Headlines/April 6, 1992 Admissions and registration processes tackled at degree information sessions About 100 potential degree program students showed up at two information sessions held on consecutive Wednesdays at the UCFV Chilliwack and Abbotsford campuses. The sessions featured general overviews of university college plans by President Peter Jones, Student Society President Wilf Vicktor, and representatives of the Admissions and Counselling departments. Current and potential students then had the option of attending small group sessions for some degree programs, or asking questions at special booths set up for other planned degree programs. Many of the questions at the sessions . focused on the fine poinis of admission, registration, and transferability. Registrar Bill Cooke was up-front about his ability to answer questions. “T’ll try and give you definite answers: yes, no or maybe,” he joked. “Until the Arts degree program is - approved by the SFU Senate, we don’t know the answers to some questions. Even then it will be a growth and learning process for everyone involved.” Cooke concentrated on the Bachelor of Arts degree at the information sessions, since the program requirements for the Criminal Justice and Business Administration degree programs, planned in partnership with the Open University, are already described in the UCFYV calendar, and not many changes are expected when final approval from OU is received. Although potential students may have admissions questions for which there is not yet a definite answer, Cooke urged them to apply for admission immediately anyway (applications have been accepted since February). “Apply, let us know you’re interested, and then we can look at your individual case as it relates to transferability and qualifications.” Students wanted to know which institution’s name would be on their degree. “Tf it’s an Arts degree, the transcript and degree parchment will say that it’s a Simon Fraser University degree offered in collaboration with the University College of the Fraser Valley,said President Peter Jones. “In the case of Business Administration and Criminal Justice, it will be an Open University degree offered in collaboration with Fw oh Bae “Pll try and give you definitive answers — yes, no, or maybe,” Bill Cooke. Students interested in the Arts degree were told that they would have some new steps to go through for admission. Formal admission to the degree program will be at the third year level. After applying to the degree program and being deemed admissible, both current and new students will have to be accepted by the program and by the departments in which they want to earn their extended minors. “This does not mean that you cannot take any third year courses if you’re not formally in the program. As long as you meet the prerequisites for third year courses, you will be eligible to sign up for them. However, there will be some reserved seats in these courses for students registered in the degree programs.” Third or fourth year courses taken before a student formally enters the program will apply toward the degree. Students will be eligible for entry to the Arts degree program after earning 60 credits transferrable to SFU, witha minimum of a 2.0 (C) grade point average. They should also ensure that they have made some progress in meeting the degree’s breadth and extended minor requirements while in first and second year. Arts degree program students will have to take two extended minors, maintain a 2.0 GPA and fulfil a number of other requirements, in areas such as reasoning, literacy, humanities, social science and lab science. For an extended minor, students take the major requirements for a subject at the first and second year level, and some additional courses in that subject at the upper levels. Majors are not planned for UCFY at this time. Some students wanted to know whether they could apply to the degree program before earning 60 credits. “If you’re very close, apply and come and talk to me,” said Cooke “In the early years, we may be able to make some exceptions on a case-by-case basis.” Students will not be able to apply more than 60 credits from another institution towards the Arts degree. “We will calculate your GPA based on all the credits you’ ve earned in order to make the admission decision, but only 60 will apply toward the degree, and those must all transfer to SFU, and meet other degree requirements,” said Cooke. There will be no time limit on completing the Arts degree, nor on the age of transfer credits. The Criminal Justice and Business Administration degrees will have a 10-year completion limit, and will not accept credits earned more than 10 years ago. Cooke was asked whether students who were more than half-way through their degrees at other institutions would be able to take courses at UCFV. “That will depend on the home institution, on a letters-of-permission basis. For example, if you’re an SFU student who wants to take courses here, you would ask SFU for a letter of permission to study at UCFV. Although we will be offering an SFU degree, the. two institutions will remain separate.” This means that SFU students applying to take UCFV courses would be considered new students and would not receive any priority over current - students. Cooke cautioned that not everyone will get every course they want. “We have students here already who have not been able to get the first and second year courses they want. They receive registration priority over new students.”