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GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK

Other Academic Requirements/Policies

Grade Point Average Requirements

In order to receive a master's degree, a candidate must present a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.85 on all graduate courses required for the degree. Failing to earn such an average on the minimum number of hours, the student is permitted to present up to six additional hours of graduate credit in order to accumulate a grade-point average of 2.85. In the computation of grade point, all courses pursued at this institution for graduate credit that are part of the degree program (including any repeated courses) and the thesis (if offered) shall be considered. Students who repeat a course in an endeavor to raise their grade must count the repetition toward the maximum of six additional hours. Individual departments may have higher grade standards.

Change of Grades

All courses included in a program of study must have an acceptable grade (a letter grade or a mark of CR). A mark of "S" does NOT carry any degree credit, and any course with a mark of "S" cannot be included in a final program of study. If the course is to be included in a program of study, the mark of "S" must be changed to an acceptable grade or a mark of "CR". A "Change of Grade Notice" form must be submitted by the instructor of the course when a course grade is changed. Please note that all work for the course must have been submitted by the student to the instructor by the last day of final examinations in order to be eligible for graduation for that specific semester (as verified by the "Date Work Completed" entry on the "Change of Grade Notice" form).

Residence Requirement

Master's Candidates: The candidate must be in residence a minimum of 24 weeks. A total of 12 weeks of residence may be accredited from University of Arkansas off-campus graduate courses (restriction does not apply to graduate degree programs offered through the Graduate Residence Centers) or for work done in off-campus classes held in Fayetteville. Acceptance of transferred credit does not reduce the minimum residence requirement of 24 weeks.

Ed.S. Candidates: A minimum of 30 weeks of resident study at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, in an approved program is required. Credit earned in any University of Arkansas center, off-campus workshop or special course will not count as residence study in the Ed.S. program. The only exception is course work completed at the Pine Bluff Graduate Resident Center by students pursuing the Ed.S. degree in education with a specialization in adult education, educational administration, or vocational education.

Doctoral Candidates: All candidates for a doctoral degree must have satisfied the residence requirement in order to be eligible for graduation. Ed.D. candidates must fulfill this requirement by selecting any one of four plans. This selection must be made in consultation with the adviser after admission to the program. Ph.D. candidates must fulfill this requirement by completing a minimum of two consecutive semesters of full-time graduate study (nine hours or more per semester). Further information is available in the Graduate School Catalog.

Record of Progress Form

The Graduate School must receive a Master's Degree Record of Progress for all master's degree candidates with original signatures by the appropriate people. Master's Degree Record of Progress forms may be obtained from the Graduate School or our home page. Ed.S. and doctoral degree candidates have prepared Records of Progress which are forwarded to the department when the Graduate School is notified of the defense. The Record of Progress forms must have original signatures of all appropriate people. The degree candidates cannot be cleared without this form.

Honor Code for the Graduate School

The mission of the Graduate School is to provide post-baccalaureate students with the opportunity to further their educational goals through programs of study, teaching, and research in an environment that promotes freedom of expression, intellectual inquiry, and professional integrity. This mission is only possible when intellectual honesty and individual integrity are taken for granted.

The graduate student at the University of Arkansas is expected to: a) know and abide by the regulations for all students, as described in the Student Handbook published by the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, and b) know and abide by the regulations contained within the “Academic Honesty Policy for Graduate Students” and the “Research Misconduct Policy.” It is expected that graduate students will refrain from all acts of academic and research dishonesty and will furthermore report to the Graduate School any acts witnessed.

The pledge of the Honor Code is this: “On my honor as a graduate student at the University of Arkansas, I certify that I will neither give nor receive inappropriate assistance on the work I do for my degree.” Students will be asked to sign this pledge when they are admitted to the Graduate School. Faculty also may require students to sign this pledge before completing the requirements of a course or a program.

