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Undergraduate Catalog 2004-2006

Admission

Admission | Entering Freshmen | Adult Student Admission | Transfer Students 
International Students | Special Admission Status | Second Bachelor's Degrees | Veterans 
AU/WCC Joint Admissions Articulation | Illinois Articulation Initiative

Admission:

Aurora University admits qualified students from varied geographical, cultural, economic, racial, and religious backgrounds. In each candidate, Aurora University looks for two general qualities: academic ability enabling a person to benefit from the University's excellent programs and a diversity of talents and interests that will make our campus community a better and richer place to learn. Applications will be considered on the basis of academic ability, character, activities, and motivation.

All correspondence about admission and campus visits should be addressed to the Office of Admission and Financial Aid, Aurora University, 347 S. Gladstone Avenue, Aurora, Illinois 60506-4892. For further information about admission to the University, call 1-800-742-5281, or visit our website at www.aurora.edu.

Entering Freshmen:

Students who have completed fewer than 15 semester hours of college work are regarded as entering freshmen and are considered for regular admission on the basis of the following general requirements:

• Graduation from an accredited high school (in a college-preparatory curriculum)* or completion of a G.E.D. certificate
  * Aurora University defines a college preparatory curriculum or its equivalent as totaling at least sixteen academic units as specified below:
  • English 4 years
  • Mathematics 3 years
  • Social Studies 3 years
  • Science 3 years
  • Electives 3 years
• High school class rank of at least 60th percentile
  • ACT Composite score of at least 19 on the first or second attempt (with no subscore below a 17) or combined SAT scores of at least 910 (with an English subscore of at least 410).
• Official transcripts of all high school and previous college work must be provided. Official high school transcripts, documenting date of graduation, must be submitted to the Office of Admission and Financial Aid prior to the beginning of the student's first semester of classes.

Conditional Admission may be granted in cases where the applicant fails to meet the above stated requirements but shows other clear and strong evidence of ability and motivation necessary for academic success at Aurora University. The Vice President for Enrollment may grant conditional approval to applicants for admission who do not meet the minimum requirements but are deemed to warrant special consideration based on one or a combination of the following:

1. Standardized test scores (ACT/SAT) which indicate a potential for academic success at Aurora University.
2. Previous high school academic success (i.e. grade point average and class rank) which indicate a potential for academic success at Aurora University.
3. Two references from teachers who can speak of the applicant's potential for success in college. It is preferred that one of these references be written by a current or former English teacher.
4. A personal interview with the Vice President for Enrollment or a designate.
5. A detailed, written, personal statement by the applicant to the Vice President for Enrollment explaining previous academic performance, academic/career goals and interest in Aurora University.
6. Other pertinent information which the Vice President for Enrollment deems sufficient and appropriate to warrant an admissions decision.

Adult Student Admission:

Aurora University is proud of its long tradition of service to nontraditional, adult students. Undergraduate students over the age of 23 are considered on an individual basis under guidelines established by the faculty. The University recognizes that many factors besides prior academic record may be important indicators of an adult student's potential for success in college. If a student has taken courses at other colleges, transcripts will be required; however, the University also considers such factors as career experience and community service in evaluating adult students for admission. Proof of high school graduation or completion of the G.E.D. is required, but high school grades are not normally used as an admission criterion for adult students. Also, a non-traditional age student may be required to show proficiency in written and/or spoken English.

Nontraditional Sources of Credit: Learning achieved through the military or in other organized training programs may be credited in those cases where it has been evaluated by the American Council on Education. In addition, Aurora University accepts credit earned based on qualified testing results through the CLEP, DANTES, APP, ACT-PEP, and NLN Mobility testing programs. A maximum of 68 semester hours of prior community college, CLEP, and APP credit is allowed for transfer students.

Transfer Students:

Any applicant for admission, who has completed 15 semester hours of transferable college coursework, will be considered a transfer student. Applicants with less than 30 semester hours of transferable college coursework will be required to meet the academic qualifications for freshman applicants and provide official high school transcripts with proof of graduation and ACT/SAT test scores. All transfer applicants must present proof of graduation or satisfactory completion of the GED if not evident from college transcripts.

