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Temporary Policies

Program Modality and Transcript Disclosure

During the COVID-19 outbreak, West Coast University is adjusting some of its University admission requirements and course delivery methods. The recent closure of secondary and post-secondary institutions is making it increasingly difficult to obtain transcripts; therefore, the University is extending its deadline for the acceptance of official transcripts.  

 

Program Modality

 

Due to the current COVID-19 outbreak, the University has moved most of the on-ground courses into a distance education modality. However, as soon as the COVID-19 circumstances change, students will be expected to return on campus to complete their program on- site in the regular learning modality as approved by WSCUC and outlined in the university catalog. As the situation evolves, the University will continue to communicate to students the expected return date to their campus to complete their program on-site.  

 

Proof of High School Graduation or Equivalency

 

Undergraduates applying for admission must provide verification of high school completion, equivalency or other documentation establishing their ability to do college level work. Students will be required to complete a Statement of High School Graduation or Equivalent to support this requirement until acceptable documentation is able to be obtained and submitted to the University (no later than 30 days from reopening of the institution that holds the required documentation). If it is found that the student did not meet this requirement, the individual would be dismissed, all state and federal Title IV funds would be returned, and the student would be financially responsible for all tuition charges incurred.  

 

Postsecondary Transcripts

 

All applicants are required to submit official postsecondary transcripts by the first day of the term in order to be admitted to the University. Students may be scheduled based on an unofficial transfer credit review for their first semester of courses. However, official transfer credit will not be awarded based on unofficial transcripts.

Financial aid packaging will be estimated without transfer credit unless/until official transcripts are received and evaluated. If transfer credits are posted after loan origination for the academic year, the transfer credits will be included when determining loan eligibility for the subsequent academic year. Students may request additional loan funds at any time by submitting a Loan Adjustment Request form to the Financial Aid office.

When official transcripts are able to be obtained and submitted (no later than 30 days from reopening of the institution that holds the required transcripts), and if it is found that the student did not meet the academic performance requirements as was demonstrated on the unofficial transcripts, the individual would be dismissed, all state and federal Title IV funds would be returned and the student would be financially responsible for all tuition charges incurred.

If a student is concurrently enrolled and attending course(s) applicable to his or her declared WCU major at another college or university on the first day of the student’s first WCU term, these credits in progress at the other institution may be considered for transfer into WCU once completed with a passing grade and official transcripts are received by the university.

Temporary Modification to Admission Requirements

Due to the current COVID-19 outbreak WCU has temporarily modified its admissions requirements. ATI TEAS/HESI AI entrance exam and composite score based on entrance examination and cumulative GPA requirements will not be required for entrance into BSN, LVN/LPN to BSN and BSDH programs.  However, students will be conditionally accepted and are required to take and pass ATI TEAS/HESI AI entrance exam in order to progress and to be allowed entrance into the program's core courses.  Students who do not meet this requirement will be dismissed from the university.  If the COVID-19 situation changes these conditionally accepted students could be offered an opportunity to take the ATI TEAS/HESI AI exam on campus prior to their start in order to be fully accepted into WCU if they are able to demonstrate the required exam proficiency for the program.  Please review the program specific admission requirements under Admissions section of the catalog for specific GPA and Composite scores requirements that incorporate ATI TEAS/HESI AI exam results.  

The changes outlined below are effective March 26, 2020 for the following start dates:

California campuses – June 15, 2020 and August 24, 2020

Texas and Florida – April 6, 2020 and June 15, 2020 and August 24, 2020 starts

Applicants for any starts not listed above will be required to take ATI TEAS/HESI AI on campus prior to being admitted into the program. 

