Use this glossary to better understand common academic terms at UA Little Rock.
Academic Advisor
A staff or faculty member who helps you plan your classes and guides you and serves as a resource throughout your college career.
Academic Calendar
The Academic Calendar lists important dates like registration deadlines, start and end dates for classes, holidays, and exam days. The calendar is published by the Provost’s Office.
Academic Clemency
A policy that lets students who have been away from UA Little Rock for at least two years to petition to remove earlier coursework. The purpose is to allow students a second chance in college.
Academic Freedom
“Right” of faculty to decide what, within reason, will be done in the classroom, such as course content, teaching methods, attendance policy, etc.
Academic Probation
A student will be placed on academic probation at the end of a grading period if their cumulative GPA drops below 2.00. A student will be placed on probation continued at the end of a grading period if their cumulative GPA remains below 2.00 and were on academic probation at the end of the previous term. Students on academic probation are limited to 13 credit hours each semester.
Academic Suspension
If, after two successive terms of academic probation, the student’s current and cumulative GPA is below 2.00, the student will be academically suspended for one semester. If suspended at the end of the spring term, the student will be eligible to return the following fall term. If suspended at the end of the fall term, the student will be eligible to return for the summer term.
Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship
Also called the Lottery Scholarship, awarded through the Arkansas Department of Higher Education.
Associate’s Degree
An associate’s degree (an A.A. or A.S.) is a two-year degree requiring at least 60 credit hours. Credits can often be applied toward a related bachelor’s degree at UA Little Rock or elsewhere.
Baccalaureate Degree
Also called a bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.S.). This standard undergraduate college degree usually takes about four years and requires a minimum of 120 credit hours. The actual number of credit hours depends on the area of concentration or discipline. Some students complete the degree in three years while others may need more than four years.
Blackboard
UA Little Rock’s online Learning Management System (LMS) used by faculty and staff to help students learn in a virtual environment. Visit https://blackboard.ualr.edu/
Board of Trustees
UA Little Rock is a member of the University of Arkansas System and is governed by the University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees. This appointed board has 10 trustees representing each of the state’s four congressional districts.
Board of Visitors
The UA Little Rock Board of Visitors is responsibie for advising the UA Little Rock chancellor as well as the president of the University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees on maintaining high standards in the development and operation of UA Little Rock.
BOSS
The Banner Online Service System (BOSS) is where students register, add or drop classes, view grades, manage accounts, and more. Students must log in using their Workday ID Number and Personal Identification Number (PIN). Workday Student replaces BOSS, starting with fall 2025 registration.
Buyout
A fee charged if you break your on-campus housing contract. The Campus Living office manages the on-campus residence experience for students at UA Little Rock. Visit https://ualr.edu/housing/.
Chancellor
The chancellor is the executive officer of the university.
Change Check
A refund of leftover financial aid after tuition and fees are paid. The student can pickup the change check in the Cashier’s Office or it can be deposited directly into a checking account.
Classification
Student status based on the number of credit hours earned: freshman (0–29 credit hours), sophomore (30–59 credit hours), junior (60–89 credit hours), or senior (90–120/124 credit hours).
Colleges
Colleges are often smaller entities that emphasize undergraduate education in a university’s broad range of academic areas. UA Little Rock has three colleges:
- CBHHS: College of Business, Health, and Human Services.
- CHASSE: College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education.
- DCSTEM: Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
Confirmation (Registration Confirmation)
Final step in registration. Confirms your classes and your commitment to pay.
Core Curriculum/ Core Requirement
The core curriculum at UA Little Rock is a 44-hour requirement that provides a foundation for your further academic and professional activities. Required for all students seeking baccalaureate degrees, the core curriculum includes options across disciplines, including arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences. A list of the core courses is in the undergraduate catalog.
Corequisite
A course that must be taken at the same time as another course. If a course has a corequisite, the course description specifies it.
Course Description
Summary of what a course covers, including prerequisites and corequisites. Course descriptions can be found in the UA Little Rock Undergraduate Catalog and can be found during an online class search.
