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:

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

Non-Degree Seeking: This enrollment will not lead to a degree.

Application. To ensure that applications are processed in a timely manner, applicants are asked to self-manage the application package and submit all application materials in one large envelope. Please do not mail items separately. 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 online 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
747 W. Dickson Street, #8
1 University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Telephone: 479-575-6246

Transcripts. It is the responsibility of those applicants who desire full graduate standing to request from each college or university which the student has previously attended two official copies of the student’s academic record including all courses, grades, and credits attempted and indication of degree(s) earned. Official transcripts should be sent directly to the applicant to be included in the self-managed application package. The applicant must not open the envelopes as transcripts not in the original, sealed envelopes will not be considered official.

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. However, applicants with an earned post-baccalaureate graduate degree (excluding professional degrees) from a regionally accredited institution may submit two official copies of the transcript conferring the baccalaureate degree and the transcript confirming the post-baccalaureate degree. For applicants with an earned post-baccalaureate degree: A degree program may require transcripts from every institution attended in pursuit of the baccalaureate degree even though the Graduate School Admissions Office does not. Please check with the degree program for specific requirements.

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. 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 program 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. 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.

Non-Native Speakers of English. Those applicants, regardless of citizenship, whose first language is not English, 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 or 80 on the Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), taken within the preceding two years, unless 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 accepted 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.

Non-native speakers of English, regardless of citizenship, 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), 26 on the Internet-based TOEFL (speaking) sub-test 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. Applicants, regardless of citizenship, whose first language is not English and who are 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 or Writing), 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(s) 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 Internet-based TOEFL writing score of 29 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 or writing, 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, 747 W. Dickson Street, #8, 1 University of Arkansas, 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:
   1. A grade-point average of 3.0 or better (A=4.00) 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
   2. A grade-point average between 2.50 and 2.99 on the last 60 hours of 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 Examination general test, the Miller Analogies Test, or a similar test acceptable to the Graduate Dean; or
   3. A grade-point average of 3.0 or better on all course work taken prior to receipt of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education; or
   4. 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:
   1. Fulfillment of either 1.a or 1.c, and recommendation of the chair of the department or program offering instruction for the degree program; or
   2. Fulfillment of 1.b, 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.

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.

Visiting Graduate Students: A graduate student who is in good standing at another accredited institution may be given admission (non-degree status) to the Graduate School for one semester (renewable) upon submission of an Application for Admission and a letter of good standing from the Dean of the Graduate School at that institution. If the student’s first language is not English, TOEFL requirements will apply, but programs may petition for a student to be admitted without the TOEFL score. 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, to have official transcripts sent from each institution previously attended, and to submit a TOEFL score, if appropriate.

Readmission. Readmission to the Graduate School is not automatic.

1. Students who have been enrolled in the Graduate School within the five 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.”
2. Students who have been previously admitted to and enrolled in the Graduate School but have no enrollment within the five years preceding the semester of readmission and who wish to be readmitted to pursue a graduate degree, may be considered for readmission upon a petition by the degree program to the Graduate School. Such students should contact the department/program head/director or graduate coordinator to request readmission. The department/program head/director, graduate coordinator, or major adviser of the student will petition the Director of Graduate Admissions, using the form “Request for an Exception to the Admissions Requirements of the Graduate School,” and will specify whether all of the student’s previous course work and grade points will be forfeited. (Note: Neither the degree program nor the student may petition to forfeit only some of the previous course work and grade points; rather, all or none of the course work may be forfeited.) If all of the previous course work and grade points will be forfeited, a notation on the transcript next to these courses will state: “This course may not be used for graduate credit at the University of Arkansas.” If the previous course work and grade points will not be forfeited, the student’s major adviser must petition for a time extension. Please see the Time Extension Policy.
3. Readmission for non-degree seeking students: Non-degree-seeking students who have previously been enrolled in the Graduate School but have had a lapse in their enrollment will follow the procedures stated above, or in the policy pertaining to non-consecutive one-term admissions, whichever is most appropriate.
4. 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.

Admission to Graduate Centers

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 in Operations Management (M.S.O.M.) 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 the Operations Management program.

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 leadership 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 leadership 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 of Public Service, 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 leadership 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 on the Registrar’s Web site at www.uark.edu/registrar/.

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 formally admitted to a degree program 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, 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.

Graduate Credit for 3000 and 4000-level Undergraduate Courses

Graduate students wishing to take 3000-level undergraduate courses for graduate credit will find the necessary forms on the Graduate School Web site taken by graduate students for graduate credit only when the courses are not in the student’s major area of study and when the courses have been approved by the Dean of the Graduate School for graduate credit. The instructor for the course must hold graduate faculty status and must certify that he/she will make appropriate adjustments in assignments and grading scales to raise the level of expectation for the student to the graduate level. No more than 20 percent of the graded course work in the degree program may be comprised of 3000-level courses carrying graduate credit. Undergraduate courses numbered below 3000 will not be allowed to carry graduate credit.

Students wishing to take 4000-level undergraduate courses for graduate credit will find the necessary forms on the Graduate School Web site. The instructor for the course must hold graduate faculty status and must certify that he/she will make appropriate adjustments in assignments and grading scales to raise the level of expectation for the student to the graduate level.

Proper Address of Students

All students are responsible for maintaining their addresses with the University and to report any change of address by update on the University’s student information system at ISIS.uark.edu. Failure to do so may result in undelivered grades, registration notices, invoices, invitations, or other official correspondence and announcements. It is also vitally important that students regularly check their university-assigned e-mail account as many important notices will be sent by e-mail.

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 the fall or spring 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 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 on the Treasurer’s Web site.

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 officially withdraw by logging onto the student information system and completing a brief online interview. Students choosing not to complete the exit interview must notify the Registrar’s Office by signed, written request. 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 graded graduate course credit or dissertation credit 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 may 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 or be entered in the student affiliates table on ISIS.

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” is recorded. For students admitted to the Graduate School in Fall 2001 or after no credit is earned for courses in which a grade of “F” or “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.
   1. 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.
   2. 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. If a student is assigned to teach, the maximum duty assignment is full responsibility for two three-hour courses per semester.
3. The Graduate School has set the following limits on holding graduate assistantships (not fellowships): Master’s students may hold a graduate assistantship for no more than four major semesters; a doctoral student may hold a graduate assistantship for no more than eight major semesters; a student who enters a doctoral program with only a baccalaureate degree may hold a graduate assistantship for no more than ten major semesters. The department/program may petition the Graduate School for extensions to these requirements on a case by case basis.
4. 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).
5. 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.

(Approved by the Faculty Senate October 16, 1997)

This policy is based on Public Health Service Regulations on Handling Allegations of Scientific Misconduct C.F.R. 42 Part 50 Subpart A.

