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POLICY #6.16
SUBJECT: International Student Admissions

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this Policy is to define the Southern Utah University policy on international student admissions as a supplement to Policies 6.5 and 6.61.

II. REFERENCES

  1. Southern Utah University Policy 6.5 Undergraduate Admissions
  2. Southern Utah University Policy 6.31 Academic Standards
  3. Southern Utah University Policy 6.61 Graduate Studies: Admissions

III. DEFINITIONS

  1. Degree-seeking Student Applicant: An International applicant seeking to study at Southern Utah University with the intent to earn a degree from Southern Utah University.
  2. Graduate Admission: Admission of an applicant as a matriculated graduate student after the applicant has completed all admission application procedural steps and has been accepted for admission based on the current admission policy.
  3. Intensive English Program: A program assisting students to achieve academic English proficiency sufficient for matriculation into university as an international early college, undergraduate, or graduate student.
  4. International Applicant: An person who is not a citizen, national, or permanent resident of the United States.
  5. International Early College Applicant: An International Applicant who has not yet completed high school and is seeking to enroll in college or Intensive English Program courses.
  6. Non-degree-seeking Student Applicant: An International Applicant seeking to study at Southern Utah University on a temporary basis without the intent to earn a degree from Southern Utah University.
  7. Undergraduate Admission: Admission of an applicant as a matriculated undergraduate student after the applicant has completed all admission application procedural steps and has been accepted for admission based on the current admission policy.

IV. POLICY

  1. General
    1. Requirements for admission to Southern Utah University and retention in the University or any program of the University will be formulated by the appropriate committees of the University, approved by the Board of Trustees, and published in the General Catalog.
    2. Southern Utah University does not discriminate against any member of the University community on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability status, veteran status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.
    3. All International Applicants must apply through the processes and personnel approved by the International Admissions Office. Those International Applicants who meet all criteria to become fully matriculated students may be considered for admission to Southern Utah University programs of study.
  2. Admissions Requirements
    1. International Affairs will establish international admission application deadlines for each academic term that coordinate with University start dates.
    2. Admission to the University does not ensure acceptance into a specific program, department, or college of the University. Academic units may require additional information and separate applications for admission into specific programs.
    3. General Application Criteria:
      1. Applications will be reviewed when all required information is on file.
      2. For programs other than International Early College, if admission is granted prior to high school graduation or while work is in progress at another college or university, the admission decision is contingent upon satisfactory completion of high school graduation requirements (or equivalent), or the work in progress, and will be revoked if the applicant fails to graduate or if the transfer work is not acceptable. Applicants will have one (1) semester to submit final transcripts from their high school or former college/university or their admission will be revoked.
      3. Acceptance notices are valid only for the semester indicated.