Academic Dismissal/Academic Probation

Students may be dropped from further study in the Graduate School if at any time their performance is considered unsatisfactory as determined by either the program faculty or the Dean of the Graduate School. Academic or research dishonesty and failure to maintain a specified cumulative grade-point average are considered to be unsatisfactory performance. See the Graduate Student Dismissal Policy, the Academic Probation Policy for Graduate Students, the Academic Honesty Policy for Graduate Students, and the Research Misconduct Policy, in this catalog.

Using its own written procedures, the graduate faculty of an academic degree program may recommend that the student be readmitted to the Graduate School after dismissal. Dismissed students with non-degree status may petition for readmission to the Graduate School by submitting a written appeal to the Dean of the Graduate School. The graduate faculty of any degree program may establish and state in writing requirements for continuation in that program.

Graduate Student Dismissal Policy

Graduate degree programs have the right to dismiss graduate students who a) do not make adequate academic progress; b) engage in academic or research misconduct; or c) engage in illegal, fraudulent, or unethical behavior as defined in any of the University codes or policies pertaining to academic and research honesty. There may also be other unusual situations in which a student may be dismissed from a degree program. In each case, the dismissal should comply with the following procedures.

Lack of Adequate Academic Progress

Students may be dismissed per the academic probation policy of the Graduate School, and students should familiarize themselves with this policy. In addition, students who have not been placed on probation, but who are not making adequate academic progress, may also be dismissed. They must be warned in writing of the possibility of dismissal and will be given a clear statement about what must be done within a specified time period to alleviate the problem. These expectations must be reasonable and consistent with expectations held for all students in the program. If the student does not meet the requirements within the time frame specified, he/she may be dismissed by the degree program with notification to the student and the Graduate School. Students dismissed in this way will not necessarily be dismissed by the Graduate School. Students may appeal this dismissal to the Graduate School, following the procedures outlined in the Graduate Student Grievance Policy.

Academic or Research Misconduct/Illegal, Fraudulent, or Unethical Behavior

For the process for dismissing students as a result of academic or research misconduct; or as a result of illegal, fraudulent, or unethical behavior, please see the “Academic Honesty Policy for Graduate Students,” the “Research Misconduct Policy,” and the University of Arkansas StudentHandbook. Students who are dismissed by their degree programs for academic or research misconduct after the appropriate due process review will also be dismissed by the Graduate School.

Other Situations

Departments may dismiss students for situations other than those specified above. When doing so, the department must notify the student in writing of the possibility of dismissal. If it is possible for the student to rectify the situation, he/she must be given a clear statement about what must be done within a specified time period to alleviate the problem. These expectations must be reasonable and consistent with expectations held for all students in the program. If the student does not meet the requirements within the time frame specified, he/she may be dismissed by the degree program with notification to the student and the Graduate School. Students dismissed in this way will not necessarily be dismissed by the Graduate School.

If the situation cannot be rectified, the student will be notified in writing of the grounds for dismissal and the date when the dismissal will be effective. This will normally be the end of the semester in which the student is enrolled, but the circumstances of the dismissal will be important in determining this date.

Students may appeal their dismissal to the Graduate School, following the procedures outlined in the Graduate Student Grievance Policy.

Academic Probation Policy for Graduate Students

Whenever a regularly admitted graduate student earns a cumulative grade-point average below 2.85 on graded course work taken in residence for graduate credit, he/she will be warned of the possibility of academic dismissal. When a graduate student has accumulated a minimum of 15 hours of graded course work taken in residence for graduate credit with a cumulative grade-point average below 2.85, and has received at least one warning, he/she will be academically dismissed from the Graduate School. This policy is effective with students entering the Graduate School in Fall 2002 or after. For the policy in effect before that time, contact the Graduate School. If a student is originally admitted prior to Fall 2002, but does not maintain registration and applies for readmission after Fall 2002, the current policy will apply. The student's degree program may request that the academic warning period be extended if the program can offer extenuating circumstances as a rationale and is willing to provide a plan of remediation for the student's success.

