Academic Status

Clemency removes from the student’s GPA all grades and credits earned during the semesters (i.e., spring, summer, fall) for which clemency is requested. The student’s complete record will remain on the transcript with the added notation of academic clemency received.

Any undergraduate student who has previously attended UA Little Rock or its predecessor institutions (Little Rock Junior College or Little Rock University) and whose attendance at UA Little Rock or any institution of higher education has been interrupted for a period of at least two years may qualify to request academic clemency providing he or she meets all of the criteria specified below. Under this policy, a student may apply to have grades and credits earned at UA Little Rock previous to the separation removed from his or her grade point average. Approval of a request for clemency requires the signature of the student’s advisor and the provost.

After re-entering UA Little Rock following a separation of at least two years from any institution of higher education, a student may request academic clemency at the Office of Records and Registration. The student shall specify the term(s) for which clemency is desired. The request will be forwarded, along with appropriate permanent record information, to the student’s advisor for approval. The advisor shall forward the request to the provost.

Things to consider regarding Clemency!

1. Clemency shall cover all credits earned during the term(s) for which clemency is requested.
2. The student’s complete record will remain on the transcript with the added notation of academic clemency received.
3. Any petition for academic clemency must be requested and granted prior to the awarding of a degree. Once the degree is awarded, the record is closed and the academic clemency policy cannot be invoked.

Clemency removes from the student’s GPA all grades and credits earned during the semesters (i.e., spring, summer, fall) for which clemency is requested. The student’s complete record will remain on the transcript with the added notation of academic clemency received.

UA Little Rock graduate students who have received low grades for one or more semesters of coursework may be eligible to apply for academic clemency. Academic clemency removes a limited number of grades and credits from a student’s grade point average (GPA). In some cases, academic clemency can restore a student to good standing in cases where the student’s GPA has fallen below 3.0; it may preserve a student’s eligibility for a graduate assistantship or enable a student to be removed from academic probation.

Graduate students are eligible to apply for academic clemency if:

• they were not dismissed from UA Little Rock for non-academic reasons
• they have not been enrolled at any higher education institution for at least 1 year

Students may apply by completing and submitting this Form: Graduate Level Clemency Request.

Students may request clemency for up to two semesters of credit. The request will be forwarded to the student’s program coordinator for approval. Upon approval, the coordinator shall forward the request to the Graduate School Dean. If more than two semesters of credit are needed to return the student to good academic standing, a special petition must be filed with the Graduate School

Any petition for academic clemency must be requested and granted prior to the awarding of the degree. Once the degree is awarded, the record is closed and the academic clemency policy cannot be invoked. Academic clemency may be approved only once. For purposes of degree requirements, a student who receives clemency must follow the provisions of the Graduate Catalog in effect at the time of re-enrollment.

link to the Graduate Level Clemency request form

Students will be placed on academic probation at the end of the semester if their cumulative grade point average (GPA) drops below 2.0. Students on academic probation cannot enroll for more than 13 credit hours each semester. Students will continue on academic probation for as long as their cumulative GPA continues to remain below 2.0.

Students on probation or suspension must see their academic advisor. Additional campus services are offered to assist students in returning to good academic standing. Success Coaches and Student Support Specialists help students enhance academic skills such as note-taking, study habits, and test-taking strategies. They also help students address social/emotional/life challenges that may impact their academic success. Students should schedule a coaching or student support meeting by requesting an appointment at Student Success. Student-athletes on academic probation must report to their Academic Advisor or their coaching staff member in Athletics. Non-Degree Seeking Students are exempt from this requirement.

Suspension occurs after the third successive semester of academic probation where the cumulative GPA and semester GPA is below 2.0. Students who have finished their academic suspension are required to contact the Office of Records and Registration (email:  records@ualr.edu) for information on how to have their suspension lifted. These returning students will be placed on academic probation with enrollment restriction which limits them to enrollment in a maximum of 13 credit hours. In addition, the status of academic probation after suspension status requires that the students achieve a semester GPA of 2.0 or greater for each term until the student’s cumulative GPA is 2.0 or higher. Failure to achieve a semester GPA of 2.0 or greater while in this probationary status will result in an academic suspension for two full semesters. Students will remain in this probationary status until their cumulative GPA rises above 2.0. Both International Freshmen and International Transfer Students on academic suspension must report to the Office of International Student Services so they can be informed of their options regarding their immigration status.

Students needing fewer than 18 credit hours to complete all academic requirements for graduation may request an exemption to the enrollment restriction from their academic advisor or department chairperson. If this request is approved, the Office of Records and Registration will need to be notified by the department so that the student’s record can be adjusted. Denial of this request may be appealed to the dean of the college and the provost.

Students admitted to the university with academic deficiencies will be limited to a maximum enrollment of 13 credit hours each semester. When such a student achieves both a semester and cumulative GPA of 2.0, the enrollment restriction will be removed. If the student fails to obtain the required semester or cumulative GPA, then the student will be placed on academic probation. Such students will not be subject to academic suspension until the end of the third semester unless they were admitted on a single-semester contract basis.

A student suspended from UA Little Rock who earns academic credit from another institutionally or regionally accredited college or university during the period of suspension may receive credit for the course at UA Little Rock when readmitted if the course is transferable.

