Admission Procedures and Policies

A solid liberal arts education has long proven to be the best preparation for most professions and positions of leadership. Through a strong education in the arts and sciences, Samford University students develop intellectually and personally, acquiring the broad understanding and diverse skills that modern society requires.

Samford seeks students who have demonstrated high standards of scholarship, outstanding personal character, and serious educational aims. Admission to Samford involves a careful analysis of academic records, character references, clarity of educational purpose, and extracurricular activities which reflect the applicant’s potential for involvement and leadership in the programs and services of the university.

Admission standards are competitive and selective. The Admission Committee selects the entering class from among those whose academic performance gives the strongest promise of success in college. It is Samford’s intent to maintain an undergraduate student body with diverse backgrounds, interests, and abilities.

Students who wish to attend Samford University should complete an application for admission. Completed applications and related documents should be mailed to the address listed below, or submitted online at admission.samford.edu/applynow.

Prospective students are encouraged to visit the campus. To schedule your visit, contact: Office of Admission, Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, AL 35229, or telephone (800) 888-2875 or (205) SAMFORD [726-3673].

The information that follows is general policy and pertains to undergraduate programs. Graduate and professional degree programs may have different policies. For information about these, contact the administrator with responsibility for the program in question.

Undergraduate Admission Procedures

Student Classifications

Academic Renewal Student-An undergraduate student who has dropped out, withdrawn, or has been suspended because of academic deficiencies but has demonstrated sufficient maturation to be considered for re-enrollment.

Adult Evening Student-A student who has been out of high school for at least three years and is unable to enroll in a day program.

Audit Student-A student who neither receives a grade nor participates in classroom examinations.

Early Entrance to College-An exceptional high school student who meets specific qualifications to be admitted to Samford University prior to completing a traditional four-year high school diploma program.

Freshman-A student who is a high school graduate and has not enrolled in any accredited college or university.

International Student-A student who is not a U.S. citizen.

International Baccalaureate Student-A student who has been admitted to the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program that allows high school students to obtain college credit for coursework taken in the IB program.

Readmission Student-A student who previously attended Samford, left, and desires to return to Samford, including students who were required to withdraw.

Special Status Student-A student who is enrolled but is not seeking a degree.

Transfer Student-A student who has attended another accredited college or university and desires to attend Samford to pursue a degree.

Transient Student-A student who is regularly enrolled in another college or university but desires to take a course(s) at Samford.

Admission Application Process

Although there is no formal admission deadline, applicants are encouraged to complete the process as soon as possible. Delays in the admission process could also adversely affect other processes important to eventual enrollment, including financial aid and residence life. Also, if transcripts are being sent to us from other institutions, please allow for the time it takes for us to receive them. See Admission Procedures below.

Admission Notification for All Students

Once students have been notified of admission to Samford, a $250 Enrollment Confirmation Deposit must be submitted to the Office of Admission to reserve a place in the entering class. The deposit is nonrefundable and is applied to first semester costs. The entering class must be limited to support an optimum living and learning environment. Deposits will be accepted until May 1 (the National Candidate Reply Date), after which eligible students will be placed on a wait list and selected as space becomes available.

Orientation and Connections

Orientation: The Office of New Student Orientation and Parent Programs coordinates Orientation sessions for new students and their parents. Orientation provides parents and students the opportunity to learn more about the campus, faculty, and staff, and the opportunity to talk to current Samford students. New students will register for their fall classes. Orientation is required for all new students enrolling at Samford. More information on New Student Orientation, including how to register, can be found on the Admission Web site: admission.samford.edu.

Connections: The Office of Student Activities and Events is responsible for the implementation of Connections, a four-day assimilation event for entering freshmen. First-year students are mentored by upperclassmen, faculty, and staff as they become integrated academically and socially. New students will gain valuable information from this process.

First-Time Applicants

Samford University seeks to enroll students capable of success in a challenging academic environment. Every applicant is evaluated individually on the basis of academic preparedness and potential, as well as personal fit with the mission and purpose of the university. The Admission Committee considers factors such as the rigor of the high school curriculum, grade point average, standardized test scores, and recommendations. The 2011 Freshman Class possessed an ACT composite middle 50 percent range of 23-29; their SAT-Total middle 50 percent range was 1053-1278. The average high school grade point average of the entering class was 3.68. These statistics continue to demonstrate the competitive environment of Samford University.

