Chapter 1
ADMISSION
[Provisions governing enrollment and registration are included in Chapter 2.]
Section 1. Policy Statements on Admission
As a prominent institution of higher education with a special obligation to serve the state, region, and nation, the University of Washington seeks to provide its students the best possible educational programs and opportunities. Toward this end, the Board of Regents, through the University faculty, has adopted a selective admission process with the objective of attracting students who demonstrate the strongest prospects for success in the academic environment of a research university. Equally important, the process of admission is mindful of society's need for highly trained individuals from all sectors of the population, and of the benefits to the University's educational programs which derive from diversity in its student body; these are addressed in part through the University's affirmative action and admission programs. The overall goals of the admission program are to secure the entrance to the University of those students whose academic background and other qualifications indicate their educational promise.
To satisfy this program, the Board of Regents hereby states that it is the policy of the Board that the University of Washington admit those students deemed best able to contribute to and benefit from the educational programs and opportunities offered at the University. An important and essential component of any educational program is the exchange of information and life experiences through a diverse student body, with representatives from all cultural backgrounds given opportunity at participation. Students educate each other, in the classroom and in many informal settings; they challenge one another's assumptions, they broaden one another's range of experience, and they teach one another to see the world from varied perspectives.
We therefore direct the President, in conjunction with the Faculty of the University, to ensure that the University's undergraduate admission program supports the objectives stated in this policy, in all ways consistent with the laws of the state of Washington and the federal government.
We further direct the President, through the deans in conjunction with their college faculties, to ensure that the graduate and professional school admission programs support the objectives stated in this policy.
BR, 1979; revised September 21, 2001
Section 2. Preliminary Statements and Definitions
A. It shall be the general policy of the University to admit students whose educational backgrounds indicate their reasonable probability of success in a University program. The Faculty Council on Academic Standards is responsible for the interpretation of this chapter and for the development of undergraduate admissions policies that will achieve the goals outlined in Section 1, above. The Council provides guidance to the Office of Admissions in the development of operating policies and procedures.
B. The University recognizes degrees awarded by colleges and universities which are fully accredited by their regional accrediting associations.
C. Undergraduate application process.
D. For purposes of admission, an applicant's scholastic achievement in secondary and post-secondary institutions shall be expressed by a grade-point average computed on a 4.00 system.
E. A matriculated student is one who has been admitted into one of the University's schools or colleges to pursue a program of study that normally leads to a degree.
F. A non-matriculated student is one whose educational objective does not include a University of Washington degree. Permission to enroll as a non-matriculated student implies no commitment on the part of the University for subsequent admission as a matriculated student.
S-B 96, April 1966; S-B 127, December 1976; S-B 129, June 1977: all with Presidential approval. AI October 3, 1983. S-B 169, February 2002: with Presidential approval.
Section 3. Admission to Undergraduate Standing (Washington Residents)
A. Undergraduate programs offered by the University lead to a bachelor's degree; students may therefore be admitted when, in the judgment of the University, they appear qualified to pursue a degree program with a reasonable likelihood of success. In making this judgment the University considers such factors as high school grade-point average, nature of courses taken, grade-point average in transferable college level course work, institution(s) attended, level of entry, scores on an acceptable admissions test when required, and personal factors such as school and community service, leadership, overcoming adversity, and family educational and socioeconomic background. Qualified applicants under section B.1 below will be rank ordered according to their probabilities of obtaining a University grade-point average higher than 2.00. Offers of admission will be extended first to those with the highest probabilities. The Faculty Council on Academic Standards will determine the proportion of admission offers to be made based on ranked probabilities, and the proportion based on a comprehensive review of the application file.
B. Admission to the University is competitive, which means there are more qualified applicants than can be admitted.
When the University is unable to accommodate all who are deemed admissible, the Provost, in consultation with the Senate Committee on Planning and Budgeting (SCPB), shall allocate places of admission to freshmen, community college direct transfer agreement applicants (DTAs), other college transfers, post-baccalaureates, and residents and non-residents of the state of Washington.