A student under their first academic suspension from an institutionally or regionally accredited college or university may be admitted to UA Little Rock and allowed to enroll in a probationary status. The student may enroll for a maximum of 3 hours (Summer) or 7 hours (Spring and Fall) and must attain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0.  Failure to attain the minimum 2.0 GPA in the first semester will result in a suspension from UA Little Rock.

If an undergraduate student repeats a course for credit, only the last grade will be computed into the cumulative grade point average. There is no limit to the number of times you can repeat a course. (The earlier grade will remain on the transcript with an “E” indicating exclusion from the grade point average.)

If there have been any changes in course numbers or titles, the student must first obtain the approval of the chairperson of the department offering the course to be assured it is an identical course.

All grades for repeated courses are included in calculations for graduation honors. Once a degree has been awarded, repeated courses will not be accepted. (Please note: UA Little Rock does not have an individual grade forgiveness policy)

A student has the opportunity to appeal a grade if he or she feels the grade was inequitably awarded in that it violated a faculty member’s own specified grading standards. Students and faculty members are urged to make all attempts possible to resolve a grievance before initiating formal appeals. For more information on the procedure, please review the grade appeals policy.

Chancellor’s and Dean’s List

Names of students whose academic performances have been superior are recorded on the Chancellor’s and the Dean’s Lists. This recognition is also noted on the student’s grade report and on official transcripts. This status will be granted at the end of each semester in which the following qualifications have been met:

Chancellor’s List:

• At least nine hours for credit with a grade of A, B, C, or CR
• At least a 3.9 grade point average for the semester
• No D, F, I, or NC grades on the semester grade report

Dean’s List:

• At least nine hours for credit with a grade of A, B, C, or CR
• At least a 3.5 grade point average for the semester
• No D, F, I, or NC grades on the semester grade report

Departmental Honors

Several departments at UA Little Rock offer honors programs to exceptional students. Admission to an honors program is generally tied to the student’s grade point average and year standing and may require nomination by a faculty member. Such programs are distinct from graduation with honors; in addition to meeting and maintaining a certain grade point average, qualifying students to take a special curriculum in the major. Requirements may include advanced study, seminars, or a research project and presentation. Departmental honors are posted on the student’s academic transcript at graduation. Contact individual departments for more information.

Graduation Honors

To qualify for graduation honors, a student must have completed a minimum of 60 hours in residence at UA Little Rock. Graduation honors are calculated on all academic work completed in UA Little Rock credit-bearing courses. For repeated courses, only the grade from the final iteration of the course will be included in the calculation of the cumulative grade point average for determining graduation honors. All work completed at all other institutions, whether accepted as transfer credit at UA Little Rock or not, will not be included in the final calculation of honors (except as noted below).

The bachelor’s degree with honors will be conferred upon candidates who graduate and earn a minimum cumulative grade point on all credit courses taken at UA Little Rock as follows:

• Summa cum laude: minimum grade point average of 3.90
• Magna cum laude: minimum grade point average of 3.70
• Cum laude: minimum grade point average of 3.50

Students who do not complete the minimum of 60 hours in residence at UA Little Rock may request, in writing, that all work completed at all other institutions, whether accepted as transfer credit at UA Little Rock or not, be used in the final calculation of honors. Requests can be sent to the Records office via email at records@ualr.edu. For repeated courses at other institutions, only the grade from the final iteration of the course will be included in the calculation of the cumulative grade point average for determining graduation honors. Some courses from institutions outside of the U.S. are calculated in the admissions process on a pass/not pass basis. For a student to be considered for honors, all credentials from institutions outside of the U.S. must be evaluated to determine an A, B, or C equivalency.

Students granted academic clemency are still eligible to qualify for graduation honors, but they must complete a minimum of 60 hours in residence at UA Little Rock, not including the hours for which clemency was granted.

The associate degree with honors will be conferred upon candidates who have completed a minimum of 30 hours in residence at UA Little Rock and at graduation have earned a minimum cumulative grade point of 3.7 on all academic work completed in UA Little Rock credit-bearing courses. The recipient must have met all requirements for graduation with an associate degree and must not have completed more than 83 credit hours. Students who are granted academic clemency are still eligible to receive an associate degree with honors, but they must complete a minimum of 30 hours in residence at UA Little Rock, not including the hours for which clemency was granted.

A student who has earned a baccalaureate degree from UA Little Rock and is pursuing a second baccalaureate degree at UA Little Rock is granted graduation honors based on the credit hours earned after the posting of the first degree. If fewer than 30 credit hours are completed at UA Little Rock after completion of the first UA Little Rock degree, the level of graduation honors can be no higher than that obtained on the first degree. If 30 or more credit hours are completed at UA Little Rock after completion of the first UA Little Rock degree, the level of graduation honors on the second degree is based on the cumulative grade point average on coursework after the first degree.

Students who graduate from another college or university and pursue a second undergraduate degree at UA Little Rock must complete a minimum of 30 hours in residence at UA Little Rock to be eligible for honors. Graduation honors on the second degree are based on the cumulative grade point average on all UA Little Rock coursework after the first degree.

University and departmental honors (but not awards) may be posted on the academic transcript.

For more information, visit Academic Honors Policy