R461, Access, Admission, and Articulation
R461-1. Purpose: To provide for student access, admission, and articulation with high schools.
R461-2. References
2.1. Utah Code §53B-2-106(2)(c), Direction of Instruction, Examination, Admission and Classification of
Students
2.2. Utah Code §53B-16-102, Changes in Curriculum
2.3. Utah Code §71-8-6, Government Entity Participation
2.4. Utah Code §71-8-7, Government Entity Veterans’ Affairs Specialist – Duties – Training
2.5. United States Department of Veterans Affairs School Resource Information (available online at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/resources/education_resources/school_certifying_officials/online_sco_training.asp)
2.6. Policy and Procedures R312, Configuration of the Utah System of Higher Education and Institutional Missions and Roles
2.7. Policy and Procedures R315, Service Area Designations and Coordination of Off-Campus Courses and Programs
2.8. Policy and Procedures R470, General Education, Common Course Numbering, Lower-Division Pre-Major Requirements, Transfer of Credits, and Credit by Examination
2.9. Policy and Procedures R609, Regents’ Scholarship
R461-3. Policy
3.1. Access: General Guidelines
3.1.1. Open Access to System: Every individual capable of benefiting from postsecondary education should be afforded the opportunity to enroll somewhere in the Utah System of Higher Education.
3.1.2. Geographic Accessibility: For guidelines regarding the availability of graduate education, upper-division education, lower-division education, remedial and developmental education, and postsecondary career and technical education across the System, refer to R315-4, Service Area Principles.
3.2. Admission: General Principles
3.2.1. Student Admission: For guidelines regarding admission to Doctorate-granting Universities (University of Utah and Utah State University), Master’s Universities (Southern Utah University, Utah Valley University, and Weber State University), Baccalaureate Universities (Dixie State University), and Comprehensive Community or Associate’s Colleges (Salt Lake Community College and Snow College), refer to R312-8, Student Admission.
3.2.2. Communications with Public Education: Changes in admission standards at the postsecondary institutions may have implications for curriculum structures in the state’s secondary schools. In order to facilitate articulation between the public school system and the system of higher education, cooperative efforts in maintaining and improving communications should be part of the planning process of postsecondary institutions.
3.3. Articulation with High Schools
3.3.1. Communicate Preparation Needed for Success: Utah System of Higher Education institutions should clearly communicate to all stakeholders the kind of preparation that is needed in high school (or elsewhere) for a student to successfully perform at the institution and in specific programs at the institution.
3.3.2. Admission Standards and Public Schools Curricula: When major changes in institutional admission policies are contemplated, the Commissioner’s Office, together with the interested institutional offices, should consult with the State Office of Education and with appropriate area school districts concerning implications for the public schools and curriculum offerings.
3.3.3. Faculty Committees to Articulate Curricula: Where the need suggests, task forces or committees composed of faculty representatives from public education and higher education should be appointed to articulate curriculum offerings at both levels in specific subject matter areas.
3.4. Nonresident Student Access
3.4.1. Tuition Reciprocity Agreements: The Commissioner, in cooperation with the institutional presidents, will continue to pursue tuition reciprocity agreements with neighboring states where such initiatives seem prudent and warranted subject to applicable statutory authority for, and Board of Higher Education approval of, such agreements.
3.4.2. Nonresident Enrollment: The Board of Higher Education encourages appropriate levels of nonresident enrollments, consistent with availability of resources, maintenance of quality programs, and compliance with approved admission requirements.
R461-4. Procedures
4.1. Application Deadlines: Institutions will establish appropriate application deadlines according to institutional classifications (doctorate-granting universities, master’s universities, baccalaureate universities, comprehensive community or associate’s colleges) and student categories (freshman, transfer, returning, graduate, international, etc.).
4.2. High School Course Recommendations: The following recommended courses taken during grades 9-12 have been found to provide high school graduates with the preparation needed to succeed in postsecondary education and the workforce:
• 4 years/credits of English
• 4 years/credits of mathematics taken in a progressive manner (Secondary Math I, II, and III or Secondary Math Honors I, II, and II, plus one course beyond)
• 3.5 years/credits of social science
• 3 years/credits of lab-based natural science (one each of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics)
• 2 years/credits of world or classical language, other than English, taken in a progressive manner
4.3. Special Consideration for Admission: Special consideration for admission may be given to certain groups of students (e.g., educationally disadvantaged, racial and ethnic minorities, students with special talents) for whom the common indicators of predicted academic success may not be valid indicators of their potential success at a university, but whose special talents or diversity enhance the institution’s character.
4.4. Transfer Students
4.4.1. General Guidelines: For guidelines regarding considerations for transfer students, refer to R470-7, Transfer of Credit Policy and R470-8, Credit Transfer Principles within USHE.
4.4.2. Completion of Associate of Arts or Associate of Science Degree: Students shall be strongly encouraged to complete an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree prior to transferring. An advantage of completing the AA or AS degree is the automatic acceptance of the general education requirement having been met.
4.4.3. Departments and Majors with Higher GPA Standards: Institutions shall make available to potential transfer students information regarding departments and majors with higher GPA standards and additional course requirements in order to assist students in realistic academic planning.
4.4.4. Degree Completion: Institutions shall develop procedures for monitoring and advising transfer students with the objective of degree completion within an appropriate time.
4.5. Admission of Veterans
4.5.1. Processes for Serving Veterans and Current Military Personnel: Each USHE institution shall appoint or designate a full-time employee as a veterans services specialist. This specialist shall attend annual training provided by the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs (hereinafter referred to in this section as the Department) and shall coordinate the provision of veterans services with the Department. Each institution shall: (1) provide the Department with non-protected or non-private information about services provided to veterans; (2) post on its website all services available to veterans, contact information for the veterans services specialist, and provide a link to the Department and the contact information for the Department’s veterans services coordinator; and (3) award credit for previous military service and training pursuant to R470-8.6.1, Credit for Current and Former Military Personnel.
4.5.2. Veterans Certifying Official: Each institution in the USHE shall have a trained veterans certifying official as a member of its staff.
4.5.3. Qualifying Veterans for Federal Veterans Education Benefits: Upon receipt of an official military transcript, an institution’s veterans certifying official or other qualified employee shall review the transcript and other materials pertaining to a student’s request for use of federal veterans education benefits and process the application consistent with current United States Department of Veterans Affairs procedures.
Adopted December 14, 1982, amended November 20, 1984, May 15, 1992 and June 19, 1992.
