Academic and Student Affairs Policies

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Academic and Student Services Student Record Holds

Students with records placed on hold for academic and/or student services reasons are not permitted to complete the following actions pending removal of the hold:

• Make online schedule changes
• Enroll in classes in subsequent semesters
• Obtain a transcript or other academic record

Exceptions:

In the event of extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the student, exceptions may be granted by the Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs, the Dean of Students, or the Vice President of Finance and Administration.

Academic Clemency

North Arkansas College allows students who have performed poorly early in their academic careers to petition the college to have their previously earned grades and credits removed from the calculation of their cumulative grade point averages. Students interested in petitioning for academic clemency may do so through the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs whose decision will be final.  To be considered for academic clemency, the student must meet the following criteria:

I.  Eligibility:

1. The student must not have been enrolled in any institution of higher education, including Northark, for a period of three consecutive years prior to the term in which Academic Clemency is requested.The request for academic clemency must come in the first semester the student re-enrolls.
2. During the student’s previous enrollment, his or her grade point average should not have been higher than a 1.99 in the term or terms for which academic clemency is requested.

II. Stipulations:

1. Academic clemency will be granted only after the student completes 12 hours of credit at North Arkansas College, with a grade point average of 2.00 or higher.
2. Academic clemency can be granted only once.
3. Academic clemency will cover all credits earned during the term or terms for which it is granted.
4. While grade point averages will not reflect the credits for which the student is granted clemency and while those credits will not count toward graduation, the student’s transcript will contain the student’s entire academic record.

Academic clemency does not restore eligibility for student financial aid, scholarships, or athletic eligibility.

Academic Grievance

If a student has a grievance concerning an instructor or method of instruction, the student should follow the procedure determined by the College.

The procedure students should follow are:

• The student should attempt to resolve the issue with the instructor.
• If resolution is not possible with the instructor, the student should speak with the chair of the department.
• Should the student be unable to resolve the grievance with the instructor or department chair, he/she may then speak with the dean of that division.
• Should the student be unable to resolve the grievance with the dean, he/she may then file a written grievance within five class days with the Academic Grievance Committee facilitated by the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs.
• The decision of the Academic Grievance Committee will be communicated to the student within five days. The decision of the Committee is final.

Academic Integrity

North Arkansas College shall maintain a procedure to ensure academic integrity is defined and maintained. North Arkansas College’s commitment to academic achievement is supported by a policy to protect academic integrity that is reported to students through course syllabi. Academic fraud and dishonesty are offenses that may require disciplinary actions and may include but are not limited to the following:

Cheating: Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise.

Facilitating academic dishonesty: Intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another commit an act of academic dishonesty.

Test tampering: Intentionally gaining access to restricted test booklets, banks, questions, or answers before a test is given; or tampering with questions or answers after a test is taken.

Plagiarism: Intentionally or knowingly representing the words and ideas of another as one’s own in any academic exercise.

Cases of cheating and plagiarism at Northark are considered to be serious offenses and are subject to one or more of the following alternatives based on the severity of the offense:

•  No credit for the assignment or opportunity for make-up; or
•  Loss of credit and dropped from the course; or
• Permanent suspension from Northark.

Students may resolve disciplinary action by following this chain of command in the order given: the Instructor, Department Chair or Program Director, Dean, and the Academic Grievance Committee facilitated by the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. The decision of the Academic Grievance Committee is final.

Academic Probation

To be in good academic standing, all students must carry the required minimum cumulative grade point average as listed below. Students who fail to meet these standards will be placed on academic probation.

Credit Hours Attempted                         Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average

                9-17                                                                              1.40

               18-30                                                                             1.60

               31-45                                                                             1.75  

               46-60                                                                             1.90

               61 or above                                                                  2.00

1. Students on academic probation, not achieving the minimum cumulative grade point as stated above, shall be suspended for one semester (excluding summer session) except as noted in #2 below. Students placed on academic suspension for the second time shall be suspended for one year. Students placed on academic suspension for the third time shall be suspended for a three-year period or may appeal.
2. Students on academic probation achieving at least a 2.00 grade point average for each semester enrolled will be continued on academic probation until the minimum cumulative grade point is achieved. Any semester a 2.00 is not achieved students will be placed on academic suspension.
3. Students on current academic suspension at another institution will not be permitted to enroll at North Arkansas College for one semester. Students will enter on academic probation and must achieve the minimum cumulative grade point or be suspended.
4. Northark will not accept for transfer credit hours earned during an academic suspension period.

