Admissions

Louisiana College accepts applications for admission from students of accredited secondary schools and students transferring from accredited colleges without regard to race, sex, color, handicap, age, creed or national origin. Also, special criteria have been established to receive applications from students from unaccredited high schools and non-graduates of high school.

All students who are seeking to enroll in classes at Louisiana College for the first time or those returning to Louisiana College after having been absent the preceding semester (excluding summer or special terms), must apply for admission under one of the following categories:

Degree-Seeking Students
Provisional Students
Non-Degree Seeking Students
Special Admissions Programs

Continuing students are those pursuing uninterrupted study at Louisiana College after having been accepted for unconditional admission. An application for admission is not required for continuing students, and they are not required to attend summer or special terms to be considered continuing.

The following application outline will help the student determine what is required in order to be considered for admission to Louisiana College.

Degree-Seeking Students

A degree-seeking student is one who has received approval under the appropriate academic criteria to pursue courses for credit toward a degree from Louisiana College. All students applying for admission under degree-seeking status must submit or have on file in the Office of Admissions prior to registration for classes:

1. Application for admission. A $25 application fee is required.
2. Transcript of high school and/or college credits or GED scores for a high school equivalency diploma.
3. A preliminary transcript should accompany the application for admission. This transcript must be sent directly to the Office of Admissions from the student’s high school and must arrive in a sealed envelope in order to be considered official. A final transcript should be sent to the Office of Admissions as soon as possible following high school graduation. Individuals who are not certain that they possess a 2.0 grade point average, as outlined below for high school and transfer students, should submit a transcript no later than two weeks before registration.

First-Time Freshmen

A first-time freshman is a student who graduated from high school at the end of the previous school term, who graduated from high school prior to the end of the previous school term and has not attended any institution of higher education since graduating, or who was admitted under the Early Admissions program. These students must complete the two requirements listed above for all degree seeking students and these additional requirements:

1. ACT Student Profile Report or SAT Student Profile Report: This report should be prepared by ACT or SAT specifically for Louisiana College. Report information is utilized for academic counseling and placement. (Report request forms are available in the admissions office.) Students who have been out of high school for two or more years may be exempted from this requirement.
2. Dormitory Application: All applicants desiring college housing should submit an application for a room and a non-refundable pre-payment of $75 at least six weeks prior to registration. The dormitory application and pre-payment must be on file and admission to the college granted prior to room assignment. Single students are required to live in a dormitory unless special arrangements are made.
3. A report of medical history is required of all students and a Proof of Immunization for all students born after 1956.

Graduates of accredited high schools must meet one of the following requirements to be accepted for unconditional admission:

1. Score a composite of 20 or above on the ACT (1410 on the SAT), AND possess an academic grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.

or

2. Score a minimum composite of 17 or above on the ACT (1210 on the SAT), AND possess an academic grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale and rank in the upper 50% of their graduating class.

In addition to the above requirements, a high school diploma is required for admission with the following 24 units mandatory:

English 4 units (emphasis on literature and composition)
Mathematics 4 units (Algebra I & II, and Geometry or higher level math)
Science 3 units (at least 2 units of lab science)
Social Studies 3 units (1 unit with United States focus, 1 unit with world focus)

The balance of the units required for admission may be earned in the following academic areas: English, math, science, social studies, foreign language, humanities, fine/performing arts, physical education, health, and computer science (provided a substantial programming or mathematical component is established.)

For out-of-state students, each state’s minimum mandatory unit requirements must be met.

Non-graduates age 18 or older, graduates of unaccredited high schools, and home-schooled students are accepted on the basis of GED scores (with a minimum score of 500 in each area) AND a composite ACT score of 17 (SAT of 1210) or higher OR a minimum ACT composite of 20 (SAT of 1410).

Transfer Students

A transfer student is a student who has attended an institution of higher education, did not graduate from high school at the end of the previous school term, and is attempting to transfer credit from that institution to LC.

These students must complete the two requirements listed above for all degree seeking students and these additional requirements:

1. Transcript of college work from each college attended. Louisiana College accepts official transcripts as physical and official e-script or electronically verified copies.
2. Dormitory Application: All applicants desiring college housing should submit an application for a room and a non-refundable pre-payment of $75 at least six weeks prior to registration. The dormitory application and pre-payment must be on file and admission to the college granted prior to room assignment. Single students are required to live in a dormitory unless special arrangements are made.
3. A report of medical history is required of all students and a Proof of Immunization for all students born after 1956.

