TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE
STATEWIDE OPERATING STANDARD
No. ES.4.07
Page 1 of 6
DIVISION:
Educational Services
SUBJECT:
Admission of Students
AUTHORITY:
Minute Order #43-94
PROPOSED BY:
Original Signed by Elton E. Stuckly, Jr.
TITLE:
Vice Chancellor/Chief Operations
Officer
RECOMMENDED BY:
Original Signed by Elton E. Stuckly, Jr.
TITLE:
Vice Chancellor/Chief Operations
Officer
APPROVED BY:
Original Signed by Mike Reeser
TITLE:
Chancellor
STATUS:
Effective Date: 06/09/15
Date: 06/09/15
Date: 06/09/15
Date: 06/09/15
Approved by EMC 06/09/15
HISTORICAL STATUS:
Revised 04/2015
Approved by MC 6/6/13
Reviewed and updated 2/6/13
Updated 06/2007
Approved by MC 6/29/01
Updated 04/01
Approved by MC 10/19/00
Updated 10/02/00
Updated 8/17/00
Approved by M/C 1/28/00
Updated 01/19/00
Approved by M/C 10/22/97
Updated 10/09/97
Approved by M/C 07/24/97
Revised 06/18/97
Revised 05/22/97
Approve MC 07/25/96
Revised 06/18/96
Approved MC 09/11/95
Revised 09/11/95
Approved 05/14/94
Revised and Approved by MC 03/24/94
Approved September 24, 1992
Revised July 17, 1992
Revised April 22, 1991
Updated March 25, 1991
Revised December 18, 1989
Completed November 18, 1985, Minute
Order 21-86
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ES.4.07 Admission of Students
POLICY
It is the policy of Texas State Technical College to admit applicants who declare their intention to
enroll in the College. Applicants are allowed to enroll in their selected program upon satisfactory
completion of all enrollment and program requirements.
PERTINENT INFORMATION
Texas State Technical Collge has developed the admissions policy to clearly outline the process for
admissions and satisfy requirements by the Southern Associate of Colleges and Schools
Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)
and the United States Department of Education.

Southern Associate of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) 3.4.3
standard states, “The institution publishes admissions policies that are consistent with its
mission.”

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) Uniform Admissions Policy
outlines the general admissions polices for all institutions in the State of Texas