Any exceptions to the above stated admission standards may be appealed to Academic Student Success Leadership Team consisting of the VPASA and Deans.

Administrative Drop Policy by Census Reporting Date

In order to maintain North Arkansas College compliance with federal and state regulations and to report correct data to the state, the College will process administrative drops for students who have not attended by the census reporting date and for students who have not paid or made arrangements to pay tuition and fees by the census reporting date.

Instructors will complete an electronic form to initiate an administrative drop from a course if a student has not participated in at least one session of a class by the census reporting date, e.g. the end of the eleventh day of classes in a regular term and the end of the fifth day during each summer term. Instructors teaching online courses will complete the same electronic form to initiate an administrative drop if the student has not fulfilled the initial participation requirements established in the course syllabus. The Registrar’s Office personnel will process administrative drops for all students submitted as a “non-attending” prior to state or federal reporting or distribution of financial aid awards. Any reinstatements must be approved by the appropriate faculty member.

Class Attendance

It is the responsibility of faculty members to advise their classes, in writing, of their attendance and makeup policies. It is the student’s responsibility to discuss any absences and the possibility of makeup work with the instructor as soon as possible.  Students are expected to attend all class meetings and officially withdraw from courses they are no longer attending. Faculty will not withdraw students from courses for any reason. (Please see Withdrawing from a class policy.)  Students must consult the course syllabi for the attendance policy set by individual instructors.

Classification of Students

To be considered a member in good standing of a class, a student must have successfully completed the required minimum of work leading to a degree as follows: freshman < 30 credit hours, sophomore 30 or more credit hours.

Code of Conduct for Educational Loans (Financial Aid)

As required by the Higher Education Opportunity Act, North Arkansas College adheres to the following Code of Contact. This Code of Conduct applies to the officers, employees and agents of the institution.

Code of Conduct Provisions:

1. Northark, its officers, employees or agents will enter into no revenue sharing arrangements with any lender.
2. No officer or employee of the Northark financial aid office (or any employee or agent who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to educational loans) may solicit or accept a gift from a lender, guarantor or servicers of educational loans. A “gift” is defined as any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan or other item having monetary value of more than a de minimus amount.
3. No officer or employee of Northark’s financial aid office or employee or agent who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to educational loans, may accept from a lender or an affiliate of any lender any fee, payment or other financial benefit (including the opportunity to purchase stock) as compensation for any type of consulting arrangement or other contract to provide services to a lender or on behalf of a lender relating to education loans.
4. Northark shall not assign any first time borrower through award packaging or other methods, to a particular lender. Northark shall not refuse to certify or delay certification of any loan based on the borrower’s selection of a particular lender or guaranty agency.
5. Northark shall not request or accept from any lender any offer of funds to be used for private education loans, including funds for an opportunity pool loan, to students in exchange for Northark providing concessions or promises regarding providing the lender with a specific number of title IV loans made, insured or guaranteed, a specific loan volume, or preferred lender arrangement.
6. Northark shall not request or accept from any lender any assistance with call center staffing or financial aid office staffing. However, certain assistance is permitted such as professional development training for financial aid administrators. Additionally, providing educational counseling materials, financial aid literacy materials, or debt management materials to borrowers, provided that such materials disclose to borrowers the identification of any lender that assisted in preparing or providing the materials is permitted. Staffing services on a short-term, non-recurring basis to assist Northark with financial aid-related functions during emergencies, including State-declared or federally declared natural disasters, federally declared national disasters, or other localized disasters and emergencies identified by the Secretary is allowed.
7. Any employee in the financial aid office at Northark, or who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to education loans or other student financial aid at Northark, and who serves on an advisory board, commission or group established by a lender, guarantor, or group of lenders or guarantors, shall be prohibited from receiving anything of value from the lender, guarantor, or group of guarantors, except that the employee may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in serving on such advisory board, commission or group.

Course Audits

Students may audit courses who are officially admitted to the college and pay regular tuition and fees for the course. Those who audit courses will receive a grade of “AU.” Students may audit courses only when class enrollment permits.

Students need to consult with the instructor of the courses they want to audit for course work required.  A student may change a course from audit to credit through the 8th day of regular, semester-long classes. For shorter-length classes, please check with the Registrar’s Office. Students may also change from credit to audit prior to the end of the 10th week of regular, semester-long classes. For shorter-length classes, please check the Academic Calendar or the Registrar’s Office.  An auditing student may withdraw following normal withdrawal procedures any time during the withdrawal period and receive a grade of “W.”

