New students to Arkansas Tech University must submit an application for admission, college entrance exam scores, a record documenting completion of secondary requirements, and proof of immunization. If you have concurrent college credit, an official transcript from that institution is required. For Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credit, an original or certified copy from your high school will need to be submitted prior to credit being awarded. Detailed course articulation for AP, CLEP, and IB can be located under Credit by Exam. A minimum criterion for exam scores and grade point averages is listed below:

1. Composite ACT score of 15 or above, SAT Reasoning Test (formerly SAT-1) composite score of 710 (mathematics and critical reading average) or above, or a COMPASS composite score of 47 or above for students who graduate from an accredited public secondary school; or composite ACT score of 19 or above, composite SAT Reasoning Test score of 910 (mathematics and critical reading average) or above, or composite COMPASS score of 68 or above for students who graduate from private secondary schools, were home schooled, or received a GED. Note: SAT exam scores are to include the SAT Reasoning Test averages for mathematics and critical reading only. Writing exams for neither ACT nor SAT are required.

2. Completion of graduation requirements from an accredited public or private secondary school, a non-accredited private secondary school, or a home school program documenting a minimum 2.0/4.0 cumulative grade point average, and completion of the university’s secondary school core curriculum, OR minimum GED score of 450.

Twenty-two credits minimum earned from grades nine through twelve from the following core courses or equivalent are recommended for college preparation. Asterisks indicate core courses required by Act 1290 for unconditional admission:

*English - 4 units, with emphasis on writing skills, but not to include oral communications, journalism, drama, or debate.
Oral Communications - ½ unit of oral communications.

*Science - 3 units with laboratories, chosen from physical science, biology, chemistry, or physics. Only one unit may come from a life science.

*Mathematics - 4 units, including algebra I and algebra II, geometry, and an advanced math course. The fourth unit may be college algebra or a higher level college math course, as long as three college credit hours are earned. College credit will show on a high school transcript as a half-unit of credit, but will still be considered the fourth unit for unconditional college admission purposes. The student must present a college transcript along with his or her high school transcript when applying for unconditional admission. It is strongly recommended that students take a math course during their senior year.

*Social Studies - 3 units, to include 1 unit each of American history (does not include contemporary American history), world history (not to include world cultures, world geography, or global studies), and ½ unit of American government, or civics and ½ unit of social studies (not to include courses in practical arts).

Physical Education - ½ unit of physical education.

Health and Safety - ½ unit of health and safety.

Fine Arts - ½ unit of fine arts.

Foreign Language - 2 units in one foreign language.

Electives - 4 units of electives.

In accordance with A.C.A. § 6-61-110, first-time entering undergraduate students (includes students who entered college the summer of 1995 or thereafter and students who enter with advanced standing) who enroll in baccalaureate degree programs or associate-degree transfer programs must meet the following placement standards prior to enrollment in college-level mathematics or English composition courses.

Mathematics – Students scoring 19 or above on the mathematics section of the ACT, 460 or above on the quantitative portion of SAT-1, may enroll in college-level mathematics courses. For students who take the COMPASS, those scoring a 41 or above on the algebra section may enroll in college-level mathematics courses. Students not meeting the standard must successfully complete a developmental (pre-college level) mathematics program, demonstrating achievement at least as sophisticated as intermediate algebra, in order to be placed in college-level mathematics courses.

English Composition – Students scoring 19 or above on the English section of the ACT or 470 or above on the verbal section of SAT-1 may enroll in college-level English courses. For students who take the COMPASS, those scoring 75 or above on the writing section may enroll in college-level English courses. Students not meeting the standard must successfully complete a developmental program.

Reading – Students scoring 19 or above on the reading section of the ACT, 470 or above on the verbal section of SAT-1 will be considered to have met minimal reading skill requirements. For students who take the COMPASS, those scoring 82 or above on the reading section will be considered to have met minimal reading skill requirements. English composition may be taken concurrent with or subsequent to any required developmental reading program.

