Admission Policies and Requirements

Application Deadlines

Students applying for admission or readmission to Trevecca Nazarene University must submit an application by the following dates:

High School Curriculum for Admission

Students graduating from high school must have a regular diploma or higher. High school certificates of attendance, special diplomas, or the like are not sufficient for admission. Students who have not earned the regular diploma or higher may be admitted on the basis of passing a GED or another approved alternative to a high school diploma (see section on Admission of Non-High School Graduates) and submitting ACT or SAT scores (ACT composite score of 18 or above; or SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing + Math total score of 960 or above).

Admission Policy for Freshmen

A freshman applicant (please review “Admission of Homeschooled Students” for additional information, if applicable) may be considered academically eligible for admission to Trevecca Nazarene University when the following condition is met:

• A high school grade point average of 2.500 or above based on a 4.0 scale.

A freshman applicant may be admitted on Academic Alert after being reviewed by the Academic Decision Committee.

Academic Alert could result in:

1. Opt in placement in INT 1010 Study Skills or INT 1210 Fundamentals of Student Success (see "Academic Alert" in the Developmental Education & Basic Skills section of the Catalog).
2. The student's progress will be monitored through interviews and regular progress reports under the supervision of the Associate Dean of Student Success in the Center for Student Development.
3. All developmental and basic skills courses required by placement testing will be taken in specified sequence.

Academic Alert will be lifted when all of the requirements have been successfully completed.

*Due to COVID-19, Trevecca Nazarene University transitioned to a test-optional admission policy for ACT/SAT scores based on a student’s high school GPA. This temporary change in policy has been approved for upcoming entry terms as the University continues to monitor retention data and student success.

Enrollment Deposit

All applicants upon admittance to the University are required to submit a $200 enrollment deposit by May 1 for the fall semester enrollment or by December 15 for the spring semester enrollment. This enrollment deposit is non-refundable after the stated deadlines. All freshmen and transfers will have their deposit applied to their orientation costs. (Orientation is required.) All readmission and non-degree applicants will have the full amount applied to their student account. Check or money order made payable to Trevecca Nazarene University must be submitted to the Office of Admissions.

Admission of Homeschooled Students

Admission of a homeschooler to Trevecca requires the same documentation as any other Trevecca freshman applicant (i.e. submitting official ACT/SAT scores*, qualifying under the Freshmen Admissions Policy, etc.). The main difference is in the generation of the homeschooler’s high school transcript. Trevecca requires a high school transcript with all the subjects and grades taken by the student.

If the homeschooler’s education is:

1. associated with an umbrella school organization, then the organization should provide the University with the official high school transcript.
2. parent and student designed curriculum, then the parent as the primary instructor should provide the University with the official high school transcript.

Trevecca recognizes homeschool transcripts under parental authorization. Umbrella school and correspondence school transcripts are also accepted.

*In order to qualify for test-optional admission and scholarship awarding, homeschool transcripts must be issued to Trevecca from a registered umbrella program. To verify school status, please confirm that the umbrella school is recognized by ACT or SAT and has a CEEB code associated with it. Transcripts created by and sent from a parent of a homeschooled student will require either an ACT or SAT score to be submitted for admission and scholarship consideration.

An ACT composite score of 18 or above, or SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing + Math total score of 960 or above will be required for homeschooled students who do not belong to an umbrella program. Admission decisions will be based on ACT composite scores or SAT total scores in addition to a qualifying high school GPA on a 4.0 scale. ACT superscoring will be accepted for scholarship purposes and course placement only.*

Admission of Non-High School Graduates

Applicants may be admitted on the basis of a minimum passing score on an approved alternative to a high school diploma. Applicants must submit a minimum ACT composite score of 18 (960 Evidence-Based Reading and Writing + Math total score on the SAT) to meet the conditions of the Admission Policy.* Alternative tests include:

• GED — General Education Development
• HiSET — High School Equivalency Test
• TASC — Test Assessing Secondary Completion

*While Trevecca has a test-optional policy for incoming freshmen students, students who have not earned a high school diploma must submit ACT or SAT scores.

Admission of International Students

International students who wish to enter the University must file their applications and complete certified copies of official transcripts, certificates, diplomas and degrees translated to English well in advance of the semester for which they seek admission.

