Admissions Policies

Overview

During the application and admissions process there are policies and procedures that established by the Processing Department, Executive Director, and Federal and state law. Below are some of the policies and procedures of the Office of Admissions.

FERPA

Texas Government Code 552.114 and FERPA 20 U.S. Code 1232 states all information in an applicant’s file is confidential and may not be disclosed except under the following conditions:

• To the applicant, the applicant’s parent, legal guardian or spouse;

• Educational institution personnel, which includes school counselors or college advisors;

• Person conducting child abuse investigation required by the Family Code

Admissions Staff are not allowed to discuss an applicant’s admissions file with their friends, family members that are not legal guardians, and media. If any of these groups ask questions about a student’s file, you must reference FERPA confidentiality rules and state you will follow-up directly with the student. You can work directly with school counselors to discuss an applicant’s file and receive transcripts on the applicant’s behalf.

If someone other than the student is contacting us for information regarding the students account. Check the student’s account to see if they have enrolled in courses or have been matriculated. If they have enrolled in courses or have been matriculated, refer to the FERPA policy in which a FERPA release must be on file to release information to anyone other than the student. If they have not enrolled in courses, follow the steps below

1. Ask the individual their relation to the student if they have not yet disclosed their relationship

2. If the individual is NOT a parent, legal guardian, spouse, or educational institution personnel (which includes school counselors or college advisors) inform them that you cannot disclose information on the applicant’s file. You can provide these individuals with general information about the university and the admissions process

3. If the individual is a parent, legal guardian, spouse or educational institution personnel ask them to confirm at least 3 pieces of information on the students account. You can ask three of the following: Please provide the students ID number, Please confirm the name on the student’s account, Please confirm the students date of birth

4. If a student is matriculated or enrolled in courses, anyone other than the student contacting us must be listed on the Record Release Authorization and must be able to provide the FERPA password.

Application Reconsideration

If a student has received a decision and has been denied but would like to be reconsidered for Admissions, a student can be reconsidered if they submit new work. Inform the student they can be reconsidered if they submit:

1. Freshman with test score: New ACT or SAT test scores that meet the criteria and/or new transcript that has an updated rank.

2. Freshmen without test scores: New transcript that meet the criteria.

3. Freshman: If they do not have items listed in 1 or 2, the student will have to submit an admissions appeal.

4. Transfer: A new transcript with an updated GPA that meets the criteria.

Once a student has submitted new documents, their application will go through the auto evaluation process automatically and they will receive an updated decision based on their new work.