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Alvernia College
Graduate and Doctoral Catalog

Admissions & Academic Policies

 

Admissions

Alvernia College grants admission to students whose prior education and life experience enhance the diversity and collegiate experience for the entire student body of all graduate programs. It is the policy of Alvernia College to offer admission to applicants without regard to race, color, creed, sex, age, religion or national origin. Application to Alvernia College is on a rolling admissions basis as is notification of acceptance to the College (except for the MACC and Ph.D. programs). A student seeking admission to the Alvernia College Graduate Program should follow these procedures:

Application
Applicants must send the completed application form and the $50 nonrefundable application fee to the Graduate and Continuing Studies Office. This form can be obtained by contacting the Graduate and Continuing Studies Office, or applications may also be completed and submitted via the College’s website (www.alvernia.edu/prospectivestudent info/applications.htm). Applicants must also submit the following documents to demonstrate potential as a graduate student:

Transcript
An official transcript indicating that the applicant has earned an appropriate baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university must be submitted to the Alvernia College Graduate and Continuing Studies Office. A grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all previous undergraduate and graduate work is typically required. The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires that all Education Certification program candidates have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Acceptance is granted to Education Certification program candidates based on the regulations outlined by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Recommendation Letters
Graduate program applicants must submit three letters of recommendation from former professors, employers, supervisors, or religious or community leaders familiar with the applicant’s personal, educational, or professional achievements. All letters of recommendation must be forwarded directly to the Graduate and Continuing Studies Office. In lieu of letters of recommendation, applicants to the Principal Certification program must submit two completed evaluation forms, one from their current Superintendent and one from their current Principal. Contact the Coordinator of Graduate Admissions and Student Services for further details and to obtain evaluation forms.

Examination Scores
Scores from examinations such as the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT), the Miller Analogies Test (MAT), or the Praxis Series, in combination with grade point averages from previous undergraduate and graduate course work, will be used in assessing a student’s previous educational achievement levels and to evaluate the potential for meeting the demands of course work. Due to these additional assessments, approximate test scores suitable for acceptance are as follows: GRE (verbal-500, quantitative-500), GMAT (total-450), MAT (raw score-45), and Praxis Series (PPST reading-172, PPST writing-173, PPST mathematics-173). All scores will be evaluated by the Program Coordinator of the applicable program. Professional experience will be taken into consideration when test scores are evaluated by the Program Coordinator.

Personal Statement
Applicants must submit a one-page statement that summarizes the value of the program of graduate study for their personal and professional growth and development. Educational and professional experiences that serve as the foundation for graduate study should be described.

Supplemental Material
The applicant may submit evidence of academic or professional awards, special certifications, samples of scholarly or creative work, or completion of specialized examinations. Applicants may also request a personal interview.

Additional Requirements
See the following for details on additional admission requirements for the Master of Arts in Community Counseling, School Nurse Certification, and Doctor of Philosophy Program.

Admission Process for Master of Arts - Program in Community Counseling

A. Each student will complete the necessary application forms, including three references, a personal statement concerning their commitment to the counseling profession, resume, and transcripts from their undergraduate program with a minimum 3.0 GPA and results of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT).

B. Upon completion of the necessary application forms and process, the student will be requested to meet with a faculty member of the Program in Community Counseling leading to a Master of Arts degree for a personal interview. The faculty member will complete an assessment of the applicant’s maturity, ability to work with various client systems, understanding of self as a professional counselor, and establishing professional goals. The faculty member will explain the policies and procedures of the graduate program, including personal and professional liability, due process, remediation and non–academic dismissal to students matriculated in the proposed program.

C. Each student is informed during the personal interview that any felony conviction will impact his or her ability to be licensed. Students are also informed that most community agencies require a criminal background check, both state and federal, and a child abuse background check as prerequisites for the required practicum and internship courses. Students are responsible for securing the necessary criminal and child abuse background checks prior to beginning the required practicum and internship experiences. Students are required to sign a statement that they have read and understood the policies for the Program in Community Counseling leading to a Master of Arts degree.

D. The admissions committee will review the completed application and the recommendation based upon the student’s personal interview to determine if the applicant is to be provisionally admitted into the program.

E. All students will be provisionally accepted into the program until they have successfully completed nine credits of graduate courses; one of the three courses must include Counseling Communication Skills. The student must achieve a minimum of ‘B’ in each of the three graduate courses to be considered for full acceptance into the program.

