Admissions and Recruitment Policy

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Part I. PURPOSE


Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) establishes this policy to govern fair, transparent, and mission-aligned recruitment and admission of undergraduate and graduate students. This policy advances institutional goals for access, academic quality, equity, and student success by standardizing criteria documentation, decision authorities, timelines, and compliance obligations.  

Part II. APPLICABILITY

A.     Scope: Applies to all applicants to JCSU undergraduate and graduate programs, including first-year, transfer, international, readmit, non-degree, transient, and program-specific graduate categories

B.      Eligibility: Applicants must meet the criteria for Freshman, Transfer, International, Non-Degree Seeking, or Graduate students as defined in the University Catalog.

C.    Responsibility:The Office of Admissions and Recruitment (OAR) oversees undergraduate recruitment and renders decisions under this policy. Graduate admission decisions are made by the respective graduate program/committee, with OAR providing support for processing and compliance.

D.    Authority:The Senior Vice President for Strategic Enrollment and Retention Management (SVP-SERM) interprets policy and adjudicates appeals/variances not otherwise specified.

Part III. GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS

A. First-Year (Freshman) Admissions (Traditional, Biddle, Sit Lux)

  • Application (Institutional or Common App) and required addendum (if applicable)
  • Official high school transcript (or GED/HiSet). Emphasis on core academic coursework (English, Social Science, World Language when available)
  • Holistic review may consider rigor, grades, trend, recommendations, personal statement, leadership/service, special talent, and context. 
  • Testing: JCSU may operate test-optional by term: when submitted, standardized scores are considered in context.  

B. Transfer Admissions

  • Official college transcripts from each college or university attended.
  • Minimum 2.0 GPA (Programs may set higher thresholds).
  • Minimum 12 college credit hours.
  • Good academic standing with prior institution (Classes with a letter grade of C or higher will transfer).
  • High school transcript if fewer than 12 credit hours earned.
  • Transfer credit evaluated from regionally accredited institutions.

Note: The university does not accept grade points, Pass/Fail courses, CLEP exams, Dante exams, or educational experiences for transfer credit. However, a P/Pass grade given during the COVID-19 pandemic may be accepted if it meets JCSU’s academic standards.

C. International Admissions

  • Application plus credential evaluations (course-by-course) from a NACES/AICE recognized service. (Unless a U.S. high school/college transcript is supplied)
  • Proof of secondary education completion. (Or postsecondary, where applicable)
  • English proficiency (i.e. TOEFL/IELTS/SAT/ACT scores or approved alternatives) unless exempt by prior study in English or qualifying U.S. credits.
  • Financial documentation sufficient for student visa issuance (SEVIS): passport identification page. 
  • Programs may set additional requirements (portfolios, auditions, prerequisite(s))

Note: International students are only eligible to enroll for their first academic semester in the fall. 

D. Non-Degree Seeking and Transient Students

  • Application for transient students requires home institutional approval.
  • Non-degree credit limit: up to 5 credits applicable to a degree. 
  • Transient enrollment is typically limited to one semester.

E. Readmits

  • Application for readmission
  • Official transcripts from any institutions attended since last JCSU enrollment.
  • Catalog reset after five years of non-enrollment, mandatory reset after ten years. (Degree requirements and policies of the new catalog year apply.)
  • Financial, academic, and disciplinary holds must be resolved prior to readmission. 

F. Graduate Admissions

  • Application and program-specific forms from all degree-granting institutions.
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Official transcripts
  • Cover letter of intent

Part IV. EXPECTED RESULTS

  • Enrollment of academically prepared, mission-aligned students with demonstrated potential and completion.
  • Improved retention and graduation outcomes and alignment with strategic plans
  • Strengthen equity of access across applicant groups (i.e., first-generation, adult learners, transfer, international, and graduate students).

Part V. EXCEPTIONS AND DEVIATIONS

Exceptions to standard admission requirements must be requested in writing and approved by the Director of Admissions and Recruitment, the Senior Vice President for Strategic Enrollment and Retention Management, or the graduate program Director, as applicable.  Appeals of denial must be submitted in writing within 10 business days of notification and will be reviewed by the Admissions Appeals Committee convened by the SVP-SERM. Decisions are final for the term of the application.  Conditional/Provisional admission may be offered where permitted (i.e., final transcript pending or summer program completion).


Part VI. DEFINITIONS

Freshman: An applicant who has never enrolled in a post-secondary institution.

Transfer Student: A student who has earned 12+ post-secondary credit hours.

Non-Degree Seeking Student: A student not seeking a degree program but taking courses for personal or job-related enrichment.

Transient Student: A student temporarily enrolling from another institution.

Readmit: A former student returning after a period of non-enrollment.

Graduate Student: A graduate student is an individual who has already earned a bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent) and has been formally admitted into an advanced program of study beyond the undergraduate level.

Part VII. REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) adheres to U.S. Department of Education regulations, Title IV federal aid rules, FERPA (student records/privacy); Title IX/VAWA/Clery Act (nondiscrimination, safety), ADA/Section 504 (accessibility/accommodations), SEVIS/USCIS (international student compliance), and state authorization/NC-SARA, where applicable, and regional accreditation standards. 

Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) adheres to the Principles of Accreditation and relevant SACSCOC policies and procedures. In line with SACSCOC Standard 10.5 (Admissions Policies and Practices), JCSU publishes admissions policies that reflect its mission and ensure that all recruitment and admissions materials accurately represent the institution's practices and accreditation status. For any initiative requiring SACSCOC substantive change approval (such as new degree programs, new off-campus instructional sites, or significant delivery changes), JCSU may accept applications; however, admission offers will not be issued until SACSCOC approval is granted. All public references to accreditation follow SACSCOC’s Institutional Obligations for Public Disclosure, including restrictions on the use of the SACSCOC logo and the permitted use of the Stamp of Accreditation.

Part VIII. IMPLEMENTATION STANDARDS (Operations) 

A.    Deadlines & Communication. Application, transcript, test score, and financial document deadlines are published annually. Applicants receive timely, written decisions via the official portal/email. 

B.    Offers & Deposits. Offers may be contingent on receipt/verification of final documents. Enrollment deposits are credited to the first-term bills. 

C.    Verification & Fraud. JCSU may verify the authenticity of documents and revoke admission for misrepresentation, fraud, or material omission, consistent with due-process procedures. A transcript will be considered valid only if the issuing institution was accredited and authorized to operate at the time of the student’s enrollment and completion. Transcripts issued by unaccredited or unrecognized institutions will not be accepted for admission or for awarding of transfer credit. 

In determining the validity of a transcript, the Office of Admission will verify not only the presence of official seals, signatures, and graduation dates, but also that the institution was in good standing with its accrediting or authorizing agency during the student’s period of enrollment. Transcripts from institutions later closed or placed on probation may require additional documentation to verify that the student’s coursework was completed during a period of accreditation.
    

D.    Financial Aid Coordination. Admissions collaborates with Financial Aid to ensure compliance with packaging/verification timelines; no misleading statements or prohibited misrepresentation in recruiting/aid communications. 

E.    Records & Privacy. Admissions records are retained and protected in accordance with FERPA and the University's records-retention schedules. 

F.    Accessibility. Applicants seeking disability-related accommodations are referred to ADA Compliance and Accommodations. Admissions decisions are made non-discriminatorily and are separate from accommodation determinations. 

G.    Non-discrimination. JCSU prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of protected characteristics; see the University’s Non-discrimination policy. 

REFERENCES

 

  • 2024–2025 University Catalog (Admissions Section)
  • NACAC Statement of Principles of Good Practice
  • JCSU Mission Statement

 

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