1. Introduction
   The University of Arkansas is committed to integrity in research and scholarly activity. These guidelines and policies apply to all research and sponsored programs, whether they are unfunded, funded by the University, or have extramural funding from state, federal or private agencies. These regulations govern the preparation and approval of proposals for funding, the process of conducting research, presentation or publication of results, and the treatment of human or animal subjects of experiments. All individuals who may be involved with an ongoing research project or with a project for which an application has been submitted are governed by these policies. These policies apply to any person paid by, under the control of, or affiliated with the University, such as administrators, faculty, scientists, trainees, technicians and other staff members, students, fellows, guest researchers, or collaborators at the University of Arkansas. Principal investigators are responsible for determining that laboratory procedures, including modifications for facilities and installation of equipment conform to University regulations. Activities on University property or time should be appropriately scheduled and approved. Individuals who travel from the campus to engage in research, scholarship or other creative activity should comply with University policies regarding absence from work. Students involved with research misconduct are subject to disciplinary rules governing students, however, such cases may also be reviewed under these policies. A charge of research or scholarly misconduct is very serious, and may damage the career or reputation of the respondent, even if the charge is untrue. Any allegation of research misconduct will be handled as confidentially and expeditiously as possible. Full attention will be given to the rights and responsibilities of all individuals involved.
2. Definition of Terms
   1. Research or scholarly misconduct means fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, deception, or other ethical practices which seriously deviate from those commonly accepted within the research community for proposing, conducting, or reporting the results of research. It does not include honest error or honest differences in interpretations or judgments of data. Research and scholarly misconduct also includes abuse of confidentiality which means stealing ideas and/or preliminary data during the process of peer review for journal articles or proposals submitted to funding agencies.
   2. Allegation means any written or oral statement or other indication of possible research or scholarly misconduct made to a University official.
   3. Complainant means a person who makes an allegation of research or scholarly misconduct.
   4. Conflict of interest means the real or apparent interference of one person(s) interests with the interests of another person, where potential bias may occur due to prior or existing personal or professional relationships.
   5. A good faith allegation means an allegation made with the honest belief that research or scholarly misconduct may have occurred. An allegation is not in good faith if it is made with reckless disregard for or willful ignorance of facts that would disprove the allegation.
   6. Inquiry means information gathering and initial fact-finding to determine whether an allegation or an apparent instance of research or scholarly misconduct warrants an investigation. The inquiry must result in either dismissal of the allegation or a call for an investigation. The discovery of a suspected criminal act will result in the suspension of the inquiry until the appropriate law enforcement agency allows it to continue.
   7. Investigation means the formal examination and evaluation of all relevant facts to determine if research or scholarly misconduct has occurred.
   8. Research Integrity Officer (RIO) is the person designated to conduct the proceedings to determine if research or scholarly misconduct has occurred.
   9. Respondent means the person against whom an allegation of research or scholarly misconduct is directed or the person whose actions are the subject of the inquiry or investigation. There can be more than one respondent in any inquiry or investigation.
   10. Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (VCAA) is the University official who makes final determinations on allegations of research or scientific misconduct.
3. Rights and Responsibilities
   1. Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs – The Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (VCAA) is the individual to whom allegations of research or scholarly misconduct should be addressed. The VCAA will determine whether or not the allegations merit an inquiry. If he or she decides to proceed with an inquiry, the VCAA will forward all pertinent materials to the Research Council. The Chair of the Research Council will serve as the University Research Integrity Officer (RIO). If the Chair of the Research Council has a conflict of interest, the Research Council will elect another faculty member of the Council to serve as the RIO during the inquiry and subsequent investigation (if warranted). The VCAA has final authority to impose sanctions and to take other appropriate administrative actions. If the VCAA has a conflict of interest, the Chancellor will serve or designate an appropriate replacement.
   2. Research Integrity Officer – The Research Integrity Officer (RIO) will have primary responsibility for implementation of the procedures set forth in this document. The RIO will appoint the inquiry and investigation committees and ensure that necessary and appropriate expertise is secured to carry out a thorough and authoritative evaluation of the relevant evidence in an inquiry or investigation. The RIO will attempt to ensure that confidentiality is maintained and will be responsible for maintaining files of all documents and evidence and for the confidentiality and security of the files. He or she will report to appropriate funding agency offices as required by regulation and keep them apprised of any developments during the course of the inquiry or investigation that may affect current or potential funding for the individual(s) under investigation and ensure appropriate use of extramural funds and otherwise protect the public interest.
   3. Complainant – The complainant is the person who brings the allegation of research or scholarly misconduct. He or she will have an opportunity to testify before the inquiry and investigation committees, to review portions of the inquiry and investigation reports pertinent to his or her allegations or testimony, to be informed of the results of the inquiry and investigation, and to be protected from retaliation. Also, if the RIO has determined that the complainant(s) may be able to provide pertinent information on any portions of the draft report, these portions will be given to the complainant(s) for comment. The complainant(s) is responsible for making allegations in good faith, maintaining confidentiality, and cooperating with an inquiry or investigation. In the event that the inquiry and/or investigation committee(s) determines that a complainant intentionally made a false or misleading charge or made an allegation with reckless disregard or willful ignorance of the facts, University officials may take administrative actions against the complainant. These actions shall not be considered as “retaliation” against a complainant who has not acted in good faith. Allegations not made in good faith may result in a charge of research and scholarly misconduct against the complainant.
   4. Respondent – The respondent is the person against whom the allegation of research or scholarly misconduct is made. He or she will be informed of the allegations when an inquiry is opened and notified in writing of the final determinations and resulting actions. The respondent will also have the opportunity to be interviewed by and present evidence to the inquiry and investigation committees, to recommend potential witnesses who may offer favorable testimony to his or her defense, and to review the draft inquiry and investigation reports. The respondent may have the advice of counsel, but the counsel is not allowed to participate in the proceedings in any other manner. The respondent is responsible for cooperating with the conduct of an inquiry or investigation. When allegations are not confirmed, the University shall undertake diligent efforts, as appropriate in its sole discretion, to assist individuals in restoring their reputations if any harm has been suffered.
4. General Policies and Principles
   1. Responsibility to Report Misconduct – All employees or individuals associated with the University are expected to report observed, suspected, or apparent misconduct in research or scholarly activities to the VCAA. Allegations should be as specific and detailed as conditions permit. Normally, the allegations should be submitted in writing, signed by the complainant, and delivered to the VCAA in a sealed envelope clearly marked “confidential.” However, if an individual is unsure whether a suspected incident falls within the definition of research or scholarly misconduct, he or she may call the VCAA at (479) 575-2151 to confidentially discuss the suspected misconduct informally. If the circumstances described by the individual do not meet the definition of research or scholarly misconduct, they will be referred to other offices or officials with responsibility for resolving the problem.
   2. Protection of the Complainant – Complainants should immediately report any alleged or apparent retaliation to the RIO. The RIO will monitor the treatment of all individuals involved, including those who bring allegations of misconduct or of inadequate institutional response thereto, and those who cooperate in inquiries or investigations. Also, the institution will protect the privacy of those who report misconduct in good faith to the maximum extent possible. For example, if the complainant requests anonymity, the institution will make an effort to honor the request during the allegation assessment or inquiry within applicable policies and regulations and state and local laws. The complainant will be advised that if the matter is referred to an investigation committee and if the complainant testimony is required, anonymity may no longer be possible. The University will undertake diligent efforts to protect the positions and reputations of those persons who, in good faith, make allegations.
   3. Protecting the Respondent – Inquiries and investigations will be conducted in a manner that will ensure fair treatment to the respondent(s) in the inquiry or investigation and confidentiality to the extent possible without compromising public health and safety or thoroughly carrying out the inquiry or investigation.
   4. Cooperation with Inquiries and Investigations – All individuals associated with the University will cooperate in the review of allegations and the conduct of inquiries and investigations. These persons have an obligation to provide relevant evidence on misconduct allegations.
   5. Preliminary Assessment of Allegations – Within ten days of receiving an allegation of research or scholarly misconduct, the VCAA will act on the allegation to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to warrant an inquiry. If so, he or she will direct the Research Council to initiate an inquiry and will forward all pertinent materials.
5. Conducting the Inquiry
   1. Initiation and Purpose – Within five days of his or her determination to hold an inquiry, the VCAA will instruct the RIO to begin the process. The RIO will clearly identify the original allegation and evaluate any related issues. The purpose of the inquiry is to make a preliminary evaluation of the available evidence and testimony of the respondent, complainant, and key witnesses to determine whether there is sufficient evidence of possible research or scholarly misconduct to warrant an investigation. The purpose of the inquiry is not to reach a final conclusion about whether misconduct definitely occurred or who was responsible. The findings of the inquiry must be set forth in an inquiry report.
