Introduction

The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, presents this policy as part of its effort to maintain the integrity of its academic processes. Academic honesty should be a concern of the entire University community, and a commitment to it must involve students, faculty, and administrators.

Students must understand what academic integrity is and what the most common violations are. With that understanding they must commit themselves to the highest standards for their own, as well as for their peers’, academic behavior.

Public support and encouragement of the faculty is a second critical component necessary to strengthen academic integrity on campus. Faculty members must be continually vigilant in the management of their classes, their assignments, and their tests.

Finally, the administration of the University must present to the students standards of academic integrity. Those standards must be part of a publicly recognized, understood, and accepted set of policies and procedures that can be applied consistently and fairly in cases of academic dishonesty.

It is the responsibility of each student, faculty member, and administrator to understand these policies. A lack of understanding is not an adequate defense against a charge of academic dishonesty.

With regard to the application of this policy, the University assures its support of faculty members and other employees of the University who are acting in good faith in the course and scope of their employment and in the performance of their official duties.

This policy is only a part of the University’s effort to promote academic integrity in all aspects of its programs. By necessity, this part discusses only prohibited acts and a process of applying sanctions. The ultimate goal, of course, is to provide an atmosphere that will make superfluous the procedures and sanctions that follow.

Definitions

Academic dishonesty involves acts that may subvert or compromise the integrity of the educational process at the University of Arkansas. Included is an act by which a student gains or attempts to gain an academic advantage for himself or herself or another by misrepresenting his or her or another’s work or by interfering with the completion, submission, or evaluation of work. These include, but are not limited to, accomplishing or attempting any of the following acts:

1. Altering of grades or official records.
2. Using any materials that are not authorized by the instructor for use during an examination.
3. Copying from another student’s paper during an examination.
4. Collaborating during an examination with any other person by giving or receiving information without specific permission of the instructor.
5. Stealing, buying, or otherwise obtaining information about an examination not yet administered.
6. Collaborating on laboratory work, take-home examinations, homework, or other assigned work when instructed to work independently.
7. Substituting for another person or permitting any other person to substitute for oneself to take an examination.
8. Submitting as one’s own any theme, report, term paper, essay, computer program, other written work, speech, painting, drawing, sculpture, or other art work prepared totally or in part by another.
9. Submitting, without specific permission of the instructor, work that has been previously offered for credit in another course.
10. Plagiarizing, that is, the offering as one’s own work the words, ideas, or arguments of another person without appropriate attribution by quotation, reference or footnote. Plagiarism occurs both when the words of another (in print, electronic, or any other medium) are reproduced without acknowledgement or when the ideas or arguments of another are paraphrased in such a way as to lead the reader to believe that they originated with the writer. It is the responsibility of all University students to understand the methods of proper attribution and to apply those principles in all materials submitted.
11. Sabotaging of another student’s work.
12. Falsifying or committing forgery on any University form or document.
13. Submitting altered or falsified data as experimental data from laboratory projects, survey research, or other field research.
14. Committing any willful act of dishonesty that interferes with the operation of the academic process.
15. Facilitating or aiding in any act of academic dishonesty.

Procedures

Sanctions for acts of academic dishonesty may be applied in the following ways:

A. Instructor Action

When an instructor determines or believes that a student in the instructor’s class is guilty of academic dishonesty deserving of sanction, the instructor should within five working days follow one of the following: (If the instructor is either a graduate teaching assistant or a temporary faculty member, then a supervising faculty member or the departmental head or chairman may assist in the handling of an academic dishonesty case.)

1. The instructor may determine a grade sanction and within five working days report that sanction, along with the essential details of the incident, to the judicial coordinator in Student Affairs. There is, under these circumstances, no request for administrative or judicial action. The student sanctioned in this way and instructor will be notified by Student Affairs and will have five working days from that notification to request a hearing by the All University Judiciary (AUJ) as outlined in Section B.2 below. If the student does not request a hearing within five working days, then it is assumed that the sanction is not contested. The student will be required to have a conference with the judicial coordinator so that the consequences of the action can be made clear.
   During the course of the hearing, the student’s participation in the affected class should continue so that any action can be reversed without prejudicing the student’s academic performance and evaluation. Should the hearing process not support the grading sanction applied by the instructor, then the instructor and student may agree and remedy the sanction with the student proceeding in the class without prejudice. If the instructor and the student cannot so agree, or if the grading sanction cannot be remedied, then the student may appeal via the Academic Appeal Structure for Undergraduate Students.
   If the defense of any grade is based on alleged academic dishonesty and the faculty member has not followed the University policy, the ability of the faculty member to defend his or her action may be adversely affected.
2. The instructor may file an incident report form referring the case to the judicial process for determination of guilt or innocence and the application of sanctions. If the student is determined to be guilty of academic dishonesty, then the instructor may apply a grade sanction in addition to whatever sanctions are applied by the judicial process. While such a case is pending in the judicial process, the student’s participation in the affected class should continue to avoid pre-empting the options available after the guilt or innocence is determined. This course of action is appropriate in cases where there is doubt about guilt or innocence or in cases where the offense deserves sanctions beyond the grading system.

B. Judicial Process

If the instructor chooses to refer the case to the judicial process as outlined in A.2 or if another student, faculty member, or administrator wishes to charge a student with academic dishonesty, the following procedures will be followed:

1. Administrative Action. This would involve the application of a sanction or an admonition or some type of probation following established guidelines by the judicial coordinator after an incident has been reported by a faculty member, an administrator, or a student. Such action may be appropriate in cases where there is little or no disagreement as to the details of the reported incident. Administrative sanctions may be appealed by any party in the incident to AUJ within three working days of notification of the administrative action.
2. All-University Judiciary (AUJ). This involves application of sanctions for academic dishonesty after the case has been heard and decided by AUJ. This would be used in contested cases, cases of appeals of instructor or administrative actions, any case involving a student with a previous record of academic dishonesty or who previously received a grade sanction for academic dishonesty, and in cases where the sanction could result in suspension or expulsion from the University. The procedures involved in AUJ action are available from Academic Affairs or Student Affairs.
   Any action of AUJ may be appealed within five working days through the Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs to the Chancellor of the University. If the Chancellor discovers evidence previously unavailable to AUJ, then the Chancellor may explain in writing to the Chair of AUJ and ask that AUJ rehear the case.

Sanctions

The choice of sanctions in cases of academic dishonesty always involves consideration of the integrity of the educational process of the University. There is no place in that process for academic dishonesty, and if a student is undermining the integrity of that process, then separating that student from the University is the natural sanction. The intent of this policy is to make acts of academic dishonesty clear risks — that is, the sanctions are to be sufficiently heavy to deter academic dishonesty. Thus, the application of a grade sanction as the only sanction is to be very carefully considered and should occur only in unusual cases.

