2008-09 Undergraduate Catalog
Application Deadlines
Students are admitted for third-year professional course work in the fall and spring semesters for building construction and each semester for fire and emergency services. Application procedures, receipt of transcripts and school requirements for admission should be completed by the deadline. Late applications are not accepted. Refer to the application deadlines.
Admission to Building Construction
Admission to the Rinker School is selective and is given to those applicants whose potential indicates the greatest likelihood of success in the program.
All Students
- The school has limited admission. An applicant’s satisfaction of minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. The school has established a selective process for admission and only a limited number of new students are accepted each fall and spring term. No distinction is made between internal and external transfers. Students may apply only twice to upper division.
- Students must submit a personal statement (minimum 300 words) outlining their reasons for applying to the Rinker School.
- Students must attain at least a 2.0 GPA in building construction prerequisite course work and have an overall 2.0 GPA for all freshman and sophomore work required for a baccalaureate degree in building construction.
- Students must submit SAT or ACT scores, which will be evaluated for admission selection. Students are ranked and admitted based on an evaluation of their building construction prerequisite course work and their SAT or ACT scores. Consideration is also given to the number of preprofessional courses remaining, as well as to the applicant's letter of intent, construction work experiences, personal references and participation in student organizations and community events.
- Students must achieve a passing score on the College Level Academic Skills Test or present a CLAST waiver.
- Students must complete two sequential courses of foreign language in secondary school, 8-10 semester hours at the postsecondary level or document an equivalent level of proficiency.
Waiver of Liability
Several courses require field trips. All students must sign a waiver of liability and a hold harmless agreement as a prerequisite to acceptance into the School of Building Construction. In addition, student organizations are represented at conferences, seminars and projects outside of campus. A separate, similar waiver will be used for students who participate in these voluntary activities.
Transfer Students
Students attending four-year colleges should follow a program of general education and preprofessional courses equivalent to the basic curriculum for entry to the Rinker School.
Junior college and community college students must meet the following requirements:
- Complete the university transfer program at the junior college.
- Complete the A.A. degree.
- Complete all prerequisite general education and preprofessional courses, or acceptable substitutes.
- Meet with an academic adviser in the Rinker School before applying to upper division.
- Sudents can transfer up to 15 credit hours from another ACCE accredited four-year program.
Admission to Fire and Emergency Services
All Students
- Students must attain at least a 2.0 GPA in fire and emergency services prerequisite course work and have an overall 2.0 GPA for all freshman and sophomore work required for a baccalaureate degree in fire and emergency services.
- Students must achieve a passing score on the College Level Academic Skills Test or present a CLAST waiver.
- Students must complete two sequential courses of foreign language in secondary school, 8-10 semester hours at the postsecondary level or document an equivalent level of proficiency.
- Credits beyond the 60 semester hours required for admission to the school will not reduce the number of credit hours to be completed in the junior and senior years to earn a degree. These courses may not be accepted for equivalent credit.
Transfer Students
Students attending four-year colleges should follow a program of general education and preprofessional courses equivalent to the basic curriculum for entry to the school.
Junior college and community college students should:
- Complete the university transfer program at the junior college.
- Complete the A.A. degree.
- Complete all prerequisite general education and preprofessional courses, or acceptable substitutes.
- Receive a state or nationally recognized fire-fighting and emergency medicine certificate or gain experience.
- Students who have not demonstrated working knowledge of fire and emergency services through obtainment of state or nationally recognized fire fighting and emergency medicine certificates will be required to take equivalent upper-level courses in lieu of upper-level electives.
Normal Loads
The average course load for building construction students is 16 hours. A student may register for additional hours if the academic adviser and the student’s academic record justifies this. Students who wish to take fewer than 12 hours should be aware that certain university privileges and benefits require a minimum registration. It is the student’s responsibility to verify the minimum registration necessary for these privileges and benefits.
Normal Academic Progress
Students must maintain normal academic progress with a minimum GPA of 2.0 for all courses attempted in the junior and senior years. Students must take courses in the sequence specified. Students may be excluded from the program if they fail to maintain normal academic progress.
Student Work
The Rinker School reserves the right to retain all student work for the purpose of record, exhibition or instruction.
Probation and Dismissal
Students who do not make satisfactory academic progress will be excluded from further registration.
Students who receive a failing grade in a BCN course will be dismissed if they subsequently receive a failing grade in the same course.
Students failing two or more BCN courses in any semester will be dismissed.
Student Responsibility
Before enrolling, it is the student’s responsibility to review and consider all pertinent information about the university and the school. Special attention must be paid to required documentation, degree requirements and deadlines.