Nov 23, 2024  
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog & Student Handbook 
    
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog & Student Handbook [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Admission Information



Admissions Center: 863-874-4474

Email: admissions@floridapoly.edu

Web: https://floridapoly.edu/

Application for Admission

Students interested in pursuing graduate work at Florida Poly, should complete the Florida Polytechnic University “Admissions Application” online and submit the $30 (in U.S. Currency), non-refundable application fee. Students should apply by the deadlines provided on the Office of Admissions website: https://floridapoly.edu/admissions/ For more information see FPU-2.006.

 

Typically, Gradudate Admissions Deadlines are as follows:

  • Application Opens – August 1
  • FAFSA Opens – October 1
  • Graduate Application Deadline – July 15
  • Graduate Deposit Deadline – August 1

Questions concerning admission requirements and applications can be forwarded to admissions@floridapoly.edu. Applications for admission can be submitted up to one year prior to the start of the term desired. The application deadline for graduate students is July 15th for the fall term. The Office of Admissions reserves the right to admit students after the published deadline on a space available basis. The priority deadline for most financial assistance and scholarships is January 1st for the Fall Semester and November 1st for the Spring.

 

Graduate Admissions Requirements

Admission decisions are based on consideration of the applicant’s academic records, statement of purpose , and letters of recommendation. For all master’s degrees offered, the following admissions requirements pertain:

  • Online application
  • Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended (transcripts for Florida Poly students and alumni will be accessed directly by the Office of Admission)
  • Two letters of recommendation (waived for current Florida Poly students and alumni)
  • Statement of purpose

For additional information see FPU-2.008.

Note: Furnishing false or fraudulent statements in connection with an application for admission or residency affidavit may result in disciplinary action, denial of admission, loss of financial aid, and invalidation of credits or degrees earned.

 

Admissions Documents

In addition to the online application, prospective students must submit all required documents to

  • Florida Polytechnic University, Office of Admissions, 4700 Research Way, Lakeland, FL 33805

Once the above materials have been submitted and the applciation fee has been paid, your application will be reviewed by the Florida Poly Graduate Admission Committee. Admission to our graduate program is a selective process, and the committee will conduct a comprehensive review to assess each applicant’s promise for academic success at Florida Poly.

 

Transfer Applicants

Florida Polytechnic University welcomes transfer applications to our graduate programs. Transfer students must meet the above requirements and be in good-standing at their current institution. Students should apply online at floridapoly.edu and arrange to have official transcripts sent from all colleges attended as well as submit the additional documents required. 

Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

Graduate transfer students are eligible to transfer up to 12 credits to apply to their master’s at Florida Poly, although typically fewer are accepted. The University reserves the right to accept or deny credits on the basis of applicability and other academic bases. 

Transfer students are required to complete at least 18 hours in residence at Florida Polytechnic University to earn a master’s degree. For additional information see FPU-5.0083AP.

 

International Students

Florida Polytechnic University is authorized under Federal law to enroll non-immigrant alien students. Applicants are classified as international if they are not United States citizens, dual citizens, or permanent residents, and if they are applying for an F-1 student. International students may apply to study in any degree program or major for which the University has been granted authorization by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or U.S. Department of State to enroll international students.

International students must meet admission criteria at the level of entrance for the program to which they apply, as well as the following:

1. International students must have all credentials and admission information submitted to the Office of Admissions prior to the published deadline on the Admissions website for international students. Students whose applications are not completed by these respective dates (all elements of the application process including submission of required documents, transcripts and evaluations, test scores and application fee, etc.) may be changed to the next fall or spring term for admission.

2. For academic work completed at non-U.S. institutions, a credential evaluation is required for all undergraduate and graduate programs. All coursework required for an admissions decision must be evaluated by an international evaluation agency.  Agency recommendations are listed on the University’s international admission website. All documents submitted become the property of Florida Polytechnic University and cannot be returned or forwarded. A course by course evaluation is required for any college courses taken and is recommended for high school equivalency unless a GPA is included in the evaluation. If so, then a document by document evaluation will suffice. Students need to request that the agency send the results directly by mail to the Office of Admissions as an official document.

3. International students currently attending any institution in the United States must submit a visa clearance form issued by Florida Polytechnic University to be completed by their current school designating Florida Polytechnic University as their transfer institution and confirming their status.

4. Applicants must demonstrate English proficiency in accordance with University policy, and will be required to submit satisfactory evidence to demonstrate English proficiency based on the following options:

  • A qualifying Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 500 on the paper based test, 173 on the computer-based test, or 61 on the iBT Internet-based test
  • A score of at least 6 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam
  • A score of 77 on the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB)
  • Completion of the associates or higher degree at an institutionally accredited American college or university, or any government recognized college or university where English is the primary language of instruction subject to the approval of the AVP for Admissions and Financial Aid or designee.
  • Proving they are from a country where English is the only official language.
  • Establishing that a prior bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree was earned from a country or university where English is the only official language of instruction. 
  • A 510 Critical Reading SAT score or 20 ACT (English section).
  • Presenting a minimum grade of “B” in both English Composition I and English Composition II, or the equivalent, taken at a regionally accredited, not-for-profit postsecondary institution in the United States.
  • Completion of four years of English in an accredited high school in the United States, where English is the primary language of instruction.
  • A documented English proficiency assessment and interview exam by qualified, fulltime Florida Poly faculty and a full-time admissions representative.