Graduate teaching and research assistants and students on Lever, Doctoral, Chancellor, Walton or other fellowships must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.85 on all course work taken for graduate credit. If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 2.85 on 6 or more hours of graduate work (one full-time semester), notification will be sent to the student and his/her department. If the CGPA is below 2.85 at the end of the next major semester (fall or spring), the department will not be allowed to appoint the student to an assistantship/fellowship until such time as his/her CGPA has been raised to the required level. Note: Individual degree programs may have more stringent requirements.

The Graduate School calculates the cumulative grade-point average on all courses taken for graduate credit at the University of Arkansas. Individual degree programs have the option to calculate the cumulative grade-point average only for those graduate courses taken in residence for the current degree. Consequently, individual degree programs may academically dismiss students whose cumulative grade point average on all graduate course work is above 2.85, but whose work for the current degree is below 2.85. If a program adopts this alternative policy, it must be so stated in the departmental graduate student handbook and in the Graduate Catalog and must apply to all graduate students in that program. When the program anticipates dismissing a student whose cumulative grade-point average is above 2.85, the program must notify the student, using the same process as specified in the general probation policy and must also notify the Graduate School. This policy is effective Fall 2003.

Related Policies :

Eligibility for Financial Aid offered by the Office of Financial Aid: Graduate students are eligible for continuing financial aid if: a) they complete, with grades of C or better, 67% of graduate courses attempted at the University; and b) they have not yet completed more than 150% of the graduate credits required for their degree. Students wishing to continue receiving financial aid who do not meet these requirements will petition the Student Aid Committee.

Course Grades : For students admitted Fall 2001 or after, courses for which students have received a grade of "D" or "F" will not be accepted as meeting degree requirements.

Grade Forgiveness and Repeated Courses : There is no grade forgiveness policy at the graduate level. If a student repeats a course, both the original and repeated course grade will be computed in the cumulative grade point average.

Additional Courses Above Requirements : Students in master's programs may take only 6 hours in addition to degree requirements in an effort to raise the grade point average necessary to graduate.

GPA Requirement to Receive a Doctoral Degree . Students must obtain a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average on all graded graduate course work taken in residence to receive a doctoral degree from the University of Arkansas.

Program Requirements : Individual degree programs may impose more stringent requirements than the Graduate School.

Annual Graduate Student Academic Review

It will be a policy of the Graduate Council that every master’s, specialist, and doctoral student will be reviewed annually by his/her degree program for progress toward the degree. At a minimum, the review will cover progress in the following: a) completing courses with an adequate grade-point average; b) completing the thesis/dissertation/project requirements; c) completing all of the required examinations; d) completing other requirements for the degree. When the review of each student is completed, the review form will be signed by the graduate student and the department/program head/chair, as well as other appropriate individuals as designated in the program review policy. This review will be forwarded to the Graduate School, to be included in the student’s file.

Graduate School Registration and Leave of Absence Policy

All doctoral students who have been admitted to candidacy must enroll in a minimum of one hour of dissertation credit every semester (fall, spring, summer) until they graduate. Under unusual circumstances, this enrollment requirement may be waived for post-candidacy doctoral students for up to two years, with an approved request for a leave of absence. To request a leave of absence, the student’s major professor must petition the Graduate Dean, specifying the circumstances that make it necessary for the student to interrupt his/her studies. While a decision will be made on a case-by-case basis, circumstances that might be considered include serious illness of the student or his/her immediate family, serious personal problems, or job-related issues. While the student is on an approved leave of absence, he/she cannot use any University resources, such as e-mail, the library, or faculty time. A post-candidacy doctoral student who takes an unauthorized break in registration by failing to maintain continuous enrollment or failing to obtain a leave of absence will no longer be considered a graduate student at the University of Arkansas. Students who wish to be reinstated will be required to file an Application for Readmission (no fee) and register for three graduate credits for each term of unauthorized break in registration. In the case of extraordinarily extenuating circumstances, students may appeal the provisions of this policy and request additional terms of leave of absence or forgiveness of the additional credits of registration. Such an appeal must be made to the Graduate Dean.

