Preparation Standards for Transfer Students

Transfer Students

Students interested in transferring to St. Cloud State University should consult the transfer specialist in the Office of Admissions for specific information. General policies follow.

Admission Requirements for Transfer Students

Students are eligible for admission as transfer students if they have earned 12 or more college-level credits at a regionally accredited college-level institution. Transfer credit will not be granted for remedial or non-degree credit as indicated by the sending institution. Applicants should have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. All credits earned with a "C" or higher grade from a regionally accredited college-level institution are considered for credit transfer. Credits from non-regionally accredited institutions will be evaluated for transfer, but additional documentation may be required. (See Admission into a Major Program for additional information.)

Students who have earned less than 12 credits should apply as freshmen, although they must provide official transcripts from any college or university-level they have attended. Students who have earned credits only through the Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program are considered freshmen with credit and should apply as freshmen.

Transfer credit will not be granted for non-college level courses. Also, the University reserves the right to deny credits in transfer which are: 1) not consistent with the mission and charter of the granting institution, or 2) not approved for transfer based on evaluation by this University. Final authority regarding course work pertaining to major programs rests with individual academic departments subject to approval by Academic Affairs.

Admission into a Major Program

Many departments require a grade point average higher than a 2.0 for admission to specific major or minor programs. For example, students planning on entering any major or minor program within SCSU's College of Business must have earned a 2.65 GPA or higher in all college work.

Many other programs have similar policies and minimum grade point requirements. Some programs also require completion of specific course sequences, minimum grades in certain prerequisite courses, or an assessment test prior to applying to the major. Transfer students should check all major department requirements before registering for classes at SCSU.

Being admitted to St. Cloud State University is a separate process than that of being admitted into a major program. You must first be accepted to SCSU, then you may make application to an individual major or minor program. Please contact the academic department(s) directly to obtain an application form.

Admission Procedures for Transfer Students

To be considered for admission into the University, transfer students should complete the following steps.

1. Complete an admission application. Applications are available from:
   Office of Admissions, AS 115
   St. Cloud State University
   720 4th Avenue South
   St. Cloud, MN 56301-4498
   877-654-SCSU or 320-308-2244
   You may also apply at our Web site: www.stcloudstate.edu/SCSU4U
2. Return the completed application along with a $20 (non-refundable) application fee to the Office of Records and Registration
   Office of Records and Registration, AS 118
   St. Cloud State University
   720 4th Avenue South
   St. Cloud, MN 56301-4498
3. Contact each college/university you have attended and instruct them to send an official transcript directly to SCSU's Office of Records and Registration (see address above). Transcripts are considered official when mailed directly from the sending institution and printed on their official transcript forms. Transcripts delivered or mailed by the student cannot be used for admission. Faxed transcripts are not considered official and will not be accepted.

Application Dates Deadlines

Students who have been suspended or expelled for disciplinary reasons from any postsecondary institution may be denied admission to a MnSCU college or university. Board Policy 3.4.

Transfer Admissions Appeal

Transfer students who are denied admission may request that the application, together with his/her written appeal for reconsideration, be forwarded to the Transfer Review Committee. If admitted with less than a "C" average, a transfer student will be on academic probation for the first semester. Please refer to the University probation/suspension policy.

A.A. Degrees/Minnesota Transfer Curriculum/Bachelor’s Degrees

A transfer student who has earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution is exempt from the university’s requirements for general education, diversity courses, and PESS 122.

A transfer student who has earned an Associate in Arts degree from a regionally accredited college or who has completed the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum will have met the general education requirements at St. Cloud State University. However, the student must complete PESS 122 if he or she has not transferred in an equivalent course.

A transfer student who has not earned an AA degree or completed the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum must meet all the requirements of either the SCSU general education curriculum or the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum. The student also is responsible for fulfilling any remaining university requirements such as diversity and racial issues courses and PESS 122. Courses with grades of "D" will transfer for a student who has earned an A.A. or a bachelor’s degree.

Courses with grades of “D” earned as part of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum also will transfer. Some majors require a grade of "C" or higher for a course to transfer into a major program. Students should consult with their advisors regarding these requirements.

Minnesota General Education Transfer Agreement

Within the State of Minnesota, an array of public higher educational institutions exist, including technical colleges, community colleges, state universities and the University of Minnesota. The people of Minnesota and the legislature expect and believe that these institutions will operate in full partnership. The responsibility for making student transfers between institutions simple and efficient rests with the systems of higher education.

Statement of Agreement. St. Cloud State University participates fully in compliance with the terms of the Minnesota General Education Transfer Agreement. Accordingly, SCSU:

• Accepts the responsibility of making the transfer of credits from one institution to another a simpler, more predictable process for students.
• Believes that accountability for making this process work rests with the institutions and the higher education systems.

We agree to discharge this responsibility for transfer through a well designed network of further agreements and relationships that honor the following principles:

• All students, transfer and non-transfer, will receive comparable treatment.
• We will continue efforts to improve student's access to information about transfer.

For their part, students will be expected to plan for transfer using the information and assistance available at all institutions. Institutions authorized by legislative mission and accreditation to offer general education and their faculty will develop coherent, educationally sound curriculum that meet the general education goals and objectives accepted by all systems.

Success of transferring students will be evaluated through collection analysis of performance data and faculty and administrators will have opportunities for communication across systems.

Standards of quality for general education will be insured.

We further agree at this time to implement three initiatives which will be the foundation of our transfer efforts. They are:

• The Minnesota General Education Transfer Curriculum.
• The Minnesota Standards and Procedures for Transfer.
• The Minnesota Faculty Articulation Councils.

Transferring from SCSU

Minnesota's public colleges and universities are working to make transfer easier. You can help if you plan ahead, ask questions, and use pathways created by transfer agreement. Students should contact the institution they are transferring to for assistance.

Preparing to Transfer

If you currently are enrolled in a college or university:

1. Discuss your plans with the campus transfer specialist. Office of Admissions, 720 Fourth Avenue South, St. Cloud, MN 56301-4498. Phone: (320) 308-2244.
2. Call or visit SCSU. You should obtain the following materials and information:
   • College catalog
   • Transfer brochure
   • Information on admissions criteria and on materials required for admission (e.g. portfolio, transcripts, test scores). Note that some majors have limited enrollments, or may have special requirements such as grade point average criteria.
   • Information on financial aid (how to apply and by what date)
3. After you have reviewed these materials, make an appointment to talk with an adviser in the college or program you want to enter. Be sure to ask about course transfer and admission criteria.

If you are currently not enrolled in a college or university, you might begin by meeting with the transfer specialist or an admission officer at SCSU to plan the steps you need to take.

Understanding How Transfer of Credit Works

The receiving college or university decides what credits transfer and whether these credits meet its degree requirements. The accreditation of both your sending and your receiving institutions can affect the transfer of the credits you earn.

SCSU accepts credits from courses and programs like those they offer. We look for similarity in course goals, content, and level.

Not everything that transfers will help you graduate. Baccalaureate degree programs usually count credits in three categories: general education, major/minor courses and prerequisites, and electives. The key question is, "Will your credits fulfill requirements of the degree or program you choose?"

If you change your career or major, you might not be able to complete all degree requirements within the usual number of graduation credits.

Applying for Transfer Admission

Application for admission is always the first step in transferring. Fill out the application as early as you can prior to the deadline. Enclose the application fee.

Request that official transcripts be sent from all institutions you have attended. You might be required to provide a high school transcript or GED test scores as well.

Recheck to be certain you supplied SCSU with all the necessary paperwork. We will make no decision until all required documents are in your file.

If you have heard nothing from us after one month, call to check the status of your application.

After notification that you have been accepted for admission, your transcripted credits will be evaluated for transfer. A written evaluation should tell you which courses transfer and which do not. How your courses specifically meet degree requirements may not be decided until you have arrived for orientation or have chosen a major.

If you have questions about your evaluation, call the Office of Records and Registration (320) 308-2111.

Your Rights as a Transfer Student

As a transfer student you are entitled to:

1. A clear, understandable statement of SCSU's transfer policy;
2. A fair credit review;
3. An explanation of why the university did not accept and apply credits as requested by the student; and
4. An appeal of a decision not to accept credits. The transfer appeal process involves the following:
   1. The student completes and submits an appeals form, including supporting documentation such as a syllabus, course description, or reading list, to the Office of Academic Affairs for review. If the appeal pertains to the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum, the student must specify that. The Office of Academic Affairs shall consult with appropriate academic departments regarding requests to recognize specific course equivalencies.
   2. The Office of Academic Affairs reviews the appeal and sends a notice and explanation of its decision to the student within 15 business days of receiving the appeal. This excludes summer and the period from December 15 to January 15
   3. The student may appeal the decision of the Office of Academic Affairs to the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system in accordance with System Procedure 3.21.1 (http://www.mnscu.edu/board/procedure/321p1.html).
5. At your request, a review of your eligibility for financial aid or scholarships.

For help with your transfer questions or problems, see your campus transfer specialist, Office of Admissions, 720 Fourth Avenue South, St. Cloud, MN 56301-4498. Also see "Residence requirement" for additional requirements.