5. The applicant must file a Financial Statement confirming availability of specific funds to finance the first year of study before the University issues the appropriate documents for obtaining a visa. The Financial Statement cannot be more than 6 months old, prior to the beginning of the term for which the applicant has submitted their application.

  • A student must be a US citizen or eligible noncitizen to receive federal student aid.

6. No international student in F-1 non-immigrant status shall be permitted to register, or continue enrollment, without demonstrating that the student has adequate medical insurance coverage for illness and accidental injury and which meets the minimum requirements set forth in FPU-2.005 and the Board of Governors Regulation 6.009.

7. International students are subject to the same University policies and procedures that apply to all students, such as admission, enrollment, immunization, etc. Additionally, international students are obligated to follow and comply with the laws and regulations set by the United States Department of State, United States Department of Homeland Security and/or the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, which may determine the student’s eligibility for enrollment, residency status, limitations on credit hours or semesters of study, limitations on enrollment of distance learning courses and length of presence in the U.S.

 

Readmission of Withdrawn Students

Any student who has previously been enrolled in courses at Florida Polytechnic University and has been administratively withdrawn (including dismissal) or withdrew from the university on their own accord must reapply to the University for admission. Students applying for readmission will be evaluated on current admissions requirements. Readmission applications can be completed through the online application at https://floridapoly.edu

 

Appeal of Admissions Decision

An applicant who is denied admission to the University may, within ten (10) days of the date of the written notification of denial of admission, appeal the decision to the Admissions Appeals Committee by sending a written appeal and supporting documentation to the Office of Admissions.  

An applicant admitted to the University but denied admission to a limited access program may also appeal the denied admission to the specific program appeals committee by sending a written appeal and supporting documentation to the Office of Admissions. The applicant’s supporting documentation may include reasons why reconsideration is warranted and should highlight extenuating circumstances and/or appropriate alternative evidence of academic achievement, ability, motivation and responsibility that indicates the applicant’s potential for success at Florida Polytechnic University.

The committee will meet approximately every four weeks, as necessary, to consider appeals. The committee will review the appeal, make a decision, and send a written notice of the decision to the applicant within 10 days of the decision.

 

Required Prior to Enrollment

All students are required to do the following prior to enrollment:

  • Complete the Florida Residency Declaration for Tuition Purposes
  • Complete the Enrollment Acknowledgment Form
  • Complete and submit the Mandatory Immunization Form
  • Complete and submit the Mandatory Medical History Form
  • Provide Final Transcripts
  • Submit any Accelerated Mechanism Credit

 

Florida Residency Declaration for Tuition Purposes

All students are required to complete the declaration form regardless of Florida Residency status. Students who are not eligible for Florida Residency must select that they are a Non-Florida Resident. Those students who are eligible to will need to meet the criteria.

A Florida “resident for tuition purposes” is a person who has, or a dependent person whose parent or legal guardian has, established and maintained legal residency in Florida for at least twelve (12) consecutive months preceding the first day of classes of the term for which Florida residency is sought.

  • Residence in Florida must be a bona fide domicile rather than for the purpose of maintaining a residence incident to enrollment at an institution of higher education.

  • To qualify as a Florida resident for tuition purposes, you must be a U.S. citizen, a foreign national in a non immigrant visa classification that grants you the legal ability to establish a bona fide domicile in the United States, a permanent resident alien, parolee, asylee, Cuban-Haitian entrant, legal alien granted indefinite stay, or other qualified alien as defined under federal law. Other persons not meeting the twelve-month legal residence requirements may be classified as Florida residents for tuition purposes only if they fall within one of the limited special categories authorized by the Florida Legislature pursuant to section 1009.21, Florida Statutes (see “Qualification by Exception” below). All other persons are ineligible for classification as a Florida “resident for tuition purposes.”

  • Living in or attending school in Florida will not, in itself, establish legal residence. Students who depend upon out-of-state parents for support are presumed to be legal residents of the same state as their parents.

  • Residency for tuition purposes requires the establishment of legal ties to the state of Florida. A student must verify that the student has broken ties to other states if the student or, in the case of a dependent student, their parent has moved from another state.

The Florida Residency Declaration can be completed in the Application Portal after a student has committed to attending Florida Polytechnic University. The Application Portal can be found here: https://floridapoly.edu/admissions-and-aid/first-time-students/undergraduate.php

 

Enrollment Acknowledgment & Other Forms

All students are required to complete this form prior to beginning classes at the university. By signing and completing this form students understand their fiscal, academic, and conduct responsibilities. The student will also understand important information in regards to university use of student information, and any important enrollment information. The student must also complete and submit the Mandatory Immunization Form and the Mandatory Medical History Form.

 

Final Transcripts

All official college transcripts are required from all college or universities previously attended for graduate students. All final supporting documents must be received by the Office of Admissions no later than six (6) days after the first day of classes. Those enrolled students who have not submitted official completed records by the deadline will be placed on administrative hold. Students with these incomplete records will not be permitted to register for a future term until all official transcripts and other required documentation have been received. If, upon review of final transcripts, student records are not satisfactory, they may be placed on academic probation or have their admission status revoked. For more information relating to the acceptance of coursework from prior institutions see the Transfer of Coursework section under Academic Information.