Admissions Philosophy
Admission to Shepherd University is based on the academic records, leadership involvement, and personal qualities of the applicant. Before admission is offered, the applicant’s credentials must strongly suggest the applicant’s ability and motivation to succeed in higher education and in the Shepherd University community. A conscious effort is made to enroll students from a wide variety of backgrounds who bring with them special talents, abilities, and interests.
Admission Information
Shepherd University enrolls a diverse student population. The university is committed to equal opportunity for all students and all applicants shall be considered without regard to national origin, race, color, age, religion, gender, sexual preference/orientation, physical disability, or financial status. Admission to Shepherd University does not guarantee admission into a specific program. Some programs, most notably nursing, music, art, social work, and education, have special admissions requirements.
Applicants should consult program descriptions in this Catalog for a complete description of any special or additional requirements specific to the programs in which they are interested.
Admission Procedure
Prospective students may obtain application materials by calling 304-876-5212 or 800-344-5231 or online at www.shepherd.edu/admissions. The completed admission application must be returned to the Office of Admissions, Shepherd University, P.O. Box 5000, Shepherdstown, West Virginia 25443-5000.
After all application materials and credentials have been received, the Office of Admissions will notify applicants of its decisions on a rolling basis or as the decisions are made as long as openings remain in the freshman or transfer classes. All official documents received by Shepherd University become the property of the university and cannot be returned to the student. Any willful misrepresentation of information within the application for admissions may be grounds for denial of admission and/or dismissal. Students admitted for the fall semester must confirm their intent to enroll and submit an enrollment deposit of $100 which is refundable up to May 1. Students applying for the spring semester must submit a $100 nonrefundable deposit.
The Office of Admissions shall be responsible for administering admissions policies outlined in the Shepherd University Catalog.
- Prospective students who fail to meet the academic standards necessary for admissions will be notified of their deficiencies.
- Prospective students who wish to challenge or seek an exception to an admissions policy may petition the Admissions and Credits Committee for an exception to the rules in particular cases. For more information, visit www.shepherd.edu/wordpress-1/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/AC_Petition.pdf.
A health form is sent to students upon acceptance and is required to be completed by a physician upon enrolling at Shepherd University. This health form should be returned to the Health Center prior to registration.
Students desiring financial aid should complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) only at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Residence Hall Contract
Housing assignments are made based on the receipt date of the housing application and health forms. The residence hall contract which includes the application, $100 nonrefundable advance housing deposit which is credited to the fall semester room charges, and $100 damage deposit should be submitted by all students desiring and/or required to live in a university residence hall (see section on Residence Life in Student Affairs) as soon as possible after admission to the university is granted. Residence hall contracts will be provided to students upon receipt of an enrollment deposit of $100 in the Office of Admissions. For priority room assignment, housing applications must be received by Residence Life by June 1.
Students who require disability-related accommodations should provide appropriate documentation, submit their applications in a timely manner, and follow directions on the residence hall contract to submit appropriate paperwork to the director of disability support services.
Delayed Enrollment
Students who are offered admission to Shepherd University may postpone their enrollment up to one year. These students are guaranteed space, except in the competitive programs where enrollment is limited, if they satisfy previous admission requirements made as conditions of their original admission. Assurance of future admission does not apply to students who enroll in another college or university during the intervening period; in such cases, it is necessary to consider the student as a transfer applicant based on the coursework taken at the other college or university. Students delaying enrollment must complete the status change form to update personal information and their proposed academic program. Students electing the delayed enrollment plan are not guaranteed residence hall housing and must meet current housing application deadlines.
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