The following are possible sanctions for academic dishonesty:

1. Grading Sanctions. An instructor may apply grading sanctions. Such sanctions may also be recommended by either the judicial coordinator in case of administrative action or by AUJ, but the final decision will be that of the instructor. Grade sanctions may consist of either grades of zero or failing grades on part or all of a submitted assignment or examination, or a lowering of a course grade, or a failing grade. All grade sanctions must be appropriately reported as outlined in the procedures above. A grade sanction may be appealed by the student via the Academic Appeal Structure for Undergraduate Students.
2. Admonition or Probation. These are applied by either administrative action or AUJ action. The types:
   1. Admonition. This is a firm warning against future violations, filed in the office of the judicial coordinator.
   2. Conduct Probation. This is a probation imposed for a specified period and constitutes a final warning and a second chance to demonstrate what has been learned and to show improved judgment.
   3. Personal Probation. This is a probation imposed for a specified period and constitutes a final warning of more severe sanctions. This requires the student to meet periodically with a University official to discuss and explore alternatives to the kind of behavior that resulted in the sanction.
   4. Disciplinary Probation. This is probation imposed for a specified period and constitutes a warning that affects the studentís good standing in the University. Violations of regulations during the period are likely to result in suspension or expulsion. During the period, the student is no longer to hold campus offices, receive honors, or represent the University in extracurricular or intercollegiate activities.
   5. Educative Sanctions. These include a variety of assignments, tasks, or experiences that should make the offender more aware of the nature of the general problem of academic dishonesty. These may be applied in conjunction with any admonition or probation.
3. Suspension. Suspensions for a specified period of time from the University may be recommended by AUJ. Such suspensions may be for the remainder of a semester or for a specified number of semesters. In cases of clearly premeditated cheating or cases where either illegal actions or conspiracy with others is involved, suspension for at least the remaining part of a semester or one full semester must be considered as a sanction. Also, suspension will normally be the minimal sanction in cases where a student is guilty of academic dishonesty for a second time.
4. Expulsion. Expulsion from the University for an indefinite period of time may be recommended by AUJ.

Implementation and Review

For details of procedures for implementing this policy, contact the Office of the Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. This University policy does not preclude the implementation by colleges of policies determined by the Provost to be more rigorous.

The use of services of term paper assistance companies is a violation of University policies on academic integrity. Student submission of such research or term papers to meet requirements of any class or degree program is expressly prohibited and constitutes academic dishonesty. Any violation of this prohibition will automatically result in both punitive action by the instructor (e.g., the award of a grade of “F” for the course) and a referral of each violation to the All-University Judiciary Committee for its consideration.

Education at the university level requires active involvement in the learning process. Therefore students have the responsibility to attend classes and to actively engage in all learning assignments or opportunities provided in their classes. Instructors have the responsibility to provide a written policy on student attendance that is tied to course objectives included in a course syllabus. There may be times, however, when illness, family crisis, or University-sponsored activities make full attendance or participation impossible. In these situations students are responsible for making timely arrangements with the instructor to make up work missed. Such arrangements should be made in writing and prior to the absence when possible.

Examples of absences that should be considered excusable include those resulting from the following: 1) illness of the student, 2) serious illness or death of a member of the student’s immediate family or other family crisis, 3) University-sponsored activities for which the student’s attendance is required by virtue of scholarship or leadership/participation responsibilities, 4) religious observances (see UA Religious Observances policy below), 5) jury duty or subpoena for court appearance, and 6) military duty. The instructor has the right to require that the student provide appropriate documentation for any absence for which the student wishes to be excused.

Although Christian religious holidays are reflected to some extent in the academic calendar of the University, holidays of other religious groups are not. When members of other religions seek to be excused from class for religious reasons, they are expected to provide their instructors with a schedule of religious holidays that they intend to observe, in writing, before the completion of the first week of classes. The Semester Calendar on the registrar’s Web site will inform students of the University calendar of events, including class meeting and final examination dates, so that before they enroll they can take into account their calendar of religious observances. Scheduling should be done with recognition of religious observances where possible. However, faculty members are expected to allow students to make up work scheduled for dates during which they observe the holidays of their religion.

Each faculty member is required to give final examinations at times specified in the final examination schedule. Whenever circumstances make necessary a deviation from the announced schedule, clearance for such deviation must be obtained from the appropriate dean and the Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

It is the policy of the University to minimize student participation in extracurricular activities during the final examination period. No meetings, social activities, athletic events, or other extracurricular activities that require student participation will be scheduled on Dead Day or during the final examination period. Any exceptions to this policy must receive prior approval from the Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

Final grades for courses are “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” and “F” (except for courses taken in the School of Architecture and the College of Agricultural Food and Life Sciences).

No credit is earned for courses in which a grade of “F” is recorded. A final grade of “F” shall be assigned to a student who is failing on the basis of work completed but who has not completed all requirements. The instructor may change an “F” so assigned to a passing grade if warranted by satisfactory completion of all requirements. Students who fail to present an acceptable reason for not having completed all course requirements including the final examination will receive the grade they would have received had they failed such requirements.

A mark of “I” may be assigned when a legitimate good cause has prevented the student from completing all course requirements, and the work completed is of passing quality. It is the discretion of the instructor that determines what qualifies as a legitimate good cause. It is recommended that the instructor, prior to the assignment of an “I” mark, document the legitimate good cause and conditions for completing course requirements. 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 (excluding summer semesters) of the student’s enrollment after receiving the “I.” If the instructor does not report the grade within the 12-week period, the “I” shall be changed to an “F.” When a mark of “I” is changed to a final grade, the grade points and academic standing are appropriately adjusted on the student’s official academic records.

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

A mark of “CR” (Credit) is given for a course (for example, practice teaching, certain seminars, certain honors colloquia, and courses where credit is earned by examination) for which the University allows credit toward a degree, but for which no grade points are earned.

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

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

“I,” “AU,” “CR,” “S,” and “W”marks will not be counted in the gradepoint average. Grades of plus and minus are assigned grade-point values in the College of Agriculture and School of Architecture. The grade-point average is computed by dividing the total number of grade points by the total number of credit hours attempted in courses for which grades (rather than marks) are given. Students who utilized grade renewal or grade forgiveness in retaking courses (prior to Fall Semester 1986 and after Fall 1996) have only the last grade used in computing grade-point averages.

Under the Grade Forgiveness Policy, a student may improve the undergraduate cumulative GPA by repeating a maximum of two courses (up to nine hours) in which a grade of “D” or “F” was received and requesting that the repeat grade be the only one that is counted in the calculation. Only two such requests are available to any student in his or her undergraduate career. The repeated grade must be in the same course taken at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Only a course in which a grade of “D” or “F” was earned may be repeated under the Forgiveness Policy. Grade forgiveness may not be used to replace a grade assigned as a result of academic dishonesty. The student must file a written petition to use grade forgiveness indicating which course(s) he/she chooses to grade renew: the petition must be completed and approved prior to graduation. Both attempts at the course will remain on the transcript, but only the second will be used to calculate both credit and GPA. The first attempt and the grade earned will be recorded on the transcript with the symbol “R” to denote that it has been repeated. Students considering grade forgiveness should be aware that many graduate schools, professional schools, employers or other institutions, in considering admission or employment, recompute the GPA and include all courses attempted even though a course was repeated. This means that if the cumulative GPA has been raised because of grade renewal or forgiveness, the recomputed GPA will be lower.

