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Objectives, Regulations, DegreesThe Graduate School is an autonomous organizational unit, whose Dean is responsible to the Provost. The Graduate Dean has authority for all matters pertaining to graduate education and concerning graduate students. The Mission Statement and Goals of the Graduate School may be found in the Graduate School Handbook, available on the World Wide Web at <http://www.uark.edu/depts/gradinfo/>.
OBJECTIVESIn addition to the advancement and dissemination of knowledge, the general objective of the Graduate School is to provide an opportunity for the development of the intellectual potential of individuals in an environment of freedom of expression and inquiry and to en-hance the academic integrity of the institution.
ADMISSIONAnyone who wishes to earn graduate-level credit, whether as a degree-seeking student or as a non-degree student, must make formal application to, and be officially admitted by, the Graduate School. The Graduate School offers two classifications of admission: 1. GRADUATE STANDING The Graduate School shall admit only those applicants to full GRADUATE STANDING whose enrollment the Graduate School considers will contribute positively to the quality of life and educational programs of the Graduate School. This enrollment will allow degree credit to be earned if the degree program also accepts the student. 2. NON-DEGREE STANDING The Graduate School shall admit those applicants to single semester NON-DEGREE STANDING whose enrollment will not lead to a degree. Application. Applications for admission to the Graduate School must be accompanied by a $40.00 application fee ($50.00 for international applicants) which is not refundable and will not apply against the general registration fee if the applicant enrolls. Applicants are encouraged to use our on-line application procedure. Alternatively, the application form may be obtained from our Web page at: http://www.uark.edu/depts/gradinfo or the application form may be obtained from and submitted directly to:
GRADUATE SCHOOL ADMISSIONS OFFICE 119 Ozark Hall University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR 72701
Telephone: (479) 575-4401
Transcripts. For applicants who desire full graduate standing: it is the responsibility of each applicant who desires full graduate standing to request EACH college or university which the student has previously attended to send directly to the Graduate School Office two official copies of the student's academic record including all courses, grades, and credits attempted and indication of degree(s) earned. Note: The fact that courses completed at one institution may be included on a transcript from another institution will not suffice; official transcripts must be received from each institution previously attended. All transcripts become the property of the University of Arkansas Graduate School and will not be released to the applicant or to any other person, institution or agency. The University should receive all application materials, including all official transcripts, at least one month prior to the date of registration. Previously Enrolled or Currently Enrolled at Fayetteville. For those previously enrolled or currently enrolled at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, the Graduate School obtains transcripts from the Registrar's Office. For a graduate of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (baccalaureate degree), the only transcripts required are those from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and those from each institution attended after completing the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, degree. Anyone who was previously enrolled, but who is not currently enrolled in the University of Arkansas Graduate School, is considered a "readmission" and is required only to submit an Application for Admission (no fee) and official transcripts from institutions attended after the University of Arkansas Graduate School enrollment. (See Admission Classification: Readmission.) Admission is for a Specific Semester Only. Applicants who wish to change their date of entry after submitting an application must notify the Graduate School Admissions Office; applicants who have already been admitted should also notify the department in which they plan to major. Application materials for applicants who apply for admission, but who do not subsequently enroll, will be retained by the Graduate School Admissions Office for two calendar years from the date of the applicant's original proposed semester of entry. However, applicants must file a new Application for Admission (no fee) to notify the Graduate School of their request for reconsideration. Applicants who are admitted but do not enroll for two years or more after admission must submit an application for admission, application fee, and have two official copies of the student's academic record sent from each college or university attended and follow procedures for initial admission. Admission to Graduate Standing. Official notice of the decision concerning admission will be sent from the Graduate School. Admission will not be granted until all requirements are met, and graduate credit will not be granted retroactively except in unusual circumstances as approved by the Graduate Dean. Further, admission to graduate standing does not automatically constitute admission to a specific program of study leading to a graduate degree. Therefore, in addition to satisfying the general requirements of the Graduate School, applicants must comply with the specific requirements and have the approval of the department in which they desire to pursue graduate study. Adviser. At the time of admission to a degree program of the Graduate School, the student is assigned to a major adviser who acts as the adviser throughout the student's program of study. The appointment of the adviser is made in the student's major department and is determined primarily by the student's particular areas of interest in the field. More detailed information regarding the student's program of study can be secured from the appropriate department chairperson. International and Resident Alien Applicants. International applicants and resident aliens must submit a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based or 213 on the computer-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) taken within the preceding two years, unless their native language is English, they have received a graduate degree from an accredited U.S. graduate school, or they have demonstrated an acceptable level of language proficiency as defined in the Graduate School Handbook located on the Graduate School website. Individual departments may have higher requirements and reference should be made to program descriptions. Resident aliens must submit a copy of their Resident Alien card with their application. International applicants must have all material submitted by May 1 for fall semester admission, by October 1 for the spring semester, and by March 1 for the summer session. International applicants must be acceptable to a program of study as a condition to being granted admission to the Graduate School and must meet the requirements for regular admission status unless holding a degree from the University of Arkansas. International students and resident aliens whose native language is not English must demonstrate competency in spoken English by submitting a test score of at least 50 on the Test of Spoken English (TSE) to be eligible for a graduate assistantship that requires direct contact with students in a teaching or tutorial role. This test cannot be waived. However, students who do not achieve a score of at least 50 on the Test of Spoken English may take the alternative English proficiency assessment. See the Graduate Handbook or contact the Graduate School. English Language Use by Non-Native Speakers. Non-native speakers of English admitted to undergraduate or graduate study at the University of Arkansas are required to take the English Language Placement Test (ELPT) prior to the beginning of classes in their first term of study. Non-native speakers in the fol-lowing categories are exempt from this requirement: 1. Undergraduate students who transfer at least 24 hours of credit from U.S. institutions, including courses that meet the freshman composition requirement; 2. Undergraduate students who attended at least three years and graduated from a high school in the United States and submitted an SATII/Writing score of 400 or an ACT English score of 19; 3. Graduate students who earned bachelor's or master's degrees in U.S. institutions or in foreign institutions where the official and native language is English; 4. Graduate or undergraduate students with a Test of Written English (TWE) score of 5.0. Diagnostic and placement testing is designed to test students' ability to use English effectively in an academic setting, and its purpose is to promote the success of non-native speakers in completing their chosen course of study at the University of Arkansas. Test results provide the basis for placement recommendations into English as a Second Language (EASL) support courses or course sequences. Courses are offered by the Department of Foreign Languages for those students whose language skills are diagnosed as insufficient for college-level work at the level to which they have been admitted (undergraduate or graduate study). Credit in EASL courses do not count toward University of Arkansas degrees. Non-native speakers diagnosed as having language competence sufficient for their level of study will not be recommended to enroll in EASL courses. The ELPT is administered by Testing Services during New Student Orientation. Recommendations for EASL course work made as a result of the ELPT will be advisory to students and their program advisors with undergraduates further advised to take the recommended courses before taking the required freshman composition courses and graduate students advised to take a writing course to support initial course work taken in their fields. The publication, "International Student Information," is available from the International Admissions Office, 215 Silas H. Hunt Hall. Classifications of Admission to Graduate Standing Full Graduate Standing, Regular Admission. To be considered for full graduate standing, regular status, applicants must have earned a baccalaureate or a master's degree from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, or from a regionally accredited institution in the United States with requirements for the degrees substantially equivalent to those of this University, or from a foreign institution with similar requirements for the degrees. Admission to graduate standing does not automatically constitute acceptance to a program of study leading to a graduate degree. To pursue a graduate degree a person must also be accepted in a program of study by a department after gaining regular admission to graduate standing. International applicants cannot be admitted to graduate standing unless they are also accepted by a department in a degree program AT THE SAME TIME. Persons who achieve regular admission but are not initially seeking a graduate degree (non-degree) and who subsequently decide to pursue a degree must apply for and be accepted in a degree program by the appropriate department and by the Graduate School. A student with regular graduate standing who has not been accepted in a program of study leading to a specific graduate degree may take no more than 12 semester hours of graduate-level courses that can be counted toward the requirements for a graduate degree. At the time of acceptance in a degree program, the chair of the appropriate department will recommend to the Graduate School which courses previously taken, if any, are to be accepted in the degree program. Requirements for regular admission to graduate standing and acceptance in a program of study leading to a graduate degree are: 1. For regular admission to graduate standing: a. a grade-point average of 2.70 or better (A=4.00) on all course work taken prior to receipt of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education or b. a grade-point average of 3.20 or better on the last 60 hours of course work taken prior to receipt of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education or c. a grade-point average between 2.50 and 2.69 on all course work taken prior to receipt of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and a satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Examinations general test, the Miller Analogies Test, or a similar test acceptable to the Graduate Dean, or d. conferral of a post-baccalaureate graduate degree (excluding professional degrees) from a regionally accredited institution. 