The student should be aware that the leave of absence policy does not waive the time requirements for a degree. A separate petition must be made for a time extension, if required.

Academic Honesty Policy for Graduate Students

Scope, Implementation, and Review

The procedures contained in this policy pertain to graduate students under the authority of the Graduate School. Master’s students in the Graduate School of Business should contact their dean’s office for policies pertaining to them. Law students should contact the School of Law. Undergraduate students should refer to the Student Handbook . Where policies contained herein conflict with those described for undergraduate students in the Student Handbook , the policies contained in this policy shall take precedence for graduate students.

For details of procedures for implementing this policy, contact the Office of Community Standards and Student Ethics or the Graduate School. This University policy does not preclude the implementation by colleges or schools of more rigorous policies.

Academic Honesty

The University of Arkansas 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, staff, 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 by 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 and research integrity in all aspects of its programs. By necessity, this policy 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.

Definition of Terms

Academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty involves acts that may subvert or compromise the integrity of the educational or research process at the University of Arkansas. Included is an act by which a student gains or attempts to gain an academic advantage for himself/herself or another by misrepresenting his/her or another’s work or by interfering with the completion, submission, or evaluation of work. Academic misconduct may include those acts defined as research or scholarly misconduct. Allegations of research or scholarly misconduct on the part of graduate students are subject to this policy. However, such cases may also be reviewed under the University’s Research Misconduct Policies and Procedures.

Academic/Research Misconduct. Academic and/or research misconduct may include, but is not limited to, accomplishing or attempting any of the following acts: (Note: Students should be aware that theses and dissertations may be checked by the Graduate School for academic dishonesty and plagiarism.)

Altering grades or official records.
Using any materials that are not authorized by the instructor for use during an examination.
Copying from or viewing another student’s work during an examination.
Collaborating during an examination with any other person by giving or receiving information without specific permission of the instructor.
Stealing, buying, or otherwise obtaining information about an examination not yet administered.
Collaborating on laboratory work, take-home examinations, homework, or other assigned work when instructed to work independently.
Substituting for another person or permitting any other person to substitute for oneself to take an examination.
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.
Submitting, without specific permission of the instructor, work that has been previously offered for credit in another course.
Plagiarizing, that is, the offering as one’s own work, the words, ideas, or arguments of another person or using the work of another without appropriate attribution by quotation, reference, or footnote. Plagiarism occurs both when the words of another (in print, electronic, or any other medium) are reproduced without acknowledgement and 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 not sufficient to provide a citation if the words of another have been reproduced – this also requires quotation marks. It is the responsibility of all University students to understand the methods of proper attribution and to apply those principles in all materials submitted
Sabotaging of another student’s work.
Falsifying or committing forgery on any University form or document.
Submitting altered or falsified data as experimental data from laboratory projects, survey research, or other field research.
Committing any willful act of dishonesty that interferes with the operation of the academic or research process.
Facilitating or aiding in any act of academic or research dishonesty.

Procedures

Sanctions for acts of academic dishonesty committed by graduate students may be applied in the following ways.

