Admissions

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Bethune-Cookman College seeks to enroll students with the potential and desire to further their intellectual, spiritual and social development. Each applicant is evaluated individually. Academic performance at the secondary education level is extremely important, and the College also considers the applicant’s character and personality as well as an eagerness to achieve a college education.

Students seeking admission to Bethune-Cookman College must have satisfactorily completed or earned a standard diploma from an accredited high school, earning a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.25 or better on a 4.0 scale. Strength of the academic course selection is carefully considered.

Because high school programs and graduating systems vary widely, the secondary school program cannot be rigidly prescribed. However, the Admissions Committee is most interested in the student with solid achievement in college preparatory courses each of the four years of high school. This curriculum includes: four units of college preparatory English, three units of college preparatory mathematics, three units of natural science (at least one laboratory), three units of social science and history, and six academic electives. Two units of foreign language and one computer literacy course are strongly recommended but are not required. The General Education Diploma (GED) may be considered in lieu of a complete high school record.

All entering freshmen must take either the SAT I: Reasoning Test, or the ACT Assessment Test. It is advisable for the student to take either test in the junior year and again early in the fall of the senior year. The writing portion of the ACT is optional; however, students who are seeking to qualify for an academic scholarship must take the writing portion of the ACT. Information concerning the SAT or ACT can be obtained from the high school guidance counselor or directly from the College Entrance Examination Board, Box 592, Princeton, NJ 08540, or ACT Assessment, Box 451, Iowa City, IA 52240. Register online or receive additional information at http://www.collegeboard.com and http://www.act.org. Bethune- Cookman’s CEEB code number is 5061; the ACT code number is 0720.

The student seeking admission to Bethune-Cookman College should apply in the first semester of the high school senior year. An Application for Admission can be obtained by writing the Director of Admissions, Bethune-Cookman College, 640 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard, Daytona Beach, FL 32114-3099, or by calling the Office of Admissions at 800-448-0228. You may apply on-line at http://www.bethune.cookman.edu.

The following credentials must be received by the June 30 deadline for fall semester admission. Priority deadline for spring semester admission is November 30.

• A completed Application for Admission - a parent’s signature is required if the applicant is under 18 years of age (Directions for the one page essay are included in the application);
   
• A $25.00 nonrefundable application fee or official fee waiver form obtained from the guidance counselor;
   
• Official copies of transcript(s) including all high school academic experiences;
   
• Standardized test results - either the ACT or SAT I forwarded directly to the college; and
   
• Counselor’s recommendation.

A candidate for admission is considered a transfer student at Bethune-Cookman if he/she has at least six transferable hours from an accredited college or university, earned while not concurrently enrolled in high school.

A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.25 on a 4.0 scale on all college level academic work is required. If the candidate has less than 24 transferable semester hours (1 full year) of credit from an accredited college, all requirements for a first year student must also be met.

The following credentials must be received by the June 30 deadline for fall semester admission. Priority deadline for spring semester admission is November 30.

• A completed Application for Admission (Directions for the one page essay are included in the application);
   
• A $25.00 nonrefundable application fee or official fee waiver form obtained from the guidance counselor;
   
• Official copies of transcript(s) for all college work attempted;
   
• Final official high school transcript; and
   
• Standardized test results. This credential may be exempted if the candidate completed high school at least 10 years before date of transfer application to Bethune-Cookman College.

Transfer Students with Associate of Arts Degrees

All Associate of Arts (A.A.) recipients will be fully admitted, providing they satisfy other requirements as specified below:

1. Students holding A.A. degrees from community colleges in Florida will be accepted as upper level transfer students. Students must, however, meet admission requirements for specific majors. There is a 10-year restriction on accepting previously earned credits. The School of Nursing will not accept courses over five years old.

