For Immediate Release 22 March 2001

BROOKINGS—Students seeking admittance to any one of the six public universities in South Dakota will have to meet updated admissions requirements approved by the South Dakota Board of Regents today at its regular business meeting, held on the campus of South Dakota State University.

"The Board of Regents admissions policy needed to be updated to reflect actions of others," said Regents President Harvey C. Jewett, Aberdeen. "The company that produces the ACT exam had revised its scoring, so we needed to adjust some of our minimum scores. The State Board of Education made some changes in high school graduation requirements, which the Regents needed to include in our policy. For example, the Board of Education now requires one full year of fine arts. Previously the Regents required only ½ year for baccalaureate admissions."

Beginning May 1, 2001, all entering recent high school graduates who do not meet the baccalaureate degree admissions requirements must meet the following alternate requirements if they are to be admitted:

• an ACT English subtest score of 18;
• an ACT math subtest score of 18.

Both of these increases reflect recommendations made by ACT following its revisions to the subtests. "Students need to realize that the subtest score determines whether they will be placed in remedial English or remedial math," said Regents Executive Director Robert T. Tad Perry. "If they apply to go to a state university, they should have completed the required courses of four years of English, three years of advanced math, three years of laboratory science, three years of social studies, keyboarding and use of software packages, and one year of fine arts. If they have not, the English and math subtest scores become very important in demonstrating their preparation for college."

For the first time the admissions policy will address the unique circumstances of students transferring into associate degree programs, said Perry. "Students under the age of 21 who have earned fewer than 12 transfer credit hours must meet the same admissions requirements of new associate degree applicants. Students with 12 or more transfer credit hours and with a grade point average of at least 2.0 may transfer at the discretion of the university."

In a related matter, the Regents adopted a change in the policy governing transfer of credit. "We are very concerned about the quality of courses being presented to the universities as dual credit. There is a growing movement among high schools to teach courses that are under the auspices of a college or university. Those courses appear on that college or university transcript as a college course, when in reality they are taught by the local high school teacher with a faculty member of that college or university serving as the instructor of record," said Regent James Hansen, Pierre. "A student presents this course to a South Dakota public university as a college course and expects transfer credit for it."

The Regents changed the transfer policy as it applies to dual credit courses. Any high school course for which a student receives college credit will not be accepted for transfer unless it is validated by an Advanced Placement or College Level Examination Program exam score. The change becomes effective for courses taken after spring semester 2001.

"To be fair the Regents thought that this year’s high school graduates, who may have been told that their courses would transfer, should be given credit. Agreements should be honored," said Perry. "No such courses will be allowed for transfer in the future, unless the student can demonstrate college level learning through the use of one of these nationally recognized exams."

"Students need to be aware of these changes," said Jewett. "The best way to prepare for college is to take the correct courses in high school. Every high school and middle school guidance counselor in the state should know these requirements and should be able to advise a student and family."

For more information, contact Dr. Robert T. Tad Perry, or Dr. Lesta Turchen, (605) 773-3455.