ARKANSAS ASSESSMENT OF GENERAL EDUCATION (AAGE) OR RISING JUNIOR EXAM
All undergraduates in Arkansas public institutions who have earned at least 45 hours of credit toward a degree are required to take the Arkansas Assessment of General Education Exam (AAGE), also known as the Rising Junior Exam.
Students transferring from other Arkansas institutions who have earned 45 or more transferable hours must take the exam during the first week of class, unless the student has documentation that the AAGE was completed at another college or university in Arkansas. The only students who are exempt from the AAGE requirement are those transferring at least 61 degree credit hours from out-of-state institutions.
Students who do not meet the AAGE requirement by the last day to register for classes will have their classes canceled for that semester.
Testing Services, 730 Hotz Hall, mails exam registration packets to a student's local address. For more information on the AAGE, contact Testing Services at 575-2824.
(See also "Advanced Composition" on page 63.)
ACADEMIC HONESTY
(Campus Council, revised February 6, 1986)
Introduction
The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, presents this policy as part of its effort to maintain the integrity of its academic processes. Academic honesty should be a concern of the entire university community, and a commitment to it must involve students, faculty, and administrators.
Students must understand what academic integrity is and what the most common violations are. With that understanding they must commit themselves to the highest standards for their own, as well as for their peers', academic behavior.
Public support and encouragement of the faculty is a second critical component necessary to strengthen academic integrity on campus. Faculty members must be continually vigilant in the management of their classes, their assignments, and their tests.
Finally, the administration of the University must present to the students standards of academic integrity. Those standards must be part of a publicly recognized, understood, and accepted set of policies and procedures that can be applied consistently and fairly in cases of academic dishonesty.
It is the responsibility of each student, faculty member, and administrator to understand these policies. A lack of understanding is not an adequate defense against a charge of academic dishonesty.
With regard to the application of this policy, the University assures its support of faculty members and other employees of the University who are acting in good faith in the course and scope of their employment and in the performance of their official duties.
This policy is only a part of the University's effort to promote academic integrity in all aspects of its programs. By necessity, this part discusses only prohibited acts and a process of applying sanctions. The ultimate goal, of course, is to provide an atmosphere that will make superfluous the procedures and sanctions that follow.
Definitions
Academic dishonesty involves acts that may subvert or compromise the integrity of the educational process at the University of Arkansas. Included is an act by which a student gains or attempts to gain an academic advantage for himself or herself or another by misrepresenting his or her or another's work or by interfering with the completion, submission, or evaluation of work. These include, but are not limited to, accomplishing or attempting any of the following acts:
1. Altering of grades or official records.
2. Using any materials that are not authorized by the instructor for use during an examination.
3. Copying from another student's paper during an examination.
4. Collaborating during an examination with any other person by giving or receiving information without specific permission of the instructor.
5. Stealing, buying, or otherwise obtaining information about an unadministered
examination.6. Collaborating on laboratory work, take-home examinations, homework, or other assigned work when instructed to work independently.
7. Substituting for another person or permitting any other person to substitute for oneself to take an examination.
8. Submitting as one's own any theme, report, term paper, essay, computer program, other written work, speech, painting, drawing, sculpture, or other art work prepared totally or in part by another.
9. Submitting, without specific permission of the instructor, work that has been previously offered for credit in another course.
10. Plagiarizing, that is, the offering as one's own work the words, ideas, or arguments of another person without appropriate attribution by quotation, reference, or footnote. Plagiarism occurs both when the words of another are reproduced without acknowledgement or when the ideas or arguments of another are paraphrased in such a way as to lead the reader to believe that they originated with the writer. It is the responsibility of all University students to understand the methods of proper attribution and to apply those principles in all materials submitted.
11. Sabotaging of another student's work.
12. Falsifying or committing forgery on any University form or document.
13. Submitting altered or falsified data as experimental data from laboratory projects, survey research, or other field research.
14. Committing any willful act of dishonesty that interferes with the operation of the academic process.
15. Facilitating or aiding in any act of academic dishonesty.
Procedures
Sanctions for acts of academic dishonesty may be applied in the following ways:
A. Instructor Action
When an instructor determines or believes that a student in the instructor's class is guilty of academic dishonesty deserving of sanction, the instructor should within five working days follow one of the following: (If the instructor is either a graduate teaching assistant or a temporary faculty member, then a supervising faculty member or the departmental head or chairman may assist in the handling of an academic dishonesty case.)
1. The instructor may determine a grade sanction and within five working days report that sanction along with the essential details of the incident to the judicial coordinator in Student Services. There is, under these circumstances, no request for administrative or judicial action. The student sanctioned in this way by an instructor will be notified by Student Services and will have five working days from that notification to request a hearing by the All University Judiciary (AUJ) as outlined in Section B below. If the student does not request a hearing within five working days, then it is assumed that the sanction is not contested. The student will be required to have a conference with the judicial coordinator so that the consequences of the action can be made clear.
During the course of the hearing, the student's participation in the affected class should continue so that any action can be reversed without prejudicing the student's academic performance and evaluation. Should the hearing process not support the grading sanction applied by the instructor, then the instructor and student may agree and remedy the sanction with the student proceeding in the class without prejudice. If the instructor and the student cannot so agree, or if the grading sanction cannot be remedied, then the student may appeal via the Academic Appeal Structure for Undergraduate Students.
If the defense of any grade is based on alleged academic dishonesty and the faculty member has not followed the University policy, the ability of the faculty member to defend his or her action may be adversely affected.
2. The instructor may file an incident report form referring the case to the judicial process for determinations of guilt or innocence and the application of sanctions. If the student is determined to be guilty of academic dishonesty, then the instructor may apply a grade sanction in addition to whatever sanctions are applied by the judicial process. While such a case is pending in the judicial process, the student's participation in the affected class should continue to avoid pre-empting the options available after the guilt or innocence is determined. This course of action is appropriate in cases where there is doubt about guilt or innocence or in cases where the offense deserves sanctions beyond the grading system.
B. Judicial Process
If the instructor chooses to refer the case to the judicial process as outlined in A.2 or if another student, faculty member, or administrator wishes to charge a student with academic dishonesty, the following procedures will be followed:
1. Administrative Action. This would involve the application of a sanction or an admonition or some type of probation following established guidelines by the judicial coordinator after an incident has been reported by a faculty member, an administrator, or a student. Such action may be appropriate in cases where there is little or no disagreement as to the details of the reported incident. Administrative sanctions may be appealed by any party in the incident to AUJ within three working days of notification of the administrative action.
2. All University Judiciary (AUJ). This involves applications of sanctions for academic dishonesty after the case has been heard and decided by AUJ. This would be used in contested cases, cases of appeals of instructor or administrative actions, any case involving a student with previous record of academic dishonesty or who previously received a grade sanction for academic dishonesty, and in cases where the sanction could result in suspension or expulsion from the University. The procedures involved in AUJ action are available from Academic Affairs or Student Services.
Any action of AUJ may be appealed within five working days through the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs to the Chancellor of the University. If the Chancellor discovers evidence previously unavailable to AUJ, then the Chancellor may explain in writing to the Chair of AUJ and ask that AUJ rehear the case.
Sanctions
The choice of sanctions in cases of academic dishonesty always involves considerations of the integrity of the educational process of the University. There is no place in that process for academic dishonesty; and if a student is undermining the integrity of that process, then separating that student from the University is the natural sanction. The intent of this policy is to make acts of academic dishonesty clear risks, that is, the sanctions are to be sufficiently heavy to deter academic dishonesty. Thus, the application of a grade sanction as the only sanction is to be very carefully considered and should occur only in unusual cases.
The following are possible sanctions for academic dishonesty:
1. Grading Sanctions. An instructor may apply grading sanctions. Such sanctions may also be recommended by either the judicial coordinator in case of administrative action or by AUJ, but the final decision will be that of the instructor. Grade sanctions may consist of either grades of zero or failing grades on part or all of a submitted assignment or examination, or a lowering of a course grade, or a failing grade. All grade sanctions must be appropriately reported as outlined in the procedures above. A grade sanction may be appealed by the student via the Academic Appeal Structure for Undergraduate Students.
2. Admonition or Probations. These are applied by either administrative action or AUJ action. The types:
a. Admonition. This is a firm warning against future violations, filed in the office of the judicial coordinator.
b. Conduct Probation. This is a probation imposed for a specified period and constitutes a final warning and a second chance to demonstrate what has been learned and to show improved judgment.
c. Personal Probation. This is a probation imposed for a specified period and constitutes a final warning of more severe sanctions. This requires the student to meet periodically with a University official to discuss and explore alternatives to the kind of behavior that resulted in the sanction.
d. Disciplinary Probation. This is probation imposed for a specified period and constitutes a warning that affects the student's good standing in the University. Violations of regulations during the period are likely to result in suspension or expulsion. During the period, the student is no longer to hold campus offices, receive honors, or represent the University in extracurricular or intercollegiate activities.
e. Educative Sanctions. These include a variety of assignments, tasks, or experiences that should make the offender more aware of the nature of the general problem of academic dishonesty. These may be applied in conjunction with any admonition or probation.
3. Suspensions. Suspensions for a specified period of time from the University may be recommended by AUJ. Such suspensions may be for the remainder of a semester or for a specified number of semesters. In cases of clearly premeditated cheating or cases where either illegal actions or conspiracy with others is involved, suspension for at least the remaining part of a semester or one full semester must be considered as a sanction. Also, suspension will normally be the minimal sanction in cases where a student is guilty of academic dishonesty for a second time.
4. Expulsion. Expulsion from the University for an indefinite period of time may be recommended by AUJ.
Implementation and Review
For details of procedures for implementing this policy, contact the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. This University policy does not preclude the implementation by colleges of policies determined by the Vice Chancellor to be more rigorous.
TERM PAPER ASSISTANCE
(Campus Council, March 26, 1987)
The use of services of term paper assistance companies is a violation of university policies on academic integrity. Student submission of such research or term papers to meet requirements of any class or degree program is expressly prohibited and constitutes academic dishonesty. Any violation of this prohibition will automatically result in both punitive action by the instructor (e.g., the award of a grade of "F" for the course) and a referral of each violation to the All-University Judiciary Committee for its consideration.
ATTENDANCE
Students are expected to be diligent in the pursuit of their studies and regular in their class attendance. Students have the responsibility of making arrangements satisfactory to the instructor regarding all absences. Such arrangements should be made prior to the absence if possible. Policies of making up work missed as a result of absence are at the discretion of the instructor, and students should inform themselves at the beginning of each semester concerning the policies of their instructors.
RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES
(Campus Faculty, November 15, 1995)
Although Christian religious holidays are reflected to some extent in the academic calendar of the University, holidays of other religious groups are not. When members of other religions seek to be excused from class for religious reasons, they are expected to provide their instructors with a schedule of religious holidays that they intend to observe, in writing, before the completion of the first week of classes. The Schedule of Classes should inform students of the University calendar of events, including class meeting and final examination dates, so that before they enroll they can take into account their calendar of religious observances. Scheduling should be done with recognition of religious observances where possible. However, faculty members are expected to allow students to make up work scheduled for dates during which they observe the holidays of their religion.
FINAL EXAMINATION POLICY
(Campus Council, revised November 16, 1989)
It is the policy of the University to minimize student participation in extracurricular activities during the final examination period. No meetings, social activities, athletic events, or other extracurricular activities that require student participation will be scheduled on Dead Day or during the final examination period. Any exceptions to this policy must receive prior approval from the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.
GRADES AND MARKS
Final grades for course are "A," "B," "C," "D," and "F" [except for courses taken in the School of Architecture]. The grade of "A" is given for outstanding achievement to a relatively small number of excellent scholars. The grade of "B" represents good achievement. The grade of "C" is given for average achievement, and the grade of "D" for poor but passing work. The grade of "F" denotes failure and is given for unsatisfactory work. (No credit is earned for courses in which a grade of "F" is recorded.
A final grade of "F" shall be assigned to a student who is failing on the basis of work completed but who has not completed all requirements. The instructor may change an "F" so assigned to a passing grade if warranted by satisfactory completion of all requirements. Students who fail to present an acceptable reason for not having completed all course requirements including the final examination will receive the grade they would have received had they failed such requirements.
A mark of "I" may be assigned to a student who has not completed all course requirements, if the work completed is of passing quality. An "I" so assigned may be changed to a grade provided all course requirements have been completed within 12 weeks from the beginning of the next semester of the student's enrollment after receiving the "I." If the instructor does not report the grade within the 12-week period, the "I" shall be changed to an "F." When a mark of "I" is changed to a final grade, the grade points and academic standing are appropriately adjusted as of the date the change is recorded on the student's official academic records.
A mark of "AU" (Audit) is given to a student who officially registers in a course for audit purposes (see Registration for Audit).
A mark of "CR" (Credit) is given for a course--for example, practice teaching, certain seminars, certain honors colloquia, and courses where credit is earned by examination--in which the University allows credit toward a degree, but for which no grade points are earned.
A mark of "S" (Satisfactory) is assigned in courses such as special problems and research when a final grade is inappropriate. The mark "S" is not assigned to courses or work for which credit is given (and thus no grade points are earned for such work). If credit is awarded upon the completion of such work, a grade or mark may be assigned at that time and, if a grade is assigned, grade points will be earned.
A mark of "W" (Withdrawal) will be given for courses from which students withdraw after the first 10 days of the semester and before the drop deadline of the semester.
For numerical evaluation of grades, "A" is assigned 4 points for each semester hour of that grade; "B," 3 points; "C," 2 points; "D," 1 point; and "F," 0 points. "I," "AU," "CR," "S," and "W" marks will not be counted in the grade-point average. [Grades of plus and minus are assigned grade-point values in the School of Architecture. See page 171.] The grade-point average is computed by dividing the total number of grade points by the total number of credit hours attempted in courses for which grades (rather than marks) are given. Students who utilized grade renewal in retaking courses (prior to Fall Semester, 1986 and after Fall 1996) have only the last grade used in computing grade-point averages.
UNDERGRADUATE GRADE FORGIVENESS POLICY
(Campus Council, April 11, 1996)
Under the Grade Forgiveness Policy, a student may improve the undergraduate cumulative GPA by repeating a maximum of two courses (up to nine hours) in which a grade of "D" or "F" was received and requesting that the repeat grade be the only one that is counted in the calculation. Only two such requests are available to any student in his or her undergraduate career. The repeated grade must be in the same course taken at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Only a course in which a grade of "D" or "F" was earned may be repeated under the Forgiveness Policy. Grade Forgiveness may not be used to replace a grade assigned as a result of academic dishonesty. The student must declare in writing upon registration which course(s) he or she wishes to grade renew. Both attempts at the course will remain on the transcript but only the second will be used to calculate both credit and GPA. The first attempt will be recorded on the grade earned with the symbol "R" to denote that it has been repeated. Students considering Grade Forgiveness should be aware that many graduate schools, professional schools, employers or other institutions in considering admission or employment recompute the GPA and include all courses attempted even though a course was repeated. This means that if the cumulative GPA has been raised because of grade renewal, the recomputed GPA will be lower.
SEMESTER HONOR ROLL
The colleges of the University publish, after the close of each semester, an honor roll of the highest ranking students in the college containing the names of not more than 10 percent of the undergraduate students of each class. Students are eligible for the honor roll if they are carrying at least 12 semester hours normally required for graduation by their college for their respective year. Most colleges refer to this part of the honor roll as the "Dean's List."
In addition, a Chancellor's List is published each semester which recognizes those undergraduate students who achieve a 4.00 grade-point average. Students must also be carrying at least 12 semester hours normally required for graduation to be eligible for the Chancellor's List.
For honor roll eligibility, the 12 semester hours must all be in courses for which grade points are earned.
FIRST-RANKED SENIOR SCHOLARS
A first-ranked senior scholar or scholars shall be recognized at the annual Commencement of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. The scholar or scholars so recognized must have a cumulative grade-point average of 4.00 on all course work completed at the time selection is made and must have completed all courses required for the baccalaureate degree at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, or in a program of study approved by the Director of Honors or other designee in the college in which the student is enrolled. In determining the cumulative grade-point average for the purposes of such awards, grade-renewal is not accepted.
SENIOR SCHOLAR
Since 1941, a key has been awarded to the graduating senior from each undergraduate college who has the highest grade-point average and who has been enrolled in the University for at least four semesters. The keys are awarded at the Honors Day Convocation each spring.
SCHOLASTIC PROBATION, SUSPENSION, AND DISMISSAL
When reading the rules listed below, the student must keep in mind that academic probation, suspension, and dismissal become effective at the end of the semester or term in which the student fails to attain the grade-point average required by the school or college in which the student is enrolled. Although students will normally receive official notification of such action, such notice is not a prerequisite to the student being placed on probation, suspended, or dismissed. It is the student's responsibility to ascertain his or her academic status after the close of the semester.
1. No student shall be academically dismissed from the University unless the student has first been previously academically suspended or dismissed, and no student shall be academically suspended unless the student has been placed on academic probation for at least one semester.
2. A student will be placed on academic probation whenever the cumulative grade-point average falls below 2.00. A transfer student may be admitted on probation or admitted continued on probation by the Campus Faculty Committee on Admissions and Transfer of Credit.
3. Any student on probation shall be removed from probation at any time the cumulative grade-point average is 2.00 or above.
4. A student on probation must make a semester grade-point average of at least 2.00 during the first semester and each succeeding semester until the student is removed from probation, or the student will be academically suspended.
5. A student who has been academically suspended from the University (a) will be readmitted after one calendar year from the close of the term or semester which resulted in the suspension, (b) is eligible for readmission to the University upon completion of a minimum of 12 hours of credit, with a grade of "C" or better in each course attempted, in University of Arkansas correspondence courses selected on the recommendation of the dean of the college which the student plans to re-enter, or (c) is eligible for readmission if the student raises the cumulative grade-point average to 2.00 or higher by such correspondence course work. A student returning to the University after a suspension period must apply for readmission. A student who has attended another institution since last attendance at the University, must meet the same admission requirements as a transfer student, and must present a 2.00 on all college work attempted at the other institution.
6. A student who returns to the University after an academic suspension is continued on probation and the student must make a semester grade-point average of at least 2.00 for each semester until the student is removed from probation; failure to do so will result in academic dismissal.
7. A student who has been academically dismissed may re-enter the University by favorable action of the Academic Standards Committee. Correspondence courses taken through the Department of Independent Study at the University by a student who has been academically dismissed may be submitted as evidence of academic competence on a petition to the Academic Standards Committee for readmission. If readmitted, the student may receive degree credit for such course work.
8. A student who re-enters the University by favorable action of the Academic Standards Committee after an academic dismissal is continued on probation and must make a semester grade-point average of at least 2.00 for each semester until removed from probation. Failure to do so will result in academic dismissal.
9. A student who has been removed from probation will be subject to new academic action in accordance with the preceding rules exactly as if the student had not been previously placed on probation, suspended, or dismissed.
10. A student on probation may transfer to another college in the University with approval of the dean of the new college. In doing so the student carries the probation record with him or her and remains subject to the above rules exactly as if the student had remained in the same college.
11. A student academically suspended or dismissed from the college and upon readmission accepted in another college is ineligible to continue the former curriculum. Courses of the former college are not open to students previously suspended or dismissed from that college except by approval of its dean.
In all of these policy statements, the term "University" refers to the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION
University Core Requirements
The University of Arkansas has adopted a "State Minimum Core" of 35 semester-credit-hours of general education courses that are required of all baccalaureate degree candidates. This is in compliance with Arkansas Act 98 of 1989 and the subsequent action of the Arkansas State Board of Higher Education. Beginning in the fall semester of 1991, all state institutions of higher education in Arkansas have a 35-hour minimum core requirement with specified hours in each of six academic areas. The U of A has identified those courses that meet the minimum requirement and they are listed in the table following.
Students should consult the requirements for specific colleges and programs when choosing courses for use in the U of A University Core.
University Courses that Qualify for the "State Minimum Core"
| Areas English Mathematics1 Science2 Fine Arts, Humanities3 (Select 3 hours each from two of these categories) U.S. History or Government Social Sciences3 (Select from at least two different fields of study) |
Min. Hours 6 hours 3 hours 8 hours 6 hours 3 hours 9 hours |
University Courses ENGL 1013, Composition I MATH 1203, College Algebra ASTR 2003/2001L, Survey of the Universe a) Fine Arts: b) Humanities: c) Humanities: d) Humanities: AGEC 1103, Intro to Agri Economics |
1 Some students majoring in math, engineering, science and business may be required to take a higher math as part of the State Minimum Core.
2 Some students majoring in math, engineering, science, education and health-related professions may be required to take higher or specific science courses as part of the State Minimum Core.
3 Some students majoring in engineering may be required to take either
six hours of humanities or social sciences at the junior/senior level or
substitute an additional six hours of higher math and/or additional science
as part of the State Minimum Core.
