Admission Agreement

Guaranteed Admissions Agreement: Virginia Community College System & Liberty University

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Liberty University and the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), recognizing the need to facilitate the transfer of students from the community college to Liberty, resolve to adopt a Guaranteed Admission Agreement (GAA). Liberty provides special opportunities to help VCCS students experience a smooth transition to Liberty.

In an effort to ease the transfer process, VCCS and Liberty provide the following guaranteed admission agreement.

Definitions

“Transfer-oriented associate degrees” refers to VCCS Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, and Associate of Arts and Sciences degrees. This includes VCCS General Studies Associate degrees that have been approved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) as transfer degrees according to the State Committee on Transfer (see website at www.schev.edu).

“GAA student” refers to a student who graduates from a transfer-oriented degree program at a Virginia community college with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher on a four-point scale and who intends to transfer to Liberty.

“GAA Contact” refers to staff members designated by each Virginia community college and by Liberty who work with prospective GAA students.

Academic Admission Agreement

GAA students are guaranteed admission to Liberty and may expect the following:

1. Completion of the transfer-oriented degree program will guarantee completion of the general education component of the undergraduate curriculum, excluding the required religion courses. Students may also have additional pre-requisite course requirements as specific to the major.
2. Liberty will guarantee the acceptance of all transferable credits earned from the transfer-oriented associate degree program. No distinction will be made by Liberty regarding college courses applicable to the transfer-oriented associate degree that are taken through dual enrollment arrangements with high schools.
3. Liberty cannot guarantee that students will be able to complete all requirements for graduation within the 120-credit minimum required for graduation. Liberty will inform the student at the time of enrollment if there are additional course requirements beyond the 120 minimum semester hours needed for graduation. Such courses will be specified in writing.
4. Acceptance in some degree programs at Liberty is competitive; thus guaranteed admission into Liberty does not imply admission to these programs without further acceptance by the program or department offering the program.

Eligibility

To be guaranteed admission to Liberty, students must complete the requirements to become GAA students (graduation from a transfer-oriented degree program at a Virginia community college with a cumulative grade point average [GPA] of 2.0 or higher on a four-point scale with intent to transfer to Liberty) and submit an official transcript showing completion of the associate degree to the Liberty Admissions Office. In addition, GAA students must have earned a grade of “C” or higher in each community college course applicable to the transfer-oriented associate degree program.

Students who were previously enrolled at Liberty and transferred back to a VCCS college to complete the transfer-oriented associate degree are not eligible for participation in the GAA. VCCS students who do not meet the GAA eligibility requirements listed above are eligible to apply for admission to Liberty but will not be guaranteed admission under this agreement.

Benefit to Virginia Community College Students

1. Through the community college GAA Contact, students can obtain the name and contact information for the Liberty GAA Contact, who can direct them to Liberty departmental advisors for advice and information on meeting requirements for various LU majors.

Responsibilities

GAA students will:

1. Follow all Liberty application processes and all special departmental/program application procedures, deadlines, and grade point average requirements.
2. Have declared intent to transfer to Liberty under the GAA to the community college GAA Contact after a minimum of 15 credits towards the transfer-oriented associate degree is completed and before applying for graduation from the community college.

The community college will:

1. Assist prospective GAA students in declaring intent to transfer to Liberty under the GAA.
2. Advise students regarding courses needed to complete the transfer-oriented associate degree.
3. Make available information about Liberty and the GAA to prospective GAA students enrolled in transfer-oriented associate degree programs.

Liberty will:

1. Consider GAA students who enroll at Liberty on the same basis as native students for admission to competitive programs, registration, financial aid, scholarships, student housing, parking, and any other opportunities open to native students with junior standing.
2. Provide tracking data annually on the performance of GAA students at Liberty, to include comparisons with native students. The specific data elements and the timing of the report will be determined by the institutional research staffs at VCCS and Liberty.

Review of the Agreement

The VCCS will designate officials who will be responsible for all aspects of the GAA at the VCCS. Liberty will designate individuals responsible for all aspects of the GAA at Liberty. Representing Liberty will be the Director of Admissions. Representing the VCCS will be the VCCS Vice Chancellor for Academic Services and Research and the VCCS Assistant Vice Chancellor for Educational Programs and Instructional Technology, in consultation with the Articulation Subcommittee of the Academic and Student Affairs Council.

Liberty and the VCCS will review the GAA every three years to make adjustments as deemed appropriate to maintain its integrity and for the improvement of the transfer process. Changes will not adversely affect students already enrolled under the provisions of the existing GAA.

The GAA will remain in effect until terminated by either party upon written notice. Such notice should be given one year in advance of the date of termination; students who entered under the GAA may take advantage of its terms for two years after termination becomes effective.