Dean’s List

Full-time students completing 15 or more credit hours within a semester with a grade point average of 3.70 or above will be placed on the Dean’s List for special scholastic recognition.

Part-time students who have completed six hours or more semester hours also become eligible upon completion of 15 cumulative semester hours if they have both semester and cumulative GPA’s of 3.70 or above. College Preparatory courses are not considered for eligibility for the Dean’s List.

Definition of Credit Hour

At North Arkansas College, a credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning

outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally-established  equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than: (1) one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or trimester hour of credit, or ten to twelve weeks for one quarter hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or (2) at least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other activities as established by an institution, including laboratory work, internships, practical, studio work, and other academic work leading toward to the award of credit hours.

FERPA/Student Records

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.

Northark complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which affords eligible students certain rights with respect to their educational records. These rights include:

• The right to inspect and review the student’s education record within 45 days of the day the College receives a written request for access.
• The right to request an amendment to the student’s education record when the student believes the record is inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.
• The right to have some control over the disclosure of information from education records.

The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the College to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 assures confidentiality of education records containing information directly related to presently enrolled students, former students, or alumni.

The institution, according to the Act, may make public directory information about a student including the following: the student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, major, and field of study, classification by year, number of hours enrolled in and/or completed, degrees and awards, parents’ or spouse’s name and address, marital status, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance (including matriculation and withdrawal date), the most recent previous education agency or institution attended, and photograph.

The college may, at its discretion and without a student’s written request, release confidential information to the following:

1. College officials having a legitimate educational interest;
2. Officials from other institutions in which the student seeks enrollment;
3. Federal agencies, such as the Social Security Administration, Immigration, Treasury, Federal Bureau of Investigation, etc.;
4. Private or public agencies regarding application for or receipt of financial aid, including guaranteed student loans;
5. Organizations conducting studies for education agencies or institutions developing, validating, or administering tests, student aid programs, or educational improvement programs;
6. Accrediting organizations;
7. Person or company with whom the College has contracted as its agent to provide a service (such as an attorney, auditor, collection agent, verification agencies such as the National Student Clearinghouse)
8. A court in compliance with a judicial order;
9. Others in emergencies affecting the health or safety of the student or other persons.

Students may request to suppress from public disclosure “directory information.” To do so, a student must file a form with the Registrar’s Office, before the end of the first week of classes each semester. This request does not restrict the release of information to the individuals and agencies listed above.

FERPA training is required for all Northark employees who deal with student records.

Students are responsible for keeping the Registrar’s Office informed of their current residence, mailing address and telephone number. Student Data Change forms are available in the Registrar’s Office or online.

Students may file a complaint with the US Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office

US Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20202-8520

(202) 260-3887

Golden Age Tuition Waiver

When any person sixty (60) years of age or older is admitted and enrolls as a student in any state-supported institution of higher learning in this state, the board of trustees of the institution or other appropriate institutional officials shall waive all the general student fee charges for each student on a space-available basis in existing classes. Tuition and mandatory fees will be waived only for courses organized to grant credit and recognized by the Department of Higher Education for credit.

http://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/2010/title-6/subtitle-5/chapter-60/subchapter-2/6-60-204

1. Students sixty years of age or older may be eligible for the Golden Age Tuition Waiver. Qualified students requesting the waiver may register three business days prior to the start of the term.
2. To use the waiver, students must present proof of age.
3. The Registrar’s Office provides a list to the Student Account’s Office prior to each payment deadline identifying students 60 and over.
4. Student Accounts Office applies the Golden Age Award to each student’s account.
5. Students taking advantage of the waiver may register three business days prior to the start of the term.
6. The waiver does not cover textbooks, class supplies, or course-related fees.

Grade Changes Other than Incomplete

Any grade change other than an Incomplete (“I”) must be completed within the first two weeks of the following semester, excluding summer sessions. After this date any change must be documented and the documentation approved by the Chair/Director, Dean and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs and submitted to the Registrar’s Office for the change to be processed. The only basis for a grade change will be an error in calculation or recording. A grade that has been allowed to stand unchallenged for a period of five years is considered final.

1. A student who feels that his grade has been calculated or recorded incorrectly should contact the instructor, then the chair/director, then the dean as soon as possible after grades are assigned.
2. If a correction is necessary, the instructor can obtain a grade change form from the Office of the Registrar.
3. The change should be approved by the Chair, Dean, and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs and the form returned to the Office of the Registrar so that the student’s transcript can be corrected.

