Admission to Fort Lewis College requires evidence of the ability to handle academic work, capacity to think creatively, and strong motivation. The minimum admission requirements are designed to help identify applicants whose academic background indicates potential for success at Fort Lewis College. However, satisfaction of minimum admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance. The selection process includes such factors as grades, test scores and class rank. It may include educational objectives, past conduct, school recommendations, and personal recommendations. Fort Lewis College encourages applications from qualified applicants of both sexes and from all cultural, racial, religious, ethnic, and age groups. In the admission process there is no discrimination on the basis of these factors or on the basis of disability. Fort Lewis College supports equal educational opportunity for disadvantaged students. Requests to waive the $30 application fee are considered by the Director of Admission if payment of this fee creates severe financial hardship and serves as a deterrent to application. Students are admitted to Fort Lewis College in accordance with the mission and goals of the College and within enrollment limitations established by the Department of Education and the Colorado Commission on Higher Education. Obtaining
an Application Applications for admission are accepted as early as 12 months before the requested entry term. Applications for admission and the non-refundable $30 application fee should be submitted before or by the deadline date. The deadline date is normally about four weeks prior to the first day of classes in each term. Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis. Once a decision is made, students will be notified by postal mail. In order to be eligible to be considered for merit scholarships and awards, students must apply for admission by January 15.
All students who have not been admitted to and enrolled in a Fort Lewis College degree program within the last two terms must submit an application for admission. Former degree-seeking students must file another application for admission when applying for a second degree program or readmission (see Former Students). Anyone who has previously been admitted and enrolled as a degree-seeking student and has paid an application fee will not be required to pay another application fee. Changing Requested Term of Entry Applicants may update their application for admission for up to one semester from the originally requested term of admission. All requests for changes of entry term must specify any academic work attempted that was not reflected on the original application and must be received by the appropriate published application deadline for the new term of entry. Additionally, any issues related to criminal or academic misconduct that were not reflected on the initial application must be reported in writing to the Office of Admission. A new application must be submitted when applicants wish to be considered for admission for a term that begins more than 12 months after the originally requested entry term. Minimum Requirements for Admission Freshman Applicants Meeting the Fort Lewis College minimum admission standards does not guarantee admission. Applicants selected for admission usually exceed the eligibility requirements. For purposes of admission, Fort Lewis College adheres to the standards established by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) using the CCHE Admission Index. High school grade point average based on grades earned in all classes and ACT or SAT scores and/or class rank are used to make an admission decision. Fort Lewis College normally requires a diploma from a public or a regionally accredited high school or the state-approved GED diploma. Applicants submitting a GED diploma must have an overall score of 450 or greater for all five tests and an ACT composite score of 22 or SAT I verbal and quantitative combined score of 1000. Students who are participating in an approved home schooling program are expected to provide acceptable copies of annual evaluations for the equivalent of grades nine through twelve. A portfolio or additional documentation may be requested if deemed necessary to complete an appropriate evaluation for admission. Home schooled students must have an ACT composite score of 22 or SAT I verbal and quantitative combined score of 1000. Freshman applicants must submit an official test score from the SAT or the ACT. For freshman applicants
earning a high school diploma, the following college preparatory academic
units (year-long courses or equivalents) normally offered in grades nine
through twelve are strongly recommended: All transfer students must be assessed for basic skills under the Colorado Basic Skills Policy (described in detail at the end of this section). New Student Advising, Registration and Orientation Freshman students are individually advised and registered by the New Student Advising & Registration Office either on campus or by telephone. Advising and registration for Fall Semester and Summer Sessions begins in March and advising and registration for Winter Semester begins in October. All freshmen must be assessed for basic skills under the Colorado Basic Skills Policy as described at the end this section. All freshmen are required to attend Orientation. Orientations for Summer are held the Sunday before the term begins; orientations for Fall are held the week before school begins; and orientation for Winter is held the Thursday and Friday before the term begins. The Office of Admission will mail a guide explaining the advising, registration, and orientation processes for admitted students. For more information, contact the New Student Advising and Registration Office at 970-382-6985. Transfer students should submit the application, official transcripts from each college attended and a $30 non-refundable application fee to the Office of Admission. Transfer students who have earned fewer than 12 semester college credits should also have a high school transcript and ACT or SAT results forwarded to the Office of Admission. Applicants with a minimum cumulative 2.3 GPA and honorable separation from other accredited colleges and universities may be admitted at the beginning of any term. College course credits that fulfill the requirements for a degree program at Fort Lewis College ordinarily will be acceptable for transfer if grades are C- or better. A student with fewer