Initial Report of Infraction
1. Infractions Involving Graded Course Work
  When an instructor determines or believes that a student in the instructor’s class is responsible for academic dishonesty deserving of sanction, the instructor will meet with the student and explain the allegation. Without waiving the option to pursue charges, the instructor may also choose to contact the Office of Student Mediation and Conflict Resolution for help in resolving the situation. If the instructor wishes to pursue charges of academic misconduct, he/she should within five working days after meeting with the student, or as soon as practicable thereafter, follow a. or b. (following). If the Office of Student Mediation and Conflict Resolution is involved, the five days does not begin until the instructor is aware of the termination of those services. (If the instructor is either a graduate teaching assistant or a temporary faculty member, then a supervising faculty member or the departmental head or chairperson may assist in the handling of an academic dishonesty case.)
2. Infractions Not Involving Graded Course Work
  Cases of academic misconduct may occur in situations not involving graded course work. If the infraction involves academic misconduct in the student's thesis, dissertation, work done for a funded research project, a final report submitted to a funding agency, or material submitted for publication in a scholarly journal, the Research Misconduct Policy will be in effect. The following applies only to academic misconduct which does not involve the cases enumerated in the sentence above and does not involve course work. In such cases, the department chairperson/program director and major professor, or other appropriate official(s) will meet with the student. Without waiving the option to pursue charges, the program may also choose to contact the Office of Student Mediation and Conflict Resolution for help in resolving the situation. If the department/program decides to proceed with charges of academic misconduct, the chair/head/director or other appropriate official will, within five working days after meeting with the student, or as soon as practicable thereafter, follow one of the following: (If the Office of Student Mediation and Conflict Resolution is involved, the five days does not begin until the instructor is aware of the termination of those services.)
3. Infractions Reported by Others
  When academic dishonesty is reported by someone other than the parties involved (e.g. by another student), that person (hereinafter called the complainant) will report the incident to the instructor of the course, the major professor of the student alleged to be engaging in the misconduct, or the chair/head/director of the department/program. The person who receives the complaint will then proceed as outlined in Section A.1 or A.2. above, as appropriate.
Appeals
1. When a sanction has been imposed by the instructor or department/program: The student may appeal such a sanction to the AUJ on the grounds that he/she did not commit the violation. If the student wishes to appeal the severity of a sanction, he/she will follow the Academic Grievance Procedures for Graduate Students. In both cases, the student will notify the appropriate office of his/her appeal within five working days of receiving the sanction, or as soon as practicable. For appeals to the AUJ, the student will contact the Office of Student Ethics and Community Standards. For appeals following the Academic Grievance Procedures for Graduate Students, the student will contact the Graduate School.
2. When a sanction has been imposed by the AUJ: Unlike the situation in which the Judicial Board hears the appeal of a student protesting a sanction imposed by the department/program, students who are sanctioned by the Judicial Board itself may appeal either or both the imposition of and the severity of the sanction via the Academic Grievance Procedure for Graduate Students. Students who wish to initiate such an appeal shall contact the Graduate School within five working days of receiving the sanction, or as soon as practicable.
3. When a sanction has been imposed by the Graduate School: Students who are sanctioned by the Graduate School may appeal to the Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

Sanctions

The choice of sanctions in cases of academic dishonesty involves considerations of the integrity of the educational process of the University. There is no place in that process for academic dishonesty, and these actions will be taken seriously. 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.

While not intended to be an exhaustive list, the following are possible sanctions for academic dishonesty:

Grade Sanctions: An instructor may impose a grade sanction. 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 course grade. All grade sanctions must be appropriately reported as outlined in the procedures above. A graduate student may appeal the severity of a grade sanction via the Academic Grievance Procedures for Graduate Students. Once a grade sanction has been applied, following the procedures outlined herein, students may not withdraw from courses in which they have been assessed a grade sanction, unless this has been recommended by the AUJ or a grievance committee.
Other Sanctions: The graduate student’s program or the Graduate School may impose a variety of other sanctions, including but not limited to any of the following: requiring an activity designed to increase the student’s awareness of and understanding about academic honesty, placing the student on probation or suspension, or dismissing the student.
The AUJ may administer the following sanctions: University reprimand, University censure, conduct probation, restrictive conduct probation, suspension, indefinite suspension, educational sanctions, or expulsion. Please see the Student Handbook for definitions of these sanctions.

It should be noted that graduate students may receive any of these sanctions, including dismissal, upon the first or any subsequent finding of academic misconduct.

Travel Policy for Graduate Students

Graduate students who travel on University business must comply with the travel policies of the University. For those graduate students not on assistantships/fellowships, please see the University policy at < http://studentaffairs.uark.edu > by clicking on “Student Travel Policy.”

