Admission Criteria and Academic Policies
Acceptance into the ACES program is based on academic achievement and therefore considered an honor. ACES limits enrollment to only the finest students who are enrolled in ACES-approved courses. Students who meet the following eligibility criteria may apply for admission to ACES:
- The student must be enrolled in a college preparatory curriculum and have a cumulative high school grade point average of a 3.25 or higher.
- The student must have a composite score of 23 or higher on the ACT or a verbal/math SAT score of 1080 (excluding the writing portion of the test).
The school’s ACES liaison must check the student’s academic record and verify that the student meets the eligibility requirements by signing the registration card. Bellarmine will not accept registration cards that are not signed by the liaison. If a student does not meet the requirements, he/she may not join the ACES program. For a list of school liaisons along with contact information, click here.
Important Policies
Students, parents and faculty members should be aware of these important policies:
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A student is restricted to no more than two courses in a single discipline during their junior and senior years.
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University credit is earned only if a student achieves a grade of “B-” or higher. The grade earned becomes part of his/her official Bellarmine University transcript. Tuition refunds are not granted.
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At the college level, dual credit is restricted to introductory or lower division courses (basically 100-level courses only).
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A student may not earn credit retroactively. It is therefore crucial that students register for courses during the designated registration periods.
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If a student changes high schools, he or she may transfer into any existing and equivalent ACES course. The ACES liaison must submit written documentation of the education appropriateness of such a transfer to the ACES Director. In cases where equivalent courses do not exist, a tuition refund will not be granted.