ADMISSION AND ACADEMIC REGULATIONS

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The University of Texas at El Paso is pleased to offer admission to any individual who meets the University's admission requirements. The University offers a comprehensive array of programs in both liberal arts and professional areas, from the baccalaureate to the doctoral level. For more information, visit our Web site at www.utep.edu.

The Office of Undergraduate Recruitment assists prospective students with enrollment to the University by informing them of admission procedures and financial resources, and by providing general university information. New students and their parents desiring pre-enrollment counseling, information, or a campus tour are invited to contact:

The University of Texas at El Paso

Office of Undergraduate Recruitment

El Paso, TX 79968-0504

(915) 747-5890

E-mail: recruit@utep.edu

The Admissions Office is responsible for determining an applicant's eligibility for admission and the evaluation of transfer credit according to standards set by Texas law, the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System, and the UTEP faculty. For further information about admission to the University or about the evaluation of transfer credit, contact:

The University of Texas at El Paso

Admissions Office

104 Academic Services Building

El Paso, TX 79968-0510

(915) 747-5576

E-mail: admission@utep.edu

Admission applications are available at either of the above offices, in the counseling offices of most El Paso area high schools, and on our Web site at www.utep.edu. Applicants may also use the Texas Common Application, available at www.applytexas.org.

Applications for admission are due by the following dates:

Semester Priority Date Documents Due

Fall May 1 July 31

Spring October 1 November 30

Summer March 1 April 30

Late applications will be considered after the Priority Date if the student:

1. submits all documents required to make the admission decision prior to the Document Due

Date, and

2. submits a non-refundable $15 late application fee made payable to The University of Texas at

El Paso.

An admission file that becomes complete after the Document Due Date will be considered for admission to the next semester.

Applications from international students must be accompanied by a non-refundable $65 check or money order (U.S. dollars) made payable to The University of Texas at El Paso.

All international student admission documents must be received by the International Document Due Date:

Semester Document Due Date

Fall May 1

Spring October 1

Summer March 1

An admission file that becomes complete after the International Document Due Date will be considered for admission to the next semester.

The admission requirements that must be met are determined by an individual's academic preparation. The file of an applicant whose academic background does not fall into one of the categories below will be carefully reviewed by the Admissions Office, and the applicant will be notified of the appropriate documents required.

Admission to the University does not assure admission into any of the professional colleges (Business Administration, Education, Engineering, or Health Sciences) or into any program with secondary admission requirements.

All admission documents must be submitted directly to the Admissions Office. Official transcripts should be sent directly from the schools involved, and official test scores should be sent directly from the appropriate testing agency. All transcripts in languages other than English or Spanish must be accompanied by a certified English translation.

All documents submitted to the University become part of the official files of the University and cannot be released or returned to the student or another institution.

The University strongly encourages students to take high school courses that will give them the academic preparation necessary to pursue a baccalaureate degree. The high school curriculum listed below constitutes the current minimum recommended preparation for university-level work.

SUBJECT CREDITS

English 4

Mathematics (Algebra I & II and Geometry) 3 - 4

(plus 1 year of Precalculus, Trigonometry,

Analytic Geometry, or Elementary Analysis

for Science and Engineering majors)

Natural Science 3

(Physical Science, Biology I & II, Chemistry I & II,

Physics I & II, or Science 3 & 4)

Social Studies 4

(1 year each of U.S. History, World History, and

World Geography, � year each of Economics and

U.S. Government)

Foreign Language 3

3 years of the same language

Health 0.5

Fine Arts 1

P.E. 1.5

Computer Science 1

Using one year of high school study to equal one credit, the recommended list requires 21 or 22 credits. For students who have graduated from U.S. high schools within the past five years, the course work listed above will be required for admission to the University beginning with the summer session of 2004. For admission beginning the summer of 2000, students must have completed a minimum of 16-1/2 of the credits above, including 4 in English. Students in science and engineering need an additional credit, preferably in mathematics. Students admitted for the summer session of 2002 must have completed a minimum of 18-1/2 of the credits above, including 4 in English. Students in science and engineering need an additional credit, preferably in mathematics.

The following sections on freshman and transfer admission apply to citizens and permanent residents of the United States. International students should refer to the section on INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ADMISSION for their admission requirements.

First-time freshmen applicants may qualify for automatic admission, may be subject to review, or, in certain cases, may qualify for provisional admission.

Documents Required: Application; official SAT, ACT, GED, TOEFL, or PAA scores, as appropriate; final, official high school transcript indicating adequate high school preparation, rank, and graduation date.