2. For acceptance to a graduate degreeprogram the requirements are: a. fulfillment of either 1.a or 1.b, and recommendation of the chair of the department or program offering instruction for the degree program; or b. fulfillment of 1.c, recommendation of the chair of the department or program offering instruction for the degree program and approval of the Graduate Dean, on the condition that the student makes a cumulative grade-point average of 2.85 or better on the first 12 hours of graduate-level course work in that degree program and meets any other conditions that may be specified by the faculty of the department. Any other consideration for regular admission must be by individual petition to the Graduate Dean and, where pertinent, a recommendation from the appropriate program chair and will be considered on its own merits, case by case. Departmental requirements should be considered the minimum for admission to a degree program but do not guarantee admission. Conditional Admission. Students who do not meet the requirements for regular admission to the Graduate School may be considered for conditional admission on a case-by-case basis by the Graduate Dean, with a recommendation from the appropriate program chair. Students admitted conditionally must earn a minimum 2.85 grade point average on the first 12 hours of graduate course work. Non-Degree Seeking. If a student meets all of the requirements for regular admission to the Graduate School, but chooses not to pursue a degree, he/she may be admitted as non-degree seeking. If the student subsequently chooses to pursue a degree, only 12 of the hours taken as a non-degree-seeking student may be used to fulfill degree requirements, and those 12 hours must be approved by the advisory committee. Single Semester, NON-DEGREE Standing. Applicants who desire single semester NON-DEGREE standing must obtain from the Graduate School Admissions Office and sign a STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING. Students admitted to single semester NON-DEGREE standing must understand that any enrollment taken in this classification will not normally carry degree credit. Transcripts are not required for applicants seeking this single semester NON-DEGREE standing. For all other types of admission, please see the Graduate School Handbook located on the Graduate School Web site. Letter of Good Standing. A graduate student who is in good standing at another regionally accredited institution in the United States may be given admission (non-degree status) to the Graduate School for one semester upon submission of an Application for Admission and a letter of good standing from the Dean of the Graduate School at that institution. If at sometime in the future the student should wish to pursue a degree in the University of Arkansas Graduate School, it will be necessary to follow the normal procedures for admission and to have official transcripts sent from each institution previously attended. Graduate courses transferred and used for requirements for a degree at another university cannot be used for a graduate degree at this institution. Readmission. Readmission to the Graduate School is not automatic. Students who have been enrolled in the Graduate School within the two preceding academic years but have not enrolled in the immediately preceding semester will be readmitted if: 1. The student has earned at least a 2.70 cumulative grade-point average on all (12 hours or more) graduate credits attempted during all previous enrollments; 2. A new Application for Admission form (no fee) is filed prior to the desired registration date (preferably, at least one month prior to that date); 3. The Graduate School has received two official transcripts of all course work attempted at other institutions subsequent to the previous enrollment in the University of Arkansas Graduate School; 4. The student's graduate status at the end of the previous enrollment was "regular." Students who have been previously enrolled in the Graduate School but who have not been enrolled within the preceding two years and who meet the above conditions may be granted further registration after completion of a readmission process. Students seeking readmission for the purpose of entering or resuming a graduate degree program must be accepted by the faculty of that program of study. Such acceptance must state specifically what credit will be granted for the earlier work, any conditions which must be fulfilled to qualify this earlier work in the degree program, and an exact timetable for the completion of all degree requirements. When such recommendations exceed the normal time limits or other conditions established by the Graduate School, the approval of the Dean of the Graduate School will be required. Such recommendations must be submitted and approved prior to the granting of readmission. Readmission to the Graduate School (including that of students who were conditionally admitted) under any other circumstances will be considered and decided on an individual basis. Students interested in obtaining such readmission should contact the Graduate School. Students who were not enrolled in the Spring Semester, but who were enrolled for the Summer Session will have registration materials available for the Fall Semester should they wish to continue their registration. Dual Enrollment Seniors at the University of Arkansas may register for graduate credit if they meet all of the following criteria: 1. Must have no more than 12 semester hours to complete the requirements for the bachelor's degree at the University of Arkansas in the semester in which the dual enrollment is to occur (as verified by the dean of the student's undergraduate college); 2. Must plan to register for ALL undergraduate courses necessary to complete graduation requirements at the University of Arkansas by the end of the semester in which the dual enrolment is to occur; 3. Must have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.85 on ALL course work ever attempted at any institution attended prior to the request for dual registration, as verified by the Registrar's Office; 4. Must have applied for graduation for the semester in which the dual enrollment is to occur. 5. Dual enrolled students cannot be considered for a graduate assistantship unless they are within six hours of receiving the baccalaureate degree. Dual enrollment forms may be obtained in the Graduate School office or Web site. Admission to Graduate CentersIn an attempt to fulfill the recognized need for graduate education for Arkansas residents who find it impossible or inconvenient to attend classes at Fayetteville, the University of Arkansas Graduate School offers selected graduate-level courses at graduate centers throughout the state. All courses and instructors at these centers have been individually evaluated by the University of Arkansas Graduate Council and are subject to the same standards of quality that apply to graduate faculty and graduate programs at Fayetteville. Similarly, those desiring to enroll in these courses must follow the same admission procedures and are subject to the same admission criteria as persons admitted at Fayetteville. There are no exceptions or deviations from these policies and procedures. Admission materials, including all official transcripts, should be received in the Graduate School at least one month prior to the requested semester of entry. (See Section on "Admission.") For more comprehensive information regarding format of instruction, schedule of classes, enrollment and registration, fees, etc., contact: Director of Continuing Education, Number 2, University Center, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701. Those intending to enroll for classes at the Graduate Resident Center for Engineering (University of Arkansas at Little Rock, host campus) must submit application for admission to the Graduate School at least one month prior to initial registration through: Graduate Resident Center for Engineering 3189 Bell Engineering Center University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR 72701
Telephone: 1-800-423-1176 or (479) 575-6015
To assure timely processing of the Application for Admission, a check or money order made to the University of Arkansas for the $40 application fee must accompany the application when submitted to the Graduate School. Contact the above address for information pertaining to classes, enrollment, fees, etc.
GRADUATE CENTERSThe University of Arkansas offers graduate-level courses for residence credit at Graduate Centers located off the Fayetteville campus. There are two types of graduate centers currently in existence: Twelve-Hour Graduate Centers and Graduate Resident Centers. Graduate courses completed at Graduate Resident Centers may be used to satisfy course work requirements for any graduate degree. Any graduate credit course offered by the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, via distance education (regardless of class sites) will be counted as residence credit. Twelve-Hour Graduate Centers. The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, offers graduate courses at off-campus locations. At those locations, not defined as Graduate Resident Centers for specified degrees, a student may complete a maximum of twelve semester hours of courses for residence credit applicable to the master's degree requirements at the University of Arkansas. To obtain graduate credit for courses offered at off-campus locations, the student must gain admission to the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Graduate School. If graduate credit so received is to be applied to a specific master's degree, the student must be accepted in a program of study leading to that degree. Graduate courses completed, but not applicable to the requirements for the master's degree the student is pursuing, will not be accepted as part of the 30-week residence required for that degree. Graduate Resident Centers. The University of Arkansas offers graduate level courses for residence credit off the Fayetteville campus. All of the residence requirements for some graduate degrees may be completed off campus at Graduate Resident Centers as indicated in the following list.
FORT SMITH GRADUATE RESIDENT CENTER All course requirements for the Master of Business Administration degree and the Master of Education degrees in elementary education, secondary education, special education, and vocational education may be completed at the Graduate Resident Center in Fort Smith.
GRADUATE RESIDENT CENTER FOR ENGINEERING IN CENTRAL ARKANSAS (University of Arkansas at Little Rock as host campus) All requirements for the Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.) degree may be completed at the Graduate Resident Center for Engineering, University of Arkansas at Little Rock as host campus.
GRADUATE RESIDENT CENTERS AT MILITARY BASES AND THE CAMDEN AND RUSSELLVILLE GRADUATE RESIDENT CENTERS The Master of Science degree (M.S.), with a major in operations management, is offered at Graduate Resident Centers established at the Naval Air Station in Millington, Tennessee; the Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville; the Hurlburt Field Air Force Base in Florida; and in Camden and Russellville. For further information on this degree program and a description of courses offered, see page 122.
LITTLE ROCK GRADUATE RESIDENT CENTER All of the course requirements for the Master of Science (M.S.) degree in rehabilitation may be completed at the Graduate Resident Center in Little Rock.
MID-SOUTH CENTER OF LEADERSHIP TRAINING All course requirements for the Master of Science in human environmental sciences may be completed at the Mid-South Center of Leadership Training in Little Rock.
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE All course requirements for the Master of Education in adult education and the Master of Education in vocational education may be completed at the Graduate Resident Center at Mississippi County Community College.
NORTH ARKANSAS COLLEGE All course requirements for the Master of Education in adult education and the Master of Education in vocational education may be completed at the North Arkansas College.
PHILLIPS COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS All course requirements for the Master of Science in human environmental
sciences, the Master of Arts in Teaching in childhood educa
PINE BLUFF GRADUATE RESIDENT CENTER All course requirements for the Master of Education degree may be completed at the Graduate Resident Center in Pine Bluff. In addition, all requirements for the Educational Specialist degree with a specialization in adult education, educational administration, or vocational education may be completed at the Graduate Resident Center in Pine Bluff.
SOUTH ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE All course requirements for the Master of Education in adult education and the Master of Education in vocational education may be completed at the South Arkansas Community College.
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK All course requirements for the Master of Science in human environmental sciences may be completed at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT BATESVILLE All course requirements for the Master of Science in human environmental sciences may be completed at the Graduate Resident Center at the Phillips Community Center of the University of Arkansas.
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT HOPE All course requirements for the Master of Science in human environmental sciences, the Master of Education in adult education, the Master of Education in vocational education, and the Educational Specialist degree with a specialization in Educational Administration may be completed at the Graduate Resident Center at the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope.
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS EXTENSION BUILDING All course requirements for the Master of Science in human environmental sciences may be completed at the Graduate Resident Center at the University of Arkansas Extension Building in Little Rock. REGISTRATION AND RELATED TOPICSStudents 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 Web at <http://www.uark.edu/admin/regrinfo/>. 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. Proper Address of Students It is the responsibility of all students to maintain and correct their addresses with the University and to report any change of ad-dress 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. Consult the schedule of classes for the times and locations. 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, but a fee will be charged for changes of registration at this time. A student may drop a course during the first 10 class days of the semester without having the withdrawal 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 withdrawal, will be recorded. A student may not drop a course after the Friday of the eighth week of classes in a semester. Drop-add deadlines for partial semester courses are published in the schedule of classes. Drop-add deadlines for summer sessions are published in the summer sessions' 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 9 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% appointment or more, 6 semester hours (not including audited courses) of enrollment is considered full-time in the fall and spring semesters. For full-time enrollment in the summer, consult the Graduate School website, http://www.uark.edu/depts/gradinfo.