4 Students may choose any intermediate-level foreign language course numbered
2003. See Foreign Languages.
5 If not selected to meet the first three hours of the social sciences requirement.
Freshman Composition
Every undergraduate student at the University of Arkansas is required to submit six hours of freshman composition for graduation. Freshman English courses taken at other universities will satisfy this requirement only if they are courses in composition. Students whose ACT scores in English are 18 or below must enroll in the sequence of courses ENGL 0003, ENGL 1013, and ENGL 1023. Students whose ACT scores in English are between 19 and 27 should enroll in ENGL 1013-1023. Students with English ACT scores of 28 or above may enroll in Honors English (1013H-1023H) or regular English (1013-1023). Students with English ACT scores of 30 or above may take 1013H-1023H or elect exemption. Students electing exemption must fill out forms in the English Department office. Some programs require credit in composition, and students should confer with their advisers before choosing exemption.
American History and Civil Government
Under Arkansas law, no undergraduate degree may be granted to any student who has not passed a college course in American history and civil government. Courses offered by the University of Arkansas, any one of which will meet this requirement, are HIST 2003 (History of the American People to 1877), HIST 2013 (History of the American People, 1877 to Present), and PLSC 2003 (American National Government).
Advanced Composition
Every undergraduate student at the University of Arkansas is also required to take and pass ENGL 2003, a three-hour course in composition, unless exemption can be gained in one of the following ways: (1) by demonstrating a satisfactory writing ability on the Advanced Composition Exemption Examination, (2) by completing ENGL 2013 (Essay Writing), or (3) by achieving a grade of "A" or "B" in ENGL 1013 and a grade of "A" in ENGL 1023 in courses taken at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
ENGL 2003 will not count as part of the total number of hours required for a degree in the College of Engineering or School of Architecture or the Food, Human Nutritional Hospitality curriculum in the School of Human Environmental Sciences in the College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.
Students must satisfy the requirement of ENGL 1013 and ENGL 1023 and complete 30 credit hours before taking the Advanced Composition Exemption Exam. The exam must be taken before the student has acquired 96 credit hours. The English requirement applies to all transfer students regardless of nonfreshman-composition courses taken at other schools. The examination must be taken by junior and senior transfer students at the time they enter the University of Arkansas.
Students not gaining exemption from ENGL 2003 must register for the course before the last semester of their senior year.
The examination will be graded in the following categories: (1) pass, (2) fail, and (3) borderline. The students whose papers are in the third category (borderline) will be eligible to submit a second writing sample at the regularly scheduled Junior English Exemption Exam in the following semester. Students who take and do not pass the Exemption Exam must take ENGL 2003. Students who meet the Advanced Composition Requirement also will have met the writing requirement of the Rising Junior Exam (AAGE). See page 53.
Residence
The full senior year must be completed in residence except that a senior who has already met the minimum residency requirement will be permitted to earn not more than 12 of the last 30 hours in extension or correspondence courses or in residence at another accredited institution granting the baccalaureate degree. No more than six of these 12 hours may be correspondence courses. The minimum residence requirement is 36 weeks and 30 semester hours. Residency for the senior year is defined as a period during which the student must be enrolled in courses offered on the campus in Fayetteville. This is intended to provide adequate contact with the University and its faculty for each student who is awarded a degree. Colleges and departments have the authority to prescribe residence requirements that exceed those described here.
Minimum Credit Hours
All students awarded a baccalaureate degree must have a minimum of 124 credit hours. Individual programs may require additional hours.
Minimum Grade-Point Average
No student will be allowed to graduate if the student has "D" grades in more than 25 percent of all credit earned in this institution and presented to meet the requirements for a degree. No student will be allowed to graduate if on probation.
Application
Students who plan to graduate must make an official application to do so. Application should be made and fees paid when the student registers for the final semester (the one in which degree requirements will be completed).
If a student intends to complete requirements during the spring semester and wishes to be listed in the commencement program, participate in the commencement ceremonies, and receive the diploma on time, application must be made and fees paid by the date established as the deadline for that semester and published in the schedule of classes. Students completing requirements during fall or summer terms must make application and pay fees by the deadlines established for those terms in order to receive their diplomas in a timely manner.
Students who do not observe the published deadlines may make late application and be graduated with the desired class only if such application is made on or before the last day of classes for the term (or for the second summer session, for students completing requirements in the summer).
A student who fails to complete the degree during the intended semester must renew the application and pay a renewal fee consistent with the deadlines for the semester or term in which the degree requirements will be completed.
Other Graduation Requirements
Individual colleges and schools may have special graduation requirements, in addition to degree program requirements. Consult the college or school section in this catalog for statements of additional requirements.
Degree Program Requirements
A student's degree program requirements are normally those specified in the catalog for the student's first year of enrollment. Students may choose to meet the program requirements specified in a catalog for a later year. Students may be required to meet degree program requirements incorporated into the curriculum at a level beyond that at which the student is enrolled.
Students who transfer from institutions with articulation agreements with the University may also be allowed to meet the University program requirements in effect during their first year of enrollment in those institutions, subject to the time limits described below and the availability of course work. Students who transfer to a different degree program may be required to meet the program requirements specified in the catalog for the year of entry into that program. Students who are not enrolled for a period of two years or longer may be required to reenter under program requirements in the current catalog. Students who wish to be granted a degree on the basis of requirements specified in a catalog more than seven years old may be required to petition the college or school to be allowed to do so.
