Academic Opportunity Program Application

SFA's Academic Opportunity Program is designed to identify first-semester, first-year students who did not meet the admission requirements as a result of a significant extenuating circumstance(s). The program is limited to a small number of students who provide adequate documentation with regard to their extenuating circumstance.

The AOP committee will review completed files on a continuing basis. The final review deadline for a completed appeal packet is five business days prior to the first day of classes. The applicant packet also includes two recommendation forms, completed by the high school principal, counselor or teacher that can speak to academic performance. It is imperative that the answers to the questions on the AOP application fully explain the extenuating circumstances that should be considered in determining the applicant’s eligibility. The selection committee will review all applications and recommend a limited number of applicants to be accepted. A decision will be released 5-10 business days after all documents are submitted.

You can send materials via email to the Office of Admissions at admissions@sfasu.edu.

Application

First Name

Middle Name

Last Name

Mailing Address

Country

Street

City

Region

Postal Code

Phone Number

Email Address

Date of Birth

1. Please explain clearly why you believe that the admissions application materials you submitted do not reflect your ability to succeed at Stephen F. Austin State University? What extenuating circumstances contributed to your class rank, test scores, and/or GPA as presented?

2. In a short paragraph, honestly express what steps you have taken to improve your academic performance.

3. Please explain your plan to be successful at SFA.

Recommendors

The AOP committee will review completed files on a continuing basis. The final review deadline for a completed appeal packet is five business days prior to the first day of classes.

The application packet also includes two recommendation forms. These are to be completed by the high school principal, counselor or teacher who can testify to the applicant’s eligibility. Answers on the recommendation form should discuss the extenuating circumstances affecting the student’s admission. Also, please discuss the personal and intellectual characteristics that indicate the willingness and ability to successfully do college work. The selection committee will review all applications and recommend a limited number of applicants to be accepted.

Recommender 1 Name

Recommender 1 Email Address

Recommender 2 Name

Recommender 2 Email Address

Terms and Conditions

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Read Terms and Conditions

Students admitted to Stephen F. Austin State University through the Academic Opportunity Program (AOP) are given an opportunity to demonstrate they can perform college-level work. AOP students are admitted conditionally and will have two semesters (fall and spring) to attain an overall GPA of 2.0 on 15 or more semester hours of college credit.

Students with failed areas on the Texas Success Initiative test (TSI Assessment) must enroll in the developmental courses required for their failed areas. These courses are noncredit courses and will not count toward the 15 semester hours. They will, however, count toward course load when calculating full-time status for housing, financial aid, and scholarships. Including both TSI developmental courses and college credit courses, students must enroll for at least 12 semester hours during each AOP semester.

Students offered AOP admission for the first time during a fall or spring semester must contact the student success center.

Students are admitted generally for fall and spring semesters consecutively.

Students who do not satisfactorily complete the AOP contract will be placed on academic suspension at the end of the second semester. Upon successfully completing 15 new semester hours of transferable college work at another institution, students may reapply to Stephen F. Austin State University.

AOP students must register as Undecided Liberal Arts-Student Success Center major and will be advised in the Student Success Center for the two-semester period. Upon successful completion of the program, students will be allowed to declare a major.

Students participating in the AOP are expected to make frequent use of laboratory resources in the Academic Assistance and Resource Center.

AOP students must demonstrate a serious commitment to their studies, including regular class attendance, conferences with their instructor, and meeting the requisite schedule at the AARC. It is strongly recommended that students participating in the AOP attend an orientation session prior to the first semester of attendance.

I acknowledge that I have read over the terms and conditions of the AOP program.

Yes