2. Any students transferring to Bethune-Cookman College and having an A.A. degree from a Florida public institution of higher learning will be allowed to transfer a maximum of one CLAST exemption granted by that college and earn passing scores on the other remaining subtests. For students who transfer from a Florida private college, and CLAST waiver(s) or exemption(s) given by the college will not be honored at Bethune- Cookman College and the student must meet the CLAST requirements of Bethune- Cookman College. All students must satisfy the Bethune-Cookman College CLAST requirements before graduation. Information on the CLAST Exam, CATCLAST, and CLAST Waiver Test may be obtained in the Testing Office in Faith Hall, Room 10 or Room 3. See Testing Office under School of General Studies, page 83.

3. Students accepted with an A.A. degree from Florida community colleges and passing scores on the CLAST will be admitted to the upper level, but must satisfy the “C” grade requirements for English, mathematics, reading, and speech. Passing scores on the CLAST are a graduation requirement for all students.

4. Transfer students with 30 or more credits will be exempt from Freshman Seminar.

5. Six semester hours credit is required in Religion and/or Philosophy courses.

6. A three-hour course in African American History is required.

7. A three-hour couse in Critical or College Reading is required.

A transfer student must complete at least 30 semester hours of coursework in residence to receive a degree from Bethune-Cookman College. Of this minimum amount of work, the last semester must be taken at the College. Additionally, 30 percent of the student’s work in his major field must be completed at Bethune-Cookman College. The Office of the Registrar determines the amount of transfer course credits that will be accepted. Transfer grades are not included in computing a student’s average at Bethune-Cookman College.

Transfer Students with Associate Degrees Other Than the Associate of Arts

An official transcript from all Associate degree recipients will be reviewed course by course to determine if courses previously earned qualify the students for full admission with upper level transfer status. The transfer students must also satisfy any other requirements unique to the selected Bethune-Cookman College academic school.

Historically Bethune-Cookman College has invested in the human potential of students labeled as academic risks. Many of these students have graduated and are now productive and contributing members of their communities and vocations.

In determining the potential of a prospective student, the strength of course selection and the cumulative academic record is given primary consideration. However, the Admissions Committee shall have the authority to consider other documented indicators in applicants considered as academic risks, and admit, on a probationary basis, a percentage of these applicants who have not met the academic requirement of 2.25 cumulative grade point average. These students will be required to take prescribed courses with a predetermined number of credit hours in order for designated faculty advisors to monitor their academic performance during their probationary status.

Students who have demonstrated exceptional academic ability may be permitted to enroll at Bethune-Cookman College after completion of their junior year in high school. Early admission applicants must have the following:

1. Test scores in the top 15th percentile statewide or nationally (SAT-1350 or above, ACT 24 or above).

2. “A”-“B” grades in high school.

3. A recommendation from the student’s high school counselor.

4. An interview with college officials.

5. Letters of recommendation from parents and the student’s high school principal, stating that the students will be awarded a high school diploma after satisfactorily completing the first year of college work.

Upon acceptance it is the responsibility of the applicant to inform the College of any documented physical or learning disabilities, which might affect their matriculation. Official notification must be included from the high school or from a professional agency or medical facility. This documentation will be forwarded to the offices of the School of General Studies, Testing, and Student Affairs.

This school is authorized under Federal law to enroll nonimmigrant students. International students must file the Application for Admission and meet all applicable requirements for admission - freshman or transfer. The application process includes a $25.00 nonrefundable application fee, certified or official final secondary school records and/or university transcripts. These credentials must be verified by an accredited credential agency.

In addition all freshman applicants must submit ACT or SAT I scores. If English is not the students’ native language or language of instruction, TOEFL scores must also be submitted. A score of 550 paper based or 213 computer based is expected for academic success without special language assistance. Transfer applicants whose native language or language of instruction is not English must also submit TOEFL scores.

The international applicant must also submit a statement of financial resource and supporting financial documentation indicating sources of available adequate funds to attend Bethune- Cookman College. Students will receive the United States Department of Homeland Security Form (I-20) only after they have been accepted to the College and have submitted the personal financial resources form.

