& Student Handbook - Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

10 Saint Maryʼs University of Minnesota
Application Criteria for Students with
International Transcripts
All applicants whose native language is not English and/or who submit a
transcript from a country other than the U.S. must provide evidence of
successfully completing a university approved English Language
Assessment exam. This includes the Test of English as a Foreign
Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 79 for the Internet based test
or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum
score of 6.5 or the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery
(MELAB) with a minimum score of 80. An English Language Assessment
exam is not required if the applicant has a bachelor degree or higher from
a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, or has successfully
completed the appropriate graduate preparatory English Language
Academy (ELA) coursework at Saint Mary’s University as determined
through the ELA placement exams. Minimum requirements include
completion of courses ELA400 and ELA401, with a grade of B or higher.
Transcripts from countries other than the U.S. must be evaluated on a
course-by-course basis by World Education Services or Educational
Credential Evaluators (ECE) and be deemed equivalent to accredited U.S.
university standards. Students are responsible for having their transcripts
evaluated, as well as associated costs.
Deferred Admission and Reapplication
Students are expected to begin their coursework the semester for which
they applied. Students may delay beginning their work by providing
written notice to the admissions office for Twin Cities-based programs
and to the program director for Winona-based programs. If students do
not enroll in courses within one year of admission, they will be withdrawn
and will be required to reapply. Application material is kept on file for one
year; after that, applicants must reapply.
Readmission
Students who have been withdrawn and wish to resume their studies
must reapply and be readmitted. If readmitted, students must meet
degree requirements effective at the time of readmission. Credits earned
five or more years before readmission will be individually evaluated for
transfer. Students seeking readmission must resubmit an application to
initiate the readmission process. The program director will determine the
materials needed to complete the application process.
Immunizations
Minnesota law (M.S. 135A.14) requires all students born after 1956 and
enrolled in a public or private post-secondary school in Minnesota to be
properly immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps,
whooping cough, and rubella. There are allowances for disease, medical,
and conscientious exemptions. A form is provided for students to
complete. The form is then made available for review by the Minnesota
Department of Health and the local community health board. This form
confirming proper immunization must be submitted within 45 days of
attending class. Absent submission of the form, the student may not
remain enrolled.
Medical Clearances/ Background Checks for
Students in Health Care Programs
Students in health care programs who are involved in patient care are
required to submit further proof of immunity to certain communicable
diseases. A physician’s statement stating that the student is physically
able to function as a student in the field of study may also be required.
Students in programs who are involved in caring for vulnerable persons
may be required to submit to state criminal background checks. Please
see program student handbooks for specific information.
Admission Status
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota admits students throughout the
year with the exception of the M.S. Nurse Anesthesia program. To
guarantee completion of the admission process, applicants are urged to
apply at least one to two months before they plan to attend classes.
At the time of admission, students are assigned an admission status.
Regular Admission
Regular admission status is assigned to all students who have
completed the application process and meet all standards required by
the individual program.
Conditional Admission
Students may be admitted conditionally, upon approval of the program
director for Winona-based programs and upon approval of the program
director and admission director for Twin Cities-based programs, if they
have not submitted all of the required materials to complete the
application process.
In order to be considered for conditional admission, students must have
an official transcript on record. Students who are conditionally admitted
must meet the admission requirements within one semester of their
conditional admission before their status can be changed to regular
status. Financial aid is not available to students in conditional status.
Provisional Admission Requirements
Students may be admitted provisionally if they do not meet all the
academic requirements of their academic program. Students who are
provisionally admitted must meet all requirements for regular admission
within the first semester of their provisional admission.
Students missing prerequisites may have additional time to complete the
requirements, upon approval of the program director. Financial aid is
available for students admitted provisionally.
Provisional status students must:
1. Earn a grade of A or B in each graduate course completed by the
end of the next semester (minimum of five credits completed) after
admission (in course-based programs) and,
2. Successfully complete the first contract (in contract-based programs)
and/or