   2. Sequestration of the Research Records – After receiving the charge from the VCAA, the RIO must ensure that all original research records and materials relevant to the allegation are immediately secured.
   3. Constitution of the Inquiry Committee – Upon receiving the allegation from the VCAA, the RIO will appoint at least three faculty members of the Research Council to serve on the inquiry committee. The committee should consist of individuals who do not have real or apparent conflicts of interest in the case, are unbiased, and have the necessary expertises to evaluate the evidence and issues related to the allegation, interview the principals and key witnesses, and conduct the inquiry. If necessary, the RIO may add members or use experts to evaluate specific allegations. Within five days of receiving the allegation from the VCAA, the RIO will notify the respondent and the complainant (if known) that an inquiry is to be held and of the proposed committee membership. If the respondent or complainant (if known) then submits a written objection to any appointed member of the inquiry committee or expert based on bias or conflict of interest within five days, the RIO will determine whether to replace the challenged member or expert with a qualified substitute. If the respondent objects to the committee chair (RIO), the VCAA will determine whether to replace the challenged committee chair.
   4. Charge to the Committee and the First Meeting – The inquiry committee should hold its first meeting within 14 days of the RIO’s receipt of the VCAA’s notification to initiate an inquiry. Before the first meeting, the RIO will prepare a charge for the inquiry committee. The charge will describe the allegations and any related issues identified during the allegation assessment. The charge will state that the purpose of the inquiry is to make a preliminary evaluation of the evidence and testimony of the respondent, complainant, and key witnesses to determine whether there is sufficient evidence of possible research or scholarly misconduct to warrant an investigation. The charge will include a statement that the purpose of the inquiry is not to determine whether research or scholarly misconduct definitely occurred or who was responsible. At the committee’s first meeting, the RIO will review the charge with the committee, discuss the allegations, any related issues, and the appropriate procedures for conducting the inquiry. The RIO will assist the committee with organizing plans for the inquiry, and answer any questions raised by the committee. The University counsel is available to assist the RIO and/or the inquiry and investigation committees by as necessary.
   5. Inquiry Process – The inquiry committee will normally interview the complainant, the respondent, and key witnesses and examine relevant research records and materials. The scope of the inquiry does not include deciding whether misconduct has occurred or conducting exhaustive interviews and analyses. The inquiry committee will evaluate the evidence and testimony obtained during the inquiry. Interviews may be tape recorded. The committee members will decide whether there is sufficient evidence of possible research or scholarly misconduct to recommend further investigation.
6. The Inquiry Report
   1. Elements of the Inquiry Report – A written inquiry report must be prepared that includes the following:
      1. The names and titles of the committee members and experts, if any;
      2. the allegations;
      3. funding sources involved (NSF, PHS, etc.);
      4. summary of the inquiry process;
      5. list of the research records reviewed;
      6. summaries or transcriptions of any recorded interviews;
      7. description of the evidence in sufficient detail to demonstrate whether an investigation is warranted or not; and
      8. the committee’s determination as to whether an investigation is recommended and whether any other actions should be taken if an investigation is not recommended.
   2. Comments on the Draft Report by the Respondent and the Complainant – The RIO will provide the respondent with a copy of the draft inquiry report for comment and rebuttal and will provide the complainant, if he or she is identifiable, with a summary of the inquiry findings for comment.
      1. Confidentiality – The RIO may establish reasonable conditions for review to protect the confidentiality of the draft report.
      2. Receipt of Comments – Within 14 days of their receipt of the draft report, the complainant (if known) and respondent will provide their comments, if any, to the inquiry committee. Any comments submitted on the draft report will become part of the final inquiry report and record. Based on the comments, the inquiry committee may revise the report as appropriate.
   3. Inquiry Decision and Notification
      1. Decision – The RIO will transmit the final report and decision to the VCAA within 60 days of the first meeting of the inquiry committee. If the committee has determined that an investigation is necessary, the RIO will immediately proceed with that process.
      2. Notification – The RIO will notify the respondent and the complainant in writing of the committee’s decision of whether to proceed to an investigation. The RIO will remind them of their obligation to cooperate in the event an investigation is opened. The RIO will also notify all appropriate University officials of the decision.
   4. Time Limit for Completing the Inquiry Report – The inquiry committee will normally complete the inquiry and submit its report in writing to the RIO no more than 60 calendar days following its first meeting unless an extension is approved for good cause. If an extension is approved, the reason for the extension will be entered into the records of the case and the report. The respondent will also be notified of the extension. If the inquiry determines that an investigation is not warranted, the RIO will maintain the report containing detailed documentation for at least three years and will provide it to authorized persons (e.g., ORI) upon request.
7. Conducting the Investigation
   1. Purpose – The purpose of the investigation is to explore the allegations, to examine the evidence in depth, and to determine specifically whether misconduct has been committed, by whom, and to what extent. The investigation will also determine whether there are additional instances of possible misconduct that would justify broadening the scope beyond the initial allegations. The University’s decision to initiate an investigation must be reported in writing to the funding agency on or before the date the investigation begins. At a minimum, the notification should include the name of the person(s) against whom the allegations have been made, the general nature of the allegation as it relates to the definition of research or scholarly misconduct, and any pending applications or grant number(s) involved.
   2. Legal Issues – The discovery of a suspected criminal act will result in the suspension of the investigation until the appropriate law enforcement agency allows it to continue.
   3. Sequestration of the Research Records – The RIO will immediately sequester any additional pertinent research records that were not previously sequestered during the inquiry. This sequestration should occur before or at the time the respondent is notified that any investigation has begun. The need for additional sequestration of records may occur for any number of reasons, including the institution’s decision to investigate additional allegations not considered during the inquiry stage or the identification of records during the inquiry process that had not been previously sequestered. The procedures to be followed for sequestration during the investigation are the same procedures that apply during the inquiry.
   4. Notice of Investigation and Appointment of the Committee – Within ten days of completion of the inquiry, the RIO will notify the respondent and the complainant (if known) in writing that an investigation is to be held and of the proposed committee membership. The investigation committee should consist of at least three individuals, who do not have real or apparent conflicts of interest in the case, are unbiased, and have the necessary expertises to evaluate the evidence and issues related to the allegations, interview the principals and key witnesses, and conduct the investigation. These individuals may be scientists, administrators, subject matter experts, lawyers, or other qualified persons, and they may be from inside or outside the University. Individuals appointed to the investigation committee may also have served on the inquiry committee. The respondent or complainant may submit a written objection to any appointed member of the investigation committee or expert within five days and the RIO will determine whether to replace the challenged member or expert with a qualified substitute.
   5. Charge to the Committee and the First Meeting
      1. Charge to the Committee – The RIO will define the subject matter of the investigation in a written charge to the committee that describes the allegations and related issues identified during the inquiry, defines research or scholarly misconduct, and identifies the name of the respondent(s). The charge will state that the committee is to evaluate the evidence and testimony of the respondent(s), complainant(s) (if known), and key witnesses to determine whether, based on a preponderance of the evidence, research or scholarly misconduct occurred and, if so, to what extent, who was responsible, and its seriousness. The investigation into allegations of research misconduct may have any number of outcomes, including but not limited to a determination that:
         • No research misconduct or serious research error was committed;
         • No research or scholarly misconduct was committed, but serious research or scholarly errors were discovered in the course of the investigation; or
         • Research or scholarly misconduct was committed.
         During the investigation, if additional information becomes available that substantially changes the subject matter of the investigation or would suggest additional respondents, the committee will notify the VCAA. He or she will initiate the procedure to begin the inquiry process for each additional respondent.
      2. The First Meeting – The RIO will convene the first meeting of the investigation committee to review the charge, the inquiry report, and the prescribed procedures and standards for the conduct of the investigation, including the necessity for confidentiality and for developing a specific investigation plan. The investigation committee will be provided with a copy of these instructions and, where federal funding is involved, the applicable regulation(s).
   6. Investigation Process – The investigation committee will be appointed and the process initiated within 30 days of the completion of the inquiry, if findings from that inquiry provide a sufficient basis for conducting an investigation. The investigation will normally involve examination of all documentation including, but not necessarily limited to, relevant research records, computer files, proposals, manuscripts, publications, correspondence, memoranda, and notes of telephone calls. Whenever possible, the committee should interview the complainant(s) (if known), the respondent(s), and other individuals, who might have information regarding aspects of the allegations. Interviews of the respondent should be tape recorded or transcribed. All other interviews should be transcribed, tape recorded, or summarized. Summaries or transcripts of the interviews should be prepared, provided to the interviewed party for comment or revision, and included as part of the investigatory file. During the interview by the committee, the respondent may be accompanied by counsel (one person). The counsel will not address the investigative committee, speak on behalf of the respondent, or otherwise participate actively in the investigation. The respondent(s) may not be present during testimony of other witnesses or during committee deliberations, nor may he or she have access to committee records except the draft and final copies of the investigation reports.
