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Standard Number 3.4.3: The institution publishes admissions policies consistent with its mission.Full Compliance As stated in Georgia Southern's Mission Statement , “Central to the University's mission is the faculty's dedication to excellence in teaching and the development of a fertile learning environment exemplified by a free exchange of ideas, high academic expectations, and individual responsibility for academic achievement .” (italics added) Through its admissions policies, Georgia Southern University strives to recruit high ability students with potential for academic success. Attracting the best students to Georgia Southern positively impacts the learning environment and contributes to the campus' ability to achieve “academic distinction in teaching, scholarship, and service.” Admissions policies are detailed in the 2004-2005 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog (p. 20). Policies are also published on the Office of Admissions' web page . Through these and other publications, Admissions educates prospective students about the University's mission stressing the academic quality of its programs and illustrating examples of in- and out-of-class learning. Additionally, the selection process for academic scholarship recipients provides a student-centered approach in which students participate in interviews before final selections are made. This holistic approach to the admissions process inclusively considers all of the experiences a student brings with them to Georgia Southern and which enable them to succeed on campus. For instance, the University may accept transfer credit and some military credit based on the types of experiences received at a previous institution and demonstrate the University's commitment to and recognition of the integration and application of other learning experiences. Moreover, Georgia Southern's admissions requirements include (but are not limited to) compliance with satisfactory completion of college preparatory subjects in high school that include a prescribed number of units in English, social studies, mathematics, a Foreign Language, and science. These College Preparatory Curriculum Requirements ensure that students arrive at Georgia Southern academically prepared for the challenging programs in which they will enroll. Additionally, the minimum SAT score accepted for admission has risen from 920 to 960 for students entering Fall 2004, and is expected to rise to 980 for those entering in Fall 2005. Entering freshman must also submit a high school transcript and satisfactory GPA for entry, and transfer students must be in good standing from their previous institutions to be eligible to enroll. Citizens or resident aliens for whom English is not the native language may be required to take the Michigan test upon arrival to ensure that have sufficient language skills to succeed. The Graduate and Undergraduate Applications list degree choices as well as the non-discrimination policy to convey congruence with federal law and to promote diversity both within the student body and within degree programs. This practice demonstrates the application of the statement: “ Georgia Southern's nationally accredited academic programs in the liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies prepare a diverse and select undergraduate and graduate student population for leadership and service as world citizens.” (italics added) “Georgia Southern University is committed to advancing the State of Georgia and the region through the benefits of higher education, offering baccalaureate through doctoral degrees and a variety of outreach programs.” In order to reach populations that may not otherwise meet all of the University's established admissions policies, the University provides for special admission for mature (non-traditional students) . (See 2004-2005 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog , p. 24.) Nonetheless, these students are required to take the University System of Georgia COMPASS exam and complete Learning Support requirements, if applicable, in order to ensure that they meet the minimum academic qualifications of the University. Likewise, the Post Secondary Options and Joint Enrollment policies reach out to successful high school students in the surrounding area to permit them to enroll for college credit at Georgia Southern while completing their high school education. Similarly, the Residency requirements and policies ensure that students or their parents who comprise part of Georgia 's income tax base will receive the benefit of in-state tuition, encouraging Georgia 's citizens to seek post-secondary education within the state of Georgia and hopefully remain in the state to pursue their careers. The East Georgia at Statesboro Pilot Admissions Program is another illustration of how the University's admissions policies provide additional educational opportunities within the region. Under this program, students in the surrounding counties attend the East Georgia College program and then transfer to Georgia Southern after successfully completing 30 transferable hours. Resources: Georgia Southern's admission policies are also contained in the Georgia Southern University 2003-2004 Fact Book (pp. 18-30). The Fact Book also provides additional information on enrollment and admissions statistics. Georgia Southern University 2003-2004 Viewbook (NOTE: This file is a PDF and is 341MB) 10Georgia Southern University's Mission Statement, adopted by the Board of Regents in June 2004.
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