GRADES AND MARKS Final grades for courses are "A," "B," "C," "D," and "F." (No credit is earned for courses in which a grade of "F" or, beginning with students admitted to the Graduate School in the 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.
ACADEMIC GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS The Graduate School of the University of Arkansas recognizes that there may be occasions when a graduate student has a grievance about some aspect of his/her academic involvement. It is an objective of this University that such a graduate student may have prompt and formal resolution of his or her personal academic grievances and that this be accomplished according to orderly procedures. Below are the procedures to be utilized when a graduate student has an academic grievance with a faculty member or administrator. If the student has a grievance against another student or another employee of the University, or if the student has a grievance which is not academic in nature, the appropriate policy may be found by contacting the Office of Affirmative Action or the office of the Graduate Dean. For policies and procedures pertaining to conduct offenses, consult the Code of Student Life in the Catalog of Studies. Note: Master's students in the Graduate School of Business should follow the grievance procedures for that School. Definition of Terms Graduate student - Under this procedure, a graduate student is any person who has been formally admitted into the Graduate School of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and who is/was enrolled as a graduate-level student at the time the alleged grievance occurred. Academic grievance - An academic grievance means a dispute concerning some aspect of academic involvement arising from an administrative or faculty decision which the graduate student claims is unjust or is in violation of his or her rights. The Graduate School considers any behavior on the part of a faculty member or an administrator, which the student believes to interfere with his/her academic progress, to be subject to a grievance. While an enumeration of the students' rights with regard to their academic involvement is not possible or desirable, we have provided a short list as illustration. However, as in all cases involving individual rights, whether a specific behavior constitutes a violation of these rights can only be decided in context, following a review by a panel of those given the authority to make such a decision. In general, we consider that the graduate student: 1) has the right to competent instruction; 2) is entitled to have access to the instructor at hours other than class times (office hours); 3) is entitled to know the grading system by which he/she will be judged; 4) has the right to evaluate each course and instructor; 5) has the right to be treated with respect and dignity. In addition, an academic grievance may include alleged violations of the affirmative action plans of the University as related to academic policies and regulations, as well as disputes over grades, course requirements, graduation/degree program requirements, thesis/dissertation/advisory committee composition, and/or advisor decisions. Formal academic grievance - An academic grievance is considered formal when the student notifies the Graduate Dean, in writing, that he/she is proceeding with such a grievance. The implications of this declaration are: 1) all correspondence pertaining to any aspect of the grievance will be in writing, and will be made available to the Graduate Dean; 2) all documents relevant to the case, including minutes from all relevant meetings, will be part of the complete written record, and will be forwarded to the Graduate Dean upon receipt by any party to the grievance; 3) the policy contained herein will be strictly followed; and 4) any member of the academic community who does not follow the grievance policy will be subject to disciplinary actions. Filing a formal academic grievance is a serious matter, and the student is strongly encouraged to seek informal resolution of his/her concerns before taking such a step. Complete Written Record - The "complete written record" refers to all documents submitted as evidence by any party to the complaint, as subject to applicable privacy considerations. Note: Because the tape recordings of committee meetings may contain sensitive information, including private information pertaining to other students, the tape or a verbatim transcription of the tape will not be part of the complete written record. However, general minutes of the meetings, documenting the action taken by the committees, will be part of the complete written record. Working Days - Working days shall refer to Monday through Friday, excluding official university holidays. Procedures Note: Master's students in the Graduate School of Business should follow the grievance procedures for that School. 1. Individuals should attempt to resolve claimed grievances first with the person(s)involved, within the department, and wherever possible, without resort to formal grievance procedures. The graduate student should first discuss the matter with the faculty member involved, with the faculty member's chairperson or area coordinator, or with the Graduate Dean. The student's questions may be answered satisfactorily during this discussion. If the grievance is with the departmental chairperson or area coordinator, the student may choose to meet with the academic dean or the Graduate Dean for a possible informal resolution of the matter. 2. If a graduate student chooses to pursue a formal grievance procedure, the student shall take the appeal in written form to the appropriate departmental chairperson/area coordinator, and forward a copy to the Graduate Dean. In the case of a grievance against a departmental chairperson or an area coordinator who does not report directly to a departmental chairperson, or in the absence of the chairperson/coordinator, the student will go directly to the dean of the college or school in which the alleged violation has occurred, or to the Graduate Dean. In any case, the Graduate Dean must be notified of the grievance. After discussion between the chairperson/coordinator/dean and all parties to the grievance, option 2a, 2b, or 3 may be chosen. a. All parties involved may agree that the grievance can be resolved by a recommendation of the chairperson/coordinator/dean. In this case, the chairperson/coordinator/dean will forward a written recommendation to all parties involved in the grievance within twenty working days after receipt of the written grievance. The chairperson/area coordinator/dean is at liberty to use any appropriate method of investigation, including personal interviews and/or referral to an appropriate departmental committee for recommendation. b. Alternatively, any party to the grievance may request that the departmental chairperson/area coordinator/dean at once refer the request, together with all statements, documents, and information gathered in his or her investigation, to the applicable departmental group (standing committee or all graduate faculty of the department). The reviewing body shall, within ten working days from the time its chairperson received the request for consideration, present to the department chairperson/coordinator/dean its written recommendations concerning resolution of the grievance. Within ten working days after receiving these recommendations, the department chairperson/area coordinator/dean shall provide all parties to the dispute with copies of the reviewing body's recommendation and his or her consequent written decision on the matter. 3. If the grievance is not resolved by the procedure outlined in 2 (above), or if any party to the grievance chooses not to proceed as suggested in 2 (above), he/she will appeal in writing to the Dean of the Graduate School. When, and only when, the grievance concerns the composition of the student's thesis/dissertation committee or advisory committee, the Graduate Dean will proceed as described in section 5 (below). In all other cases, whenever a grievance comes to the attention of the Dean of the Graduate School, either as a result of a direct appeal or when a grievance has not been resolved satisfactorily at the departmental/academic dean level, the Dean of the Graduate School will consult with the person alleging the grievance. If that person decides to continue the formal grievance procedure, the Graduate Dean will notify all parties named in the grievance, the departmental chairperson/area coordinator, and the academic dean that a formal grievance has been filed. Within ten working days, the Dean of the Graduate School will 1) with the consent of the student, appoint a faculty member as the student's advocate, and 2) appoint an ad hoc committee of five faculty members and two graduate students, chosen to avoid obvious bias or partiality, to review the grievance and report to him/her. The Associate Dean of the Graduate School will serve as the chair of the grievance committee and will vote only in the case of a tie. A voting member of the Graduate Council will serve as the non-voting secretary of the committee. The committee shall have access to witnesses and records, may take testimony, and may make a record by taping the hearing. Its charge is to develop all pertinent factual information (with the exception that the student and faculty member/administrator will not be required to be present in any meeting together without first agreeing to do so) and, on the basis of this information, to make a recommendation to the Graduate Dean to either support or reject the appeal. The Graduate Dean will then make a decision based on the committee's recommendation and all documents submitted by the parties involved. The Graduate Dean's decision, the committee's written recommendation and a copy of its complete written record (excluding those in which other students have a privacy interest) shall be forwarded to the person(s) making the appeal within twenty working days from the date the committee was first convened; copies shall be sent simultaneously to other parties involved in the grievance and to the dean of the college in which the alleged violation occurred. A copy shall be retained by the Graduate School in such a way that the student's privacy is protected. 4. When, and only when, the grievance concerns a course grade and the committee's recommendation is that the grade assigned by the instructor should be changed, the following procedure applies. The committee's recommendation that the grade should be changed shall be accompanied by a written explanation of the reasons for that recommendation and by a request that the instructor change the grade. If the instructor declines, he or she shall provide a written explanation for refusing. The committee, after considering the instructor's explanation and upon concluding that it would be unjust to allow the original grade to stand, may then recommend to the department chair that the grade be changed. The department chair will provide the instructor with a copy of the recommendation and ask the instructor to change the grade. If the instructor continues to decline, the department chair may change the grade, notifying the instructor, the Graduate Dean, and the student of the action. Only the department chair, and only on recommendation of the committee, may change a grade over the objection of the instructor who assigned the original grade. No appeal or further review is allowed from this action. All grievances concerning course grades must be filed within one calendar year of receiving that grade. 5. When, and only when, a student brings a grievance concerning the composition of his/her thesis/dissertation or advisory committee, the following procedure will apply. The Dean of the Graduate School shall meet with the graduate student and the faculty member named in the grievance, and shall consult the chair of the committee, the departmental chairperson/area coordinator, and the academic dean, for their recommendations. In unusual circumstances, the Dean of the Graduate School may remove a faculty member from a student's thesis/dissertation committee or advisory committee, or make an alternative arrangement (e.g. assign a representative from the Graduate faculty to serve on the committee). With regard to the chair of the dissertation/thesis committee (not the advisory committee), the Graduate School considers this to be a mutual agreement between the faculty member and the student to work cooperatively on a research project of shared interest. Either the graduate student or the faculty member may dissolve this relationship by notifying the other party, the departmental chairperson, and the Graduate Dean. However, the student and the advisor should be warned that this may require that all data gathered for the dissertation be abandoned and a new research project undertaken, with a new faculty advisor. 6. If a grievance, other than those covered by step 4 (above), is not satisfactorily resolved through Step 3 or 5, an appeal in writing and with all relevant material may be submitted for consideration and a joint decision by the Chancellor of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and the Provost. This appeal must be filed within twenty working days of receiving the decision of the Graduate Dean. Any appeal at this level shall be on the basis of the complete written record only, and will not involve interviews with any party to the grievance. The Chancellor of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and the Provost shall make a decision on the matter within twenty working days from the date of receipt of the appeal. Their decision shall be forwarded in writing to the same persons receiving such decision in Step 3. Their decision is final pursuant to the delegated authority of the Board of Trustees. 7. If any party to the grievance violates this policy, he/she will be subject to disciplinary action. When alleging such a violation, the aggrieved individual shall contact the Graduate Dean, in writing, with an explanation of the violation.