Course Number
At UA Little Rock, course numbers are transitioning from four digits to five digits as part of the University of Arkansas System’s Common Course Numbering initiative. The numbering system designates each course at UA Little Rock. The first digit indicates the course level (1 for freshman, 2 for sophomore, 3 for junior, 4 for senior, 5 and above for graduate-level courses), and the last digit represents the number of credit hours the course is worth. The middle three digits are assigned by the department to distinguish courses within that level and subject area.
Course Reference Number
This five-digit course reference number (CRN) is assigned for registration purposes. This is not the same as the course number.
Credit Hours
Unit of measure for coursework. Most classes are 3 credit hours. One credit hour is equal to one 50-minute class period per week, per semester. The usual three-credit hour course is based on meeting 50 minutes a day, three days a week for a semester. For laboratory work, one credit hour is equal to two or three hours of laboratory work. So, a lab that meets for one three-hour session once a week for a semester would have one hour of credit. UA Little Rock measures its work in semester credit hours. If you’re transferring from a college that uses quarter hours, the Office of Records and Registration will convert them into semester hours for you.
Dean
The head of one of the academic colleges on campus.
Degree
The term “degree” refers to a designation such as Associate of Arts (A.A.), Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.), Associate of Computer Science (A.C.S.), Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.), Bachelor of Professional Studies (B.P.S.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Science in Education (B.Ed.), Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), Bachelor of Music (B.M.), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.), and other general designations.
Degree Works
UA Little Rock’s tool for academic advising, transfer articulation, and degree audit solution aligns students, advisors, and colleges to help students graduate on time. Visit http://ualr.edu/records/degreeworks/.
Department, College, or School
A department is the basic administrative unit at UA Little Rock. It consists of a group of faculty members and their chairperson. The department appoints faculty, develops courses and programs, and advises students. Departments with related interests are organized into colleges. Academic administrative units without departments are called schools. There are three colleges at UA Little Rock.
Developmental Courses
Courses at the “0” level are developmental courses and do not count toward the 124-hour minimum for graduation; nor do grades received count in the cumulative grade point average.
Drop and Add
A period of time is designated after classes have begun during which students may adjust their course schedules by adding or deleting (dropping) a class or classes without penalty. To determine deadlines for each semester, consult the academic calendar or registration guide.
Elective
An elective is any course that is not required, either by the university’s core requirements or by the requirements of a major or minor. Many degree programs will list the number of elective hours available. Electives may complement the rest of your work or be taken for fun.
Experiential Learning
The UA Little Rock curriculum includes a number of courses that allow or require students to work for credit in a professional or career setting. Sometimes this is a part of the regular course; other times, it’s a separate course. In the latter case, the course may have in its title an expression such as “cooperative education,” “field experience,” “internship,” “practicum,” “special project,” or “student teaching.”
FAFSA
Each year students must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, to be considered for financial aid and scholarships. For more information, visit https://studentaid.gov/.
FERPA (Privacy Act)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects your student records. These records, including grades, are confidential and may only be released to the individual student to whom they pertain. For more information, consult the University Student Handbook or the Dean of Students’ office.
FlexDollars
Part of a meal plan that acts like a declining-balance debit account that you can use for purchases at dining spots around campus.
First Year Colloquium
All full-time freshmen entering a college or university for the first time and transfer students with less than 12 hours of credit are required to take a First Year Colloquium. Some specialized first-year colloquiums are aimed at students intending to major in particular subject areas, while others target special programs and scholarships. Consult your academic advisor before registering for a first-year colloquium.
Forum, The
Student-run UA Little Rock campus newspaper that is distributed online.
Full-Time Student
As a full-time student, you must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours. Financial aid often requires that a student attend full-time.
Fully Admitted Student
Students who have completed an admission application, submitted all required documents based on your student type, and have met admission standards. For more information, visit the Office of Admissions website at https://ualr.edu/admissions.
GA (Graduate Assistant)
A graduate assistant (GA) is a student working on their post-graduate education (typically a master’s degree) who is employed in a support role on campus.
Good Standing
A student is in good standing at the end of a semester if their cumulative GPA is 2.00 or above. If a student is put on probation, they will need to raise their GPA above 2.00 to return to good standing.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
GPA is the indicator of a student’s academic performance, with a 4.0 being the highest level. Quality Points are assigned to each letter grade received (e.g., A = 4; B = 3; C = 2; D = 1; F = 0). Some developmental course grades are excluded. The GPA is the standard measure for retention and graduation requirements. Your semester grade report will show both the semester and the cumulative GPA.