Grades and Grading

North Arkansas College uses the following grading symbols:

Posting of Grades

Faculty will post midterm grades electronically for students to review.  Instructors must post percentage midterm grades for all students enrolled for concurrent college and high school credit, as these grades will be reflected as nine-week grades on high school report cards.

Faculty will post final grades electronically for students to review. For official transcripts, students should contact the Registrar’s Office.

Grade Point Average

The grade point average for graduation, program application, and other academic standing purposes includes all classes except college preparatory classes (classes that increase college readiness; course numbers below 1000 level) at North Arkansas College. Grades earned in college preparatory courses are included in the computation of current term grade point average, but not included in cumulative grade point average.   

Incompletes

An instructor will not assign a grade of Incomplete (“I”) unless the student has completed approximately 80% of the course but has not been able, because of illness or other reason beyond his/her control, to finish the work assigned in the course. The student must contact the instructor to request an Incomplete and make arrangements for completing the course. The instructor determines the requirements for making the “I.”

A student has one semester (excluding summer session) to make up an incomplete grade. The instructor may extend the time frame by notifying the Registrar’s Office in writing of a later date. The instructor must complete a grade change form for any student who has completed the requirements for the course.   

Military Student Emergency Mobilization

When a student is placed on an emergency military mobilization status, North Arkansas College will provide accommodations that are more liberal and individualized than normal operating policies including but not limited to:

• Consideration of full tuition refunds
• Withdrawal after established deadlines
• Release from financial aid penalties.
• The student or his/her designee presents an official copy of activation orders to the Registrar as soon as possible after receipt of the orders.
• The student selects one of the following options:
  • Student accepts a grade of Incomplete (I) at the end of the semester. The student commits to completing the course requirements upon return from active duty. No refund of tuition and required fees under this option. The normal time for completing “I” grades will be extended through the end of the first 16 semester (fall or spring) in which the student enrolls following his/her return from active duty.
  • Instructor assigns an appropriate final grade if he/she determines the student has satisfactorily completed a substantial portion of coursework and has demonstrated sufficient mastery of the course material. No refund of tuition and required fees under this option.

Student drops all courses for the semester with no grades recorded on his/her transcript. Student receives a full refund of tuitions and required fees. Student must drop all current courses in order to use this option.

Non-Academic Grievance

Non-Academic Grievances: Students and other stake holders will be afforded an avenue to express non-academic grievances.

Should a student have a grievance of a non-academic nature:

• he/she should attempt to resolve the issue with the individual.
• if resolution is not possible, the student should speak with the supervisor of the individual.
• Should the student be unable to resolve the grievance with the supervisor, he/she may then file an electronic grievance through the Customer Feedback Form.

Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment/Title IX

To ensure Northark provides an educational and work environment for its students, faculty, and staff that is free from sexual discrimination including sexual harassment, sexual assault, and sexual violence, it is the policy of the College to comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and its implementing regulations, which prohibit discrimination based on sex in the College’s educational programs and activities, and also prohibit retaliation for asserting claims of sex discrimination.

Title IX protects the college community from sexual harassment in a school’s education programs and activities. This means that Title IX protects the college community in connection with all academic, educational, extracurricular, athletic, and other programs of the school, whether those programs take place in a school’s facilities, in college transportation, at a school function.

Title IX Statement

It is the policy of the College to comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and its implementing regulations, which prohibit discrimination based on sex in the College’s educational programs and activities. Title IX and its implementing regulations also prohibit retaliation for asserting claims of sex discrimination.

Prior or Experiential Learning Credit

North Arkansas College provides opportunity for students to earn credit for learning that has occurred outside of the traditional college classroom. The purpose is to accelerate the time by which students accumulate credits towards the acquisition of a certificate or degree such that the awarding of the certificate or degree is accomplished in a shorter timeframe. Credit may be earned through a variety of ways.  The granting of credit for prior learning is under the auspices of the faculty. A maximum of 30 semester hours may be awarded for experiential learning or work experience in a degree program according to AHECB Section 3.10, Appendix B. 