Students are expected to keep themselves informed regarding program requirements and changes.
GRADUATION HONORS
The faculty of each college will recommend for graduation with honors or with high honors those students it considers to be eligible for such distinction under its own regulations with the following general restrictions:
1. A student to be eligible for graduation honors must have completed at least one-half of his or her degree work at the University of Arkansas.
2. No student shall be eligible for graduation honors whose cumulative grade-point average is below 3.125.
3. A college should not be expected to recommend more than 10 percent of its graduating class for graduation honors except under unusual circumstances.
4. It is recommended that in determining graduation honors the faculty consider the whole of a student's record but give greater weight to the last half of the record than to the first half.
ADDITIONAL BACHELOR'S DEGREE
A person with a bachelor's degree from the University of Arkansas, or from any other institution, may not receive another bachelor's degree without completing in residence at least 30 hours of additional, not necessarily subsequent, courses selected from the courses leading to a degree for which the person is a candidate.
More than 30 hours of coursework may be required. In addition to the college or school requirements, the candidate must also meet all University requirements as stated in the catalog, including graduation and core requirements, except when coursework for the first degree satisfies requirements for the second.
GRADUATION RATES
In accordance with the Student Right-To-Know and Campus Security Act of 1990, the following is a summary of the institution's six-year graduation rates:
1991-92 Bachelor-Degree-Seeking Freshmen
Men |
Women |
Overall |
||||
Graduates |
% of Total |
Graduates |
% of Total |
Graduates |
% of Total | |
Total |
478 |
41% |
421 |
44% |
899 |
42% |
Graduating Student Athletes Who Entered in 1991-92
Overall |
||||||
Freshmen |
Transfers |
|||||
Total |
41% |
52% |
ANNUAL NOTICE OF STUDENT RIGHTS UNDER
THE FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. They are as follows:
1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records, with some exceptions under the Act, within 45 days of the day the University receives a request for access. Students should submit to the Registrar's Office written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The appendix to Universitywide Administrative Memorandum 515.1 provides a list of the types and locations of education records, the custodian of those records, and copying fees for each individual campus. The University official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the University official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students should write the University official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. A sample form, which may be used in making this request, is contained in the appendix to Universitywide Administrative Memorandum 515.1.
If the University decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the University will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing and is also contained in the Universitywide Administrative Memorandum 515.1
3. The right to withhold consent of disclosure of directory information, which information: the student's name; address; telephone number; date and place of birth; nationality; religious preference; major field of study; classification by year; number of hours in which enrolled and number completed; parent's or spouse's names and addresses; marital status; participation in officially recognized activities and sports; weight and height of members of athletic teams; dates of attendance including matriculation and withdrawal dates; degrees, scholarships, honors, and awards received, including type and date granted; most recent previous education agency or institution attended; and photograph.
This information will be subject to public disclosure unless the student informs the Registrar's Office in writing each semester that he or she does not want his information designated as directory information. To prevent publication of name in the printed student directory, written notice must reach the Registrar's Office by August 31 of the Fall semester
4. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the University has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent): a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an educational record to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
Upon request, the University also discloses education records without consent to officials for another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
5. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the university to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington DC 20202-46056. Universitywide Administrative Memorandum 515.1 is available on request in the main library on campus.
PHOTOGRAPHIC AND VIDEO IMAGES
The University is proud to publish and display photographic and video images of UA students, their activities and accomplishments. Any student who does not wish to be represented in such photographic and video images by the University should notify the Office of the Registrar, Hunt 146, in writing before the end of the first week of classes each semester. The request will be honored for all publications and communications undertaken during the remainder of any semester when notification has been received.
WAIVER OF ACADEMIC POLICIES
The Academic Standards Committee, composed of faculty and students, serves as a referral body for matters of probation, suspension, dismissal, and other rules and regulations related to academic progress and graduation. Petitions for waiver of academic rules and information on the petitioning process may be obtained at the offices of the academic deans or the Registrar. Petitioners should note petitioning deadlines.
STUDENT ACADEMIC APPEALS AND COMPLAINTS
There are two kinds of procedures for undergraduate students with complaints of an academic nature. Refer to Appendix C, Student Handbook, in this catalog for appeals structures for other grievances.
Academic Appeal Structure for Undergraduate Students
If a student questions the fairness or accuracy of a grade there is recourse through a student academic appeal structure. Only those disagreements shall be heard that allege the assignment of a grade to a student on standards which are substantially different from the instructor's announced standards for grading.
If a student questions the fairness of an instructor's policy on make up of classwork which has been missed while the student was acting as an official University representative, there is recourse through a student academic appeal structure. Only those disagreements shall be heard that allege the instructor's policy is not applied consistently to all students, differs substantially from the announced policy, or that a policy was not announced.
Procedures
1. The student should first discuss the matter with the instructor involved, or in the absence of the instructor, the student will go directly to the chairperson or area coordinator. The student's questions may be answered satisfactorily during this discussion.
2. If the student chooses to pursue the grievance beyond the instructor, the student shall take the appeal in written form to the appropriate department chairperson or area coordinator. In the absence of the chairperson-coordinator, the student will go directly to the dean of the college or school in which the course is given. After discussion between the chairperson-coordinator, the instructor, and the student, the chairperson-coordinator will forward a written recommendation to the student and instructor.
