USF 1997-98 Undergraduate Catalog - Pages 17 - 18

Other General Admissions Information

Articulation Agreement

An articulation agreement, in effect since April 13, 1971 and later adopted by the Florida Legislature in statute form as Florida law, governs an effective and orderly transfer of Florida community college students into the State University System (SUS).

The agreement defines and establishes the Associate of Arts degree from a Florida public community/junior college as the basis for all articulation rights. Among these guarantees, the following are central to the transfer process:

Admission into the State University System

1. A.A. graduates will be granted admission to a university within the SUS, but not necessarily to the university or program of choice.
2. A.A. graduates will have the same opportunity to enroll in a university limited access program as the native university student.
3. Upon transferring to a state university, A.A. graduates will be awarded at least 60 credit hours towards the baccalaureate degree, exclusive of occupational courses and basic required physical education courses.
4. Credits that are part of the A.A. degree earned through articulated acceleration mechanisms, such as dual enrollment, International Baccalaureate, early admission, advanced placement and credit by exam, will be transferable to the state university.
5. As participants in the Statewide Course Numbering System, receiving institutions must accept all courses taken at the transfer institution if the courses at each institution have the same prefix and the same last three digits of the course number.
6. The university catalog in effect the year the A.A. degree student first enrolled at the community college will remain in effect for the student’s entire program, provided the student maintains continuous enrollment as defined in that catalog.
7. Once a student has completed the general education core and this fact is noted on the transcript, regardless of whether or not an A.A. degree is awarded, no other state university or community college to which the student may transfer can require additional courses to the general education core.

Included in these transfer guarantees is the right of appeal. Students may appeal to the university and to the Statewide Articulation Coordinating Committee. Students who have questions or want more information about the articulation agreement should contact the Office of Adult and Transfer Student Services.

Evening Courses

The admission requirements and achievement levels in the day and evening courses are the same. Any student accepted to the University may enroll in any appropriate courses offered in the evening.

Florida Community College System

High school graduates planning to start their college education at a Florida community college should confer with the community college counselor and ask that their academic program be planned with the assistance of the USF Undergraduate Catalog (USF's Community College Counseling Manual has been incorporated into this catalog) which is available in all counseling offices. This catalog, prepared by the USF Office of Undergraduate Studies, explicitly describes the undergraduate program requirements and Florida's common prerequisies that should be followed to ensure maximum ease of transfer into the students' upper-level programs on a par with their native USF counterparts.

Graduate Applicants

Graduate applicants should refer to the USF Graduate Catalog.

High School Dual Enrollment

Dual enrollment in USF classes is open to academically qualified students currently enrolled in high school who are recommended by their guidance counselor or principal. The University has articulation agreements with Hillsborough, Polk, Collier and Broward County school boards to allow high school students to enroll in classes at USF. Please contact your high school guidance counselor for more information or the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Studies, SVC 2002, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33620-6920.

NOTE: Prior to registration for classes which meet on campus, all students less than 40 years of age must submit acceptable proof of immunity to rubella to the Student Health Service. Students born after December 31, 1956 must also submit proof of immunity to measles. (See Immunization Policy.)

Opportunities for Accelerated Progress Toward Undergraduate Degrees

USF provides several options by which students may accelerate their progress toward completing the baccalaureate degree. These options recognize knowledge which has been acquired prior to or during attendance at USF and provide the opportunity to earn University credit. Options which may be used include the following:

1. Recognition of satisfactory performance on tests offered through the College Level Examination Program (see CLEP).
2. Recognition of satisfactory performance on tests offered through Advanced Placement Programs of the College Entrance Examination Board (see Advanced Placement Credit Programs).
3. Dual enrollment as a non-degree-seeking student at USF prior to graduation from high school or a community college (see Dual Enrollment | High School | ). Community college students should follow eligibility criteria for non-degree seeking students (below) as well as their home school procedures.
4. Early admission for high school students (see Early Admission Freshmen).
5. Open University (O.U.) courses by television.

Credits may be earned through a combination of the above options. Students should contact their college advisors for further information concerning the application of this credit toward their degree requirements.

Internal devices (such as auditions, portfolio reviews, and placement tests) utilized in the various departments for the sole purpose of determining a student's most appropriate area, level, or section placement in a program of study are not to be construed as examining mechanisms for the granting of credit.

Senior Citizen Tuition Waiver*

Florida residents who are 60 years of age or older by the first day of a respective semester/term may enroll in certain undergraduate or graduate courses, on a space-available basis, without paying tuition. Academic credit is not awarded, examinations are not required, and grades are not given.

An orientation-registration session is held at the beginning of each semester for the Senior Citizen Tuition Waiver program. Information, registration forms, and advising for senior citizens are available at these sessions or by contacting the Division of Senior Programs for further details.

* See Florida residency requirements in this catalog.

Transient Applicants

An undergraduate transient student is one who comes to the University from another regionally accredited institution and wishes to take courses at USF for one term only before returning to the parent institution. Transient students may enroll at USF as non-degree-seeking students. (See Non-Degree-Seeking Students.)

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Karen M. Hall - webCat@ugs.usf.edu
Effective Date: Semester I, 1997