The colleges of the University publish, after the close of each semester, an honor roll of the highest ranking students in the college containing the names of not more than 10 percent of the undergraduate students of each class. Students are eligible for the honor roll if they are carrying at least 12 semester hours normally required for graduation by their college for their respective year. Most colleges refer to this part of the honor roll as the Dean’s List.

In addition, a Chancellor’s List is published each semester which recognizes those undergraduate students who achieve a 4.00 grade-point average. Students must also be carrying at least 12 semester hours normally required for graduation to be eligible for the Chancellor’s List.

For honor roll eligibility, the 12 semester hours must all be in courses for which grade points are earned.

A first-ranked senior scholar shall be recognized at the annual Commencement of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. The scholar or scholars so recognized must have a cumulative grade-point average of 4.00 on all course work completed at the time selection is made, must have applied for graduation for a semester to be a member of the appropriate class and must have completed all courses required for the baccalaureate degree at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, or in a program of study approved by the Director of Honors or other designee in the college in which the student is enrolled. In determining the cumulative grade-point average for the purposes of such awards, grade forgiveness, is not accepted.

Since 1941 a key has been awarded to the graduating senior from each undergraduate college who has the highest grade-point average and who has completed at least half of his or her degree work at the University of Arkansas.

A student’s academic standing in the University is determined at the end of each term of enrollment (fall, spring, or summer) on the basis of the student’s cumulative and/or term grade-point average (GPA) and number of hours earned. See the chart on below for the required performance levels. The student’s academic standing governs his or her re-enrollment status and determines any conditions associated with re-enrollment or denial of enrollment for a subsequent term. Normally, students will be notified of their standing individually by the University shortly after the end of each term. However, this policy statement is the formal notification to all students of the conditions that determine academic standing and the consequences for each term, regardless of individual notification.

Good Standing: Upon initial admission and during a student’s first term of enrollment, except for transfer students, the student is in good standing. (The standing of a transfer student reflects the student’s prior record and the status assigned upon admission). A student remains in, or returns to, good academic standing at the end of any term when the cumulative GPA is at or above the required minimum.

Academic Warning: When a student’s cumulative GPA falls below the minimum required for good standing, the student will be put on academic warning. This status is not recorded on the student’s permanent academic record and will not appear on transcripts. A student who enrolls for a term on academic warning may take no more than 12 hours (unless more are approved by the student’s adviser and dean). To continue for one or more additional terms on academic warning, the student must earn a term GPA at or above the cumulative GPA required for good standing. The student can remain on academic warning until the cumulative GPA is at or above the required minimum for good standing unless the student becomes subject to academic suspension by failing to earn the required term GPA.

Academic Suspension: A student on academic warning who does not earn the minimum required term GPA will be suspended from full-time enrollment. No student may be suspended who has not spent the prior term of enrollment on academic warning. A student on academic suspension has two alternatives: limited enrollment or academic leave of one year from the University.

Students who choose limited enrollment may enroll for up to nine hours of on-campus or Independent Study course work (as approved by the student’s adviser and dean) and must earn at least six hours of credit with grades of C or higher in six hours while maintaining a term GPA of 2.0. A student who meets these conditions may enroll for a subsequent term on academic warning following suspension. Students who choose academic leave may apply for readmission one year after the term of the suspension. A student who does not earn credit from another institution will be readmitted on academic warning following suspension. A student who earns credit from another institution(s) during or subsequent to the year of suspension must apply to the University for admission as a transfer student and, if readmitted, will be on academic warning following suspension.

Academic Warning Following Suspension: A student on academic warning following suspension may take no more than 12 hours (unless more are approved by the student’s adviser and dean) and must earn a term GPA of 2.00 or higher for each term of enrollment until the student’s cumulative GPA is at the level required for good standing. Failure to satisfy these requirements will result in dismissal.

Academic Dismissal: A student on academic suspension or academic warning following suspension who does not earn a term GPA of 2.00 or higher and satisfy all other requirements associated with his or her status will be dismissed from the University. A student who has been dismissed may be readmitted only upon action of the Academic Standards Committee. Course work taken through Independent Study while under dismissal may be submitted to the committee as evidence of academic competence. If readmitted, the student may receive degree credit for such course work.

Academic Warning Following Dismissal: A student who enrolls subsequent to an initial dismissal and following favorable action of the Academic Standards Committee is placed on academic warning following dismissal and may take no more than 12 hours (unless more are approved by the student’s adviser and dean) and must earn a term GPA of 2.00 or higher. Failure to satisfy these requirements will result in a second academic dismissal. A second dismissal is for five years, after which a student must petition for readmission to the University to the Academic Standards Committee and may also apply for Academic Bankruptcy. Individual colleges or programs have the discretion to set academic admission and continuation standards for specific programs that are higher than University standards.

University Core Requirements (See below)

The University of Arkansas has adopted a “State Minimum Core” of 35 semester-credit-hours of general education courses that are required of all baccalaureate degree candidates. This is in compliance with Arkansas Act 98 of 1989 and the subsequent action of the Arkansas State Board of Higher Education. Beginning in the fall semester of 1991, all state institutions of higher education in Arkansas have a 35-hour minimum core requirement with specified hours in each of six academic areas. The University has identified those courses that meet the minimum requirement, and they are listed in the chart below.

Students should consult the requirements for specific colleges and programs when choosing courses for use in the University Core.

Rationale for University of Arkansas General Education Core

In order to prepare its students for lives of the highest individual quality and the greatest potential contribution to the making of a better world, the University of Arkansas has developed a comprehensive program of general education. Although the basic skills, knowledge, methodologies, and judgments derived from experience in the core area set forth here may provide the basis for a major or professional concentration, the aims of these core requirements are not career specific. Rather, the following areas are designed to develop the tools for critical thinking and effective communication, an understanding of our richly diverse human heritage, the flexibility to adapt successfully to a rapidly changing world, a capacity for lifelong learning, and an enthusiasm for creativity.

English/Communication (6 hours)

Courses offered in this area are designed to develop the ability to organize ideas and to communicate them in grammatically correct written English with clarity, precision, and syntactical maturity. Freshman English courses taken at other universities will satisfy this requirement only if they are courses in composition. Students whose ACT scores in English are 18 or below must enroll in the sequence of courses ENGL 0003, ENGL 1013, and ENGL 1023. Students whose ACT scores in English are between 19 and 27 should enroll in ENGL 1013-1023. Students with English ACT scores of 28 or above may enroll in Honors English (1013H-1023H) or regular English (1013-1023). Students with English ACT scores of 30 or above may take 1013H-1023H or elect exemption. Students electing exemption must fill out forms in the English department office. Some programs require credit in composition, and students should confer with their advisers before choosing exemption.