RESEARCH MISCONDUCT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES (Campus Council, May 4, 1989)
The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, will pursue allegations of research misconduct. This pursuit will involve an inquiry of the allegation; an investigation if the inquiry indicates one is warranted; and imposition of sanctions if justified. I.Definitions of Terms Research misconduct means (1) fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, deception, or other practices which seriously deviate from those commonly accepted within the research community for proposing, conducting, or reporting the results of research; (2) material failure to comply with federal, state, or local requirements for protection of researchers, human subjects, the public, or laboratory animals, or other requirements which relate to the conduct of research; or (3) failure to meet other material legal requirements governing research. The term research misconduct as used in this document does include such improper activities as plagiarism of original literature and unauthorized copying of original art work. Inquiry means information gathering and initial fact-finding to determine whether an allegation or an apparent instance of research misconduct warrants an investigation. Investigation means the formal examination and evaluation of all relevant facts to determine if research misconduct has occurred. The appropriate office of research administration for the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, is either the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs or the University of Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. The date of initiation of the investigation is the day the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs is notified by the Chair of the Research Council that an investigation is necessary. II.The Inquiry A. An inquiry is not a formal hearing; it is designed to separate allegations deserving further investigation from frivolous, unjustified, or clearly mistaken allegations. The inquiry must result in either dismissal of the allegation or a call for an investigation. A suspected criminal act will result in the suspension of the inquiry until the appropriate law enforcement agency allows it to continue. B. Allegations of research misconduct will be submitted to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and should be as specific and detailed as conditions permit. These allegations will normally be submitted in writing and signed by the complainant(s). When the com-plainant(s) elect(s) to not submit a signed document, the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs shall exercise discretion as to whether the information presented warrants an inquiry. Whenever possible, the Vice Chancellor shall counsel confidentially with the com-plainant(s). C. The Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs will immediately charge the Chair of the Research Council with conducting an inquiry into the allegation of research misconduct. The inquiry will then be conducted by the Research Council. All members of the Research Council must disclose potential conflicts of interest to the Council which will determine if conflicts exist and excuse member(s) from the inquiry as appropriate. In the event the Chair of the Research Council has possible con-flicts of interest, the Research Council will elect a chair of the inquiry from its membership. That person will perform the same duties detailed for the Chair of the Research Council. D. The inquiry must be initiated immediately upon receipt of an allegation of research misconduct by the Chair of the Research Council. The inquiry should be completed within 60 calendar days of the date the chair received the allegation. If circumstances clearly warrant a period of longer than 60 calendar days for the inquiry, the reasons for the extended time period shall be submitted in writing to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. E. If criminal conduct is suspected, the appropriate authorities will be notified and the inquiry will be suspended until those authorities notify the Research Council that it is appropriate to reconvene the inquiry. F. A written record must be kept of the inquiry including, if necessary, the reasons for an extended inquiry period. The safety and security of the record will be assured. The Chair of the Research Council will assume responsibility for the written record and other materials acquired during the progress of the inquiry. The materials and record will be kept in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. Members of the Research Council wishing to view those materials and/or the written record at times other than when the Council is in session (for purposes of conducting the inquiry) must go to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. Only the Chair of the Research Council or those designated by the Chair may remove the record or materials and then only to bring to the Council for the purpose of conducting the inquiry. G. During the inquiry stage, the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, will protect the confidentiality of all parties involved to the maximum extent possible. Whether a case can be reviewed effectively without the involvement of the complainant(s) or the person(s) alleged to have committed research misconduct depends upon the nature of the allegation and the evidence available. Cases that depend specifically upon the observations or statements of the complainant(s) may not proceed without the involvement of that individual; other cases that rely on documentary evidence may permit the com-plainant(s) to remain anonymous. It may be necessary to involve the per-son(s) alleged to have been involved in research misconduct during the inquiry. In such instances the person(s) must be advised of the allegation of research misconduct. H. The complainant(s) and the person(s) alleged to have been involved in research misconduct shall supply information and material as requested by the Research Council. I. Both the complainant(s) and the per-son(s) charged in the allegation may seek legal counsel. Such counsel will not be allowed to be physically present during the inquiry sessions. J. The completion of an inquiry is marked by the Research Council's determination of whether or not an investigation is warranted and the preparation of written documentation to summarize the process and conclusion of the inquiry. The Chair of the Research Council will provide a written report of the findings of the inquiry to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. If an investigation is needed, the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs will so notify in writing the complainant(s), the person(s) alleged to have been involved in research misconduct, the appropriate deans and chairs, the appropriate office of research administration, and all other persons who have been informed of the inquiry by the Research Council or University officials. If the allegations have been found to have no substance, the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs will immediately notify in writing only those persons informed of the inquiry and move to restore all situations to as close to their original conditions as possible. K. If the need for an investigation is determined, any agency sponsoring the research will be immediately notified in writing by the appropriate office of research administration. The funding agency may be informed before the inquiry is complete if (1) the seriousness of alleged misconduct is apparent; (2) immediate health hazards are involved; (3) the funding agency's resources, reputation, or other interests need protecting; (4) federal action may be needed to protect the interests of a subject of the investigation or of others potentially affected; or (5) the community or the public should be informed. If at any point in an inquiry criminal violations become apparent, the funding agency will be notified within 24 hours if at all possible. The appropriate legal authorities will also be notified. The funding agency will be notified if the alleged research misconduct is going to be publicly announced by the University. L. During the inquiry, interim administrative action may be taken by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs when justified by the need to protect the health and safety of research subjects, the interests of students and colleagues, or the University. Administrative action may range from slight restrictions of activities, reassignment of activities, or suspension of all research activities of the person(s) alleged to have committed research misconduct. Interim administrative action will be taken in full awareness of how it might affect the individuals and the ongoing research within the institution. III.Rights of the Complainant(s) and Persons Alleged to have Committed Research Misconduct A. The proceedings of an inquiry, including the identity of the person(s) alleged to have committed research misconduct, will be held in strict confidence to protect the parties involved. If confidentiality is breached and the inquiry finds the allegation to be unsupported, the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs will take reasonable steps to minimize the damage to reputations which may result from inaccurate reports. B. If an allegation is found to be unsupported but has been submitted in good faith, no further formal action will be taken other than the notifications required by paragraphII.J above. Allegations that have not been brought in good faith will lead to appropriate disciplinary action. Complainants should be aware from the outset that their confidentiality will not be maintained if the Research Council determines that the complaint is maliciously motivated and false. Such complaints will be considered to be research misconduct. C. Where a complaint has been brought in good faith even if mistaken, the University will protect the complainant(s) against retaliation. Individuals engaging in acts of retaliation will be disciplined in accordance with the policies of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. IV.The Investigation A. The investigation's purpose is to explore further the allegations and determine whether research misconduct has been committed. The investigation will focus on accusations of research misconduct as defined previously and examine the factual materials of each case. The investigation will look carefully at the substance of the charges and examine all relevant evidence. B. Once the Research Council has determined an investigation is required, it must be conducted. The person(s) alleged to have committed research misconduct does not have the right to challenge the initiation of the investigation. C. The Research Council will determine the composition of the investigative committee and insure that it has the appropriate expertise to evaluate the evidence. It may be possible to utilize an existing committee, the presence of which may be mandated by federal agencies. For example, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee may be the appropriate body to investigate an allegation of mistreatment of laboratory animals. Members of the investigative committee may come from within or outside the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. The Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs will provide the necessary resources for outside experts when sufficient expertise does not exist at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. The minimum number of committee members will be five. The Research Council will appoint the chair of the investigative committee. D. Conflicts of interest must be avoided. Those investigating the allegations will be selected and serve with full awareness of the closeness of their professional or personal affiliation with the complainant(s) and/or the person(s) alleged to have committed research misconduct. Any person appointed to an investigative committee who may have a conflict of interest in a given case must disclose potential conflicts to the Chair of the Research Council in writing within one week. The Research Council will determine if a conflict exists and rescind or continue the appointment as appropriate. E. The Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and the person(s) alleged to have committed research misconduct will be notified in writing by the Chair of the Research Council as to the composition of the investigative committee. F. The person(s) alleged to have committed research misconduct shall have an opportunity to respond to the allegation. Any initial response to the allegation should be received in writing by the Chair of the Research Council within 15 calendar days following the date of the notification letter described in IV.E. The Chair of the Research Council shall immediately forward any response to the chair of the investigative committee. G. The investigation will be conducted as expeditiously as possible. In most cases the investigation will be completed within 120 calendar days of its initiation. In certain cases 120 days may be insufficient. In such cases the investigative committee will prepare an interim written report by the 120th calendar day after the initiation of the investigation to report progress to date, including reasons for the extra time required for the completion of the investigation. The chair of the investigative committee will distribute the report to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the person(s) alleged to have committed research misconduct, the appropriate office of research administration, and the Chair of the Research Council. H. Written records and all other materials pertinent to the investigation will be kept in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and will be available only to individual investigative committee members. Only the chair of the investigative committee or his/her designee may remove the records and material. I. In the course of an investigation, additional information may emerge which justifies broadening the scope of the investigation beyond the initial allegations. Any such change in scope will be immediately reported in writing by the chair of the investigative committee to the Chair of the Research Council who will notify