International students must show evidence of ability to understand and use English sufficiently well to succeed in their work at Trevecca. All non-US citizen students must demonstrate English proficiency in one of the following ways:

Submit a successful official TOEFL score report (OR)

• A minimum TOEFL score of 500 is required on the paper-based test; or
• A minimum score of 213 is required on the computer-based test; or
• A minimum score of 79 is required on the Internet-based test.

Submit a successful official Duoloingo score report (OR)

• A minimum Duolingo score of 110 is required on the Internet-based test.

Submit a successful official IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score report (OR)

• A minimum IELTS Overall Band Score of 6.5 is required on the Internet-based test.

Submit a successful official ACT or SAT score report

• A minimum ACT English score of 20; or
• A minimum SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 480.

The TOEFL/Duolingo requirement can be waived if:

• Any student who has completed at least two years of high school where English is the medium of instruction. The student must be able to provide verification that the school did teach in English and that the student was not enrolled in any English support courses, such as ESL classes, during that time and otherwise meets Trevecca’s GPA admission requirements; or
• Any student submits an official college-level transcript showing completion of least 11 credit hours of coursework at an accredited college or university where English is the medium of instruction, with a cumulative GPA from that institution of 2.0 or higher. The student must otherwise meet admission requirements and demonstrate that they received no ESL support at their previous college or university; or
• Any student submits an official college-level transcript showing completion of coursework at a “C” level (2.0 GPA) or better equivalent to Trevecca’s English Composition (ENG 1020) or English Composition II (ENG 1080) from an accredited college or university.

The TOEFL examination is administered in many overseas testing centers. Students who wish to take the test should contact TOEFL, Educational Testing Service, Box 6151, Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6151 or www.toefl.org.

The Duolingo examination is administered online and can be taken on demand by students. Students who wish to take the test should contact Duolingo, www.englishtestduolingo.com.

All regular admission requirements must be completed before official acceptance will be granted, including evidence of financial resources sufficient to pay expenses while a student at the University. Trevecca’s Certification of Financial Support must be on file at the time an I-20 is issued. International students will have the same financial policy applied to them as any other student. Unless there is documented proof of reading, writing, and math skills, international students will be required to register for developmental courses.

All students residing in the United States on an F-1 Student Visa and taking courses from Trevecca Nazarene University may take only one online class per semester during the period of their study. This is a requirement of the SEVIS program of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Admission to Professional Programs

These professional programs have special admission requirements:

Music Education

Music Performance (Vocal and Instrumental)

Nursing

Social Work

Teacher Education

The specific procedures for each program are described in the music and instrumental studies; science, engineering and math; social and behavioral sciences; and teacher education department sections of this Catalog.

Admission Policy for Transfer Applicants

Applicants from other institutions seeking admission to the University must present evidence of good standing from the institution last attended and official transcripts of all college work taken. The institution must be a college or university accredited by a Commission on Colleges of a regional accrediting association. Any applicant who has not received an honorable dismissal (i.e. suspension or probation) from the previous institution will not be considered for enrollment at Trevecca until a minimum of one semester of suspension has elapsed.

A transfer applicant may be considered academically eligible for admission to Trevecca Nazarene University when the following GPA requirement is met:

* Hours attempted that impact a student's cumulative GPA.

If the admission condition is not met, a transfer applicant may be reviewed for admission on academic probation. Academic probation includes:

1. Students granted admission on academic probation may be placed in INT 1150 Engaging Academic Success. As a student advances in class, the minimum academic level increases according to the scale on page 56 to assure that the 2.0 minimum grade point average requirement is met for graduation.
2. The student's progress will be monitored through interviews and regular progress reports under the supervision of the Associate Dean of Student Success in the Center for Student Development. Students on probation are required to have counseling and class schedule approval by the Associate Dean of Student Success in the Center for Student Development before they are allowed to register and are required to maintain a 2.0 term GPA for courses taken during the semester of probation to avoid suspension the following term.
3. Students may take INT 1150 Engaging Academic Success in the first semester of academic probation. Students who continue for more than one semester on academic probation may continue the class as INT 1155.

Academic Alert for Incoming Freshman Applicants

The criteria for Academic Alert designation is as follows.

• Any student with a high school GPA below 2.50 is designated AA.

• Students who do not submit ACT/SAT scores are designated AA if they score 0-32 on the English placement test AND 0-6 on the math placement test.

• Students who voluntarily submit ACT/SAT scores are designated AA if EITHER of the following two conditions applies:

1. Have an ACT English test score 1-18 AND Math test score 1-19, OR
2. Have an SAT Reading test score of 10-25 AND SAT Math test score of 200-510.