Students who are required to complete developmental program(s) in mathematics, English, and/or reading, must enroll in the appropriate course during their first semester at Tech and in each subsequent semester until the developmental program is completed. A grade of “C” or better is required in all developmental courses before the student may advance to higher level courses.

Students who have interrupted their attendance at Arkansas Tech University must reapply for admission. Academic clemency may be granted in accordance with the clemency policy detailed in the Regulations and Procedures section.

Transfer students making application for admission to Arkansas Tech University must submit official transcripts from all colleges/universities where they have been officially registered. Students seeking transfer of credit from other institutions may be asked to provide a catalog or course description from the transfer institution.

Students with fewer than 24 semester hours of earned college-level credit must also submit a high school transcript and must request current transferable ACT or SAT scores be sent to the University. ACT, SAT, or COMPASS scores will not be required if the English and mathematics general education requirements have been satisfied with grades of “C” or better. In the event that receipt of a student’s transcript is unavoidably delayed, as may frequently occur at midyear, a transfer student may be admitted provisionally pending receipt of the official transcript, but the University reserves the right to require immediate withdrawal if the previous record does not meet admission requirements.

Applicants for transfer must have earned a GPA of 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) on all college-level courses attempted and be eligible to re-enroll at the last college or university attended.

Financial aid applicants must request a financial aid transcript from each post-secondary institution attended whether they received aid from that institution or not. Aid applications will not be processed until these transcripts are received by the financial aid office.

The following policy is effective January 2, 2007. Credit from colleges and universities accredited by one of the six U.S. regional accreditation associations will be accepted for transfer credit. Credit from U.S. colleges and universities not accredited by one of the six regional accreditation associations will not be accepted for transfer credit. Credit from colleges or universities outside the U.S. presented for transfer credit will be considered on an individual basis. A maximum of 68 semester hours of acceptable credit may be transferred from community colleges. Transfer credit, although accepted by the university, is not guaranteed to be applicable toward meeting degree requirements for all programs offered by the university. Applicability of transfer credit to meet degree requirements depends on the major selected by the transfer student.

The Arkansas Course Transfer System (ACTS) is designed to assist in planning the academic progress of students from the high school level through the adult workforce. This system contains information about the transferability of courses within Arkansas public colleges and universities. Students are guaranteed the transfer of applicable credits and equitable treatment in the application of credits for admissions and degree requirements. Students may complete specified General Education courses anywhere in the public system as well as many courses in the degree/major that have been pre-identified for transfer. Course transferability is not guaranteed for courses listed in ACTS as “No Comparable Course.” Transferability of courses taken prior to January 1, 2007, is at the discretion of the receiving institution. The Arkansas Transfer System can be accessed at http://acts.adhe.edu/.

The International and Multicultural Student Services Office (IMSSO) is pleased to serve as the admissions office for international students studying at Arkansas Tech University (Tech). Any student who is not a United States citizen or a permanent resident of the United States is considered an international student. International students are subject to out-of-state tuition rates and an international student services fee as well as additional admission requirements. International students interested in applying for admission to Tech must submit the following documents:

1. Application – An application for international admission, properly completed
2. Application Fee – A nonrefundable application fee of $50 USD
3. Academic Records – All transcripts must be originals or school-certified copies of originals with official English translations. Notarized copies are not accepted.
   1. Entering Freshmen: All applicants must submit appropriate academic records verifying previous educational attainment and the completion of secondary education requirements or the equivalency of US high school. This documentation should include grade/mark sheets as well as certificate/diplomas showing completion of secondary education equivalent to 12 years of US high school.
   2. Transfer Students: Students who have previously attended college either in the US or abroad must submit official transcripts from all colleges/universities where they have been officially registered. Students seeking transfer of credit must complete a credential evaluation through a company authorized by Arkansas Tech University (a list of approved service providers can be obtained in the IMSSO or in the Registrar’s Office) and submit catalog or course descriptions from the transfer institution. Students with fewer than 24 semester hours of earned college-level credit must also submit a high school transcript or the equivalency of a US high school transcript and diploma as well as complete an entrance exam such as the ACT, SAT or COMPASS.
4. Entrance Exam – All applicants must complete the ACT, SAT or COMPASS exam. Students who have not completed the ACT or SAT may take the COMPASS exam on campus upon arrival and after admission to assist in advisement and course placement. However, if ACT or SAT scores are available, please provide this documentation along with the application for admission. Students with more than 24 semester hours of earned college-level credit are not required to take an entrance exam.
5. English Proficiency – Students who wish to apply for admission to the English Language Institute (ELI) are not required to demonstrate English proficiency. All other applicants should submit official documentation of meeting one of the following standards:
   1. A minimum score of 500 on the written TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), 173 on the computerized TOEFL or 61 on the Internet-based TOEFL. Scores must be received directly from Educational Testing Service (ETS). The school code for Arkansas Tech University is 6010.
   2. A minimum score of 5.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). An official score card must be sent directly to Arkansas Tech University.
   3. An EIKEN score of Grade 2A. Scores must be sent directly from STEP, Inc. (Society for Testing English Proficiency).
   4. For transfer students from US colleges/universities, one of the above mentioned documents can be provided or an official college/university transcript showing successful completion of college-level English Composition I and English Composition II with a grade of C or better.
   NOTE: Test scores are only valid for 2 years. Please submit only those scores taken within two years from the time of application.
6. Evidence of Sufficient Financial Support – Undergraduate costs are estimated at $17,092 USD for 9 months of study including tuition and fees, housing, meals, books and other living expenses. Applicants must provide certified evidence of the source and amount of funding that will be utilized to support educational expenses. Documents must be official and issued within the 6 months previous to the time of application. No copies are accepted.
7. Passport – Please provide a photocopy of your current passport as well as any previous visas to the US, I-20’s and an I-94 card if available.

The application for international admission and all supporting documents should be submitted by May 1 for the fall semester, October 1 for the spring semester and March 1 for both summer sessions for priority consideration. Applications are still accepted after the priority dates. Admission will not be granted until all supporting documentation as listed above has been received and evaluated. Upon acceptance, notification will be sent to the student along with an I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility).

Students seeking to defer admission to a future term must submit a $25 USD deferral fee along with updated evidence of financial support. Please send a written request for deferral to the IMSSO along with the fee and updated financial support documentation within 60 days of the start date of your last admission.

Full payment of tuition and fees must be paid at registration each semester.  International students are required to purchase a health insurance policy provided by the university. Tech receives no remuneration as a result of international student enrollment in the health insurance plan.

More detailed information regarding international student admissions may be obtained by contacting the International and Multicultural Student Services Office, Tomlinson 29, Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, Arkansas, 72801-2222, USA; telephone 479-964-0832; fax 479-880-2039; web http://www.atu.edu/imsso.

First-time entering freshmen and transfer students who have been denied admission may file a written appeal addressed to the Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management seeking conditional admission. The appeal should be made within ten calendar days from the date admission was denied and should state applicant’s grounds for appeal. Students granted conditional admission will be admitted on academic probation.

Arkansas Tech University serves the general public by allowing individuals to enroll in classes for professional development and self-fulfillment without meeting regular admission requirements. The student admitted under this policy, who later chooses to pursue a degree, must reapply for admission as a degree seeking student and meet standard admission policies. A maximum of 27 credit hours earned as a non-degree seeking student may be applied to a degree program. Financial Aid benefits may not be granted to students admitted as non-degree seeking. For more information, call the Office of Admissions at (479) 968-0343.

Arkansas Tech University welcomes the opportunity to serve area schools by complementing their programs with special opportunities for students to enroll for college courses and earn college credit by attending Tech during summer sessions or by attending on a part-time basis during the regular academic year, concurrent with enrollment in secondary school. In accordance with the Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated, paragraph 6-18-223, makes provisions whereby a student who is enrolled in a public school in Arkansas and who has completed the eighth grade is eligible to enroll at Arkansas Tech University upon approval of the appropriate public school official, provided the student does not need developmental courses in mathematics, English or reading and has a cumulative high school grade point average of 2.00 or greater on a 4.0 scale.

