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I. REASON FOR THIS POLICY

Many students applying for first year undergraduate admission to 91������Ƶ (“91������Ƶ” or the “University”) are actively enrolled in coursework or have completed the coursework required to obtain a high school diploma. As required by federal regulations (34 CFR 668.16(p)), the University must develop and follow procedures to evaluate the validity of a student’s high school completion if the University has reason to believe that the high school diploma is not valid or was not obtained from an entity that provides secondary school education. This policy governs the process for ensuring a prospective student’s high school completion.

II. STATEMENT OF POLICY

When a prospective student submits a high school diploma or transcript with their application for admission to 91������Ƶ, the University must ensure that such documents are valid. If the University has reason to question the validity of a high school diploma or transcript or the validity of the entity providing the documentation, the University will follow the Diploma and Transcript Validation Process set forth in Section IV below.

III. BACKGROUND: QUALIFICATION OF STUDENT’S ABILITY TO STUDY AT THE POST-SECONDARY LEVEL

In order to be eligible to receive Title IV funds, students must be qualified to study at the postsecondary level. In other words, they must have:

• A high school diploma (this can be from a foreign institution if it is equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma);
• The recognized equivalent of a high school diploma, such as a general educational development (GED) certificate or other state-sanctioned test or diploma-equivalency certificate;
• Completed homeschooling at the secondary level as defined by state law; or
• Completed secondary school education in a homeschool setting which qualifies for an exemption from compulsory attendance requirements under state law, if state law does not require a homeschooled student to receive a credential for their education.

IV. DIPLOMA AND TRANSCRIPT VALIDATION PROCESS

The University has implemented the following process for situations in which the University has reason to believe that a high school diploma or transcript is not valid or was not obtained from an entity that provides secondary school education:

1. Review the documents (diploma and/or transcripts) provided by the student.
2. Contact the school or individual listed on the document.
3. Request direct written communication (preferably in the form of an official transcript) from the school validating the graduation of the student in question.
4. Collect all transcripts, written descriptions of course requirements, or written statements from the high school attesting to the rigor and quality of the coursework offered.
5. Document that the high school in question is recognized by relevant state or tribal agencies and that the high school does not appear on any lists published by the U.S. Department of Education for high schools that issue invalid diplomas.

V. PROCEDURES

When the Office of Admissions receives an application for admission from a prospective undergraduate student that contains a high school transcript or diploma, the application evaluator will determine whether it has reason to believe that the high school diploma or transcript is not valid or was not obtained from an entity that provides secondary education. The student is expected to cooperate in the collection of the required documentation so that the University may make an informed decision. If the validity of the document(s) submitted by the student is in question, the application evaluator will follow the Diploma and Transcript Validation Process set forth in Section IV above. After completing the Diploma and Transcript Validation Process, the application evaluator will determine next steps consistent with University policy. In the case of students applying for transfer admission to 91������Ƶ, the University will presume that the high school transcripts and diplomas were validated by the previous collegiate institution, except to the extent that the documents appear to be inconsistent with that presumption.