than 30 semester credits may be reviewed on the high school record if deemed appropriate. Transfer students are individually advised and registered by the New Student Advising & Registration Office either on campus or by telephone. Generally, advising and registration for Summer sessions and the Fall semester begins in March and advising and registration for the Winter semester begins in October. All transfer students must be assessed for basic skills under the Colorado Basic Skills Policy (described in detail at the end of this section). All transfer students are required to attend Orientation. Orientations for Summer are held the Sunday before the term begins; orientations for Fall and Winter are held the Thursday and Friday before the term begins. Admitted students will be mailed a guide to the advising, registration, and orientation process by the Office of Admission. For more information, contact the New Student Advising & Registration Office at 970-382-6985. For courses to transfer to Fort Lewis College from another collegiate institution, a regional accrediting association for colleges and universities, such as the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, must accredit the transfer institution. Regular academic courses completed with grades of “C-” or better are generally accepted in transfer to Fort Lewis College. Courses with grades of “D+” or lower will not transfer. Courses accepted in transfer become part of the credit hours completed and are not used in grade point average (GPA) calculations. The Fort Lewis College GPA is based on work completed at Fort Lewis College only. Credit will not be allowed in transfer for academic pass/fail, satisfactory/no credit courses or courses taken for credit only. Fort Lewis College does not accept vocational, remedial, developmental, or English as a Second Language courses. Transfer credits more than 10 years old will not be automatically accepted. Special approvals will be required to apply such credits toward general education, major, auxiliary, or minor requirements. Lower-division credits are freshman- and sophomore-level credits (courses numbered 100 and 200, respectively, at Fort Lewis College). Upper-division credits are junior- and senior-level credits (courses numbered 300 or 400, respectively, at Fort Lewis College). Lower- and upper-division designation is based on the transfer institution’s lower- and upper-division designation. Course equivalency may be granted for a lower-division course from another college for an upper-division course at Fort Lewis College, but the course will not be given upper-division credit at Fort Lewis. Credits earned at a two-year college cannot be used to meet Fort Lewis College’s credit requirement in upper-division courses. The maximum number of credits that may transfer to Fort Lewis College is 90. Within these 90 credits, the maximum number of credits that may transfer from an accredited community/junior college is 60. For academic program purposes, the catalog in effect for graduation requirements for a transfer student is the catalog in effect when the student transfers to Fort Lewis College. Previous catalogs may be used when specified by a particular articulation or transfer guide. 60/60 TRANSFER GUIDES FOR THE COLORADO COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND OCCUPATIONAL EDUCATION SYSTEM: (Pending CCHE Approval) Fort Lewis College has 60/60 Transfer Guides for the Colorado Community College and Occupational Education System, which includes Aims Community College, Arapahoe Community College, Colorado Mountain College, Colorado Northwestern Community College, Community College of Aurora, Community College of Denver, Front Range Community College, Lamar Community College, Morgan Community College, Northeastern Junior College, Otero Junior college, Pikes Peak Community College, Pueblo Community College, Red Rocks Community College, and Trinidad State Junior College.
Transfer of Associate of Arts and Associate of Science Degrees Fort Lewis College will honor the transfer of an Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree and the Associate of Science (A.S.) degree earned at a Colorado public institution that offers A.A. or A.S. degrees. Admissible students who complete the graduation requirements for an A.A. and/or A.S. degree program(s) at a Colorado public college with 60 transferable credits will transfer with junior standing into any arts and science degree program offered by Fort Lewis College, provided that the student earns a “C-” or better in each course. This includes the general education courses that are state guaranteed general education. The transferable credits earned in the associate degree program will apply, at minimum, to 35 credit hours of lower division general education and up to 25 credit hours of additional elective credits towards graduation. Because all liberal arts and science degrees are designed to be completed in 120 credit hours, a transfer student who follows the 60-60 guides for Fort Lewis College can finish a four-year degree at Fort Lewis College by taking 60 additional credits. Fort Lewis College will evaluate such credit for prior learning, Advanced Placement, and correspondence courses following its standard policy. Return to Statewide Transfer Policy Colorado’s state guaranteed general education courses are designed to allow students to begin their general education courses at one Colorado public higher education institution and later transfer to another without loss of general education credits. That is, the state guaranteed general education may be applied to the general education graduation requirement or the graduation requirements of the declared major, whichever is in the student's best interest. Effective Fall 2003, Colorado policy ensures that students who successfully complete a state guaranteed general education course(s) will receive transfer credit(s) to be applied to graduation requirements in all majors at all public institutions unless a specific statewide articulation agreement exists. The state's guaranteed general education is organized into five categories: communication, mathematics, arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and physical and life sciences. The state general education policy guarantees transfer of 11 state approved general education courses limited to the number of semester credit hours allowed in each general education category (below). Students must earn a “C-” grade or better in each course.
