Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)

Policy

The Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program offers an opportunity to earn high school and university credit simultaneously for eligible high school juniors and seniors. Students must meet PSEO admissions requirements to be eligible to participate in the PSEO program; admissions requirements vary according to high school grade level, as well as whether the student attends a high school that measures class rank or cumulative GPA.

Seniors - Must rank in the top one-half of their high school class (minimum ACT composite score of 15), or have a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (minimum ACT composite score of 15), or have an ACT composite score of 21 (or equivalent on a nationally normed college entrance exam). Students qualifying for admission based on ACT composite score must also have a minimum GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale.

Juniors - Must rank in the top one-third of their high school class, or have a 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 scale, or have an ACT composite score of 24 (or equivalent score on a nationally normed college entrance exam). Students qualifying for admission based on ACT composite score must also have a minimum GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale.

Home schooled students - Seniors must have an ACT composite score of 21 or above (or equivalent score on a nationally normed college entrance exam). Juniors must have an ACT composite score of 24 or above (or equivalent score on a nationally normed college entrance exam).

9th and 10th grade high school students are not eligible to participate in PSEO on campus.

PSEO students admitted to Minnesota State Mankato have the rights and responsibilities of university students except as noted below.

Procedure

General Limitations

1. The University reserves the right to restrict enrollment in any given year to ensure resources are available for regularly admitted University students.
2. Students can participate in the PSEO program during the fall and spring semesters only. Summer session classes are not eligible for the PSEO program. Students interested in enrolling in summer session courses should speak with the PSEO advisor.
3. PSEO students may enroll in courses that have additional course related costs or special fees up to $100. Minnesota Statute 124D.09, Subd. 19 prohibits institutions from charging PSEO students for necessary costs of the course. The University will cover the cost of these fees. PSEO students are not eligible for coursers held off-campus with private facility fees.
4. The PSEO program reimburses a maximum of 18 credit hours per semester.
5. All textbooks purchased through the PSEO program are the property of Minnesota State Mankato and must be purchased from and returned to the designated bookstore at Minnesota State Mankato upon completion of the course or immediately if a course is dropped or the student withdraws from Minnesota State Mankato. Any textbooks not returned, by the due date, will be charged to the student’s account. The student will be responsible for the bill to campus and may be prevented from registering for future terms until the bill is paid in full.
6. Residence hall rooms are not available to PSEO students at Minnesota State Mankato.

Application and Admission

1. PSEO students must obtain and submit to Minnesota State Mankato a signed Notice of Student Registration form for each semester they intend to enroll. This form is provided by the Minnesota Department of Education. Forms may also be obtained from most high school counseling offices.
2. Application deadlines for PSEO participation are July 15 for Fall Semester and December 1 for Spring Semester.

Academic Standards and Advising

1. All students in the PSEO program will be expected to meet the university Academic Standing for Undergraduate Students. Students falling below minimum standards after one semester will be placed on academic warning and removed from the PSEO program.
2. PSEO students will be required to meet with their campus PSEO advisor prior to registering for courses for the upcoming semester.
3. All courses must be taken for a letter grade unless the course meets all PSEO standards and is available only as Pass/No Credit (P/N).
4. PSEO students who require a sign language interpreter and/or textbooks in alternative format, or have special needs because of a documented disability, should contact the Minnesota State Mankato’s Office of Accessibility Resources to arrange early registration or to obtain needed services.
5. All courses taken by PSEO students must be approved for PSEO students at the 100 and 200 levels. PSEO students are not allowed to register for courses numbered below 100, arranged courses, or independent study courses unless otherwise noted in this policy.
6. PSEO students may register for upper-division courses if they meet the required pre-requisites and gain approval from the appropriate academic department.
7. Credit by Exam or College Level Examination Program (CLEP) are not allowed to be taken for credit by PSEO students.
8. PSEO is considered a space available program, therefore, PSEO students are not allowed to receive special permission to register from faculty or departments.
9. Advising regarding the use of university level credits to meet high school graduation requirements must be done by the high school counselor.

Rationale

As stated in Minnesota Statute124D.09, Subd. 2., the purpose of the Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program “is to promote rigorous academic pursuits and to provide a wider variety of options to high school pupils by encouraging and enabling secondary pupils to enroll full time or part time in nonsectarian courses or programs in eligible postsecondary institutions.” PSEO offers an opportunity for eligible high school juniors and seniors to earn high school and university credit simultaneously. While there is value for both students and the university in this program, this policy helps define the parameters to the program due to resource limitations and state law/ Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system policy. Classes can be taken at the Minnesota State Mankato campus or at an off-campus location. Tuition and required textbook costs are paid by the Minnesota Department of Education; therefore, there is no cost to the PSEO student. This Post-Secondary Enrollment Options policy of Minnesota State Mankato is developed in accordance with the content of the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities Board of Trustees Policy 3.5 and Procedure 3.5.1. If a high school participates in Concurrent Enrollment with Minnesota State Mankato, the University class is taught in the high school.