Edison State College Response Report to the Visiting Committee  
Comprehensive Standard 3.4.3:Admissions Policies  

Recommendation 12: The Committee recommends that the institution provide evidence that their baccalaureate admission policies are clear and enforced in a consistent manner.

Edison State College Response:

Edison State College offers ten baccalaureate degrees:

Bachelor of Applied Science
Cardiopulmonary Sciences (BAS)
Public Safety Administration (BAS)
Supervision and Management (BAS)

Bachelor of Science
Elementary Education, ESOL & Reading Endorsement (BS)
Middle Grades Language Arts Education (BS)
Middle Grades Mathematics Education (BS)
Middle Grades Science Education (BS)
Nursing (BS)
Secondary Biology Education (BS)
Secondary Mathematics Education (BS)

The admission requirements and program requirements for each degree program are published annually in the Edison State College Catalog [ 1 ]. Prior to publishing the annual College Catalog, academic administrators, faculty and staff review Catalog program pages to ensure that the requirements are clear, updated to reflect Curriculum Committee actions, and accurate.

Based on the findings of the On-Site Committee, program administrators and staff were asked to review and clarify any language pertaining to the admission requirements and general education graduation requirements of their respective baccalaureate programs. As a result, the 2012-2013 program Catalog pages have been updated to reflect consistent format, use of language, and clarification of general education requirements [ 2 ]. With the exception of the BS in Education programs (that is, six of the 10 baccalaureate degrees), general education requirements may be taken by students during their junior and senior years of enrollment, but must be completed prior to graduation with the baccalaureate degree. This inverted model of program completion is supported throughout the Florida College System and by the Division of Florida Colleges staff [ 3 ][ 4 ][ 5 ]. Each program has clarified course requirements for progression of enrollment and graduation. The BS in Education program pages clearly indicate, within the admission criteria, that students must fulfill the general education requirements as a condition of admission [ 6 ]. Additionally, Edison State College requires students to document foreign language competency as a graduation requirement. Students may complete this requirement prior to graduation, but it is not a condition of admission [ 7 ].

It is important to note that program course requirements may also fit the description of general education requirements at Edison State College. For example, a student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Mathematics Education must complete more than two lower division mathematics courses to fulfill degree requirements. Thus, the student will exceed the general education math requirement, and may do so while enrolled in the baccalaureate program [ 8 ].

Admission into the 10 baccalaureate programs takes place within the Baccalaureate and University Programs Division, under the leadership of the Dean of Program Development and Baccalaureate Programs. The admissions office remains centrally located to ensure processes are enforced consistently. Designated staff follow the process for reviewing applications and admission compliance of student records to ensure that students have met the admission criteria before they are cleared to begin the upper division program [ 9 ].

In January 2012, a Response Team of faculty, staff and administrators was formed to review the admission requirements of the baccalaureate programs, compare ESC program standards to other Florida Colleges, and audit the process for reviewing application and admission of students [ 10 ]. Members of the response team found that, after review of the admission requirements at other Florida Colleges offering similar baccalaureate programs, ESC admission requirements met or exceeded those of the other institutions for all areas [ 11 ][ 12 ][ 13 ].

During the months of January and February 2012, the response team members audited 115 admission files representative of the baccalaureate programs [ 14 ]. These files were selected at random and reviewed against the admission requirements to ensure compliance. No files were found to be out of compliance. Additionally, response team members reviewed the internal application and admission process conducted by the baccalaureate programs’ staff members and concluded that this process is followed at all times [ 15 ][ 16 ][ 17 ][ 18 ][ 19 ].

The clarification of course requirements for admission, progression and graduation within the published academic Catalog completely addresses the recommendation as it relates to providing clarity of admission requirements and removes ambiguity and room for misinterpretation. The dissemination of the internal admissions process to all academic student service and program areas ensures a common understanding of the process for application and admission into the baccalaureate program areas.

Documentation  
Supporting Documentation Description
1. 2011-2012 Online Catalog page Screen shot of the current catalog links to each program
2. 2012-2013 Draft Catalog pages Approved 2012-2013 program Catalog pages
3. Division of Florida Colleges Email Email verifying general education as graduation requirement
4. Florida Department of Education Email Email identifying AA, AS and AAS pathway into baccalaureate programs
5. Florida BAS Task Force Report Report identifying degree models and acceptable baccalaureate practice in Florida Colleges
6. B.S. in Education Admissions Specification that within B.S. in Education programs, completion of general education is an admission requirement
7. Foreign Language Graduation Requirement Graduation policy language regarding foreign language requirement
8. B.S. in Middle Grades Math Lower Division Requirements Sample Catalog page identifying permission for students to complete lower division coursework while enrolled in the baccalaureate program
9. 2011-2012 Baccalaureate Admissions Process Process followed for intake and review of applications for admission
10. 3.4.3 Response Team members Faculty and staff who served on the Response Team
11. Education Comparison Spreadsheet Review of similar Florida Colleges programs and comparison to ESC
12. BAS in SMAN and PSAD Comparison Chart Review of similar Florida Colleges program and comparison to ESC
13. Florida Mandated Common Course Prerequisites By program, lists of common courses required for completion of the baccalaureate degree at any institution in Florida Colleges or universities
14. Student File Examples REDACTED Samples of admissions files audited
15. 2011-2012 Baccalaureate Admissions Process Process followed for intake and review of applications for admission
16. Admit Report Audits REDACTED Audits of admission associate level degrees 2011-2012
17. Baccalaureate Staff Communications Email REDACTED Internal communications regarding admission status of students based on audits each semester
18. Email to incomplete applicants REDACTED Sample communications with students who have not completed the application file
19. Correspondence with incomplete applicants- multiple attempts REDACTED Sample communications with students who have been contacted on multiple attempts regarding application status