Admission to University of Valley Forge involves both a commitment to academic achievement and to a lifestyle consistent with the values and objectives of the university. Therefore, in signing the application, each student certifies an intent to abide by the ethical and moral principles of the university as well as accept the task of learning and intellectual development.

In selecting students for admission, UVF looks for evidence of Christian commitment as well as the desire and capacity to learn. Admission is based on a composite picture afforded by the student’s transcripts, test scores, and essay concerning the student’s interest in attending the university and being a part of our Christian community. UVF does not discriminate on the basis of handicap, sex, race, color, or national or ethnic origin in the recruitment and admission of students. The Admissions Committee is responsible for final action on all applications.

 

ADMISSIONS PROCEDURE

Those desiring admission to UVF should submit an application online at apply.valleyforge.edu and the following documents to the Admissions Office.

1. Official high school transcripts, (transfers included) or General Education Development (GED) scores. If UVF or the US Dept. of Education Secretary has reason to believe that the high school diploma is not valid or was not obtained from an entity that provides secondary school education, it is reviewed. UVF will take reasonable steps to determine its validity, which include but are not limited to the following: (1) request documentation such as an affidavit or other signed legal document from the school board, guidance department, or principal from the secondary school sealed, stamped, and delivered by mail or sent password protected electronically directly to the Office of Admissions that confirms the validity of the student’s diploma; (2) receive official legal documentation from the relevant department or agency in the state in which the secondary school is located that the secondary school is recognized as a provider of secondary school education, (3) present all findings to our High School Credential Validation ad-hoc committee for further review or investigation. Should any findings demonstrate that the high school or secondary school entity is invalid, the student will be ineligible for financial aid and admission will be denied or rescinded until proof of legal high school completion is demonstrated.

2. Previous college transcripts from any/all institutions of higher learning.

UVF is test optional. Scores of either the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), the American College Test (ACT) or the Classic Learning

Test (CLT) are not required for admission, but may be considered for some scholarship eligibility and are used for math and English placement. If needed for a more accurate assessment of academic potential, UVF reserves the right to request additional letters of recommendation from previous schools.

UVF requires a 2.0 high school GPA on a 4.0 scale for admission. Applicants that do not meet this requirement may still be evaluated and, if accepted, required to meet additional conditions.

 

ENROLLMENT DEPOSIT

Applicants who have been accepted must submit an enrollment deposit ($100 for main campus; $50 for virtual campus) to reserve their place. This deposit serves as a declaration of intent to enroll and is credited toward the student’s account. This is a non-refundable deposit. Room assignments are based upon the date of enrollment deposit as well as submission of the Housing Form. Those first to pay will be assigned a room according to the date of matriculation. Those who are interested in Family Housing must pay the $100 enrollment deposit, a Family Housing security deposit in the amount of one month’s rent, and submit a Family Housing Application in order to be placed on the Family Housing waiting list.

 

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

(Applies to any applicant who is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the United States.)

Complete all the standard application requirements including official transcripts from high school and college or university. If English is not your native language, see the “Test Of English as a Foreign Language” section in this Catalog. International students pursuing an F-1 student visa must go through the process required for an I-20 form and then apply for the visa in their country of residency. Affidavits of financial support along with statements from financial institutions must also be submitted before an I-20 form can be processed. International students are prohibited from working off-campus and must maintain a minimum of 12 credits hours each semester, with 50% or more of the credits being in seated classes. See the University website for more information about the process for international students to study at UVF.

 

TEST OF ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

A mastery of the English language is crucial for academic success at UVF. Students whose first language is not English must take an English Proficiency test. There are multiple English Proficiency test options. The first option is the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL-IBT) with a required minimum score of 70. The second test option is Duolingo with a required minimum score of 105. The third option is the IELTS with a required minimum score of 6. The fourth test option is SAT with a minimum score of 500 on the Language Arts section. The fifth test option is ACT with a minimum score of 17 on the Language Arts section. The sixth test option is Cambridge, with a minimum test score of B2. The final test option is iTEP, with a minimum test score of 3.5. The passing scores of only one of these tests is required for admission to the college. Students who have lived in the United States and have demonstrated a sufficient mastery of English skills may be exempt from taking an English Proficiency test. All entering students are required to take the UVF English entrance exam. Students who score low on this exam are required to enroll in the remedial English course.

 

TRANSFER STUDENTS

Transfer students are accepted from accredited colleges based on their application, essay, SAT/ACT scores (optional), and transcripts from previous institutions attended. All transcripts from colleges and other institutions of higher learning are required. (If an Associate Degree has been earned from a regionally accredited college or university, the high school transcript is not required.) Credits will be considered from institutions having accreditation recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation  University of Valley Forge follows the recommendations of the joint statement of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, The American Council on Education/Commission of Educational Credit and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation regarding the transfer of credits from institutions of postsecondary education.