3. If either party chooses to pursue the grievance beyond the departmental chairperson or area coordinator, the individual shall take the appeal in written form to the dean of the college or school in which the course is given. A copy of the appeal will also be submitted to the dean of the student's college. The dean will consult with the department chairperson or coordinator, the instructor, and the student, and the dean may then appoint an ad hoc committee, chosen to avoid obvious bias or partiality, to review the grievance and report to him. The dean will forward a written recommendation to all concerned parties.
4. Beyond the dean, a written appeal may be made to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, who will review the written record and forward a recommendation to the dean(s) of the faculty member's and student's college(s), the chairperson or coordinator, the instructor, and the student. Such written recommendations referred to above shall not be binding on the instructor. (For further information students may contact the office of their academic dean.)
Student Complaint Procedure
This procedure is designed to give all students a means by which academically related complaints against an instructor may be reviewed and acted upon in such a way as to protect the rights of both the student and the instructor. However, the procedure does not always involve judgment of the fairness or accuracy of an instructor's evaluation of a student's academic performance; the "Academic Appeal Structure for Undergraduate Students" exists for such questions.
Guidelines: All committee discussions or hearings shall be private. Furthermore, every effort shall be made to protect any person against discrimination as the result of statements or actions made in this procedure, but fraudulent or intentionally deceptive statements and/or allegations shall be considered an extremely serious violation of the procedures and could result in a recommendation for grave disciplinary measures. Nothing in this procedure may violate policies stated under "Appointments, Promotions, Tenure, Non-reappointment, and Dismissals" in the Faculty Handbook.
Definitions of Terms: Student--Under this procedure, a student is any person who has been formally admitted to the University of Arkansas and who is or was enrolled as an undergraduate student at the time the alleged grievance occurred. (A separate procedure exists for graduate students.) Decision--A decision will include a review of the issues, a determination about the validity of the complaint, the reasons for the determination, and any recommendations. A decision will be stated in writing. Working Days--Working days refer to Monday through Friday, excluding official University holidays.
Procedures: The normal course for a student or a group of students with an academically related complaint concerning an instructor is to go first to that instructor, although the student or group may appeal to the instructor's chairperson, supervisor, or dean in an attempt to resolve the problem informally and amicably. However, if a student has a complaint regarding academic concerns not covered under the "Academic Appeal Structure" and, for whatever reason, does not wish or is unable to resolve the issue informally, the student is entitled to have the issue considered under the following normal procedures.
1. The student will submit a written complaint with supporting information to the Vice Chair of the Campus Council or to the Chair of the Student Panel or to the Chair of the Faculty Panel (as described in Paragraph 4 below). These three persons will comprise a Contact Committee, with the Vice Chair of the Campus Council as coordinator, and will be responsible for the initial review of the student's complaint. If the Contact Committee, without any preliminary investigation, agrees unanimously that a particular complaint is not subject to these procedure or should not be pursued, the student will be notified in writing. No further action will be taken under these procedures unless the student files within five working days a written request for a preliminary investigation by the Contact Committee or for an investigation by a Hearing Committee; this request will be honored, and the instructor shall be informed immediately about the filing of the complaint, the nature of the complaint, and the initiation of the investigation. Deliberate and cautious discretion will be used in order to preserve a student's anonymity (if possible, depending upon the nature of the complaint) and to protect the faculty member from presumptive suspicion.
2. If through lack of unanimous agreement or as a result of the student's request the Contact Committee pursues the complaint, the Committee will initiate the preliminary investigation.
The preliminary investigation should be completed within fifteen working days, if possible, from the date the request is received. After the investigation, the Contact Committee has a choice of two alternatives:
a. It will make a determination regarding the complaint and will notify in writing both parties; or
b. It will determine that a Hearing Committee should be appointed and that a more thorough investigation should be conducted. Both parties will be advised of this determination and of who has been appointed to serve on the Hearing Committee.
3. If the Contact Committee has made a determination regarding resolution of the complaint and if either party is not satisfied with this determination, that party has a prerogative of requesting and having a Hearing Committee appointed to investigate the matter further.
4. Members of a Hearing Committee will be selected from two panels of 15 persons each: one of students, chosen by ASG; and one of faculty members, chosen by the Faculty Committee on Committees. The Chair of the Student Panel will be selected by the ASG President, and the Chair of the Faculty Panel will be selected by the Chair of the Campus Faculty.
5. When an investigation by a Hearing Committee becomes necessary, the Committee will be appointed immediately by the Contact Committee. The Hearing Committee will be composed of three students and of four faculty members, chosen to avoid obvious bias or partiality. The coordinator of the Contact Committee will call the initial meeting of the Hearing Committee to conduct an election of a chairperson from among the four faculty members and to review general information and results of any preliminary investigation.
6. Either party to the dispute may ask another member of the University community to attend the hearings and may ask any member of the University community to provide relevant information. At the end of its investigation--which, if possible, should be completed within 20 working days after its first meeting--the Hearing Committee will submit its decision to both parties.
7. If the decision is not acceptable to either the student or the instructor, that person may appeal in writing to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs of the University. The Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs will review the Hearing Committee's written report and will forward a written recommendation to the student, the instructor, and the Chairperson of the Hearing Committee.
COURSE NUMBERS AND DESCRIPTIONS
Each course offered by the University is identified by a course PREFIX, NUMBER, and SUFFIX. The four-character PREFIX is normally a program area identifier.