The Vice President for Enrollment or a designate may grant full approval for admission to transfer applicants based upon the following criteria:

1. The student was in good academic standing (defined as a GPA of at least a 2.0 on a
   4.0 scale) at the college or university last attended and whose overall college record yields a GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale for work that could normally be considered applicable to degree programs at Aurora University. Individual programs may set stricter admission requirements, including requirements for proficiency in written and/or spoken English subject to the approval of the Provost/Vice-President for Academic Affairs.
2. The Vice President for Enrollment may admit an applicant for admission to Aurora University on academic warning if the applicant was on academic probation or had been dismissed from a college or university previously attended or whose overall college record yields a GPA of less than a 2.0 on a 4.0 scale for work that could normally be considered applicable to degree programs at Aurora University. The criteria upon which a transfer applicant may be approved for admission on warning will be identical to the criteria used in consideration of conditional freshmen applicants as noted above. Admission to programs with approved standards of their own is to be governed by the standards of those programs.

The Vice President for Enrollment will exercise extreme caution in considering the application for admission of students academically dismissed from another college or university. It has been recent practice to disallow an applicant for admission to gain approval for admission sooner than the second Aurora University term (excluding summer terms) following the dismissal.

Transfer of Credit:
Credit earned at previous colleges with a grade of at least C- is transferable if it is non-technical in nature, is comparable to credit offered at Aurora University, or is generally considered applicable to programs such as those offered by the University. Only credit earned at regionally accredited schools or at schools accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) recognized accrediting bodies is considered for transfer through the normal process. Credit considered acceptable for transfer is listed in a separate section of the student's permanent record by the Registrar. Transfer credit is applied to general degree requirements with the approval of the Registrar and to the student's major with the approval of the appropriate program faculty, subject to the limitations of the University's residence requirement and in accordance with the Catalog Regulations. Students should be aware that some programs of the University have time limits for the transfer of credit into the major, although there is no general time limit for the University. Grades earned at other schools are used to determine transferability of credit, and as a criterion for transfer admission, but are not included in the student's Aurora University Grade Point Average.

Credit Transfer for Students Holding Associate Degrees:
Students holding a transfer-oriented associate degree (A.A. or A.S.) from a regionally accredited college may have met all lower-division general education requirements for a bachelor's degree from AU. In addition, Aurora University requires the successful completion of a minimum of three semester hours in an approved 3000 level general education writing intensive course and successful completion of the Senior Capstone course in the major. An admission counselor can provide information concerning requirements that still need to be met.

International Students:

Students from other countries are admitted to Aurora University on the basis of the following criteria:

• Average or better secondary school record, including completion of coursework at least to the level of the U.S. twelfth grade as described in the AACRAO World Education Series;
• In the case of students from non-English speaking countries, a score of at least 550 (or 213-220 on the computer-based test) on the TOEFL or level 109 on the ELS. (This requirement may be waived for students submitting ACT or SAT scores otherwise acceptable for admission.)
• Proof of financial responsibility, in the form of an affidavit of support and a deposit in U.S. funds in an amount determined annually by the University, usually a minimum of $1000, before the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) form I-20 will be issued by the Office of Admission and Financial Aid.

Credit previously earned at foreign institutions is evaluated by the Registrar in accordance with AACRAO guidelines and thus may be deemed transferable to Aurora University. Certified English translations must accompany original transcripts in any other language; the Registrar requires evaluation of foreign transcripts by an outside evaluator at student expense. International students who have completed work at other U.S. colleges or universities must submit official transcripts and, at the discretion of the University, may be considered for admission as transfer students on the basis of this work. International students must have approved student visas in order to attend Aurora University.

Special Admission Status:

Student-at-Large:
A student, who does not hold a bachelor's degree and is not seeking a degree or certificate from Aurora University, but wishes to enroll in a few courses for credit, is defined as a student-at-large. Prerequisites must be satisfied for the courses in which a person wishes to enroll. Only 15 semester hours can be taken as a student-at-large. The standard tuition rate applies, and financial aid is not available. A $50 non-refundable registration fee is required with registration for students-at-large.

Post-Undergraduate Student:
A student, who holds a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and wishes to enroll in undergraduate courses for credit, but not to seek a second degree, may do so as an extended student. The standard tuition rate applies.

Provisional Student:
A student, who has applied for regular admission but has been unable to supply all necessary documentation due to circumstances beyond the individual's control, may be provisionally admitted to the University at the discretion of the Vice President for Enrollment. If provisionally admitted, a student may register for classes for one term at their own risk (since the records of the educational background are incomplete). An application file must be complete and approved before a student is allowed to register for a second term. Provisionally admitted students must sign an advisement agreement recording their understanding that they are registering for coursework at their own risk with respect to applicability to specific programs or requirements at Aurora University. Provisionally admitted students will not be enrolled in any future term at Aurora University unless fully accepted. Financial Aid is not available.