Upon completion of a course(s), students may choose whether or not to have the course(s) and grade(s) recorded for college credit. Students who do not wish to have the course(s) and grade(s) recorded for college credit must notify the Registrar in writing within thirty days of the end of the term or semester. A student must reapply each term or semester attended. The course(s) agreed upon by the student and their high school must also be approved each term by a university official. An application for concurrent enrollment can be found at http://admissions.atu.edu.

Entering freshmen are required to provide Arkansas Tech University with American College Testing (ACT) Assessment scores for purposes of admission, academic placement, and the awarding of academic scholarships. Entering freshmen who have not taken the ACT prior to arrival at Arkansas Tech or whose score report is more than five years old are required to take the Residual ACT preceding their first semester. The ACT, which covers English, mathematics, reading and science reasoning, is administered five times per year at test centers, such as high schools, colleges and universities, across the nation. ACT information and registration forms may be obtained from local high schools, colleges, or universities.

You may also contact the Arkansas Tech University Testing Center for ACT information and registration materials. In addition, you may correspond directly with ACT at American College Testing Program, P.O. Box 168, Iowa City, Iowa 52243.

The 2010-2011 ACT national test schedule is as follows:
Test Date	Registration Deadline
September 11, 2010	August 6, 2010
October 23, 2010	September 17, 2010
December 11, 2010	November 5, 2010
February 12, 2011	January 7, 2011
April 9, 2011	March 4, 2011
June 11, 2011	May 6, 2011
Please check the ACT Website for the 2011-2012 test schedule at https://www.actstudent.org.

Entering freshmen are required to provide Tech with American College Testing (ACT) Assessment or Computerized-Adaptive Placement Assessment and Support System (COMPASS) scores for purposes of admission and academic placement. COMPASS is administered on the computer and consists of three tests: writing, math algebra, and reading. Please contact the Arkansas Tech University Testing Center for ACT or COMPASS information at (479) 968-0302.

For information about retention and graduation rates at Tech, go to http://ir.atu.edu or contact the Office of Institutional Research.

Arkansas Tech University encourages students to give long and serious thought to the selection of a major field of study. They should determine the academic pursuits that lead to the vocations most attractive, not only in financial gain, but in interest as well. Then they should examine the program of study most closely related to their interest areas.

Many students entering the University have not chosen a major. The individual who has not decided on a major may enroll in general education courses which are required of all candidates for the baccalaureate degree (see “General Education Requirements"). Students enrolling as “undecided” majors will be assigned to the Academic Advising Center. The Academic Advising Center is located in Rothwell Hall, room 107 and can be contacted by calling (479) 964-0843. Students enrolled as “undecided” may select a major at any time; however, a student must select a major during the semester in which the student earns 45 credit hours.

Detailed procedures for registration/preregistration are contained each semester in the schedule of courses. Prior to enrollment, students, in consultation with an academic advisor in their major field of study, prepare a class schedule and officially register for classes, pay fees and, if living on campus, pay room rent and board.

All courses taught at Arkansas Tech University are listed alphabetically by subject area in the Course Descriptions section. Course symbols, the four-digit numbers used to identify courses within a department, have the following significance: the first digit of the number denotes the year level at which the course is given; the second and third digits differentiate the course from others in the department; the fourth digit shows the number of credit hours given. Typically an “hour of credit” requires one hour of classroom work per week for the duration of a semester.

The requirements for the degree of master of education, master of science in education, master of liberal arts, master of arts, master of science, master of science in nursing, master of engineering, and educational specialist degree are set forth in the publication entitled “Graduate Catalog”. Information may be obtained by contacting the Dean of the Graduate College, telephone (479) 968-0398.