   7. Interim Administrative Action – During the investigation, the VCAA may take interim administrative action against the respondent if he or she believes such action may be 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 and scholarly activities with or without pay.
   8. Determinations – The committee will make one of the following determinations and may recommend corrective and/or disciplinary actions.
      • No Finding of Research or Scholarly Misconduct; Serious Research or Scholarly Error is Found
      • Finding of Research or Scholarly Misconduct
8. The Investigation Report
   1. Comments on the Draft Report
      1. Respondent – The RIO will provide the respondent with a copy of the draft investigation report for comment and rebuttal. The respondent will be allowed 10 days to review and comment on the draft report. The respondent’s comments will be attached to the final report. The findings of the final report should take into account the respondent’s comments in addition to all the other evidence
      2. Complainant – The RIO will provide the complainant, if he or she is identifiable, with those portions of the draft investigation report that address the complainant’s role and opinions in the investigation. The report should be modified, as appropriate, based on the complainant’s comments. Because of confidentiality issues, the committee may choose not to give the complainant the whole report.
      3. University Counsel – The draft investigation report will be transmitted to the University counsel for a review of its legal sufficiency. Comments should be incorporated into the report as appropriate.
      4. Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs – The RIO will provide the VCAA with a copy of the draft investigation report.
   2. Confidentiality – In distributing the draft report, or portions thereof, to the respondent and complainant, the RIO will inform the recipient of the confidentiality under which the draft report is made available and may establish reasonable conditions to ensure such confidentiality. For example, to the extent permitted by law, the RIO may request the recipient to sign a confidentiality statement or to come to his or her office to review the report.
   3. Institutional Review and Decision – Based on a preponderance of the evidence, the VCAA will make the final determination whether to accept the investigation report, its findings, and the recommended institutional actions. If his or her determination varies from that of the investigation committee, the VCAA will explain in detail the basis for rendering a decision different from that of the investigation committee in the institution’s letter transmitting the report to the funding agency. The VCAA’s explanation should be consistent with the definition of research or scholarly misconduct, the institution’s policies and procedures, and the evidence reviewed and analyzed by the investigation committee. The VCAA may also return the report to the investigation committee with a request for further fact-finding or analysis. The VCAA’s determina tion, together with the investigation committee’s report, constitutes the final investigation report for purposes of the funding agency review. When a final decision on the case has been reached, the RIO will notify both the respondent and the complainant (if known) in writing. In addition, the VCAA will determine whether law enforcement agencies, professional societies, professional licensing boards, editors of journals in which falsified reports may have been published, collaborators of the respondent in the work, or other relevant parties should be notified of the outcome of the case. The RIO is responsible for ensuring compliance with all notification requirements of funding or sponsoring agencies.
   4. Elements of the Final Report – The final report submitted to the funding agency must describe the policies and procedures under which the investigation was conducted, describe how and from whom information relevant to the investigation was obtained, state the findings, and explain the basis for the findings. The report will include the actual text or an accurate summary of the views of any individual(s) found to have engaged in misconduct as well as a description of sanctions imposed and administrative actions taken by the institution.
   5. Transmittal of the Final Investigation Report to the VCAA – After comments have been received and the necessary changes have been made to the draft report, the investigation committee should transmit the final report with attachments, including the respondent’s and complainant’s comments, to the VCAA, through the RIO.
   6. Time Limit for Completing the Investigation Report – An investigation should ordinarily be completed within 120 days of its initiation, with the initiation being defined as the first meeting of the investigation committee. This includes conducting the investigation, preparing the report of findings, making the draft report available to the respondent for comment, submitting the report to the VCAA for approval, and submitting the report to the funding agency.
9. Post-Investigation
   1. Written Notification – The funding agency must be notified of the final outcome of the investigation and must be provided with a copy of the investigation report. Any significant variations from the provisions of the institutional policies and procedures should be explained in any reports submitted to the funding agency.
   2. Termination of Inquiry or Investigation – If the University plans to terminate an inquiry or investigation for any reason without completing all relevant requirements of the regulation, the RIO will submit a report of the planned termination to the funding agency, including a description of the reasons for the proposed termination.
   3. Extension of Time – If the University determines that it will not be able to complete the investigation in 120 days, the RIO will submit to the funding agency a written request for an extension that explains the delay, reports on the progress to date, estimates the date of completion of the report, and describes other necessary steps to be taken. If the request is granted, the RIO will file periodic progress reports as requested by the funding agency.
   4. Federal Funding – When federal funding or application(s) for funding are involved and an admission of research or scholarly misconduct is made, the RIO will contact the funding agency for consultation and advice. Normally, the individual making the admission will be asked to sign a statement attesting to the occurrence and extent of misconduct. When the case involves an outside funding agency, the University cannot accept an admission of research or scholarly misconduct as a basis for closing a case or not undertaking an investigation without prior approval from the funding agency. The RIO will notify the funding agency at any stage of the inquiry or investigation if:
      1. There is an immediate health hazard involved;
      2. There is an immediate need to protect federal funds or equipment;
      3. There is an immediate need to protect the interests of the person(s) making the allegations or of the individual(s) who is the subject of the allegations as well as his or her co-investigators and associates, if any;
      4. It is probable that the alleged incident is going to be reported publicly; or
      5. The allegation involves a public health sensitive issue, e.g., a clinical trial; or
      6. There is a reasonable indication of possible criminal violation. In this instance, the University must inform the funding agency within 24 hours of obtaining that information.
10. Institutional Administrative Actions – The University of Arkansas will take appropriate administrative actions against individuals when an allegation of misconduct has been substantiated. If the VCAA determines that the alleged misconduct is substantiated by the findings, he or she will decide on the appropriate actions to be taken, after consultation with the RIO.
    1. Administrative Actions May Include
       1. Withdrawal or correction of all pending or published abstracts and papers emanating from the research where research or scholarly misconduct was found;
       2. Removal of the responsible person from the particular project, a letter of reprimand, special monitoring of future work, probation, suspension, salary reduction, or initiation of steps leading to possible rank reduction or termination of employment in accordance with all University policies and procedures; and/or
       3. Restitution of funds as appropriate.
    2. Termination of Employment or Resignation Prior to Completing Inquiry or Investigation – The termination of the respondent’s employment, by resignation or otherwise, before or after an allegation of possible research or scholarly misconduct has been reported, will not preclude or terminate the misconduct procedures. If the respondent, without admitting to the misconduct, elects to resign his or her position prior to the initiation of an inquiry, but after an allegation has been reported, or during an inquiry or investigation, the inquiry or investigation will proceed. If the respondent refuses to participate in the process after resignation, the committee will use its best efforts to reach a conclusion concerning the allegations, noting in its report the respondent’s failure to cooperate and its effect on the committee’s review of all the evidence.
    3. Restoration of the Respondent’s Reputation – If the institution finds no misconduct and the funding agency concurs, the VCAA will take any action he or she deems necessary to assist in the restoration of the respondent’s reputation. This requirement, which rests within the discretion of the VCAA in consultation with the respondent, shall be contingent upon a determination by the VCAA that the respondent has suffered harm to his or her reputation. The VCAA will make diligent efforts to abide by the wishes of the respondent. The VCAA will direct the RIO to notify those individuals aware of or involved in the investigation of the final outcome, publicizing the final outcome in forums in which the allegation of research or scholarly misconduct was previously publicized, or expunging all reference to the research or scholarly mis-conduct allegation from the respondent’s personnel file.
    4. Protection of the Complainant and Others – Regardless of whether the University or the funding agency determines that research or scholarly misconduct occurred, the RIO will undertake reasonable efforts to protect complainants who made allegations of research or scholarly misconduct in good faith and others who cooperate in good faith with inquiries and investigations of such allegations. Upon completion of an investigation, the VCAA will determine, after consulting with the complainant, what steps, if any, are needed to restore the position or reputation of the complainant. The RIO is responsible for implementing any steps the VCAA approves.
    5. Allegations Not Made in Good Faith – If the committee determines that an allegation was not made in good faith, they may recommend that University officials take administrative actions against the complainant. Actions may include a charge of research and scholarly misconduct against the complainant.
    6. Interim Administrative Actions – University officials will take interim administrative actions, as appropriate, to protect federal funds and ensure that the purposes of the federal financial assistance are carried out.
11. Records
    1. Retention – After completion of a case and all ensuing related actions, the RIO will prepare a complete file, including the records of any inquiry or investigation and copies of all documents and other materials furnished to the RIO or committees. The RIO will keep the file for three years after completion of the case to permit later assessment of the case if necessary. Officials of the funding agency or other authorized personnel will be given access to the records upon request. The original copy of the final report will be stored in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs with the other documents pertaining to the investigation.
    2. Report to Faculty Senate – As part of the annual report, the chair of the Research Council will include a summary of actions of the Council in general terms, omitting specific charges, the outcomes and names of individuals involved.

