Mar 28, 2024  
2016-2017 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2016-2017 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Admissions



Lipscomb University admits men and women who demonstrate the ability to succeed academically and who possess good moral character. A student desiring to enter must apply and furnish evidence of intellectual capacity and moral character.

Freshman Students

In general, applicants are expected to have followed a college preparatory course of study in high school. This track includes at least four units of English, two units of mathematics (preferably Algebra I and II), two units of natural sciences, two units of history/social sciences, two units in the same foreign language and two academic electives (selected from natural sciences, mathematics, foreign languages or social sciences). Applicants 18 years and older may be admitted with a GED.

We welcome your application and are excited about assisting you in enrolling at Lipscomb. To apply, follow these five steps:

  1. Fill out an application form. All blanks must be filled in, and the form must be signed by the applicant and the person responsible for payment, if applicable. The application may be mailed before the submission of the high school transcript, references, and the ACT/SAT scores.
  2. Send in a $50 application fee. Contact the admissions office for details.
  3. Submit a transcript of high school credits. Students applying during their senior year may submit credits completed through their junior year.
  4. Give a reference form (educational) to the individual listed on the application.
  5. Arrange to take the ACT or SAT test and have the score sent to Lipscomb University. (Our institutional code for the ACT is 3956. The SAT code is 1161.)
  6. Arrange an interview, either in person or over the phone, with the admissions office.

If acceptance is granted, three additional items must be submitted: a final high school transcript, a health form and a Student Consent to Release Academic Information Form (FERPA). All records must be filed in the admissions office and approved before a student can enroll.

Applicants who present an ACT composite score of 21 or higher (or SAT equivalent), a high school GPA of 2.5 or higher, an essay within the application and strong educational references and interview are generally admitted without conditions.

Applicants who do not meet all four criteria will be automatically reviewed, which in some circumstances may require admission through the Transitions Program or other conditions. Any student, regardless of acceptance status, who does not score a 20 or higher on the English portion of the ACT (or a 480 or higher on the SAT) is required to take Developmental Seminar. Any student, regardless of acceptance status, who does not score a 21 or higher on the math portion of the ACT (500 or higher on the SAT) is required to take Introductory and/or Intermediate Algebra.

Appeal of an admission decision may be submitted in writing to the Office of Admissions. The university cannot accept the responsibility for a delay in the enrollment of an applicant submitting records later than two weeks prior to registration. The university reserves the right to reject any applicant at its own discretion. For any reason deemed sufficient, the university may require a medical examination, intelligence test or subject matter examination and may revise at any time the status given a student on admission. The provisions of this paragraph are subject to Lipscomb University’s nondiscriminatory policy contained elsewhere in this catalog and will not be used in any way to violate that stated policy.

Home-schooled Students

Lipscomb recognizes the unique nature of home schooling and welcomes applications from home-schooled graduates. In general, a home-schooled student applying as a first-time freshman should follow the same application procedures as other freshman applicants. In lieu of a high school transcript, a home schooling record or transcript is required. If an educational reference is not available, a personal reference from a non-family member must be submitted.

If acceptance is granted, three additional items must be submitted: a final high school transcript, a health form and a Student Consent to Release Academic Information Form (FERPA). All records must be filed in the admissions office and approved before a student can enroll

Transfer Students

Lipscomb accepts applications for admission from students who have attended other accredited institutions. Transfer students must follow, in general, the first three enrollment steps for freshman students.
All college transcripts are required, as well as high school transcripts and ACT or SAT scores if the student is transferring with fewer than 60 semester hours. If an applicant is currently enrolled at
another institution, a final college transcript will be required to validate admission. In addition, transfer students must be eligible to return to the institution previously attended. Transfer students who are admitted with a GPA below 2.0 will be placed on academic probation. Normally, courses with a grade equivalent to or exceeding a “C” will transfer.

Tennessee Board of Regents Schools. Lipscomb University will accept the general education requirements from Tennessee Board of Regents schools as meeting the general education requirements when one of the following exists:

  • The student has completed all requirements for an A.S. or A.A. degree,
  • The student has completed all the TBR general education requirements, or
  • The student is completing one of the approved Tennessee Transfer Pathways.

Students who do not meet one of these options will have their general education course work approved for transfer on a course-by-course comparison.

If acceptance is granted, three additional items must be submitted: a final high school transcript, a health form and a Student Consent to Release Academic Information Form (FERPA). All records must be filed in the admissions office and approved before a student can enroll.

Tennessee Transfer Pathway

Lipscomb 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 A.A. or other 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 Lipscomb University does not guarantee admission into a specific program.