        Applicants who do not register during the semester for which they were accepted and who wish to be admitted for a subsequent semester must notify the International Admissions Office to seek admission for a subsequent semester.
      4. Returning students must complete the following process:
        1. Southern Utah University students who were previously enrolled, but have not been Southern Utah University students for two (2) semesters or less, with the exception of Summer term, may be readmitted without reapply, provided they were not required to withdraw, are not on administrative or academic probation, and have not attended another college or university in the interim. Students may reactivate their admission by contacting the SUU International Admissions Office and providing updated financial documents.
  3. Admission Requirements and Application Procedures by Applications Type
    1. All International Applicants seeking admission to Southern Utah University must comply with the admission application procedural steps specified by the University for their particular application status, e.g., intensive English, undergraduate and graduate as follows:
      1. Intensive English Program (IEP):
        1. Applicants for the on-campus IEP must complete the following process:
          1. Submit an application for admission.
          2. Pay the application fee.
          3. Submit official transcripts with the complete list of classes and grades showing high school graduation and any college or university attended. Transcripts must be submitted on an official school document, which lists the name and address of the school, the dates enrolled, grading systems, description of each subject or examination, and mark or grade earned in each subject or examination.
          4. Submit a copy of the photo page of applicant’s passport. As per the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services requirements, the applicant’s name of record will be as shown in the machine-readable section of the passport.
          5. Submit a financial statement documenting the availability of funds for school and living expenses for the first year at Southern Utah University, which meets and exceeds an annually established benchmark.
          6. While not mandatory, applicants to the IEP program are encouraged to submit English proficiency test scores in order to be placed in the appropriate course level.
        2. Applicants for the online IEP must complete the following process:
          1. Submit an application for admission.
          2. Pay the application fee.
          3. Submit a copy of the applicant's government-issued photo ID.
          4. While not mandatory, applicants to the online IEP are encouraged to submit official transcripts with the complete list of classes and grades showing high school graduation and any college or university attended. Transcripts must be submitted on an official school document, which lists the name and address of the school, the dates enrolled, grading systems, description of each subject or examination, and mark or grade earned in each subject or examination.
          5. While not mandatory, applicants to the IEP are encouraged to submit English proficiency test scores in order to be placed in the appropriate course level.
      2. Undergraduate Programs:
        1. Applicants for on-campus undergraduate programs must complete the following process: 
          1. Submit an application for admission.
          2. Pay the application fee.
          3. Submit official transcripts with the complete list of classes and grades showing high school graduation and any college or university attended. Transcripts must be submitted on an official school document, which lists the name and address of the school, the dates enrolled, grading systems, description of each subject or examination, and mark or grade earned in each subject or examination.
          4. Proof of English proficiency is required for all applicants whose first language is not English. Applicants may show proficiency in English by providing scores which meet or exceed annually established benchmarks.
            1. Alternate English Proficiency Options:
              1. An undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited college or university in the U.S. or an English-speaking country.
              2. Transfer students from a U.S. college or university who have completed 24 or more credits with a 2.0 GPA or higher.
              3. Successful graduation from an English language program with an overall grade performance of 80% (B average) or above.
            2. Dual Enrollment Option:Undergraduate applicants must complete the following process:
              1. Applicants who qualify for the top level of the SUU Intensive English Program are eligible for Dual Enrollment. Dual Enrollment allows students to take the Intensive English Program highest level and classes within their major, at the same time. This is a one-semester program, offered Fall and Spring semesters only. Annually established English proficiency minimums must be met to participate.
          5. Submit a copy of the photo page of applicant’s passport. As per the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services requirements, the applicant’s name of record will be as shown in the machine-readable section of the passport.
          6. Degree-seeking Student Applicants must submit a financial statement documenting the availability of funds for school and living expenses for the first year at Southern Utah University, which meets or exceeds an annually established benchmark. Non-degree-seeking Student Applicants must submit a financial statement documenting the availability of funds for school and living expenses for the intended period of stay at Southern Utah University.
        2. Applicants for online undergraduate programs must complete the following process:
          1. Submit an application for admission.
          2. Pay the application fee.
          3. Submit a copy of the applicant's government-issued photo ID.
          4. Submit official transcripts with the complete list of classes and grades showing high school graduation and any college or university attended. Transcripts must be submitted on an official school document, which lists the name and address of the school, the dates enrolled, grading systems, description of each subject or examination, and mark or grade earned in each subject or examination.
          5. Proof of English proficiency is required for all applicants whose first language is not English. Applicants may show proficiency in English by providing scores which meet or exceed annually established benchmarks.
            1. Alternate English Proficiency Options:
              1. An undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited college or university in the U.S. or an English-speaking country.
              2. Transfer students from a U.S. college or university who have completed 24 or more credits with a 2.0 GPA or higher.
              3. Successful graduation from an approved English language program with an overall grade performance of 80% (B average) or above.
      3. Graduate Programs:
        1. Applicants for on-campus graduate programs must complete the following process in addition to individual graduate program requirements:
          1. Submit an application for admission.
          2. Pay the application fee.
          3. Submit a copy of the photo page of the applicant's passport. As per the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services requirements, the applicant's name of record will be as shown in the machine-readable section of the passport.
