Academic Policies Updated for 2023-24

Roy G. Cordell

The following academic policies have been recently updated.  A brief overview of the updates is provided below. The updated policies can be viewed at provost.uark.edu/policies.

Academic Policy 1220.00: U of A Open Access Repository Policy
This policy was updated to conform with current institutional repository requirements due to recent action by Faculty Senate.

Academic Policy 1406.30: Textbook and Course Material Policy
Updates were made to this policy regarding procedures for late adoption of textbooks and course materials to reflect changes to U of A Bookstore operations.

Academic Policy 1430.10: Faculty Grievance Policy
Following action by Faculty Senate, changes to this policy include updates to faculty grievance procedures to reflect operational changes at the university as well as to clarify procedures for grievances.

Academic Policy 1435.70: Faculty Salary Funding Incentive
This policy was updated to achieve the following:

• Clarify eligibility for incentives as being for grants that provide full federally negotiated indirect costs.
• Expand eligibility to non-tenure track faculty in state-funded positions.
• Clarify the application process.

Academic Policy 1480.10: Grades and Records
This policy was updated to achieve the following:

• Include retention of records related to theses/dissertations for two years.
• Create reference to existing LMS policies on record retention.
• Clarify the professional obligation of departing faculty to transfer records to their departments.

Academic Policy 1500.20: Final Exam Policy
After action by Faculty Senate, this policy was updated to achieve the following:

• Limit examinations in the last week of class unless a final exam is also given.
• Clarify the requirement for student requests for accommodations for rescheduling final exams is three calendar weeks prior to Reading Day.
• Limit instructors from requiring students to attend any academic activity on Reading Day or during the final exam period except during the assigned specific examination time.
• Clarify scheduling procedures for final exams periods for new course delivery modes and non-standard class times.

Academic Policy 1500.30: Tuition Adjustments for Eligible Graduate Students
This policy was updated to conform with a revised board policy to define a "full graduate fellowship" and clarify the process for reclassification for fellowship recipients as an in-state resident for tuition purposes. The updates also reflect new deadlines for colleges to submit tuition waivers for processing each semester.

Academic Policy 1520.20: Reasonable Accommodation for Exam Administration
This policy was updated to reflect the transfer of responsibility for administering accommodated testing from the Center for Educational Access to the Office of Testing Services, a unit of the Graduate School and International Education. 

Academic Policy 1550.20: Academic Advising of Undergraduate Students
This policy was updated to reflect the current operation of the Academic Advising Council.

Academic Policy 1622.11: Course Review Process
The policy was updated to reflect the creation of the Undergraduate Council by Faculty Senate.

Academic Policy 1650.10: Online and Distance Education
Updates to this policy reflect the creation of Global Campus to replace the School of Continuing Education and Academic Outreach. The policy was also updated to reflect current operations of Global Campus and online education at the university.

For more information about the U of A academic policies, visit the Provost's website. 

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.