The Graduate School assists post-baccalaureate students with the opportunity to further their educational goals through programs of study, teaching, and research in an environment that promotes freedom of expression, intellectual inquiry, and professional integrity. Additionally, the Graduate School assists the development of degree programs that are relevant and responsive to the needs of its students and the students’ communities -- state, nation and world -- and the demands of technology, while maintaining a high standard of excellence in graduate education.

To achieve our goals, the Graduate School staff members believe that in all aspects of our work, we begin with a commitment to promoting graduate education at the University of Arkansas. Our work is based on a firm commitment to excellence, tempered by kindness and compassion. We are an advocate for the graduate student. However, in order to maintain a reputation for quality, which will enhance students’ employment opportunities and increase the value of their degrees, we are also required to set and enforce policies. We seek and celebrate diversity of all kinds, within the Graduate School staff and the graduate student population. We see ourselves as a service unit, with a primary commitment to building graduate education and research consistent with the best practices in the nation. As a service unit, we strive to be accessible to all students, and we hold a student-centered, solution-oriented, cooperative and progressive orientation. We value integrity and respect as the foundation of our work, and we believe deeply in the value of freedom of expression. Our commitment extends from the University to the city of Fayetteville, to the state, nation, and world.

Anyone who wishes to earn graduate-level credit, whether as a degree-seeking or non-degree-seeking student, must make formal application to, and be officially admitted by the Graduate School.

The Graduate School offers two classifications of admission:

1. DEGREE-SEEKING

This enrollment will allow degree credit to be earned if the degree program also accepts the student.

2. NON-DEGREE STANDING
This enrollment will not lead to a degree.

Application. Applications for admission to the Graduate School must be accompanied by a $40 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/grad, or the application form may be obtained from and submitted directly to:

GRADUATE SCHOOL ADMISSIONS OFFICE

180 DICX

University of Arkansas

747 W. Dickson Street, #8

Fayetteville, AR 72701

Telephone: 479-575-6246

Transcripts. It is the responsibility of those applicants who desire full graduate standing to request each college or university which the student has previously attended to send directly to the Graduate School Admissions 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.

Deadlines. The University should receive all application materials, including all official transcripts, at least one month prior to the date of registration. Deadlines for priority consideration are: Fall semester, August 1; Spring semester, December 1; Summer sessions, April 15. Many departments/programs have earlier application deadlines. (See deadlines for international students, below.)

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 program 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 as specified in the Retroactive Graduate Credit Policy (see page 20). 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 program in which they desire to pursue graduate study. It should be emphasized that students may not earn graduate credit in any course unless they have been admitted to the Graduate School.

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 program and is determined primarily by the student’s particular areas of interest in the field. Detailed information regarding the student’s program of study may be secured from the appropriate department chairperson or program director.

International and Resident Alien Applicants. International applicants and resident aliens must submit a minimum score of 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or 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 Web site. 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 April 1 for fall semester admission, by October 1 for the spring semester, and by March 1 for the summer session, but it is recommended that all materials required for application be received by the admissions office at least nine months before the applicant wishes to begin his/her studies. 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 7 on the IELTS (speaking) sub-test, 50 on the Test of Spoken English (TSE), or “pass” on the Spoken Language Proficiency Test (SLPT) to be eligible for a graduate assistantship that requires direct contact with students in a teaching or tutorial role.

English Language Use by Non-Native Speakers. Non-native speakers of English admitted to graduate study at the University of Arkansas are required to present an acceptable score on one of the following tests: TOEFL (TWE or Essay), IELTS (writing), GRE (analytical writing), GMAT (analytical writing) or ELPT (writing). Depending upon exam scores, a student may be required to take one or more EASL course during their first term of study. Students may be 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 following categories are exempt from this requirement:

1. 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;

2. Graduate students with a Test of Written English (TWE) score of 5.0 or IELTS (writing) score of 7.0.

3. Graduate students with a 4.5 on the analytical writing portion of the GRE or GMAT.

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 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 work at the level to which they have been admitted (undergraduate or graduate study). Credit in EASL courses does not count toward University of Arkansas degrees. Non-native speakers diagnosed as having language competence sufficient for their level of study will not be required to enroll in EASL courses.