Course Prefixes (Alpha Codes)
AAST African American Studies ACCT Accounting ADED Adult Education AERO Aerospace Studies AGAD Agricultural Administration AGEC Agricultural Economics AGED Agricultural Education AGME Agricultural Mechanization AGRN Agronomy AGST Agricultural Statistics AIST Asian Studies ALAW Agricultural Law ANSC Animal Sciences ANTH Anthropology ARAB Arabic ARCH Architecture ARED Art Education ARHS Art History ARSC Arts & Sciences ARTS Art ASTR Astronomy BADM Business Administration BAEG Biological and Agricultural Engineering BAST Biological and Agricultural Systems Technology BIOL Biology BLAW Business Law BOTY Botany CDIS Communication Disorders CHEG Chemical Engineering CHEM Chemistry CHIN Chinese CIED Curriculum and Instruction CISQ Computer Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis CLST Classical Studies CMJS Criminal Justice CNED Counselor Education COMM Communication CSCI Computer Science CSEG Computer Systems Engineering CVEG Civil Engineering DANC Dance DEAC Dance Eduction (Activity) DRAM Drama EASL English As A Second Language ECON Economics EDAD Educational Administration EDFD Educational Foundations ELED Elementary Eduction ELEG Electrical Engineering ENGL English ENSC Environmental Science ENTO Entomology ENVD Environmental Design ETEC Educational Technology EUST European Studies EXED Extension Education FDSC Food Science FIIR Fulbright Institute of International Relations FINN Finance FLAN Foreign Languages FORS Forestry FREN French GEOG Geography GEOL Geology GERM German GNEG General Engineering GREK Greek HESC Human Environmental Sciences HIED Higher Education HIST History |
HKRD Health Science, Kinesiology, Recreation and Dance HLSC Health Science HNED Education Honors HNRS Honors Studies HORT Horticulture HPER Health, Physical Education, Recreation HUMN Humanities INEG Industrial Engineering ITAL Italian ITED Industrial and Technical Education JAPN Japanese JOUR Journalism KINS Kinesiology LARC Landscape Architecture LAST Latin American Studies LATN Latin LAWW Law MATH Mathematics MBAD Masters of Business Administration MBIO Microbiology MEEG Mechanical Engineering MEST Middle East Studies MGMT Management MILS Military Science MKTT Marketing/Transportation MLIT Music Literature MUAC Applied Music (Class) MUAP Applied Music (Private) MUED Music Education MUEN Music Ensemble MUHS Music History MUPD Music Pedagogy MUSC Music MUTH Music Theory NURS Nursing OFSM Office Systems Management OMGT Operations Management PADM Public Administration PEAC Physical Education (Activity) PHED Physical Education PHIL Philosophy PHSC Physical Science PHYS Physics PLPA Plant Pathology PLSC Political Science PORT Portuguese POSC Poultry Science PSYC Psychology PTSC Plant Science RDNG Reading RECR Recreation RHAB Rehabilitation Education RSOC Rural Sociology RSST Russian Studies RUSS Russian SCWK Social Work SEED Secondary Education SOCI Sociology SPAN Spanish SPED Special Education STAT Statistics TLOG Transportation and Logistics UNIV University Level VAED Vocational and Adult Education VOED Vocational Education VTSC Veterinary Science WCIV Western Civilization WLIT World Literature ZOOL Zoology |
Each course offered by the University is designated by a four-digit NUMBER. The first digit identifies the level of the course: 1, freshman level; 2, sophomore level; 3 and 4, junior-senior level; 5, 6, and 7, graduate level. Any exceptions to this practice are stated in the course descriptions. Students desiring admission to courses offered at levels beyond their standing should request the instructor's permission to enroll. (For definitions of academic standing see Student Standing on page 44.)
The second and third digits of the number identify the course within the department which offers it.
The fourth digit identifies the semester-hour value of the course. Credit for certain courses does not count toward certain degrees (see Courses Which Do Not Count Toward Degrees on page 43.)
The letter 'V' is used in place of the last digit for those courses in which credit is variable, the minimum and maximum credit being given in parenthesis after the course title.
The first three digits of the number are the same for corequisite courses (for example, the lecture course and the corequisite lab, drill, or practicum).
A SUFFIX to the course number further identifies the specific type of instruction:
| D - Drill or Discussion | H - Honors Course | M - Honors Lab |
| L - Lab | E - Honors Drill or Discussion |
A course with no suffix is a typical lecture course (not an honors course).
As nearly as can be determined in advance, the semester in which each course will be offered is designated by a symbol in parentheses placed immediately after the course title.
Courses marked (FA) will be offered in the fall semester.
Courses marked (SP) will be offered in the spring semester.
Courses marked (SU) will be offered one or both terms of the summer session.
Courses marked (IR) will be offered irregularly.
A brief description of the contents of each course is provided following the number. Prerequisites (course or other requirements to be met before enrolling), if any, are listed following the course description. Students may not enroll in courses for which they do not have the necessary prerequisites. Students who are in doubt concerning their eligibility for entry into specific courses should consult their academic adviser. Students may be dropped from courses for which they do not have the necessary prerequisites.
Credit Hours
Normally, courses meet once each week for fifty minutes for each hour of course credit. Laboratory, drill, and other kinds of activity courses typically meet for two fifty-minute periods per week for each hour of credit.