Students identified as Academic Alert based on ACT/SAT scores have an opportunity to take a placement test (English, Math, or both) to test out of a basic skills class (INT 0960 Intermediate Algebra, ENG 1010 Introduction to Rhetoric, or both). If a student scores EITHER 33-50 on the English placement test OR 7-10 on the Math placement test, the student will no longer be considered on Academic Alert.

NOTE: Students who are placed into a Math and/or English course at TNU based on Advanced Placement scores, transferred college credit, or applicable credit test (e.g., CLEP, DANTES) are exempt from the AA designation based on testing requirements, but not based on GPA requirements.

Academic Probation for Incoming Transfer Applicants

Incoming transfer students can qualify for academic probation by meeting the following criteria:

* Hours attempted that impact a student's cumulative GPA.

Transfer from Other Colleges

A grade of D on transfer work will be accepted with the following qualifications: (1) A transfer course in which a D has been earned will not be allowed to count toward a major or minor; (2) Policy will apply only to work transferred from regionally accredited institutions of higher learning. Transfer students with grade point averages below minimum standards will be entered on probation. (Refer to the system of academic probation and suspension located in the Academic Policies section of the Catalog.)

Applicants should request that their official academic transcript(s) be mailed to the Office of Admissions. Transcripts must arrive prior to registration in ample time for an official evaluation of course credit to be completed. A credit evaluation of transfer credit is given to the student for advising purposes. The University is not responsible for accommodating duplicate course work that is discovered with the arrival of transcripts after the advising dates have passed.

Transfer students will meet all of the same general education curriculum requirements as other students, with the following exceptions:

Foundations Tier:

• Any college level Math will be accepted for students transferring 12+ approved semester credit hours (remedial, developmental and statistics courses are excluded).

Context Tier:

• First-time students transferring 12+ approved semester credit hours, including two history courses, will be allowed to substitute one of those courses for the World Civilization requirement and count the other history course as meeting the Institutional Human Sciences general education/liberal arts requirement.
• First-time students transferring between 30 and 59 approved semester credit hours are exempt from taking a philosophy course.
• First-time students transferring between 60 and 89 approved semester credit hours are exempt from taking a philosophy course and REL 4000 Christian Life and Ministry.
• First-time students transferring with 90 or more approved semester credit hours are exempt from taking a philosophy course, REL 4000 Christian Life and Ministry, and either REL 2000 Introduction to Biblical Faith or REL 3000 Christian Tradition.

Natural Sciences Tier:

• First-time students transferring 12+ approved semester credit hours, including two lab science courses, will be allowed to substitute one of those classes for SCI 2600 Issues in Science and count the other science course as meeting the Laboratory Science general education/liberal arts requirement.

Associate of Arts/Associate of Science Transfer*

Any student who has completed an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, or Associate of Fine Arts degree from a regionally accredited post-secondary institution prior to starting at Trevecca will be considered to have met all requirements for graduation from Trevecca Nazarene University, with the following exceptions:

1. Students will be required to take REL 2000 Introduction to Biblical Faith and REL 3000 Christian Tradition.
2. Students will be required to complete any prerequisites for upper-division courses.
3. Students will be required to complete additional elective courses beyond the 6 hours of general education religion courses and required core and supporting courses in their major to satisfy the 120-credit-hour requirement for graduation from Trevecca.
4. Students enrolled in licensure programs (teacher education, nursing, and social work) will be required to complete all courses necessary to meet state licensure standards, even if some of those courses are general education requirements that would otherwise be waived for students in non-licensure degree programs who have completed an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, or Associate of Fine Arts degree.

Trevecca Nazarene University is a participant in the Tennessee Transfer Pathway. Tennessee Transfer Pathways (TTPs) are designed to help community college students plan for transferring to a Tennessee public university or select regionally accredited, nonprofit, Tennessee private colleges and universities to complete their baccalaureate degree. The TTPs also constitute an agreement between community colleges and four-year colleges/universities confirming that community college courses meet major preparation requirements. A student who completes all of the courses listed on a particular Transfer Pathway will earn an AA or AS degree at the community college. The student is responsible for following the TTP exactly to ensure transfer of hours. A minimum grade of “C” is required for courses to transfer. Admission into Trevecca does not guarantee admission into a specific program.

*This policy does not apply to students who have been awarded the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree.