the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the complainant(s), the person(s) alleged to have committed research misconduct, and the appropriate office of research administration. The appropriate office of research administration will report significant new developments during the investigation to any sponsor(s) of the research as they occur. J. The person(s) alleged to have committed research misconduct must provide information requested by the investigative committee. All involved parties are obligated to cooperate with the investigative committee in providing information relating to the case. K. Throughout the investigation, the person(s) alleged to have committed research misconduct may, at the discretion of the investigative committee, be advised of the progress of the investigation and afforded the opportunity to respond and/or provide additional information to the investigative committee. L. The person(s) alleged to have committed research misconduct will be allowed to submit written statements from others, to appear before the investigative committee and make an oral statement, and answer questions. In any appearance before the investigative committee, the person(s) alleged to have committed research misconduct may be accompanied by one person, who may be an attorney, to advise him/her. The adviser shall not address the investigative committee, speak on behalf of the person, or otherwise participate actively in the investigation. The person(s) alleged to have committed research misconduct may not be present during testimony of other witnesses or during committee deliberations, nor may he/she have access to committee records. M. In the event criminal actions are discovered during the investigation, the proper authorities will be notified and the investigation will be suspended until those notified authorities approve its resumption. N. During the investigation, interim administrative action may be taken by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs when justified by the need to protect the health and safety of research subjects, the interests of students and colleagues, or the University. Administrative action may range from slight restrictions of activities, reassignment of activities, or suspension of all research activities of the person(s) alleged to have committed research mis-conduct. Interim administrative action will be taken in full awareness of how it might affect the individuals and the ongoing research within the institution. O. The investigation into allegations of research misconduct may have any number of outcomes, including but not limited to a determination that: 1.no research misconduct or serious research error was committed; 2.no research misconduct was com- mitted, but serious research errors were discovered in the course of the investigation; or 3.research misconduct was committed. P. The investigative committee will provide a draft report to the Chair of the Research Council who will provide copies to the person(s) alleged to have committed research misconduct, the complainant(s), and the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for their comment prior to preparation of the final written report. This report will contain the tentative findings of the investigative committee with its rationale. The investigative committee will allow at least 15 calendar days from the date the report is mailed to the Chair of the Research Council for input from any of the parties receiving the draft report before preparing the final report. Copies of the final report will be distributed by the Chair of the Research Council to the person(s) alleged to have committed research misconduct, the complain-ant(s), the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, and the appropriate office of research administration. V.Procedures Once the Investigation is Complete A. The Research Council will conduct a substantive review of the findings and rationale of the investigative committee within 15 calendar days from the date of the final report of the committee. The Research Council may accept or modify the findings of the investigative committee and shall recommend corrective or disciplinary action, if appropriate. The Chair of the Research Council will report in writing the action of the Research Council to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the chair of the investigative committee, the complainant(s), those alleged to have committed research misconduct, the appropriate office for research administration, and others notified of the investigation. B. No Finding of Research Misconduct: When the investigation finds no support for allegations of research misconduct and the Research Council concurs, the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, will retain the findings of the investigation in a confidential and secure file in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. The Chair of the Research Council will notify in writing all persons informed of the investigation that the allegation lacked substance. The Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs will take reasonable steps to repair the reputations of those alleged to have committed research misconduct. If the allegations of research misconduct are found to be maliciously motivated, appropriate disciplinary actions will be taken against those responsible. If the allegations, however incorrect, are found to have been made in good faith, no disciplinary measures will be taken against the complainant(s), and efforts will be made to prevent retaliatory actions. The Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs will be responsible for these efforts. C. Serious Research Error is Found: When serious research error has been found, the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, will consider means of correcting the research record. When appropriate, this will involve written notification by the Chair of the Research Council to the editors of appropriate journals or other documents in which the errors were reported. Sanctions may be imposed on those found to have committed serious research error. The Chair of the Research Council will notify all persons informed of the investigation that serious research error has occurred. D. Finding of Research Misconduct: Sanctions will be imposed on those found to have committed research misconduct. VI.Sanctions A. The Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs will review the corrective or disciplinary action recommended by the Research Council. The Vice Chancellor may implement the action as recommended or modify it as appropriate. B. Institutional disciplinary actions include but are not limited to: 1.special monitoring of future work, 2.letter of reprimand, 3.removal from a particular project, 4.probation, 5.suspension, 6.salary reduction, 7.rank reduction, and 8.termination of employment. C. The Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs will report in writing the sanctions imposed to the person(s) found to have committed serious research error or misconduct, the complainant(s), the Chair of the Research Council, the appropriate deans and chairs, and the appropriate office of research administration which will notify the research sponsor(s). VII.Brief Final Report The Chair of the Research Council will prepare a brief final report which summarizes the findings of the investigative committee, the action of the Research Council, the sanctions imposed by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, and any additional related actions by the involved parties. When no finding of serious research error or misconduct is found, the Chair of the Research Council will distribute the final report only to those informed of the investigation. When serious error or misconduct has been found, the Chair of the Research Council will distribute the final report to those informed of the investigation and to appropriate individuals and agencies in the following list. The list is illustrative but not exhaustive of those who should receive the brief final report: 1. sponsoring agencies, funding sources; 2. co-authors, co-investigators, collaborators; 3. editors of journals in which inappropriate research was published; 4. state professional licensing boards; 5. editors of journals or other publica- tions, other institutions, sponsoring agencies, and funding sources with which the individual has been affiliated; 6. professional societies; 7. legal authorities if appropriate; and 8. the person(s) who committed the research error or misconduct. The original copy of the final report will be stored in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs with the other documents pertaining to the investigation. VIII.Public Disclosure The Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs will issue a press release following a finding that serious research error or misconduct has occurred and sanctions imposed. IX.Outside Investigations The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, recognizes that sponsoring agencies may conduct their own inquiries and investigations and impose their own sanctions.
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 Academic Probation Policy for Graduate Students, below. 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. 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 work without specific permission of the instructor 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 or research process. 15. Facilitating or aiding in any act of academic or research dishonesty. Students should also be familiar with the requirements of the Research Misconduct Policy, page 23, and the Code of Student Life (see the Catalog of Studies). Term Paper Assistance The use of the 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.
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. Graduate teaching and research assistants and students on Lever, Doctoral, or Chancellor 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 until such time as his/her CGPA has been raised to the required level. Note: Individual degree programs may have more stringent requirements than these.
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 as follows:
Family Policy Compliance Office U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington DC 20202-4605
6. Universitywide Administrative Memorandum 515.1 is available on request in Mullins Library on campus.
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) in completing courses with an adequate grade point average; b) in completing the thesis/dissertation/project requirements; c) in completing all of the required examinations; d) toward 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.
ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENT FOR GRADUATION Application for graduation must be completed in the Graduate Dean's office, filed with the Registrar and fees paid for the semester in which degree requirements will be completed and graduation effected. If a student fails to complete the degree, the student must then renew the application and pay a renewal fee.
DEGREES OFFERED The faculty of the Graduate School, under the authorization of the Board of Trustees, grants the degrees listed below. The graduate faculty, as represented by the Dean of the Graduate School and through the Graduate Council, has primary responsibility for the development, operating policies, administration, and quality of these programs. Operating through the Graduate Dean, the faculty appoints committees that directly supervise the student's program of study and committees that monitor research activities and approve theses and dissertations. Doctor of Philosophy Doctor of Education Educational Specialist Master of Accountancy Master of Arts Master of Arts in Teaching Master of Business Administration Master of Education Master of Fine Arts Master of Information Systems Master of Music Master of Public Administration Master of Science Master of Science in Biological Engineering Master of Science in Chemical Engineering Master of Science in Civil Engineering Master of Science in Computer Engineering Master of Science in Electrical Engineering Master of Science in Engineering Master of Science in Environmental Engineering Master of Science in Industrial Engineering Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering Master of Science in Operations Research Master of Science in Transportation Engineering Master of Transportation and Logistics Management
MASTER'S DEGREES The degree of Master of Arts (M.A.) is conferred for graduate work of which the major portion has been done in the liberal arts. The degree of Master of Science (M.S.) is conferred for graduate work of which the major portion has been done in agriculture, engineering, kinesiology, health science, counseling, rehabilitation, human environmental sciences, biological and physical sciences, statistics, and communication disorders. The degree of Master of Accountancy (M.Acc.) is conferred upon a student who completes an approved program of graduate studies in accounting. The degree of Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) is conferred upon a student who majors in agricultural education, childhood education, physical education, secondary education, or vocational education. The degree of Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) is conferred upon a student whose major work is in the field of business. The degree of Master of Education (M.Ed.) is conferred upon a student who majors in the field of education. The degree of Master of Information Systems (M.I.S.) is conferred upon a student who completes an approved program in computer information systems and quantitative analysis. The degree of Master of Music (M.M.) is conferred upon a student who completes an approved program of graduate studies in music. The Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) is conferred upon a student who completes an approved program of graduate studies in the field of public administration. The degree of Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in art, creative writing, drama, or translation is conferred upon a student who completes an approved two-year program of graduate studies in these areas. The degree of Master of Transportation and Logistics Management (M.T.L.M.) is conferred upon a student who completes an approved program of graduate studies in this area.
