Academic Regulations/Policies

• Admission Guidelines

Requirements for Admission

Freshmen: Students who wish to enter Upper Iowa University 1) directly from high school or 2) with less than 24 semester hours of graded transferable college credit or ACE (American Council of Education) credit will be considered for admission based on their completion of high school course requirements and college courses attempted. ACT or SAT testing scores will also be considered for students entering directly from high school.

Transfer: Transfer students with 24 or more semester hours of graded transferable college credit will be considered for admission based on their college credentials from all institutions.

Upper Iowa reserves the right to refuse admission to anyone who does not meet its standards for admission. Acceptance to a center, online, self-paced or international degree program does not guarantee acceptance to Fayette Campus.

Applying for Admission

Submit the following documents directly to Upper Iowa University, PO Box 1857, Fayette, IA 52142:

1. A completed application for admission. Apply online at uiu.edu/apply. Students may submit an application for admission at any time but no later than the day prior to the first day of the session in which the student plans to register.
2. Official transcripts from each college and university the student previously attended. Official reports for Advanced Placement may also be submitted. Official transcripts must be sent directly from the granting institution. They must not pass through the student’s hands.
3. Official transcript of the student’s high school record for those seeking admission as a freshman (see above). This includes students who have completed Advanced Placement or college transfer credit while in high school. This requirement is fulfilled by one of the following:
   1. An official high school transcript
   2. Official GED certificate or score report
   3. Official copy of Joint Services Transcript (JST) or Community College of the Air Force (CCAF)
   4. Evidence of a passing score on tests recognized by the state such as the High School Equivalency Test (HSET) and the Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC)
   5. For International students only, official transcripts verifying completion of secondary education
4. Official or unofficial transcript of the student’s high school record for those seeking admission as a freshman with less than 24 semester hours of graded transferable college credit or ACE (American Council of Education) credit that is earned after graduating from high school (see above). This requirement is fulfilled by one of the following:
   1. Any item in 3a - 3e above
   2. Official college or university transcript that lists the high school graduation date
   3. Unofficial high school transcript or copy of high school diploma.
   4. Official copy of Joint Services Transcript (JST) or Community College of the Air Force (CCAF)
5. For those seeking admission to Fayette Campus as a freshman directly from high school, submit ACT or SAT scores.
6. If English is not a student’s native language, submit official proof of English proficiency (see International Students section below).

Veterans using VA benefits should submit an application for veteran’s benefits or change of place of training form.

Each application is reviewed on an individual basis. Primary consideration for admission is based upon academic preparation, academic performance, and test scores with secondary consideration based on extracurricular activities and leadership qualities.

Our presumption is that candidates selected for admission to Upper Iowa University will continue to maintain a level of academic accomplishment equal or superior to their record at the time of application. Additionally, applicants who receive an offer of admission while completing high school must understand that the offer of admission is contingent upon the completion of their high school diploma, or the equivalent. Upper Iowa University reserves the right to rescind offers of admission to candidates whose final academic records are at levels lower than the record on which the admission decision was based. As well, Upper Iowa University reserves the right to rescind an offer of admission to anyone who has falsified, or otherwise misrepresented information related to the admissions process, or for reasons of conduct inappropriate to the ethos of the university.

In the case where a student has completed all application requirements with the exception of submitting an official transcript(s), Upper Iowa University may provide provisional admittance immediately prior to each session if the student meets the following conditions:

1. Application to UIU has been submitted late, i.e., approximately 10 days prior to the start of a given session.
2. Evidence is provided indicating that the transcript(s) has (have) been requested.
3. Evidence is provided indicating that the student is in good standing with any previously attended college or university from which he/she is transferring.
4. Evidence of a high school diploma or GED is provided.

A student entering Upper Iowa University under provisional admittance will be cleared for full acceptance upon receipt of the official transcript(s). The official transcript(s) are expected to be received by Upper Iowa University within 14 days of the date of enrollment. Please note that financial aid funding will not be available until after full acceptance at Upper Iowa University.

Failure to comply with the above conditions may result in the offer of admission being rescinded.

Students offered acceptances submit the following before enrolling:

1. An enrollment deposit of $250 deposit. (Students register for classes and housing after the University receives the deposit.) The deposit is refundable through May 1 of the application year (December 31 for second-semester applicants).
2. Final transcripts of all high school and college work completed.
3. Room and board contracts and health forms can be found on myUIU.

Residency Requirement Policy

All Fayette Campus students are required to live in University residence halls. Students who meet at least one of the criteria below may seek a waiver of the residency requirement, through which they can request to live off campus. The following criteria are accepted when seeking a waiver of the residency requirement and requesting to live off campus:

• Lives in primary residence within 30 miles of the Fayette campus for two years prior to enrollment; parents’ or guardians’ names must be included in the request
• Has completed at least 90 credits
• Is a transfer student to UIU and has completed at least 48 credits (not including dual enrollment credits)
• Married or has dependent children
• 22 years of age or older
• Serving in military or (honorably discharged) veteran

The complete policy is located at uiu.edu/rrpolicy.

Admission Guidelines

Freshmen

Each application for admission is considered based on the following factors:

1. Graduation from a secondary school or completion of the General Education Diploma (GED).
2. Grade point average of secondary school work.
3. Rank in secondary school graduating class.
4. Results on standardized tests (ACT or SAT).
5. Extracurricular activities and leadership.

Former students

Former Upper Iowa University students who wish to return will complete a Personal Information Update for Returning Students. This form is located on myUIU. Official transcripts must be submitted from institutions attended since last attending UIU.

A graduate of Upper Iowa University or another institution who desires to enter in order to earn additional undergraduate credits should complete a Personal Information Update for Returning Students form. This form is located on myUIU. Courses completed after a bachelor’s degree has been earned will not change the grade point average from the time of graduation.

International Students

To be considered for admission international students and non-English speaking students must validate the UIU English Proficiency requirement. If a student is transferring from a US institution or has been educated in one of the English proficiency waiver countries, the English proficiency requirement is waived.

For a list of English speaking countries, see uiu.edu/english-waiver.

Other possibilities for meeting the English language proficiency requirement for undergraduate students include:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - institution code: 6885
  Internet-based score - 61 or higher
  Paper-based score - 500 or higher
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
  Overall band score of 5.0 or higher
  Writing band score of 5.0 or higher
• Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB)
  69 or higher
• Malaysian University English Test (MUET)
  4.0 or higher
• Cambridge O Level English Language Exam
  D or higher
• Duolingo
  83 or higher
• International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) (English Subject)
  D or higher
• HKCEE English Language (Syllabus B)
  D or higher
• HKALE English Language (AS Level)
  E or higher
• HKDSE
  3 or higher
• ELS® Language Center
  112 or higher
• SAT - Institution code: 6885
  Minimum critical reading sub-score of 430 or higher
• ACT - Institution code: 1360
  Minimum English sub-score of 18 or higher
• Oxford Online Placement Test
  (Fayette Campus only)
  70 or higher
• Pearson Test of English (PTE)
  (Fayette Campus only)
  44 or higher

See more at uiu.edu/international-application.

UIU will also consider the following evidence to meet the English proficiency requirement:

1. Official transcripts validating completion of secondary education from a U.S. high school or GED equivalent.
2. Official transcripts validating a minimum of two years of instruction at the secondary education level in a country where the official language is English or an English language international school.
3. Official transcripts from a two-year minimum combination of secondary and post-secondary education in a country where the official language is English.
4. Official transcripts showing 24 or more successfully completed college-level semester credits from a regionally accredited college or university within the United States with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0. Non-degree awarding credits (i.e. IEP, foundations, or deemed equivalent credits) will not be considered to meet this requirement.
5. Successful completion of an Upper Iowa University approved Intensive English Program (IEP)

International Student Admissions

Upper Iowa University is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant students. For additional information, please contact the Office of Admissions at international@uiu.edu. International student applicants must submit the following documents directly to the Office of Admissions in order to complete the international student admission process.

• Completed application for admission
• Official transcripts verifying completion of secondary education
• If applicable, official transcripts from each college and university previously attended. Official transcripts must be in English. Otherwise, the transcripts may need to be translated and evaluated by a certified evaluator at the student’s expense. This evaluation must be sent directly to Upper Iowa University.
• If applicable, an official copy of the certificate verifying credit earned through postsecondary public examination (i.e. A-Level, STPM, etc.)

The following documents are not mandatory for admission but required for issuing any immigration documents. Therefore, we encourage students to include them with their initial application materials:

• An official letter or a bank statement (no more than six months old) from a financial institution that states that the student has adequate resources to meet all required expenses such as the first year’s tuition and living expenses. The amount required for adequate resources varies according to the student’s individual financial package. Please contact the Office of Admissions for more details.
• A copy of a valid passport.
• Copies of any visas, immigration documents (i.e. I-20, DS-2019), and I-94 documents must be presented if the student is currently in the United States.

All international students attending the Fayette Campus are required to enroll in the UIU health insurance plan while enrolled at Upper Iowa University.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy

Students may take classes at Upper Iowa University without being accepted in a degree-seeking program. Their official status is “non-matriculated” - a traditional academic term meaning not enrolled in a degree program. All non-matriculated students will be required to complete an application for admission.

If a non-matriculated student decides to pursue a degree program, he/she will be required to go through the regular admissions process.

Until a student submits all required admissions documentation, they are considered a non-degree seeking student. A non-degree seeking international student is not elgible for financial aid, is limited to no more than a total of 30 credits at UIU (maximum of 6 credits without meeting English Proficiency Requirement), and may not have a degree conferred.