Admission

Viterbo University welcomes applications for admission from all students who have prepared for a competitive collegiate program. Admission to Viterbo University is offered to those for whom academic and personal success seems likely. Each candidate is evaluated individually. Evidence of ability to do college-level work is essential. All qualified students, regardless of sex, race, religion, color, national or ethnic origin will be extended an offer of admission on a first-come, first-served basis as long as space remains available. Students will be evaluated for admission in accordance with the admission criteria stated below.

Viterbo University reserves the right to deny or place conditions on the admission, re-enrollment, or continued enrollment of any applicant, former student, or current student, who in the judgment of the university officials has failed to maintain satisfactory academic progress, is not prepared to benefit from the course of study offered or places a risk to the safety or well-being of the campus community. The university may consider criminal, juvenile, and disciplinary history in admissions and enrollment decisions. Information submitted to Viterbo University must be true, complete, and accurate. Withholding any pertinent information may result in denial of admission or dismissal.

General Admission Criteria

Admission to Viterbo University will be determined after the applicant has submitted a secondary school record and after full consideration is given to the student’s class rank, grade point average, curriculum, ACT or SAT scores, and intended major in college. ACT is the preferred standardized assessment, but SAT is accepted.

Viterbo University seeks to admit students who rank in the top half of the academic performance range, as measured by standardized assessments (ACT or SAT) and class rank. When a student seeks admission with one or more measured assessment (rank, ACT or SAT) that is not in the top half of the peer grouping for that student, the director of admission may refer that student to the Admission Committee for further review and consideration.

The Admission Committee of Viterbo University will offer a recommendation on the admission of the student, or ask that the student come to campus and take the Viterbo University placement test.

Students with a strong college-prep background are considered well prepared if they have been able to maintain the grade point average that their school recommends for the college bound. Students not in college preparatory programs can be offered admission if ACT or SAT results, GPA, and grades show aptitude for college work. All students seeking admission must have graduated from an accredited high school or have earned a GED, or its equivalent. Successful applicants typically submit high school records of a minimum of 16 units of credit that include:

• four units of English (or its equivalent)
• three units of mathematics
• three units of natural science (chemistry is required of all nursing, dietetics, natural science, and other allied health pre-professional students)
• three units of social science or history

Freshman Admission (Graduating High School Seniors)

Students may apply for admission by obtaining an application for admission form from the admission office or the student’s high school guidance office. Complete and return it along with a non-refundable $25 application fee. The application may be submitted at any time following completion of the first semester of the junior year in high school. Students should ask their high school (and any college or university already attended) to forward an official transcript directly to the Viterbo University admission office.

Applications can also be accepted electronically via the World Wide Web.

A university entrance assessment score report, preferably from the American College Testing (ACT) Program, is required. A Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) score report is also acceptable. Candidates should take one or the other assessment and have the score report sent to Viterbo University. Those who submit more than one set of scores will be judged on the basis of best scores reported. Scores reported on an official high school transcript will be accepted.

Applicants are notified of the university’s decision as soon as all required documents have been received and evaluated. After high school graduation, a complete transcript of your high school record (showing rank in class and date of graduation) must be sent to Viterbo University.

Students should list their intent to participate in athletics, drama, music, and other extracurricular activities on their application.

After a student has been offered admission to the university, he or she will receive a housing contract and tuition deposit request. All freshmen not living with parents or spouse must live on campus. These students will be requested to complete a housing form and submit a room deposit of $100. A tuition deposit of $100 will be requested of all accepted students. Both amounts are fully refundable if a written cancellation request reaches the university before May 1.

Home-Schooled Applicants

Viterbo University welcomes applications from home-schooled students. Applicants are required to provide the following information to be considered for admission:

• Application for admission. Applicants who apply online will have the application fee waived.
• ACT or SAT score. Viterbo University requires all applicants submit an ACT or SAT score to be considered for admission.  Students who do not submit official ACT or SAT score reports or who have not completed a standardized test, will be required to complete on campus placement testing and an interview to be considered for admission.
• Transcript or portfolio documenting coursework completed and level of performance.
• If applicable, home-schooled students should also request official transcripts for post-secondary level coursework completed, and official score reports from Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate programs.

Early Admission

Exceptional students who have met their high school graduation requirements may be admitted after completion of three years of high school, upon recommendation of the secondary school counselor or principal, and completion of the admission procedure.

Transfer Student Admission

Viterbo University welcomes applications from students attending two-year or four-year regionally accredited schools. Credit for college-level work is granted in all areas that correspond to courses offered at Viterbo University as long as the student has earned a grade of “C-”  or higher for the course. (Grades of CD are not eligible for transfer)

Transfer students will be considered for admission as long as they have a cumulative grade average (GPA) of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, are free to return to their previous college or university, and are considered to be in good academic standing both at their previous school and at Viterbo University. Transfer students need a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA to enter the nursing program, and a minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA to enter the dietetics, teacher education, and social work programs. Transfer students to Viterbo University must submit the following:

• an application for admission form along with the $25 application fee
• an official high school transcript sent directly from the school to Viterbo University
• an official set of college transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended sent directly from the institution(s) to Viterbo University (hand-carried copies of both the high school transcript and any post-secondary transcripts are not accepted)
• results of the ACT or SAT (for nursing majors)

Transfer Credit Policy

Credits for letter graded courses earned at regionally accredited institutions will transfer to Viterbo University. Courses in which a student has earned a grade of “C-” or higher will be considered for transfer to Viterbo University. Grades of CD are not eligible for transfer. If a student has less than a “C” in a course required for the major or a required support course, the individual must retake that course. Individual schools or departments may require that coursework in the major be current with academic and professional standards.

