Academic Rules and Policies

Admission

Criteria for Admission

While no single factor determines an applicant’s successful admission to Lakeland, the university seeks high school graduates with a cumulative grade-point-average (GPA) of 2.0 or better. This GPA, standardized test scores (either ACT or SAT), a personal statement, and a school counselor recommendation are all considered when admission decisions are made.

The university also accepts transfer students who have earned at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA and are in good standing at other accredited institutions of higher learning.

Exceptions to the above admission criteria may be justified by personal recommendations or other documented evidence of probable academic success at Lakeland. Exception decisions are made by the Provost of the University and the Vice President for Enrollment Management. Those students accepted will be considered as conditionally accepted and will have probationary status for their first semester (see policy on Academic Probation and Suspension ). Probationary status will include conditions set by the Director of the Hayssen Academic Resource Center.

Policy on Non-Discrimination

Lakeland University provides equal educational and employment opportunity without regard to sex, race, age, religion, national origin, marital/parental status, or handicap. All equal opportunity questions should be referred to the university’s President. Lakeland University is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students.

Application for Admission

When applying for admission to the university, students are asked to submit the following credentials to the Office of Admissions:

1. An Application for Admission. (Note: An Application for Admission may be submitted at any time after the successful completion of the junior year of secondary school.)
2. An official high school transcript.
3. Official transcripts from all post-secondary colleges or universities, if any.
4. Military transcripts, if applicable.
5. American College Test (ACT) scores or Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores.
6. Evidence of English proficiency.  This may be demonstrated by completion of a high school degree or equivalency in English, or a earned minimum of twelve (12) semester hours of transferable post-secondary coursework taught in English.  If the applicant does not have evidence of English proficiency, refer to the information outlined in the international student admission section under letter a. below.

Decisions are made on complete applications files after the conclusion of the applicant’s junior year and prior to the intended enrollment year. Applicants are notified promptly by the admissions office. Following acceptance, students intending to enroll are required to submit a $100.00 non-refundable commitment fee which is held as a deposit for the duration of their time at Lakeland.

International students are required to follow steps 1 through 3. Foreign university transcripts must be accompanied by an official course-by-course evaluation of all academic coursework translated in English. Approved foreign credential evaluation organizations, such as Educational Credential Evaluators (ece.org) and World Educational Services (wes.org) can be used for evaluation purposes. The course-by-course evaluation, English translation, and official transcripts are required as part of the admission process. The evaluation must include cumulative GPA. The evaluation can take several weeks to complete, so please plan accordingly.  Submission of ACT or SAT scores is not required.

In addition, international students applying for admission must also:

a.  Submit, if their native or first language is not English, proof of English proficiency as demonstrated by one of the following:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - minimum score of 500 on the paper-based test or 61 on the internet based TOEFL (iBT) is required. Under certain circumstances, international students who complete the language preparation of the college’s own English Language Institute may be admitted with scores less than 500. TOEFL scores must be no more than two years old at the time of application;
• IETLS - minimum score of 6.0;
• Successful completion of ELS English for Academic Purposes Level 112;
• Documentation from WESLI, MESLS, or other approved English Language School with which Lakeland University has an official agreement;
• Acceptable GCE Ordinary or Advanced Level results or acceptable WAEC test results.

b.  Provide financial documentation (certification of finances) that shows the student’s ability to pay for college and living expenses while studying and residing in the United States.

Note: Upon receipt of the commitment fee and completed housing and health forms, international students will be sent the Certificate of Eligibility (I-20) form required to obtain a student F-1 visa.

Transferring to Lakeland

Students who wish to transfer to Lakeland from another college/university must be in good academic standing and must submit official academic transcripts from all other colleges/universities attended. Only those courses similar to Lakeland University courses in which the student has earned a grade of “C” or better will transfer. Grades earned at other colleges/universities are not included in the Lakeland University GPA.

The Lakeland credit unit is the semester hour, which is equivalent to 1.5 quarter hours. All work completed at other colleges will be converted to semester hours when evaluating transferable credits.

Upon acceptance to Lakeland, transfer applicants will receive an evaluation of their transferable credits with a listing of the courses required to complete a Lakeland University degree. All transfer students must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework at Lakeland University in order to earn a Lakeland degree.

Transfer Application Process

Students who wish to transfer to Lakeland University must submit the following to the Office of Admissions:

1. An Application for Admission.
2. Official transcripts from all previous colleges or universities. Such transcripts must either be sent directly to Lakeland University from the transfer institution or brought to Lakeland in a sealed envelope.
3. Military transcripts, if applicable.
4. ACT or SAT scores and high school transcripts for those applicants who have completed less than one year (30 credits) of college-level work.
5. Evidence of English proficiency.  This may be demonstrated by completion of a high school degree or equivalency in English, or a earned minimum of twelve (12) semester hours of transferable post-secondary coursework taught in English.  If the applicant does not have evidence of English proficiency, refer to the information outlined in the international student admission section under letter a. above.

Note: Students majoring in Education, seeking admission into the Lakeland University teacher certification program, must also submit ACT or SAT scores at least two years before registering for student teaching and one year before applying for admission to student teaching.