All applicants are still required to:

  1. Submit a completed WCU application for admissions
  2. Participate in an admissions interview arranged by a University Admissions Advisor
  3. Complete an enrollment agreement (must be signed by a parent or guardian if the applicant is under 18 years of age)
  4. Submit WCU approved documentation of high school graduation or equivalent (Please Note: Foreign high school diplomas/credentials or their equivalent must have an official evaluation performed by an approved organization)
    1. Due to Covid-19 applicants will be required to complete a Statement of High School Graduation or Equivalent to support this requirement until acceptable documentation is able to be obtained and submitted to the University
    2. This requirement must be met no later than 30 days from reopening of the institution that holds the required documentation
    3. If it is found that the student did not meet this requirement, the individual would be dismissed, all state and federal Title IV funds would be returned, and the student would be financially responsible for all tuition charges incurred.
  5. Meet program specific entrance requirements
    1. BSN and LVN/LPN-BSN
      1. California: https://westcoastuniversity.smartcatalogiq.com/Spring-2020/West-Coast-University-Catalog/Undergraduate-Programs-of-Study/College-of-Nursing/Nursing-Admissions-Requirements-and-Program-Information
      2. Texas and Florida: https://westcoastuniversity.smartcatalogiq.com/Spring-2020/West-Coast-University-Catalog/Undergraduate-Programs-of-Study/College-of-Nursing/Nursing-Admissions-Requirements-and-Program-Information
    2. BSDH: https://westcoastuniversity.smartcatalogiq.com/Spring-2020/West-Coast-University-Catalog/Undergraduate-Programs-of-Study/Dental-Hygiene/Dental-Hygiene-BSDH-Bachelor-of-Science
  6. Submit all postsecondary transcripts:
    1. Applicants with 18 or more postsecondary credits, from institution recognized by an accreditation body approved by the U.S. Department of Education, will be evaluated on their cumulative grade point average.
    2. Applicants with fewer than 18 postsecondary credits, from institution recognized by an accreditation body approved by the U.S. Department of Education will be evaluated based on their high school cumulative grade point average.
  7. All applicants are required to submit official postsecondary transcripts by the first day of the term in order to be admitted to the University.
    1. Students may be scheduled based on an unofficial transfer credit review for their first semester of courses. However, official transfer credit will not be awarded based on unofficial transcripts.
    2. Financial aid packaging will be estimated without transfer credit unless/until official transcripts are received and evaluated. If transfer credits are posted after loan origination for the academic year, the transfer credits will be included when determining loan eligibility for the subsequent academic year. Students may request additional loan funds at any time by submitting a Loan Adjustment Request form to the Financial Aid office.
    3. When official transcripts are able to be obtained and submitted (no later than 30 days from reopening of the institution that holds the required transcripts), and if it is found that the student did not meet the academic performance requirements as was demonstrated on the unofficial transcripts, the individual would be dismissed, all state and federal Title IV funds would be returned and the student would be financially responsible for all tuition charges incurred.

Temporary Modification to the Add/Drop Policy

The Add/Drop period begins at the start of a term and ends on the second Tuesday. During this period, students may add or drop classes. Courses dropped during this period will not appear on students’ transcripts nor be included in evaluating Satisfactory Academic Progress. Students dropping all classes will be treated as a withdrawal from the University.

Please note, the University will automatically withdraw a student from any course(s) in which he or she is registered and for which attendance has not occurred by the end of the Add/Drop period.  Programs and courses may have specific attendance requirements that supersede this policy.  Students dropping a course(s) within the MSOT or DPT programs will be withdrawn from the University.  Please refer to the programmatic section of the catalog and to your programmatic handbook for more information.  

New students may be admitted during this period provided they attend at least one scheduled class during the Add/Drop period.  Students will not be admitted after the Add/Drop period without approval from the campus Executive Director and the applicable program Dean/Chair.  

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and limited availability of clinical sites, students may transfer between sections of the same course within the term after the add/drop period ends. Student may not transfer to a different course nor add a new course to their existing schedule.

Note:  For information regarding adjustments to institutional charges, please see the Refunds for Dropped Courses policy in the "Financial Aid > Withdrawal and Refund Policies" section of this catalog.