The purpose of this protocol is to ensure that Parami University determines undergraduate applicants’ admission in compliance with the requirements of the Higher Education Licensure Commission of the Office of the State Superintendent of Education of the District of Columbia. In addition, this protocol explains how the University will have to recruit students.

Scope

This is an administrative policy, affecting prospective applicants of the University.

Referenced Laws, Regulations, and/or Policies 

The Higher Education Licensure Commission, Office of the State Superintendent Of Education of the District of Columbia, requires that a postsecondary degree-granting educational institution shall: 

(a) Develop, publish, and apply a written statement clearly delineating fair and objective standards for the admission of students; and 

(b) Admit only such students to a degree granting program who shall have a high school diploma or equivalent, or who shall have demonstrated to the postsecondary degree granting educational institution, by a method which has received prior approval of the Commission, a reasonable ability to benefit from the proposed curriculum and successfully to complete the program in which the student is to be enrolled.

(D.C. Mun. Regs. Tit. 5, § A8004.11)

Protocol

Recruitment: The student recruitment will be mainly done and processed online. In line with the University’s commitment to diversity, the Office of Admissions will ensure to reach out and provide virtual information sessions to youth from all walks of life by contacting youth organizations, local community centers, private and public high schools. The information sessions which will be held via Zoom application will be an opportunity to interact with and recruit students with strong interests in the undergraduate programs.

Parami University’s program information either on its website or in social media clearly state the fair and objective standards for the admission into its undergraduate programs. It is clearly stated that prospective applicants will be required to familiarize themselves with the program application requirements announced on the website.

Application: All applicants will have to submit the following documents: 1) Completed application forms, 2) personal statement, 3) high school transcript or its equivalent,  4) English proficiency test score, 5) standardized test score or its equivalent (if any), and 6) two recommendation letters. Students must submit these forms, except two recommendation letters, through our Apply online application portal.

Admissions: Parami University will practice a need-blind admissions policy. The admissions and financial aid committee composed of the Dean of Academic Affairs, the Director of Admissions and Student Affairs, the Admissions & Financial Aid Senior Officer and the Admissions & Financial Aid Officer(s), will review the applications and short-list the applicants based on their merits. The Director of Admissions and Student Affairs will oversee the admissions processes while the Officers are the key responsible coordinators to keep admissions running. The Dean of Academic Affairs will be responsible, along with the Director of Admissions and Student Affairs to assess the applications.  

1. Application forms: Application forms will be made available in the Parami Apply portal (sample application form attached). Applicants will have to submit completed forms in the portal. Once they have submitted their personal information, they will be taken to the next pages requesting further information.

2. Personal Statement: All applicants must submit a personal statement to the application portal. Personal statements are not graded. They are used along with other information from the students to determine their admission into Parami.

3. High School Transcript or Equivalent: The applicants will have to submit a notarized high school transcript or its equivalents such as GED, TASC, HiSET, Cambridge AS and A level certificates. If high school transcripts are in another language other than English, notarized transcripts must be submitted along with original transcripts. If the applicants are from refugee camps, other credentials such as UNESCO Qualifications Passport will also be accepted. Applicants who are in their final years of high school will be considered with the condition that they will have to submit their high school transcript after graduation. If students cannot provide any of these documents, they must submit one of the following federally-approved ability to benefit (ATB) test scores: 

If students cannot provide any of these documents, they will have to take a Parami-proctored Wonderlic Basic Skills Test (WBST), provided free of charge. Applicants will be contacted separately if they indicate that they will take the Parami-proctored test. The test will be offered continuously on a rolling basis. Typically, the University will set up several entrance tests (at least four tests every month) during the admissions season between October and May, after which there will be some scheduled tests based on the number of applicants. 

4.   English Proficiency Score: For those applicants whose mother-tongue is English, or those whose mother-tongue is not English, but who completed two years of high school with English as their medium of instruction, it will not be necessary to provide English Proficiency Score. All other applicants must provide an English Proficiency Score at the high end of the upper intermediate level. 

If students cannot submit any of these scores, they will be required to take a Parami-proctored Emmersions test, provided free of charge. Students must have a minimum level of B2 in Emmersions. Applicants will be contacted separately if they indicate that they will take the Parami-proctored test. The test will be offered continuously on a rolling basis. Typically, the University will set up several entrance tests (at least four tests every month) during the admissions season between October and May, after which there will be some scheduled tests based on the number of applicants. 

 5. Standardized Test Score or Equivalent: Those who have taken the SAT/ACT/AP can submit their SAT/ACT/AP scores in the portal. SAT/ACT/AP standardized test scores are not, however, required.

 6. Recommendation Letters: Students will be requested to add email information of at least two recommenders. At least one of the recommenders must be academically-affiliated to the student, such as teacher, school administrator, or school principal. Another one could be a mentor, advisor, or supervisor. Once students add the contact information of referees, they will automatically be contacted by the portal to create an account and submit their letters.

Students who have submitted all items 1–6 as requested will be reviewed by the admissions committee once their recommendation letters are received. Short-listed applicants that meet our criteria will be directly granted an interview to examine their intellectual and leadership potential.

Students who have submitted only item 1 and 2, but have indicated that they will be taking one or both of the Parami tests will be contacted for taking required tests. Once their recommendation letters are received, their applications will be reviewed by the admissions committee.

Interviews will also be a part of the admissions process. During the interview process, students will be evaluated on three criteria: 1) Community Engagement; 2) Personal Traits, and 3) English Level. Each criteria will be evaluated using a rubric as below, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest. The highest possible score is 55 and students who score 33 and above will be considered pass. 

Once decisions are made, the admissions team will inform their decisions as an offer of admission, conditional offer of admission, wait-listed offer of admission, or denial of admission via the Apply portal. Then, the Unit of Admissions and Financial Aid, Office of Admissions and Student Affairs will work with the student during the period of financial aid determination (Please see the Financial Aid Determination procedure) in the Apply portal, all the way to a point where the student signs an enrollment agreement letter (form attached).

Review

The Office of Admissions and Student Affairs is responsible for ensuring compliance with this policy in various offices of the University.

Date

Adopted on January 31, 2022.

Amended on January 13, 2023; Effective Immediately