2013-2014 Catalog

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Other Forms of Admission

Early Admission Program

Students with superior academic records may seek early admission to Rhode Island College and may begin study directly from their junior year in high school. Candidates for early admission must fulfill all regular admissions requirements and must have a personal interview. Application materials should be filed with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions during the spring semester of the junior year. Interested students must contact their high school principal or guidance counselor to make arrangements to complete high school diploma requirements.

International Student Admission

Rhode Island College is a member of The Common Application group and encourages applications from prospective international students whose command of English is sufficient for college study. Applicants must submit the following materials to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by June 1 for freshmen and June 1 for transfer students:

  1. A completed Common Application accompanied by a fifty-dollar nonrefundable application fee. Students may apply online at www.commonapp.org.
  2. Official records or certified copies of past academic work. A certified literal English translation and evaluation of the applicant’s educational records is required.
  3. Scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the INternational English La n guage Testing System (IELTS) exam for students whose native language is not English. Othe r wise, the SAT is required. Applicants are expected to have a minimum score of 79 on the Web-based version of the TOEFL, 213 on the computer-based version, 550 on the paper-based version, or 6.5 on the IELTS.
  4. An affidavit of support detailing funds available for the educational program. All college health requirements must be met. In addition, students admitted to Rhode Island College for enrollment as F1 visa students are required to buy the basic medical insurance currently offered as an option to all Rhode Island College students.

International admission information packets are available from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. International students should contact the international student advisor in the Office of Student Life for information concerning U.S. laws, regulations, and employment practices.

Military Personnel and Veteran Admission

Rhode Island College is a Servicemembers Opportunity College. U.S. military personnel and veterans are invited to contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for information on undergraduate degrees. The office will also assist those who think they lack the necessary prerequisites for degree candidacy. Those who are interested in nondegree course work should contact the Office of Academic Support and Information Services.

Performance-Based Admission Program

Individuals who are at least twenty years old, who have been away from formal schooling for some time, who have little or no college credit, and who lack some of the usual college entrance requirements may be considered for freshman admission through the Performance-Based Admission (PBA) Program. Rhode Island College is a member of The Common Application group. Applicants must submit the following materials to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by June 1 for fall semester enrollment and November 15 for spring semester enrollment:

  1. A completed Common Application and RIC Supplement accompanied by a fifty-dollar nonr e fundable application fee. Students may apply online or download a copy of application materials at www.commonapp.org.
  2. Official copies of high school transcripts.
  3. Scores on the High School General Educational Development (GED) tests (if the candidate has not earned a traditional high school diploma).
  4. An interview.

Each student who is accepted into Rhode Island College through the PBA Program will develop a special plan of study with the program advisor before the beginning of the first semester of classes. The plan of study will specify any special condition (e.g., remedial courses in mathematics or English-language courses), a schedule for ongoing consultation with an advisor, and a specific six-course program, which will include the college writing course, three General Education Distribution courses, and two other elective courses. Students must complete the six-course program with a minimum grade point average of 2.00, to be allowed to continue their studies. Upon successful completion of the plan of study, students will be continued as degree candidates without condition.

Testing in English and mathematics may be required as part of the admission process. Students who need remedial course work in either of these disciplines will be permitted to take these courses as part of their program, but credits earned will not count toward either the degree requirement or the sixcourse PBA Program plan.

Adult students whose primary language is other than English may also be accepted into the college through this program and may be required to complete one or more English-as-a-secondlanguage (ESL) courses before undertaking the regular six courses in the PBA Program. These students are expected to demonstrate a facility with the English language that is comparable to a score of 79 on the Web-based version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), 213 on the computer-based version, 550 on the paper-based version, 960 on the English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT), or a score of 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), before undertaking the six-course PBA Program.

Students who do not make satisfactory progress will be dismissed from the college. Appeals of dismissal decisions can be made to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Preparatory Enrollment Program

A limited number of recent graduates from Rhode Island high schools who have the ability and potential to succeed in college with appropriate academic support services, but who do not meet Rhode Island College’s criteria for regular admission, may be selected to participate in the Preparatory Enrollment Program (PEP). Preference in selection is given to low-income first-generation college students and to students with disabilities evidencing academic need.

The program consists of two academic phases intended to prepare participants fully for the collegelevel work they will face at Rhode Island College. The first phase begins in the spring prior to enrollment at the college. PEP students come to the campus one evening a week for six weeks to attend classes in developmental writing skills and to meet with their PEP counselor. The second phase, which occurs during the summer, consists of six weeks of intensive academic study. Students live on campus in residence halls while taking classes in writing and mathematics, as well as one freshmanlevel course for college credit.

Class sizes are small and individual and group tutoring sessions are frequent. Tutors live in the residence halls with the students, so that academic assistance is always nearby. College facilities, such as the library and computer laboratories, are completely open to PEP students. Upon successful completion of both the spring and summer components, PEP students enroll as freshmen and have full access to the college’s support services.

The admission process involves a review of the student’s academic records, SAT scores and other standardized test scores (if appropriate), a statement written by the applicant, family/student financial information, and a guidance counselor recommendation. Some students selected for final consideration may be invited to participate in a personal interview.

Rhode Island College is a member of The Common Application group. Applicants submit a completed Common Application accompanied by a fifty-dollar nonrefundable application fee to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Students may apply online at www.commonapp.org. The application deadline is February 1.

Second Degree Applicants

Persons holding baccalaureate degrees from accredited institutions may apply to Rhode Island College for a second undergraduate degree. This assumes completion of all previous baccalaureate requirements, including General Education and a 2.00 cumulative grade point average (higher for some programs).

Rhode Island College is a member of The Common Application group. Applicants for a second bachelor’s degree submit the following materials to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by June 1 for fall semester enrollment or by November 1 for spring semester enrollment:

  1. A completed Common Application accompanied by a fifty-dollar nonrefundable application fee. Students may apply online at www.commonapp.org.
  2. Official transcripts from all colleges attended. Transcripts must indicate that a baccalaureate degree was conferred and the date it was conferred.

Once the application and all credentials have been received, the admissions office will notify and instruct the candidate to schedule an appointment with the appropriate department chair(s) to determine the courses needed to meet requirements for the second degree. Candidates should be advised that certain programs, e.g., art, teacher education, nursing, and social work, have specialized requirements and admission standards that must be satisfied for acceptance into those programs.

Candidates for a second degree must successfully complete a minimum of 30 credit hours at Rhode Island College. Some programs, such as education, will require considerably more credit hours. Credit requirements for plans of study may be as high as 98 credit hours. At least 15 of the 30 hours must be taken in the department of the major or program. Course/credit proficiency, field experience, prior learning credit, or transfer credit may not be counted toward this 30-credit-hour requirement.