2003-2004 Undergraduate Catalog

General Information - Admissions

A student may be accepted for undergraduate admission to New Mexico State University as (1) a regular student or (2) a nondegree student under the policies and conditions as set forth in this section.

REGULAR ADMISSION (FIRST TIME ANY COLLEGE)

Requirements for admission as a regular student include the following:

Formal application for admission, accompanied by a $15 nonrefundable application fee.
An official seven- or eight-semester transcript of the student's high school credits is to be sent directly from the high school to the Admissions Office.
Official results of the American College Testing Program (ACT) battery are to be sent directly from the ACT Testing Center to the Admissions Office.

Qualifications for undergraduate admission to New Mexico State University are as follows:

Graduation from any state high school or academy in the United States accredited by a regional accrediting association or approved by a state department of education or state universities.
High school grade-point average of at least 2.0 and Enhanced ACT standard composite score of at least 20 (old 18); or high school grade-point average of at least 2.5; or Enhanced ACT standard composite score of at least 21 (old 20).

The following minimum requirements with respect to high school preparation became effective with the class of 1991:

English	4 units*
Science	2 units beyond general science
Mathematics	3 units**
Foreign languages or fine arts	1 unit

* Must include at least 2 units of composition, one of which must be a junior or senior-level course.

** From algebra I, algebra II, geometry, trigonometry, or advanced math.

First Time Freshmen who do not meet te Regular Admission requirements will be refused admission and can appeal to the Admission Appeals Committee. Fore more information contact the Office of Admissions.

Provisional Admission

A new student, other than a transfer student, who does not meet requirements for regular admission may be admitted to the College of Health and Social Services under the provisional program. To be admitted to provisional status, students must have a minimum high school grade-point average of 2.25 and Enhanced ACT composite score of 19 and meet the minimum high school preparation requirements listed above. Such a student must take at least 6, but not more than 12 credits in a regular semester, and at least 3, but not more than 6 credits in a single summer session. A provisional student earning a 2.0 grade-point average or higher in at least the minimum number of credits as stated above will be granted regular admission. Should the provisional student earn less than a 1.0 grade-point average in the first semester, further attendance will be denied.

A provisional student earning less than a 2.0 grade-point average, but more than a 1.0 grade-point average in at least the minimum number of credits as stated above, in the first semester may continue for one additional semester. However, a provisional student who fails to attain a 2.0 grade-point average during the second semester will be denied further attendance.

Home School Students

Students enrolled in a home school program may be accepted to New Mexico State University if they meet the requirements for regular or provisional admission as previously stated. In addition, the home school educator must submit a transcript or document that lists the courses completed and grades earned by the student and also indicates the date the student completed or graduated from the home school program.

Basic Academic Skills and Admission

In order to succeed at their college studies, entering students are required to have basic skills in mathematics and writing befitting the university environment. Students are evaluated using ACT test scores or diagnostic testing at the time of registration to determine basic academic competency. Based upon this evaluation, the university will require entering students to correct deficiencies by completing course work in English and mathematics before enrolling in courses numbered 300 and above. Specific regulations regarding this policy are described later in this chapter under "Basic Academic Skills."

Application Deadlines

Applications for admission as a regular student should be sent to the Admissions Office at least 30 days before the beginning of the regular semester or summer session for which the student intends to enroll. NMSU programs that have different deadlines for application are

Nursing March 1 (fall semester)

August 1 (spring semester)

Radiologic Technology January 15 (fall semester)

Admission by GED

In some cases NMSU will admit students who have not graduated from high school. A student who is 18 years of age or older and/or whose original high school class has graduated may apply for admission. The admission will depend upon satisfactory scores on the General Educational Development (GED) test and the American College Testing Program (ACT) test. If the student's original high school class was 1991 or later, an official high school transcript needs to be submitted to determine if the above listed high school preparation courses were completed.

