The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance on the enrollment of and conferral of degrees on home-schooled students in accordance with the requirements of state and federal law.

The policy deals with 1) degree conferral requirements as applied to home-schooled students and 2) the criteria for eligibility to be considered for matriculation in a degree program at either a state-operated campus or a community college under the program of the State University of New York (University).

Degree Conferral Policy for Home-schooled students

Under New York State law, an institution of higher education may confer an earned degree only on persons who meet specific preliminary education requirements (8 NYCRR Section 3.47[a]). Requirements for degree conferral depend upon whether the degree candidate is beyond the age of compulsory attendance (see NYS Education Law Section 3205) or is of the age of compulsory attendance.

A. Candidates of the age of compulsory attendance

These home-schooled students will be eligible for conferral of the degree only if the student can provide a letter from the school district in which the student resides attesting to the student’s completion of a program of home instruction that is the substantial equivalent of a four-year high school course of instruction. A student of compulsory school age whose program of home instruction consists of full-time study at a degree granting institution must submit to the State University of New York (University) campus, prior to enrolling, an individualized home instruction plan (IHIP) in accordance with 8 NYCRR section 100.10 that is authorized by the school district.

B. Candidates beyond the age of compulsory attendance

Maximum compulsory school attendance age is reached when the student has completed the school year in which he or she turned 16 or such older maximum age as the board of education of the school district may designate for required school attendance pursuant to section 3205(3) of Education Law.

These home-schooled students will be eligible for conferral of the earned degree by a University campus if they can provide either:

1.    a letter from the superintendent of the school district in which the student resides, attesting to the student’s completion of a program of home instruction that is the substantial equivalent of a four year high school course;

2.    the High School Equivalency Diploma; a passing score on the general comprehensive examination for the state high school equivalency diploma (GED) (and the diploma itself when available). [When the student has reached the maximum compulsory school attendance age, he or she is eligible to take the GED test. A student may not take the GED test until July 1st of the year in which he or she turned 16.];

3.    successful completion as verified by the degree-granting institution of 24 semester hours as a recognized candidate for a college-level degree distributed in accordance with 8 NYCRR Section 3.47(a)(2)(ii)(d);

4.    a previous college-level degree from an accredited degree-granting institution; or

5.    evidence of having passed five Regents examinations in the subjects listed in 8 NYCRR Section 3.47(a)(2)(ii)(f).

A diploma issued by a correspondence school that is not accredited or registered in the state in which it is located is not acceptable as the recognized equivalent of a high school diploma.

Matriculation

New York State law no longer requires an institution of higher education to admit as matriculated students only persons who have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent. Campuses must have campus-specific admissions requirements (i.e., high school grade point average, SAT I, ACT, SAT II scores, essay, letters of reference, extracurricular activities) that take into account the student’s capacity to undertake a college-level course of study and the capacity of the institution to provide the instructional and other support the student needs to complete the program of study. Home-schooled students may be admitted as matriculated students to University campuses under this policy without proof of a high school diploma or its equivalent. This policy does not change the requirements pertaining to eligibility for state student financial aid.

There are no definitions relevant to this policy.

NYSED Web site on Home-schooling.

NYSED CEO Memo regarding Guidelines on Revised Rules and Regulations Relating to: The Requirements for Conferral of a College Degree and The Home Instruction of Students of Compulsory School Age and Full-Time College Study.

NYSED Commissioner’s Regulations Section 100.7 State High School Equivalency Diploma

There are no procedures relevant to this policy.

There are no forms relevant to this policy.

8 NYCRR Section 3.47 Requirements for Earned Degrees

Memo to directors of admissions, directors of financial aid and chief enrollment officers from the office of the vice chancellor enrollment management and university life dated March 4, 2005 regarding guidelines on revised rules and regulations for degree conferral and home school instruction.

Memo to directors of admissions from the office of the vice chancellor enrollment management and university life dated July 24, 2002 regarding the admission of home-schooled applicants to the State University of New York.

There are no appendices relevant to this policy.