Rules and Regulations Pertaining to International Students

International students are subject to the same rules and regulations governing domestic students in terms of academic degree requirements and graduate assistantships.In addition, there are rules and regulations which apply specifically to international students. Click here for the International Programs and Services site which provides links to international-related web sites.

Registration and Related Topics

Students must register during one of the formal registration periods. Graduate students, new, returning, or currently enrolled, may register during the priority registration held each semester for the following semester. Students who have not already registered should register during the open registration session. For information on registration, consult the Schedule of Classes or visit the World Wide Web at <http://www.uark.edu/admin/regrinfo/>.

Enrollment Limits

Under ordinary circumstances, graduate registration is limited to 18 hours for any one semester in the fall or spring, including undergraduate courses and courses audited. Registration above 15 hours must be approved by the Graduate Dean. For registration in the summer, the enrollment limit is 12 hours without approval by the Graduate Dean.

Registration for Audit

When a student audits a course, that student must register for audit, pay the appropriate fees, and be admitted to class on a space-available basis. Students not formally admitted to a degree program will not have priority for auditing a class. The instructor shall notify the student of the requirements for receiving the mark of “AU” for the course being audited. The instructor and the student’s dean may drop a student from a course being audited if the student is not satisfying the requirements specified by the instructor. The student is to be notified if this action is taken. The only grade or mark that can be given is “AU.” The Graduate School does not normally pay tuition for audited classes for students on assistantship.

Registration Out of Career

Students who wish to enroll in classes for credit outside of their career (e.g. graduate students who wish to enroll in undergraduate classes for undergraduate credit) should print the appropriate form from the Graduate School Web site (http://www.uark.edu/grad), obtain the appropriate signatures, and return the form to the office indicated on the form. Students are not able to register themselves out of career.

Proper Address of Students

All students are responsible for maintaining their addresses with the University and to report any change of address promptly to the Office of the Registrar or to the Graduate School. Failure to do so may result in undelivered grades, registration notices, invoices, invitations, or other official correspondence and announcements.

Identification Cards

Identification cards are made by the Division of Student Services during each registration period and at scheduled times and places during the year. The I.D. card can be used as a debit card for purchases at the Bookstore or the Servery.

Adding and Dropping Courses

A currently enrolled student who has registered during the advance registration period should make any necessary or desired schedule adjustments such as adding or dropping courses or changing course sections during the schedule-adjustment period scheduled for the same semester. Students may also add or drop courses during the first five class days of a semester. Students who drop classes by the end of the first week of classes in the fall and spring will have their fees adjusted. (Refer to the Treasurer’s Office Web site for summer dates.) Fee adjustments are not done for classes dropped after the first week of classes. Drops and Withdrawals are two different functions. In a drop process the student remains enrolled. The result of the withdrawal process is that the student is no longer enrolled for the term. The two functions have different fee adjustment policies. Fee adjustment deadlines for official withdrawal are noted below.

A student may drop a course during the first 10 class days of the semester without having the drop shown on the official academic record. After the first 10 class days, and before the drop deadline of the semester, a student may drop a course, but a mark of “W,” indicating the drop, will be recorded. A student may not drop a full-semester course after the Friday of the tenth week of classes in a semester.

Drop-add deadlines for partial semester courses and summer classes are in the schedule of classes.

Withdrawal from Registration

Withdrawing from the University means withdrawing from all classes that have not been completed up to that time. A student who leaves the University voluntarily before the end of the semester or summer term must file and have accepted by his or her academic dean and the Registrar a Petition for Withdrawal from Registration. Withdrawal must occur prior to the last class day of a semester. Students who do not withdraw officially from a class that they fail to complete will receive an “F” in that class.

Attendance

Students are expected to be diligent in the pursuit of their studies and 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.

