Enrollment Services

Admissions Process

Saint Paul College welcomes applications for admission to the College. Admission to College majors is based on assessment results and potential to succeed in a program. Admission to many individual courses is open; however, admission to some courses is based on meeting course prerequisites and program admission requirements.

Admission to a Major Program

Students are accepted into a major program for the purpose of obtaining a specific degree, diploma, or certificate. Students may change their major program by meeting the prescribed admission requirements for the desired program.

Application Procedure

If you have not applied to or enrolled in Saint Paul College in the past follow this application procedure:

1. Complete an Application for Admission at www.saintpaul.edu.

2. Your bill will reflect a one time non-refundable $20 application fee within 48 hours of your application submission. To pay this fee make checks payable to Saint Paul College.

3. Complete the Assessment in reading, writing, and math or complete the English-as-a-Second- Language (ESL) Assessment if you are a nonnative speaker of English. Call 651.846.1555 for more information. Scores must be turned in to the Office of Enrollment Services. If you have taken the ACT or SAT exam in the last 5 years and scored 24 or higher on the related ACT individual subscore or 550 on the SAT individual subscore you may not have to take part or all of the placement exam. Please bring a copy of your ACT or SAT scores to the Transfer Center (Room 159) for further review.

4. Request high school transcripts and/or GED scores, as well as official transcripts, from all secondary and post-secondary institutions attended be sent to Saint Paul College.

5. If you have previously applied, enrolled, or requested information from Saint Paul College please contact the Office of Enrollment Services so your records can be updated.

Some major programs require additional assessment. Applicants will be notified if their program requires additional assessment.

Assessment requirements may be waived based on previous college experience as validated by college transcripts.

Application Procedure for Transfer Students

Students seeking admission to Saint Paul College based on previous college coursework should contact the Transfer Center at transfer.center@saintpaul.edu or 651.846.1739.

Students seeking a degree, diploma, or certificate, who have previously attended accredited institutions, must have all official transcripts sent directly from the previous colleges to the Saint Paul College Records Office. If a transcript is hand carried by the student, it is to be delivered in a sealed envelope. Student copies and faxed transcripts are not considered official but can be used for admission purposes.

Re-Admission

Students who have interrupted attendance at Saint Paul College must contact the Office of Enrollment Services to apply for re-admission. To have assessment tests waived based on coursework completed at another institution, contact the Transfer Center at 651.846.1739.

Undeclared Students

A student who has not applied for admission to a major program may register for up to 8 credits. Some classes may be limited to students admitted to a specific major. Undeclared Students are not assigned a faculty advisor and do not qualify for financial aid or veterans’ educational benefits.

If at a later date the student decides to pursue a degree, diploma, or certificate, the credits earned as an Undeclared Student may apply toward a program.

Change of Major

Students who have been admitted to Saint Paul College in a specific major program and want to change that program need to complete the Change of Major Form at the Office of Enrollment Services. Mid-semester major program changes are not permitted. The change of major program will be effective for the next semester.

Credit for Prior Learning

Saint Paul College offers adult students with sufficient work, non-college credit and/or life experiences the opportunity to document competencies relevant to specific course offerings at the College for prior learning credit. Credits earned from prior learning must be applicable to the student’s program of study at Saint Paul College and are evaluated for credit by qualified faculty members. Credit for Prior Learning is not available if a CLEP exam exists for that course. Note: Credits earned through Credit for Prior Learning may not transfer to other colleges.

Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Program (PSEO)

The PSEO program enables Minnesota high school juniors and seniors to take college classes for high school and college credit. The purpose of the program is to promote rigorous academic pursuits and provide a wider variety of options than may be available in high school. Students may attend either part-time or full-time. Tuition, fees and textbooks are provided at no cost. For more information about the PSEO Program, please contact the Office of Enrollment Services at 651.846.1555.

Tech Prep

Tech Prep affords high school students an opportunity to receive college credit in many subjects. Tech Prep programs effectively blend academic and technical education in a challenging and purposeful course of study that can lead to employment and credit toward further education. Since the workplace has changed significantly enough to require some training after high school, but not necessarily a full four-year degree, tech prep programs offer viable new options for high school students who want to connect learning with life.

Tech Prep credit is awarded for high school classes in Business, Child Development, Culinary Arts, Carpentry, Automotive Service and many other subjects. Many programs are articulated between Saint Paul Public Schools and Saint Paul College. Consult a high school counselor for more information concerning Tech Prep.

Transfer of Credits from Other Institutions

Saint Paul College will review requests for transfer credit from individuals who have completed coursework from other accredited post-secondary institutions. The number of credits transferred to Saint Paul College is dependent upon the specific requirements of each program or degree offered at Saint Paul College. Transfer credits will appear on the Saint Paul College transcript and can be used to satisfy the program graduation requirements but will not be used to calculate the grade point average.