Prior learning will be transcripted after 12 credit hours with a 2.0 GPA.  A crosswalk will identify minimum scores needed for transcripting credit.  A few examples of prior learning that can be evaluated include:

• Departmental Challenge Assessments  
• Prior Learning Assessments of Portfolios (ex. Learning Counts via CAEL)  
• Advanced Placement-students may take an advanced placement course and earn a successful score on the related AP exam, students can earn college credit or advanced placement. 
• Corporate or military sponsored training and development programs  
• Courses and certifications offered by industry or professional organizations  
• Standardized testing such as CLEP  
• DANTES exams 

The recognition, evaluation of prior learning and awarding of college level credit shall be: 

• Structured to validate both the education level and quality of learning  
• Be in compliance with HLC and program accreditation 
• Communicated through all college publications and accessible to all prospective and admitted students  
• In the best interest of the student and recorded on their transcript  
• Applied towards specific courses offered within a degree or certification program at North Arkansas College 
• Monitored and evaluated for continuous improvement 

Evaluation of prior learning can be awarded using the following criteria: 

• Departmental challenge tests are developed by faculty subject experts. Content of the exam should meet the existing course outcomes. Definition of successful completion should be stated and communicated to the student prior to the exam.  
• Academic department subject matter experts, designated by the Department chair, will be responsible for evaluating prior learning assessment portfolios according to the developed rubric.  
• Transfer credit may be evaluated by the Registrar or faculty  
• Courses or certifications from industry or professional organizations may be evaluated by the dean, director, or department chair based upon alignment of course outcomes and course content    

Examinations

College Credit for Advanced Placement, Challenge Exams, CLEP, or Professional Certification Examinations will not be posted to an academic record until the student has successfully completed at least twelve semester credit hours of work at Northark.

Challenge Exams

Some introductory courses may be challenged and credit received by successfully passing a comprehensive examination covering academic content and practical skills where appropriate. Students desiring to receive credit through the Challenge Exam process must enroll in the class to be challenged. The course instructor, Dean/Department Chair/Director, or Testing Center will administer challenge examinations. Students desiring to take Challenge Exams must do so no later than the first week of class in a regular semester, the second meeting of once-per-week classes, or the first two days of a summer semester. Successful completion of a Challenge Exam will be documented on a Challenge Exam Credit Form. The Challenge Exam Credit Form will be forwarded to the responsible dean for review and then to the Registrar’s Office no later than the end of the second week of classes in a regular semester or end of the first week in a summer session. The Challenge Exam Credit Form will become part of the student’s academic record maintained by the Registrar.

Advanced Placement (AP)

The Advanced Placement Program, sponsored by the College Board, offers high school students the opportunity to participate in challenging college-level work. College credit for Advanced Placement will not be posted to an academic record until the student has successfully completed at least twelve semester credit hours of work at Northark. Students can receive credit, advanced placement, or both from many colleges and universities. Northark awards AP credit to students who score a three (3) or higher on any Advanced Placement Exam.  See details in Student Handbook. 

Those desiring more information or to earn college credit through this program should contact the Registrar’s Office.

CLEP

A student may earn credit at North Arkansas College by writing the CLEP examination. Northark accepts both the general and subject examination programs. College Credit for CLEP will not be posted to an academic record until the student has successfully completed at least twelve semester credit hours of work at Northark.

To receive college credit, a student may not have earned college credit nor have ever been enrolled in the course for which he/she is writing the test. Please see the American Council of Education (ACE) recommendations for minimum scores for granting credit available online at http://clep.collegeboard.org/develop/ace-credit. Those desiring more information or to earn college credit through this program should contact the Registrar’s Office.

Professional Certification Examinations

Numerous professional organizations offer rigorous professional certification examinations or licensure requirements that may be used to earn college credit for courses in related areas. Credit may be granted toward degree or certificate programs subject to the 30 semester credit hour maximum. Those desiring more information or to earn college credit through this program should contact the Registrar’s Office.

Return to Title IV Funds

When a student withdraws from North Arkansas College, he or she may no longer be eligible for the full amount of Title IV funds (Pell, SEOG, Federal Student Loans, Federal Work Study) that the student was originally scheduled to receive. In this event, the amount of Federal funds earned must be determined. Under Section 484B of the Higher Education Act, if the amount disbursed is greater than the amount earned, unearned funds must be returned.  http://ifap.ed.gov/qahome/qaassessments/returntivfunds.html

1. The amount of Title IV aid the student must return is determined by the Federal Formula for Return of Title IV Funds as specified in Section 484B of the Higher Education Act. This law also specifies the order of return of the Title IV funds to the programs from which they were awarded.
2. If a student withdraws prior to completing 60% of the enrollment period, a repayment may be required when cash has been disbursed to a student from financial aid funds in excess of the amount of aid the student earned during the term. The amount of Title IV aid earned is determined by multiplying the total Title IV aid (other than Federal College Work Study) for which the student qualified by the percentage of time during the term that the student was enrolled. The date used in the calculation is either the date of the complete withdrawal or the date issued by the instructor if a failing grade is earned for nonattendance. If a date cannot be determined, midpoint of the semester is used (50%).
3. If less aid was disbursed than was earned, the student may receive a late disbursement for the difference. If more aid was disbursed than was earned, the amount of Title IV aid that must be returned (i.e. that was unearned) is determined by subtracting the earned amount from the amount actually disbursed.

