Regulations and Procedures

All students must give prompt attention to communications from faculty and staff members of the University. Most communications will be sent through the United States mail or to your official Tech e-mail address.

Academic Dishonesty

In addition to taking reasonable steps to discourage cheating, the faculty must accept a responsibility to clarify and interpret for the students' matters of dishonesty, such as cheating or plagiarism.

If an occurrence of academic dishonesty is detected, the instructor may adjust the grade as appropriate, ranging from a grade penalty on the test or assignment involved to an "F" in the course. When a penalty for academic dishonesty is invoked, the instructor is required to submit to the Vice President for Academic Affairs immediately following the occurrence (a) a statement of circumstances, (b) the name of the student(s) involved, and (c) the penalty imposed. The student(s) involved has the right to appeal the action through the "Procedures for Appeal of Student Academic Grievances" as adopted by the Faculty Senate on May 2, 1978.

Involvement in such activities as conspiracy or breaking and entering, is to be reported to the Vice President for Student Services for appropriate action through regular university disciplinary channels.

Academic Probation

Students will be placed on academic probation whenever their semester grade point falls below 2.00 unless the cumulative grade point is 2.00 or higher. These criteria also apply to entering transfer students.

Students will be removed from academic probation by completing a minimum of 12 semester hours with a grade point of 2.00. The Vice President for Academic Affairs, in certain circumstances, may waive the minimum hour requirement. Removal of probation will also be accomplished by raising the cumulative grade point to 2.00 or higher.

Freshmen students who in a probationary semester fail to remove themselves will continue on probation for the following semester. Sophomore, junior, and senior students who in a probationary semester fail to remove themselves but achieve a 1.75 semester grade point will continue on probation for the following semester unless the academic suspension policy applies.

Academic Suspension

Suspension will be automatic for sophomore, junior and senior students who in a probationary semester fail to achieve a 1.75 semester grade point; or who fail to remove themselves from probation within three successive full semesters. Students may combine summer term grades at Arkansas Tech with those of the spring semester immediately preceding in order to establish eligibility for retention in college.

Suspension means that the student will not be allowed to attend Arkansas Tech the succeeding regular semester; after one regular semester the student may be eligible for readmission on academic probation. Students receiving a second academic suspension will be eligible to seek readmission one year from the date of suspension. Students who believe there are extenuating circumstances which would justify earlier readmission must appeal to the Vice President of Academic Affairs for a hearing with the Admissions Council. Students who meet the semester/year stipulation must file a request for readmission with the Registrar's Office.

Students on academic suspension who wish to transfer to Arkansas Tech must meet the eligibility standards for readmission to the last college/university attended before being considered for admission to Tech.

Adding/Dropping Courses

The deadline for adding courses or changing courses or sections is given in the University calendar; thereafter, changing to audit or dropping a course are the only changes permissible. Courses officially dropped after the 11th class day and through the tenth week of a fall or spring semester will be recorded as "W." Courses dropped during the next three weeks of a semester will be recorded as "WP" for students who present a written statement from the instructor that they are passing at the time. Otherwise, a "WF" will be recorded and the course will count in grade point computation. Please note: A student accumulating an excessive number of absences in a course may be dropped from the course by the instructor with a grade of "F*". Courses dropped subsequent to this time will be recorded as "F" (see "Academic Calendar" on page1). Students may add, drop, or change sections of courses only by following the official procedure which requires that they obtain and return the necessary forms to the Registrar's Office after obtaining the formal approval of their academic advisor. Failure to complete this procedure can result in a grade of "F" being entered on the student's record. A fee of $5 will be charged except for changes made for the convenience of the University.

Auditing Courses

Auditing of courses requires official admission to the University, approval by the instructor involved, and payment of the regular fee for the course. Audit will be on a "space available" basis. Students auditing courses are subjected to the same regulations as other students with regard to registration and attendance, but they do not take examinations nor receive credit for the course. A student accumulating an excessive number of unjustifiable absences in an audited course may be administratively withdrawn at the request of the instructor. Students may change from taking a course for credit to audit during the first ten weeks of the semester. Students enrolled for audit who do not wish to complete the course(s) must complete official drop/withdrawal procedures stated in this section of the catalog.