Return to Statewide Transfer Policy Transfer
Equivalencies with Non-Colorado Colleges Any student transferring with an A.A. or A.S. degree will fulfill general education requirements upon the completion of two Thematic Studies 2 courses from two different themes. All other requirements are the same as that of a native Fort Lewis College student. Return to Statewide Transfer Policy Forestry Return to Statewide Transfer Policy Engineering Return to Statewide Transfer Policy Transfer
Inquiry/Appeals Process The student may appeal: 1. The appeal must be submitted in writing to the Records Office. The decisions regarding course transferability and/or placement made in the initial transcript evaluation will be binding if the student fails to file a written letter of appeal within fifteen (15) calendar days. a. The Records Office and appropriate department chair will review the written appeal submitted by the student. b. The appropriate department chair will have thirty (30) calendar days to review the student's appeal. The Records Office will inform the student in writing of the department's decision on the appeal, including the rationale for that decision. In addition, the student shall be informed in writing about the process for appealing the appeal decision should the student feel that reasonable doubt exists. c. If the Records Office fails to inform the student of the available appeal options, the departmental decision shall be null and void. The student's request prevails and cannot be overturned by any institutional administrator or committee. 2. An opportunity to appeal the first appeal decision. a. The student may appeal the first appeal decision by writing the Office of Academic Affairs at Fort Lewis College. The appeal must be filed within fifteen (15) calendar days of the postmark date of the letter notifying the student of the departmental decision. If the student fails to file an appeal within this time period, the original decision shall be binding. b. Fort Lewis College must hear and reach a decision on the appeal within (15) calendar days after the appeal is filed. c. The student will be notified in writing by Fort Lewis College of its decision regarding the transfer appeal and the rationale for the decision. In addition, the institution shall inform the student that the student may appeal the decision by writing the governing board. 3. An opportunity to appeal the institutional appeal decision. a. The student may appeal the institutional decision by writing the Office of Academic Affairs. The appeal must be filed within five (5) calendar days of the postmark date of the letter notifying the student of the institutional decision. If the student fails to file an appeal within this time period, the institutional decision shall be binding. b. The governing board staff shall review and reach a decision on the appeal within five (5) calendar days after the appeal is filed. c. The student will be notified in writing by the governing board of its decision regarding the transfer appeal and the rationale for the decision. In addition, the institution shall inform the student that the student may appeal the decision by writing the Colorado Commission on Higher Education. The appeal must be filed within five (5) calendar days of the postmark date of letter notifying the student of the governing board's decision. Return to Statewide Transfer Policy Colorado
Commission on Higher Education Procedures for Resolution of Student Transfer
Disputes An appeal is initiated by the student informing the Commission in writing of the situation and the reason for the appeal. Complete instructions regarding this level of appeal may be found on the CCHE website. Return to Statewide Transfer Policy Former
Students Former students are individually advised and registered for their “re-entry” term by the Academic Advising Center either on campus or by telephone. Generally, advising and registration for Summer Sessions and the Fall Semester begins in March, and advising and registration for the Winter Semester begins in October. The Office of Admission will mail to admitted students a guide detailing the advising and registration process. For more information, contact the Academic Advising Center at 970-247-7085. Return to Statewide Transfer Policy International
Students Return to Statewide Transfer Policy Unclassified
Students Unclassified students are individually advised and registered by the Academic Advising Center either on campus or by telephone. Generally, advising and registration for Summer Sessions and the Fall Semester begins in March, and advising and registration for the Winter Semester begins in October. Admitted students will be mailed a guide to the advising and registration process by the Office of Admission. For more information, contact the Academic Advising Center at 970-247-7085. Return to Statewide Transfer Policy Concurrent
Students Return to Statewide Transfer Policy Colorado Basic Skills Assessment Policy Degree-seeking students admitted after Fall 2001 must fulfill the requirements of the Colorado Basic Skills Assessment Policy. The policy was created by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education to implement legislation passed in 2000 by the Colorado Legislature (CRS 23-1-113). The policy requires students to be assessed at matriculation to determine if they are college-level in reading, writing, and mathematics. Approved assessments are the ACT, the SAT, and Accuplacer. The Colorado Basic Skills Policy is administered by the New Student Advising & Registration Office, which issues Basic Skills Assessment reports to each new student upon registration for courses. Students who do not submit the documentation required for Basic Skills Assessment as specified by the New Student Advising & Registration Office will have a hold placed on their academic records. There are three assessments possible in each competency area: exempt, college-level, and remedial. Students are exempt from all assessment if they already have earned a bachelor’s degree or a transfer-oriented associate’s