Students with fewer than 20 hours of transferable credit (excluding remedial courses) must meet the following additional requirements:

1. Must be in good standing with the institution from which they are transferring. Must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 or better.
2. Must submit an official copy of their final high school transcript and official copies of their ACT scores.
3. Must meet LC’s minimum freshman admission policy (see above) in addition to the minimum GPA required for transfer.

Students who have completed 20 or more hours of transferable credit (excluding remedial courses) must meet the following additional requirements:

1. Must be in good standing with the institution from which they are transferring. Must have a minimum GPA of 2.00 or better.
2. Must pass the following LC course equivalents with a “C” or better prior to transferring:

• Remedial English, EN 101 Composition I , or an interdisciplinary course with an equivalent writing component.
• Remedial Math, MA 100 Finite Mathematics , MA 111 College Algebra , MA 112 Trigonometry , or higher-level math course.

Students who do not meet the above-stated transfer admissions requirements may appeal their admission decision to the Admissions Committee by requesting a review in writing. An interview with a representative of the Admissions Office is required prior to committee review of appeal.

For other stipulations concerning transfer credit, see the section above on Credit Evaluation.

Returning Students

A returning student is one who has been absent one or more semesters (excluding summer and special terms) and has not been enrolled as a degree-seeking student at another institution during this absence. Students who were on provisional or probationary status at the conclusion of the last semester they attended Louisiana College will return under the same status.

These students must complete the two requirements listed above for all degree seeking students and these additional requirements:

1. All returning students must complete a Returning/Degree Seeking Student Application Form. Those who were suspended for academic reasons will return on Academic Probation, provided they have not attended another institution in the interim. Course work taken during the period of suspension is not eligible for transfer. If the student has attended another institution since suspension from LC, the student must reapply for admission as a Transfer Student. Readmission is not automatic. These applications must be approved by the Admissions Committee.
2. Dormitory Application: All applicants desiring college housing should submit an application for a room and a non-refundable pre-payment of $75 at least six weeks prior to registration. The dormitory application and pre-payment must be on file and admission to the college granted prior to room assignment. Single students are required to live in a dormitory unless special arrangements are made.
3. A report of medical history of all students and a Proof of Immunization for all students born after 1956. These items do not have to be resubmitted if already on file.

International Students

International Student: Any student who is not a US citizen and seeks F-1 status

Admission Requirements:

1. Official Completed Louisiana College application
2. Official Evaluated Transcripts
3. Demonstration of English Proficiency
4. Current Valid Passport
5. Demonstration of Financial Eligibility

1. Completed Louisiana College Application: Louisiana College strongly prefers all students use the online application; however, we realize the online application is not available to some international students. In such instances, students may apply by emailing the paper version of the application to the international office. Application forms are not sent to international students until eligibility for admission has been determined. This determination is based upon the academic records and the required tests.

2. Official Transcripts: Scans of transcripts will be considered by the admissions committee for initial admission consideration. However, all accepted students must bring with them, and submit to the international office, official transcripts prior to registering for classes. Any discrepancies in the scans and the official transcripts may result in the student’s admission offer being revoked.

In those countries where only the results of the General Certificate Examinations are available, it is necessary that the student present passes on a minimum of four subjects at the ordinary level and two subjects at the advanced level.

Official copies (or copies notarized as official) of the transcripts or mark sheets should be mailed directly to:

International Student Services
Office of Admissions
1140 College Drive, Box 546
Pineville, LA 71359-0560

It will be necessary for such records to indicate above-average ability on the part of the student based on evaluated transcripts of high-school or college courses taken.

A student who has earned college-level course credits in a foreign country comparable to the course credits in the American university system and who wishes to use those credits toward a degree must have the transcripts evaluated by an approved credential service. Information on these can be obtained from the Admissions Office.

3. Demonstration of English Proficiency: Applicants will be accepted to Louisiana College without conditions or with conditions based on their mastery of the English language as described below:

Unconditional Admission - Students whose native tongue is not English and desire to be unconditionally admitted to Louisiana College shall exhibit adequate mastery of the English language as evidenced by the TOEFL or IELTS exams. Unconditional admission is defined for the purpose of this section as applicants who are allowed to enroll in for-credit courses with no additional assistance, requirements, or stipulations. Scores obtained within five years of the application date will be considered for admission. Exam scores older than five years of the application date will not be considered for admission. The exam scores required for unconditional admission are:

1. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)-Internet based test (IBT) - An official TOEFL IBT score sent directly from the ETS testing agency should be sent to Louisiana College on behalf of the student. Students will earn a minimum composite score of 80 on the TOEFL-IBT. Reading and Writing section scores will individually be higher than 18. Students submitting other forms of the TOEFL (paper or computer based) shall obtain equivalent scores as described above.
2. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - Students must submit an official IELTS score from the IELTS testing agency sent directly to Louisiana College. Scores equivalent to the TOEFL described in the section above must be obtained.