Viterbo University recognizes the value of career education provided by regionally accredited technical colleges and strives to provide opportunities for those students to combine their technical education with advanced coursework in their major field and a background in the liberal arts that results in a baccalaureate degree. Credits which are a part of an associate degree program will be considered for transfer to Viterbo University.

Courses of a remedial or pre-college nature will not be accepted for transfer.

All credits eligible for transfer from two year institutions will be transferred to Viterbo University. Students must, however, satisfy all support and discipline-specific coursework for the major. Every student must earn a minimum of 43 credits in upper division coursework as required by the university’s accrediting body.

Students enrolled at Viterbo University who wish to take a course at another institution must obtain prior approval to insure the course will transfer to Viterbo University. The form for this approval is available in the Office of the Registrar or the office’s Web page.

Viterbo University will accept a completed baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited four year college or university, an Associate of Arts degree from a regionally accredited college or university or an Associate of Science degree from a Viterbo University approved regionally accredited two-year college program (not vocational/technical schools unless they have accredited college parallel programs) as having fulfilled the general education requirements and overlays and competencies of the final degree requirements at Viterbo University except for courses in religious studies which are unique to a Catholic educational experience. Some programs of study have specific support course requirements for the degree. This policy does not exempt students from those requirements. The baccalaureate, A.A. or A.S. degree must be completed and earned prior to enrollment at Viterbo University.

Alternative Credit

Viterbo University accepts up to 30 credits for prior learning approved through ACE, CLEP, or DANTES. Viterbo University also awards credit for some Advanced Placement exams, International Baccalaureate, as well as awards retroactive language credit. For the policy on alternative credit, please refer to the Academic Policy section of this catalog.

Students who feel they have significant college-relevant learning based on life or work experience creditable toward a college degree may apply for and earn credits for this prior learning through the portfolio process. All portfolios of learning experience must be approved by the appropriate academic school and department at Viterbo University. Students will explore their eligibility to apply for prior learning credit with their academic advisor. Credits for work through the portfolio process are limited to 30 credits.

Reentry and Readmission

Former Viterbo students who wish to reenter the university should contact the Office of the Registrar for a reentry application form, or obtain the form on the office’s web page. An application fee of $25 is required for those students seeking re-admission to a degree (or licensure) program. Students need not resubmit copies of records already on file. However, a reentering student who has attended one or more schools since leaving Viterbo must have official transcripts sent directly to the Office of the Registrar before a re-admission decision can be made.

Some programs have additional entry requirements and/or students may need the approval of the school dean prior to re-admittance. A student follows the catalog in effect at the time of reentry, and the curriculum requirements contained therein remain in effect as long as the student attends Viterbo on an uninterrupted basis and completes a degree within a period of six years. Students reentering Viterbo after having been academically dismissed may wish to consult the grade forgiveness policy in the academic policy section of the catalog. The application deadline for the fall semester is August 1 and December 15 for the spring semester.

International Student Admission

Applications from international students are welcome and actively sought. Scholastic achievement, use of the English language, and financial resources are given particular attention in reviewing applications from international students. Students who are not U.S. citizens who wish to apply to Viterbo University should request an international student application form and return it with a copy of their high school record as well as a grade report with any post-secondary education they have completed. Students are also required to attain a minimum score of 525 on the TOEFL exam prior to being admitted. A declaration of finances form indicating the financial resources available for financing the costs of an education at Viterbo University is required and must be on file in the Office of Global Education before the certificate of eligibility (I-20 Form) is issued. This school is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant alien students. Foreign students must have all admission materials submitted to Viterbo University 90 days in advance of the term in which they wish to enroll.

Registration and Orientation

New full-time students are required to register for classes at special registration times scheduled prior to each term. Academic advisors are available to assist students with their selection of classes. During the summer prior to the first day of fall classes, a period of several days is devoted to an orientation and registration program for freshmen and other new students. During this time, students are introduced to the aims and procedures of the university and are aided in adjusting themselves to college life.

Placement Testing

Placement tests are required before registration for certain new students. These tests cover reading and/or mathematics and provide additional information to academic advisors who help students select appropriate coursework at the time of registration.

Non-Degree-Seeking Students

High School Students: Youth Options Program

Viterbo University welcomes students in the Wisconsin Youth Options Program. High school juniors and seniors who have not yet graduated may attend Viterbo University at reduced per credit charges and applicable course fees. Viterbo University will issue credit to students upon successful completion of the course(s), with such credit being fully acceptable toward a bachelor’s degree. The reduced per credit charge is available for fall or spring semesters only.

Non-Degree Student Admission

Students desiring to audit or take selected courses for credit, but who do not expect to earn a degree at this university, may be enrolled as a non-degree seeking student. Complete transcripts of high school and college records need not be submitted, but high school graduation, a GED, or its equivalent is required. Students may be admitted as a degree-seeking student at a later date. Students interested should complete the non-degree student application available in the Office of Admission. Refer to the audit policy, in the academic regulations section of this catalog for the audit policy.

Senior Citizen Enrichment Program

Persons 62 years of age or older may audit selected courses at no charge. This program is offered on a space-available basis. Since no grade is given and no permanent records are kept, the course cannot be converted to credit at some later date. Interested students should secure a special enrichment form in the Office of Admission. This program is not available during the summer.

Continuing Education Units

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) may be offered for some workshops with the understanding that at no time may these units be substituted for academic credits received in academic courses in the basic programs. The CEU is defined to mean 10 contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction.