1997 Florida Code
TITLE XVI EDUCATION
Chapter 240 Postsecondary Education  
PART II STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM (ss. 240.2011-240.2996)
240.233   Universities; admissions of students.

240.233  Universities; admissions of students.--Each university shall govern admissions of students, subject to this section and rules of the Board of Regents.

(1)  Minimum academic standards for undergraduate admission to a university shall include the requirements that:

(a)  Each student have received a high school diploma pursuant to s. 232.246, or its equivalent, except as provided in s. 240.116(2) and (3).

(b)  Each student have earned two credits of sequential foreign language at the secondary level or the equivalent of such instruction at the postsecondary level. A student whose native language is not English is exempt from this admissions requirement, provided that the student demonstrates proficiency in the native language. If a standardized test is not available in the student's native language for the demonstration of proficiency, the university may provide an alternative method of assessment. A student who received an associate in arts degree prior to September 1, 1989, or who enrolled in a program of studies leading to an associate degree from a Florida community college prior to August 1, 1989, and maintains continuous enrollment shall be exempt from this admissions requirement.

(2)  The Board of Regents shall adopt rules which provide for a limited number of students to be admitted to the State University System, notwithstanding the admission requirements of paragraph (1)(b), if there is evidence that the applicant is expected to do successful academic work at the admitting university. The number of applicants admitted under this subsection may not exceed 5 percent of the total number of freshmen who entered the State University System the prior year. Any lower-division student admitted without meeting the foreign language requirement must earn such credits prior to admission to the upper division of a state university. Any associate in arts degree graduate from a public community college or university in Florida, or other upper-division transfer student, admitted without meeting the foreign language requirement, must earn such credits prior to graduation from a state university. Students shall be exempt from the provisions of this subsection if they can demonstrate proficiency in American sign language equivalent to that of students who have completed two credits of such instruction in high school.

(3)

(a)  Nonresident students may be admitted to the university upon such terms as the university may establish. However, such terms shall include, but shall not be limited to: completion of a secondary school curriculum which includes 4 years of English; 3 years each of mathematics, science, and social sciences; and 2 years of a foreign language.

(b)  Within the admission standards provided for in subsection (1), the Board of Regents shall develop procedures for weighting courses which are necessary to meet the requirements of a college-preparatory curriculum at a higher value than less rigorous courses. Credits received in such courses shall be given greater value in determining admission by universities than cumulative grade point averages in high school.

(4)  Consideration shall be given to the past actions of any person applying for admission as a student to any state university, either as a new applicant, an applicant for continuation of studies, or a transfer student, when such actions have been found to disrupt or interfere with the orderly conduct, processes, functions, or programs of any other university, college, or community college.

(5)  In any application for admission by a student as a citizen of the state, the applicant, if 18 years of age, or, if a minor, his or her parents or guardian shall make and file with such application a written statement under oath that such applicant is a citizen and resident of the state and entitled, as such, to admission upon the terms and conditions prescribed for citizens and residents of the state.

(6)  Rules of the State Board of Education shall require the use of scores on tests of college-level communication and computation skills provided in s. 229.551 as a condition for admission of students to upper-division instructional programs from community colleges, including those who have been awarded associate in arts degrees. Use of such test scores as an admission requirement shall extend equally and uniformly to students enrolled in lower divisions in the State University System and to transfer students from other colleges and universities. The tests shall be required for community college students seeking associate in arts degrees and students seeking admission to upper-division instructional programs in the State University System. The use of test scores prior to August 1, 1984, shall be limited to student counseling and curriculum improvement.

(7)  For the purposes of this section, American sign language constitutes a foreign language. Florida high schools may offer American sign language as a for-credit elective or as a substitute for any already authorized foreign language requirement.

History.--s. 18, ch. 79-222; s. 4, ch. 82-180; s. 11, ch. 83-325; s. 22, ch. 86-145; ss. 10, 18, ch. 87-212; s. 7, ch. 89-381; s. 1, ch. 90-18; s. 5, ch. 90-365; s. 36, ch. 95-148; s. 5, ch. 95-243; s. 12, ch. 97-77.