Conditional Admission - Students who do not obtain the exam score required to be unconditionally admitted to Louisiana College may be conditionally admitted.

1. Applicants who score below an 80 on the TOEFL (or equivalent IELTS) or who score below a 18 on the Reading and Writing sections may be conditionally admitted and will be required to participate in further assessment as described below.
2. Students who do not have access to official TOEFL or IELTS exams (due to geographic residence, limited seat availability, or fast approaching admissions deadline) may take the Louisiana College English Language Skills Assessment (ELSA). The ELSA exam may be completed online via video conferencing, or face-to-face with a qualified admissions representative. Students must submit all other admission documentation and meet all other admission criteria prior to being issued the ELSA.

All international students who are conditionally admitted by Louisiana College will be given an English skills assessment prior to registering for classes. The assessment will be administered by the Division of Humanities and will consist of an impromptu, proctored essay, and an English grammar/structure section. The essay will be scored and placed in one of three categories:

• Emerging: The student will be required to enroll in a full time Intensive English as a Second Language (ESL) and may not register for credit courses.
• Emerging Proficient: Basic skills are adequate to enter limited college courses with a reasonable expectation of success. Students will need to enroll in a part-time ESL program. Students will need to meet with the ESL advisor and will need the ESL advisor’s permission to register for any non-ESL courses. Additional supportive stipulations may be added to individual courses at the request of the department chair.
• Proficient: The student does not require ESL or developmental assistance. Additional support through the PASS, International Office, or Writing Center may be required or requested (additional fees apply), but students are free to meet with their major advisor and register for classes.

All ESL courses are not-for-credit and do not count toward a student’s degree requirements.

4. Current Valid Passport - Students must submit a copy of their valid passport to be considered for admission.

5. Demonstration of Financial Eligibility - The United States Government requires all F-1 visa sponsors to ensure a student’s ability to finance their education in the USA. A student must have sufficient funds available to pay all institutional charges at the time of registration. A statement of financial responsibility must be submitted stating that the student has sufficient funds available to support tuition, room and board at Louisiana College. Louisiana College requires students to submit a bank certificate scan showing financial assets in excess of $25,000 USD to cover one year’s expenses of studying at Louisiana College.

Students residing in the United States who are not U.S. citizens and are not on F-1 status may enroll with permission from the Admissions Committee and must pay tuition and fees in full at registration.

International students seeking to transfer to Louisiana College from other colleges and universities in the United States must meet all acceptance criteria.

Provisional Students

Provisional students are students who cannot meet the appropriate academic requirements for admission to degree-seeking status stated above in Section I. Provisional students include college transfer students, first-time freshmen and non-traditional students, age 25 and over, who have not previously attended college.

1. Application for admission. A $25 application fee is required.
2. Transfer students must submit a preliminary transcript with the application for admission. A final transcript should be sent as soon as possible following completion of the semester in which currently enrolled. No student who is under suspension from another institution is eligible for admission to Louisiana College.
3. First-time freshmen must submit a preliminary high school transcript with the application for admission. A final high school transcript should be sent as soon as possible following graduation. Students must submit ACT or SAT scores for placement purposes.
4. Non-traditional students must submit a final high school transcript with the application for admission. ACT or SAT scores may be required for placement purposes.
5. Letter to the Admissions Committee requesting admission to provisional status should be sent to the Director of Admissions.
6. A Dormitory application, if applicable.
7. A report of medical history and immunization record.

Students admitted on provisional status must meet the following requirements:

1. They must register for no more than 14 hours for the semester, with any registration above 12 hours limited to one hour courses such as CC 100 College Connection , MU 197 /MU 198  and/or physical education activity courses. In addition, provisionally admitted students must enroll in an English and Math course.
2. Must participate in the Academic Counseling Program.
3. Transfer students must present a 2.0 cumulative grade point average at the conclusion of the semester to achieve degree-seeking status, or they may continue on provisional status only after demonstrating academic progress (earn a minimum 2.0 GPA during a semester).
4. First-time freshmen and non-traditional students must present a 2.0 cumulative grade point average at the conclusion of the semester to achieve degree seeking status or they may continue on provisional status for an additional semester. These students must earn a 2.0 grade point average for the second semester in order to raise their cumulative grade point average to the required level for their classification.

Students on provisional status who fail to make minimum academic progress (as stated above) will be suspended. After their suspension, students may apply for readmission according to the guidelines stated in this catalog under Returning Students.

If a student is suspended they may appeal their suspension.