Consideration for admission is assured when the applicant fulfills the requirements in sections 1 or 2 below.
C. The University in its discretion may consider applicants for non-routine admission who do not meet the above requirements, but are able to submit additional evidence supportive of sufficient promise of benefiting from or contributing to the University's undergraduate programs. Admission test scores may be waived by the Office of Admissions when the applicant's high school and/or college scholastic records indicate a high probability of academic success.
D. Denied applicants may request a second review of their admission files if they believe an error or omission has occurred. All supportive documentation should be filed with the initial application. Late documents will ordinarily not be considered after the initial decision has been made.
E. Non-matriculated students may be enrolled for credit on a space available basis to pursue limited academic objectives, but they are not admitted to a degree program or to a department, school, or college of the University. Non-matriculated students subsequently admitted in matriculated status must complete at least 45 credits in matriculated status to qualify for a degree.
F. Duplication of Credit. A student may not receive University credit for repetition of work at the same or at a more elementary level, if credit has been granted in an earlier course. This rule applies whether the earlier course was taken in high school or college, and whether, in the latter case, course numbers are or are not duplicated, except that when continuation of previous study is involved (e.g., foreign language), proper placement for credit in University courses shall be determined by the department that presents the subject.
S-B 78, April 1958; S-B 81, May 1960; S-B 88, May 1962; S-B 127, December 1976; S-B 129, June 1977; S-B 132, March 1979: all with Presidential approval; HB, 1946; AI, August 1981. Rev. October 3, 1983. S-B 169, February 2002: with Presidential approval.
Section 4. Admission to Post Baccalaureate Study in an Undergraduate College
A. A student holding a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution may be admitted to one of the undergraduate colleges as a postbaccalaureate student to pursue a program leading to a second bachelor's degree or another appropriate objective.
B. An applicant's educational goals, scholastic record and work experience are the primary criteria for admission. Approval of the department concerned and, ordinarily, a grade-point average of at least 2.50 in the junior and senior years of the undergraduate program are required for admission.
C. Postbaccalaureate students are not admitted to the Graduate School and ordinarily may not register for courses numbered 500 and above. Courses completed while in postbaccalaureate status normally may not be applied to an advanced degree in the Graduate School.
S-B 90, April 1963; S-B 96, April 1966; S-B 127, December 1976; S-B 129, June 1977: all with Presidential approval. Rev. October 3, 1983. S-B 169, February 2002: with Presidential approval.
Section 5. Admission of Nonresidents
A. The University of Washington recognizes the academic and educational benefits to be derived from a geographically diverse student body. In order that the University will be able to meet its primary obligation to residents of the State, the admission requirements for out-of-state applicants are more selective than for resident students, generally requiring higher academic accomplishment. Nonresident sons and daughters of University of Washington alumni, however, are admitted according to resident standards, although they are required to pay the regular nonresident tuition fees.
B. A small number of undergraduates from other countries will be admitted each year, in Summer and Autumn quarters only. Admission offers will be extended to those with the highest qualifications from each country, and all will have demonstrated English language competency through satisfactory performance on prescribed tests.
BR, January 1964; S-B 127, December 1976; S-B 129, June 1977: all with Presidential approval. Rev. October 3, 1983. S-B 169, February 2002: with Presidential approval.
Section 6. Acceptance of Transfer Credit
A. The University of Washington reserves the right to accept or reject credits earned at other collegiate institutions. In general, it shall be the University's policy to accept credits earned at institutions fully accredited by their respective regional accrediting associations, provided that such credits have been acquired through university-level courses appropriate to the student's degree-curriculum at the University of Washington.
