The Florida Senate

1007.261  State universities; admissions of students.--Each university board of trustees is authorized to adopt rules governing the admission of students, subject to this section and rules of the State Board of Education.

(1)  Minimum academic standards for undergraduate admission to a university include:

(a)  Each student must have received a high school diploma pursuant to s. 1003.43, or its equivalent, except as provided in s. 1007.271(2)-(5) or completed a home education program according to s. 1002.41

(b)  Each student must have successfully completed a college-preparatory curriculum of 19 credits, as defined in rules of the State Board of Education, including at least 2 credits of sequential foreign language at the secondary level or the equivalent of such instruction at the postsecondary level. A student who completes a home education program according to s. 1002.41 is not required to document completion of the 19 credits required by this paragraph. A student whose native language is not English is exempt from the foreign language 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. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for the articulation of foreign language competency and equivalency between secondary and postsecondary institutions. 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 community college prior to August 1, 1989, and maintains continuous enrollment shall be exempt from this admissions requirement.

(c)  Each student must have submitted a test score from the Scholastic Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination Board or the American College Testing Program.

(2)  The minimum admission standards adopted by the State Board of Education or a university board of trustees must permit a student to earn at least 4 of the 19 credits constituting the college-preparatory curriculum required for admission as electives in any one of the following manners:

(a)  Successful completion of any course identified in the Department of Education course code directory as level two or higher in one or more of the following subject areas: English, mathematics, natural science, social science, and foreign language;

(b)  Successful completion of any course identified in the Department of Education course code directory as level three in the same or related disciplines;

(c)  Any combination of the courses identified in paragraphs (a) and (b); or

(d)  Successful completion of two credits from the courses identified in paragraph (a), plus no more than two total credits from the following categories of courses:

1.  Courses identified in the Department of Education course code directory as ROTC and military training;

2.  Courses identified in the Department of Education course code directory as level two in art-visual arts, dance, drama-theatre arts, language arts, or music; or

3.  Any additional courses determined to be equivalent by the Department of Education.

(3)  Each university may admit a limited number of students notwithstanding the admission requirements of paragraph (1)(b) relating to credits in foreign language, if there is evidence that the applicant is expected to do successful academic work at the admitting university. The percent of applicants admitted under this subsection may not exceed a level established for the university by the State Board of Education. 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 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.

(4)  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.

(5)  Within the admission standards provided for in subsection (1), the State Board of Education 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.

(6)  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.

(7)  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.

(8)  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. 1008.29 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 a state university 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 a state university. The use of test scores prior to August 1, 1984, shall be limited to student counseling and curriculum improvement.

(9)  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.

(10)  A Florida resident who is denied admission as an undergraduate to a state university for failure to meet the high school grade point average requirement may appeal the decision to the university and request a recalculation of the grade point average including in the revised calculation the grades earned in up to three credits of advanced fine arts courses. The university shall provide the student with a description of the appeals process at the same time as notification of the admissions decision. The university shall recalculate the student's grade point average using the additional courses and advise the student of any changes in the student's admission status. For purposes of this section, fine arts courses include courses in music, drama, painting, sculpture, speech, debate, or a course in any art form that requires manual dexterity. Advanced level fine arts courses include fine arts courses identified in the course code directory as Advanced Placement, pre-International Baccalaureate, or International Baccalaureate, or fine arts courses taken in the third or fourth year of a fine arts curriculum.

History.--s. 352, ch. 2002-387.