Freshman Applicant

Prerequisites

Transcripts and Curriculum

An official high school transcript of your academic work should reflect a strong scholastic history. Successful admission candidates are expected to have four units of English, algebra I and II, geometry, two laboratory sciences, two units of history (not including state history), and two units of a foreign language. Successful scholarship applicants typically present a curriculum that includes outstanding performance in four units of English, four units of math, three laboratory sciences, three units of history, and two units of a foreign language.

College Entrance Examinations

Official test scores, sent to Samford directly from the American College Testing Program (ACT) and/or the College Board Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT I: Reasoning Test, or SAT) are required. Samford’s institutional codes are: 0016 (ACT) and 1302 (SAT). Scores received via other means may not be accepted as official.

High School Equivalency (GED)

Applicants who have the GED (General Educational Developmental) diploma may present an official score report in place of the high school diploma. The ACT or SAT will be required unless the applicant has been out of high school for at least five years. Nursing applicants are required to submit standardized test scores.

Freshman Applicant Procedures for Admission

A freshman applicant who desires to attend Samford University should:

1. Complete an application form online at admission.samford.edu/applynow and include a $35 nonrefundable application fee.
2. Request two official transcripts from your high school to be sent to the Office of Admission. One should be sent at the time of application. The second one should be sent at the completion of the senior year certifying graduation. Transcripts must be mailed by the school to the Office of Admission in order to be considered official.
3. Have official scores on the ACT or SAT sent to the Office of Admission by the respective agency.
4. Arrange for submission of the School Recommendation Form provided on the online SU application and the Common Application.
5. Write an essay of approximately 500 words. In your own words, respond to one of the essay questions in the Admission Application Packet.
6. Include a leadership résumé of high school, church, and community activities.
7. If necessary, mail the completed application and related documents to:

Office of Admission
Samford University
800 Lakeshore Drive
Birmingham, AL 35229

Early Entrance to College

Samford welcomes applications from exceptional students prior to their high school graduation when, in the opinion of the applicant, the applicant’s parents, and school officials, enrollment at Samford University will enhance the educational experience beyond that available in high school.

Categories

There are two categories for early entrance:

1. Admission to Samford after the junior year in high school.
   OR
2. Concurrent enrollment at Samford and at the high school during the senior year.

Qualifications and Requirements

1. A grade point average of 3.50 or higher.
2. An ACT score of 25 or an SAT score of 1150.
3. A written statement of support from parents and from a school official.

Evening Student Applicant

It is expected that students who enter this program have been out of high school for at least three years and are unable to enroll in the day program due to work schedules, family concerns, or other reasons. Evening College is the administrative office that serves evening students. (See the Evening College  section of this catalog.) Evening College staff can assist you with academic advising, admission, and other areas of concern. Contact them at (205) 726-2898.

International Student Applicant

International students should allow a minimum of six months to complete all the necessary paperwork prior to admission and enrollment.

International Student Applicant Procedures

An international student who desires to attend Samford University should:

1. Complete an application form and attach a $35 (U. S. dollars) nonrefundable application fee.
2. Have official scores on the ACT or the SAT sent directly from the testing agency to the Office of Admission if attending high school in the United States.
3. Have official scores on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) sent directly from the Educational Testing Service directly to the Office of Admission. A minimum score of 575 (paper), 232 (computer), or 90 (Internet) is expected.
4. Have an official transcript of all academic work, including mark sheets, examination results, certificates, diplomas, etc., sent to the Office of Admission. This includes any college credit earned in a university not in the United States. Certified copies of all academic work should be submitted to the World Evaluation Service (WES), or AACRAO/IES, requesting a Course by Course Evaluation. Information regarding WES and AACRAO/IES* is available from the Office of Admission.
5. Submit a financial affidavit of support, supplied by Samford, showing that there are adequate funds to support your educational experience.
6. Supply a copy of your official Government documentation (visa or passport) to the Office of Admission.

Dual Enrollment

College courses taken in a high school setting without external testing (e.g. AP, CLEP, IB) or fulfilling a high school requirement will be treated as dual enrollment credit. Beginning in the 2009-2010 academic year, entering freshmen may have limited dual enrollment courses considered for transfer credit. Students may transfer up to 12 semester credits of dual enrollment credit in which the student has earned a grade of B- or higher. The aggregate of credit earned in dual enrollment, AP (Advanced Placement), CLEP, and International Baccalaureate may not exceed 30 credits, none of which counts toward the 50 percent residency requirement. With the sole exception of UCCA 101 , core curriculum courses (as listed on Academic Policies and Regulations  and University Core Curriculum and General Education Requirements ) cannot be met with dual enrollment credit.