 

TRANSFER OF CREDITS POLICY

Transfer of credits toward a degree program is based on the comparability and applicability of the credit from the sending institutions toward a degree program at UVF. Grades of at least “C” or its equivalent are considered for possible credit. Credit for course work taken at other institutions will be transferred to UVF subject to the following primary considerations:

A. The accreditation status of the institution;
B. The mission of the institution from which credits would be transferred;
C. The comparability of the course work with UVF course work; and
D. The appropriateness of the course work for meeting baccalaureate and graduate degree requirements at UVF.

 

A. Accreditation Status

The platinum standard of transferability is college/university-level accreditation with one of the regional accrediting agencies recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). These are:

1. The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools;

2. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), 1007 North Orange Street, 4th Floor, MB #166, Wilmington, DE 19801, Phone 267-284-5000; or http://www.msche. org;

3. The Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges;

4. The Commission on Technical and Career Institutions of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges;

5. The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities;

6. The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools;

7. The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges; and

8. The Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

 

B. Mission

UVF will accept credit from institutions endorsed by the Alliance for Assemblies of God Higher Education.

Religious Studies courses transfer if they are not doctrinal, confessional, or sectarian in nature. Religious Studies courses from public institutions transfer without special review; religious studies courses from all other institutions will be evaluated by appropriate college or departmental faculty.

Member institutions accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), a national accrediting agency recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), will be recognized. Other national accrediting agencies recognized by CHEA will be evaluated on an institution-by-institution basis.

Bible institutes and training centers which have articulation agreements with UVF will be evaluated based on the specifics of the agreement. Bible institutes and training centers which do not have articulation agreements with UVF will only be evaluated for Life Experience credit. This will be done on an institution-by-institution basis.

 

C. Comparability of Coursework

Credit granted by another institution for non-traditional experiences: College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), American Council on Education (ACE), and military training ( Joint Services Transcript JST and DSST/DANTES) will be re-evaluated for content and comparability by the Registrar’s Office.

International Baccalaureate credits are transferable if a student obtains a score of a 4 or higher on a higher-level exam and if the credits apply to a student’s intended major.

Credits from technical schools may be considered for transfer when appropriate to a student’s degree program. Credit is not normally transferred from specialized or proprietary institutions, military training, or industry-based education programs.

UVF will only accept transfer credit from courses that are taken in a seated, face-to- face format, and online. UVF will not accept correspondence courses for transfer.

 

D. Appropriateness of Coursework Transferable credits are accepted by UVF

to the extent that they apply to the student’s declared program of study. Evaluation is completed by the Registrar’s Office – in collaboration with Department chairpersons, when necessary – and relevant credits are articulated and applied to the transcript accordingly.

Transfer credits from other institutions will be limited to a total of 90 credits toward a Bachelor’s Degree and 45 credits toward an Associate Degree. This is in compliance with UVF’s policy that the final 30 credits for a Bachelor’s Degree and the final 15 credits for an Associate Degree must be taken through the university.

 

DUAL DEGREES

Students desiring to earn both an Associate degree and a Bachelor’s degree must have 15 distinct credit hours in the Associate degree which are not already included in the Bachelor’s degree. Students desiring to earn two Bachelor’s degrees must have 30 distinct credits between the two degrees. Students desiring to earn two Associate degrees must have 15 distinct credits between the two degrees.

 

LIFE EXPERIENCE CREDIT

University of Valley Forge will not automatically transfer in credits for Life Experience or non-classroom learning awarded by another institution. UVF will make its own determinations regarding Life Experience or non-classroom learning.

 

INTERNATIONAL TRANSFER CREDIT

Because of the great variety of types of educational institutions that exist around the world, as well as how difficult it is to assess foreign equivalences to American terminology and standards, UVF requires academic credit earned from institutions located outside of the United States not only to be documented with transcripts or similar official reports, but also to be evaluated by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES®) member organization. Transfer credit will be assessed based on equivalency to collegiate work completed at regionally accredited institutions in the United States.

 

MATRICULATING STUDENTS – TRANSFER CREDIT

Students who have matriculated at University of Valley Forge are expected to complete their credits with University of Valley Forge coursework. Exceptions may be granted for students with the approval of the student’s academic advisor in consultation with the Department Chair and the UVF Registrar’s Office.