Full-Time Status

Enrollment in nine semester hours (not including audited courses) is considered full-time for graduate students not on assistantship. For graduate assistants or students with research fellowships on 50 percent appointment or more, six semester hours (not including audited courses) of enrollment is considered full-time in the fall and spring semesters. Graduate assistants who are on a 50% appointment for a six week summer term must earn at least three hours of graduate credit during the summer. However, these credits do not have to be earned in the same session as the appointment, and may be taken at any time during the summer. Tuition and fees for graduate assistants on 50% appointments for a six week summer term will be paid up to a maximum of 4 hours. Students not on graduate assistantships or fellowships must be enrolled in six hours (not including audited courses) to be full time in the summer.

Continuous Enrollment

After a doctoral student has passed the candidacy examinations, the student must register for at least one hour of dissertation each semester and one hour during the summer session until the work is completed, whether the student is in residence or away from the campus. For each semester in which a student fails to register without prior approval of the Dean of the Graduate School, a registration of three hours will be required before the degree is granted. Please see the Graduate School Registration and Leave of Absence Policy.

Use of Electronic Resources of the Library

The use of electronic resources of the University Libraries from a location outside of the library is only available to enrolled students. Students who are enrolled in the spring semester and have pre-registered for the succeeding fall semester may have access to these resources during the intervening summer. Students who are not required to be enrolled for other reasons, who are not pre-registered for the fall, and who wish to use the library resources during the summer must be enrolled in at least one hour of credit in any one of the summer sessions.

Grades and Marks

Final grades for courses are “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” and “F” (except for courses taken in the Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food, and Life Sciences). No credit is earned for courses in which a grade of “F” or, beginning with students admitted to the Graduate School in Fall 2001 or after, “D” 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.

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 a grade within the 12-week period, the “I” shall be changed to an “F.” When the mark of “I” is changed to a final grade, this shall become the grade for the semester in which the course was originally taken.

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 in which the University allows credit toward a degree, but for which no grade points are earned. The mark “CR” is not normally awarded for graduate-level courses but may be granted for independent academic activities. With departmental (or program area) approval and in special circumstances, up to a maximum of six semester hours of “CR” may be accepted toward the requirements for a graduate degree.

A mixing of course letter grades and the mark “CR” is permitted only in graduate-level courses in which instruction is of an
independent nature.

A mark of “R” (Registered) indicates that the student registered for master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation. The mark “R” gives neither credit nor grade points toward a graduate degree.

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 class 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. Grades of plus and minus are assigned grade-point values in the Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food, and Life Sciences.

Time Extension Policy

It is a requirement of the Graduate School that master’s and specialist students complete their degrees within six consecutive calendar years from the first semester of enrollment in the program and doctoral students complete the degree within seven consecutive calendar years from the date of admission to the program. Requests to extend these time requirements must be reviewed and approved by the Graduate Dean, following these procedures:

The student’s major advisor will fill out a “Request for Time Extension” form (available on the web-site of the Graduate School) and submit this to the Graduate School.
For both master’s and doctoral students, the central consideration in determining whether more time can be allowed is whether the student’s knowledge of the subject matter is current at the time of graduation. Therefore, as part of the request for time extension, the major advisor will be asked to explain how this will be ensured:

For the master’s degree, the student’s knowledge of any course work over six years old at the time of graduation must be recertified. Please see “Recertification of Student’s Knowledge of Course Content,” below.
For the doctoral degree, recertification of the student’s knowledge of course work is not necessary, but the major advisor must explain how the currency of the student’s knowledge of the field will be assessed prior to graduation.

Recertification of Student’s Knowledge of Course Content: The major advisor must specify how recertification of the student’s knowledge of course content will occur. By recertification, we mean that the student’s knowledge of the subject matter included in the course is determined to be current at the time of graduation. There are several ways this may be demonstrated. Examples include: The student is teaching the subject matter in a separate context; the student will be examined by the current instructor of the course to determine his/her currency of knowledge; the student will be examined on the subject matter during his/her final oral defense of the thesis or during the comprehensive exam. It is not acceptable to say that the content of the course has not changed in the time since the student was enrolled, as it is the student’s knowledge that is most critical. The course content does not speak to this issue.

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University of Arkansas

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The Graduate School

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