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Office of the University Registrar

2005-06 Undergraduate Catalog

Academic Policies

M.E. Rinker Sr. School of Building Construction


Application Deadlines

Students are admitted for third-year professional course work in the fall and spring semesters for building construction and each semester for fire and emergency services. Application procedures, receipt of transcripts and school requirements for admission should be completed by the deadline. Late applications are not accepted. Refer to the application deadlines.

Requirements for Admission

Building Construction

Admission to the Rinker School is selective and is given to those applicants whose potential indicates the greatest likelihood of success in the program.

All Students

  • The school has limited admission. An applicant’s satisfaction of minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. The school has established a selective process for admission and only a limited number of new students are accepted each fall and spring term. No distinction is made between internal and external transfers.
  • Students must submit a personal statement (minimum 300 words) outlining their reasons for applying to the Rinker School.
  • Students must attain at least a 2.0 GPA in building construction prerequisite course work and have an overall 2.0 GPA for all freshman and sophomore work required for and leading to a baccalaureate degree in building construction in order to be considered for admission.
  • Students are required to submit SAT or ACT scores, and these scores will be evaluated in the admission selection. Students are rank ordered and admitted based on an evaluation of their building construction prerequisite course work and their SAT or ACT scores.
  • Students must have achieved a passing score on the College Level Academic Skills Test or present a CLAST waiver.
  • All applicants must have completed two sequential courses of foreign language in secondary school or 8-10 semester hours at the postsecondary level, or document an equivalent level of proficiency.

Waiver of Liability

Several courses require attendance at field trips. All students must sign a waiver of liability and a hold harmless agreement as a prerequisite to acceptance into the School of Building Construction. In addition, student organizations are represented at conferences, seminars and projects outside of campus. A separate and similar waiver form will be used for students who participate in these voluntary activities.

Transfer Students

Students attending four-year colleges should follow a program of General Education and preprofessional courses equivalent to the basic curriculum for entry to the school.

Junior college and community college students must meet the following requirements:

  • Complete the university transfer program at the junior college.
  • Complete the A.A. degree.
  • Complete all prerequisite General Education and preprofessional courses, or acceptable substitutes.
  • Must meet with an academic adviser in the Rinker School before applying to upper division.
  • Sudents can transfer up to 15 credit hours from another ACCE accredited four-year program.

Requirements for Admission to Fire and Emergency Services

All Students

  • Students must attain at least a 2.0 GPA in fire and emergency services prerequisite course work and have an overall 2.0 GPA for all freshman and sophomore work required for and leading to a baccalaureate degree in fire and emergency services.
  • Students must have achieved a passing score on the College Level Academic Skills Test or present a CLAST waiver.
  • All applicants must have completed two sequential courses of foreign language in secondary school or 8-10 semester hours at the postsecondary level, or document an equivalent level of proficiency.
  • Credits beyond the 60 semester hours required for admission to the school will not reduce the number of credit hours to be completed in the junior and senior years to earn a degree. These courses may not be accepted for equivalent credit.

Transfer Students

Students attending four-year colleges should follow a program of General Education and preprofessional courses equivalent to the basic curriculum for entry to the school.

Junior college and community college students should:

  • Complete the university transfer program at the junior college.
  • Complete the A.A. degree.
  • Complete all prerequisite General Education and preprofessional courses, or acceptable substitutes.
  • Receive state or nationally recognized fire-fighting and emergency medicine certificate or experience.
  • Students who have not demonstrated working knowledge of fire and emergency services through obtainment of state or nationally recognized fire fighting and emergency medicine certificates will be required to take equivalent upper-level courses in lieu of upper-level electives.

Normal Loads

The average course load for building construction students is 16 hours. A student may register for additional hours if the academic adviser and the student’s academic record justifies this. Students who wish to take fewer than 12 hours should be aware that certain university privileges and benefits require a minimum registration. It is the student’s responsibility to verify the minimum registration necessary for these privileges and benefits.

Normal Academic Progress

Students must maintain normal academic progress with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 for all courses attempted in the junior and senior years. In addition, the student must take courses in the sequence specified. Students may be excluded from the program if they fail or refuse to maintain normal academic progress.

Student Work

The Rinker School reserves the right to retain all student work for the purpose of record, exhibition or instruction.

Dean’s List

Probation and Dismissal

Students who do not make satisfactory academic progress will be excluded from further registration.

Once a student receives a failing grade in a BCN course, they will be dismissed if they receive a subsequent failing grade in the same course.

Students failing two or more BCN courses in any semester will be dismissed.

Student Responsibility

It is the student’s responsibility before enrolling to review and to consider all pertinent information about the university and the school. Special attention must be paid to required documentation, degree requirements and deadlines.