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About admissions at LHU    

To the LHU Admissions Web site

 

Standards and Requirements

LHU is committed to making a high-quality education available to all admitted students. The University’s goal is to take students from who they are when they enter to who they can be upon graduation. All students seeking admission are invited to make a first-hand appraisal of the University.

The academic programs emphasize the importance of individualized education. LHU enrolls just under 5,000 students. This way the University can schedule small classes in which professors can know and teach each student. Such personalized education gives students a sense of pride and purpose in both themselves and their education.

In accordance with the principles governing admission to State System of Higher Education universities, the following general requirements have been established for admission to LHU.

  1. General scholarship, as evidenced by graduation from an approved four-year high school or institution of equivalent grade, or equivalent preparation (e.g. GED) as determined by the Credentials Division of the Pennsylvania Department of Education.  A careful analysis of the secondary school record is made to determine a student's capacity to succeed at the college level.  College preparatory course work in high school is required.  Academic standards are reviewed yearly to ensure that the best qualified of each year's applicants are considered.
     
  2. Satisfactory command of the English language, as evidenced by the secondary school record and verbal ratings in standardized tests.
     
  3. SAT and ACT examinations, as evidence of ability reflected by a college entrance examination.  All applicants are required to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) administered by the College Entrance Examination Board of Princeton, NJ, or the college entrance examination administered by the American College Testing Program (ACT) of Iowa City, IA.

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Application Procedures

Any change in this procedure will be enclosed with the application
forms when they are mailed to you.
 
 

 Applicants must...
 

  1. Forward the completed application and a $35.00 processing fee payable to “Lock Haven University”. Students who apply online
    at www.lhup.edu/admissions pay a $25.00 processing fee.
     

  2. Request their high school guidance office forward the secondary school transcript to the Office of Admissions.
     

  3. Submit a physical examination report to the University after their admission deposit has been paid. The report form will be mailed directly to the student after the admission deposit has been received.
     

  4. Arrange through the high school guidance office to schedule either the SAT or the American College Testing Program (ACT) examination.  SAT or ACT scores should be submitted from either testing service or as a copy of the original report from the official high school transcript.  For early acceptance, the results of the junior year tests should be submitted.
     

  5. If veterans, complete VA application form 22-1990 which may
    be secured from the local veterans' office. This must be completed and returned to the regional office having jurisdiction over the veteran's affairs.

    NOTE:  Although interviews are not required of all applicants,
    it is strongly recommended that each applicant visit the campus.  Auditions are required for Music applicants and a portfolio is
    required for all Art applications. To schedule an interview, call
    (800) 332-8900 in Pennsylvania, (800) 233-8978 anywhere in the continental U.S. outside of Pennsylvania, or (570) 484-2027. Open House Programs are hosted on campus each semester. Visits and campus tours may be scheduled during the week or most Saturday mornings during the regular academic year.

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Advanced Standing/Credit by Examination

Three principal means exist whereby qualified students may earn degree
credit by examination independent of course enrollment.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMINATION PROGRAM
The various subject examinations offered through the College Board's Advanced Placement Program (AP) are approved by the faculty for the award of credit based on a test score of 3 or higher.  There is no limit to the number of courses for which AP may award credit.  Consequently, in some cases entering students qualified for advanced standing may be eligible for placement at sophomore level.  No letter grades are recorded; rather only credit hours for the corresponding University Catalog course title and number.

COLLEGE-LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM POLICY
With the exception of only one General Examination (English Composition) and four subject tests (Business Law, Educational Psychology, College Composition, and Freshman English) offered through the College Board's College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), degree credit may be earned by candidates who achieve a scaled score equivalent to the 50th percentile or higher using current national norms for each test.  There is no limit to the number of courses for which CLEP may award credit.  No letter grades are recorded; rather only credit hours for the corresponding University Catalog course title and number.

To facilitate student use of CLEP during the freshman year, the University operates a local testing center, which administers these tests upon request.  Candidates pay the prevailing national registration fee for each test.  Students other than freshmen may earn credit through CLEP only when special approval is granted by appeal to the Registrar.  Restrictions applicable to CLEP include no award of credit for a course previously attempted and failed at this University and no award of credit for any General Examination test administered after the student has matriculated at this University, with the single exception of the General Examination in Mathematics. 