Fine Arts/Humanities (6 hours)

Courses presented in this area are drawn from the study of human thought, emotion, values, culture, and aesthetics. They are designed to develop the capacity for reflection, an appreciation of our own diverse culture and a tolerance of those foreign to us, and a heightened aesthetic and ethical sensibility. The courses are not performance-based, but offer students a basis for the gradual acquisition of broad cultural literacy.

Mathematics (3 hours)

Courses offered in this area are designed to develop the student's ability to understand the diverse mathematical concepts that shape our increasingly technical culture. Core mathematics courses presuppose the ability to apply mathematical techniques at the level of high school algebra and geometry. The specific course(s) selected will depend upon each studentís curriculum, but no course below college algebra may be used to fulfill core requirements.

Science (8 hours)

A primary goal of these courses is to develop an appreciation of the basic principles that govern natural phenomena and the role of experiment and observation in revealing these principles. Students should acquire an understanding of the relationship between hypothesis, experiment, and theory, and develop the skills common to scientific inquiry, including the ability to frame hypotheses and defend conclusions based on the analysis of data. These courses are designed to prepare a student for informed citizenship by illustrating the importance of science and technology to the present and future quality of life and the ethical questions raised by scientific and technological advances.

Social Science (9 hours)

The social sciences acquire and transmit knowledge with a distinctive set of methodologies. Courses offered in these methodologies are designed to equip students with an understanding of the causes and consequences of actions taken by individuals as well as by groups and institutions.

American History and Civil Government

Under Arkansas law, no undergraduate degree may be granted to any student who has not passed a college course in American history and civil government. Courses offered by the University of Arkansas, any one of which will meet this requirement, are HIST 2003 History of the American People to 1877; HIST 2013 History of the American People, 1877 to Present; and PLSC 2003 American National Government.

Advanced Composition

Every undergraduate student at the University of Arkansas is required to take and pass ENGL 2003, a three-hour course in composition, unless exemption can be gained in one of the following ways: (1) by demonstrating a satisfactory writing ability on the Advanced Composition Exemption Examination, (2) by completing ENGL 2013 (Essay Writing), or (3) by achieving a grade of “A” or “B” in ENGL 1013 and a grade of “A” in ENGL 1023 in courses taken at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

ENGL 2003 will not count as part of the total number of hours required for a degree in the College of Engineering or School of Architecture or the Food, Human Nutritional Hospitality curriculum in the School of Human Environmental Sciences in the College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.

Students must satisfy the requirement of ENGL 1013 and ENGL 1023 and complete 30 credit hours before taking the Advanced Composition Exemption Exam. The exam must be taken before the student has acquired 96 credit hours. The English requirement applies to all transfer students regardless of non-freshman composition courses taken at other schools. Junior and senior transfer students must take the examination at the time they enter the University of Arkansas.

Students not gaining exemption from ENGL 2003 must register for the course before the last semester of their senior year.

The examination will be graded in the following categories: (1) pass or (2) fail. Students who take and do not pass the Exemption Exam must take ENGL 2003.

Residence

The full senior year must be completed in residence except that a senior who has already met the minimum residency requirement will be permitted to earn not more than 12 of the last 30 hours in extension or correspondence courses or in residence at another accredited institution granting the baccalaureate degree. No more than six of these 12 hours may be correspondence courses. The minimum residence requirement is 36 weeks and 30 semester hours. Residency for the senior year is defined as a period during which the student must be enrolled in courses offered on the campus in Fayetteville. This is intended to provide adequate contact with the University and its faculty for each student who is awarded a degree. Colleges and departments have the authority to prescribe residence requirements that exceed those described here.

Minimum Credit Hours

All students awarded a baccalaureate degree must have a minimum of 124 credit hours. Individual programs may require additional hours. Courses not marked in the course description as eligible to be repeate for degree credit may be included in this total only once.

Minimum Grade-Point Average

No student will be allowed to graduate if the student has “D” grades in more than 25 percent of all credit earned in this institution and presented to meet the requirements for a degree. No student will be allowed to graduate if on Academic Warning.

Application for Graduation

Students who plan to graduate must file an official application to do so. Applications should be filed for the term in which degree requirements will be completed. A graduation fee will be required at the time of application.

Students intending to complete requirements during the spring semester should file their applications by the priority consideration deadline published in the schedule of classes. This will help graduating students ensure they will be listed in the commencement program, considered for graduation honors, and receive priority when diplomas are mailed.

Students completing requirements during fall or summer terms must file an application by the deadlines established for those terms.

A student who fails to complete the degree during the intended semester must renew the application and pay a renewal fee for the term in which the degree requirements will be completed.

Other Graduation Requirements

Individual colleges and schools may have special graduation requirements, in addition to degree program requirements. Consult the college or school section in this catalog for statements of additional requirements.

Degree Program Requirements

A student’s degree program requirements are normally those specified in the catalog for the student’s first year of enrollment. However, students may choose to meet the program requirements specified in a catalog for a later year and, under some circumstances, students may be required to meet degree program requirements incorporated into the curriculum at a level beyond that at which the student is enrolled.

Students who transfer from institutions with articulation agreements with the University may also be allowed to meet the University program requirements in effect during their first year of enrollment in those institutions, subject to the time limits described below and the availability of course work. Students who transfer to a different degree program may be required to meet the program requirements specified in the catalog for the year of entry into that program. Students who are not enrolled for a period of two years or longer may be required to reenter under program requirements in the current catalog. Students who wish to be granted a degree on the basis of requirements specified in a catalog more than seven years old may be required to petition the college or school to be allowed to do so.

Students are expected to keep themselves informed regarding program requirements and changes.

Footnotes for the University Core:

¹ Some students majoring in math, engineering, science and business may be required to take a higher math as part of the State Minimum Core.
² Some students majoring in math, engineering, science, education and health-related professions may be required to take higher or specific science courses as part of the State Minimum Core.
³ Some students majoring in engineering may be required to take either six hours of humanities or social sciences at the junior/senior level or substitute an additional six hours of higher math and/or additional science as part of the State Minimum Core.
⁴ Students may choose any intermediate-level foreign language course numbered 2003. See Foreign Languages.
⁵ Some students majoring in engineering may be required to take either six hours of humanities or social sciences at the junior/senior level or substitute an additional six hours of higher math and/or additional science as part of the State Minimum Core.
⁶ If not selected to meet the three hours of the U.S. History requirement.

The University of Arkansas is committed to helping all of its students identify and achieve their educational goals. The many UA programs of study and activities provide opportunities to students to follow varied career and learning paths and enjoy educational experiences of different kinds. Plans for degree completion are available in this Catalog of Studies, from colleges, schools, and departments. Academic advising services in each college and school assist students in making plans for their own degree completion and in carrying them out consistent with students’ abilities, circumstances, and preferences.