The ELPT is administered by Testing Services during New Student Orientation and there is a $10 charge. Graduate students assessed course work as a result of performance on the ELPT, TOEFL Essay, IELTS writing, GRE or GMAT analytical writing  will be required to complete the EASL course(s) to support initial course work taken in their fields. Graduate departments/degree programs will have the discretion to waive either the requirement for the language evaluation or the required language courses.

The publication, “International Student Information,” is available from the Graduate and International Admissions Office, 180 DICX, University of Arkansas, 747 W. Dickson Street, #8, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701.

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 after gaining regular admission to graduate standing. International applicants cannot be admitted to graduate standing unless they are also accepted by 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 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 (six for graduate certificate programs). At the time of acceptance in a degree program, the chair of the appropriate department or program director will recommend to the Graduate School which courses previously taken, if any, are to be accepted in the degree program.

Requirements for admission to graduate standing and acceptance in a program of study leading to a graduate degree are:

1. For 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 degree program the requirements are as follows:

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. The student must also meet any other conditions that may be specified by the faculty of the department.

Note: Beginning with admissions for the Fall 2006 semester, the requirement for admission to the Graduate School will be a cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 (on a four-point scale) for the last 60 hours taken for the baccalaureate degree. Credentials offered by international students will be adjusted in accordance with this requirement.

Any other consideration for admission must be by individual petition to the Graduate Dean and, where pertinent, a recommendation from the appropriate program chair. Each petition will be considered on its own merits, case by case. Program requirements should be considered the minimum for admission to a degree program but do not guarantee admission. That is, fully qualified applicants who are accepted by the Graduate School will not necessarily be accepted into the degree program of their choice. It is the responsibility of the program faculty to allocate program resources in the most effective manner. To accomplish this, the program may not be able to accept every qualified applicant.

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.

Non-Consecutive One Term Admission, NON-DEGREE Standing. Applicants who desire admission standing allowing them to enroll in non-consecutive single semesters must obtain from the Graduate School Admissions Office and must sign a statement of understanding. Students admitted to such non-consecutive one-term admissions must understand that any enrollment taken in this classification will not normally carry degree credit. Transcripts are not required for applicants seeking this non-degree standing.

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, 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 2.85 cumulative grade-point average on all 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 “good standing.”

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 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.

Retroactive Graduate Credit

Graduate students fully admitted into a degree program may request that up to twelve hours of courses taken in the final semester of their undergraduate degree count toward their graduate degree, if these courses were taken on the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville campus. These courses may not have been used for the undergraduate degree, must be approved by the student’s advisory committee, and must be at the 5000 level or above. Petition will be by the student’s advisory committee or major professor to the Graduate School.

If the student’s advisory committee wishes to accept courses at the 4000 level towards the graduate degree, when those courses were taken in the last semester of a student’s undergraduate degree at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, the committee may petition the Graduate School. The petition must include an explanation of why the committee considers these courses to meet graduate degree requirements and expectations for graduate-level work. The instructors for these courses must have had graduate faculty status, and these courses may not have been used for the undergraduate degree.

Courses at the 3000 level taken before the student is fully admitted to the Graduate School may not be used to fulfill graduate degree requirements.

Courses offered by institutions other than the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, may not be counted toward the graduate degree requirements in this way.

If a program wishes to place a senior-level undergraduate student on a graduate assistantship, the Graduate Dean will consider these appointments on a case-by-case basis. The program must stipulate that the student will be entering one of its graduate programs as soon as the undergraduate degree is completed, and the student must be within six hours of completing the undergraduate degree. An undergraduate student may not hold a graduate assistantship, even under these conditions, for more than one semester.

In 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.

The 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 may be completed at the Graduate Resident Center in Fort Smith.

GRADUATE RESIDENT CENTER FOR ENGINEERING IN CENTRAL ARKANSAS

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 BLYTHEVILLE AND CAMDEN 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 Support Activity Mid-South in Millington, Tennessee; the Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville; the Hurlburt Field Air Force Base in Florida; and in Blytheville and Camden. For further information on this degree program and a description of courses offered, see page 134.

LITTLE ROCK GRADUATE RESIDENT CENTER

All of the course requirements for the Master of Science 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.

PHILLIPS COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

All course requirements for the Master of Science in human environmental sciences and the Educational Specialist degree with a specialization in educational administration may be completed at the Graduate Resident Center at the Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas, Helena.

PINE BLUFF GRADUATE RESIDENT CENTER

All requirements for the Educational Specialist degree with a specialization in educational administration may be completed at the Graduate Resident Center in Pine Bluff.

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 CLINTON SCHOOL

All course requirements for the Master of Public Service may be completed at a combination of the University of Arkansas Clinton School, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

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 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.

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

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

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

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

Enrollment Limits

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

Registration for Audit

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

Registration Out of Career

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

Proper Address of Students

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

Identification Cards

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

Adding and Dropping Courses

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

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

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

Withdrawal from Registration

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

Attendance

Students are expected to be diligent in the pursuit of their studies and in their class attendance. Students have the responsibility of making arrangements satisfactory to the instructor regarding all absences. Such arrangements should be made prior to the absence if possible. Policies of making up work missed as a result of absence are at the discretion of the instructor, and students should inform themselves at the beginning of each semester concerning the policies of their instructors.

Full-Time Status

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

Continuous Enrollment

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

Use of Electronic Resources of the Library

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

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

A final grade of “F” shall be assigned to a student who is failing on the basis of work completed but who has not completed all requirements. The instructor may change an “F” so assigned to a passing grade if warranted by satisfactory completion of all requirements.

A mark of “I” may be assigned to a student who has not completed all course requirements, if the work completed is of passing quality. An “I” so assigned may be changed to a grade provided all course requirements have been completed within 12 weeks from the beginning of the next semester of the student’s enrollment after receiving the “I.” If the instructor does not report a grade within the 12-week period, the “I” shall be changed to an “F.” When the mark of “I” is changed to a final grade, this shall become the grade for the semester in which the course was originally taken.

A mark of “AU” (Audit) is given to a student who officially registers in a course for audit purposes (see Registration for Audit).

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

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

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

A mark of “S” (Satisfactory) is assigned in courses such as special problems and research when a final grade is inappropriate. The mark “S” is not assigned to courses or work for which credit is given (and thus no grade points are earned for such work). If credit is awarded upon the completion of such work, a grade or mark may be assigned at that time and, if a grade is assigned, grade points will be earned.

A mark of “W” (Withdrawal) will be given for courses from which students withdraw after the first 10 class days of the semester and before the drop deadline of the semester.

For numerical evaluation of grades, “A” is assigned 4 points for each semester hour of that grade; “B,” 3 points; “C,” 2 points; “D,” 1 point; and “F,” 0 points. Grades of plus and minus are assigned grade-point values in the Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food, and Life Sciences.

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.

Note: Master’s students in the Graduate School of Business should follow the grievance procedures for that School.

Definition of Terms

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 adviser 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.

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.

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. The student may also choose to contact the Office of Student Mediation and Conflict Resolution or, if the grievance is with the departmental chairperson or area coordinator, 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 20 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 step 2, or if any party to the grievance chooses not to proceed as suggested in 2, 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 step 5 (following). 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 20 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 adviser 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 adviser.

6. If a grievance, other than those covered by step 4, 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/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. This appeal must be filed within 20 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/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs shall make a decision on the matter within 20 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.

Note: Graduate Assistants in the Graduate School of Business should follow the grievance procedures for that School.

Introduction

It is the philosophy of the Graduate School that assistantships are not typical employee positions of the University. This has two implications. First, the sponsor should also serve as a mentor to the student and assist, to the extent possible, in facilitating the student’s progress toward his/her degree. Second, any questions concerning performance in or requirements of assistantships shall be directed to the Graduate School or, for master’s students in business, to the Graduate School of Business. Note: the term graduate assistant will be used to refer to those on other types of appointments as well, such as fellowships, clerkships, etc.

The Graduate School has the following authority with regard to graduate assistantships:

1. All requests for new positions, regardless of the source of the funds, must be approved by the Graduate School. When the position is approved, the requesting department or faculty member must complete the form “Request for a New Graduate Assistant Position” and submit it to the Graduate School. All proposed changes in duties for existing graduate assistantships must be approved by the Graduate School prior to their implementation.

