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Request for an Exception to the Regionally Accredited Institution Requirement for Admission

An applicant who does not hold at least a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university may request an exception to this admission requirement. The procedure for submitting and reviewing requests is:

  1. A written request (via email or regular mail) is submitted by the student to the Graduate Program Coordinator asking that the Coordinator petition the Graduate Dean to consider the student for admission. The request should include the Graduate Appeal Form Cover Sheet and a letter that provides (a) the name of the non-accredited institution, (b) the degree received and date received, (c) the reasons for believing admission is warranted in this situation, and (d) any additional information considered relevant.
  2. The Coordinator reviews the request. If the coordinator does not agree to petition the Graduate Dean, the application is marked “ineligible for admission” and the application fee is refunded to the student. If the Coordinator does agree to petition the Graduate Dean, the Coordinator forwards the signed Graduate Appeal Form Cover Sheet, along with a written recommendation that includes (a) alternative institutional criteria and (b) alternative student admission criteria to support the recommendation.
    1. Alternative institutional criteria may include, but are not limited to, alternative forms of institutional recognition such as accreditation or affiliation with non-regional agencies, or documents that summarize the missions and goals of the institution.
    2. Alternative student admission criteria may include, but are not limited to, test scores, portfolios, interviews, and/or other related student documentation. To ensure the quality of Boise State University’s graduate programs, the documentation by the Coordinator should indicate that the applicant is academically comparable to current high achieving students in the Boise State University program to which the applicant is applying.
  3. The Graduate Dean reviews the submitted materials and either denies the admission or admits with provisional status. If the decision is to deny admission, the application is marked “ineligible for admission,” and the application fee is refunded to the student.
  4. Students who are granted provisional admission will be required to complete at least nine (9) credits of graduate work required for the graduate program with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher. They must also satisfy any additional provisions as required by the program.