Appendix VI. Admission Requirements

If you are having more than one program evaluated, particularly if the programs are on separate campuses, the answers to these questions may vary from one program to another. If this is the case, please use separate copies of this section for each program, and clearly delineate which program is being described.

A. Admission of students

1. Describe the criteria and procedures used for admitting students to the computer science program(s).

   Utah Valley State College is an Open Door institution and as such, admits any student whose qualifications indicate they may benefit from the instructional programs offered and are generally beyond the age of high school enrollment. The CNS department adheres to this policy and admits students to the program on a first-come, first-serve basis.

2. Describe procedures, including the evaluation of transfer credits, for students admitted to the program as transfer students
   1. from within the institution

      The Departmental Advisor makes an initial evaluation of the requests and suggests the CNS course that might be equivalent to the transfer credit. The forms are then forwarded to the Department Chair who meets with the faculty member responsible for the class for which credit is being requested. If the faculty member responsible for the course and the Department Chair agree that the credit should be transferred then the Department Chair signs the form which is returned to the Departmental Advisor for completion of the processing.

   2. from another institution

      Students are required to have official transcripts of any previous college work sent to the Admissions Office. Thos transcripts are automatically sent to the Transfer Credit Office for evaluation and posting. Individual departments reserve the right to impose limits on the age and grade level of transfer credit.

      The CNS department requires that transfer credit requests be submitted to the Departmental Advisor. The Departmental Advisor makes an initial evaluation of the requests and suggests the CNS course that might be equivalent to the transfer credit. The forms are then forwarded to the Department Chair who meets with the faculty member responsible for the class for which credit is being requested. If more detailed information about the class being transferred is needed then the student may have to request syllabi, etc. from the other institution. If the faculty member responsible for the course and the Department Chair agree that the credit should be transferred then the Department Chair signs the form which is returned to the Departmental Advisor for completion of the processing.

3. Explain the policy of the institution in admitting students with conditions and state how the conditions must be made up.

   As mentioned above, Utah Valley State College is an Open Door institution and as such, admits any student whose qualifications indicate they may benefit from the instructional programs offered and are generally beyond the age of high school enrollment. For those students deficient in high school subjects the Learning Enrichment Center provides extensive programs in English, English as a Second Language, Reading, Mathematics and College Success Studies.

4. Describe the general policy and methods of the unit offering computer science program(s) in regard to admission with advanced standing.

Students who feel they are capable of entering the CNS programs at an advanced level have two options:

1. Introductory courses may be challenged by completing the requirement set down by the mentor for the class. Such challenges usually include a written exam and a practical demonstration of knowledge of the content, such as a major programming project utilizing the concepts from the class. A fee is required by UVSC and the student receives credit for the class on successful completion of the challenge.
2. If the student can provide the class mentor with sufficient evidence that the student understands the content of the course, the student is allowed to enter the next course in the program sequence. The student is then allowed to substitute another CNS course from the electives to complete the required number of CNS credits. This process happens most often when students with extended industrial experience enter the program.

5. Describe any special admission requirements for entry into the "upper division" in the computer science program(s).

• To be considered for matriculation into upper division status in the CNS department the student must:
• Complete a minimum of 30 hours of college credit. Computer-related courses taken more than five years prior to application are not accepted. NOTE: Students must be matriculated by the time they have taken 15 credit hours of upper-division courses. The CNS Department places a registration hold on student in violation of this policy.
• Complete the following Pre-specialization courses: One college level English course, one Math course above College Algebra, one Physics course, CNS 1250, CNS 1380, CNS 2300 and CNS 2400.
• Earn a GPA of 2.5 or higher. No course used for GPA computation may have been repeated more than once.
• Fill out and sign the Matriculation Form, meet with the Departmental Advisor, and obtain written approval from the CNS Department Chair.
• Pay $20.00 Upper-Division Matriculation Fee to Cashier�s Office.
• Submit the Matriculation Form to CNS Departmental Advisor with PAID validation from Cashier's Office.
• Matriculated students receive a letter of acceptance or denial from the CNS Department.