Since 2006, the Eight-Semester Degree Completion Program (DCP), has made it possible for qualified degree-seeking freshmen to express their intention — and assume the associated obligations — to complete identified bachelor’s degree programs of study in four academic years. The list of majors and degrees designed to be completed in eight semesters and for which the DCP is available is maintained by each college and school and may be accessed from the DCP Web site. The list and degree completion plans for the programs are also made available in the Catalog of Studies through schools, colleges and departments. Before registering for their first semester of study, all freshmen entering the University must accept participation, decline participation, or acknowledge ineligibility for participation in the DCP by signing the Participation Document. New freshmen will be notified regarding how to view the Participation Document on-line and learn more about registering for a Degree Completion Program. A student’s participation or nonparticipation in the DCP will not affect scholarship eligibility.

Students who are admissible to the DCP and who choose to participate have the responsibility for meeting all requirements specified by the University and their degree completion plan and the responsibility for complying with the DCP policy. The University has the responsibility to provide advising support and the opportunity for students to enroll in and complete all required courses and all other University and program requirements as scheduled in the program plan within eight sequential semesters. The University will also provide students with timely notifications to the student’s official University e-mail address regarding advising, registration, and other requirement completion information.

A student may choose at any time to discontinue participation in the DCP without penalty. Students are encouraged to discuss such choices with an authorized academic adviser for the program of study. Participation and subsequent withdrawal from the DCP will not in themselves jeopardize the student’s opportunity to complete the degree program, to do so in a timely manner, or to complete another degree program or major by fulfilling program requirements.

In some circumstances it may be in a student’s best interest to decline participation or withdraw from the DCP. Examples include students who are not prepared to choose a major before enrolling for the first semester and students who feel that a full semester class load of 15 or 16 hours will be too heavy given other responsibilities. Other students may plan to study abroad for a semester in an institution where the required courses are not offered or to participate in a semester-long internship program not included in the program plan. A decision or need to work or participate in certain time-intensive curricular and extra-curricular activities such as band and intercollegiate athletics may make it impossible to schedule all program requirements in some programs. A student may be required to withdraw from the DCP as a result of illness or other personal circumstances that make it impossible to do his or her best work, continue as a full-time student, or complete requirements in the time available. There are also a number of acts and events that may or will cause the DCP agreement to be voided, and these are identified below in the section “Student acts and other events that will or may void the degree completion plan agreement.”

Requirements for Admission to the Eight-Semester Degree Completion Program (DCP):

1. Participants must begin their program of study in the fall semester as first-time, full-time freshmen and must be committed to be fulltime students able to enroll in and successfully complete at least 31-36 hours each academic year.
2. Participants must have chosen a major included in the DCP, must meet all admission requirements for the chosen program of study including applicable program grade point average and other grade requirements, and must have been admitted to programs requiring formal program admission.
3. Participants must be qualified to begin enrollment in the fall semester without being required to take remedial courses in math, English, or reading or other course prerequisites to entry-level courses in the chosen program of study.

Requirements for Continuance and Completion of the Eight-Semester Degree Completion Program:

1. Students must follow exactly the degree completion plan for the chosen major and must meet all the specified requirements in their degree plan each semester unless an alternative is approved by an authorized academic adviser for their program or they have already met the requirement.
2. Students must be continuously enrolled in and successfully complete at least 31-36 semester credit hours of appropriate course work each academic year as outlined in their degree completion plan.
3. Students must make satisfactory academic progress as defined by the University and degree program and must maintain the grade point average required by the University and the program of study.
4. Students must monitor their own progress in meeting the requirements identified in their degree completion plan, consistent with the program plan.
5. Students must register for classes at the first/earliest assigned time during their designated registration period each semester for the following term. For courses required for graduation, students must accept any available course or class section that does not conflict with other required courses. Students should understand that special scheduling accommodations cannot be guaranteed for work or other activities including athletics and band.
      Students must seek assistance from an authorized academic adviser for their chosen program of study if they are unable to identify or register for any course(s) required for that semester in their degree program. For situations in which an authorized academic adviser for the program cannot identify a required course for the student to take, the adviser must notify the department chair and dean for the student’s program of study that it has not been possible for the student to complete registration for a required course for the next semester of enrollment. Notification must be made in writing immediately following the unsuccessful attempt to register. Consistent with the terms of the degree completion program, the chairperson or dean will identify an alternate course, in writing, to fulfill graduation requirements or will provide an override to allow the student to enroll in the required course(s).
      Students must complete registration no later than the last official day of class for the fall or spring term preceding the next term of enrollment, unless the identification of an appropriate course to complete the student’s registration is still in progress.
6. Students must have prior written approval by an authorized academic adviser before enrolling in any course at another institution (such as concurrent enrollment, enrollment during a summer term, or study abroad) if the student wishes to transfer the course and have the course included in the coursework submitted for the degree completion plan.
7. Students must confer with an authorized academic adviser for their program before withdrawing from a required course as such a withdrawal will void the DCP agreement.
8. Students must at all times maintain an accurate local address, and telephone number in official university records. Students may make changes to such information in the Student Information System Self Service component as needed and should make them immediately following any change. Students may also make changes by written notice to the Registrar.
9. Students must respond in a timely way to any official notice or message from an authorized academic adviser and to any official notice regarding registration, degree progress, financial obligations or aid, or any other university requirement.
10. Students must make timely application for all necessary financial assistance, consistent with deadlines.
11. Students must meet all University degree requirements (including formal application for graduation consistent with deadlines and requirements as established by the Registrar for the semester in which the student is scheduled for graduation).

Student Acts and Other Events That Will or May Void the Degree Completion Plan Agreement:

1. Withdrawing from (“dropping”) a required course
2. Receiving a failing grade in a required course or receiving a grade below that required by the program
3. Changing one’s major or degree program
4. Withdrawing from the University
5. Failure to meet any degree requirement(s) as specified and in the time specified
6. Unauthorized non-payment or delayed payment of any tuition or fees
7. Incurring a disciplinary action affecting the student’s enrollment
8. Failing to comply with any other requirement of the Eight-Semester Degree Completion Policy.

Appeal Process

A student may appeal the voiding of the DCP to the dean of the college or school in which the student is enrolled. The appeal process requires that the student submit a statement of the basis for the appeal to the dean in writing within 30 days following notification of the voiding of the program, with a copy to an authorized academic adviser for the program. The dean will notify the student and the adviser of the outcome of the appeal within 60 days after receiving the statement.