The responsibility for returning unearned aid is allocated between the college and the student according to the portion of disbursed aid that could have been used to cover college charges and the portion that could have been disbursed directly to the student once college charges were covered. North Arkansas College will distribute the unearned aid back to the Title IV program as specified by law. The student will be billed for the amount the student owed to the Title IV programs and any amount due to the college resulting from the return of Title IV funds used to cover college charges.

Satisfactory Academic Progress for Title IV Financial Aid

North Arkansas College students are expected to progress in their coursework and are required by federal regulation to maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) in order to receive federal financial aid funds.

SAP Evaluation
The Financial Aid Office checks SAP for all students who apply for Title IV federal student aid at the time of FAFSA application and midway through the student’s program of study.  Additionally, SAP for students in degree programs is checked annually; SAP for students in other program is checked at the end of each term of enrollment.

SAP Standards

• 2.0 G.P.A. in the previous semester of attendance
• For each period of enrollment, students much complete a minimum number of credit hours based on the student’s attempted hours:

Successful course completion is defined as earning a passing grade. Grades of W (withdrawal), F (failing), NC (no credit) and I (incomplete) do not constitute successful completion.

Maximum Time to Complete Program
Students may receive federal financial aid for no longer than 150% of the total hours required for a program. All courses attempted, including those with grades of W, I, F, AU, CR, and IP, are counted as attempted hours. SAP for students enrolled in a clock hour programs will be reviewed at the completion of each payment period.

Repeated Courses

Students may receive federal aid for a repeated course one time if a passing grade has been earned (D or better).

Transfer Students

Transfer students are subject to the same policy regarding maximum time to program completion and G.P.A for courses transferred to Northark. All official transcripts must be received by the Registrar’s Office and must be evaluated before SAP can be determined.

Financial Aid Warning

Any student not meeting SAP Standards for the first time will be placed on Financial Aid Warning during the next period of enrollment.

Financial Aid Suspension

Students may be suspended from receiving Title IV Financial Aid as follows:

• Students who do not meet SAP at the end of a period of Warning Status.
• Students who exceed the maximum time for program completion.
• Students whose academic progress indicates an inability to complete their programs within the maximum time frame.
• Students who withdraw from all classes and students who complete the semester with a zero GPA will be automatically suspended for their next term of enrollment. These students are considered to have failed to make SAP.

Appeals to the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy:

Students who demonstrate and document unusual or mitigating circumstances (i.e. illness, death in immediate family, etc.) may appeal the financial aid suspension by completing a “Financial Aid Suspension Appeal Form.  This form, along with supporting documentation, must be submitted to the financial aid office within 15 days after receiving notification of suspension.  Students will be notified of the results of the appeal via email.  The committee decision is final.

Reinstatement from Financial Aid Suspension

Students may be reinstated from financial aid suspension as follows:

• Students who were suspended due to failure to make SAP must complete a semester using their own financial resources and must meet SAP requirements during that semester in order to regain eligibility.
• Students who were suspended due to reasons relating to maximum time to program completion may not be reinstated without making a successful Financial Aid Suspension Appeal.
• Students who appeal financial aid suspension and receive a reinstatement decision from the Financial Aid Appeals Committee.

1. The Financial Aid Office processes applications for students who have made SAP and packages and awards eligible students.
2. The Financial Aid Office places students who have not made SAP on Financial Aid Warning or Suspension.
3. The financial aid applications of students who have been placed on Financial Aid Warning are processed, packaged and awarded (if the student is otherwise eligible for Title IV aid). These students are sent a Financial Aid Warning letter.
4. The Financial Aid Office sends a Financial Aid Suspension Letter and a Financial Aid Appeal form to students who have been placed on Financial Aid Suspension.

Appeals to the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Students may appeal the financial aid suspension by completing the financial aid suspension appeal form and submitting it to the financial aid office.