Early Admission for High School Students

Currently enrolled high school students of superior academic ability may be admitted as early admission students prior to high school graduation. Documents to be submitted include regular application for admission, recommendation of the high school principal/counselor, parental permission, high school transcript, and ACT scores. Requirements to be admitted to the program are a high school grade point average of 3.0 or an ACT of 19, and an interview with the director of admissions.

Readmission (Degree Seeking)

Former students of New Mexico State University, or of one of its branches, who have been out of school for a regular semester or longer are required to make formal application for readmission. Applications should be submitted to the Admissions Office at least 30 days before the opening of the semester or summer session for which the student plans to enroll.

A student who has attended other institutions during an absence must have official transcripts forwarded directly to the Admissions Office by the registrar of each institution and must be eligible to return to the college or university last attended. Transcripts must be received prior to the date of registration. Admission status at the time of readmission will normally be determined by previous NMSU academic standing. However, academic performance at other institutions attended during the applicant's absence from NMSU may be taken into consideration in determining the student's academic admission status.

NMSU Graduation and Retention Rates

The graduation rate for first-time freshmen who enrolled full time in fall 1994 is 45% after six years, based on an entering cohort of 1,519 students. The one-year retention rate for first-time freshmen who enrolled full-time in fall 2000 is 72.6% based on an entering cohort of 1,961 students.

TRANSFER STUDENTS

Transfer students from other colleges or universities may be accepted for undergraduate studies if they have at least a C (2.0) cumulative grade-point average and are eligible to return to the college or university last attended. Transferring students who would not have met admission requirements as a first-time freshman must have completed at least 30 graded credits to be considered for admission.

Transcripts

The transfer student must have official transcripts forwarded directly to the Office of Admissions by the Registrar of each college or educational institution previously attended. The ACT battery is required of students who have not earned credit for the first semester of college English. A student who conceals the fact that they have attended another college or university, and who has not had the registrar submit a transcript for each institution whether or not credit was earned, will be subject to immediate suspension. Transcripts must be received before the date of registration.

Transfer of Credits at NMSU

New Mexico State University evaluates courses from post-secondary institutions that are regionally accredited or are candidates for regional accreditation. Transfer students will receive full credit for course work completed with a grade of C or better, provided the classes are similar or equivalent to courses offered at NMSU. A transfer student may, on the basis of an evaluation of her/his transcripts, receive credit for courses taken at other institutions in which a grade of D was received. However, NMSU does not accept the transfer of courses with D grades which satisfy basic academic competency (basic skills) in English and mathematics. And NMSU will not accept transfer credit for four-credit basic skills courses (such as ENGL 111G and CCDM 114) when the incoming course carries less than three credit hours. Also, colleges or departments may choose to accept only courses graded C or higher in their programs for both transfer and native students. Any lower-division course from another institution receiving transfer credit from NMSU at the 300 or above level will still count as a lower-division course. Transcripts will be reevaluated when students transfer from one NMSU college to another.

Each college determines which transferred courses are applicable toward a degree or a minor.

Grades earned in courses taken at other institutions are not included in the calculation of the NMSU grade point average, except for grades earned by approved National Student Exchange students.

Community/Junior College Transfers

Community/junior college transfer students may be admitted and classified on the basis of acceptable credits earned at a junior college. However, a minimum of 66 of the total credits counting toward a degree must be earned at a four-year, degree granting institution, including the last 30 semester credits, which must be earned on campus at this university. Each college will determine whether transfer credit will be given for community college courses which are offered at the upper-division level at NMSU.

Evaluation of Transfer Credits

Once a student has been admitted to NMSU, an evaluation of credits on a course-by-course basis is submitted to the college to which the student is admitted for an evaluation by the student's academic dean. The student's academic dean approves those transfer courses which are acceptable toward a degree or a minor.

Credits from nonaccredited institutions may be evaluated by the student's academic dean after the student has completed two semesters in full-time status with satisfactory grades.