The Research Council recommends policies to encourage research, establish a research environment, and provide research support facilities; serves as a review board for proposed research programs and facilities; recommends adjudication of variances to policies and procedures; supervises the approved policies; and addresses research misconduct cases at the direction of the Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Membership consists of a faculty member active in research from: a) the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences; b) the Sam M. Walton College of Business; c) the College of Education and Health Professions; d) the College of Engineering; and e) one from the science areas of the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences and f) one from another research area in the Fulbright College; g) non-voting, one student; h) ex officio and non-voting, the Director of Research and Sponsored Programs; and i) ex officio and non-voting, the Vice Provost for Research. A secretary (non-voting) will be provided by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.

The University of Arkansas is committed to the health and safety of its students, faculty, and staff. It is recognized that during their work for the University, some people will be involved in activities that require the use of substances or materials that are hazardous or toxic in nature. The Environmental Health and Safety unit of the physical plant has prepared the University's Chemical Hygiene plan. This document addresses the safe use of toxic substances in laboratories. In addition, it defines the minimum acceptable standard safety practices for execution of laboratory work for both research and teaching. The chemical hygiene plan is available from the Office of Environmental Health and Safety at www.phpl.uark.edu and is the full statement of the University campus policy and procedures for handling toxic substances.

Graduate students who travel on University business must comply with the travel policies of the University. For those graduate students not on assistantships/fellowships, please see the University's Student Travel Policy.