Graduation Application
This form should be filed with Records and Registration once you have registered for your final semester of coursework. File this in your BOSS account.
Incomplete
A temporary grade (“I”) when you can’t finish a course on time for reasons beyond your control. It allows you to finish a course requirement within a 90-day period after the semester is over. It is the student’s responsibility to discuss the problem with the instructor and request a grade of Incomplete. If the student receives an “I” and fails to complete the work on time, the result will be the “I” administratively changed to an “F.”
Lower-Level
Freshman and sophomore courses (UA Little Rock course numbers beginning with 1 or 2) are lower-level courses.
Major
Your main field of study in addition to the UA Little Rock core requirements. Students are encouraged to declare a major as soon as possible on BOSS or in the Office of Academic Advising.
Master’s Degree
Graduate degree earned after a bachelor’s degree, usually requiring advanced coursework and a thesis, final project, or comprehensive exam. An applicant to a master’s program must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with substantially the same undergraduate program as the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Additional supporting documents vary from program to program and may be required.
Minor
A smaller concentration of courses in a second area of study. A minor is required in all undergraduate degree programs unless the major program specifies that a minor is not required.
Orientation
An introduction to the university for students new to UA Little Rock. It’s a time for you to learn about rules, procedures, facilities, personnel, services, etc.
Prerequisite
A course you must complete before taking a more advanced one. If a course has a prerequisite, it is listed in the course description.
Privacy Act (also called FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects your student records. These records, including grades, are confidential and may only be released to the individual student to whom they pertain. For more information, consult the University Student Handbook or the Dean of Students’ office.
Provost
The chief academic officer of a university who directly oversees the colleges, as well as major academic initiatives and the faculty.
RA (Resident Assistant)
A student staff member who helps manage residence halls. Resident assistants work to develop community, enforce policy, and create a positive and supportive environment for all residents.
RCR (Room Condition Report)
A form you complete with your resident assistant when moving in and out of campus housing.
Records and Registration, Office of
Handles student records, transcripts, class registration, and graduation.
Registrar
Oversees the Office of Records and Registration, which coordinates the class schedule, provides your transcripts, facilitates graduation ceremonies, and more.
Registration Confirmation
See Confirmation above.
SGA (Student Government Association)
Represents student interests and connects students with university administrators. Visit http://ualr.edu/sga/.
Section
A section is mentioned when the same course is offered at different times with different instructors. Each different offering is referred to as a section. When registering, make sure that you enroll in the section, as well as the course, you want.
Syllabus
A document from your professor outlining course details, course objectives, due dates, and rules. It’s important that you read each course syllabus and regularly refer to it for information.
Testing-out
Earning credit by passing a comprehensive test. UA Little Rock offers such tests in two ways: those designed by UA Little Rock departments and those designed by national programs such as College Level Examination Program (CLEP). There is a charge for taking such tests. For details, contact the Office of Testing Services and Student Life Research.
Transcript
Your official record of courses, grades, and degrees at a university. If you are a transfer student, you are required to request that the Office of Records and Registration at all universities you have attended previously send an official transcript in a sealed envelope to UA Little Rock. An unofficial and incomplete version of it, sometimes used by advisors, is called a worksheet.
Undergraduate
Term refers to academic work leading to the associate or baccalaureate degrees and to students working toward these degrees.
Undergraduate Catalog
Official guide to degree programs, courses, and policies at UA Little Rock.
Upper-level
Junior and senior courses (UA Little Rock course numbers beginning with 3 or 4) are upper-level courses. A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 45 upper-level credit hours.
Withdrawal
Officially dropping a class or all classes. A “W” appears on your record. You’re still responsible for tuition and fees unless you follow official withdrawal steps with a specified time period. Get the official form from the Office of Records and Registration. Check the academic calendar for deadlines.
Workday Student
UA Little Rock’s new student information system, replacing the previous system (BOSS) starting with fall 2025 registration. It’s a mobile-friendly platform designed to manage administrative processes for students from admission to graduation, including registration, financial aid, student accounts, and academic advising.