MASTER OF ARTS, MASTER OF SCIENCE General minimum requirements of the Graduate School for the degrees of Master of Arts, Master of Science, including the several engineering degrees, follow. (Note: For degree requirements in the Master of Arts in Economics, see the Graduate School of Business.) 1. 24 graduate semester hours and a thesis, or 30 semester hours without a thesis. (The thesis may be a departmental requirement or may be required by the major adviser.) 2. A comprehensive examination. 3. A cumulative grade-point average of 2.85. (Individual departments may have higher grade standards.) 4. A minimum residence of 24 weeks. (See Residence Requirements.) Departments may require higher grade standards and other requirements. Program of Study. At the time of admission to the Graduate School and acceptance in a program of study leading to a graduate degree, the student is assigned to a major adviser who becomes the adviser throughout the program of study and chair of the student's graduate advisory committee. The choice of a major adviser is largely determined by the student's choice of a major subject. The program of study may consist of courses chosen from one department or it may include such cognate courses from other departments as may in individual instances seem to offer greatest immediate and permanent values. As a general principle, two-thirds of the courses come from the degree program in which the student is seeking a graduate degree. A student who writes a master's thesis must register for a minimum of six semester hours of master's thesis. No more than six semester hours of master's thesis enrollment may be given credit in the degree program. Students wishing to take 3000-level undergraduate courses for graduate credit should consult the Code of Student Life, available on the Graduate School Web site at <http://www. uark.edu/depts/gradinfo>. Undergraduate courses numbered below 3000 will not be allowed to carry graduate credit. Under ordinary circumstances graduate registration is limited to 18 hours for any one semester including undergraduate courses and courses audited. Registration above 15 hours must be approved by the Graduate Dean. All requirements for a master's degree must be satisfied within six consecutive calendar years. Admission to Candidacy. To be admitted to candidacy for a degree, students must have been unconditionally admitted to graduate standing, and must have been approved by the major adviser and the Dean of the Graduate School for their particular degree program. The minimum prerequisite is 12 semester hours of graduate credit over and above any entrance deficiencies or conditions. Transfer of Credit. The University of Arkansas will permit a student to transfer six hours of graduate credit from an accredited graduate school in the United States, provided that the grades are "B" or better and the subjects are acceptable to the department concerned, as a part of the master's program. (The transfer of graduate credit from institutions outside the United States is at the discretion of the Graduate Dean.) This does not, however, reduce the minimum requirement of 24 weeks of residence for the master's degree as set by state law. Students contemplating transfer of credit should consult with the Graduate School Office in advance. Note: Graduate courses transferred and used for requirements for a degree at another university cannot be used for a degree at this institution. Residence Requirements. The candidate must present a minimum of 24 course hours taken in residence at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. A total of 12 hours 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, see page 20) or for work done in off-campus classes held in Fayetteville. Acceptance of transferred credit does not reduce the minimum residence requirement of 24 course hours. Thesis. The title of the thesis must be recommended by the thesis director and the thesis committee and be approved by the Dean of the Graduate School at least three months before the date of the comprehensive examination. The thesis must be submitted for approval to the thesis committee consisting of a minimum of three faculty members who have been approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. This committee must receive the thesis at least three weeks prior to the comprehensive examination which is to be completed at least one week before the degree is to be conferred. In the situation when there is a split decision among committee members of a master's program advisory or thesis committee, majority rules. Upon acceptance of the thesis by the thesis committee and at least one week before graduation, two typewritten copies of the unbound thesis in prescribed form must be delivered to the Graduate Dean for approval before it is deposited in the Mullins Library. All copies of the thesis must include original signatures of the student's thesis committee of record as approved and filed in the Graduate Dean's Office. Signatures of persons other than those of the official thesis director and members of the thesis committee are unacceptable. Comprehensive Examination. In addition to completing other requirements, the candidate for a master's degree must take a comprehensive examination, which may be oral and/or written as recommended by the major department. Grade-Point Average. 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, unless the department requires a higher grade point average. 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 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.
MASTER OF ACCOUNTANCY See the Graduate School of Business, page 35.
MASTER OF ARTS IN TEACHING The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree program is a 33 semester hour degree offered in consecutive summer, fall and spring semesters with initial enrollment in the summer semester. The M.A.T. degree is the initial certification program for students at the University of Arkansas and has six areas of emphasis: agricultural education, childhood education, middle level education, physical education, secondary education, and vocational education. Students are selected up to the maximum number designated for each cohort area of emphasis. Admission requirements for the M.A.T. degree for initial certification are: completion of an appropriate undergraduate degree program; a cumulative grade-point average of 2.7 in all previous courses; admission to the Graduate School; admission to Teacher Education program; completion of the pre-education core with a minimum of a "C" grade in all courses; completion of all prerequisite courses in the teaching field; successful completion of all required Praxis I and II exams, and payment of an internship fee. The M.A.T. degree requires the completion of 10 to 12 hours of core courses to be selected from the following: CIED 5012, Measurement/Research/Statistical Concepts for Teachers; CIED 5022, Classroom Management Concepts for Teachers; CIED 5032, Curriculum Design Concepts for Teachers; CIED 5042, Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum; CIED 5052, Seminar: Multicultural Issues; and ETEC 5062, Teaching and Learning with Computer-Based Technologies. In addition, students must complete coursework in their areas of emphasis, and a six hour internship is required. All M.A.T. students must participate in a comprehensive examination and one of the following: project, internship, directed research, and/or student portfolio. To receive the degree, a candidate must present minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 on all graduate courses required for the degree. For information on the areas of specialization, refer to the sections of this catalog on agricultural education, childhood education, middle level education, physical education, secondary education, and vocational education. Admission to candidacy, residence requirements, and other requirements are the same as for the Master of Education degree. All requirements for the M.A.T. must be completed within six consecutive calendar years.
MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION See the Graduate School of Business, page 35.
MASTER OF EDUCATION The degree of Master of Education (M.Ed.) is offered with areas of concentration in adult education, education, educational administration, educational technology, elementary education, higher education, physical education, recreation, secondary education, special education, and vocational education. The degree of Master of Science (M.S.) is offered in communication disorders, counseling, health science, kinesiology, and rehabilitation. General minimum requirements for the degree of Master of Education (M.Ed.) follow: 1. 27 semester hours and a thesis or 33 semester hours without a thesis. 2. A written comprehensive examination. 3. A cumulative grade-point average of 3.00. 4. A minimum residence of 24 weeks. After a student has been admitted to the Graduate School, the student may seek acceptance into one of the several program areas of concentration offered in the Master of Education program. Procedures and forms facilitating this process may be obtained from the Office for Research, Graduate Studies and Faculty Development, (GE 306), College of Education and Health Professions. Upon acceptance to a program area, the student is assigned an adviser. Acceptance in a program area should be accomplished before the completion of the first graduate course. Some programs require students admitted to the master's degree program to take the Graduate Record Examinations, the Miller Analogies Test, or the National Teachers Examination. This should be accomplished prior to completion of 15 hours of graduate credit. All Master of Education degree programs include a minimum of 33 semester hours. Nine semester hours of basic core courses are required for all M.Ed. students in three areas: Research Tools, Learning/Development Domain, and History/Philosophy Domain as follows: 1. Research Tools (students must select one course from this category), EDFD 5013 Research Methods in Education, HKRD 5353 Research in HKRD, and EDFD 5393 Applied Educational Statistics; 2. Learning/Development Domain (students must select one course from this category), EDFD 5373 Psychological Foundations of Teaching and Learning, EDFD 5473 Adolescent Psychology in Education, and EDFD 5573 Life-Span Human Development; M.Ed. students in higher education may substitute HIED 5043, The Student in Higher Education. 3. History/Philosophy Domain (students must select one course from this category), EDFD 5303 Historical Foundations of Modern Education, EDFD 5353 Philosophy of Education, and EDFD 5323 Global Education. M.Ed. students in higher education and adult education may substitute HIED 5083, History and Philosophy of Higher Education. Students who are not eligible for a standard teaching certificate will be expected to complete additional work to fulfill this requirement in addition to the 33-hour graduate program. An exception to this policy is made for students who declare they are not preparing for a school position and will not seek a certificate required of professional employees in public schools. Admission to Candidacy. Admission to candidacy will be met when the following have been completed: 1. unconditionally admitted to graduate standing. 2. accepted to a program area and assigned an adviser. 3. completion of 12 semester hours of graduate credit over and above any entrance deficiencies or conditions. Transfer of Credit. Transfer of credit regulations established by the Graduate School for the Master of Arts and Master of Science degree apply to the Master of Education degree. (See page 30.) The University of Arkansas also offers graduate-level courses for residence credit off the Fayetteville campus. See Graduate Resident Centers on page 20. Residence Requirements. The candidate must be in residence a minimum of 24 weeks. A total of 12 weeks of residence or 12 semester hours of approved study may be accepted for residence credit from the University of Arkansas off-campus graduate courses. Acceptance of transferred credit does not reduce the minimum residence requirement of 24 weeks. Graduate courses completed, but not applicable to the requirements for the master's degree the student is pursuing, will not be accepted as part of the 24-week residence required for that degree. All requirements for a master's degree must be satisfied within six consecutive calendar years. Other Requirements. Students who do not have a grade-point average of 3.00 upon completion of Master of Education program requirements may be allowed to submit up to six additional hours of graduate credit in residence on the Fayetteville campus or at approved Graduate Resident Centers to accumulate a 3.00 average. The policies and procedures approved for the Master of Arts and Master of Science degrees also apply to the Master of Education degree. In addition to completing other requirements, the candidate must pass a comprehensive examination administered by the respective program area.