Student Code of Conduct

Student Conduct (Non-academic)

Student behaviors and acts which adversely affect the realization of the mission, vision, and values of North Arkansas College or the opportunity of all members of the College community to pursue educational goals in a learning environment conductive to intellectual and educational development are subject to disciplinary measures.  The College assumes that, by the act of registering, the student agrees to obey all rules and regulations set forth by the College.  The administration reserves the right to deny participation in the internal life of the College community to any individual or group.  Students do not have the right to invade the privacy of others, to damage the property of others, to disrupt the regular and essential operation of the College, or to interfere with the rights of others.  The jurisdiction and discipline of the College shall apply to conduct that occurs on property owned, occupied, or used by the College; while a student is attending or participating in any College related activity; or in any location if the conduct adversely affects the student’s suitability as a member of the College community or is detrimental to the interests of the institution. See Student Handbook for details of Student Code of Conduct (Non-Academic).

Student Disciplinary Records

A student transcript records only information of an academic nature and disciplinary action which denies the student the privilege of continuing in or returning to the College. Other discipline records are kept for five (5) years by the College. The College will abide by all federal and state regulations regarding the privacy of student records and comply with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 regarding access procedures.

Student Load

As defined by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, the amount of credit awarded for a course is based on the amount of time in class, the amount of outside preparation required, and the intensity of the educational experience.

• A formal lecture course with extensive assigned reading or other out-of-class preparation is awarded one semester credit for a minimum of 750 minutes or 12.5 hours of classroom instruction;
• A laboratory class with moderate out-of-class preparation is awarded one semester credit for a minimum of 500 minutes or 25 hours of laboratory instruction; and
• Clinical, practicum, internship, or other self-paced learning activities involving work-related experience with little or no out-of-class preparation is awarded one semester credit for a minimum of 2250 minutes or 37.5 hours of work-related instruction.

North Arkansas College defines student load as a semester hour earned when students satisfactorily complete course work to which they devote the equivalent of one hour per week in class and the equivalent of two hours per week out of class for approximately fifteen weeks.

In laboratory courses it is necessary to spend more time for each semester hour of credit. The normal academic course load of North Arkansas College is 15 semester hours fall or spring semesters. No more than seven semester hours will be allowed during any single summer term. According to Federal Financial Aid eligibility, twelve hours or more is considered a full-time student load and 18 hours is the maximum load, although some technical areas may require more. Students outside these technical areas who wish to take more than 18 hours in a regular semester or more than 10 hours in either summer term, or 14 hours for both terms, must obtain written permission from the Chair/Program Director and Dean of the student’s declared major area.

Student Right to Know

North Arkansas college shall comply with The Student Right-to-Know Act of 1990.

The following information on the graduation rates of our cohorts of full-time, first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates, and student athletes that have received financial aid shall be posted and/or publically available.

Student body diversity, student retention rates and completion/graduation rates (for the general student population and student athletes receiving athletically related aid) shall be included in the reporting.

The Student Right-to-Know Act, passed by Congress in 1990, requires institutions eligible for Title IV funding, under the Higher Education Act of 1965, to calculate completion or graduation rates of certificate- or degree-seeking, full-time students entering that institution, and to disclose these rates to current and prospective students.  Every institution that participates in any Title IV program and is attended by students receiving athletically-related student aid is required to disclose graduation/completion rates of all students as well as students receiving athletically-related student aid by race/ethnicity, gender and by sport, and the average completion or graduation rate for the four most recent years, to parents, coaches, and potential student athletes.  To read more about the Student Right-to-Know Act, please visit the National Center for Education Statistics website at http://nces.ed.gov. 

North Arkansas College, acting in compliance with the Student Right to Know Act, posts the following information on the graduation rates of our cohorts of full-time, first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates, and student athletes that have received financial aid.   The graduation rates show the graduation/completion status of students who enrolled for whom 150% of the normal time-to-completion of a two-year, undergraduate degree has elapsed.

Student Body Diversity (NPEC, Summary of HEA Institutional Disclosure Requirements, reference number 8)

Brief Description: Institutions must make available to current and prospective students information about student body diversity, including the percentage of enrolled, full-time students in the following categories: male, female, self-identified members of a major racial or ethnic group, and Federal Pell Grant recipients.

Retention Rates (NPEC, Summary of HEA Institutional Disclosure Requirements, reference number 24)

Brief Description: Institutions must make available to current and prospective students the retention rate of certificate- or degree-seeking, first-time, undergraduate students as reported to IPEDS.