The University welcomes applications from individuals who are graduates of accredited high schools or their equivalents and who have the academic preparation necessary to pursue a baccalaureate degree. Admission of students who have never attended another college or university is based on high school academic preparation, final high school rank, and Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), American College Test (ACT), Test of General Educational Development (GED), Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or Prueba de Aptitud Academica (PAA) scores. For early notification of acceptance, an applicant should have verification of test scores, expected date of graduation, and a transcript sent directly from the high school to the Admissions Office. After graduation, a final, official transcript must be submitted.

Category I: Freshmen who rank in the top half of their class or who score a minimum of 920 on the SAT or a 20 composite on the ACT are automatically admitted to UTEP upon application and submission of the appropriate admission documents. This policy includes admission of graduates of an accredited Texas high school who graduated in the top 25% of their high school class, as described in Chapter 51 of the Texas Education Code.

Category II: Freshman applicants who are residents of Texas and who do not qualify under Category I are eligible for participation in the START Program described below.

Residents of Texas who do not meet the requirements for Category I admission are eligible for provisional admission through the University�s START Program. START students must attend Orientation, must be advised by the Academic Advising Center, must select their classes from a list of prescribed university courses, and must take a free, non-credit study skills course.

During the first semester at UTEP, a START student must complete at least 9 semester hours with a minimum grade of C in each course selected from at least two of the following areas: English, Mathematics, Natural Science, Foreign Language, or Liberal Arts (Anthropology, Art, Communication, History, Music, Psychology, Sociology, or Theatre Arts). A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 must also be maintained. Once these requirements have been met, the student becomes fully admitted to the University and may change majors.

If the student does not clear provisional admission during the first semester but has at least a 1.5 overall GPA, an additional START semester will be allowed to clear the conditions of admission.

Students who do not satisfy the conditions of their provisional admission have two options if they wish to re-enroll at UTEP:

1. apply for readmission and reinstatement by the Dean of Liberal Arts after at least 2 calendar years have elapsed since the end of the last period of attendance, or

2. apply for readmission after attending another college or university where a minimum of 12 semester hours of college-level work with grades of "C" or better in each course were

earned while a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA was maintained.

Under extenuating circumstances, an ineligible START student may petition for reinstatement through the Academic Advising Center.

Freshman Testing Requirements

Graduates of U.S. High Schools: All first-time freshmen who graduated from high school within the past five years are required to take the SAT or ACT for admission.

Graduates of High Schools Outside the U.S.: Graduates of high schools outside the United States must demonstrate an adequate proficiency in English that will enable them to pursue university-level work successfully.

The SAT or ACT must be taken by applicants whose high school education was in English. An SAT total of 920 or higher, with a minimum of 400 on the Verbal, is required. Students taking the ACT must score 20 or higher on the Composite, with a minimum of 21 on the English section.

The TOEFL must be taken by applicants whose high school education was not in English; a minimum score of 500 is required.

The PAA should be taken by applicants whose high school education was in Spanish and who are not proficient enough in English to take the TOEFL; a minimum score of 1,000 is required. Applicants admitted on the basis of PAA scores enroll as Inter-American Science and Humanities Program majors and are limited to regular university courses taught in Spanish and to ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) courses. Once ESOL 5110 has been completed with a grade of "C" or better, the student may change majors.

High School Graduation More than Five Years Ago: Freshmen who graduated from U.S. high schools over five years ago are not required to take an admissions test. TOEFL scores of 500 or higher or PAA scores of 1,000 or higher may be required of applicants whose high school education was in a language other than English.

High School Equivalency Examination (GED): Applicants who received a high school equivalency certificate are eligible for admission if they have an average standard score of 45 or higher on the GED. A minimum SAT score of 920 or a minimum ACT score of 20 is required of applicants whose high school class would have graduated within the past 5 years and who pass the English version of the GED. All applicants passing the Spanish version of the GED must submit scores of 1,000 or higher on the PAA. Applicants who meet the Spanish GED and PAA requirements are admitted into the bilingual Inter-American Science and Humanities Program.

Transfer Admission

Documents Required: Application; complete, official transcript from EACH college or university attended.

The University welcomes applications from qualified individuals who have begun their college work at other accredited institutions of higher education.

Categories of Transfer Admission

Category I: Applicants who have completed a minimum of 12 semester hours of college-level work with grades of "C" or better with a minimum overall 2.0 ("C") grade point average are automatically admitted to UTEP.

Category II: Applicants who do not meet the transfer hour and grade point average requirement but who meet the Freshman Category I requirements for admission are automatically admitted to UTEP as long as they are eligible to immediately re-enroll at their previous institutions.

