University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Policy Name: Admission Categories
Policy Number: LR 502.1
Effective Date: July 1, 2021
Revised Dates:11/2020; 11/2019; 8/2013; 12/2006; 2/2005; 3/1999; 2/1999; 4/1996; 4/1990
Most Recent Review Date: November 20, 2020
Policy
After reviewing the appropriate credentials, an admissions officer will determine if a student may be accepted or deferred admission. Non-degree‐seeking students will be classified as transient, temporary, non-degree seeking, or another classification. To ensure that all necessary requirements for admission have been fulfilled before registration, students are urged to submit all transcripts of previous academic work at least 30 days before registration. Transcripts from other institutions of higher education must be sent directly to UA Little Rock by the institution.
Admissions Categories of Entering Freshmen
First-time entering freshmen are persons who have never been enrolled in an institution of higher education since graduating from high school or earning a GED. Such applicants must submit:
- Completed application for admission
- Official high school transcript or GED scores
- ACT or SAT scores taken within the previous five years
- Proof of two MMR immunizations (required of all applicants born after January 1, 1957)
Transfer Students
Transfer students are those who have been enrolled previously in a higher institution of learning and have at least 12 transferable college credit hours and a grade point average of at least 2.0 on all previous college work to be granted regular admission. Such applicants must submit:
- Completed application for admission
- Official transcript of each college or university previously attended, accredited by institutional or regional accrediting agencies as recognized by the US Department of Education[1], or any previously attended institution with whom UA Little Rock has a standing MOU, must be sent to UA Little Rock by the college.
- Proof of two MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) immunizations (required of all applicants born after January 1, 1957)
Students who have twelve or fewer acceptable transfer credits from another college or university must meet all of the admission requirements for entering freshmen. A previously enrolled student who has attended another institution since attending UA Little Rock must reapply for admission and submit the additional official transcript(s).
Students with more than twelve transferable college hours from an institution as defined by item 2 above, who have earned at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA, or who have earned an AA/AS/AAS degree from their immediately previous regionally-accredited or institutionally-accredited institution, will be admitted. Transfer students who last attended their previous post-secondary institutionally-accredited institution seven or more years prior to the application term will be admitted.
Transfer applicants with less than a cumulative 2.0 GPA may petition the Admissions and Transfer of Credits Committee for admission. The initial enrollment of students admitted on appeal may be limited by the Admissions Committee.
Transfer credit will be evaluated only after a completed application for admission and final transcripts have been received.
Transcripts from institutions not accredited by the regional accrediting or institutional accrediting associations as defined by item 2 above, will be handled at the discretion of the director of the University registrar. Students presenting such transcripts may be given provisional credit subject to the satisfactory completion of further work at UA Little Rock in subjects for which they are asking advanced standing credit. However, such transcripts may be refused altogether.
Only official transcripts will be accepted for evaluation. They must include complete records of the courses taken at all other institutions and be sent to UA Little Rock by the institutions. The registrar may also request that a catalog, bulletin, or course syllabi of the year covered by the transcript be present.
Provisional Admission for Transfer Students
Transfer students who have not submitted all official academic credentials necessary for admission may be admitted provisionally provided that official in-progress transcripts support admissibility. Admission will be determined by no more than one in-progress semester.
In such cases, the student is admitted with the provision that he or she submit the missing admission credentials by the end of the term during which provisional admission was granted. The credentials will be evaluated upon receipt, and the student will be admitted and placed in the appropriate student status, or deferred admission. Students must submit the missing credentials in order to register for subsequent terms.
If evaluation of the records shows that the student does not meet UA Little Rock’s minimum admission requirements, the student may be required to reduce the number of courses for which he or she is currently enrolled. For example, the student may be limited to no more than seven credit hours of enrollment. Such reductions may occur after the semester has already begun, in which case the student may be required to withdraw from some courses.
Donaghey Scholars Honors Program Admission Information
The Donaghey Scholars Honors Program is an honors program with a separate admissions process. This process uses test scores, written essays, recommendations, and personal interviews to determine whether the student would benefit from admission to the program. Call 501-916-3389 for more information.
Freshman Early Admission
Students who have completed the 8th, 9th, 10th, or 11th grade will be considered for admission provided they present a junior or high school transcript indicating a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 and an ACT composite score of at least 21 (enhanced) or an SAT I total score of at least 990 (re-centered). The test must be taken on a national test date. Additionally, students who have not completed the 11th grade must achieve sub-scores on the ACT or SAT that meet the minimums necessary to qualify for college-level courses in order to be eligible for admission. The Admissions and Transfer of Credit Committee must approve the admission of these students. A personal interview with the committee and/or additional testing may be required. Students under 18 years of age must also obtain their parent’s or guardian’s permission to enroll, permission of the high school counselor or principal, and approval of the instructor of the class they plan to attend at UA Little Rock.
