 semester hours may be applied to the baccalaureate degree should the student decide to become a degree candidate.

Degree-Plus Student:

Non-degree-seeking students who have completed a baccalaureate degree may enroll as unclassified degree-plus students after filing the appropriate application with the Office of Admissions and Records.

Guest Student

Students who have enrolled as degree candidates at other institutions of higher education may enroll for the summer term at the University of Southern Colorado as guest students.  Guest students must complete the appropriate application with the Office of Admissions and Records.

National Student Exchange:  

The university is affiliated with the National Student Exchange Program (NSE), a consortium of state col­leges and universities throughout the United States that arranges for students to study on various campuses as guest students.  The exchange enables  students to get better acquainted with different social and educational patterns in other areas of the country while paying USC tuition.  The student must be approved for participation by both their home and the receiving institution.  USC sophomores and juniors  interested in learning more about this opportunity should contact the Office of Admissions and Records in the Administration Building for an information packet and instructions on the application process.   Applications must be submitted early in the spring semester prior to the academic year in which an exchange is planned.

Credit earned by a USC student participating in the National Student Exchange will be treated as resident credit.  The courses, grades and credits will be recorded on the USC transcript as if they were earned  in residence at this university.

High School University Program:

Under Colorado’s Postsecondary Options Act, high school juniors and seniors may register for classes at the university. Students must submit an admission application approved by their high school counselor, principal and parents for each term they wish to enroll. In some cases, the high school district may pay students’ tuition. Students in the PSO program are considered unclassified (non-degree seeking) students at the university. Information on such programs is available in the Office of Admissions and Records.

The University also offers a Senior-to-Sophomore (STS) program by agreement with various high school districts. High school students in this program are afforded the opportunity to study in university level  courses while remaining in their high school classrooms and are considered classified students by the university.  Students must submit an application for admission, transcript of their high school record and ACT or SAT scores.  Those STS students who are in their senior year are given consideration for admission as regular first-time students for the fall semester following their high school graduation. Students interested in this program are encouraged to seek information from their high school guidance counselor or from the university’s Office of Continuing Education at 719-549-2316.

Senior Citizens:

Persons 65 years of age or older, or 62 and retired, may audit courses on a space-available, unclassified-student basis without paying tuition. Permission of the instructor is required. Unclassified students are ineligible to receive financial assistance from the university, including aid from all federal and state financial assistance programs.

Veterans:

Veterans must follow the admission requirements and procedures outlined in this catalog. For certification of eligibility for education benefits under one of the Public Laws, students can apply for Veterans Administration benefits through the Office of Veterans 
Affairs in the Administration Building, Room 207.

RESIDENCE CLASSIFICATION

A person moving to Colorado must be domiciled in the state for 12 continuous months before becoming eligible for a change in residence classification. To qualify for in-state classification for tuition purposes as a resident of Colorado, a person must do more than just reside in Colorado for the preceding 12 continuous months. “Residency” in this context means legal “domicile,” which requires intent to remain in Colorado indefinitely in the sense of making one’s permanent home in the state. The distinction is that one may have any number of residences at one time, but never more than one domicile.

A particularly relevant point is that one retains a former domicile until a Colorado domicile is established by the 12-month residency.

Intent is determined by :

1) the student’s written declaration of intent to remain in Colorado indefinitely, i.e., the student has no present intent to leave the state now or in the future;

2) documented evidence of overt actions that link the student to Colorado.

Examples which establish intent are: payment of Colorado state income tax, a Colorado driver’s license, Colorado motor vehicle registration, the compliance with mandatory duty upon a domiciliary of the state, and voter registration. Obviously, the specific actions that establish intent vary according to the individual and the circumstances, but each individual must, with his/her circumstances, act consistently with the stated intent. An information brochure pertaining to the establishment of residency for tuition purposes may be obtained by writing to the Office of Admissions and Records.

 A student’s classification as a Colorado resident for tuition purposes is made by the university at the time of admission, according to Colorado statutes.  Any student classified as a nonresident who believes that he/she can qualify as a resident may obtain a petition and a copy of the statutes governing tuition classification from the Office of Admissions and Records.  The petition is processed only if the student has an application for admission on file or is currently  enrolled. The petition is due no later than the day before the first day of class for the semester in which the change is requested.  Deadlines are published in each semester class bulletin.

Students 23 years of age or under who are independ­ent from their parents must prove emancipation and demonstrate residency on their own qualifications.  Students must notify the Office of Admissions and Records if their status changes from resident to non-resident.  Any student who willfully gives wrong information to avoid paying nonresident tuition is subject to legal and disciplinary action.