In accordance with the Student Right-To-Know and Campus Security Act of 1990, the following is a summary of the institution’s six-year graduation rates:

The following policies control the granting of credit for course work taken at other institutions:

1. Transfer credits are subject to a two-stage evaluation process. First, the eligibility of the hours for transfer is evaluated by the Registrar’s Office based upon decisions of appropriate faculty. Credits found to be eligible for general transfer may not always count toward the minimum requirements for a degree at the University of Arkansas. The second step in the evaluation, performed by the academic dean’s office or department responsible for the program of study, determines which hours evaluated will satisfy degree program requirements.
2. Grades earned at other institutions are not calculated in the student’s grade-point average earned at the University.
3. General transfer credit is awarded for courses in which a grade of “C” or higher has been earned. Course work must be applicable to a baccalaureate degree; credit is not granted for course work that is remedial or technical in nature.
4. Students can petition to have up to six hours of "D" grades transfer for degree credit to the University of Arkansas. Students must have a 2.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale to be considered, and courses must meet core or elective requirements in the studentís degree program. Courses outside the degree program and courses in the major cannot be considered for transfer. The Third Level Administrative Review Committee makes all decisions regarding “D” transfers. Petitions can be obtained from the Registrar’s Office.
5. In the case of course work taken at institutions not fully accredited by a regional accrediting agency, transfer credit may be denied altogether or may be granted provisionally subject to successful completion of specified courses at the University. Normally, credit is provisionally granted only if the institution is a candidate for regional accreditation.
6. No more than 68 semester hours of lower-division (freshman- or sophomore-level) course work will be accepted. There is no limit placed upon the number of upper-division (junior- or senior-level) credit hours that may be awarded in general transfer, but a student must complete at least 30 hours in residence to meet graduation requirements (see Requirements for Graduation in this catalog). Please also refer to the appropriate college section of this catalog for any additional transfer policies that may be specific to your anticipated degree program.
7. The State Minimum Core (SMC): Act 98 of 1989 requires each institution of higher learning in Arkansas to identify a minimum core of general education courses that shall be fully transferable between state-supported institutions. Under guidelines from the State Board of Higher Education, the SMC consists of 35 hours distributed among the following education areas: English, U.S. history or government, mathematics, science, fine arts and humanities, and social sciences. Students transferring credit with grades of “C” or better from the approved SMC of another state-supported institution in Arkansas may expect to have all these hours applied toward their degree at the University of Arkansas. Each college at the University of Arkansas reserves the right to set additional general education or core requirements above and beyond those in a particular 35-hour SMC, however. The evaluation of transfer credit performed by the receiving college dean’s office will determine the extent to which courses transferred as part of a SMC will satisfy degree requirements.
   Students should be prepared to submit course descriptions and syllabi of transfer work if there is any question concerning acceptance of credit toward a degree program. The University reserves the right to revise credit for advanced standing after the student has been in residence.

Please refer to the appropriate college or school section of this catalog for additional information concerning acceptance into specific degree programs.

Arkansas Course Transfer System (ACTS)

The Arkansas Course Transfer System (ACTS) contains information about the transferability of courses within Arkansas public colleges and universities. Students are guaranteed the transfer of applicable credits and the equitable treatment in the application of credits for the admissions and degree requirements. Course transferability is not guaranteed for courses listed in ACTS as No Comparable Course. Additionally, courses with a D frequently do not transfer and institutional policies may vary. ACTS may be accessed on the Internet by going to the ADHE Web site at http://www.adhe.edu/ and selecting Course Transfer.

The faculty of each college will recommend for graduation with honors or with high honors those students it considers to be eligible for such distinction under its own regulations with the following general restrictions:

1. To be eligible for graduation honors a student must have completed at least one-half of his or her degree work at the University of Arkansas.
2. No student shall be eligible for graduation honors whose cumulative grade-point average is below 3.125.
3. A college should not recommend more than 10 percent of its graduating class for graduation honors except under unusual circumstances.
4. It is recommended that in determining graduation honors the faculty consider the whole of a student’s record but give greater weight to the last half of the record than to the first half.

A person with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas, or from any other institution, may not receive another bachelor’s degree without completing in residence at least 30 hours of additional, not necessarily subsequent, courses selected from the courses leading to a degree for which the person is a candidate.

More than 30 hours of course work may be required. In addition to the college or school requirements, the candidate must also meet all University requirements as stated in the catalog, including graduation and core requirements, except when course work for the first degree satisfies requirements for the second.

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 University-wide 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 University-wide 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 University-wide Administrative Memorandum 515.1.
3. The right to withhold consent of disclosure of directory information, defined as the following information: the student’s name; address; telephone number; date and place of birth; religious preference; major field of study; classification by year; number of hours in which enrolled and number completed; parents’ 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. University-wide Administrative Memorandum 515.1 is available on request in the main library on campus.

The University is proud to publish and display photographic and video images of UA students, their activities and accomplishments. Any student who does not wish to be represented in such photographic and video images by the University should choose to withhold photos on the FERPA option on the University’s student information system.

The Academic Standards Committee, composed of faculty and students, serves as a referral body for matters of probation, suspension, dismissal, and other rules and regulations related to academic progress and graduation. Petitions for waiver of academic rules and information on the petitioning process may be obtained on the Registrar’s Office Web site or at the offices of the academic deans or the Registrar. Petitioners should note petitioning deadlines.

Students are first encouraged to resolve academic conflicts and complaints informally through their department or through the assistance of the University Ombuds Office, which can provide objective and confidential mediation. If an informal resolution cannot be reached there are two kinds of procedures for undergraduate students to pursue with complaints of an academic nature. Refer to the Student Handbook for appeals structures for other grievances.

Grade Appeal Structure for Undergraduate Students

If a student questions the fairness or accuracy of a grade, there is recourse through a student grade appeal structure. Disagreements shall be heard that allege the instructor’s policy was not applied consistently to all students, differed substantially from the announced policy, or that a policy was not announced. All grievances concerning course grades must be filed within one calendar year of the end of the term in which the grade that is being appealed was assigned. The procedures are:

1. The student should first discuss the matter with the instructor involved, doing so as soon as possible after receiving the grade. The instructor should be willing to listen, to provide explanation, and to be receptive to changing the grade if the student provides convincing argument for doing so. The student’s questions may be answered satisfactorily during this discussion.
2. If the student chooses to pursue the grievance, the student shall take the appeal in written form to the appropriate department chairperson. That person, if she or he believes the complaint may have merit, will discuss it with the instructor.
3. If the matter remains unresolved, it will be referred to an ad hoc committee composed of the entire faculty of the instructor’s department. The committee will examine available written information on the dispute, will be available for meetings with the student and with the instructor, and will meet with others as it sees fit.
4. If the faculty committee, through its inquiries and deliberations, determines that the grade should be changed, it will request that the instructor make the change and provide the instructor with a written explanation. Should the instructor decline, he or she must provide an explanation for refusing.
5. If the faculty committee, after considering the instructor’s explanation, concludes it would be unjust to allow the original grade to stand, it may then recommend to the department chairperson that the grade be changed. That individual will provide the instructor with a copy of the recommendation and will ask the instructor to implement it. If the instructor continues to decline, the chairperson is then obligated to change the grade, notifying the instructor and the student of this action. Only the chairperson has the authority to effect a grade change over the objection of the instructor who assigned the original grade, and only after the foregoing procedures have been followed. If the faculty committee determines that the grade should not be changed, it should communicate this conclusion to the student, the faculty member, and the chair.