All students seeking early admission must obtain an advisor through University College prior to enrolling at UA Little Rock. Students who qualify may take advantage of this program by:
- Enrollment in a summer term, then returning to junior high or high school
- Enrollment in a summer term or fall semester as a beginning freshman
- Enrollment in a limited number of college-level courses while completing junior high and/or high school
UA Little Rock is not responsible for guaranteeing high school diplomas under this arrangement; however, campus officials will cooperate with state or local school administrators concerning regulations for awarding a diploma to successful participants in this program. All college credits earned under this plan will apply toward a degree at UA Little Rock. Students in this category are not eligible for federal aid.
High School Concurrent Enrollment
Under state law, UA Little Rock may concurrently admit qualified high school students to its academic programs as part-time students. To be eligible for high school concurrent enrollment, the applicant must meet one of the following requirements:
- Complete at least 50% of the state-recommended college preparatory courses with a minimum grade point average of 2.5
- Achieve a minimum overall high school grade point average of 3.0
- Achieve a minimum composite score of 21 on the ACT
Admission under these guidelines does not guarantee that a student may be enrolled in a particular course. Individual university departments may restrict enrollment into specific courses based on the following criteria:
- Acceptable score on a departmentally-approved placement or proficiency test
- Acceptable sub-scores on the ACT in the specific subject area
- Permission of the department chair or instructor
Prospective students for high school concurrent enrollment must submit a completed UA Little Rock undergraduate admission application. Tuition and other fees for students attending UA Little Rock under high school concurrent enrollment are the same as for regular undergraduate students. Students in this category are not eligible for federal aid.
High School Dual Enrollment
Students are admitted into the dual enrollment program as non-degree-seeking students and thus not eligible for financial aid.
Eligible high school students who wish to participate in dual enrollment must provide:
- An application for admission and application fee;
- Proof of required immunizations;
- A recommendation from high school principal or designee;
- Written permission from parent/legal guardian;
- A high school GPA of 2.5 or greater; and
- An ACT composite score of 19 or the equivalent score on other student placement exams.
Home-Schooled or GED
Students who were home-schooled or completed a GED are eligible for regular admission if they have an ACT of 21 or SAT I of 990. Otherwise, they may be admitted subject to credit hour limitations.
Non-Degree-Seeking Students
Non-degree-seeking status does not require the submission of transcripts or ACT/SAT scores, but students must submit proof of immunization. It is available on a limited basis to students who wish to enroll in courses for personal enrichment or career development and do not plan to earn a certificate or degree at UA Little Rock.
Temporary students are not eligible for student financial aid or veteran’s benefits, nor are they eligible to enroll in RHET 1311 Composition I, MATH 1302 College Algebra, or 1315 College Math.
Non-Residents
UA Little Rock students are governed by the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees’ policy on student residency status. Those classified as non-residents of Arkansas must pay higher tuition in addition to regular registration fees. Questions about residency status and requests for the written policy should be directed to the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.
Post-Baccalaureate Students
Students who already have a bachelor’s degree who wish to take additional undergraduate courses are required to submit an official transcript from the institution that granted the degree, proof of immunization, and an application to the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid. Post-baccalaureate students are not eligible for federal grants.
Previously Enrolled Students
Previously enrolled students who have attended another institution since attending UA Little Rock must submit an application and an official transcript mailed directly from the other institution(s) attended.
Readmission
Students who have not enrolled at UA Little Rock for two years or longer must re-apply for admission. Such students who have attended other institutions in the interim should apply as previously enrolled transfer students.
Students over Age 60
Any Arkansas resident who is over 60 and has been admitted as a student at UA Little Rock shall receive a waiver of all tuition and required fees on a space-available basis. Students qualifying for the waiver will be permitted to register only on the last day of the regular and late registration periods each academic term. If a course section has no available slots and additional students are attempting to register, students receiving the waiver may be removed from that course section. Exceptions may be granted to students who agree to forgo the waiver of tuition and required fees. Verification of age will be required in the first semester a student qualifies for and accepts the waiver. If the student is degree-seeking, transcripts are required from all institutions for transfer work. Students in this category are not eligible for federal aid.
Students Whose First Language is Not English
Any applicant for who English is not the first language must furnish proof of English language proficiency and academic skill proficiency before starting classes at UA Little Rock. This includes refugees, immigrants, permanent residents, and citizens.
English proficiency may be demonstrated in one of four ways by all students whose first language is not English, regardless of entry status:
- A score of at least 525 (paper-based) or 197 (computer-based) earned within the last two years on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and a score of at least 4 points earned within the last two years on the Test of Written English (TWE).
- A score of 85 percent or above on the institutional English language proficiency test administered by the UA Little Rock Intensive English Program.
- An ACT score of at least 21 on both the English and reading sections of the test.
All other admission requirements must be met.
Transient Students
Students enrolled in an institution of higher education to which they intend to return who wish to take courses at UA Little Rock must submit a letter of good standing from the institution in which they are enrolled. Transient status is limited to one semester or two summer terms. Further enrollment in this status is not permitted unless the student has returned to his or her original institution or has attended another institution before reapplying. Students in this category are not eligible for federal aid.
[1] https://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/accreditation_pg6.html#StateApprovalAgencies
Source: Undergraduate Catalog 2009-10, p.11
Status: Active – Under Review
Approved By: Chancellor Christina Drale
Originator:
Custodian: Student Affairs/Provost