For priority processing and scholarship consideration, applications of transfer students should be submitted by June 1 for the fall semester and November 1 for the winter semester. There is no priority deadline for the summer semester. Applications will no longer be accepted for the fall, winter, or summer semester upon the first day of classes.
Transfer students must submit a transcript from an officially accredited college or university, with evidence of a GPA of 2.00 in major subjects, as well as a minimum composite ACT (American College Test) of 18 or an SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) of 960 (Evidence-Based Reading & Writing, Math) prior to registration. Students who have a transfer GPA of 2.50 or above in 12 hours of major subjects such as general education courses offered at Southern in general education areas I or S (see Catalog under General Education), may be exempt from the ACT/SAT requirement unless required by individual department or school.
Applicants who do not meet the requirements for regular acceptance will be considered for admission on academic probation as outlined below.
Academic probation continues for the entire first semester and allows a maximum enrollment of 13 credit hours, one of which must be NOND 105 The University Enrichment, for the semester.
Students will be reviewed by the Academic Review Committee at the end of the semester at which time they will either be placed on regular standing, remain on probation, or be academically dismissed.
Applicants wishing to request additional consideration of their admission decision may appeal to the Admissions Committee. Appeal should be made in writing to applications@southern.edu.
Southern accepts credits from approved accredited institutions and verifiable credit from international and non-accredited institutions. Credit by examination taken at other colleges will be accepted according to Southern Adventist University standards (see "University Credit by Examination" in the Academic Policies section of the Catalog). Background deficiencies revealed by transcripts and entrance examinations will be given individual attention.
The criteria for evaluating transfer work from an accredited school is based on guidelines given in Transfer Credit Practices AACRAO 2015 guide. The ACE recommendation guide is used for evaluating transcripts for the veterans of the armed forces. Transfer courses that are comparable to Southern Adventist University courses may be recorded with an earned grade of "C-" or higher. All college transfer work from Tennessee will be recorded to meet the requirements of the HOPE scholarship. Transfer credit from international foreign schools must be evaluated by a credentialed foreign evaluator. As a general rule, accredited international institution credit is usually issued with pass/fail grades.
A student who has been dismissed from another institution because of poor scholarship or citizenship, or who is on probation from that institution, is not generally eligible for admission until s/he can qualify for readmission to the institution from which s/he has been dismissed.
Transfer students must submit both their official college and high school transcripts to the Enrollment Management Office before being allowed to continue registering for classes.