2. The duty requirements of the graduate assistantship, including the number of hours required, must be approved by the Graduate School. Fifty percent GAs may not be asked to work more than 20 hours per week (Note: this is not limited to time actually spent in the classroom or lab; the 20 hour requirement also pertains to time required to grade/compute results, develop class/lab materials, etc. Moreover, students cannot be asked to work an average of 20 hours per week, with 30 hours one week and 10 hours the next, for example. The duty hour requirement is no more than 20 hours per week for a 50 percent appointment. See the Graduate Handbook. However, it should also be noted that if the student is engaged in research which will be used in his/her required project, thesis or dissertation, or if the student is traveling to professional meetings, data sources, etc., the student may work more than 20 hours per week.) The duty requirements must complement the degree program of the graduate student and must abide by the philosophy that the first priority of graduate students is to finish their degrees.

3. The Graduate School, in consultation with the Graduate Council, has the right to set the enrollment requirements for full-time status for graduate assistants (as well as graduate students in general).

4. The Graduate School sets the minimum stipend for graduate assistantships, but does not have responsibility for setting the actual stipend.

Graduate assistants will be provided with a written statement of the expected duties for their positions, consistent with the duties outlined in the “Request for New Graduate Assistant Position” or any amendments submitted to the Graduate School. A copy of the written statement will be submitted to the Graduate School for inclusion in the student’s file.

Graduate assistants may be terminated from their positions at any time, or dismissed for cause (Board Policy No. 405.4). Termination is effected through the giving of a notice, in writing, of that action at least 60 days in advance of the date the employment is to cease. A copy of the notice must be sent to the Graduate Dean.

A graduate assistant has the right to request a review of the termination by the Graduate Dean, following the procedure given below. However, a student should be warned that if the grounds for dismissal are based on any of the following, the only defense to the termination is evidence to show that the charges are not true:

1. The student fails to meet the expectations of the assistantship positions, as outlined in the initial written statement provided to him/her at the beginning of the appointment.

2. The student provides fraudulent documentation for admission to his/her degree program and/or to his/her sponsor in applying for the assistantship position.

3. The student fails to meet certain expectations, which need not be explicitly stated by the sponsor, such as the expectation that: a) the student has the requisite English language skills to adequately perform the duties of the position; b) the student has the appropriate experience and skills to perform the duties of the position; and c) the student maintains the appropriate ethical standards for the position. The Research Misconduct Policy provides one reference source for such ethical standards.

4. The student fails to make good progress toward the degree, as determined by the annual graduate student academic review and defined by program and Graduate School policies.

5. The assistantship position expires.

Definition of Terms

Graduate Assistant. Any graduate student holding a position which requires that the student be admitted to a graduate degree program of the University of Arkansas, regardless of the source of funds, and for whom tuition is paid as a result of that position.

Sponsor. The person responsible for the funding and duty expectations for the graduate assistant.

Formal graduate assistant grievance. Any dispute concerning some aspect of the graduate assistantship, as defined above, which arises from an administrative or faculty decision that the graduate student claims is a violation of his or her rights. The formal graduate assistant grievance does not pertain to cases in which there is a dispute between co-workers.

Violation of graduate assistant’s rights. An action is considered a violation of the graduate assistants’ rights if: a) it violates Graduate School policy with regard to graduate assistantships; b) it threatens the integrity of, or otherwise demeans the graduate student, regardless of any other consideration; c) it illegally discriminates or asks the graduate assistant to discriminate; d) it requires the student to do something which was not communicated as a condition of holding the assistantship (or the underlying expectations outlined above); e) it terminates the student from an assistantship for behaviors which are irrelevant to the holding of the assistantship or were never included as expectations for the assistantship; f) it requires the student to do something which violates University policy, the law, or professional ethics. Note: It is impossible to state all of the conditions which might constitute a violation of graduate assistants’ rights or, conversely, which might defend a respondent against charges of such violations. Such complaints require a process of information gathering and discussion that leads to a final resolution of the matter by those who have been given the authority to do so.

Formal grievance. A grievance concerning graduate assistantships/fellowships 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: a) the student will be provided with an advocate; b) all correspondence pertaining to any aspect of the grievance will be in writing and will be made available to the Graduate Dean; c) 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; d) the policy contained herein will be strictly followed; and e) any member of the academic community who does not follow the grievance policy will be subject to disciplinary actions. Filing a formal grievance is a serious matter, and the student is strongly encouraged to seek informal resolution of his/her concerns before taking such a step.

Respondent. The person who is the object of the grievance.