Currently enrolled students must obtain prior approval from their academic dean before work taken at another institution may apply toward meeting graduation requirements.

Religious Center Courses in Religion

Courses in religion, offered by the various religious centers through higher educational institutions with which they are affiliated, are open to all students, and these or similar courses from other universities may be transferred for credit to this university. If a student wishes to have earned credits transferred to NMSU, the following procedures must be observed:

Obtain written approval from the academic dean prior to registration for the course at the religious center;
Count the credit in the course as part of the total semester load; and
Following completion of the course, request that the institution granting the credit send a transcript of the credit to the registrar at NMSU

Registration for these courses in religion is separate from NMSU's registration and is conducted by the religious center offering the course.

Not more than 6 credits in such courses may be transferred to NMSU.

National Student Exchange (NSE)

Courses transferred back to NMSU by students participating in the National Student Exchange Program (NSE) will be evaluated as NMSU courses and recorded on the student's academic record. All computable grades earned will be included in calculating the student's cumulative grade-point average.

Visiting Undergraduate Students

Students planning to enroll for a summer or semester who expect to transfer credits back to their home institution must have a letter sent from that institution's registrar to the NMSU Admissions Office indicating that they are in good standing at the present institution. If at a later time the student wishes to matriculate as a full-time regular student at New Mexico State University, all requirements for regular admission must be met.

Out-of-State Students and Legal Jurisdiction

By applying for admission/enrollment, both the student and parents agree that New Mexico law prevails and all litigation will be in federal court in New Mexico or in state court in Doña Ana County, New Mexico.

TRANSFER AMONG NEW MEXICO INSTITUTIONS

To facilitate transfer of students and course credits among New Mexico's colleges and universities, the state's public institutions of higher education are required to accept in transfer courses taken within approved modules of lower-division coursework and apply them toward degree requirements. Several transfer guides have been developed through collaboration of New Mexico's public post-secondary institutions, consistent with requirements of state law (21-1B, NMSA 1978). Students enrolling for first-year or second-year study at a New Mexico institution and wishing to prepare for possible transfer into a degree program at another institution are advised to take these courses during their freshman and sophomore years.

Student Responsibility

New Mexico's colleges and universities have collaborated to produce guides to assist students who plan to transfer before completing a program of study. Course modules are designed to help students select courses carefully so that they may transfer with little or no loss of credit. However, planning for effective transfer with maximum efficiency is ultimately the student's responsibility. Responsible transfer planning includes early and regular consultation with the intended degree-granting institution to assure that all pre-transfer coursework will meet the requirements of the desired degree.

Transferable Lower-Division General Education Common Core

Students enrolling for first-year study who have not yet selected either an academic focus or the institution where they wish to graduate are advised to take courses during their freshman year outlined below. For students enrolled at any public institution in New Mexico, the following courses are guaranteed to transfer to any other New Mexico public college or university, and apply toward associate and baccalaureate degree program requirements. Students should consult advisers at their current institutions regarding which specific courses fit these categories. Students preparing for careers in engineering, health sciences, or other profession-related fields are advised that some of this coursework may not transfer toward general education requirements but in most cases will apply toward elective requirements.

Lower Division General Education Common Core (35 credits)

Area I: Communications--select 9 credits

College-level English composition 3-4

College-level writing (a second course building on the above) 3

Oral communication 3

Area II: Mathematics--select 3 credits

College algebra 3

Calculus 3

Other college-level mathematics 3

Area III: Laboratory Science--select 8 credits

General biology, with laboratory 4-8

General chemistry, with laboratory 4-8

General physics, with laboratory 4-8

Geology/Earth science, with laboratory 4-8

Astronomy, with laboratory 4-8

Area IV: Social/Behavioral Sciences--select 6-9 credits

Economics (macroeconomics or microeconomics) 3

Introductory political science 3

Introductory psychology 3

Introductory sociology 3

Introductory anthropology 3

Area V: Humanities and Fine Arts--select 6-9 credits

Introductory history survey 3

Introductory philosophy 3

Introductory course in history, theory, or aesthetics of the arts or literature 3