Category III: Transfer applicants who do not meet the requirements in Category I or II are subject to individual review, as outlined in the section below on REVIEWED ADMISSIONS.

Transfer applicants must indicate all institutions attended on the admission application and must submit a complete, official transcript from EACH school attended, regardless of the amount of work completed or the intent to have the credit transferred. Credit earned at institutions not declared on the admissions application cannot be used toward a degree at UTEP. Failure to provide complete information will be considered grounds for denial of admission, denial of transfer credit, cancellation of registration, or appropriate disciplinary action.

The University honors suspension periods imposed by other colleges and universities. An applicant who is ineligible to return to any school previously attended because of suspension or dismissal or whose official records will not be released is not eligible for admission to UTEP until eligible for readmission to the previous institutions or until the official documents have been released. Information regarding the transferability of credit can be found in the ACADEMIC REGULATIONS section of this catalog under "Transfer Credit". Students who have questions concerning UTEP's evaluation of transfer credit should refer to the "Resolution of Transfer Disputes" in that same section.

Reviewed Admissions

Documents Required: Application; academic documents available; test scores, if applicable; letter of petition, if requested.

Freshmen and transfer applicants who do not meet the requirements for automatic admission, for admission into the START Program or whose individual circumstances are highly unusual with respect to their academic credentials will be reviewed on an individual basis. This review gives primary consideration to the applicant�s high school and college record, with regard to the types of courses taken and the grades earned in specific courses. Performance on standardized tests is also considered. Applicants may submit additional material for consideration in evaluating their potential for success at UTEP. Such material can document, for example, the applicant�s work experiences and achievements, extracurricular and community activities, strengths and talents that might not be apparent from the academic record, and experiences in surmounting obstacles to their further pursuit of higher education. Letters of recommendation from high school teachers, counselors, supervisors, and activity leaders are also appropriate.

The decision resulting from the individual review of each application will be one of the following:

1. to approve admission without condition, or

2. to approve conditional admission, which requires students to take preliminary or

the regular UTEP curriculum, or

3. to deny admission.

The University welcomes applications from qualified international students whose academic backgrounds indicate a high probability for successful completion of the desired UTEP academic program. The high school preparation or its equivalent that would qualify the applicant for admission to recognized universities in the home country must be completed.

The University must receive complete, official, or school-certified transcripts of high school and university work sent directly from each institution involved. If the original documents are in the student's possession, copies certified by the school, college, university, or consulate may initially be submitted and the originals presented to the Admissions Office when the student arrives on campus. All transcripts in languages other than English or Spanish must be accompanied by certified English translations.

A transfer applicant attending another institution on a student visa (I-20) will be considered for admission to UTEP if the requirements for transfer admission have been met and if the applicant has completed a minimum of 12 semester hours or its equivalent each long semester while in the United States. Failure to maintain this student status will result in denial of admission to UTEP.

Financial assistance for international students is extremely limited. Each student must furnish a statement of financial support from parents or sponsors stating that they are able to finance the student's education while in this country; this must be done before the student can be admitted.

The admission credentials of all international students will be evaluated on the basis of the admission requirements described below. International students who have attended other colleges or universities should also refer to the ACADEMIC REGULATIONS section of this catalog under "Transfer Credit" for additional information about the transferability of credit.

Documents Required: Application, accompanied by $65 admission evaluation fee; satisfactory SAT, ACT, PAA, or TOEFL scores; complete, official high school transcript; acceptable statement of financial support; immunization record.

A high school graduate whose academic credentials would grant admission to recognized universities in the home country will be considered for admission to the University. The academic average in areas related to the desired field of study should be equivalent to a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Documents Required: Application, accompanied by $65 admission evaluation fee; satisfactory SAT/ACT, TOEFL, or PAA scores; complete, official high school transcript; complete, official transcripts from EACH college or university attended; acceptable statement of financial support; immunization record.

An applicant from an accredited or nationally recognized college or university who has a minimum overall grade point average of 2.0 or its equivalent and who is eligible to return to all previous institutions attended will be considered for admission to the University.

All international students who have not earned a baccalaureate degree from a college or university in the United States must submit entrance examination scores. The SAT or ACT must be taken by applicants whose high school education was in English. An SAT total of 920 or higher, with a minimum of 400 on the Verbal, is required. Students taking the ACT must score a minimum of 20 on the Composite with a minimum of 21 on the English section. The TOEFL may be submitted by applicants whose high school education was in English but for whom the SAT or ACT is unavailable in the home country.