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

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

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

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

Lack of Adequate Academic Progress

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

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

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

Other Situations

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

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

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

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

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

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

Scope, Implementation, and Review

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

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

Academic Honesty

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Definition of Terms

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

Academic/Research Misconduct. Academic and/or research misconduct may include, but is not limited to, accomplishing or attempting any of the following acts: (Note: Students should be aware that theses and dissertations may be checked by the Graduate School for academic dishonesty and plagiarism. This may include submitting the thesis or dissertation for electronic textual similarity review against a reference database. All submitted student work may be retained in the reference database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism.)

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

Procedures

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

1. Initial Report of Infraction
   1. Infractions Involving Graded Course Work
      When an instructor determines or believes that a student in the instructor’s class is responsible for academic dishonesty deserving of sanction, the instructor will meet with the student and explain the allegation. Without waiving the option to pursue charges, the instructor may also choose to contact the Office of Student Mediation and Conflict Resolution for help in resolving the situation. If the instructor wishes to pursue charges of academic misconduct, he/she should within five working days after meeting with the student, or as soon as practicable thereafter, follow a. or b. (following). If the Office of Student Mediation and Conflict Resolution is involved, the five days does not begin until the instructor is aware of the termination of those services. (If the instructor is either a graduate teaching assistant or a temporary faculty member, then a supervising faculty member or the departmental head or chairperson may assist in the handling of an academic dishonesty case.)
      1. The instructor may determine a grade sanction and within five working days report that sanction along with the essential details of the matter to the judicial coordinator in the Office of Community Standards and Student Ethics and to the Graduate Dean. The student sanctioned in this way by an instructor will be notified by the Office of Community Standards and Student Ethics and will have five working days from that notification to request a hearing by the All University Judiciary (AUJ). The All University Judiciary is defined, and its composition described, in the Student Handbook. 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. The student may appeal a grade sanction to the AUJ only on the grounds that he/she did not commit the violation. If the student wishes to appeal the severity of a sanction, he/she will follow the Academic Grievance Procedures for Graduate Students.
         
         To the extent practical, at the discretion of the instructor, during the course of an appeal to the AUJ or the Graduate Grievance committee (depending on the nature of the appeal), 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.
         
         The AUJ is given the authority to determine whether the evidence substantiates the charges of the instructor. If the AUJ determines that the evidence does not substantiate the charges, the grade sanction will be withdrawn and the matter will end. Should the AUJ determine the evidence does substantiate the charges of the instructor, the grade sanction will stand, and the AUJ may also impose additional sanctions, as listed under Sanctions, below. The degree program and/or the Graduate School may impose sanctions in addition to those imposed by the instructor and the AUJ, including expulsion from the program or the University. While the instructor should be consulted in such cases, these additional sanctions may be imposed by the AUJ, the Graduate School and/or the degree program without the permission of the instructor. In addition to other sanctions, graduate students may be dismissed by their degree program or the Graduate School on the first or any subsequent instances of academic dishonesty. Students may not withdraw from either courses in which judicial action is pending or in which they have received a grade sanction.
      2. The instructor may file an incident report form referring the case to the student judicial process for determinations of responsibility and the application of sanctions. If the student is determined to be responsible for academic dishonesty, then the instructor may apply a grade sanction in addition to whatever sanctions are applied by the judicial process. To the extent practical, at the discretion of the instructor, 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 responsibility is determined.
         
         If the student is determined to be responsible for the actions charged, the instructor will impose a grade sanction. The AUJ has no authority to impose a grade sanction but is permitted to make a recommendation and to impose other sanctions, as described below. Additionally, the Graduate School and/or the degree program may impose sanctions in addition to those imposed by the instructor. In such cases, the instructor should be consulted, but additional sanctions may be imposed by the AUJ, the Graduate School, and/or the degree program without the permission of the instructor. Students may not withdraw from a course for which judicial action is pending or in which they have received a grade sanction. Should the graduate student feel that the severity of the grade sanction is unfair, he/she may appeal via the Academic Grievance Policy for Graduate Students.
         
         It should be noted that, in addition to other possible sanctions, graduate students may be dismissed by their degree program and/or the Graduate School on the first or any subsequent instance of academic dishonesty.
   2. Infractions Not Involving Graded Course Work
      Cases of academic misconduct may occur in situations not involving graded course work. If the infraction involves academic misconduct in the student’s thesis, dissertation, work done for a funded research project, a final report submitted to a funding agency, or material submitted for publication in a scholarly journal, the Research and Scholarly Misconduct Policy will be in effect. The following applies only to academic misconduct that does not involve the cases enumerated in the sentence above and does not involve course work. In such cases, the department chairperson/program director and major professor, or other appropriate official(s) will meet with the student. Without waiving the option to pursue charges, the program may also choose to contact the Office of Student Mediation and Conflict Resolution for help in resolving the situation. If the department/program decides to proceed with charges of academic misconduct, the chair/head/director or other appropriate official will, within five working days after meeting with the student, or as soon as practicable thereafter, follow one of the following: (If the Office of Student Mediation and Conflict Resolution is involved, the five days does not begin until the instructor is aware of the termination of those services.)
      1. The department or program faculty will determine a sanction, and the department chairperson/program director will, within five working days after meeting with the student (or as soon as practicable thereafter), report that sanction along with the essential details of the incident to the judicial coordinator in the Office of Community Standards and Student Ethics and to the Graduate Dean. The student sanctioned in this way by a department or program will be notified by the Office of Community Standards and Student Ethics and will have five working days from that notification to request a hearing by the All University Judiciary (AUJ). The All University Judiciary is defined, and its composition described, in the Student Handbook. 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.
         
         The student may appeal such a sanction to the AUJ only on the grounds that he/she did not commit the violation. If the student wishes to appeal the severity of a sanction, he/she will follow the Academic Grievance Procedures for Graduate Students.
         
         While such a case is pending in the student judicial process, to the extent practical, at the discretion of the program, the student’s participation in the degree program should continue so that any action can be reversed without prejudicing the student’s academic performance and evaluation.
      2. The department chairperson/program director may file an incident report form referring the case to the judicial process for determination of responsibility. If the student is determined to be responsible for academic dishonesty, then the judicial board may impose a sanction in addition to that imposed by the program/department and the Graduate School. Sanctions are listed and described below. To the extent practical, at the discretion of the program, while such a case is pending in the judicial process, the student’s participation in the program should continue, to avoid pre-empting the options available after the responsibility is determined.
         