degree. Students are exempt in assessment in reading if they have earned a) a “C-” or better in college composition; b) a “C-” or better in a college preparatory reading course; or c) have a documented reading disability. Students are exempt from assessment in writing if they have earned a) a “C-” or better in college composition; b) a “C-” or better in a college preparatory writing course; or c) have a documented writing disability. Students are exempt from assessment in mathematics if they have earned a) a “C-” or better in a college-level mathematics course; b) a “C-” or better in an intermediate algebra course; or c) have a documented disability in mathematics. Students who are exempt do not need to take further action under the policy. Students who are assessed as college-level in reading, writing, or mathematics are reported to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education as not needing remediation in the relevant competency area. Students who are college-level in a competency area do not need to take further action under the policy. Students who are assessed as remedial in reading, writing, or mathematics are reported to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education as in need of remediation in the relevant competency area. Students who do not meet the following SAT I or ACT minimum scores listed below, will be required to take remedial coursework:
Under the Colorado Basic Skills Assessment Policy, students are required to take the appropriate remedial coursework and earn a grade of “C-” or higher by the time they earn 30 credits at Fort Lewis College. Residency Classification for Tuition Purposes A student is classified as an in-state or out-of-state student for tuition purposes at the time of admission. This classification is based on information supplied by the student on the application for admission. Residency classifications are determined in accordance with the Colorado Tuition Classification Law, CRS Section 23, Article 7, revised May 1995. Colorado institutions of higher education are bound by the provisions of this statute and are not free to make exceptions to the rules set forth. Once determined, a student’s tuition classification status remains unchanged unless satisfactory evidence that a change should be made is presented. Satisfactory evidence would be a Petition for In-State Residency and should be submitted to the Admission Office for first-time students or to the Records Office for continuing students. The deadline for submission of a Petition for In-State Residency is the first day of the term for which the student is petitioning. It is preferred that petitions be received 30 days prior to the beginning of the term. Petitions received past the deadline will not be considered until the following term. Students may contact the Admission or Records Office for additional information about the petitioning process. The statute provides that an in-state student is one who has been a legal domiciliary (resident) of Colorado for exactly one year or more immediately preceding the first day of the term for which the in-state classification is being sought. Persons over 23 years of age or who are under 23 and emancipated establish their own legal domicile. Those who are under 23 years of age and are unemancipated assume the domicile of their parent or court-appointed legal guardian. An unemancipated minor’s parent, therefore, must have a legal domicile in Colorado for one year or more before the minor may be classified as an in-state student for tuition purposes. Emancipation, as defined by Colorado State Statute, is the intent of the parent to cease all financial support of the student. Financial support includes, but is not limited to, daily expenses, tuition, medical insurance, automobile insurance, and automobile ownership. Domicile is established when one has a permanent place of habitation in Colorado and the intention of making Colorado one’s true, fixed, and permanent home and place of habitation. The tuition statute places the burden of establishing a Colorado domicile on the person seeking to establish the domicile. The question of intent is one of documentable fact and needs to be shown by substantial connections with the state sufficient to evidence such intent. Legal domicile in
Colorado, for tuition purposes, begins the day after connections with
Colorado are made sufficient to evidence one’s intent. The most
common ties with the state are: To qualify for in-state tuition for a given term, the 12-month waiting period (which begins when the legal domicile is established) must be completed by the first day of classes for the term in question. If one’s 12-month waiting period expires after the beginning of the term, in-state tuition cannot be granted until the next term. A student who, due to subsequent events, becomes eligible for a change in classification from resident to non-resident or vice-versa must inform the Records Office within 15 days after such a change occurs. An adult student or emancipated minor who moves outside of Colorado must send written notification to the Records Office within 15 days of the change. A student who has been denied in-state residency in the past who wishes to be reconsidered for in-state residency, must submit an updated Petition for In-State Residency form with any additional documentation. The final decision
regarding tuition status, within statute stipulation, rests with the College.
Questions regarding residence (tuition) status should be referred only
to the Records Office. Opinions of other persons are not official or binding
upon the College. Additional information (including the “Petition
for In-State Classification” form) is available from the Records
Office in 160 Miller Student Center. Admission Delay/Admission Withdraw Process New students who have
not yet registered who wish to delay or withdraw their admission must
notify the Office of Admission in writing with their request. New students
who have reserved a space in the residence hall need to notify the Housing
Office in writing. |