MASTER OF FINE ARTS DEGREE (IN ART) The objective of the program of study leading to the degree of Master of Fine Arts in art shall be professional achievement of high order, a knowledge of art history and criticism, the development of a fundamental grasp and understanding of the professional field of art and its relationship to supporting fields of knowledge, as well as the satisfactory completion of course work and other degree requirements. The program of study will vary depending upon the art medium areas selected for the creative work and the goals of the individual graduate student. The Master of Fine Arts degree in art is considered to be the terminal degree in studio art and is awarded in recognition of professional development in the visual arts as evidenced by a period of successful post-bachelor's degree study. The M.F.A. degree is recognized as preparatory to studio art teaching positions at institutions of higher education. Application for Admission. In addition to the application for admission to Graduate School, the applicant must also submit to the Department of Art all transcripts of college work, letters of reference, a portfolio of creative works, and an application form obtained from the department. The applicant for the Master of Fine Arts degree in art is expected to have earned the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Fine Arts degree or its equivalent, with a major concentration in visual art. Applicants who do not have an art major may present evidence of proficiency in creative work in the visual arts. After admission to the Graduate School and acceptance by the Department of Art, the graduate student will be appointed an adviser by the department chairperson to work with the student in planning a suitable program of advanced study. The art faculty will review the student's work and progress in the program at least twice each year. Residence Requirements. To meet the residency requirements the student is required to complete a minimum of 60 semester hours of graduate credit and study in residence for a minimum of four regular semesters (not to include summer terms) on the Fayetteville campus. All degree requirements must be completed within six consecutive calendar years from the date of first enrollment. With approval of the department chairperson and the Graduate School, up to six credit hours of graduate level work in studio art or art history may be transferred from another recognized graduate school and applied to degree requirements. Candidacy Application and Review. After completion of at least two semesters in the M.F.A. degree program, the student may make application to be a candidate for completion of the M.F.A. degree. The art faculty will conduct a formal review of the applicant's work and progress in the program. At least two regular semesters of residence must be completed after acceptance as a degree candidate. Graduate Committee and Major Adviser. When the student has been accepted as a degree candidate, the student will select a major adviser from the graduate art faculty. The major adviser will serve as adviser to the student in planning the completion of the program of study. At least one semester before graduation, a four- or five-member committee of graduate art faculty will be selected. The student's major adviser will be chairperson of this committee and one member of the graduate committee will represent the art history or criticism area. The degree candidate may select one additional committee member from a discipline outside the Department of Art. Final Examination. Final approval for the completion of the M.F.A. degree will be the responsibility of the candidate's graduate committee, and will require an oral examination over the candidate's exhibition of creative works and related aspects of the student's program of study.
MASTER OF FINE ARTS (IN CREATIVE WRITING) See Creative Writing, page 74.
MASTER OF FINE ARTS (IN DRAMA) See Drama, page 79.
MASTER OF FINE ARTS (IN TRANSLATION) See Translation, page 142. Other Requirements for MFA Degrees The policies and procedures approved for the Master of Arts and the Master of Science degrees also apply to the Master of Fine Arts degrees. In addition to completing other requirements, the candidate must pass a comprehensive examination administered by the respective program area.
MASTER OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS See the Graduate School of Business, page 35.
MASTER OF TRANSPORTATION AND LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT See the Graduate School of Business, page 35.
EDUCATIONAL SPECIALIST DEGREE The Educational Specialist degree (Ed.S.) is undifferentiated but with seven areas of specialization - adult education, counselor education, educational administration, elementary education, higher education, secondary education, and vocational education - and may be issued by the Graduate School to those students whose major objective is to develop educational competency in one of these specialized areas. All graduate courses applicable to this degree must be taken on the Fayetteville campus unless otherwise specified. All requirements for the Educational Specialist degree with specialization in adult education and vocational education may also be completed at the Graduate Resident Center in the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. All requirements for the Educational Specialist degree with specialization in educational administration may be completed at the Graduate Resident Centers in the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, University of Arkansas Community College at Hope, and Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas at Helena. Admission to the Program. Admission to the Educational Specialist degree program is based on the total profile of the applicants' educational background and their career objectives. After students have been admitted to the Graduate School, they may seek acceptance in one of the program areas of specialization. All students seeking admission must meet the following admission criteria: 1. Completed a master's degree or its equivalent in a related field. 2. Presented a Graduate Record Examinations general score on three parts (verbal, quantitative, and analytical) or a Miller Analogies Test score. These scores are considered as part of the applicant's profile. Required scores may vary within given programs. 3. Attained a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.25 on all graduate course work before being admitted into the Specialist program. 4. Students with a 3.00 to 3.25 cumulative grade-point average in all graduate courses must present a combined minimum Graduate Record Examinations general score of 1300 on three parts (verbal, quantitative, and analytical) or 55 on the Miller Analogies Test. 5. Two years of successful professional experience, or equivalent, in an area related to the student's academic goals prior to the completion of the degree. 6. A minimum of three letters of recommendation (form ORGS-33) from individuals capable of commenting on qualification for graduate study. 7. A personal interview with the program area graduate faculty. This evaluative process will subjectively measure factors such as poise, professional objectives, professional commitment, and ability to discuss professional problems. General Requirements. All Ed.S. programs contain a minimum of
30 semester hours of graduate work beyond the master's degree in a planned
program. The program for each student must include the requirements specified
in the particular program to which the student has been accepted; assessed
deficiencies in the area of specialization; assessed courses to meet current
professional requirements of the Master of Education degree; a minimum
of nine semester hours of graduate work in a related field(s) other than
the area of specialization; a graduate course in research, statistics,
or data processing applicable for educational specialists; and an original
project, research paper, or re-port for which variable After a student is accepted into an Ed.S. program, a committee with a minimum of three members will be appointed and a program of study will be established outlining the minimum requirements. Only the adviser and one other member of the student's committee may be from the program area sponsoring the program. The committee's responsibilities include the determination of deficiencies, the acceptability of previous graduate work, the approval of the candidate's program of study, the approval of the original project or research paper, and the conduct of a final examination. This examination will be a comprehensive oral evaluation scheduled near the end of the candidate's program and will include one or both of the following: (1) evaluation of the original project, research paper, or report, and (2) evaluation covering material related to the background and professional preparation of the candidate. A written examination may not be taken to substitute for the oral examination. A written account of the original project, research paper, or report will be filed with the program area sponsoring the candidate's program of study. A declaration of intent to pursue the Ed.S. program must be filed with the Dean of the Graduate School by the student immediately following the approval of the program of study. The last 30 hours of the program must be completed within a period of six years from the date of declaration. 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 University of Arkansas at 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; the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope Graduate Resident Center and Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas at Helena Graduate Resident Center by students pursuing the Ed.S. degree in education with a specialization in educational administration. Upon completion of all requirements, candidates are issued an Educational Specialist degree. Their names appear on the commencement program, but there is no distinctive academic regalia in connection with the Educational Specialist degree.
DOCTOR OF EDUCATION The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree is designed to prepare the interested student for advanced professional proficiency in a selected field of education and, in addition, to develop the ability for scholarly study of professional problems. The degree is awarded to those persons who, through their planned program, show professional growth and competence. The Doctor of Education degree (Ed.D.) is undifferentiated but has five areas of specialization-adult education, educational administration, higher education, recreation, and vocational education. Admission to the Program. Admission to the Doctor of Education program is based on the total profile of the applicants' educational attributes. In evaluating an application for doctoral study leading to the Ed.D. degree, particular attention is given (1) to the apparent congruence between the stated career objective and the proposed field of specialized study, and (2) to the estimated prospects of the success of the applicant both in completing the degree requirements and in fulfilling the professional expectations of the education position to which the applicant aspires if a doctoral degree is earned. Applicants must meet the following admission profile requirements for the Ed.D.: 1. All students seeking admission must have completed a master's degree or its equivalent in a related field. 2. All students must present a Graduate Record Examinations general score on three parts (verbal, quantitative and analytical) or a Miller Analogies Test score. These scores are considered part of the applicant's profile. Required scores may vary withingiven programs. 3. Students must have attained a 3.50 cumulative grade-point average on all graduate courses previous to being admitted into the Ed.D. program. 4. Students with a 3.00 to 3.50 cumulative grade-point average in all graduate courses must present a combined minimum Graduate Record Examinations general score of 1500 on three parts (verbal, quantitative and analytical) or 55 on the Miller Analogies Test. 5. All students must have three years of successful professional experience, or equivalent, in an area related to the degree program prior to the completion of the degree. 6. All students must have a minimum of three letters of recommendation (form ORGS-33) from individuals capable of commenting on qualification for graduate study. Interested applicants must first gain admission to the Graduate School, then be accepted by a program area in education by gaining approval of a majority of the graduate faculty teaching regularly in that program area. This decision is made after the applicant has been interviewed by the program faculty. Declaration of Intent. Immediately after formal acceptance into the Ed.D. program, students must file with the Dean of the Graduate School a statement of their intention to become a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Education. Courses taken prior to filing the Declaration of Intent cannot be used to satisfy the residence requirement for the Ed.D. degree. The appointment and responsibility of the Doctoral Advisory Committee for the Doctor of Education degree is the same as that for the Doctor of Philosophy degree (see below). The degree must be completed within seven consecutive calendar years from the date of the Declaration of Intent. Residence Requirement. The residence requirement for the Doctor of Education degree may be fulfilled by selecting any one of four plans. This selection must be made in consultation with the adviser, soon after the Declaration of Intent is filed. The plan will specify a number of hours of enrollment and a number of consecutive semesters or terms in which the enrollment must be completed. Students who also hold University appointments, other than those of Graduate Assistant, for half time or more, should see the residence requirement under the Doctor of Philosophy. In meeting the doctoral residence requirement, candidates who hold a master's degree from the University of Arkansas must earn a minimum of 30 semester hours on the Fayetteville campus; candidates who hold a master's degree from another institution must earn a minimum of 36 semester hours on this campus. Three hours of Doctoral Dissertation may be applied toward this requirement. Doctoral students with regular outside employment responsibilities may not enroll for more than nine semester hours in each semester. Graduate work in an off-campus location, beyond that allowed on the master's degree and the Educational Specialist degree, will not count toward the minimum of 96 graduate hours required of all Ed.D. candidates. Program of Study. A minimum of 96 semester hours of graduate study
is required for the Ed.D. degree. The program of study shall consist of
the major field in education and one or two additional fields of study.