Students interested in receiving transfer credit must submit official transcripts to the Student Records Office. Upon admission to the college, transcripts will automatically be reviewed to determine transferable credits. Each credit to be considered for transfer must be supported by an official transcript from the originating institution and must be approved by a transfer specialist and/or the student’s Faculty Advisor prior to the awarding of credit. Students who change programs should request a re-evaluation of their transcript credit.

Treatment of Grades

Grades earned prior to transfer are evaluated according to the following standards:

All college courses in which a student has received a grade of A, B, C, or D, shall be considered for transfer evaluation. P grades shall be accepted as earned credit. If the student's cumulative GPA at the originating institution is less than 2.0 GPA, D grade course credits will not be accepted in transfer from that school. No F grade course credits will be accepted in transfer. Students retain the right to appeal the acceptance of credits. Programs with their own standards may accept transfer grades differently.

Comparability

Courses approved for transfer must be comparable in nature, content and level and match at least 75% of the content and goals of the course syllabus for which the student is seeking equivalent credit.

Time Limit for Courses

General education courses shall have no transfer time limit. Additionally, technical courses applying toward an Associate of Arts degree shall have no transfer time limit.

To ensure students graduate with up-to-date skills, technical credits are valid for five years or have a five-year "lifespan." This includes transfer technical credits which are used for specific technical program requirements. Technical courses that are beyond the five-year limit may be accepted, based on currency, relevancy and the student's current work experience.

Degree Residency

A student shall earn a minimum of 20 credits for all associate degrees at the College. The residency requirement shall be reduced to 12 credits for students transferring with at least 12 college-level credits from another Minnesota State Colleges and Universities institution and the University of Minnesota. One-third of the credits required for a diploma, certificate, or the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) must be earned at the College.

Equivalency

The number of transfer credits granted per course shall not exceed the number granted by the originating institution. All quarter credits will be converted to semester credits.

Additional Types of Transfer Credit

AP-Advanced Placement Exams (for High School Students)

Advanced Placement gives high school students an opportunity to take college-level courses in various subject areas. A score of 3 is the minimum for credit awarded. Grades of 3, 4 or 5 qualify students for credits and/or placement into advanced courses at Saint Paul College. Credit can be given for a specific college course if a test covers substantially similar material. If the test material does not match an existing course, students will be given elective credits.

CLEP-College Level Examination Program

Saint Paul College will consider CLEP exam credits for students who want to test out of general education courses and selected business courses. A maximum of 30 credits may be applied toward an associate degree. No letter grades will be recorded on the transcript. Credit will be awarded based on the American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations. Credit will not be given which repeats completed coursework.

Note: Colleges establish their own policies for accepting CLEP credit. Students should consult their transfer college's CLEP policy to determine whether CLEP credits will transfer and/or how they will be accepted. Consult the College Board Web site (www.collegeboard.com) for testing locations, fees and exam information.

Note: CLEP exams have changed and there are no longer General Exams as distinguished from Subject Exams. Computer-based CLEP exams administered prior to July 1, 2001 have the same score scale and credit-granting score as its paper-based counterpart. All CLEP computer-based testing (CBT) exams administered after July 1, 2001 have a uniform ACE recommended credit-granting score of 50 for all subjects.

Credit for Life Work/Work Experience (Prior Learning)

Prior Learning (Competency-Based Education) allows students to present nontraditional learning as competencies to be evaluated for credit by qualified faculty members towards their educational program. These competencies must be the equivalent of what would have been achieved through college coursework. At Saint Paul College, Credit for Prior Learning offers, on a limited basis, students with sufficient work, non-college credit and/or life learning experiences, the opportunity to document competencies and theory learning relevant to specific courses offered at the College. Credits earned from prior learning must be applicable to the student's program of study. The Credit for Prior Learning option may be available for a limited number of courses. Students interested in pursuing the option of earning credit for prior learning must discuss this option with the assigned Faculty Advisor and the Prior Learning Coordinator.

IB-International Baccalaureate (for High School Students)

The International Baccalaureate (IB) program is an internationally recognized program through which high school students complete a comprehensive curriculum of rigorous study and demonstrate performance on IB examinations. Students may present a full IB diploma or a certificate recognizing specific higher level or standard level test scores. Credit is awarded for the IB Diploma; credit may be awarded for subsidiary level exams at the higher level with a score of 5 or higher.

International Transcripts

Saint Paul College does not evaluate international transcripts. Students who have completed courses in another country must have their transcripts evaluated by a third-party evaluation service. Colleges and universities differ in how they accept these courses. For more information contact the Transfer Center.

Military

Credit for Army training may be obtained by submitting an Army/American Council on Education Registry System transcript from the Army directly to the college or university. ACE (American Council on Education) translates military courses and occupations into academic credit and provides guidelines to interpret and recommend credit for formal service-school courses, demonstrated proficiency in military occupations and college-level tests. Service members must have separated or retired by 1981.