Student Complaint Procedure

This procedure is designed to give all students a means by which an academically related complaint against an instructor other than that which is solely concerned with a grade (covered by the previous section) may be reviewed and acted upon in such a way as to protect the rights of both the student and the instructor. The procedure must be initiated within one calendar year of the occurrence of the cause for the complaint.

Guidelines: All committee discussions or hearings shall be private. Furthermore, every effort shall made to protect any person against discrimination as a result of statements or actions made in this procedure, but fraudulent or intentionally deceptive statements and/or allegations shall be considered an extremely serious violation of the procedures and could result in a recommendation for grave disciplinary measures. Nothing in this procedure may violate policies stated under “Appointments, Promotions, Tenure, Non-reappointment, and Dismissals” in the Faculty Handbook.

Definitions of Terms: Student – Under this procedure, a student is any person who has been formally admitted to the University of Arkansas and who is or was enrolled as an undergraduate student at the time the alleged grievance occurred. (A separate procedure exists for graduate students.) Decision – A decision will include a review of the issues, a determination about the validity of the complaint, the reasons for the determination, and any recommendations. A decision will be stated in writing. Working Days – Working days refers to Monday through Friday, excluding official University holidays.

Procedures: The normal course for a student or a group of students with an academically related complaint concerning an instructor is to go first to that instructor, although the student or group may appeal to the instructor’s chairperson, supervisor, or dean in an attempt to resolve the problem informally and amicably. However, if a student has a complaint regarding academic concerns not covered under the “Academic Appeal Structure” and, for whatever reason, does not wish or is unable to resolve the issue informally, the student is entitled to have the issue considered under the following normal procedures.

1. The student will submit a written complaint with supporting information to the Vice Chair of the Campus Council or to the Chair of the Student Panel or to the Chair of the Faculty Panel (as described in item 4 below). These three persons will comprise a Contact Committee, with the Vice Chair of the Campus Council as coordinator, and will be responsible for the initial review of the student’s complaint. If the Contact Committee, without any preliminary investigation, agrees unanimously that a particular complaint is not subject to these procedures or should not be pursued, the student will be notified in writing. No further action will be taken under these procedures unless the student files within five working days a written request for a preliminary investigation by the Contact Committee or for an investigation by a Hearing Committee; this request will be honored, and the instructor shall be informed immediately about the filing of the complaint, the nature of the complaint, and the initiation of the investigation. Deliberate and cautious discretion will be used to preserve a student’s anonymity (if possible, depending upon the nature of the complaint) and to protect the faculty member from presumptive suspicion.
2. If, through lack of unanimous agreement or as a result of the student’s request, the Contact Committee pursues the complaint, the Committee will initiate the preliminary investigation. The preliminary investigation should be completed within 15 working days, if possible, from the date the request is received. After the investigation, the Contact Committee has a choice of two alternatives:
   1. It will make a determination regarding the complaint and will notify in writing both parties; or
   2. It will determine that a Hearing Committee should be appointed and that a more thorough investigation should be conducted. Both parties will be advised of this determination and of who has been appointed to serve on the Hearing Committee.
3. If the Contact Committee has made a determination regarding resolution of the complaint and if either party is not satisfied with this determination, that party has a prerogative of requesting and having a Hearing Committee appointed to investigate the matter further.
4. Members of a Hearing Committee will be selected from two panels of 15 persons each: one of students, chosen by ASG; and one of faculty members, chosen by the Faculty Committee on Committees. The Chair of the Student Panel will be selected by the ASG President, and the Chair of the Faculty Panel will be selected by the Chair of the Campus Faculty.
5. When an investigation by a Hearing Committee becomes necessary, the Committee will be appointed immediately by the Contact Committee. The Hearing Committee will be composed of three students and of four faculty members, chosen to avoid obvious bias or partiality. The coordinator of the Contact Committee will call the initial meeting of the Hearing Committee to conduct an election of a chairperson from among the four faculty members and to review general information and results of any preliminary investigation.
6. Either party to the dispute may ask another member of the University community to attend the hearings and may ask any member of the University community to provide relevant information. At the end of its investigation, which, if possible, should be completed within 20 working days after its first meeting, the Hearing Committee will submit its decision to both parties.
7. If the decision is not acceptable to either the student or the instructor, that person may appeal in writing to the Provost/Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs of the University. The Provost will review the Hearing Committee’s written report and will forward a written recommendation to the student, the instructor, and the Chairperson of the Hearing Committee.

Credit by Examination

There are two ways a student enrolled at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, may establish undergraduate credit by examination in courses offered by the University: either through the University of Arkansas Credit by Examination Program (see the next section), or through approved national testing programs, such as the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), the Advanced Placement Program (AP), or the International Baccalaureate Program (IB).

Credit established by examination must be evaluated in terms of the specific program the student wishes to pursue. The decision regarding the appropriate application of such credit to a degree program will be made in each college or school. Credit established by examination will be applied to a degree program in the same manner as credit established in any other way. If credit is earned by examination, the mark of CR will be entered in the student’s record. Grades are not assigned.

In certain instances, however, instead of actually receiving credit in semester hours, a student may receive advanced standing and be authorized to enroll for advanced courses in the subject matter area.

Credit by examination may not be used to satisfy minimum residency requirements as established by each college or school. Credit by examination is recorded only for students currently enrolled at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

University of Arkansas Program

The following conditions apply to the departmental programs for credit by examination:

1. The student must apply for such examination using forms available in the academic dean or department office. Permission to take the examination must be obtained from the faculty of the department offering the course. The faculty of each department is responsible for designating the courses in that department that may be challenged by examination.
2. The appropriate department or college offering the course will designate and administer the examination.
3. A passing grade on the examination must be “B” or above. A second trial for credit by examination in that course will not be permitted.
4. A $25 credit by examination fee will be assessed per course.

National Testing Programs

When credit by a national examination is granted, the student’s academic record will list the score used as a basis for credit as well as the type of examination used to establish credit, such as CLEP subject examination or general examination, AP examination or IB examination.

Credit is awarded on the basis of official score reports, which must be sent by the national testing service directly to the Registrar’s Office, 146 Silas H. Hunt Hall, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701. Credit also may be awarded on the basis of scores posted on an official university or college transcript, provided the type of examination is included. In all cases, minimum score requirements as established by the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, must be met.

Approval has been granted to award credit for the following national testing programs:

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) – see below

Advanced Placement Program (AP) – see below

International Baccalaureate Program (IB)

The International Baccalaureate (IB) program is a comprehensive and rigorous two-year high school curriculum offered in the United States and in 72 countries around the world. The IB program provides students with a balanced education, facilitates geographic and cultural mobility, and promotes international understanding through a shared academic experience. The IB program gives students the opportunity to pursue collegelevel studies while in upper secondary school and to receive credit for final examinations upon entering the University.

