Section 3.4.3: Educational Programs: All Educational Programs

Judgment of Compliance

Requirement

Narrative

McNeese State University is in compliance with Comprehensive Standard 3.4.3.

In the Board of Regents 2001 Master Plan for Public Postsecondary Education, McNeese State University is characterized as follows:

McNeese State University primarily serves the educational and cultural needs of the citizens of the southwest region of Louisiana. [. . .] The institution seeks to raise the level of education and productivity as well as the quality of life for the citizens of Louisiana.

McNeese allocates resources and functions according to principles and values that promote accountability for academic integrity, for excellence in teaching, for the generation of scholarly activity, and for cultural awareness and development. (45)

These characteristics are reflected in the University's mission: to provide education, research, and service that "support our core values of academic excellence, student success, fiscal responsibility, and university-community alliances." An integral part of this mission is to "offer associate, baccalaureate, and specific graduate curricula distinguished by academic excellence."

The 2001 Master Plan for Public Postsecondary Education designated McNeese State University, formerly an open-admissions institution, as follows:

McNeese is categorized as an SREB Four-Year 4 institution, as a Carnegie Master’s College and University I, and as a COC/SACS Level IV institution. It will offer a wide range of baccalaureate programs and will be committed to graduate education through the master’s degree, offering graduate programs to meet regional or state needs. The university will limit associate degree offerings to 2+2 programs, conduct research appropriate to academic programs offered and necessary for program accreditation, and implement, at a minimum, Selective III admissions criteria. (44-45)

In order to identify, recruit, and retain qualified students, in the 2005 fall semester, McNeese implemented admission requirements congruent with its mission. Students who enroll in courses offered in traditional formats, in off-campus courses, or through electronic delivery are apprised of the admissions requirements and must comply with published requirements. This information is available in the University Catalog, online through the University home page, through guidelines and course schedules available on campus, and distributed through recruitment packets.

Applications for admission are evaluated on the basis of multiple criteria that can include transcripts from former schools, standardized test scores, grade point averages, and high school class rank. As published in the print and online versions of the 2006-07 University Catalog, the admission regulations for undergraduate applicants describe the requirements for admission and applicant responsibilities. There are several different categories under which undergraduate students may seek admission. These categories are listed in the University Catalog

Admission to Undergraduate Studies

In general, students seeking admission to undergraduate programs must meet the following requirements as determined by the Louisiana Board of Regents:

• Complete the TOPS/University Core Curriculum; [link to document]

• Score a minimum ACT English or Math Score of 18 (SAT Verbal 450 or Math 430);

• Earn a high school grade point average of 2.0; or

• Score ACT Composite score of 20 (SAT 940); or

• Graduate in the top fifty percent of high school class.

The University policy of non-discrimination applies to all University programs and policies as well as admissions. General admissions policies for the student populations listed below address their special circumstances:

• First-time freshmen from Louisiana high schools observe the general admissions requirements listed above;

• First-time freshmen from state-approved out-of-state high schools are required to meet the same requirements as are students from Louisiana high schools;

• Home-schooled applicants are required to score a minimum composite of 23 on the ACT (SAT 1060) and score a minimum score of 18 on math and English ACT;

• GED graduates are required to have a minimum GED Average Standard Score of 500, minimum ACT composite of 17, and a minimum score of 18 on math and English ACT;

• Adult first-time freshmen (age 21-24) who do not meet minimum admissions requirements may appeal to the University Admissions Panel for special consideration or enroll as a part-time, non-degree seeking student through the EASE program. Upon earning 12 credit-hours, the student may transfer to a degree program and enroll as full-time student;

• Adult first-time freshmen (age 25 or older) who are Louisiana high school graduates or who have passed GED requirements are not required to meet the minimum admissions requirements. Adults who did not graduate from Louisiana high schools must earn a minimum score of 18 on the ACT (860 SAT) before being admitted to the University.

• Transfer students who have earned 12 or more college-level credit hours must meet the following requirements before being granted admission:

• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on all college-level courses;

• Be eligible to return to the institution from which they are transferring;

• Have need of no more than one developmental course at the time of enrollment at McNeese.

• Transfer students who have earned fewer than 12 college-level credit hours must meet first-time freshmen admission requirements

• International students applying for admission as a first-time freshman must meet the following admissions requirements:

• Graduation from a recognized secondary school that is comparable to a U.S. high school;

• English language proficiency as specified under International Admissions Regulations;

• Minimum ACT English or Math score of 18 (SAT Verbal score of 450 or Math score of 430); and

• One of the following: (a) minimum high school GPA of 2.25 as calculated by the Office of Admissions; or (b) minimum high school GPA of 2.0 as calculated by the Office of Admissions and minimum composite ACT score of 20 (SAT score of 940).