FACULTY DEPARTMENTAL EXAMINATIONS
The University may, with departmental permission, provide individual examinations at the academic department level for any course listed in this General Catalog.  Adequately prepared students should discuss their request with the chairperson in whose area expertise is claimed.  If the chairperson concludes that the applicant's background substantiates the request, a faculty member may be assigned to develop and administer a comprehensive examination.  If the student passes the examination, the chairperson will recommend to the Registrar through the college dean that credit hours be awarded without letter grade.  A recording fee of $25 is charged currently to the successful student.

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The High School Equivalent Diploma

Residents of Pennsylvania who have not completed four years of high school may
meet entrance requirements by securing a High School Equivalent Diploma.

Act 212 of the 1945 session of the General Assembly authorizes the Department of Education (a) to hold examinations; (b) to evaluate educational studies of equivalent standard; and (c) to grant credits, certificates, or diplomas to eligible persons. The High School Equivalent Diploma, issued by the Department of Education, is accepted as equivalent to an approved senior high school diploma.  Any resident of Pennsylvania, regardless of age, whether enrolled or not in a secondary school, who satisfies by examination the requirements prescribed for graduation from a secondary school by the Department of Education, is entitled to receive the High School Equivalent Diploma.

Any eligible person may obtain the High School Equivalent Diploma by submitting transcripts and receiving credit for subjects completed in any of the following ways:

  1. In accredited secondary schools (day, evening, or summer).
     

  2. In the United States Armed Forces Institute.
     

  3. In evening or extension courses established by schools and colleges, accredited or approved by the State Council of Education of the Department of Education.
     

  4. In institutions maintained by the Commonwealth and/or the Department of Education.
     

  5. By examination administered by the Department of Education and its designated agents.
     

  6. Through arrangement with the veterans' testing service of the American Council on Education.
     

  7. By presenting evidence of having passed the College Entrance Board examination in 15 units of work which will meet requirements for matriculation in an accredited college.
     

  8. By presenting evidence of full matriculation and the satisfactory completion of a minimum of one full year in an accredited college.

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Transfer Students                           Admissions Web site

TRANSFER APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Any student who has attended a post secondary institution is considered
a transfer applicant.

Students wishing to be considered for admission as a transfer student must complete and submit the following:  an application; the $30 processing fee payable to “Lock Haven University;” an official high school transcript; and official transcripts from all previously attended colleges. Students who have graduated from high school or who have earned a G.E.D. prior to application must submit a timeline of experiences since high school graduation.  The timeline must include such items as a list of all colleges and universities attended, work history and military service.  This information must be received by December 1 for Spring semester candidates and by June 15 for Fall semester candidates.

Admission is offered on a rolling basis; therefore, priority is given to those students who apply early.  Evaluation and notification of credits accepted in transfer begins March 1 for accepted candidates with paid deposits. If you are currently enrolled at another institution, your offer of admission is contingent upon successful completion of the course work in which you are currently enrolled.

TRANSFER STUDENT POLICY

Transferable credits are awarded for courses completed at regionally accredited colleges or universities where the student has earned at least a "C" grade.  The evaluation is conducted on a course-by-course basis to determine acceptability.  Students who have earned an associate degree from a Pennsylvania community college or who have earned 12 or more credits and a 2.0 cumulative grade point average from a Pennsylvania State System University may be awarded transferable credits for acceptable courses where a "D" grade has been earned.

Students who have completed 24 or more transferable credits at the time of application will be given priority.  All candidates must have at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average.  Select programs of study have higher cumulative grade point average requirements. Please contact the Office of Admissions for specific information.

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International Students                 Admissions Web site

Students seeking admission from foreign countries should send a request
for application materials well in advance of their intended starting date. A special International Student Application Packet may be requested from the International Studies Office. All materials in the packet must be completed and received prior to consideration for admission.

All international students whose primary language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and achieve a score of 550 paper based test (213 computer test) or better before being admitted for study. TOEFL test information may be requested by writing to:  Test of English as a Foreign Language, Box 899, Princeton, NJ, 08541 U.S.A.  Test score reports must be received directly from the testing service.  Scores will be received by the University provided the student indicates code "2654" on the TOEFL registration form.

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Readmission of Former Students

Students who have withdrawn from the University for any reason may apply for re-entry to any semester by submitting a letter of request to the Registrar's Office. Accompanying the letter of request should be official transcripts of any credits completed at other institutions during the withdrawal period.

Admissions Web site

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Updated as of  12/07/2007
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