The IB examinations are offered annually, usually in May, by high schools participating in this program. Students seeking credit for examinations must request that a final, official IB transcript of certificate or diploma results be sent by mail to the Registrar's Office, 146 Silas H. Hunt Hall, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville AR 72701. These materials may be requested from International Baccalaureate North America, 200 Madison Avenue, Suite 2007, New York, NY 10016, telephone: 212-696-4464.

Approval has been granted by appropriate academic departments to award credit in the following courses. The minimum scores were established by the departments of the subject areas concerned.

The University of Arkansas is a CLEP testing center and is authorized to administer CLEP examinations both on a national basis and on an institutional basis. However, CLEP examinations may be taken at scheduled times at any national test center, and the results sent to the University of Arkansas. The test center code number and score recipient code number for the University of Arkansas is 6866. For information or to make application, write Testing Services, 713 Hotz Hall, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, or telephone 479-575-3948.

Approval has been granted by the appropriate governing body, upon recommendation of the academic department, to award credit in the following courses by the use of CLEP examinations. Minimum scores for the paper-based version and the new computer-based version were established by the departments of the subject areas concerned.

Please note that minimum scores for credit for computer-based CLEP exams may differ from paper-based CLEP examinations.

General Examinations

College Mathematics
MATH 0003
Minimum Score for Credit (paper-based): 520
Minimum Score for Credit (computer-based): 52
Maximum Credit Allowed: 3 hours

English Composition
ENGL 1013
Minimum Score for Credit (paper-based): 490
Minimum Score for Credit (computer-based): 55
Maximum Credit Allowed: 3 hours

ENGL 1013 & 1023
Minimum Score for Credit (paper-based): 540
Minimum Score for Credit (computer-based): 65
Maximum Credit Allowed: 6 hours
* The University accepts both the 90-minute multiple-choice test and the 90-minute test, which includes a 45-minute multiple-choice section and a 45-minute essay section.

Approved Subject Examinations

American Government
PLSC 2003
Minimum Score for Credit (paper-based): 47
Minimum Score for Credit (computer-based): 50
Maximum Credit Allowed: 3 hours

Biology
BIOL 1543/1541L
Minimum Score for Credit (paper-based): 49
Minimum Score for Credit (computer-based): 50
Maximum Credit Allowed: 4 hours

Calculus
MATH 2554
Minimum Score for Credit (paper-based): 55
Minimum Score for Credit (computer-based): 65
Maximum Credit Allowed: 4 hours

College Algebra
MATH 1203
Minimum Score for Credit (paper-based): 50
Minimum Score for Credit (computer-based): 54
Maximum Credit Allowed: 3 hours

College Algebra – Trigonometry
MATH 1285
Minimum Score for Credit (paper-based): 55
Minimum Score for Credit (computer-based): 56
Maximum Credit Allowed: 5 hours

Freshman College Composition
ENGL 1013
Minimum Score for Credit (paper-based): 52 + acceptable essay
Minimum Score for Credit (computer-based): 57 + acceptable essay
Maximum Credit Allowed: 3 hours

ENGL 1013 & 1023
Minimum Score for Credit (paper-based): 62 + acceptable essay
Minimum Score for Credit (computer-based): 66 + acceptable essay
Maximum Credit Allowed: 6 hours
* Essay required. Numerical scores by themselves will not suffice for credit, nor will they guarantee credit.

Chemistry
CHEM 1103/1101L
Minimum Score for Credit (paper-based): 50
Minimum Score for Credit (computer-based): 55
Maximum Credit Allowed: 8 hours

CHEM 1123/1121L
Minimum Score for Credit (paper-based): 50
Minimum Score for Credit (computer-based): 55
Maximum Credit Allowed: 8 hours

History of the United States
HIST 2003
Minimum Score for Credit (paper-based): 50
Minimum Score for Credit (computer-based): 50
Maximum Credit Allowed: 3 hours

HIST 2013
Minimum Score for Credit (paper-based): 50
Minimum Score for Credit (computer-based): 50
Maximum Credit Allowed: 3 hours

Human Growth & Development
HESC 1403
Minimum Score for Credit (paper-based): n/a
Minimum Score for Credit (computer-based): 63
Maximum Credit Allowed: 3 hours

Intro to Educational Psychology
PSYC 4033
Minimum Score for Credit (paper-based): n/a
Minimum Score for Credit (computer-based): 55
Maximum Credit Allowed: 3 hours

Introductory Psychology
PSYC 2003
Minimum Score for Credit (paper-based): 47
Minimum Score for Credit (computer-based): 55
Maximum Credit Allowed: 3 hours

Introductory Sociology
SOCI 2013
Minimum Score for Credit (paper-based): 59
Minimum Score for Credit (computer-based): 59
Maximum Credit Allowed: 3 hours

Principles of Macroeconomics
ECON 2013
Minimum Score for Credit (paper-based): 48
Minimum Score for Credit (computer-based): 54
Maximum Credit Allowed: 3 hours

Principles of Microeconomics
ECON 2023
Minimum Score for Credit (paper-based): 48
Minimum Score for Credit (computer-based): 54
Maximum Credit Allowed: 3 hours

Principles of Marketing
MKTG 3433
Minimum Score for Credit (paper-based): 48
Minimum Score for Credit (computer-based): 50
Maximum Credit Allowed: 3 hours

Trigonometry
MATH 1213
Minimum Score for Credit (paper-based): 55
Minimum Score for Credit (computer-based): 55
Maximum Credit Allowed: 3 hours

Western Civilization
HIST 1003
Minimum Score for Credit (paper-based): 50
Minimum Score for Credit (computer-based): 60
Maximum Credit Allowed: 3 hours

HIST 1013
Minimum Score for Credit (paper-based): 50
Minimum Score for Credit (computer-based): 60
Maximum Credit Allowed: 3 hours

The Advanced Placement (AP) Program of the College Entrance Examination Board gives students the opportunity to pursue college-level studies while still in high school and, with an appropriate score on an AP exam, to receive advanced placement and/or credit upon entering the University. The AP examinations are offered annually by high schools that participate in this program. The appropriate UA governing body, upon recommendation of the academic department, has authorized credit and/or placement for students who present qualifying scores in the AP courses listed below.

Symbols for placement and credit:
P = placement;
Pq = qualified placement (student may be placed in an advanced course, with credit awarded for prerequisite courses upon satisfactory completion, subject to departmental review.);
C = credit;
Cq = qualified credit (placement and credit subject to departmental review).

1. Credit will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of a junior or seniorlevel economic course.

2. Students must pass a departmental test to receive credit.

3. To receive credit for courses preceding the course for which AP credit has been granted, students must enroll in and complete with a grade of “C”or higher, that course which follows in sequence the course for which AP credit was granted.

4. At most, 3 hours credit allowed for AP Statistics.