Lower-Division 64-Hour Transfer Modules

Students who have selected a field of study but have not yet selected the college or university where they wish to earn their baccalaureate degree are advised to take courses during their freshman and sophomore years outlined in one of the Lower-Division Transfer Modules. For students enrolled at any public institution in New Mexico, these courses are guaranteed to transfer to any New Mexico university and apply toward bachelor's degree program requirements. Students should consult advisers at their current institutions regarding which specific classes fit these categories. Lower transfer modules presently exist for Business, Engineering, Biological Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Physical Sciences, Teacher Education, and Early Childhood Education. Modules for other areas of study are being developed. Copies of these transfer modules may be obtained from the appropriate NMSU college.

Inter-Institutional Transfer Guides and Catalogs

Students who have selected a field of study and/or the institution where they wish to graduate are advised to consult the transfer guide or catalog for that institution for more current and detailed advice to guide their course selection. Formal published transfer guides between most New Mexico community colleges and NMSU are available at the community college and the appropriate NMSU college advisement center.

Complaint Procedure for Transfer Students

All New Mexico public post-secondary institutions are required to establish policies and practices for receiving and resolving complaints from students or from other complainants regarding the transfer of coursework from other public institutions in the state. A copy of NMSU's complaint policy may be found in the NMSU catalog or from the New Mexico Commission on Higher Education, 1068 Cerrillos Rd., Santa Fe, NM 87501-4295, (505) 827-7383 or at www.nmche.org.

NONDEGREE ADMISSION

Nondegree admission is designed to meet the needs of mature, part-time students who do not wish to pursue a degree at this university. Courses taken in this status may not be used to meet university admission requirements.

Students on nondegree status are not eligible to receive financial aid or student employment; nor are they eligible to participate in student government or intercollegiate athletics; or to receive benefits from any veterans' program.

Students interested in using nondegree credit for initial teacher certification or recertification in a new field will be admitted to the College of Education. All others will be admitted to the College of Health and Social Services. Transcripts from previous institutions, high school, and/or results of college entrance exams may be required to assure readiness for university-level courses.

Nondegree students are subject to the same university regulations as regular students.

Nondegree students may not transfer more than 30 credits from this status to any undergraduate degree program.

Admission requirements include a nondegree application and $15 application fee.

Nondegree Status

Students who have been denied admission to the Graduate School may qualify for admission as provisional graduate students by enrolling as nondegree students in the College of Health and Social Services, and by completing 9 credits or more of graduate work (exclusive of directed readings and independent study) with a grade-point average of 3.0 or above. It should be noted that enrollment in some graduate level courses is restricted to students accepted into specific programs. Academic advising for nondegree students should be obtained from the department or program of interest to the student. After meeting this requirement, upon receipt of a readmission application, the student's records will be resubmitted to the department of choice for a decision as to admission. Also, non-NMSU graduates whose graduate application packet is incomplete may apply as a nondegree student in order to register for classes.

Not more than three courses totalling 9 credits or fewer earned in nondegree status at NMSU may be transferred to a graduate program. NMSU does not recognize graduate credit for nondegree work from institutions other than the University of New Mexico (UNM), from which six credits may be accepted with the approval of the appropriate department, the college dean, and the graduate dean. Therefore, any student who has previously been accepted and enrolled in the Graduate School at NMSU should not change to a nondegree program unless it is the intention never to pursue further studies leading to an advanced degree.

Changing from Nondegree Status

A nondegree student in good academic standing at NMSU may apply for change of status from nondegree to regular. Requirements for regular admission must be met.

Auditing Courses

Students who wish to audit courses may do so as nondegree students with the consent of the instructor, provided the facilities are not required for regular students. Regular students may also audit courses, but audited courses are not counted in determining maximum course loads, except for students on probation or graduate student.

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