Procedures

Note: Grievances are confidential. Information about the grievance, including the fact that such a grievance has been filed, may never be made public to those who are not immediately involved in the resolution of the case, unless the student has authorized this release of information or has instigated a course of action which requires the respondent to respond. An exception to this confidentiality requirement is that the immediate supervisor or departmental chairperson of the respondent will be notified and will receive a copy of the resolution of the case. Since grievances against a respondent also have the potential to harm that person’s reputation, students may not disclose information about the grievance, including the fact that they have filed a grievance, to any person not immediately involved in the resolution of the case, until the matter has been finally resolved. This is not intended to preclude the student or respondent from seeking legal advice.

1. (Graduate assistants who are master’s students in the Graduate School of Business should contact the Director of that School.) When a graduate student believes that his/her rights have been violated, as the result of action(s) pertaining to a graduate assistantship he/she holds or has held within the past year, the student shall first discuss his/her concerns with the respondent. If the concerns are not resolved to the student’s satisfaction, the student may discuss it with the Graduate Dean and/or with the Office of Affirmative Action. If the concerns are satisfactorily resolved by any of the above discussions, the terms of the resolution shall be reduced to writing, if any of the involved parties desires to have such a written statement.

2. If the student’s concerns are not resolved by the above discussions and he/she chooses to pursue the matter further, the student shall notify the Graduate Dean in writing of the nature of the complaint. This notification will include all relevant documentation and must occur within one year from the date of the occurrence.

3. Upon receipt of this notification and supporting documentation, the Graduate Dean will meet with the graduate student. If the student agrees, the Dean will notify the respondent of the student’s concerns. If the student does not wish for the respondent to be notified, the matter will be dropped. The respondent will be given ten working days from receipt of the Graduate Dean’s notification to respond to the concerns.

4. The Graduate Dean will meet again with the student and make an effort to resolve the concerns in a mutually satisfactory manner. If this is not possible, the Graduate Dean will refer the case to a committee.

5. Within ten working days from the final meeting between the student and the Graduate Dean, the Graduate Dean will notify the respondent and will appoint an ad hoc committee of five faculty members and two graduate students chosen to avoid bias or partiality. 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. At this time, the Graduate Dean will also assign an advocate to the student. The advocate must be a member of the graduate faculty. The immediate supervisor of the sponsor will serve as his/her advocate. Note: The student and sponsor advocates will have the responsibility to help the student/sponsor prepare his/her written materials and will attend committee meetings with the student/sponsor. The advocate will not speak on behalf of the student/sponsor and will not take part in committee discussions of the merits of the case.

6. 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 respondent 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 grievance. 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 all documents submitted as evidence by any party to the complaint, consistent with all privacy considerations, shall be forwarded to the person(s) alleging the grievance within 20 working days from the date the committee was first convened; copies shall be sent simultaneously to other parties involved in the grievance. A copy shall be retained by the Graduate School in such a way that the student’s and respondent’s privacy is protected. It should be noted that the Graduate Dean has limited authority to require a sponsor to reappoint a graduate assistant. Consequently, the redress open to the student may be limited.

7. If the grievance is not satisfactorily resolved through step 6, an appeal in writing with all relevant material may be submitted by either the student or the sponsor for consideration by the Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs of the University of Arkansas. This appeal must be filed within 20 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 Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs shall make a decision on the matter within 20 working days from the date of receipt of the appeal. His/her decision shall be forwarded in writing to the Graduate Dean, the student, and the respondent. This decision is final.

8. If any party to the grievance violates this policy, he/she will be subject either to losing the assistantship position or losing the assistantship. When alleging such a violation, the aggrieved individual shall contact the Graduate Dean, in writing, with an explanation of the violation.

(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. Definition of Terms

Research misconduct. This term refers to: 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. The information gathering and initial fact-finding to determine whether an allegation or an apparent instance of research misconduct warrants an investigation.

Investigation. 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 Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs is notified by the Chair of the Research Council that an investigation is necessary.

Note: See definition of Research Council, following this policy.

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 Provost/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 complainant(s) elect(s) not to submit a signed document, the Provost/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 complainant(s).

C. The Provost/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 conflicts 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 Provost/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 complainant(s) to remain anonymous. It may be necessary to include the person(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 person(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 by 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 Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. If an investigation is needed, the Provost/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 Provost/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 Provost/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 Provost/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 paragraph II.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 resear