The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) must be taken by applicants whose high school education was not in English; a minimum score of 500 is required.

The PAA (Prueba de Aptitud Academica) should be taken by applicants whose primary language is Spanish and who are not proficient enough in English to pass the TOEFL; a total score of 1,000 is required. Applicants accepted with PAA scores are admitted into the bilingual Inter-American Science and Humanities Program. Students admitted into the program are limited to regular university courses taught in Spanish and to ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) courses. Once ESOL 1510 has been completed with a grade of "C" or better, the student may change majors.

Applicants who have successfully completed the University�s English Language Institute meet the language proficiency requirement for regular admission.

Students whose academic background is unusual or is not described above should contact the Admissions Office to determine which test is most appropriate.

Documents Required: Application; complete, official college transcripts from all institutions attended since last UTEP enrollment.

Former UTEP students who last attended the University prior to January 1, 1984, must submit an application for readmission. Junior Scholars who have graduated from high school and who wish to continue at UTEP as regular students should contact the Admissions Office to have their admission files reviewed and reactivated. Students who have attended other colleges or universities since last attending UTEP must submit official transcripts of that work so it can be evaluated and added to the UTEP academic record.

The University's Early Admission Program allows students who are enrolled in their last semester of high school and who meet the requirements for regular freshman admission (Category I) to enroll concurrently in university courses for which they have the appropriate background. Students interested in early admission must submit a letter of recommendation from their high school counselor or principal. Continued high school enrollment and high school graduation are conditions of the Early Admission Program.

The Junior Scholars Program is a cooperative effort between The University of Texas at El Paso and El Paso area public and private schools that allows qualified students to enroll in regular university courses while attending high school. Hours earned in this way will count as university credit and some courses may also be approved to apply toward high school graduation requirements. Persons interested in this program should contact:

The University of Texas at El Paso

Junior Scholars Program

Honors House

El Paso, TX 79968-0607

(915) 747-5858

The Flexible Admission Program is designed for first-time, non-traditional students who have had no exposure to a university environment and who do not intend to pursue a degree at the time of their admission. Flex students may take selected basic undergraduate courses to achieve personal educational objectives or to complete courses in a particular field for professional reasons.

To qualify for the Flex Program, an individual must be at least 23 years of age, be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, and have had no previous college or university experience. Individuals admitted under this option are subject to the same tuition, fees, and regulations as degree-seeking students. A student who changes from Flex to degree-seeking status is required to meet all the requirements for regular admission to the University. Should an individual seek this change, a maximum of 30 semester hours accumulated as a Flex student can be counted toward an undergraduate degree. Individuals who have completed 30 semester hours will need approval from the director of admissions to enroll in, or to continue to enroll under, the provisions of the Flex Program. The late application fee does not apply to Flex applicants, and applicants should note that admission into a non-degree program like Flex will preclude their participation in federally funded financial aid programs.

ACADEMIC FRESH START PROGRAM (Texas Education Code, Section 51.931)

An applicant for undergraduate admission who is a Texas resident may elect to enter this institution pursuant to the Academic Fresh Start statute, Texas Education Code, �51.931. When the applicant informs the admissions office in writing of the election, the institution will not consider in the admissions decision any academic course credits or grades earned by the applicant 10 or more years prior to the starting date of the semester in which the applicant seeks to enroll. An applicant who elects to apply under this statute may not receive any course credit for courses taken 10 or more years prior to enrollment under the Academic Fresh Start statute.

The courses excluded for Academic Fresh Start purposes may not be counted toward a degree, may not be counted in the cumulative GPA calculation, may not be used to remove any existing high school deficiencies, and may not be used to meet prerequisite requirements. These courses and grades will remain on the student�s official UTEP academic transcript. A notation will be made on the student�s academic transcript indicating that portion of the record that is to be involved in computing requirements for graduation.

Students with three or more semester credit hours or the equivalent awarded prior to fall semester, 1989, are exempt from the Texas Academic Skills Program regardless of any election pursuant to the Academic Fresh Start statute.

An applicant who has earned a baccalaureate degree under the Academic Fresh Start statute, Texas Education Code, �51.931, and applies for admission to a postgraduate or professional program will be evaluated on only the grade point average of the course of work completed for that baccalaureate degree and the other criteria stated herein for admission to the postgraduate or professional program.

The Academic Fresh Start Acknowledgement must be returned to the Admissions Office or Graduate School before the Document Due Date of the semester for which the student is applying.

For information about the TASP, refer to the Academic Regulations section in this catalog.