Visiting Students

Admission as a visiting student is granted for only one semester. If the student desires to attend Lipscomb after that one semester as a visiting student, then he/she must reapply. A prospective student who has attended or is currently enrolled in another institution and desires to enroll in a course(s) at Lipscomb must:
  1. Complete the application.
  2. Submit the application fee.
  3. Have an official transcript or official letter of good standing sent to Lipscomb from the last institution attended. For a course requiring a prerequisite, an official copy of the student’s transcript must be sent to the admissions office.
  4. If a specific course taken at Lipscomb is to be transferred to the degree-granting institution, permission must be granted from that institution.
  5. Submit a health form, if student is full-time.

International Students

International students are welcome at Lipscomb. They must file an international student application and meet the admission requirements of United States citizens.

It is required to sit one of the following tests: ACT, SAT, TOEFL or IELTS. If English is not your first language, the TOEFL or IELTS is recommended. If you are a native speaker of English or have received your education in English, we recommend SAT or ACT. Your results must be sent to the University directly from the testing service.

We require a TOEFL score of 550 on the paper-based, 80 on the IBT, or 213 on the computer-based test. An overall band score of 6.5 or higher on the IELTS exam will also be accepted. Additionally, international students scoring 20 or above on the English portion of the ACT or 480 and above on the SAT Critical Reading section will satisfy the proficiency requirement.

If you do not meet these requirements, our English for Academic Purposes Program can help you learn English.

All applicants whose academic records are from schools, colleges and universities located outside the United States must provide a course-by-course report from an approved evaluation service. Application for admission will not be considered without having this detailed review on file. All applicants whose academic records are from schools, colleges and universities located outside the United States must provide a course-by-course report from an approved evaluation service. Application for admission will not be considered without having this detailed review on file. Applicants must contact one of the two services listed below and make arrangements for evaluation.

Lisanto International
Foreign International Credential Evaluation
P.O. Box 407
Auburn, AL 36831-0407
Fax: 334.745.0425
Email: lisanoINTL@aol.com
Web: www.lisano-INTL.com

World Educational Services
P.O. Box 01-5060
Miami, FL 33101
Phone: 305.358.6688
Web: www.wes.org

International students are required to pay in full for each semester before registering for classes. Also, international students are required to have health insurance to attend Lipscomb. For more information, contact the Office of Admissions by telephone at 615.966.1776 or 877.582.4766, by email at admissions@lipscomb.edu, by visiting international.lipscomb.edu, or by mail at One University Park Drive, Nashville, TN 37204-3951 USA.
 
If acceptance is granted, three additional items must be submitted: a final high school transcript, a health form and a Student Consent to Release Academic Information Form (FERPA). All records must be filed in the admissions office and approved before a student can enroll

Early Admission Students

Superior high school students may be admitted for regular university work. A student applying for early admission must submit an application, transcript, ACT or SAT scores, two references and a letter of recommendation from the high school principal or counselor. Each request for early admission is considered by the admissions office on a case by case basis.
 
Lipscomb cannot guarantee that credits earned in the early admission program will automatically transfer to any other institution. Each college/university reserves the right to determine transfer credit.
 
In some cases, students choose to bypass the senior year of high school and enter college. These students apply in the same way as other prospective first-time freshmen. Three additional items are required: a letter of recommendation from the high school principal or counselor, the high school principal’s intention in writing to award the applicant a high school diploma upon completion of the student’s first year at Lipscomb and a personal essay stating the reasons for desiring early admission to Lipscomb. In addition, a health form must be submitted before enrolling.

Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy

Lipscomb University is a private, Christian university open to any qualified student without regard to race, religion, sex, age, color, national or ethnic origin, or disability. The university shall comply with all applicable federal and state nondiscrimination laws, and does not engage in prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex, age, color, national or ethnic origin, or disability in the administration of its educational policies, programs and activities, including without limitation, admissions policies, scholarships and loan programs, employment practices, and athletic and other school administered programs. As a religiously controlled institution of higher education, Lipscomb University is exempt from compliance with some provisions of certain civil rights laws.

Required Documentation for Off-Site Learning Experiences

Off-site learning experiences (i.e. clinical, practicum, internship, etc.) are required in many courses of study at Lipscomb. Successful completion of these experiential courses is required for graduation and/or licensure. Students should be aware that many experiential sites require satisfactory documentation of personal identification in the form of driver’s licenses, social security cards, passports, drug screening  and background checks. Students should make sure that they are aware of and can meet all documentation requirements well in advance of the time frame for admission into the respective program and placement into these sites. Failure to provide required documentation for successful entry into these experiential courses will result in failure to complete the desired program of study.