An international student who graduated from a state-approved U.S. high school must meet the first-time freshman admission criteria. English language proficiency requirements for international applicants must also be met. International transfer students must meet requirements of any other transfer student with the additional requirement of meeting language proficiency requirements.

The University also grants admission in special circumstances to students who have not graduated from high school. Early Admissions programs include the following:

• Summer Early Admissions;

• Part-time Early Admissions;

• Full-time Early Admissions;

• Exceptional Scholars Admission.

Students applying for admission through an Early Admission program must be highly qualified juniors or seniors whose ACT scores and high school GPA indicate their ability to excel in the college environment. The Exceptional Scholars Program is open to students who have “documented evidence of exceptional intellectual or creative abilities.” These students may enroll in degree programs and take courses for credit when recommended by their high school principals or counselors and with written permission from a parent or a guardian.

Students admitted through the EASE (Emphasis on Adult Special Entry) may enroll in undergraduate courses for which they have met the required prerequisites. EASE students may not register for full-time course load during fall and spring semesters. EASE students must meet the following requirements:

• Age 60 or older;

• Age 25 or older who (a) has obtained a high school diploma or GED; (b) has never attended a college or a university; (c) is a resident of Louisiana;

• Former MSU student who has not attended any college or university for a minimum of three years;

• Students with a bachelor’s degree who (a) are non-degree seeking or non-certification-seeking and (2) do not intend to enroll in graduate courses. (Catalog, 41)

Exceptional Admissions

Applicants who do not meet the new admission requirements may be admitted to the University by exception. Each semester, ten percent of the University’s entering freshman class and ten percent of its entering transfer class can be admitted as “admissions exceptions.” The number of admissions exceptions is limited and changes each semester as the total number of entering freshmen and the total number of entering transfer students changes.

When a student applies for admission and does not meet the minimum admission requirements, the student’s file is automatically brought before the University Admissions Panel for review and consideration for admission by exception. Applicants are notified by letter of the Panel’s decision.

The duties of the Admissions Panel are identified in the Faculty/Staff Handbook:

[The Admissions Panel is] [r]esponsible for hearing appeals for admission to the university and recommending criteria for admission exceptions. The Admissions Panel is composed of a representative from Academic Affairs, from Basic Studies, and from Enrollment Information and includes one at-large staff member. This panel reports to the President. (Faculty/Staff Handbook, Section 604)

Admission to Graduate Studies

Students seeking admission to graduate studies must be admitted through the William J. Doré, Sr. School of Graduate Studies and through the specific degree program to which they are applying. Admission to Graduate School does not imply admission to a graduate degree program. Applicants must meet the necessary departmental requirements to be admitted to a specific degree program. General admission requirements include the following:

• Hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited U.S. institution or its foreign equivalent;

• Students seeking admission to the specialist degree program must hold a master’s degree from a regionally-accredited U.S. institution;

• Have earned a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale on all undergraduate work attempted or a minimum grade point average of 2.75 on all upper division course work attempted;

• Have earned satisfactory scores on the standardized tests required by the individual degree programs;

• Have met all other requirements for admission into individual degree programs;

• Have satisfactory academic standing at the last institution attended.

International students seeking admission will be evaluated on an individual basis by the Office of Admissions and the appropriate department head or graduate faculty advisor. International students must meet all University and departmental requirements for Degree Status (Catalog, 214).

Publication of Admissions Criteria

As demonstrated in Federal Requirement 4.6, McNeese disseminates materials that detail the admissions requirements and policies of the University to prospective students and other groups. These materials include the catalog, admissions packets and forms, and the class schedule. These are distributed in both online and print versions. To inform prospective students of the new admission requirements, McNeese distributes recruitment material containing the Board of Regents Message from the Commissioner of Higher Education and information about the Board of Regents

Supporting Evidence

Board of Regents Message from the Commissioner of Higher Education

Admissions Application Packet

New Admission Requirements

Admissions webpage

EASE Application

Board of Regents Admission Standards

Louisiana Board of Regents Duties

Admission of First Time Freshman

Admission of Transfer Students

Admission of International Students

Admission of Early Admission Students

EASE

Honors College

Graduate School Admission

Admissions Panel Minutes-May 24, 2005

Sample Letter Awarding Conditional Admission

Letter from Board of Regents Clarifying Policy Regarding Exceptional Admissions

Admissions Flyers mailed to prospective Students from Enrollment Information Center

New Student Application and Information

College of Engineering and Technology Cooperative Education Program Brochure

Forensic Chemistry Concentration Brochure

Master of Business Administration Brochure

College of Business Brochure

Master of Engineering Management Concentration Brochure

Master of Engineering Brochure