         Unlike the situation in which the Judicial Board hears the appeal of a student protesting a sanction imposed by the department/program, students who are sanctioned by the Judicial Board itself may appeal both the imposition of and the severity of the sanction via the Academic Grievance Procedure for Graduate Students. Graduate students may be dismissed by their degree program and/or the Graduate School on the first or any subsequent instance of academic dishonesty.
   3. Infractions Reported by Others
      When academic dishonesty is reported by someone other than the parties involved (e.g. by another student), that person (hereinafter called the complainant) will report the incident to the instructor of the course, the major professor of the student alleged to be engaging in the misconduct, or the chair/head/director of the department/program. The person who receives the complaint will then proceed as outlined in Section A.1 or A.2. above, as appropriate.
2. Appeals
   1. When a sanction has been imposed by the instructor or department/program: The student may appeal such a sanction to the AUJ on the grounds that he/she did not commit the violation. If the student wishes to appeal the severity of a sanction, he/she will follow the Academic Grievance Procedures for Graduate Students. In both cases, the student will notify the appropriate office of his/her appeal within five working days of receiving the sanction, or as soon as practicable. For appeals to the AUJ, the student will contact the Office of Student Ethics and Community Standards. For appeals following the Academic Grievance Procedures for Graduate Students, the student will contact the Graduate School.
   2. When a sanction has been imposed by the AUJ: Unlike the situation in which the Judicial Board hears the appeal of a student protesting a sanction imposed by the department/program, students who are sanctioned by the Judicial Board itself may appeal either or both the imposition of and the severity of the sanction via the Academic Grievance Procedure for Graduate Students. Students who wish to initiate such an appeal shall contact the Graduate School within five working days of receiving the sanction, or as soon as practicable.
   3. When a sanction has been imposed by the Graduate School: Students who are sanctioned by the Graduate School may appeal to the Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

Sanctions

The choice of sanctions in cases of academic dishonesty involves considerations of the integrity of the educational process of the University. There is no place in that process for academic dishonesty, and these actions will be taken seriously. The intent of this policy is to make acts of academic dishonesty clear risks; that is, the sanctions are to be sufficiently heavy to deter academic dishonesty.

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

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

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

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, which information: the student’s name; address; telephone number; date and place of birth; nationality; religious preference; major field of study; classification by year; number of hours in which enrolled and number completed; 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 Mullins Library on campus.

It will be a policy of the Graduate Council that every master’s, specialist, and doctoral student will be reviewed annually by his/her degree program for progress toward the degree. At a minimum, the review will cover progress in the following: a) completing courses with an adequate grade-point average; b) completing the thesis/dissertation/project requirements; c) completing all of the required examinations; d) completing other requirements for the degree. When the review of each student is completed, the review form will be signed by the graduate student and the department/program head/chair, as well as other appropriate individuals as designated in the program review policy. This review will be forwarded to the Graduate School, to be included in the student’s file. If a student receives two consecutive reviews indicating that the student is not making adequate academic progress, the program and the Graduate School have the option to dismiss the student.

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

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

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

1. The student’s major adviser will fill out a “Request for Time Extension” form (available on the Graduate School Web site) and submit this to the Graduate School.
2. For both master’s and doctoral students, the central consideration in determining whether more time can be allowed is whether the student’s knowledge of the subject matter is current at the time of graduation. Therefore, as part of the request for time extension, the major adviser will be asked to explain how this will be ensured:
   • For the master’s degree, the student’s knowledge of any course work over six years old at the time of graduation must be recertified. Please see “Recertification of Student’s Knowledge of Course Content,” below.
   • For the doctoral degree, recertification of the student’s knowledge of course work is not necessary, but the major adviser must explain how the currency of the student’s knowledge of the field will be assessed prior to graduation.

Recertification of Student’s Knowledge of Course Content: The major adviser must specify how recertification of the student’s knowledge of course content will occur. By recertification, we mean that the student’s knowledge of the subject matter included in the course is determined to be current at the time of graduation and that the content of that course is still current. There are several ways this may be demonstrated. Examples include: The student is teaching the subject matter in a separate context; the student will be examined by the current instructor of the course to determine his/her currency of knowledge; the student will be examined on the subject matter during his/her final oral defense of the thesis or during the comprehensive exam. It is not acceptable to say only that the content of the course has not changed in the time since the student was enrolled, as the student’s knowledge of that content is also critical. Courses taken more than 10 years prior to the conferral of the degree will normally not be eligible for recertification.

Application for graduation must be completed in the Graduate Dean’s office, filed with the Registrar and fees paid for the semester in which degree requirements will be completed and graduation effected. If a student fails to complete the degree, the student must then renew the application and pay a renewal fee.

The faculty of the Graduate School, under the authorization of the Board of Trustees, grants the degrees listed below. In addition, the faculty of the Graduate School offers several non-degree graduate certificates. The graduate faculty, as represented by the Dean of the Graduate School and through the Graduate Council, has primary responsibility for the development, operating policies, administration, and quality of these programs. Operating through the Graduate Dean, the faculty appoints committees that directly supervise the student’s program of study and committees that monitor research activities and approve theses and dissertations.

Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Education
Educational Specialist
Master of Accountancy
Master of Arts
Master of Arts in Teaching
Master of Business Administration
Master of Education
Master of Fine Arts
Master of Information Systems
Master of Music
Master of Public Administration
Master of Public Service (Clinton School)
Master of Science
Master of Science in Biological Engineering
Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering
Master of Science in Chemical Engineering
Master of Science in Civil Engineering
Master of Science in Computer Engineering
Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
Master of Science in Engineering
Master of Science in Environmental Engineering
Master of Science in Industrial Engineering
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Master of Science in Nursing
Master of Science in Operations Management
Master of Science in Operations Research
Master of Science in Telecommunications Engineering
Master of Science in Transportation Engineering
Master of Social Work
Master of Transportation and Logistics Management

Graduate Certificates (Non-degree)

As defined by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, graduate certificate programs consist of 12 to 18 hours of required course work in a focused area of study. The awarding of the certificate will be shown on the student’s transcript. Students must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate School and the certificate program. Students who enter a graduate certificate program may use up to six hours of course work taken previously at the University of Arkansas and may use up to six hours of course work taken at another accredited university to meet certificate requirements, with approval of the program faculty and the Graduate School. The Graduate School does not impose a limit on the number of hours that may be shared between graduate certificate programs, but a limit may be set by the program. Students who enter a graduate certificate program must complete all certificate requirements within six years of admission to the program. For students who have been admitted to both a degree program and a certificate program, courses taken to meet the requirements of one may also be used to meet the requirements of the other, at the discretion of the program and the student’s Advisory Committee. Graduate Certificates are offered in the following areas:

Advanced Instrumental Performance (Music)
Arkansas Curriculum/Program Administrator (Curriculum and Instruction)
Autism Spectrum Disorders (Curriculum and Instruction)
Building-Level Administration (Curriculum and Instruction)
District-Level Administration (Curriculum and Instruction)
Education Policy Studies (Curriculum and Instruction)
Educational Measurement (Curriculum and Instruction)
Educational Program Evaluation (Curriculum and Instruction)
Educational Statistics and Research Methods (Curriculum and Instruction)
Entrepreneurship (Graduate School of Business)
Gerontology (Interdisciplinary)

The degree of Master of Arts (M.A.) is conferred for graduate work of which the major portion has been done in the liberal arts.

