This section in no way serves in lieu of the Undergraduate Catalog, which provides detailed statements about all university policies, procedures, and requirements; in all cases, the specific language of the catalog takes precedence over the summaries provided here. The purpose of this section of the handbook is to bring together pertinent information regarding key policies that affect nearly all the undergraduates in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The principle of organization is simple; where appropriate, the policy is described, succinctly, with reference to the sections of the undergraduate catalog where more detailed information will be found. In some cases, the policy is described and then annotated, with brief comments about the roles and responsibilities of faculty advisors and of students regarding the policy.

Admissions

Northern Illinois University admits students to the university, not to specific divisions or programs within the university. For an undergraduate uncertain about his or her curricular options, admission to the university rather than to a particular division within the university allows the student to explore academic programs without having to reapply if the student changes the focus of his or her academic goals. At the same time, institutional resources limit the enrollment in certain departments within the university where student demand exceeds the supply of faculty and/or other requisite resources to meet that student need. Requirements for limited admissions programs are listed in the Undergraduate Catalog.

At this time, only three departments within the seventeen housed in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are limited admission programs: Communication (specifically, the Communication Studies emphases within the Department of Communication), Computer Science, and Sociology. All of our departments have as their goal access to the major for all students who can be served within existing resources; it is crucial, therefore, that students in the three departments with limited admission consult the departments regarding current criteria to declare the major.

There are three primary ways students are admitted to Northern Illinois University: as freshmen, as transfer students, and as that special category of transfer students who have earned a baccalaureate oriented A.A. or A.S. degree from an Illinois public community college. The criteria for these three admission categories are these:
1. Freshmen who have graduated or will graduate from a recognized or accredited secondary school prior to enrollment at NIU must meet all of the following:
   • Have an ACT composite score of at least 19 and rank in the upper half of their class OR have an ACT of at least 23 and rank in the upper two-thirds of their class.
   • In addition to the above ACT and high school rank, all applicants must have successfully completed the following high school courses (one unit equals one year):
     •English: Four units (three of which must be from NIU-recognized courses emphasizing written and oral communication and literature).
     •Mathematics: Two to three units (two of which must be NIU-recognized courses in college preparatory mathematics, including one year of introductory algebra and a second year of plane geometry or advanced algebra).  Effective fall 2004:  Mathematics.  Three to four units of college and preparatory mathematics, including one year of geometry and one year of advanced algebra and/or trigonometry. For students intending to major in mathematics, science, business or engineering, four years of college preparatory mathematics are very strongly recommended.  Further, all students, regardless of intended major, are strongly encouraged to take a mathematics course or a course with a mathematics prerequisite during the year before they enroll in a mathematics course at NIU.
     •Science: Two to three units (two of which must be from NIU-recognized courses in the physical or biological sciences). One unit must be a laboratory science.
     •Social Studies: Two to three units (two of which must be from NIU-recognized courses one of which must be U.S. history and government).
     •Foreign Language, Art, Music, or Vocational Education: One to two units (one of which must be NIU-recognized course work in foreign language, art, or music).
     •Additional Course Work: Up to three units of the required fifteen units may be distributed throughout any of the five categories of course work listed above. Vocational education may satisfy up to four of the units. Students who complete the required fifteen units in college preparatory courses including two years of a foreign language, advanced mathematics, composition, literature, and at least one unit in chemistry or physics will be more likely to (a) qualify for advanced placement of proficiency credit and (b) complete their programs of study within the amount of time anticipated for a given baccalaureate degree from NIU.
2. Transfer students who do not hold an A.A. or A.S. degree from an Illinois public community college must meet one of the following sets of criteria:
   • between 0-12 hours: meet current freshman criteria
   • between 12-24 hours: have at least a C average from all colleges attended, be in good standing at the last school attended, and meet the current freshman criteria
   • between 24-59 hours: have a GPA of at least C (2.00 on a 4.00 scale) from all colleges attended (as computed by NIU standards), be in good standing at the last college attended, and satisfy NIU's competitive transfer GPA.
   • over 60 hours: have a GPA of at least C (2.00 on a 4.00 scale) from all colleges attended (as computed by NIU standards), and be in good standing at the last college attended.
3. Transfer students who have earned an A.A. or A.S. degree from an Illinois public community college that offers degrees which satisfy the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) model will be admitted if they are in good standing at the last school attended and have at least a C average.

Because NIU's admission criteria are flexible and admit students who have demonstrated potential for success in the baccalaureate curricula at Northern by a variety of measures, faculty advisors need to be aware of the differing backgrounds of our undergraduates. Knowledge of a student's academic background in high school or at other colleges and universities may assist a faculty advisor in planning academic schedules. A new transfer student may, for example, experience some difficulties in the first semester adjusting to a different academic or personal environment. Awareness of the needs of students in transition may assist a faculty advisor in the advising process. A student can often profit from discussing prior academic preparation and his or her perceptions of the changed environment at Northern if, indeed, those perceptions affect the student's academic success.

Dual Admissions

The dual admissions agreement has been developed to provide a seamless transition in the transfer process from participating community colleges to NIU. Students who are admissible to NIU and to the participating community colleges are eligible to benefit from the dual admissions agreement. Students indicate an intention to participate in this agreement by signing a statement of intent that includes their primary area of academic interest at the time of their admissions to NIU and the participating community college. All students taking part in the dual admissions agreement are subject to the same admissions, matriculation, and degree requirements governing all other NIU and participating community college students. Students who participate in the dual admissions agreement and earn an A.A. or A.S. degree will be entitled to the same academic benefits as undergraduates new to NIU regardless of previous enrollment at NIU. For a list of the institutions participating in the dual admissions program, check the NIU Admissions website. Because there are agreements in place and pending with most of our primary feeder community colleges, advisors with questions about this program and a students eligibility to participate in it should check with Sue Doederlein for specific questions.