A person having earned a high school diploma or who is in the process of completing high school credits within two (2) semesters, but not having more than thirty (30) college semester hours of credit is considered an entering freshmen.

To be admitted as an entering freshman, an applicant must meet the following requirements and submit required documents to the Office of Admissions:

• Application for Undergraduate Admission.
• Official High School Transcript showing rank in class or official GED passing scores. Final acceptance will be granted upon submission of official transcript showing date of graduation and completion of high school credits. Official transcripts must be sent directly from the institution attended.
• Official college/university transcript(s) sent directly from each institution attended, if any college credit has been earned. A minimum overall grade point average of 2.00 is required. Coursework from other institutions is used for course placement.
• The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the American College Testing (ACT) scores. SAT or ACT scores should not be older than three (3) years prior to enrollment. Students in the top 40% of their high school graduating class are not required a minimum score, but must submit either an SAT or ACT test score. Students not graduating in the top 40%  must score a minimum of 900 total on the SAT (critical reading and math sections) or a minimum of 19 composite on the ACT.
• Texas A&M International University's Code for the SAT is 0359 and 4215 for the ACT. Information bulletins on tests may be obtained at your high school counselor's office, Texas A&M International University Office of Recruitment, or by visiting the  College Board or the American College Testing Corporation's website. It is the student's responsibility to ensure the Office of Admissions receives an official ACT/SAT score.
• High School Credits Required are as follows:                     

Subject	Credits
English (I,II,III,IV)	4 units
Mathematics (Algebra I and II, Geometry)	3 units
Science - any two	2 units
Social Studies -any three	3 units
Computer Science	1 unit
The following units are recommended:
Foreign Languages	2 units
Fine Arts	1 unit

• The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of students graduating from a high school in a country where English is not the native language. A minimum TOEFL score of 213 (Computer-based) or 550 (Paper-based) is required. This score must be sent directly form the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and dated within two (2) years of enrollment.

NOTE: International Students must also complete the requirements listed under International Student Admission.

IMPORTANT: The State of Texas required all students to meet the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) mandates.  TAMIU will use the state approved Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA) as a form of assessment and honor any state approved alternative assessment instruments.  The University will use the THEA exemptions as stipulated by the State of Texas under the TSI plan.  The THEA score is not a determinant component for admissions into A&M International. For information, contact the University College at  (956) 326-2134.

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A student entering Texas A&M International University at the sophomore (30 to 59 hours), junior (60 to 89 hours), or senior (90 or more hours) level from an accredited college or university is considered a transfer student. Texas A&M International University allows credit for work completed in other institutions which are approved by the appropriate regional accrediting agency.

To be admitted as a transfer student, an applicant must submit the following information to the Office of Admissions: (Additional requirements for the School of Nursing and for Teacher Education Programs).

• Application for Undergraduate Admission.
• Official college/university transcript(s) sent directly from each institution attended. A minimum overall grade point average of 2.00 is required. Even though a grade below "C" will be calculated into the grade point average, it will not be used to satisfy degree requirements.
• The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of all students having academic studies from a country where English is not the native language. A minimum TOEFL score of 213 (Computer-based) or 550 (Paper-based) is required. This score must be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and dated within two (2) years of enrollment.

NOTE: International Students must also complete the requirements listed under International Student Admission.

IMPORTANT: The State of Texas required all students to meet the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) mandates.  TAMIU will use the state approved Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA) as a form of assessment and honor any state approved alternative assessment instruments.  The University will use the THEA exemptions as stipulated by the State of Texas under the TSI plan.  The THEA score is not a determinant component for admissions into A&M International. For information, contact the University College at  (956) 326-2134.

Transfer Curricula and Resolution of Transfer Disputes for Lower-Level Courses:
The transfer curricula shall be as prescribed by the current issue of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's guide to transfer curricula and transfer of credit.

The following procedures shall be followed by public institutions of higher education in the resolution of transfer disputes involving lower-level courses:

• If an institution of higher education does not accept course credit earned by a student at another institution of higher education, that institution shall give written notice to the student and the other institution that the transfer of the course credit is denied.
• The two institutions and the student shall attempt to resolve the transfer of the course credit in accordance with the Higher Education Coordinating Board rules and/or guidelines.