Completion/Graduation Rates (NPEC, Summary of HEA Institutional Disclosure Requirements, reference number 25)

Brief Description:  Each institution must annually make available to prospective and enrolled students the completion or graduation rate of certificate- or degree-seeking, first-time, full-time, undergraduate students. The HEOA (Sec. 488(a) (3)) added a provision requiring that the completion or graduation rates must be disaggregated by gender, major racial and ethnic subgroup (as defined in IPEDS), recipients of a Federal Pell Grant, recipients of a subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant, and students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan.

Completion/Graduation Rates for Students Receiving Athletically Related Aid (NPEC, Summary of HEA Institutional Disclosure Requirements, reference number 26)

Brief Description:  Each institution must produce by July 1 each year a report that is provided to a prospective student athlete and the student’s parents, high school guidance counselor, and coach at the time the institution offers athletically related student aid. The report must contain the number of students, by race and gender, who attended the institution in the prior year; the number of students who attended in the prior year and who received athletically related aid, categorized by race and gender within each sport (basketball, football, baseball, cross-country and track combined, and all other sports combined); the completion or graduation rate, and if applicable, the transfer-out rate, of the certificate- or degree-seeking first-time, full-time undergraduates, categorized by race and gender for the most recently completing class; the completion or graduation rate, and if applicable, the transfer-out rate, of the certificate- or degree-seeking first-time, full-time undergraduates who received athletically related student aid, categorized by race and gender within sport. (These data need not be disclosed for a category in which the number of students is five or fewer.); average completion or graduation rate, and, if applicable, transfer-out rate, of the four most recently completing or graduating classes, by race and gender; and average completion or graduation rate, and, if applicable, transfer-out rate, of the four most recently completing or graduating classes for students who received athletically related student aid, categorized by race and gender within each sport.

Student Transcript

Official transcripts are provided free of charge on request by students in good financial standing with the College. Official transcript requests must be made by the student in writing, via fax or email. Transcripts will not be issued if the student has past due financial obligations to the college. Unofficial transcripts may be viewed and/or printed via Northark’s student information system.

Transcript Release Forms are available in the Registrar’s Office and on the Northark website.

Students are responsible for keeping the Registrar’s Office informed of their current residence, mailing address and telephone number. Student Data Change forms are available in the Registrar’s Office or online.

Title IX Rights of Pregnant and Parenting Students

North Arkansas is committed to creating and maintaining a community where all individuals enjoy freedom from discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of sex, as mandated by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX). Sex discrimination, which can include discrimination based on pregnancy, marital status, or parental status, is prohibited and illegal in admissions, educational programs and activities, hiring, leave policies, employment policies, and health insurance coverage.  Northark hereby establishes a policy and associated procedures for ensuring the protection and equal treatment of pregnant individuals, persons with pregnancy related conditions and new parents. See Student Handbook for details of Title IX Rights of Pregnant and Parenting Students.

Withdrawing from/Dropping a Class or Classes

Students who wish to withdraw from/drop a class or classes must do so in the Office of the Registrar.

Students dropping from a class prior to the withdrawal deadline date listed on the academic calendars in the front of the catalog will receive a “W.”  Students dropping a class that differs from the fifteen-week regular semester or a five-week summer session will have the same percentage of time to withdraw with a grade of “W.”

Without the instructor’s written permission, students may not be re-instated into a class from which they have officially withdrawn.  No reinstatement may be made after the final examination period has begun.

Students are expected to attend all class meetings and officially drop courses they are no longer attending.  Faculty will not drop or withdraw students from courses for any reason.

Students who do not withdraw within the stated deadlines and in accordance with this policy will receive the grade earned for that course.

Students may be administratively withdrawn from an academic program, to which they have been admitted, by the dean for failure to progress in the sequenced courses or for policy violations as outlined in the program-specific policy manuals.  Students will be withdrawn from program courses only; any withdrawal from general education or associated courses follows the process outlined in this policy.

For withdrawal dates and deadlines, students should consult the academic calendar online, in the Northark catalog, or in the Student Handbook.

Students who wish to drop a class or classes after the end of registration must complete the following steps:

1. Obtain “Change of Class Schedule” form from an academic advisor on South Campus or at the front desk on North Campus.
2. Return completed form to the Registrar’s Office on South Campus or to the front desk on North Campus.

The class has not been officially dropped until the student has completed the steps above. Financial Aid recipients should take note that withdrawing from some/all classes may partially reduce or revoke financial aid and could result in a significant account balance due, or, if financial aid residual has already been received, some repayment may be required. Students who are administratively withdrawn from an academic program, to which they have been admitted, will have the “Change of Class Schedule” submitted by the dean.