Chapter IX: Quality Management for Admissions



A. General Policy on Quality Management of Admissions

Students are the most important input into education at La Verne. Not only are they the primary purpose and the principal end product, but their quality is the single most important determining factor in the quality of education at the University. It is important, therefore, to select the best possible students through the admissions process.

The annual ULV catalogs outline admissions requirements and procedures at all levels both for on campus and off campus. In general, undergraduate admissions can be grouped into three categories: traditional-age central campus admissions (which is administered by the undergraduate Admissions Office), SCE undergraduate admissions (which is administered by the SCE director for each program), and EPIC admissions (which is administered by the EPIC director). All of these are overseen by the Vice President of Enrollment Management. Graduate Admissions, both on campus and off campus, are decided by the appropriate academic departments. Graduate Admissions are coordinated by the Graduate Office (for the central campus) and by the Director of Academic and Student Services, SCE (for SCE). Doctoral, law, and paralegal admissions are coordinated and decided by the separate academic departments.

By its mission La Verne welcomes students who are diverse in age and background. In consequence, admissions criteria are not the same in every undergraduate program. Central-campus traditional-age undergraduate admissions is reasonably selective with respect to standardized test scores and GPA's, but spaces are reserved for underprepared applicants through the Provisional Entrance Program (PEP). Admission to SCE, EPIC, the American Baptist Theological Center, and the Ecumenical Center for Black Church Studies, in contrast, is much more flexible, based on the fundamental understanding that many applicants to these programs are taking a second chance at college and/or came from disadvantaged backgrounds. Graduate admissions is identical for central campus and SCE applicants to the same program, but even at this level some spaces are reserved for underprepared students willing to make up deficiencies after being admitted.

B. Quality Management of Central-Campus Traditional-Age Undergraduate Admissions

Policy on Quality Management of Central-Campus Traditional-Age Admissions:

Policy for central-campus traditional-age admissions is developed by the regular contracted faculty who teach these students with the leadership of the Vice President of Enrollment Management and the Deans of Arts and Sciences, Business and Global Studies, and Education. The policy is published in the ULV catalog and administered by the Admissions Office under the direction of the Vice President of Enrollment Management.

Currently (1999), an applicant must have a cumulative GPA of between 2.6 and 3.49 (excluding PE, ROTC, and Teacher’s Aide-TA courses) and SATI scores of at least 950 (recentered) and 480 verbal for regular admission.  During the 1990’s ULV gradually raised these requirements, and it is the University’s intention to continue to raise these standards in the 21st century.

Students who fall below these standards are reviewed by the Faculty Admissions Committee for possible admission through the Provisional Entrance Program (PEP). This program is limited in size, and students admitted through it are carefully monitored and supported. While in the program, they are limited in the number of units per semester they they can take, and they are required to take part in programs at the Learning Enhancement Center.

Procedure for Quality Management of Central-Campus Traditional-Age Admissions:

1. It is the responsibility of the academic deans and regular contracted faculty who work with central-campus traditional-age students to monitor and review admissions policy and see that it is modified as needed to attract and matriculate an appropriate number of qualified students into the central-campus traditional-age program.

2. It is the responsibility of the Vice President of Enrollment Management and Director of Admissions to make recommendations for changing the admissions policy as appropriate.

3. It is the collective responsibility of the deans, regular contracted faculty, and Director of Admissions to develop a plan for steadily increasing the average GPA and SAT scores of applicants.

4. It is the responsibility of the Admissions Office to recruit a qualified applicant pool.

5. It is the responsibility of the traditional-age-student faculty to review prospective PEP students and to admit those into the PEP program who seem to have the potential to succeed at ULV.

C. Quality Management of Admissions of Nontraditional Undergraduate Students

Policy on Quality Management of Admissions of Nontraditional Undergraduate Students:

Admission to SCE, EPIC, the American Baptist Theological Center, and the Ecumenical Center for Black Church Studies is based upon formal application, submission of transcripts for all prior college work, and proof of completion of high school or its equivalent. Policies governing each program are published in the ULV catalog. The decision to admit or not to admit a student is based on the estimated likelihood of the applicant's ability to complete the degree program for which he/she has applied. This decision is based more on the applicant's motivation, maturity, experience, and career goals than on prior GPA or test scores. Many nontraditional students tried college at an earlier stage in their lives before they were ready to apply themselves to the rigors of higher education, and it is ULV's intention to give such students another chance. Test scores are requested of an applicant only when other application materials call into question the applicant's motivation or ability to succeed. The admissions decision for nontraditional undergraduate students has been delegated by the regular contracted faculty to the directors of the nontraditional programs each of whom exercises it for his/her program.

Procedures for Quality Management of Admissions of Nontraditional Undergraduate Students

1. It is the responsibility of the faculty to monitor and review admissions policy for nontraditional undergraduate students and to modify it as appropriate.

2. It is the responsibility of the the program/center director of each nontraditional undergraduate program to collect documents from applicants upon which an intelligent estimate of ability to complete the desired degree program can be made.

3. It is the responsibility of the program/center director to admit applicants who meet the admission criteria listed in the ULV catalog. Applicants who do not meet admission criteria may be considered for admission by the SCE Admissions Committee.

4. It is the responsibility of the regular contracted faculty to monitor nontraditional undergraduate applications to see if the admissions process is selecting applicants who can succeed.

D. Quality Management of Admissions of Master's Degree Students

Policy on Quality Management of Admissions of Master's Degree Students:

Admissions policy for master's degree programs is developed and administered by regular contracted faculty in these programs. General standards for admissions to all master's degree programs are set by the the regular contracted faculty of the appropriate academic departments and the Graduate Academic Policies Committee.

Specific requirements for individual master's degree programs are established by the regular contracted faculty in the program. The requirements in most departments include a minimum GPA and specific prerequisite coursework. Some departments make a standardized exam required or optional.

The decision to admit or not admit a student into a given master's degree program is made the regular contracted faculty of the appropriate academic department. Most departments have provisions for admitting students provisionally who have not taken all of the prerequisite coursework on the condition that they take this coursework as directed by the department.

Procedures for Quality Management of Admissions of Master's Degree Students:

1. It is the responsibility of each master's degree program chair to see that admissions requirements and procedures are appropriate, modifying them when necessary to meet this goal.

2. Applications and supporting materials are forwarded to the appropriate program chair through the Graduate Office (for central campus applicants) or the Office of Academic and Student Services (for SCE).

3. It is the responsibility of each program chair, working in collaboration with the regular contracted faculty in the program, to admit students who meet admissions standards.

E. Quality Management of Admissions of Doctoral Students

Policy on Quality Management of Admissions of Doctoral Students:

Admissions policy for each ULV doctoral program is developed and administered separately by faculty in the program. The decision to admit or not admit a student is made by the regular contracted faculty in the program.

Procedure for Quality Management of Admissions of Doctoral Students:

1. It is the responsibility of the Deans of the Colleges of Law and chairs of the other three doctoral programs to see that admissions policy is appropriate and in accord with standards in their fields.

2. Applications and supporting materials are sent directly to the department (or campus of the College of Law).

3. It is the responsibility of the Law deans or doctoral department chair, working in collaboration with his/her regular contracted faculty, to admit students who meet admissions standards.


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