The dissertation and program emphasis may be in one of the following areas:
adult education, educational administration, recreation, higher education,
or vocational education. The nature of the program of study will vary,
depending upon the field selected and the candidate's objective. Candidates
for the Ed.D. degree will be required to complete: EDFD 6403, Educa Other Requirements. The examination for candidacy, dissertation, and final examination requirements for the Doctor of Education degree are the same as those for the Doctor of Philosophy degree. Transfer of Credit. Transfer of credit is not acceptable for doctoral degrees. For doctoral candidates, at the discretion of the advisory committee, the program of study may be adjusted in lieu of work taken at other colleges or universities and recognized by the candidate's committee, but it will not appear on the University of Arkansas academic record.
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Programs of advanced study leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) are offered in: , animal science, anthropology, biology, business administration, cell and molecular biology, chemistry, comparative literature, computer science, counselor education, crop, soil, and environmental sciences, curriculum & instruction, economics, engineering, English, entomology, environmental dynamics, food science, health sciences, history, kinesiology, mathematics, microelectronics-photonics, philosophy, physics, plant science, poultry science, psychology, public policy, and rehabilitation. (Note: For the Ph.D. in Business Administration and Economics, see the Graduate School of Business.) The degree of Doctor of Philosophy is awarded in recognition of high scholarly attainment as evidenced by a period of successful advanced study with at least a 3.0 cumulative graduate grade-point average (2.85 for those students admitted to the Graduate School prior to Fall 2001), the satisfactory completion of certain prescribed examinations, and the development of a dissertation covering some significant aspect of a major field of learning. Declaration of Intent. Students who wish to become candidates for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy are expected to complete work equivalent to the requirements for the master's degree as determined by program faculty, and must file a statement of their intention to become doctoral candidates with the Dean of the Graduate School upon registration for their first semester of graduate work beyond the master's degree or its equivalent. A student cannot satisfy any part of the residence requirement for the doctoral degree until after a Declaration of Intent has been filed with the Dean of the Graduate School. Immediately after the student has filed a Declaration of Intent and indicated the major field of study, a Doctoral Program Advisory Committee will be appointed, with the approval of the Dean of the Graduate School, from the graduate faculty to evaluate the student's preparation and fitness for further graduate work. If the student is allowed to continue as a prospective candidate for the doctoral degree, this committee will serve in an advisory capacity in working out and directing a suitable program of advanced study and investigation. The student's major adviser shall serve as chair of the committee. Appointment of this committee does not constitute admission to candidacy for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, a very important and significant step in the student's graduate career which must be taken after the student has completed approximately two years of graduate work beyond the baccalaureate degree. The degree must be completed within seven consecutive calendar years from the date of the Declaration of Intent. Purpose of the Residence Requirement. Residence requirements are intended to insure that every doctoral student has ample opportunity for the major intellectual development, which can result from a sustained period of intensive study and close association with other scholars in the intellectual environment of the University. The requirement recognizes that growth as an independent scholar is not merely a matter of class attendance, but rather involves a broader development of the intellect which comes about through intensive study, independent research, sustained association with faculty members and other colleagues who share common scholarly and professional interests, attendance at seminars and colloquia, intensive reading and familiarization with library resources, consultation with specialists in other disciplines and resource centers, and the opportunity for broadened exposure to current intellectual issues as they are revealed in various campus offerings. Residence Requirement. After filing a Declaration of Intent to pursue the doctoral degree, a student must fulfill a residence requirement by completing a minimum of two consecutive semesters of full-time graduate study (nine hours or more per semester), either fall-spring, spring-fall, spring and a complete 12-week summer session, or a complete 12-week summer session and fall. This period of residence is independent of and in addition to that required for any other graduate degree. (Note: Individual degree programs may have different residency requirements.) During this period of residence, the student must be continually involved on a full-time basis with the on-site academic, scholarly, and research activities of the academic department (or corresponding academic unit) in which the degree program is administered. A student who does not concurrently hold appointment as a Graduate Assistant must satisfactorily complete a minimum of nine semester hours, including dissertation credits but exclusive of courses offered through the Division of Continuing Education, during each semester or summer counted in the residence period. For degree purposes, any graduate credit course offered by the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, via distance education (regardless of class sites) will be counted as residence credit. For students who hold appointments as Graduate Assistants this requirement is six semester hours per semester if the appointment is for 50 percent time and nine semester hours per semester if the appointment is for 25 percent time. A student not on an assistantship who intends to satisfy one semester of the residence period during the summer must satisfactorily complete a minimum of nine semester hours of such work during the summer. For a student holding a concurrent assistantship of 25 percent or 50 percent time in the summer, this requirement is three semester hours per any five- or six-week summer session. Students who also hold University appointments, other than those of Graduate Assistant, for half time or more will be considered to contribute to the residence requirements only for semesters or 12 weeks in the summer during which all of the following criteria are met: (1) the duties of the appointment primarily involve degree-related academic or scholarly activities such as dissertation research; (2) the departmental chairperson (or corresponding administrator) and the student's Doctoral Program Advisory Committee certify that the duties of the appointment do not interfere with the appointee's regular participation as a student, on an essentially full-time daily basis, in the normal on site academic, scholarly, and research activities of the department and degree program and the associated scholarly demands thereof; (3)the student is enrolled, for each semester or summer session counted in the residence period in at least six semester hours in each semester or three hours in each of two consecutive five-or six-week summer sessions or 6 hours in an entire ten- or twelve-week summer session; and (4) file a plan for approval by the Graduate Dean in advance of satisfying residence requirements. Program of Study. The objectives of the program of study leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy shall be scholarly achievement of high order and the development of a fundamental understanding of the major field and its relation to supporting fields of knowledge, rather than the satisfactory completion of a certain number of credit hours. The nature of the program of study will vary somewhat, depending upon the major field of study and the objective of the prospective candidate Transfer of Credit. Transfer of credit is not acceptable for doctoral degrees. For doctoral candidates, at the discretion of the advisory committee, the program of study may be adjusted in lieu of work taken at other colleges or universities and recognized by the candidate's committee, but it will not appear on the University of Arkansas academic record. Grade-Point Average Requirement. A minimum cumulative graduate grade-point average of 3.0 is required to earn a Doctor of Philosophy degree. Note: For students admitted to the Graduate School prior to Fall 2001, the minimum cumulative graduate grade-point average re-quired to earn a Doctor of Philosophy degree was 2.85. Language Requirement. Foreign language requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree vary from department to depart- ment. For specific details see departmental statements. These requirements should be completed early in the doctoral program. Examination for Candidacy. After completing approximately two years of graduate study, and at least one year before completing all other requirements, the prospective candidate must take candidacy examinations in specified fields of study in accordance with the requirements of the department in which the candidate is working. These examinations may be either written or written and oral. Upon satisfactorily completing these examinations the student may be admitted to candidacy and may proceed to work toward completion of the remaining requirements for the degree. Dissertation. Each candidate must complete a doctoral dissertation on some topic in the major field. The topic assignment shall be made and a title filed with the Dean of the Graduate School at least one year before the final examination, the specific problem and subject of the dissertation to be determined by the major adviser, the candidate, and the advisory committee. The completed dissertation must be a definite, scholarly contribution to the major field. This contribution may be in the form of new knowledge of fundamental importance, or of modification, amplification, and interpretation of existing significant knowledge. Each doctoral candidate must register for a minimum of 18 hours of doctoral dissertation. After the 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. Three typewritten copies of the completed dissertation in the prescribed form must be presented to the candidate's advisory committee for approval at least six weeks before the degree is to be conferred. After approval by the committee and the Dean of the Graduate School, two copies must be deposited in the Mullins Library at least two weeks before the degree is to be conferred, together with two copies of an abstract, of not more than 350 words, approved by the major adviser as suitable for publication. The third copy of the dissertation shall be presented to the candidate's major department. Final Examination. The candidate's final examination for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy will be oral. The major adviser will forward to the Dean of the Graduate School, not less than ten (10) days before the date of the final oral examination, an abstract of the dissertation accompanied by a memorandum announcing the date, time, and place of the oral examination. The examination will be primarily concerned with the field of the dissertation, but may also include other aspects of the candidate's graduate work. The doctoral dissertation committee is responsible for insuring that the dissertation contributes new knowledge of fundamental importance or significantly modifies, amplifies, or interprets existing knowledge in a new and important manner. All members of the dissertation committee must participate in the final oral defense of the dissertation unless the Dean of the Graduate School has approved an exception. While this examination is open to the public, the exam is controlled by the student's committee chair. Questions from the public are at the discretion of the committee chair. If the committee chair expects to allow questions from the public, the student must be so advised. The chair will insure that questions from the public are appropriate by disallowing those which are not. Split Decisions among Advisory and Dissertation Committees. In the situation when there is a split decision among committee members of a doctoral program advisory or dissertation committee, the situation must be resolved to the satisfaction of each committee member. In the event that each committee member is not satisfied, the committee member may insist on the necessary steps to reach a resolution or elect to step down from the committee. In unusual circumstances, the Dean of the Graduate School may remove a faculty member from a student's thesis/dissertation or advisory committee, or make an alternative arrangement (e.g. assign a representative from the Graduate faculty to serve on the committee). |
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