F. Upon successful completion of nine graduate credits, the student will be interviewed by the program coordinator before being granted full graduate status in the Program in Community Counseling leading to a Master of Arts degree to ensure that the student has the intellectual ability and interpersonal skills and professional commitment to be successful as a professional counselor.

Admission Requirements for School Nurse Certification

A. Students pursuing a school nurse certification are subject to several state requirements. Pennsylvania Department of Education requirements are periodically changed. To view the current requirements, students are encouraged to visit the PDE website at www.pde.state.pa.us.

B. All students are required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an accredited college or university. Additionally, a minimum of six credits in English/Literature, six credits in Mathematics, and three credits in Educational Psychology must be completed. A current RN license is also required.

C. Changes in Pennsylvania Department of Education regulations allow all candidates for Education Specialist Certifications to waive the Praxis testing requirement for all applicants possessing the appropriate Pennsylvania professional license. Since a valid Pennsylvania RN license is a specific certification requirement, all School Nurse
Certification candidates are NOT required to complete ANY Praxis testing.

D. For compliance with health care regulations, prior to entering the clinical practice component of NUR 510- Professional Nursing V: School Nursing, students must provide evidence of the following:

Admission Requirements for Doctor of Philosophy

A. Applicants must send the completed application form and the $100 nonrefundable application fee to the Graduate and Continuing Studies Office. This form can be obtained by contacting the Graduate and Continuing Studies Office, or applications may also be completed and submitted via the College’s website (www.alvernia.
edu/graduate/phd/application.htm). Applicants must also submit the following documents to demonstrate potential as a doctoral student.

B. An official transcript indicating that the applicant has earned an appropriate graduate degree from an accredited college or university must be submitted to the Alvernia College Graduate and Continuing Studies Office. A grade point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale for all previous graduate work is typically required.

C. Doctoral program applicants must submit three letters of recommendation from former professors, employers, supervisors, or religious or community leaders familiar with the applicant’s personal, educational, or professional achievements. All letters of recommendation must be forwarded directly to the Graduate and Continuing Studies
Office.

D. Scores from the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) are preferred, however the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) and the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) are accepted. Scores must be from the last two years. The examination scores in combination with grade point averages from previous graduate course work, will be used in assessing a student’s previous educational achievement levels and to evaluate the potential for meeting the demands of course work. Professional experience will also be weighed against the results of any scores submitted from a graduate school entrance examination.

E. Applicants must submit a statement that summarizes the value of the program of doctoral study for their personal and professional growth and development. Educational and professional experiences that serve as the foundation for doctoral study should be described.

F. The applicant may submit evidence of academic or professional awards and accomplishments, special certifications, samples of scholarly or creative work, or completion of specialized examinations.

G. A professional resume must be submitted with the application for the doctoral program.

H. Each applicant must have an interview with the Doctoral Program Director.

Academic Policies

Alvernia will assess the candidate’s strengths and academic potential using information provided by the student. Applicants for degree programs will be admitted to full, pending, or non-degree status as described below:

Full Graduate Status
Full graduate status includes submission of all required documentation, including official documents verifying the earned baccalaureate degree is from an accredited college or university. Application materials are reviewed and program acceptance granted by the Dean of Graduate and Continuing Studies and the faculty in the selected program. Students may opt for full-time or part-time enrollment.

Students with full graduate status must respond to a written offer of admission that specifies the date of entrance into one of the graduate programs. Students must notify the Graduate and Continuing Studies Office of their intent to accept, reject, or change the effective date of entrance. The admission letter will serve as a permit to register for courses. In most cases, students will be offered admission for a five-year period.

Pending Graduate Status / Non-Degree Status
Pending graduate status includes admission with pending status when the previous academic record is borderline and/or previous academic study or professional experience is insufficient.

Non-degree status allows students to enroll in graduate courses to earn graduate credit for professional certifications or professional development activities in their chosen field. These students must have earned a baccalaureate or other advanced degree from an accredited college or university. Students may be admitted with non-degree status with the
approval of the Dean of the Graduate and Continuing Studies and the faculty in the selected program. Students granted pending or non-degree status are not eligible for Stafford Loans.

Students granted acceptance with pending graduate status or with non-degree status will be admitted for a two-year period. At the end of two years, these students must apply for full graduate status or submit evidence to support their request to continue their studies with pending graduate status or non-degree status. The Dean of Graduate and Continuing Studies must approve these requests. Negative decisions may be appealed to the Provost.

