III- 8.00 
                              
            UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF MARYLAND POLICY
       ON THE ADMISSION OF FIRST-TIME FRESHMEN IN THE
                    SPRING ADMITS SEMESTER
                              
    (Approved by the Board of Regents, February 18, 2005)
                              
                              
                              
     In order to more effectively address enrollment
pressures on its institutions, the University System of
Maryland is taking steps to expand capacity, enhance the
quality of the educational experience students receive, and
shorten time to degree. From time to time, highly qualified 
students who have applied for but cannot be granted fall semester 
admission to a USM institution because of limited campus capacity may be
offered admission as first-time students in the spring
semester.  It is the policy of the USM to strongly encourage
those students admitted to institutions as first-time
students in the spring semester to earn at least 12 credits
applicable to their proposed undergraduate degree program in
the fall semester immediately prior to their matriculation.
Students are encouraged to take such coursework at University 
of Maryland University College or a Maryland community college.  
Students will be advised by the institution that they will attend 
in the spring semester about those courses at UMUC or a Maryland 
community college that are applicable to their program requirements.

     Institutions offering spring admission to first-time
students must, when tendering the offer, alert the
student to this USM policy.

     This policy will become effective for offers of
admission tendered on or after July 1, 2005.