146 rasmussen.edu | 888-5-RASMUSSEN ACADEMIC INFORMATION AND UNIVERSITY POLICIES • An applicant may be accepted into a bachelor-completer program upon receipt of official or unofficial transcripts which prove prior credits. Official or unofficial transcripts must be received no later than the sixth business day of the first term of enrollment in order to begin the program. A student will be withdrawn from the University if official transcripts are not received by the Friday of the thirteenth week of enrollment. In the event that acceptance was based on credits earned at multiple institutions, the official transcript from each institution must be received by the deadline. • A paper transcript is “official” only as long as it remains in its sealed envelope from the issuing institution. An electronic (secure, certified PDF) transcript is “official” in its electronic form as long as it is sent directly from the issuing institution to Rasmussen University and has not been altered. A printed copy of a PDF transcript is not official. Note that program-specific acceptance requirements may apply. Experiential Online Orientation All prospective students, except as noted below, are required to complete an Experiential Online Orientation to be accepted at Rasmussen University. This required online orientation provides students with valuable tools and knowledge necessary for success at Rasmussen University. The following students are exempt from the online orientation unless they are changing/adding course delivery modalities: • Graduates and Completers who return to Rasmussen University within one year following their graduation date. • Returning students who reenter within two Rasmussen University academic start dates since withdrawing from the University and have a Cumulative GPA in their previous program of 2.0 or greater. • Prior applicants who previously completed the online orientation within the two most recent Rasmussen University academic start dates. • Academy for Urban School Leadership Students. • Individuals who, due to extenuating circumstances, may be allowed an exception granted by the Campus Director. Payment of Tuition and Fees Financing your education is one of the most critical components to understand as you embark on your higher education experience. There may be several options available to you in order to finance your education, including scholarships, grants, tuition reimbursement, federal, state, and private student loans, as well as direct payments from you. For additional information regarding funding your education options, please visit https://www.rasmussen.edu/ tuition. Once a student has had their financial aid eligibility determined, a student payment will be scheduled for any balance not covered by financial aid resources. Student payments are due in full prior to or on the first day the term begins. It is your responsibility to ensure you have a financial plan in place prior to beginning classes. This includes completing and providing all the required information to Financial Aid prior to starting classes. If a student has not submitted all requested financial aid eligibility documentation by the beginning of the fifth week of the quarter, a student payment will be scheduled for the full balance due immediately and must be paid by visiting the Pay Online section of the Student Portal at portal.rasmussen.edu. The University does not accept cash but does accept checks mailed to the Business Office and electronic payments including credit cards, debit cards, and electronic checks. All electronic payments must be made through the link in the Pay Online section of the Student Portal. Failure to pay all outstanding charges (tuition, fees, and other institutional charges) by the due date(s) or in full prior to the term end date may result in collection attempts and the inability to continue courses and withdrawal from the University. As you approach graduation, please ensure your account balance is paid in full prior to graduating, or you will not receive your official transcript and diploma except when required by any applicable law. To view your student account balance information, visit the Student Account Center at portal.rasmussen.edu. For any student using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® (Chapter 33) or Veterans Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31) benefits, Rasmussen University ensures that no penalty will be imposed, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, due to the delayed disbursement of a payment by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. To qualify, the student may be required to provide the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by the first day of class, a written request to be certified, or additional information necessary for the proper certification by the University. Background Checks Policy For some programs, Rasmussen University requires students and potential students to pass background checks for admission or program changes / program transfers. Additional background checks may be required during program enrollment prior to practicum or clinical placement. Note that “passing” a criminal background check for the purpose of program acceptance or practicum or clinical placement is determined by Rasmussen University, in its sole discretion. The background check is designed to alert students and potential students to issues that may impair their ability to complete clinical, externship, or practicum activities or to obtain employment upon graduation. The background check is also designed to prevent the accumulation of unnecessary student loan debt. Background check requirements are program specific. See the program pages in the Rasmussen University Catalog for the background check requirement for each program. A. General Background Check, and Florida Level 2 Background Check Processes A general background check is one that is conducted through Rasmussen University’s chosen third-party vendor. Potential students enrolling or students preparing for practicum or clinical experiences in any program requiring a general background check will agree to the terms and conditions of the background check process as part of placing the order through the vendor. Potential students enrolling or students preparing for practicum or clinical experiences in any program requiring a background check meeting the Florida statutory definition of a Level 2 background check must complete and return to the University a VECHS Waiver Agreement and Statement. If the background check reveals any history, Rasmussen University will individually assess the students’ or potential students’ result to determine whether the students or potential students are eligible to start the program or qualify for practicum or clinical placement. The University will send either a possible issue letter or a pre-adverse action letter to all students or potential students whose background check reveals any history. A possible issue letter informs potential students or students that a potential problem revealed in their background check may prevent them from completing practicum or clinical activities and/or finding employment in-field after graduation. Students or potential students who receive a possible issue letter may acknowledge the issue and make an informed decision to continue with the program, they may choose to change programs, or they may choose to withdraw from the University. A pre-adverse action letter informs the students or potential students that the University is about to take adverse action. After receiving a pre-adverse letter, the student may contact the third-party background check firm conducting the general background check or the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and/or FBI conducting the Florida Level 2 background check directly to dispute the information contained in the background check before the University takes adverse action. Unless a dispute is filed, within seven days of sending the pre-adverse action letter, the University will send an adverse action letter indicating the action to be taken, which could include not allowing the potential student to enroll in a certain program, not allowing the student to continue in a practicum or clinical placement, or removing a student from the University. If the student or potential student wishes to appeal an adverse decision, a written appeal should be submitted following the instructions provided with the adverse action letter. The University will review the appeal and issue a final decision. A denied appeal may cause the potential student or student to become ineligible for enrollment in any program requiring a background check or in any program offered by the University. A potential student enrolling in a program requiring a general or Florida Level 2 background check may begin attending provisionally if the general or Florida Level 2 background check is in progress, but not complete, at the start of the potential student’s first academic period of enrollment. This provision of this policy does not apply to the Physical Therapist Assistant Associate’s Degree program or Doctor of Physical Therapy degree program whose potential students must have completed the background check process in its entirety, including any required appeal process, before being accepted and starting the program. ALL CONTENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE BY ADDENDUM