Transfer from Non-Accredited Colleges

After one full-time semester of satisfactory work at Trevecca, a student may have credits earned at a non-accredited college reviewed for acceptance as a basis for academic standing. The procedure is to require a statement from three (3) accredited colleges that have previously accepted credits earned from the non-accredited college. Evaluation of courses will be made on an individual basis. No credit will be given for courses below C, and courses must parallel course offerings at Trevecca Nazarene University. Only hours earned (not grades or GPA) will transfer. All transfer credit issues pertaining to general education core, college-level learning, instructional quality, and course equivalency shall receive final resolution through a collaborative effort involving discipline-appropriate faculty and department chairperson(s), school dean or associate vice president for academic services.

Credit from non-regionally accredited proprietary schools will be validated for credit only by demonstration of competency through a departmental exam or nationally recognized testing agency (e.g., CLEP). CLEP tests will be used when available.

Transfer from Bible Colleges

Trevecca Nazarene University will accept up to 90 semester hours of credit (not grades or GPA) for courses with grades of C or above from Bible colleges accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE). In addition to credits accepted, applicants must meet all requirements for graduation at Trevecca, including general education requirements and departmental requirements.

Credit by Examination

Trevecca Nazarene University recognizes several national testing programs that provide students with opportunities to earn college credit. Students may earn a total of 45 credit hours for passing test scores on subject-specific tests. Credit will be entered on the student’s official transcript. Credit may be earned with minimum qualifying scores as recommended by the American Council of Education. Testing credit awarded at other schools must also meet the above standard before being received for transfer credit. Official score reports must be sent directly to Trevecca. Testing credit is not assigned in the same area a student already has credit, and the examination must be taken within two weeks of enrollment if credit is sought for a currently enrolled course.

The following programs are approved:

New Student Orientation

The orientation program is designed to acquaint each new student and his or her family with University life and University personnel. New Student Orientation is mandatory for all admitted freshmen and transfer applicants. It is offered at the beginning of the fall (August) and spring (January) semesters. It includes group guidance sessions, personal counseling regarding curriculum, and social, recreational, and religious events. An additional mandatory-optional Encounter program is offered in June and focuses on relationship-forming activities and University culture.

Testing

The ACT/SAT scores of freshmen and transfer students who have not earned college-level English and Math credits are used to determine entry-level courses for English composition and mathematics. Trevecca accepts a student's highest composite score for scholarship purposes and highest Math, English, and Reading scores for placement. ACT superscoring will be accepted for scholarship purposes and course placement only. Certain entering students will be required to take developmental studies courses based on their scores.

Freshmen students who have not earned college-level mathematics and/or English credits or submitted their official ACT/SAT scores must complete placement test in the appropriate area(s) prior to (or during) orientation and may be required to enroll in appropriate developmental courses. ACT superscoring will be accepted for scholarship purposes and course placement only.

A new student will be placed in an entry-level course based on the following:

English Placement

Math Placement

*College Algebra does not satisfy the general education mathematics requirement.

**Developmental courses do not earn credit toward graduation.

Other Placement

Freshmen accepted under Academic Alert may take INT 1010 Study Skills or INT 1210 Fundamentals of Student Success (see "Academic Alert" in the Developmental Education & Basic Skills section of the Catalog).

Freshmen and transfer students who have not earned college-level mathematics and/or English credits or submitted their official ACT/SAT scores must complete placement test in the appropriate area(s) prior to (or during) orientation and may be required to enroll in appropriate developmental courses. ACT superscoring will be accepted for scholarship purposes and course placement only.

Housing Information for New Students

Housing requirements are determined by the Center for Student Development. An online Residency Information Application (for on-campus housing and off-campus commuter students) is required once a person has been admitted and paid his or her $200 enrollment deposit. Residence hall and roommate assignments are based on the date the enrollment deposit is paid.

All non-married students under the age of 23 at the time of registration who are enrolled for six or more hours per semester and do not live at home are required to live in University residence halls and participate in the full meal plan. Any exceptions are granted by special permission by the Vice President and Dean of Student Development and the Student Life Council. The Associate Dean of Student Development for Residential Life exercises general supervision over all of the residence halls. In addition, there are resident directors and resident assistants in each residence hall. Residence hall councils are organized to assist in providing a pleasant atmosphere in the residence halls. Residence hall policies are stated in the Student Handbook.

A housing interview is required for students 23 years of age or older who wish to live in a residence hall. Those who wish to live off campus must receive permission from the Center for Student Development.