The degree of Master of Science (M.S.) is conferred for graduate work of which the major portion has been done in agriculture, educational statistics and research methods, engineering, kinesiology, health science, counseling, re­habilitation, human environmental sciences, biological and physical sciences, statistics, operations management, and communication disorders.

The degree of Master of Accountancy (M.Acc.) is conferred upon a stu­dent who completes an approved program of graduate studies in accounting.

The degree of Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) is conferred upon a student who majors in childhood education or secondary education.

The degree of Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) is conferred upon a student whose major work is in the field of business.

The degree of Master of Education (M.Ed.) is conferred upon a student who majors in the field of education.

The degree of Master of Information Systems (M.I.S.) is conferred upon a student who completes an approved program in information systems.

The degree of Master of Music (M.M.) is conferred upon a student who completes an approved program of graduate studies in music.

The Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) is conferred upon a student who completes an approved program of graduate studies in the field of public administration.

The degree of Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in art, creative writing, drama, or translation is conferred upon a student who completes an approved program of graduate studies in these areas.

The Master of Science in Nursing is conferred upon a student who com­pletes an approved program of graduate studies in this area.

The degree of Master of Social Work is conferred upon a student who completes an approved program of graduate studies in this area.

The degree of Master of Transportation and Logistics Management (M.T.L.M.) is conferred upon a student who completes an approved program of graduate studies in this area.

Admission Process for Initial Licensure:

Stage I: Enrolling in an Undergraduate Degree Program Leading to a Potential Teacher Licensure Field. Potential fields include the following:

• Art Education – B.F.A.
• Career and Technical Education – B.S.E.
• Elementary Education – B.S.E.
• Human Environmental Sciences Education – B.S.H.E.S.
• Kinesiology P-12 – B.S.E.
• Middle Level Education – B.S.E.
• Music Education – B.M.
• Secondary Education – B.A., B.S.

Stage II: Complete an Evaluation for Internship by October 1 prior to entering the M.A.T. Art and music students should complete the evaluation by October 1 prior to a fall internship and March 1 prior to a spring internship. Satisfactory completion of this form does not guarantee admission to the M.A.T. degree program or other teacher education programs. This form can be downloaded from the College of Education and Health Professions Web site. The form must be completed and returned to the Coordinator of Teacher Education, 117 Peabody Hall. All requirements must be met to be cleared for the internship. The form is available from the COEHP college Web site.

Students must meet the following criteria to be cleared for internship:

1. Successful completion of the PRAXIS I test by meeting or exceeding the Arkansas Department of Education cut-off scores. This test should be taken after the student has completed 30 credit hours and upon completion of ENGL 1013, ENGL 1023, and MATH 1203. Please note that several departments have additional program requirements regarding the Praxis I and II. Please consult with your adviser for additional requirements.
2. Obtain a “C” or better in the following pre-education core courses: CIED 1002, CIED 1011, CIED 3023 (PHED 3903 for KINS K-12 majors), CIED 3033, ETEC 2001, ETEC 2002L. For Middle Level Education and Elementary Education a minimum of “C” or higher must be earned in ENGL 1013, 1023, 2003, COMM 1313, and MATH 1203 unless University of Arkansas exemption is earned in one or more of the courses.
3. Complete additional licensure requirements. COEHP majors take either HLSC 1002 or 1103 and PEAC 1621. PHED majors take either HLSC 1002 or 1103 and PHED 3042. ELED and MDLV majors take HIST 3383. SEED Social Studies students take either HIST 4583 or HIST 3383 and any ECON course.
4. Secondary Education majors except for Art and Music majors, must complete the following courses with a grade of “C” or higher: CIED 3023 or 4023, CIED 4131, ETEC 2001/2002L, or demonstration of computer competencies in a portfolio.
5. Obtain a “C” or better in the six hours of program-specific courses. (See your adviser for information.)
6. Schedule a visit with your adviser for additional requirements including admission to upper-division courses.
7. The student should consult with his/her adviser regarding PRAXIS II requirements.
8. Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.70 or higher in the undergraduate degree program (special conditional admission will be considered on a case-by-case basis for students with a GPA between 2.5 and 2.69). Some programs require a higher GPA. Consult your adviser for the GPA requirements for your program.

Stage III: Admission to M.A.T. Degree Program

Please consult with your faculty adviser for additional requirements set by your program. The following minimum criteria are necessary to be eligible for consideration for admission:

1. Meet all requirements in Stages I & II.
2. Complete an appropriate undergraduate degree program.
3. Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.70 or higher in all previous courses completed as part of a bachelor’s degree program. Some programs require a higher GPA. Consult your adviser for the GPA requirements for your program.
4. Obtain recommendation for admission from M.A.T. program area based on successful completion of portfolios, evaluation for internship, GPA requirements, course work requirements, selected written recommendations, an interview, and other requirements specified by your program.
5. Obtain admission to the Graduate School.

Enrollment in each cohort will be limited. Transfer students will be allowed to enter the program on a space-available basis and must progress through all three admission stages.

Stage IV: Graduation requirements for the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.)

1. Meet all requirements in Stages I – III.
2. Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00.
3. Complete a minimum of 33 graduate semester hours as specified by program area.
4. Satisfactorily complete an internship. The internship will be completed at a school/district in Benton or Washington counties that has been approved by the Northwest Arkansas Partnership Steering Committee.
5. Pass the appropriate Praxis test (see adviser for the appropriate test) by meeting or exceeding the Arkansas Department of Education cut-off scores. The test is required for most programs. Please consult with your adviser.
6. Successfully complete the comprehensive examination.
7. Consult with your adviser for other requirements.
8. Apply for degree at the Graduate School, 119 Ozark Hall.

Licensure

Students who have completed Stages I – III must obtain a licensure packet from the Coordinator of Teacher Education, Peabody Hall room 117, prior to entering internship.

NOTE: Students should always consult the Coordinator of Teacher Education for licensure requirement changes. Students will not be licensed to teach in Arkansas until they have met all requirements for licensure as set forth by the Arkansas Department of Education.

NOTE: Students who have completed the B.M. or B.F.A. in music or art education and have completed the internship may obtain the licensure packet from the Coordinator of Teacher Education, Peabody Hall room 117.

Usually licensure in another state is facilitated by qualifying for a license in Arkansas. An application in another state must be made on the application form of that state, which can be obtained by request from the State Teacher Licensure office in the capital city. An official transcript should accompany the application. In many instances the applications are referred to the Coordinator of Teacher Education to verify program completion in teacher education.