NON-DEGREE SEEKING STUDENT (TRANSIENT)

A person who is earning university credits which are not applicable to a degree at Texas A&M International University is considered a special non-degree student. It is the policy of this institution to allow any student to enroll in any course for enrichment or other purpose as long as the prerequisites are met or exceptions to these requirements are approved.International students with an F1 visa must apply as degree-seeking candidates.

Students classified under this category are not entitled to claim the prerogative of graduating under the provisions of the catalog in force at the time of initial enrollment. Students may, on their own initiative, request at any time to be reclassified as a regular degree-seeking student. A written request for reclassification should be submitted to the Office of the University Registrar. The student will then become responsible for satisfying the requirements of the catalog in force at the time of the request or any subsequent catalog within the established five-year period of limitation (six-years in the case of some master's programs). For additional information call the Office of the University Registrar at (956)326-2250.

To be admitted as a special non-degree transient student, an applicant must submit the following information:

• Application for Undergraduate Admission.  Students who have a bachelor degree and interested in graduate level courses need to complete an Application for Graduate Admission.
• Official college/university transcript(s). A minimum overall grade point average of 2.00 is required. Undergraduate students need to submit official transcript(s) from each institution attended. Students who have a bachelor degree need to submit an official transcript from the last institution attended sent directly from each institution.
• The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of all students having academic studies from a country where English is not the native language. A minimum TOEFL score of 213 (Computer-based) or 550 (Paper-based) is required. This score must be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and dated within two (2) years of enrollment.

  NOTE: International students must also complete requirements listed under International Student Admission.

  IMPORTANT: The State of Texas required all students to meet the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) mandates.  TAMIU will use the state approved Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA) as a form of assessment and honor any state approved alternative assessment instruments.  The University will use the THEA exemptions as stipulated by the State of Texas under the TSI plan.  The THEA score is not a determinant component for admissions into A&M International. For information, contact the University College at  (956) 326-2134.

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ACADEMIC PROBATION AND PROVISIONAL ADMISSION

Freshmen applicants that are graduating below the top 40% are granted provisional admission for a single semester with a minimum of 840 total on the SAT (Critial Reading and Math sections) or a minimum of 17 composite on the ACT. The applicant may also petition to have their academic credentials reviewed by the University Admissions Standards and Exceptions Committee (USAEC) for a single semester conditional admission. The required documentation, including the Application for Admissions and Exceptions Committee Review form, must be submitted to the Office of Admissions no later than two weeks prior to the start of the semester. The committee review form may be obtained at the Office of Admissions or online.  The committee reserves the right to place other requirements as deemed necessary.

Applicants granted admission will be placed on provisional status and allowed to enroll for one semester. During the first semester of enrollment, students must meet the following conditions: (1) enroll and complete a full-time course load to include the following nine semester credit hours - UNIV 1101, Learning in a Global Context I; English or Math (may be developmental); and a three hour course from the core curriculum, (2) complete the semester with at least 2.0 grade point average (excluding grades obtained with credit by exams and including developmental courses), and (3) attend monthly counseling sessions with the Retention Specialist in the Advising and Mentoring Center. The Advising and Mentoring director will review each student's grades at the end of the semester to determine if full admission will be granted based on University policy. Students that earn below an overall 2.0 GPA (including developmental courses) the first semester will be placed on academic suspension.

Transfer applicants with an overall grade point average below 2.00 from all colleges or universities attended may petition to have their academic credentials reviewed by the University Admissions Standards and Exceptions Committee (USAEC) for a single semester conditional admission. The required documentation, including the Application for Admissions and Exceptions Committee Review form, must be submitted to the Office of Admissions no later than two weeks prior to the start of the semester. The committee review form may be obtained at the Office of Admissions or online. The committee reserves the right to place other requirements as deemed necessary.

Applicants granted admission will be placed on probationary status and allowed to enroll for one semester. Students must earn at least a 2.000 semester grade point average (GPA) by the end of the first semester. Students will be removed from probation when the overall GPA is greater than or equal to 2.000. Students that earn below a 2.0 GPA the first semester or combined summer sessions will be placed on academic suspension.

The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) is the new state college readiness program that replaces the Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP).

 The TSI requires students to be assessed in reading, writing and math skills prior to enrolling in college, and to be advised based on the results of that assessment. Each institution determines what to do with students who don't pass one or more parts of the test. Institutions have the flexibility to determine the best path for individual students to take to become college ready and to demonstrate that they are indeed ready for college-level courses.