Credit for Sailor and Marine training may be obtained by submitting a Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART). Service members must have separated or retired from active duty on or after October 1, 1999.

Credit for Air Force training may be obtained by submitting a request to the Community College of the Air Force or going to the nearest Air Force base education office.

Service members with credits/training for the Army pre-1981 and Sailors/Marines pre-1999 must request a DD295 and submit it for college credit award review.

Saint Paul College uses A Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services as a guide to award credit for military learning.

DANTES-Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support

The DANTES program supports the voluntary educational program for active military personnel and members of the National Guard and Reserves. The DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSSTs), however, are now available for use by civilians at universities and colleges throughout the country. The DSSTs are a series of examinations in various college and technical subjects. The DSST program allows students the opportunity to demonstrate college-level learning acquired outside the classroom. All tests carry ACE (American Council on Education) credit recommendations. Saint Paul College will honor the ACE recommendation and accept courses applicable to a program or course of study.

SOC-Service Members Opportunity Colleges

Recognizing the problems faced by military students whose jobs require frequent moves, SOC member schools make it easier to obtain college degrees by the following:

• Limiting the amount of coursework students must take at a single college to no more than 25% of degree requirements;

• Designing transfer practices to minimize loss of credit and avoid duplication of course work;

• Awarding credit for military experience; and

• Awarding credit for tests such as CLEP, RCEP and DSST national testing programs.

Colleges and universities that participate in the network degree programs for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps agree to:

• Guarantee to accept each other's courses in transfer within curriculum areas such as management, computer studies, interdisciplinary studies and others.

• Award credit for military service schools and occupational experience.

Intake Assessment

Saint Paul College and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system requires assessment of basic academic skills.

The assessment for English native language speakers covers reading comprehension, sentence skills and mathematical computation. The assessment for students whose native language is not English take the English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) assessment. This assessment covers the understanding of English grammar structures and listening comprehension. Students may be assessed in additional subjects for admission to selected programs or placement into certain courses.

These assessments are available on a walk-in basis in the Assessment Center in room 324 and usually take from 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours to complete. ESL assessment scores determine ESL placement. In some cases, assessment results may indicate that the student may benefit from developmental coursework in reading, writing, grammar and/or math prior to entering a major program.

Please call 651.846.1555 for additional information about the assessment process.

The assessment requirement may be waived depending on previous college experience and/or college coursework. Contact the Transfer Center to have previous college transcripts reviewed for an assessment waiver.

Developmental Coursework

Developmental coursework has assisted thousands of students in getting started in College programs. The goal of developmental coursework is for students to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills that will help them succeed in programs.

Developmental coursework is delivered via traditional classes or as computer-based instruction where the students work independently in the Learning Center under the supervision of faculty and support staff.

Intensive English Program (English-as-a-Second-Language)

The purpose of English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) coursework is to assist limited-English speakers from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds to learn English and increase their chances of success at Saint Paul College. The faculty of this area can communicate with several different language groups. This program offers a variety of support services and specially tailored classes to meet the unique needs of ESL Students.

Immunization Requirements

Minnesota Law (M.S. 135A. 14) requires that all students born after 1956 and enrolled in a post-secondary educational institution be immunized against measles, rubella, mumps and diphtheria and tetanus after 12 months of age within 10 years of first registration, allowing for certain specified exemptions. Students must submit a statement indicating the month and year of each immunization at the first registration for classes or no later than 45 days after the start of their first term. Students born in 1956 or before are not required to provide information. Students who graduated from a Minnesota high school in 1997 or later are also exempt.

The Immunization Record form is designed to provide the College with the information required by law and will be available for review by the Minnesota Department of Health.

Students enrolled in Health programs are required to obtain additional immunizations in accordance with clinical site policy. For more information regarding immunization requirements and resources available to meet those requirements, contact Enrollment Services.

Background Checks Policy

Designated Health and Child Development Careers program students are affected by the following:

Minnesota Statutes require that the Department of Human Services (DHS) conduct background studies on individuals providing direct contact services to people receiving services from facilities and agencies licensed by DHS and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Direct contact is defined as providing face-to-face care, training, supervision, counseling, consultation, or medication assistance to people receiving services from the agency or facility.

An individual who is disqualified from having direct contact with persons served by the program as a result of the background study and whose disqualification is not set aside, will not be permitted to participate in a clinical placement in facilities with programs subject to licensure under Minnesota statutes. This is to protect the health, safety and rights of persons served by those programs. Failure to participate in a clinical placement required by the academic program could result in ineligibility to qualify for a degree in this program. The Department of Human Services (DHS) determines disqualification and the Department of Human Services will inform an individual of this report.

Students are reminded of the background study requirement upon admission to the program, during the first introductory course in the program and when a work setting is identified for a clinical placement. Background studies must be submitted annually.