          4. Submit official transcripts with the complete list of classes and grades from any college or university attended indicating a bachelor's degree has been awarded. Transcripts must be submitted on an official school document, which lists the name and address of the school, the dates enrolled, grading systems, description of each subject or examination, and mark or grade earned in each subject or examination.
          5. Proof of English proficiency is required for all applicants whose first language is not English. Applicants may show proficiency in English by providing scores which meet or exceed annually established benchmarks.
            1. Alternate English Proficiency Options:
              1. An undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited college or university in the U.S. or an English-speaking country.
              2. Transfer students from a U.S. college or university who have completed 24 or more credits at a 2.0 GPA or higher.
              3. Successful graduation from an approved English language program with an overall grade performance of 80% (B average) or above.
          6. Submit a copy of the photo page of applicant’s passport. As per the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services requirements, the applicant’s name of record will be as shown in the machine-readable section of the passport.
          7. Degree-seeking Student Applicants must submit a financial statement documenting the availability of funds for school and living expenses for the first year at Southern Utah University, which meets or exceeds an annually established benchmark. Non-degree-seeking Student Applicants must submit a financial statement documenting the availability of funds for school and living expenses for the intended period of stay at Southern Utah University.
        2. Applicants for online graduate programs must complete the following process in addition to individual graduate program requirements:
          1. Submit the application for admission.
          2. Pay the application fee.
          3. Submit official transcripts with the complete list of classes and grades from any college or university attended indicating a bachelor's degree has been awarded. Transcripts must be submitted on an official school document, which lists the name and address of the school, the dates enrolled, grading systems, description of each subject or evaluation, and mark or grade earned in each subject or examination.
          4. Proof of English proficiency is required for all applicants whose first language is not English. Applicants may show proficiency in English by providing scores which meet or exceed annually established benchmarks.
            1. Alternate English Proficiency Options:
              1. An undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited college or university in the U.S. or an English-speaking country.
              2. Transfer students from a U.S. college or university who have completed 24 or more credits at a 2.0 GPA or higher.
              3. Successful graduation from an approved English language program with an overall grade performance of 80% (B average) or above.
      4. International Early College:
        1. Applicants for the on-campus Early College program must complete the following process:
          1. Submit an application for admission.
          2. Pay the application fee.
          3. Submit official transcripts with the complete list of classes and grades showing completion of the 10th or 11th grade. Transcripts must be submitted on an official school document, which lists the name and address of the school, the dates enrolled, grading systems, description of each subject or examination, and mark or grade earned in each subject or examination.
          4. Proof of English proficiency is required for all applicants whose first language is not English. Applicants may show proficiency in English by providing scores which meet or exceed annually established benchmarks.
            1. Alternate English Proficiency Options:
              1. An undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited college or university in the U.S. or an English-speaking country.
              2. Successful graduation from an approved English language program with an overall grade performance of 80% (B average) or above.
            2. Dual Enrollment Option:
              1. Applicants who qualify for the top level of the SUU Intensive English Program are eligible for Dual Enrollment. Dual Enrollment allows students to take the Intensive English Program highest level and classes within their major, at the same time. This is a one-semester program, offered Fall and Spring semesters only. Annually established English proficiency minimums must be met to participate.
          5. Submit a copy of the photo page of applicant’s passport. As per the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services requirements, the applicant’s name of record will be as shown in the machine-readable section of the passport.
          6. Submit a financial statement documenting the availability of funds for school and living expenses for the first year at Southern Utah University, which meets or exceeds an annually established benchmark.
        2. Applicants for the International Online Early College program must complete the following process:
          1. Submit an application for admission.
          2. Pay the application fee.
          3. Submit a copy of the applicant's government-issued photo ID.
          4. Submit official transcripts with the complete list of classes and grades showing completion of the U.S. equivalent of 10th or 11th grade (9th grade by exception only). Transcripts must be submitted on an official school document, which lists the name and address of the school, the dates enrolled, grading systems, description of each subject or examination, and mark or grade earned in each subject or examination.
          5. Proof of English proficiency is required for all applicants whose first language is not English. Applicants may show proficiency in English by providing scores which meet or exceed annually established benchmarks.
            1. Alternate English Proficiency Options:
              1. An undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited college or university in the U.S. or an English-speaking country.
              2. Successful graduation from an approved English language program with an overall grade performance of 80% (B average) or above.
  4. Special Admission
    1. SUU will consider up to five percent (5%) of new students annually for admission who do not meet conventional criteria for admission. This special admission consideration may be given to diverse groups of applicants: for instance, those for whom the common indicators of predicted academic success may not be valid indicators of their potential ability.
    2. Exceptional applicants may be considered for early admission to the University if they meet all of the specified academic and procedural requirements pertinent to their status.
    3. International Applicant appeals for waiver of established admission policies and requirements will be heard and acted upon by a committee comprised of SUU International Affairs officials. Applicants may appeal these decisions to the Academic Standards and Admissions Committee and must comply with the guidelines established for and by that Committee.

V. RELEVANT FORMS/LINKS

N/A

VI. QUESTIONS/RESPONSIBLE OFFICE

The responsible office for this Policy is the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs. For questions about the international student application process, contact the Office of International Admissions.

VII. POLICY ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT DATES

Date Approved: March 23, 2018

Amended: June 9, 2023