Transfer Eligibility

Individuals who have earned a cumulative college GPA of 2.0 or higher will be considered for admission to Lakeland University. Students who have earned a cumulative college GPA of less than 2.0 may also be considered for admission if they have completed 30 or fewer semester hours of college work and would have been qualified for admission to Lakeland on the basis of their high school records. If final, official records are not on file at least one week prior to the start of Lakeland University classes, new transfer students will be asked to obtain and submit unofficial copies of records and/or grade slips before being allowed to register. Registration for subsequent terms will not be allowed until the application file is complete.

Transferring from Two-Year Schools

The college-level work of students transferring from accredited two-year colleges/universities or technical schools will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis. Lakeland University accepts up to 72 semester hours of transferred credits from any combination of accredited two-year schools. Students majoring in Early Childhood through Middle Childhood Education may be allowed to exceed the limitation on transfer credit from two-year institutions provided such credit is completed after their initial entry into Lakeland University and is part of their Early Childhood Education requirements.

Transferring as an Associate Degree Graduate

Associate degree graduates from approved two-year college/university or technical school programs will receive approximately two years of college credit when transferring to Lakeland. Lakeland University accepts up to 72 semester hours of transferred credits from any combination of approved two-year programs.

Transferring from Four-Year Schools

The college-level work of students transferring from accredited four-year colleges will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis. Lakeland University accepts up to 90 semester hours of transferred credits from any combination of accredited four-year schools.

Transferring with a Completed Bachelor’s Degree

Students who have completed a bachelor’s degree at another institution and wish to earn an additional bachelor’s degree at Lakeland University will be required to complete the coursework for the appropriate Lakeland major and, except for education majors, will be exempted from Lakeland’s General Studies requirements. As with all other transfer students, those who are enrolling for a second degree at Lakeland must complete at least 30 semester hours of Lakeland coursework to earn a Lakeland degree.

Adult Student Admission

Students who do not immediately attend college after graduating from high school are termed “adult.” Adult applicants who have graduated from high school within the past three years must submit ACT or SAT test scores and high school transcripts with their application. Adult applicants who have been out of high school three years or more and whose grade-point-average was 2.0 or greater are not required to submit ACT or SAT test scores. The applications of adult applicants whose grade-point-averages are less than 2.0 will be reviewed by an Admissions Committee and additional materials may be requested.

Transferring from a Closing College

Students transferring from accredited colleges which have been forced to discontinue their academic program offerings may transfer up to 90 semester hours of coursework. Lakeland will accept all coursework credited to the student at the closing institution and will require the student to meet all applicable Lakeland requirements for the completion of the bachelor’s degree.

Taking Courses at Other Colleges

Lakeland students who wish to take a course at another college while enrolled at Lakeland must receive written permission prior to taking the coursework if the credits are to be applied to a Lakeland degree. Forms for obtaining such advance written permission are available from the Office of the Registrar. If a student is taking coursework at another college concurrently with his or her enrollment in Lakeland courses, the total course load may not exceed 18 semester hours in any term. Registration for more than 18 credits may be permitted by the Provost of the University if the student has at least a 3.0 GPA or higher, and if other conditions make the overload advisable. Only grades of “C” or better will transfer. Coursework taken through other colleges will not be included in the Lakeland GPA.

Credit and Advanced Placement by Examination

Lakeland accepts College Board Advanced Placement Examination (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) tests as a service to students who wish to earn credit for college-level achievement. On most tests, enrolling students who achieve a score of 3 or higher on an AP, a score of 4 or higher on all Higher Level IB exams, and 55 or higher on a CLEP or DANTES exam may be awarded college credit and will be exempted from the equivalent Lakeland course requirement. Students may not receive AP, IB, CLEP or DANTES credit for any subject area in which they have already taken college coursework. Students who have completed 85 or more semester hours of college coursework are not eligible for AP, IB, CLEP or DANTES credit. Lakeland allows a maximum of 30 semester hours of credit through equivalency exams.

CLEP tests fall into two categories: (1) General Exams, and (2) Subject Area Exams.

The General Exams in English composition, humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences/history are designed to assess knowledge of fundamental facts, concepts, and basic principles as well as the ability to perceive relationships.

The following specific CLEP exams may be used to satisfy Lakeland University course requirement(s):

Retroactive Credit for Foreign Language Study

Students who complete a Lakeland University foreign language course above the first-semester level with a grade of “B” or better will also receive credit for all foreign language courses that are prerequisite to that course. Retroactive credit is awarded to only those students who are studying a language that is not their native language. A maximum of 14 semester hours, not including the completed course, may be awarded. The course taken to earn retroactive credit must be the student’s first college course in the language.

Academic Policies

The following policies  guide the matriculation, withdrawal, and graduation of Lakeland students, as well as establish the normal rules by which classes are conducted and credit is granted.

Contingent upon continuous enrollment, students will be allowed to complete any degree program offered by Lakeland University on the date of their first enrollment in the university, provided no substantive curricular changes have been made.

Lakeland’s academic policies all assume that the basic credit unit is the semester hour. One Lakeland semester hour is equivalent to 1.5-quarter hours. Unless designated otherwise, all Lakeland courses carry three semester hours of credit and the normal, full-time load for a student enrolled in a year of Lakeland classes is 24-36 semester hours (12-18 fall and 12-18 spring). In addition, a student may take one one-semester-hour to four-semester-hour course during the May Term.

Students who believe they have legitimate grounds for appealing or being excluded from the requirements of any Lakeland academic policy included in this catalog should address those appeals to the Provost of the University.