Non-Degree Seeking Students

Non-degree-seeking students include several types of students who are enrolled in courses for credit, but who have elected not, or are not presently eligible, to pursue a degree at Louisiana College.

These students fall into one of the following categories:

1. The students are transient students or are not able to complete a degree program at Louisiana College. These students wish to attend Louisiana College temporarily, having the intent to return to another college where they are already pursuing a degree. The statement must be in the Office of Admissions no later than two weeks after the close of registration or they will be dropped from the rolls of the college.
2. Occasionally students wish to enroll at Louisiana College on a short-term basis because their career or another factor will cause them to relocate before they can complete a degree. They are enrolled only temporarily and do not wish to pursue a degree at Louisiana College. An abbreviated application process provides the limited information needed for their admission. Forms are available through the Office of Admissions.
3. Students that are adults of at least 22 years of age with the equivalent of a high school diploma who wish to register for academic credit in a course or series of courses without pursuing a degree. An abbreviated application process provides the limited information needed for their admission. Forms are available through the Office of Admissions.
4. Students who have been unable to meet academic requirements necessary to pursue a degree. These students are on either provisional non-degree or non-degree status with permission from the Admissions Committee to continue so long as they make satisfactory progress in raising their grade point average to the required level.

Non-degree status may be changed to degree-seeking by following procedures outlined in the Degree-Seeking Section described earlier.

Special Admissions Program

Louisiana College provides special opportunities for academically talented students. To do so, LC offers several attractive programs which allow such students to earn regulare college credit prior to graduation from high school. Each program allows students to earn college credit at a reduced rate. Any international student who wants to participate in any Special Admissions Program will fall under the International Students guidelines.

1. A minimum cumulative academic grade point average of 3.0 (“B”) must be documented by an official high school transcript of courses and grades earned. Only grades in English, speech, foreign languages, mathematics, natural sciences, social studies and fine arts are considered in computing high school grade averages at Louisiana College.
2. Each applicant should submit:
   1. an application for admissions;
   2. an ACT or SAT profile report is strongly encouraged
3. The student must obtain degree-seeking status.

The various accelerated entrance programs are listed below:

1. Summer Superior Students: A limited number of students who fulfill the basic requirements for high school student programs may enroll for two three-semester-hour courses during the summer session between their junior and senior years of high school.
2. Concurrent Enrollment: This college program permits qualified high school students to earn a maximum of six hours of approved college course work per semester during the fall and/or spring semester of their final year of high school. Approved courses may be taken on the Louisiana College campus or at the student’s local high school. If taken at the local high school, the instructor must meet the required qualifications as set forth by Louisiana College.
3. Early Admissions: A student who has fulfilled the 3.0 academic grade point average, has earned a minimum ACT composite score of 25 or total SAT score of 1130 and has been recommended by his or her high school principal may be admitted to Louisiana College as a regular freshman at any time after his or her junior year of high school. Such students are awarded a high school diploma by the Louisiana State Department of Education after successful completion of twenty-four semester hours of collegiate study. Students seeking admission to this program, and their parents, are urged to schedule a conference with the Director of Admissions. Only students with substantial social maturity and academic ability are encouraged to enter college under the early admission program. As high school students begin their final year of secondary education, those wishing to prepare for enrollment at Louisiana College are encouraged to begin the admission process one year before the expected date of entrance.
4. Gifted/Talented Students: Louisiana College seeks to meet the needs of gifted/talented students by offering unique programs during the summer. The courses are for college credit on the 100 or 200 level (freshman or sophomore). Acceptance to the program is limited and is based on careful screening by the college. Among the criteria are the following:
   1. The student must be entering the ninth, 10th or 11th grade in an accredited high school.
   2. The student must have a minimum 3.5 (B+) grade point average.
   3. The student must either be classified as gifted/talented by the parish (local) school system or be recommended by the superintendent of the school system.
   4. Letters of recommendation from teachers and principal are required.
   5. All forms and recommendations are due by May 1 annually.

Program to Assist Student Success (PASS)

The Program to Assist Student Success, or PASS, is a highly individualized, limited enrollment program designed to serve students who have documented physical or learning disabilities.

All qualified applicants must meet the general criteria for admission to Louisiana College and have a diagnosed learning disability or physical handicap. In addition, successful applicants must have the intellectual potential (average to superior), the appropriate academic foundation (class standing and/or ACT/SAT scores), and the personal desire and motivation to succeed.

Records Retention

Louisiana College retains for three years the admissions materials for those who apply, but who do not enroll. For those who enroll, the college will retain the materials in student folders, including transcripts of the record of work completed elsewhere, for five years beyond the date of last attendance. Records of academic performance at Louisiana College, including individual student records, faculty grade lists and graduation lists are kept permanently.