Class Absence

Regular class attendance is considered essential if students are to receive maximum benefit from any course. Control of class attendance is vested in the teacher, who has the responsibility of defining early in each course his/her standards and procedures. A student accumulating an excessive number of unjustifiable absences in a course may be dropped from the course by the instructor with a grade of "F." A student who is dropped from three courses in a semester for unsatisfactory class attendance may be immediately suspended.

Class Load Policy

A student can expect to spend 2-3 hours outside the class (for studying, homework, preparation, etc.) for each hour in the class. This means that a student can expect to spend 24-36 hours in studying for a 12 semester credit hour load. It is therefore recommended that a full-time student enroll in no more than 18 hours per semester (7 hours per summer session). Students working full-time are encouraged to take no more than 12 hours per semester. Students readmitted after academic suspension cannot take more than 12 hours per semester (3 hours per summer session). Students on academic probation must obtain approval from their advisor to enroll in more than 15 hours per semester.

These totals include all courses for which students may enroll. Permission to take course loads above these maximums must be obtained in advance of registration from the dean of the school of the student's major.

Course Overload

Students who enroll above the maximum loads without securing permission from the dean will be dropped from their classes. To be considered for a course overload, the student must submit a petition to the dean and should meet the following criteria:

1. Have a 3.25 minimum grade point average in the preceding two summer sessions (minimum: 12 semester hours) or in the preceding fall or spring semester (minimum: 12 semester hours) at the university, or

2. Be in good academic standing in the school if in the last semester before graduation.

The maximum overload permitted in any school by an approved petition is a load totaling 24 hours for a fall or spring semester, nine hours in summer session I or II, and 15 hours for any combination of summer enrollments. Overloads over 21 hours will be subject to review by the Office of Academic Affairs.

Class Standing

Students with fewer than 30 semester hours are classified as freshmen, students with 30 through 59 semester hours as sophomores, students with 60 through 89 hours as juniors, and students with at least 90 hours as seniors.

Clemency

In accordance with Act 1000 of 1991, a student who has not attended Arkansas Tech University for a period of at least three years may apply to have the grades and credits for one or more consecutive terms or semesters earned prior to the three year separation removed from his/her grade point average. Any undergraduate student who has previously attended Arkansas Tech University may qualify to request academic clemency providing the following criteria are met.

After re-entering Tech following a separation of at least three years, a student may request academic clemency at the Office of the Registrar for approval by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The student must specify the term or consecutive terms for which academic clemency is desired. Any petition for academic clemency must be requested and granted prior to the beginning of the second semester of enrollment after returning to Tech. Academic clemency may be granted only one time and is irreversible. If the request is approved, Academic Clemency will cover all credits earned during the term or terms for which academic clemency is requested. The student's complete record will remain on the transcript with the added notation of "academic clemency granted" and the effective date.

For purposes of degree requirements, a student who received academic clemency must follow the provisions of the catalog in effect at the time of re-enrollment.

Academic clemency does not restore eligibility for student financial aid, scholarships or athletic eligibility.

Conduct

Arkansas Tech University expects its students to obey all the policies of the university and all federal, state and local laws. Each student, as a member of the Tech community, assumes an obligation to obey all rules and regulations made by properly constituted authorities. Failure to comply can result in disciplinary actions which may include disciplinary probation, suspension for a stated period of time, or expulsion which is permanent forced withdrawal. Conduct for which a student is subject to disciplinary action is published in the Student Handbook available in the Office of the Vice President for Student Services and in other official publications of Tech.

Dean's List

Undergraduate students whose grade point at the end of each semester is 3.50 or better, based on a minimum of 12 semester hours of work, will be placed on the Dean's list for outstanding scholarship. Recognition will be accorded these students through appropriate news media.

Grading

Final grades are reported to the Registrar's Office at the end of the semester. Midterm grades are reported for freshmen only. A grade of "I" may be recorded for a student who has not completed all the requirements of a course only in situations where the student has an illness or other circumstances beyond the student's control, and has completed seventy-five percent of the course requirements provided work already completed is of passing quality. If a grade of "I" is assigned, the instructor will complete an "Incomplete Grade Contract", setting a reasonable time limit within the following semester in which the work must be completed. The incomplete grade contract is to be signed by both the instructor and student. Beginning the first summer term, 1990, and thereafter, a grade of "I" will not be computed in the grade point average for the semester recorded; however, the "I" will be automatically changed to a grade of "F" for grade and grade point purposes at the end of the next regular semester (fall or spring) unless course requirements are completed and the final grade is reported before the end of the semester. A grade of "I" recorded prior to the first summer term, 1990, will be computed as an "F" for grade point purposes.