Conditional Admission:
A student, who has applied for regular admission but has an academic record that does not meet ordinary admission standards, may be conditionally admitted to the University at the discretion of the Admission Review Committee. Academic progress will be regularly reviewed. The student is required to participate in other remedial coursework and programs designed to help assure academic success.

Students who are admitted conditionally are required to attend the STAR (Students Targeted for Academic Rewards) program. The program includes two components: a four-day orientation prior to the start of the fall semester, and ongoing academic support through the Learning Center throughout a student's first year. The orientation allows students to adjust to campus life, interact with staff and faculty, gain awareness of campus resources, prepare for academic challenges, and learn approaches and skills which lead to academic success. During the academic year, students have access to tutoring and other forms of academic support. The Learning Center staff provides feedback to students concerning their progress in classes and serves as an advocate for these students.

Other Criteria for Admission:
In addition to the academic criteria above, the Vice President for Enrollment shall implement where appropriate strategies for recruitment and selection of students that promote general goals for shaping the nature and composition of the Aurora University student body. Students with special characteristics in the following areas, among others, may be especially sought from among those who meet academic criteria.

1. Students demonstrating unusual potential for benefitting from and contributing to the ongoing program of the University.
2. Students who will contribute to increasing the cultural, racial and ethnic diversity of the University.
3. Students who show distinction in extra-curricular activities such as student government, drama, music, athletics, etc.
4. Students whose experiential or career backgrounds bring unusual diversity of skills or knowledge to the classroom.
5. Other special characteristics as determined by the appropriate elements of the University governance units charged with overseeing campus life.

NOTE: Every aspect of the admission of students to Aurora University will be conducted in accordance with the intentions of the Academic Standards and Conduct Committee, and the University policies and regulations relating to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action.

Decision Procedures and Relation to University Governance:

1. Applicants for admission who meet the academic qualifications outlined above are approved for admission by the Vice President for Enrollment, or a designate.
2. Applicants for admission who do not meet the stated academic qualifications above will be reviewed and accepted or rejected by the Vice President for Enrollment on the basis of guidelines issued by the Academic Standards and Conduct Committee.
3. Student-at-large and extended student applications are approved by the Vice President for Enrollment or a designate, in accordance with the criteria above.
4. Applicants with an incomplete application for admission may be approved on a provisional basis only by the Vice President for Enrollment or a designate.

Second Bachelor's Degrees:

If a student already holds a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university and wishes to earn a second degree from Aurora University, he/she may do so by meeting the University's residence requirement (30 semester hours, including the last 24 semester hours in the degree), by completing an approved major that contains a minimum of 24 semester hours not included in the major of the first degree.

Holders of bachelor's degrees from Aurora University may earn a second major by completing any approved major that contains at least 18 semester hours not present in the first major. Earning a second bachelor's degree requires completing the major requirements for that degree, including at least 24 semester hours not present in the major in the first degree.

For detailed information on the completion of a second degree at Aurora University, contact the Director of Academic Advisement.

Veterans:

A person who has served in the United States armed forces and wishes to use veterans' benefits to attend Aurora University should contact the University's Veterans Affairs Officer in the Registrar's Office. Veterans must follow the admissions requirements and procedures outlined in this catalog. For certification of eligibility for education benefits under one of the public laws, apply for Veterans Administration benefits through the Veterans Affairs Officer.

Aurora University and Waubonsee Community College Agreement for Joint Admissions and Degree Completion Articulation:

The Aurora University (AU) and Waubonsee Community College (WCC) Joint Admissions Agreement is intended to better-serve students in the WCC service area by providing a means for students to be simultaneously admitted to both institutions. This agreement is designed to simplify the process of degree completion for students who wish to begin at WCC and continue at AU.

When jointly admitted, a student will work with advisors at both Waubonsee and Aurora to plan courses for maximum transferability, and will be able to enter Aurora University after completing the Waubonsee degree without going through any further admission process.

In order to be eligible for joint admission under this agreement, a student must meet all applicable admission requirements of both WCC and AU, at the time of joint admission. Students must agree in writing to the exchange of admission and advising information between WCC and AU. This program is open to any eligible student at WCC.

Illinois Articulation Initiative:

Aurora University participates in the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), which eases the transfer process among many Illinois colleges and universities. The IAI is a major, statewide, cooperative agreement among participating Illinois colleges and universities to facilitate successful transfer of course credits from one participating institution to another. A general education core curriculum has been defined by IAI and if students follow the prescribed curriculum, the credits will generally satisfy general education requirements at participating Illinois colleges and universities. It should be noted that the agreement currently applies to general education requirements, although IAI core curriculum for specific transfer majors is also being developed.

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