 The TASP Test has been renamed the Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA). The THEA is one of the tests that can be administered to students to determine if they are college ready. Other tests that can used for TSI  purposes are the following: the ASSET, the ACCUPLACER, the COMPASS. The MAPS and the Stanford Achievement Test, used under the TASP law for students who are hearing impaired, is no longer available under the TSI.

For further information regarding Texas A&M International University’s Developmental Education Plan, please visit www.tamiu.edu/adminis/pase/general_university/developmental/index.htm

 The law also requires that individuals who score below a deviation standard set by the Coordinating Board must retest. The Coordinating Board has set the deviation standard and those standards can be found in the Texas Success Initiative Rules.

Students who score above the deviation standard but below the passing standard on their initial test do not have to retest by law, but institutions may require students to do so as part of their developmental education plan.

Students may retest using the test they took initially or any other Board-approved test.

Institutions have always had the prerogative to require higher standards if they choose to do so. For instance, the suggested math score on the THEA that would indicate readiness for college algebra is 270. Institutions can still use that suggested higher score to determine which students they will admit to college algebra courses.

The law and rules allow Texas public institutions to declare a student college-ready. When they make that determination it will be recorded on the student's official transcript. Once this happens, the student cannot be required to be retested or placed in developmental education (for TSI purposes) if they transfer to another Texas public institution.

The law and rules also permit a student transferring to a Texas public institution from a private or out-of-state institution to be declared college-ready by the receiving institution. The receiving institution needs to review the incoming student's transcript from the private or out-of-state institution and determine if the student has successfully completed college-level work. That determination is made solely by the receiving Texas public institution.

To summarize, students at Texas public institutions will need to have an indication of college-readiness shown on their transcript. Texas public institutions will determine the college-ready status of students who transfer to them from a private or out-of-state institution by reviewing their transcript.

 Students who transfer to an institution from a private or independent institution of higher education or an accredited out-of-state institution of higher education and who have satisfactorily completed college-level coursework as determined by the receiving institution are exempt from the requirements of the Success Initiative.

Students who transfer from a public community college or university should have already been assessed using an approved assessment instrument, such as THEA, ACCUPLACER, ASSET, or COMPASS. If the transferring student has not satisfied the requirements of the Success Initiative, they must be assessed and a written individualized plan must be developed for them. If they have had a plan developed by the public college or university that was not completed, it is up to the receiving institution to evaluate the plan and determine what would be needed by the student in order to satisfy the Success Initiative requirements.

Students are exempt from taking a test for the Texas Success Initiative if a qualifying score has been made on the TAKS, the SAT or the ACT. There are other exemptions/exceptions that may apply, so check with an advisor or see the Texas Success Initiative Rules.

Anyone wishing more information regarding Texas Success Initiavite policies should contact the University College at (956) 326-2134.

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FRESH START

Senate Bill 1321, passed by the 73rd Texas Legislature, entitles State of Texas residents to seek admission to public institutions of higher education without consideration of courses undertaken ten or more years prior to enrollment. This bill has been called the "Right to an Academic Fresh Start" and it gives the students the option of electing to have the coursework taken ten years or more prior to the starting date of the semester in which the applicant seeks to enroll either counted as usual or ignored for admission purposes. Applicants who elect to apply for admission under this law and who are admitted as students may not receive ANY COURSE CREDIT FOR ANY COURSES taken ten-years or more prior to enrollment.

Students with three or more semester credit hours awarded prior to Fall 1989, are exempt from the Texas Academic Skills Program regardless of any election of Academic Fresh Start.

The intent of Fresh Start legislation is to provide students with an opportunity to clear their academic records, if they choose to do so, of all college-level work accumulated ten or more years ago. This opportunity is not automatic and must be requested in writing to the Office of the Registrar.

ENROLLMENT AT ANOTHER INSTITUTION

Any student pursuing a degree at Texas A&M International University may elect to be enrolled at another college or university and transfer the coursework back to A&M International. The Office of the Registrar should be notified of the concurrent enrollment to monitor compliance of degree progress.

Courses listed in the Texas Common Course Numbering Equivalency Chart will transfer in when the student requests an official transcript from the other institution at the completion of the semester.