Registration and Related Topics
The Graduate School’s stance on full-time status is thus: 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.
The Graduate School of Business adheres to the guidelines as set forth above with the exception of full-time status noted below.
Full-Time Status
Enrollment in 9 semester hours (not including audited courses) is considered full-time for graduate students unless otherwise specified by individual degree programs. For full-time enrollment in the summer, consult the Graduate School Handbook, available on the Graduate School Web site, grad.uark.edu.
Grades and Marks
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.
Annual Notice of Student Rights Under the Family Educational Rights And Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Graduate School of Business adheres to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) which affords students certain rights with respect to their education records, described on page 41.
Annual Graduate Student Academic Review
The Graduate School of Business implements the Graduate Council policy that any student whose program lasts more than three semesters will be reviewed annually by his/her degree program for progress toward the degree. At a minimum, the review will cover progress in the following: a) in completing courses with an adequate grade-point average; b) in completing the thesis/dissertation/project requirements; c) in completing all of the required examinations; d) toward completing other requirements for the degree. When the review of each student is completed, the review form will be signed by the graduate student and the department/program head/chair, as well as other appropriate individuals as designated in the program review policy. This review will be forwarded to the Graduate School, to be included in the student’s file.
Administrative Requirement for Graduation
Application for graduation must be completed in the Graduate School of Business 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.
Residency Requirements
The Graduate School of Business adheres to the residency requirements established by the Graduate School as described on page 40.