UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

Kingston, Rhode Island

FACULTY SENATE

Ad Hoc Committee on Admissions to the Providence Campus

October 24, 2003

 

Last spring the Faculty Senate requested that the Provost appoint an ad hoc committee to examine the option of admitting students to the Providence campus directly out of high school and, if the committee agrees that a policy change is warranted, to submit a recommendation to the Faculty Senate for approval.

The Ad Hoc Committee, comprised of the following members, met weekly during the months of September and October.

Edmund Ferszt, Associate Dean, Feinstein College of Continuing Education

Jayne Richmond, Dean of University College and Special Academic Programs

Judith Swift, Interim Vice Provost for Academic Affairs

Alvin K. Swonger, BMS, Chairperson

David Taggart, Dean of Admissions, ex officio

Gerry Tyler, PSC

Anne Veeger, GEO

The Committee recommends to the Provost and the Faculty Senate the addition of a new section 8.11.12 of the UNIVERSITY MANUAL:

8.11.12 Applicants shall specify at the time of application the site they intend as their primary site (Kingston or Providence) for coursework. The criteria for admissions shall be the same regardless of site specified. The requirements for completing programs of study where coursework is offered in both Kingston and Providence shall be uniform. Applications may specify the Providence campus as their primary site for coursework only if their "preferred major" corresponds to a major designated by the University as supporting this option. The Curricular Affairs Committee of the Faculty Senate shall report annually to the Faculty Senate the list of degree programs for which coursework may be taken, under this provision, primarily at the Providence campus. Applicants admitted for coursework primarily at the Providence site may not enroll in more than 6 credits of coursework at Kingston during their first full academic year. Full-time tuition shall be the same for coursework in Kingston and Providence. Full-time undergraduate students taking more than 6 credits in Kingston and full-time graduate students taking more than 5 credits in Kingston shall pay all fees associated with the Kingston campus.

Rationale:

The proposed UNIVERSITY MANUAL language merely formalizes a possibility that an especially savvy student could currently utilize by his or her own initiative. Formalizing the concept will facilitate it being marketed expressly as a way for a student to begin higher education in a non-residential status at the Providence campus at a reduced cost (due to exemption from certain fees). Although the option already exists in a sense, it is prudent that Faculty Senate approval be sought explicitly before active marketing of the option is undertaken.

The range of coursework already available at AFCCE is adequate to support some majors in entirety and some others on a 2 plus 2 basis, where students would complete the program at Kingston (see Table One below). Other majors could be added with minimal beefing up of course offerings in Providence through cooperation of the sponsoring department if the department concurs. The Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) degree is the only degree program offered uniquely at AFCCE. All other degree programs listed in Table One are University programs offered under the auspices and control of University departments, regardless of whether coursework is undertaken primarily in Kingston or in Providence. These are not distinct degrees merely because coursework is undertaken in Providence.

The rationales for formalizing the option of taking coursework primarily at the Providence campus are three-fold: (1) to increase access to higher education for potential applicants unable or unwilling to consider residence or commuter status in Kingston and who are attracted to URI by the fees-reduction (see Table Two below) or proximity available through Providence; (2) to utilize more fully the facility capacity inherent at AFCCE; and (3) to increase total enrollment without adding to crowding on the Kingston campus.

This proposal is unrelated to the Performance Based Admissions option (UNIVERSITY MANUAL paragraph 8.11.20) and in no way alters that option.

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Table One: Programs of Study for which Coursework Can Be Presently or Potentially Completed on the Providence Campus Fully or on a Two-plus-two Basis

Master's degree programs currently offered completely in Providence:

Undergraduate Programs for Which Coursework Can Be Fully Completed in Providence:

Majors that Could Be Easily Offered on Two-plus-two Basis:

Majors that Could Be Added if Corresponding Department is Supportive:

Table Two: University of Rhode Island Fall 2003 Full-time Fees per Semester

Student

Services Fees

Undergraduate

Graduate

Kingston

Providence

Kingston

Providence

Memorial Union

130.00

90.00

Library/Computing

76.00

76.00

76.00

76.00

Student Affairs

104.00

102.00

Student Activity

48.00

20.00

15.00

20.00

Athletics

200.00

162.00

Title IX

55.00

55.00

Recreation Fee

51.00

51.00

Arts & Culture

37.00

37.00

37.00

37.00

Transportation Fee

10.00

10.00

Building

68.00

68.00

TOTAL

779.00

133.00

666.00

133.00