2012–2013 UNIVERSITY CATALOG - Florida Institute of Technology

Special High School or Community College Dual Enrollment
Upon application, Florida Tech may grant “special status” to an
outstanding junior or senior enrolled in a high school in Brevard
County, or an outstanding community college student from Brevard
Community College or Indian River State College. Enrollment is on
a reduced tuition basis and allows students to take up to a maximum
of 12 credit hours. Registration is on a class-by-class space-available
basis. Interested students should contact Florida Tech’s undergraduate
admission office for application materials and the policy
agreement.
Admitted Students on Melbourne Campus
Merit-based scholarships are determined at the time of admission
to Florida Tech and are based on past academic performance (SAT
or ACT results and GPA). Applications must be received by January
15 to be considered for Florida Tech’s merit scholarship program.
To maximize opportunities for all types of assistance including
federal, state and university need-based grants, it is recommended
that students submit a FAFSA by March 1 of the academic year
in which they wish to enroll. A copy of the student aid report
should be sent to Florida Tech (list the Florida Tech Title IV code
(001469) on the FAFSA).
Florida Tech subscribes to the College Board candidates’ reply date
of May 1. A $300 nonrefundable tuition deposit is required as a
means of confirming a student’s intention to attend Florida Tech.
Payment is due by May 1. If the student is admitted after May 1, or
for the spring or summer term, payment within 30 days of the date
on the acceptance letter is required. The deposit guarantees a place
in the entering class in the indicated major/program and is applied
to the student’s account. In addition to the nonrefundable tuition
deposit, admitted students must also submit the “Attendance
Confirmation” form included with the acceptance packet.
Entering first-year students can qualify for advanced standing by
earning academic credit through any of the following programs:
Advanced Placement Exams (AP) administered each May by the
College Board (must receive a score of four or five)
International Baccalaureate (IB), based on an IB diploma, or a
score of four or higher on the HL IB examinations
Cambridge Advanced-Level Examinations (A-levels)
Dual enrollment at a regionally accredited college, university or
community college
Official results of these examinations or college transcripts must
come directly to Florida Tech from the examination board or college
attended. The credit Florida Tech awards for each examination
can be found through www.fit.edu/ugrad/exams.
Once admitted to the university, incoming students are assigned
a TRACKS account username and password allowing access to
Panther Pass. Panther Pass (https://pantherpass.fit.edu) is an
online orientation portal that guides newly admitted students
through all mandatory tasks required between acceptance and
university orientation.
32 Florida Tech
examinations for credit or Placement
Placement Examinations for Melbourne Campus Students
Placement examinations are administered online by the Academic
Support Center to new freshmen before and during the orientation
period each semester. Academic credit can be earned on the
basis of these examinations if the result is placement into a more
advanced course than an entry-level course in the same field, as
designated in the student’s published program.
There are two mathematics examinations given for specific majors.
Depending on the incoming student’s major, they will be required
to take the College Algebra Readiness Examination or the Calculus
Readiness Examination. These examinations determine readiness
for the mathematics courses required in the student’s degree
program and can result in the award of advanced standing credit. A
low score necessitates the student taking one or more preparatory
courses before enrolling in the first mathematics courses listed as
part of the program. A very high score can result in an invitation for
further testing to determine if additional credit is warranted.
The communication examination is required for new freshmen,
and for all new transfer students except those who have received
transfer credit for Composition and Rhetoric (COM 1101).
Many students entering Florida Tech are sufficiently proficient to
qualify for advanced placement above the entrance level. Currently
those advanced placements are in chemistry, physics and computer
science. A qualified student should contact the academic program,
academic adviser or the Office of Academic Support Services to
discuss advanced placement examinations in these areas.
International Students
International students and students whose home language is not
English must have documented proficiency in English (either
through submitted writing samples, TOEFL or placement examinations
or a combination of these) before making the transition from
English as a Second Language (ESL) courses to Basic Writing for
ESL Students (COM 0100), Basic Writing Skills (COM 0110) or
Composition and Rhetoric (COM 1101).
Diagnostic Assessments for Florida Tech
University Online Students
All undergraduate degree-seeking students are required to complete
certain diagnostic assessments during the first 8-week term and no
later than the end of the third week of classes. Academic credit is
not earned on the basis of diagnostic assessments. The assessments
aid in placement of the student in the correct level of courses as
designated in the student’s published program plan.
As a requirement for Mastering eLearning (ASC 1006), all
degree-seeking students must complete diagnostic assessments
as assigned, without regard to transfer credits awarded or transfer
credits under evaluation. Any transfer credit officially awarded will
supersede scores received through diagnostic assessments.
Equivalency Examinations for Melbourne Students
These examinations are administered by academic departments
to allow an undergraduate student to demonstrate proficiency in
courses offered at the university. They are used with new students
to evaluate advanced standing and to reconcile issues involving
transfer credits. Specific limitations apply: