Javascript is currently not supported, or is disabled by this browser. Please enable Javascript for full functionality.

   
    Oct 09, 2024  
2022-2023 Catalogue 
    
2022-2023 Catalogue [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Adult Studies Program: General Information for Prospective Students



Adult Studies Mission Statement

Belhaven’s commitment is to provide academic training programs which emphasize quality and relevance within a Christian framework. In addition, the educational philosophy and practices of the programs are designed to recognize the differences between the younger college student and the student who has assumed the adult responsibilities of self-determination, financial independence, and career development.

The adult programs support the mission of the University through their curricula, selection of faculty, and program formats. It is the purpose of the programs to integrate the Christian worldview into the curriculum, provide academically qualified Christian faculty, and enable students to maintain employment while gaining preparation academically and spiritually to meet the demands of the workplace.

Adult Studies Program Objectives

Through our adult studies program curricula, Belhaven University encourages breadth of vision and promotes the maximum development of each student intellectually, spiritually, culturally, and physically. The following educational objectives are at the core of the adult studies program:

  • Develop students’ potential, enabling them to face the future with confidence and determination.
  • Prepare adult students for leadership and service in their chosen vocation.
  • Apply critical thinking and reasoning skills to identify problems and to develop problem-solving abilities.
  • Apply theoretical knowledge to solve real-life problems through teamwork within the context of an active learning environment.
  • Facilitate social development and effectiveness in interpersonal relationships through developing personal values and constructive attitudes toward work, other people, and the quality of life.
  • Form a broad base for a detailed study in a major discipline while giving Christian perspective on the world of ideas.
  • Foster and promote a sense of Biblical ethics and values to be applied in the students’ personal and professional lives.
  • Facilitate spiritual growth by examining personal and corporate values from a Christian worldview.
  • Develop written and oral communication skills.

Undergraduate Admission Requirements and Procedures

All communications regarding entrance to the University should be addressed to the office of adult and graduate studies. Eligibility for admission will be determined when the application, any required fees, and transcripts have been received by the University.

Belhaven University seeks students who desire an excellent education combined with a meaningful student life experience and who will have a reasonable chance of academic success at Belhaven University. Applicants providing evidence of completion of an accredited academic high school curriculum, scholastic achievement, and sound moral character conducive to contributing to the total premium of the University are admitted.

Belhaven University does not discriminate in the administration of its education policies, applications for admission, scholarship and loan programs, or athletic and extracurricular programs. The rights, privileges, programs, and activities at Belhaven University are made available to all students who are enrolled regardless of sex, religion, color, national origin, handicap, or age.

Applying for Undergraduate Admission

First-time Admission

A student who has never attended any college/university will submit an application for admission, the nonrefundable application fee of $25.00, and an official transcript from the high school from which he/she graduated. The student must have a minimum high school grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Admission by Examination (GED)

A student who has earned the General Education Development (GED) certificate may be admitted. An official GED transcript must be provided from the State Department of Education of the state that issued the certificate. Students will need to reach a score of at least 145 on each subject and a total score of 580 or higher across all four subjects in order to be considered for admission.

Students may be admitted based on the receipt of official HiSET scores from ETS which meet all of the following:

  • achieve a score of at least 8 on each of the five individual tests
  • score at least 2 out of 6 on the essay portion of the Writing test
  • have a total combined score on all five tests of at least 45

Admission of Home-schooled Students

A student who has been educated at home (home-schooled) must submit a transcript outlining courses taken and ACT or SAT scores; OR meet the requirements for students applying with a GED.

Transfer Application Process

  • Transfer students must submit a completed application form, the nonrefundable application fee of $25.00, and an official college transcript from the last college/university attended to be “Final Accept.”. A student who misrepresents information in filling out the admission application form or a student who finds after admission or enrollment that he or she is ineligible for academic reasons or any other reason to return to his or her last institution and who fails to report this immediately to the office of admission will be subject to disciplinary action, including possible dismissal from the University.
    • Student Athletes: the NCAA requires students competing in intercollegiate athletics to submit final official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended.
    • Nursing Majors: State and national accrediting bodies require students in nursing to submit final official transcripts from ALL colleges/universities attended.
    • Education Majors: State and national accrediting agencies require candidates making application to a school of education teacher preparation program to submit final official transcripts from ALL colleges/universities attended.
  • An applying transfer student must produce an unofficial or official transcript from the last college/university they attended in order to register for classes. If unofficial transcripts are submitted, the student will be given thirty days from the beginning date of the first class for the official transcript(s) to be received in the office of adult studies. The official final transcript(s) must be received before the student is considered officially registered and eligible to receive financial aid. It is understood by all parties that, if for some reason a student is denied admission as a result of not having all documentation at the appropriate offices by the deadline stated, Belhaven University is not liable for any losses incurred to the student.
  • A student who is applying with fewer than 12 semester hours of college credit or with only experiential/military credit must also have sent to the office of adult and graduate studies an official high school transcript showing the date of graduation. The student must have a minimum high school grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. Applications will be processed and admission status determined when all required items are on file.
  • A transfer student meeting other qualifications is automatically accepted with a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Nonacademic elective credits in physical education are excluded from grade point average (GPA) calculation.
  • Transfer credits may be accepted from other institutions of higher learning only when the program of the transferring institution is acceptable to the receiving institution.
  • A student under academic suspension from another college or university may not enter Belhaven for semester following his/her suspension. A student who has been permanently dismissed from another college or university will not be eligible for admission to Belhaven University.