Bethune-Cookman College welcomes applications from entering adult learners (AL), 24 years of age and older, as degree-seeking students. The adult learner must pursue the admissions process well in advance of registering for any particular course. To meet requirements for admission as a continuing education student, the candidate must have satisfactorily completed high school or have earned a score of 2250 on the GED examination. The SAT or ACT requirement is exempted if the candidate completed high school at least 10 years prior to applying for admission to Bethune-Cookman College. Candidates must present evidence of consistent employment and good citizenship in lieu of the required grade point average and/or the required six transferable credit hours from an accredited college.

Adult learners who wish to enter as transfer students must have satisfactorily completed six transferable semester hours of college level work from an accredited college with a cumulative grade point average of 2.25 on a 4.0 scale. Admissions information may be obtained from the School of Graduate and Professional Studies on the main campus or from coordinators at the sites (see page 6).

An Application for Re-Admission, obtainable from the Office of the Registrar, must be submitted by July 30 for the fall semester or by November 30 for the spring semester. The nonrefundable application fee is $25.00. The student will be informed in writing of the decision by the Admissions Committee. Former students whose college education has been interrupted for five or more years must complete the most recent curriculum in the major as shown in the current undergraduate catalog.

Before proceeding in the major area, students re-entering after 10 years or more will be required to demonstrate proficiency, through examination, in courses previously taken at Bethune-Cookman College.

Bethune-Cookman College is approved for benefits for the education of veterans, active duty service personnel, disabled veterans, and qualified dependents (widows, war orphans, etc.). Veterans who seek admission should follow the regular admissions policies and should contact the veterans affairs coordinator in the Office of the Registrar in order to be qualified for benefits under the rules and regulations of the Veterans Administration.

Veteran students whose cumulative grade point average fall below the minimum acceptable standing for two consecutive semesters will have their benefits terminated for failure to achieve satisfactory progress. Their benefits may be reinstated upon achieving the minimum acceptable cumulative grade point average.

Bethune-Cookman College is a participant in the Advanced Placement Program and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. If the student meets the criteria set forth by each academic area, then the student may receive college credit for courses covering similar material. Students must apply through the Testing Office in the School of General Studies during the first six weeks of their first semester enrolled at Bethune-Cookman College.

Nondegree students may be admitted by the College Admissions Committee. Application for admission as a special student must include records of previous educational experience (high school or college transcript), a statement of studies to be pursued, and evidence of ability to pursue studies as may be prescribed by the Admissions Committee. These students are normally limited to no more than 9 hours in any semester.

A regular undergraduate student enrolled at another accredited collegiate institution may be permitted to enroll at Bethune-Cookman College as a nondegree seeking student in order to complete work for transfer to the parent institution. No evaluation of previous work completed will be made, and it is the student’s responsibility to secure approval from the parent institution.

Credit earned in nondegree status is not automatically applicable to a Bethune-Cookman College degree should the student later be admitted as a regular student. Admittance as a nondegree student in no way implies future admission as a regular student to Bethune-Cookman College.

CLEP examinations may be taken by students to measure their comparative competence in five general education areas. Credit may be obtained through the following criteria:

1. Not more than six semester hours of credit may be earned in any one area. 32 Bethune-Cookman

2. Not more than 30 semester hours of credit may be earned by examination.

3. Transfer credits based on CLEP scores will be accepted if the scores meet Bethune-Cookman College standards.

For more information on registration and test fees, contact the Testing Office in Faith Hall.

Students must register to audit a course during the time of registration and must pay the current fee per semester hour. Audit courses require no examination, and no credit is given.

Registration procedures are printed on the Wildcat Web each semester, the official registration dates are listed on the Bethune-Cookman College Academic Calendar. A fee of $100.00 is charged for failure to register early during the designated dates which precede the official registration period of each semester for the upcoming fall or spring semester. A late fee of $100 is charged for late registration. (Charges will be posted by the Student Accounts Office). For just reason, and upon approval of the Office of the Registrar, these fees may be waived.