The United States Department of Education Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 34,
Chapter VI, Part 600 establishes the rules and procedures that the Secretary of Education
uses to determine whether an educational institution qualifies in whole or in part as an
eligible institution of higher education under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended
(HEA). These rules and regulations state in part that an “eligible institution” is one that “. . .
Admits as regular students only persons who — (i) Have a high school diploma; (ii) Have
the recognized equivalent of a high school diploma; or (iii) Are beyond the age of
compulsory school attendance in the State in which the institution is physically located . . .”
House Bill 1147 of the 69th Texas Legislature specifies that each student will declare Oath of
Residency for tuition purposes.
DEFINITIONS
Regular Students. Students enrolled or accepted for enrollment at TSTC for the purpose of
obtaining an associate’s degree, certificate, or award as defined by Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board.
Exceptional Admission Students. Students admitted who do not meet the requirement for
admission as regular students, but can present sufficient evidence indicating their capability to do
college level work by one of the following:
1. Passing all sections of the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Assessment.
2. Completing the TSTC developmental sequence of courses to be TSI met.
3. Completing 6 or more college level course hours (non-developmental) with a grade of "C"
or better.
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ES.4.07 Admission of Students
Non-Degree-Seeking Student. A student who is not pursuing an associate’s degree, certificate, or
award. Undeclared majors are included.
Texas Success Initiative. (TSI) is a state-legislated program designed to improve student success in
college. It consists of two components: an assessment to diagnose basic reading, writing, math
skills and developmental instruction to strengthen academic skills needing improvement.
DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY
The Chief Operations Officer or designee is authorized to establish procedures to meet the
requirements of this Statewide Operating Standard (SOS).
OPERATING REQUIREMENTS
The admission of each student into the college will be in accordance with institutional procedures
which includes the completion of the appropriate forms and payment of application fee, if
applicable. In order to register into a specific program, a student must satisfy program entry
requirements.
The College shall specifically include the following statement in the College Catalog & Student
Handbook, and official recruiting publications.
"Equal opportunity shall be afforded within TSTC to all employees and applicants for admission or
employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, genetic
information, disability or veteran status."
Admission Categories
Prospective students may be admitted to TSTC as regular students under the following conditions:
A. High School Graduate – A student is admitted upon proof of graduation from an accredited
high school upon submission of an official high school transcript. In this SOS, accredited
high school means a Texas public high school accredited by the Texas Education Agency
(TEA), a Texas nonpublic high school accredited by the Texas Private School Accreditation
Commission, or an out-of-state high school accredited by an equivalent official accrediting
body for the state in which the high school is located, or a homeschool directed by a parent
as defined in case law by TEA vs Leeper. A student who graduated from a homeschool is
admitted once a notarized record of the high school equivalent work completed with a date
of successful completion is submitted. This work should be consistent with TEA minimums
for high school completion;
B. College Transfer - Prior attendance at a regionally accredited college or university. A
student is admitted upon receipt of official transcripts from all previously attended
institutions of higher education. Official high school transcripts may also be required for
financial aid purposes.
C. GED - Successful completion of the General Education Development test (GED) as
certified by a state education agency or a state authorized examination that the State
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ES.4.07 Admission of Students
recognizes as the equivalent of a higher school diploma. A student is admitted upon receipt
of official GED score report or scores from a state authorized examination the State
recognizes as the equivalent of a high school diploma.
D. Exceptional Admission - An individual who does not qualify for admission under one of the
previous categories may be eligible for exception admissions. Individuals who are applying
for admission based on the completion of an independent study equivalent to the high
school level in a nontraditional setting rather than through a public high school, accredited
private high school, or home school may be admitted on an individual approval basis
provided that they:
1. Present a notarized record of the high school equivalent work completed with a date of
successful completion. This work should be consistent with TEA minimums for high
school completion;
2. Complete an Exceptional Admission Form which includes appropriate authorization;
3. Comply with applicable TSI requirements;
4. Complete an information session with a designated TSTC official.
Individual Approval Categories
A. Individual Approval A:
1. Students age 16 or older who are graduates of an unaccredited high school.
2. Students age 17 or older who are attending a course of instruction to prepare for the high
school equivalency examination and who can present sufficient evidence indicating
their capability to do college level work.
3. Students 18 or older who can present sufficient evidence indicating their capability to do
college level work.
Exceptional Admission Students shall be considered to have “capability to do college
level work” by one of the following:
1. Passing all sections of the TSI Assessment
2. Completing the TSTC developmental sequence of courses to achieve TSI met
status
3. Completing 6 or more college level course hours (non-developmental) with a
grade of "C" or better
B. Individual Approval B: Dual enrollment students in the eleventh or twelfth grade who are
currently attending a high school and do not have a diploma or GED;
C. Individual Approval C: Dual enrollment students who have less than a junior year high
school standing who demonstrate outstanding academic performance and capability.
Admission Enrollment Procedures
Prior to enrollment at TSTC, prospective students must complete the following
Admission Enrollment Procedures:
A. Submit an application form which includes an Oath of Residency and a declaration of intent
to enroll as a degree-seeking or non-degree-seeking student. All applicants applying for
admissions to the college will be required to complete the information regarding felony
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ES.4.07 Admission of Students
charges on the Application for Admissions form. Applicants who answer “Yes” will be
required to complete a “Supplemental form” and may be required to submit additional
documentation.
B. Submit applicable documents based on the appropriate admission category.
C. Comply with applicable testing requirements:
1. Submitting TSI Assessment test results; or
2. Submitting documentation of TSI exemption or waiver; or
3. Taking the TSI Assessment test.
D. Comply with any immunization related requirements as specified by law.
E. Students seeking admission to specific programs must also satisfy any established and
approved program entry level standards.
F. TSTC contractual agreements (including State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements) with
independent school districts, businesses and/or other entities for the delivery of courses to
specific student populations may develop supplemental requirements and documentation to
meet the conditions of the agreement. In such cases, the supplemental requirements and
documentation will be in addition to the minimum requirements stated in these operating
requirements.
International Students
Prospective students who are not U.S. citizens and do not have permanent resident status must meet
the basic requirements for admission as specified by the TSTC SOS ES 4.01 Admission and
Enrollment of International Students.
Re-admission of Students
A. Re-apply for admission after an interruption of enrollment of more than one year prior;
B. Comply with applicable testing requirements;
C. Comply with any immunization related requirements as specified by law;
D. Submissions of official transcripts for any College/University previously attended, GED
score report, or High School transcript.
Academic Fresh Start
Texas Senate Bill 1321, entitled “Right to An Academic Fresh Start” allows a person who is a
resident of Texas to apply for admission and not have coursework completed 10 or more years prior
to the date of anticipated enrollment included as consideration in the admission decision. This
allows the student to begin a new course of study with a clear academic record.
A. This is an all or nothing option. Students are not able to pick and choose which courses to
ignore and which courses to count. This option clears only the student’s academic record. If
the student chooses the “Academic Fresh Start” option, the student does not receive any
credit for any courses taken 10 or more years prior to the re-enrollment. This means that:
1. Courses taken previously cannot be used to fulfill new prerequisite requirements.
2. Courses taken previously cannot be counted towards a new degree.
3. Courses taken previously will not be counted in the student’s GPA calculation.
B. The student must still complete the usual admissions process, including providing
information on all colleges or universities previously attended and provide official copies of
transcripts from all schools attended.
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ES.4.07 Admission of Students
C. Once the “Right to an Academic Fresh Start” provision has been claimed, and the student
has enrolled, the provision cannot be reversed.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
1. All documentation required for admission must be submitted prior to enrollment to TSTC unless
the student is given Conditional Enrollment by the Office of Admissions.
2. All documents submitted become property of TSTC and are retained in the student’s permanent
file according to the records retention policy.
3. Admission requirements are published in the Catalog & Student Handbook and other
appropriate and published documents.