International Application Process

  • All international students should complete an application for admission and submit the nonrefundable $25.00 application fee to the office of adult studies at Belhaven University.
  • An English translation and evaluation of all course work is required by Belhaven University. We recommend the following company and can provide an application for this service:
    World Education Services, Inc.
    P.O. Box 745
    Old Chelsea Station
    New York NY 10113-0745
    Phone: 212-966-6311 or 800-937-3895
    Fax: 212-966-6395
    E-mail: info@wes.org
     
  • A TOEFL score of 525 (71iBT) or a score of 6 on the IELTS is required. In registering for the TOEFL, note the Belhaven TOEFL code number is 1055.
  • All international students must include with the admission application an official guarantee of funds (in the form of an official letter of sponsorship and/or an official bank statement showing funds available for the first academic year of attendance). This form may be referred to as an affidavit of support.
  • International students must provide proof of medical insurance. Applicants must submit mumps, measles, and rubella immunizations certificate and have arrangements made to be tested for tuberculosis prior to registration.

Any student applying for financial aid should complete ALL financial aid forms. For more information concerning financial aid, please call our Jackson campus at (601) 968-5933 or toll-free number (800) 960-5940.

Veterans

Belhaven University is approved for veterans who qualify for education under the privileges provided by federal laws. A veteran who wishes to be assessed for military credit or who will use veteran benefits must submit a copy of Form DD214 and/or DD295 to Belhaven University and contact the VA certifying official at their appropriate campus.

Preliminary Admission

Students who provide unofficial documentation (such as transcripts) but are missing official documentation may be admitted preliminarily. These students will be given 30 days from the beginning date of the first course to provide official documentation to the office of adult studies or risk being removed from class. A student cannot be certified for financial aid until he/she is officially admitted to the University.

Readmission

A student who has been out of the Adult Studies program for six months or longer must fill out an attest form, and will reenter under all current program policies. A student who has been out for one year or longer must reapply.

Transfer Credits

Transfer of credit is controlled by the receiving institution and accreditation does not guarantee transferability. Belhaven University usually allows full credit to transferring students for work completed at other regionally-accredited institutions; however, some courses which are not regarded as consistent with a liberal arts curriculum (to be determined by the provost) may not be credited toward a degree. Also, remedial courses are not transferable. A grade of D will be accepted for credit if the student has an overall average of C on all courses transferred from that school. Only grades of C or better can be accepted for transfer credit in English Composition I and English Composition II, and College Algebra or a higher-level math. In the case of transcripts submitted from more than one institution, each transcript is evaluated as a separate unit in chronological order.

A minimum of 17 semester hours of credit must be earned in residency at Belhaven University for the A.A. degree.

Once a student has earned 64 hours of junior and/or senior college credit, he/she may not transfer in any more junior or community college hours. A minimum of 60 semester hours of credit must be earned at Belhaven University or another senior college.

Alternate credits may be accepted for transfer under certain conditions. Please consult the section on “Alternate Credits.”

Non-degree seeking, Special Student Application Process

  • Submit a completed application for admission with fee of $25.
  • Non-degree seeking students, after attempting six semester hours, must either apply for admission as a degreeseeking student or make a request to be continued as a non-degree seeking student (maximum of 12 hours).
  • Non-degree seeking students must submit a letter of good standing or an official transcript from the last college attended. A non-degree seeking student will be allowed to apply during registration if an unofficial transcript or letter of good standing is available. The student will be given 30 days after registration for the official document to be received in the office of admission.

NOTE: Only 12 hours taken as a non-degree student may be applied toward a degree.

Graduate Admission Requirements and Procedures

All communications regarding entrance to graduate program at Belhaven University should be addressed to the Admission Office of Adult and Graduate Studies at the appropriate campus. Eligibility for admission will be determined when the application, fees, transcripts, and applicable test scores have been received by the University.

Preliminary Admission

Students who provide unofficial documentation (such as transcripts) but are missing official documentation may be admitted preliminarily. These students will be given thirty days from the beginning date of the first course to provide official documentation to Adult Studies or risk being removed from class. A student cannot be certified for financial aid until he/she is officially admitted to the University. It is understood by all parties that, if for some reason a student is denied admission as a result of not having all documentation at the appropriate offices by the deadline stated, Belhaven University is not liable for any losses incurred to the student.

A quality point index is calculated at the end of each semester to determine a student’s academic standing: warning, probation, suspension or dismissal.

Transfer Credit

Up to six hours of transfer credit can be awarded at the discretion of the department chair.