Students granted acceptance with pending graduate status are required to schedule an appointment with the Dean of Graduate and Continuing Studies during the second semester of enrollment. The academic progress of all students with pending graduate status are monitored at the end of each semester. A minimum 2.7 grade point average is required for the first two courses completed. Full graduate status is granted to all students with pending graduate status upon completion of the second course provided that the grades received for both courses are 2.7 grade point average or better. Any student granted acceptance under pending graduate status not meeting the academic requirements outlined above will be academically dismissed. The student may appeal to the Provost.

Probation/Dismissal
A student with full graduate status is immediately notified that he or she is on probation after receiving a grade less than 2.7 in any one course. Any student with full graduate status receiving a grade point average less than 2.7 in two courses is notified of possible academic dismissal pending a Graduate and Continuing Studies Advisory Board decision. Graduate students who incur two or more failing grades in formal course work after being admitted to graduate study are subject to academic dismissal. The student may appeal to the Dean if academically dismissed. Progress toward completion of the graduate degree program will be evaluated by each student’s faculty adviser on a regular basis. Upon completion of five courses, students with full graduate status must achieve and thereafter maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Any student with full graduate status and a minimum of five completed courses who fails to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher is placed on academic probation. Students placed on academic probation are notified in writing of possible academic dismissal pending review by the Advisory Board. Academic probation lasts for a period of one semester.

After completion of that semester, the student’s academic progress is reviewed by the Advisory Board and a decision on his or her potential academic dismissal rendered. Academically dismissed students may appeal to the Provost. Students are not allowed to participate in capstone activities in any program unless they have achieved a cumulative
grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Faculty advisers review the academic records of all graduate students at the end of each semester. Students must schedule two meetings with their faculty advisers each year.

Dismissal for Non-Academic Reasons
Students may be dismissed from the graduate program for the following non-academic reasons:

1. Failure to respect the rights of others as evidenced by verbal, physical or mental abuse of others, harassment of any kind, assault, or any action which endangers the rights of others.
2. Failure to abide by federal, state, and local laws which prohibit the use, possession and sale of illegal substances.
3. Failure to adhere to the various professional codes of ethics, such as the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics.
4. Failure to function appropriately within the site placement settings, internships or practicums, as documented through evaluations by on-site supervisor and academic adviser. (Refer to the Practicum/Internship Manual for specific information on student requirements for the Master of Arts in Community Counseling.) Only the Provost may dismiss a student from the College for non-academic reasons. Students may appeal such a dismissal to the President.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The College will determine its ability to meet the specific requests of special needs students on a case-by-case basis. Reasonable accommodations, as defined by Act 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), will be provided when students self-identify and provide documentation to the Dean of Graduate and Continuing Studies. Students are encouraged to work with the Dean to advance their individual education plan to ensure academic success. As stated in the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 6.5, all records are kept confidential and faculty and staff will be notified of the student’s special needs on a need-to-know basis. In the case of a physical disability, students are encouraged to contact the Dean to discuss their needs. Students with physical disabilities will find that enlarged lavatory facilities are located in the Student Center, Bernardine Hall, and the Physical Education and Recreation Center. The Student Center is ADA compliant and elevators are located in Bernardine Hall, the Physical Education and Recreation Center, and the Student Center. Parking zones for students with disabilities are located in each of the lots on campus.

Institutional Review Board
Graduate students wishing to conduct research involving human participants are required to submit the following documentation to the Institutional Review Board: Review of Research Involving Human Participants form; Human Participants Research Application; a copy of the informed consent form that will be used; a copy of proposed feedback
to the participants or the materials intended to be used during a debriefing; copies of any questionnaires, written material, or software that will be used to collect data during the study. All forms can be obtained in the Graduate Center from the Coordinator of Graduate Admissions and Student Services. After the Institutional Review Board has made a decision, the project adviser will receive notification via e-mail or mail within three working days concerning the status of the proposal. Written notification will also be sent to the adviser seven to ten working days after the Institutional Review Board’s decision. The Board will make one of the four following decisions: approved, not approved, conditionally
approved, or exempt. Progress reports must be filed for all approved projects upon their completion or on the one year anniversary of approval. Researchers may wish to consult http://206.102.88.10/ohsrsite and http://www.hhs. gov/ohrp for information regarding national guidelines on human participant research. Approval of the research by the Institutional Review Board Committee does not absolve the researcher(s) from the responsibility to engage in ethical research, and respecting the rights of participants.

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Graduate and Certification Programs
Master of Arts
Program in Community Counseling
Program in Liberal Studies
Master of Business Adminstration
Master of Education
School Health (M.Ed.) & School Nurse Certification
Principal Certification Programs
Teaching Certification Curriculum
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy
Doctor of Philosophy