Transfer Student Applicant

Academic Record

Transfer students generally receive favorable admission review when they present a minimum cumulative 2.50 grade point average on all college-level coursework, provided they have attempted at least 24 credits, or 36 quarter credits, at institutions accredited by one of the regional accrediting agencies. If a student has attempted less than 24 credits of college-level coursework, an official high school transcript and official test scores must also be submitted in order to be considered for admission.

Transferring Core and General Education Courses

Samford University strives to offer a distinctive curriculum that challenges students to their fullest potential and employs innovative teaching techniques. All students should complete their General Education Requirements in residence whenever possible. Transfer students with 18 or more semester credits earned at another institution may be able to substitute some general education courses taken elsewhere for the interdisciplinary courses of the University Core and General Education Curriculum that meet 75 percent of the required credits in each course. Only one Core Curriculum course (UCCA 101 ) may be applied as a core course for transfer students who have earned less than 18 transfer credits from accredited institutions and credit by examination. Students will only receive the credit they earned (not the credit of the course being replaced) and must meet the total number of credits required for their degree program (128 credits minimum). Natural and computational science courses must have a laboratory component.

Transfer Credits

Samford University accepts for transfer credits earned at institutions that have regional accreditation and in which the student has earned a grade of C- or higher. Credit for coursework with a grade of C- or higher from institutions that are not regionally accredited will be considered for transfer credit where such credit represents coursework relevant to the degree sought, with course content and level of instruction resulting in student competencies at least equivalent to those of students enrolled at Samford.

Transfer students are required to earn at least 50 percent of the credit for a first undergraduate degree in each degree program from Samford. Also, a minimum of 15 credits in the major field (with nine at the 300-400 level) must be earned at Samford. For a minor, a minimum of nine credits in the minor field (with six at the 300-400 level) must be earned at Samford.

Students may transfer up to 12 semester credits of dual enrollment credit in which the student has earned a grade of B- or higher. Transferred coursework must be comparable to Samford courses offered at the 100 and 200 level. Only one Core Curriculum course (UCCA 101 ) may be transferred as dual enrollment credit.

Students may transfer up to 64 semester credits or 96 quarter credits of work completed at two-year institutions, where such coursework is comparable to Samford courses offered at the 100 and 200 level. The aggregate of credit earned in dual enrollment, extension, correspondence, portfolio (available through the Evening College only), AP (Advanced Placement), and CLEP may not exceed 30 credits, none of which counts toward the 50 percent residency requirement.

Transfer Student Applicant Procedures for Admission

Samford University welcomes transfer students at the beginning of any term. Transfer students must present academic records that reflect serious academic aims and mature progress toward those aims.

A transfer student who desires to attend Samford University should:

1. Have one official transcript from each college attended mailed directly from your former institution’s records office to the Office of Admission at Samford. If you earned fewer than 24 semester credits or 36 quarter credits in total at other institutions, you must also meet the requirements of an entering freshman.
2. Complete an application form and attach a $35 nonrefundable application fee.
3. Include one letter of recommendation, typically from a professor or advisor.
4. Write an essay of 250-500 words. In your own words, respond to one of the essay questions in the Admission Application Packet.
5. Mail the completed application and related documents to:

Office of Admission
Samford University
800 Lakeshore Drive
Birmingham, AL 35229

All transfer students are required to attend new student orientation before registering for classes.

*AACRAO/IES=American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers/International Education Services

International Transfer Applicant

The transfer credit process for international students is the same as that for our domestic transfer students:

1. As part of the admissions process, an international credential evaluation is required reporting prior university study. Samford accepts evaluations from World Education Services (WES), found at www.wes.org or AACRAO International Education Services (IES), found at ies.aacrao.org.
2. An official international credential evaluation should come directly to Samford University electronically or through the mail in a sealed envelope. Transfer credit will be applied according to information reported on the official evaluation. Courses that are reported as comparable to courses from a U.S. regionally-accredited institution will be accepted according to Samford’s transfer credit policies.
3. Pass/fail courses graded as “P” or “S” will not be initially accepted unless written documentation is received from the awarding institution that the grade represents at least a “C-.”
4. Samford course equivalencies may be met with 75% of the required credits; however, they will only receive the actual credits earned toward the degree.
5. To earn a first undergraduate degree at Samford University, at least 50 percent of the credits for that degree must be earned from Samford. Additionally, a minimum of 15 credits in the major field (9 at the 300-400 level) and 9 in any declared minor field (6 at the 300-400 level) must be earned from Samford. (See the Transfer Student Applicant section for more details.)
6. Initially, elective credit will be awarded until such time that verifiable course descriptions or syllabi with English translation are provided to the Transfer Credit Analyst in the Office of Student Records for evaluation. If it is determined by the academic department that a transfer course is comparable to a Samford course, equivalent credit will be applied. Providing course information is not a guarantee that equivalent credit will be awarded. Course information only provides the information needed to make a determination for credit.
7. Course descriptions or syllabi should come from the transfer institution on the institution’s official letterhead and include contact information. To receive the most accurate evaluation of international credit, course information should include: title of course, course level (1st year, 2nd year, 3rd year, etc.), course objectives, outline of course content, type of course (i.e. independent study, lecture, seminar, laboratory), description of how student is evaluated for the course, and reading references.
8. If English is not the native or official language of the student’s home country, all course information must be officially translated into English and accompany the original course documents. The name and contact information of the translator is to be included.
9. Full-time Samford students (registered for 12 or more credits in a given term) are required to satisfy a convocation requirement. For transfer students, the number of convocation credits required is prorated based on the number of transfer hours accepted. Failure to satisfy the convocation requirement will prevent graduation.

Special Category Applicants

Academic Renewal Applicant

Undergraduate students who have dropped out, withdrawn, or have been suspended because of academic deficiencies but have demonstrated sufficient maturation may request readmission as an academic renewal applicant.

The following conditions apply:

1. At least three years must have elapsed since the end of the semester(s) for which the student is seeking the provisions of academic renewal. If academic renewal is sought for more than one semester, the semesters must be contiguous. The cumulative GPA for the previous work being considered for forgiveness under the academic renewal policy must have been lower than 2.00.
2. After admission as a candidate for academic renewal, the student must submit a written application for academic renewal to the Office of the Dean of Academic Services and Registrar within twelve (12) months following entry (or re-entry) to Samford University. This application should be supported by at least one semester of recent coursework at Samford that indicates a reasonable expectation of the candidate’s continued academic success. Written approval of the student’s Academic Dean is required for admission as a candidate for academic renewal and to invoke the academic renewal policy.
3. If granted, a statement of academic renewal is entered after the appropriate semester(s) for which coursework is being forgiven. Also, the declaration of academic renewal will include a statement prohibiting use of the designated previously earned credits and quality points to meet degree requirements, to compute the grade point average leading toward undergraduate certificates or degrees, or to determine graduation status.
4. No academic credit (whatever the grade) earned during the semester(s) being forgiven under academic renewal may be used as a part of a degree program, nor will it be calculated into the cumulative grade point average. However, the portion of the academic record being forgiven will remain a visible part of the student’s transcript.
5. Academic renewal may be granted to a person only once, regardless of the number of institutions attended.
6. Students are cautioned that many undergraduate professional curricula, graduate, and professional schools compute the undergraduate GPA over all credits attempted when considering applications for admission.
7. Also, academic renewal does not pertain to accumulated financial aid history. Accumulated semester and award limits include all semesters of enrollment.

Audit Student Applicant

As an alternative to full participation in a credit course, students may audit the course. Audit students do not receive grades and do not usually participate in examinations; however, instructors have the option of establishing requirements for a satisfactory audit. Students are not permitted to audit courses numbered above 400.

Guidelines

1. Audit as Credit Student-Students choosing this option must be admitted to Samford either as a Regular or Special Status Student. Students should enroll in the course to be audited using registration procedures and paying the same tuition as regular enrollees. Provided the instructor’s requirements are met, the course will appear on the credit transcript with the notation AU and zero credits. If these requirements are not met, a W will be entered on the transcript.
2. From a Grading/Credit Basis to an Audit Basis-A student can change from a grading basis to an audit basis any time prior to the deadline for withdrawing from a class without academic penalty. There will be no financial refunds made as a result of change in grading basis.
3. From an Audit Basis to a Grading/Credit Basis-An audit student may not receive regular credit for a course begun as an audit, unless the change is made by the last day to add a course for the semester or term.

Readmission Student Applicant

Former Samford Students in Good Standing

Former students desiring to return to Samford University after attending another college must file a readmission transfer application. An official transcript from each college attended is required. The $35 application fee is not required.

Former students who have been out of the university for more than one year and have not attended another institution in that year must file a readmission application. The $35 application fee is waived.

Former Samford Students on Academic Dismissal

Former students on academic dismissal may be considered for readmission after an absence of at least one semester. If a student attends another institution during that absence, Samford will not accept those transfer credits. An application for readmission is available in the Office of Admission and should be completed six weeks prior to the beginning of the semester/term the student would like to return. The application fee is waived. The completed application and a letter requesting consideration are required. The letter should contain:

1. Student’s evaluation of previous academic performance, including an analysis of what factors led to his/her dismissal.
2. Reassessment of career and educational goals.
3. Explanation of readiness to resume a college program, including specific steps taken to improve chances for doing well academically.
4. Description of activities during absence from Samford, such as work, marriage, military service, etc.
5. Written essay on what the student has learned about him/her self.

The Admission Office will submit the student’s application and letter to the Readmission Committee for review and decision. Notification of readmittance will be sent by mail.

If the student is approved for readmittance, the student must contact the Office of the Dean of Academic Services and Registrar (205-726-2732) to make an appointment to review issues discussed in the reapplication petition. This must be done prior to registering for classes. Once the student has met with the dean of academic services and registrar, the registration hold will be cleared so that the student can register for courses.

Former Samford Student on Indefinite Academic Dismissal

Former students on indefinite academic dismissal may appeal for readmission consideration after an absence of one year. The process is the same as for the first academic dismissal mentioned above.

Special Status Student Applicant

See Evening College , Admission Procedures.

Transient Student Applicant

Transient students are students who are regularly enrolled in other colleges and universities yet desire to take courses at Samford. A transient student must submit a transient application and have all coursework authorized by the student’s primary institution. The application form is available in the Office of Admission.

For courses taught at schools participating in the Birmingham area Inter-Campus Exchange Program-BACHE-see the University-Wide Academic Opportunities  section of this catalog.

Currently enrolled Samford students who take one or more classes at another institution are considered transient students at that college/university. See the Transfer Policies  section for more information.

Credit by Examination Policies 

Advanced Placement

* Students who successfully meet the minimum score for both Advanced Placement English Literature & Comp and English Language & Comp can receive credit for UCCA 101 plus 4 credit hours of general elective credit.

** Students who successfully meet the minimum score (4) for French, German, Latin, or Spanish language at the intermediate level, receive a maximum of 8 credits for 201-202 and do not receive an additional 4 credits for exceeding the expectations of the 102 elementary level.

*** A score of 3 or higher on the BC exam earns credit in MATH 240  and MATH 260 , regardless of the AB subgrade.

^† MUSC 200  for a nonmajor and MUSC 3400  for a major.

^†† The Division of Music will allow Music Theory as AP credit after the student has been evaluated regarding that subject at Samford University.

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

College-level credit is awarded for scores of 50 or higher in most subject areas; however, students should consult with their advisors or the Office of Student Records before scheduling any CLEP examinations. With the sole exception of UCCA 101 , CLEP credit is not acceptable for University Core Curriculum courses.

* Students who score a minimum of 50 on French, German, or Spanish CLEP tests receive a maximum of four (4) credits at the elementary level (102); students who score 62 (French), 63 (German), or 63 (Spanish), or higher receive a maximum of eight (8) credits at the intermediate level (201-202). No more than 8 credits are awarded for the language CLEP test. No credit is given for FREN 101 /GER 101 /SPAN 101 .

International Baccalaureate

Samford University recognizes the quality of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program and welcomes application for admission from students who have taken coursework in the IB program. Credit is given for the IB Higher Level Examinations passed with grades of 5, 6, or 7. No credit is given for the IB Subsidiary Examinations. In cases of ambiguity, the dean of Howard College of Arts and Sciences, in consultation with the Office of Student Records, will determine the credit to be awarded.

Credit Limitations

The aggregate of credit earned in dual enrollment, extension, correspondence, portfolio (available through the Evening College only), AP (Advanced Placement), and CLEP may not exceed 30 credits. At least 50 percent of the credit in each degree program must be earned from Samford, with none of the credit mentioned in the previous sentence counting toward this residency requirement. Also, a minimum of 15 credits in the major field (with nine at the 300-400 level) must be taken at Samford. For a minor, a minimum of nine credits in the minor field (with six at the 300-400 level) must be taken at Samford.

Graduate

Admission Procedures and Policies

Refer to the academic departments/schools sections of this catalog and/or publications from the individual departments or schools offering graduate degrees. More information may be found at Samford University’s Web site: www.samford.edu.