B. The University of Washington will accept in transfer toward a bachelor's degree no more than 90 lower-division credits. After a student has been admitted to a university major, additional lower-division transfer credit may be allowed when:
C. No more than 135 credits may be accepted in transfer for a bachelor's degree.
D. Special examination(s) as defined in Chapter 5, Credit by Examination, shall be required to determine the number of credits to be accepted toward the bachelor's degree for independent study, for work with private teachers, and for work done in unaccredited institutions, except as provided in Subsection E below.
E. Credits earned by a student at an unaccredited institution may be validated by means other than a written examination if the chairperson of the concerned department(s) so decides. Validation of credit without examinations is restricted and subject to the same provisions as validation by examination as defined in Chapter 5, Credit by Examination, Section 1, Subsections B, C, D, E, F, and G. Validated credit will be accepted toward the bachelor's degree on the same basis as credits earned by examinations.
F. Transfer credits shall be accepted for upper-division credit only when earned at an accredited four-year degree-granting institution.
G. Credit may be granted for courses completed in Armed Forces training schools on terms and subject to the limitations set forth in Chapter 8.
S-B 96, April 1966; S-B 127, December 1976; S-B 129, June 1977: all with Presidential approval. Rev. October 3, 1983. S-B 169, February 2002; S-B 172, January 24, 2005: with Presidential approval.
Section 7. Admission to Graduate Standing
A. In accordance with University policy, admission to graduate study in the University of Washington opens the opportunity to pursue programs leading to advanced degrees. The Graduate School is responsible for determining the requirements for admission to graduate study. Within the limits imposed on overall graduate enrollment in the University, admission to a specific graduate degree program is limited to the number of students for whom faculty, staff, and facilities can provide graduate instruction and research guidance of high quality. Each graduate student must be admitted into a specific graduate program; the Graduate School does not permit general graduate enrollment.
B. Admission to the Graduate School is granted by the Dean of the Graduate School. Application for admission is made to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Each applicant must submit a completed University of Washington application form with appropriate fees and arrange for the receipt of official transcripts by the Office from all previously attended colleges, universities, and institutes. Each department or other unit authorized to offer a graduate degree program maintains a Graduate Admissions Committee consisting of not less than three graduate faculty members. The Committee receives from the Office of Graduate Admissions all completed applications for admission to the unit. The Admissions Committee is responsible for the fair and complete evaluation of applicants and for recommending to the Dean of the Graduate School the names of applicants who are considered to be qualified for admission. The Committee is expected to maintain files and to be able to demonstrate that full and fair consideration has been given to each applicant for admission.
C. Priority for admission of applicants into a graduate degree program is based upon the applicant's apparent ability, as determined by the University, to complete the program expeditiously with a high level of achievement and also upon the applicant's promise for success in his or her subsequent career. In addition, Graduate School admission policy specifies the following:
D. In developing a pool of qualified applicants for admission to the Graduate School, the following factors may be taken into account by a degree-offering unit:
E. Admission to the Graduate School usually signifies admission into a program of graduate study leading to a Master's degree or the equivalent, or into post-graduate study. Admission does not imply acceptance of a graduate student into a program of study leading to a Doctoral degree. A student becomes a candidate for the Doctoral degree only on the completion of specific requirements intended to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the student's unit and the Graduate School the apparent ability of the student to progress satisfactorily through the Doctoral degree program.
F. Admission As a Visiting Graduate Student:
G. Seniors as Prospective Graduate Students:
University of Washington students who are within six credits of completing their undergraduate work and who otherwise meet the requirements for admission to the Graduate School may register the quarter just prior to admission to the Graduate School for as many as six credits in graduate courses in addition to their six credits of undergraduate work. This registration and these arrangements must receive prior approval by the Graduate School; however, students concerned will not be reclassified as graduates until the bachelor's degree has been granted and after their official admission to the Graduate School. Only under these circumstances may graduate work taken as an undergraduate be applied toward an advanced degree. Further registration for graduate work is contingent upon completion of the requirements for the bachelor's degree.
S-B 78, with Presidential approval. April 1958; GSM 3, rev. March 1965; AI, May 1972. Rev. October 3, 1983