Students may complete up to 15 credits of Core or elective credit requirements through a regionally accredited two or four-year institution, or other method consistent with University of Valley Forge’s Transfer Credit policy. Exceptions requested for Major-specific requirement courses must be approved by the department chair of the relevant discipline.

Students that have matriculated at University of Valley Forge that intend to seek approval to pursue transfer credit as described above must complete the Concurrent Enrollment Request form available on myVALLEYFORGE.

 

VETERAN AFFAIRS AND GI BILL® BENEFITS

All veterans who are enrolled at UVF should request their records to be transferred to the Veterans Office in Philadelphia. Veterans are to submit to the Registrar’s Office a copy of DD form 214 and their Certificate of Eligibility.

UVF is authorized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to certify students who qualify for the Montgomery GI Bill ® Active Duty (Chapter 30), Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31), Veteran Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 32), Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33), Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program, (Chapter 35), and Montgomery GI Bill ® Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606). If you are unsure of your eligibility or entitlement, please contact the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs at (888) 442-4551.

Pursuant to Title 38 of the United States Code Section 3679(e), University of Valley Forge will not prevent a covered individual’s enrollment, impose any penalty, late fees, denial of services, nor will covered individuals be required to borrow additional funds due to the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement of funding from VA under Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31) or Post-9/11 GI Bill ® (Chapter 33).

A covered individual is any individual who is entitled to educational benefits under Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31), or Post-9/11 GI Bill ® (Chapter 33).

GI Bill ® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

 

TUITION ASSISTANCE

UVF is a participating school of the Department of Defense’s Tuition Assistance (TA) Program. (https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Benefit-Library/Federal-Benefits/Tuition-Assistance-(TA))

TA enrollment requests much be submitted and approved prior to the course start date.

 

DUAL ENROLLMENT

UVF offers a dual enrollment program for high school students to begin college-level studies and apply the credits to their high school diploma. The program is available for sophomores, juniors, and seniors in high school. Acceptance into this program for all students is dependent on completing a UVF Dual Enrollment application. Juniors and seniors in high school require a 2.5 GPA on their official high school transcript to be accepted into the program. Sophomores in high school require a 3.0 GPA on their official high school transcript as well as a letter of support from a teacher or administrator to be accepted into the program. Juniors and seniors may take up to 6 credits per semester and sophomores may take 3 credits per semester. Dual Enrollment students may take up to a total of 30 credits while still in high school.

 

READMISSION

Any student who has attended UVF and has discontinued studies for one semester or more must apply for readmission. Former students must be granted acceptance before they will be permitted to register. If a student has missed three semesters or more, the admission procedure for first-time students must be followed. Transcripts of any college work completed during the student’s absence from UVF must be.

 

ADVANCED PLACEMENT

Academic credits may be granted to students who meet the scoring requirements on tests administered through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and the Advanced Placement Program (AP). A total of 30 credits may be earned in this manner. Only 100- and 200- level courses may be earned through CLEP tests.

The credit value awarded for each test will be determined primarily by the published recommendations from ACE through the College Board.

A score of greater than or equal to 50 is necessary for a transfer of credits from CLEP and a score of 3 or greater is necessary for the acceptance AP credits. Further information may be obtained by going to clep.collegeboard.org

 

CAMPUS VISIT

Students are encouraged to visit UVF, especially during their junior or senior year of high school. Personalized Visits can be scheduled during weekdays throughout the year. These visits enable high school students and graduates to visit campus with the option to make their visit their own. All guests are given a campus tour and meet with an admissions counselor as part of their visit. Prospective students also have the option to attend class, chapel, and lunch, as well as the option to meet with a professor or coach during their visit. Visiting while classes are in session offers the best picture of campus life, but guests may also visit during the summer. Appointments can be made Monday through Friday by visiting https://visit.valleyforge.edu/event/valleyforge.events.382912. Five- days’ notice is required.

Each semester UVF also provides opportunities for visits through Open Houses, Breakaways, and Transfer Tuesdays. Open Houses feature select majors and are generally offered twice each semester for interested high school seniors and juniors. Breakfast, a campus tour and lunch are provided. Breakaways are a 24-hour overnight experience for high school students. Guests can attend a variety of classes, chapel services, fun events, and meals are provided. Students are required to bring a chaperone to Breakaway. Transfer Tuesdays are also available for transfer students. Specific dates and registration information can be obtained by calling the Admissions Office at 610-917-1454 or by going to valleyforge.edu/visit.

 

PART-TIME STUDENTS

Part-time students (less than 12 credits per semester) are also required to submit an application. Should a student desire to work toward a degree, all normal admissions procedures must be followed (see page 16-17)