No grade other than "I" may be changed after it is recorded except if an instructor finds that a grade has been erroneously recorded. The instructor may correct the grade by submitting a written request and explanation of the error to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Grade points are awarded on the basis of: A, 4 points; B, 3 points; C, 2points; D, 1 point; F, 0 points.

Graduation

Please refer to the section entitled "Graduation Requirements" for information pertaining to degree audit, application for graduation, payment of graduation fees, and other graduation requirements.

Junior Standing

To be admitted to junior standing a student must have a grade point average of 1.75 or better on 60 or more semester hours of acceptable credit.

Late Registration

For registration after the period stated in the University Calendar, a fee of $25 is charged.

Repeated Courses

Students may repeat courses they have taken at Arkansas Tech University for the purpose of grade point adjustments (1) only by re-enrolling in the same courses at Arkansas Tech University and (2) subject to the following provisions. For repeated 1000 and 2000level courses, only the grade from the last attempt of the repeated course is calculated into a student's cumulative grade point although all grades and all attempts are recorded on the student's academic record. For repeated 3000 and 4000level courses, all grades for repeated courses are calculated into the student's cumulative grade point and all attempts of the repeated course are recorded on the student's academic record. Students must notify the Office of the Registrar upon completion of a repeated course for appropriate adjustments to their cumulative grade point. Adjustments to cumulative grade points are not made for courses transferred from other colleges or universities.

Student Records

Student academic records are maintained in the Office of the Registrar. Unofficial copies of academic records are available for guidance purposes to students and their advisors. All student records are maintained in compliance with the standards and guidelines of The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, Federal Law 93380.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 assures confidentiality of education records containing information directly related to a presently enrolled student, a former student, or alumni.

The institution, according to the Act, may make public "directory information" about a student, e.g., name, address, e-mail address, date and place of birth, telephone listings, attendance, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, and the previous educational agency or institution attended.

A request to suppress from public distribution the above mentioned information must be made in writing annually, to the Vice President for Student Services, no later than September 15 of the academic year for which the information is being made public. Further information may be obtained from the Student Services Office.

Traffic Regulations

By authority of the Board of Trustees and in accordance with Legislative Act 328, 1967, Arkansas Tech University requires all members of the faculty, staff, student body, and classified personnel to register motor vehicles which they own or operate on the Tech campus or on lands controlled by the University.

All registrants shall abide by all traffic and parking regulations as outlined by a printed pamphlet available in the Doc Bryan Student Services Building, or at the Department of Public Safety office where vehicles will be registered. Registration shall be accomplished within a sevenday period immediately following the beginning of the fall or spring semester, or within the 48hour period (excluding Saturday and Sunday) following acquisition of a vehicle during the school year.

Vehicle registration cards are available at the Student Accounts Office. When completely processed the cards show owner's name, state registration number, driver's license number, make, year, model, color, and insurance in force on vehicle to be registered and an emergency point of contact should the listed driver be unavailable.

Prior to reporting to the vehicle registration office, registrants should bring their completed registration card, driver's license and current Tech identification card to the official in charge of registrations. An official Arkansas Tech registration decal will be affixed to the vehicle, and the registration number recorded on the registration card to be filed at the traffic office. The registration fee and all penalties for traffic violations, as published in the Tech Traffic Pamphlet, will be charged to the registrant's account at the Student Accounts Office.

Withdrawals

A student who wishes to withdraw from school during a semester is required to follow the official withdrawal procedure which requires reporting to the Office of the Registrar. Students who withdraw without following this required procedure will have their grades recorded as "F." If a student withdraws officially, the procedure for recording grades is identical with that for dropping an individual course, as described in this section under the heading "Adding/Dropping Courses." If a student withdraws from school during the final two weeks of a semester, the Vice President for Academic Affairs may waive the requirement that grades of "F" be recorded if the circumstances forcing a withdrawal justify special consideration.

University Policy

While every effort will be made to conform to catalog announcements, the University reserves the right to adapt its program as may be necessary.

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