POLICY

PERTINENT INFORMATION

CAMPUS PROCEDURES

1. Coordination of Admission Policies
   To administer the admission policy and coordinate the admission policies and procedures which institutional sub-units might establish.

   DEFINITION OF TERMS

   • Sub-units: Instructional programs authorized to establish additional admission requirements in addition to those established by the institution.
     
   • Degree-Seeking student is one pursuing an AAS, or Level I Certificate, or a Level II.
     
   • Certificate Program Undeclared majors and external articulation majors are included.
     
   • Non-Degree-Seeking student is one who is not pursuing an AAS, a Level I Certificate, or a Level II Certificate.
     
   • Level I Certificate Program is a program of 15-42 semester credit hours.
     
   • Level II Certificate Program is a program of 43-59 semester credit hours.

   1. Sub-units or programs developing separate, special, or additional admission requirements must receive the approval of the Dean of Instruction and the President prior to implementation.
      
   2. If the separate, special or additional admission requirements of sub-units or program conflict or otherwise contradict institutional admission policies, then the institutional policies prevail.
      
   3. Sub-units or programs having separate, special, or additional admission requirements will communicate those requirements to the appropriate offices to insure that the requirements are published in the general catalog, admission materials, and student handbook.
      
   4. Sub-units or programs having separate, special, or additional admission requirements will communicate those requirements to the Office of College Information and the Admission/Records Office prior to their implementation to insure that this information is communicated to prospective students.
      
   5. Sub-units or programs having separate, special, or additional diagnostic tests or other requirements that do not dictate admission eligibility are excluded from these requirements.
      
   6. Department chairs are responsible for seeing that their personnel who have contact with prospective students understand the admission requirements and that they receive any additional or supplementary information pertaining to admission requirements as soon as it is made available to the instructional areas.
2. Admissions Categories
   1. Prospective Students may be admitted to any TSTC college under the following conditions:
      1. High School Graduate - Graduation from a high school accredited by a state department of education and/or recognized regional accrediting association.
         
      2. College Transfer - Prior attendance at a regionally accredited college or university.
         
      3. GED - Successful completion of the General Education Development test (GED) as certified by a state education agency.
         
      4. Concurrent Enrollment - A student who has completed the junior year of high school may, upon recommendation of the high school principal, be permitted to enroll concurrently at TSTC-Harlingen. Students admitted under this provision may be limited to courses which they are qualified to complete based on testing outcomes and academic progress. NOTE: Under special circumstances that indicate a student who has not completed the junior year is cable of college-level work, based on such factors as grade point average, ACT or SAT scores, and other assessment indicators, the Dean of Instruction may grant exception to the rule.
         
      5. Non-Traditional High School Student - Student applying for admission based on the completion of an independent study equivalent to the high school level in a non-traditional setting rather than through a public high school or accredited private high school may satisfy admission transcript requirement by providing a notarized record of the high school equivalent work completed and the date of successful completion. Such record must state that the work completed is consistent with the TEA minimums for high school completion and must be notarized (signed and attested by) by the individual (not the student) who issued the record. The Vice President of Student Development must approve any exceptions to this procedure on an individual basis with written justification. Students admitted under this provision may be limited to courses for which they are qualified to complete based on testing outcomes and academic progress. NOTE: Under special circumstances the Vice President of Student Development may grant exceptions to allow non-traditional high school students completing the equivalent of the freshman, sophomore, or junior years to enroll concurrently in college courses.
         
      6. Individual Approval students who can present sufficient evidence indicating their capability to do college level work may be admitted under one of three individual approval categories:
         
         
         1. Category 1: (IA) Students at least 17 years of age, who are not high school graduates nor have received a General Education (GED) certificate.
            
         2. Category 2: (IB) Students age 16 or older who are currently attending a high school and do not have a high school diploma or GED; or students at least 16 years of age who are graduates of unaccredited or home high school. Student must achieve college-level scores in writing and/or reading and/or mathematics on an approved assessment instrument. Applicant’s and parent’s/legal guardian signature required; school representative’s signature required when applicable.
            
            
         3. Category 3: (IC) Student is 16 years of age, and is no longer attending high school or student is 15 years of age or younger. Student must achieve level scores in the areas of writing, reading, and mathematics on an approved assessment instrument. Student must complete an information session with a designated TSTC official. Applicant’s, parent’s/legal guardian’s and TSTC officials signatures required; school representative’s signature required when applicable.
3. Admission Enrollment Procedures
   1. Prior to enrollment at any TSTC Harlingen , prospective students must complete the following Admission Enrollment Procedures:
      1. Submit an application for admission form, which includes an Oath of Residency and a declaration of intent to enroll as a degree-seeking or non-degree-seeking student.
      2. Comply with testing requirements by
         Submitting TASP Test scores or scores from an approved TASP alternative test; or
         Submitting documentation of TASP exemption or waiver; or
         Taking a TSTC-administered placement test.
      3. Submit the following required documents based on the appropriate admission category:
         1. High School Graduate - An official copy of the high school transcript.
         2. College Transfer - Official copies of transcripts from all previously attended institutions of higher education. Courses accepted for transfer credit must have an earned grade of "C" or better. No more than seventy-five percent of the total credit hours of the required course work may be applied from transfer credit.
         3. GED - A GED Certificate or official score report. (English or Spanish Version)

         Individual Approval (as stated above)

         • (1) Individual Approval Exceptional Admission Form Category 2 (as stated above)
         • (1) Individual Approval Exceptional Admission Form which includes appropriate authorization; and
         • (2) College-level scores in the areas of writing and/or reading and/or mathematics on an approved assessment instrument Category 3 (as stated above)
         • (1) Individual Approval Exceptional Admission Form, which includes appropriate authorization;
         • (2) College-level scores in the areas of writing, reading, and mathematics on an approved assessment instrument; and
         • (3) Completion of an information session with a designated TSTC College official.

         Students seeking admission to specific programs must also satisfy any established and approved program entry-level standards.

         TSTC Harlingen contractual agreements with independent school districts, businesses and/or other entitles for the delivery of courses to specific student populations may develop supplemental requirements and documentation to meet the conditions of the agreement. In such cases, the supplemental requirements and the documentation will be in addition to the minimum requirements stated in theses operating requirements.

         International Students

         Prospective students who are not U.S. citizens and do not have permanent resident status must meet the basic requirements for admission as specified by the TSTC Harlingen College Operating Procedures on Admission and Enrollment of International Students.