Registration

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Graduation Petition Student Email MyUArts Portal/My UArts Record Change of Address Change of Name Matriculated Students Non-Matriculated Students Full-Time Credit Load/Overloads Definition of the Academic Year and Calculation of Contact-hours Student Classification Transfer of Credit Credit from Nonaccredited Institutions   Credit by Portfolio/Audition Additional Policies Change of Major/Degree Program/College Change in Degree Requirements Course Substitutions Schedule Revision—Drop/Add Withdrawal from a Course Leave of Absence Medical Leave of Absence General Leave to Absence Graduate Leave of Absence Withdrawal from the University Withdrawal from a course Readmission

Registration occurs prior to each semester, for the Fall semester in April, and for the Spring semester in November. In preparing for registration, students consult with their faculty advisors, who help them assemble schedules for the semester and who give final approval to all course selections. The meeting with the faculty advisor does not constitute registration. Instead, it is the student’s responsibility to register either online or in person for the course selections listed on their advising form. Once the drop/add period has ended at the beginning of a semester, all students participating in the course, whether enrolled for credit or audit, must be officially registered. Students who are not officially registered for the course will not be permitted to attend.

Late Registration

A late-registration fee of $35 will be charged to any student who has not completed registration by the first day of term. Late registration may jeopardize a student’s chance of obtaining his/her desired course schedule.

Place Holders

During registration some students have trouble finding courses that fit in their schedules. As a result, they may not be able to register for the 12-credit minimum (nine credits for graduate students) necessary to maintain full-time status. In order to allow such students to pick up a course(s) during the Drop/Add period and thereby maintain their full time status for Financial Aid purposes, a “place holder” is added to the student’s registration. It is presumed that the student will find an additional course during the Drop/Add period that takes place during the first 10 days of the semester. Prior to the beginning of the Drop/Add period, each student who has a place holder will be reminded, via email, to register for the additional course(s). If the student does not register for additional coursework by the end of Drop/Add, the place holder will be deleted. At that time, a list of non-full-time students in this status will be generated for the Student Billing Office and Financial Aid Offices for review. This may cause changes in status of the financial aid award and student bill. Under no circumstances will a place holder remain on the registration form after the Drop/Add period ends.

Meeting requirements for graduation is the student’s responsibility and each student is encouraged upon entering the final year of the degree program to consult with the Registrar to ensure that all major requirements will be completed on schedule for graduation by submitting a formal “Petition to Graduate.”

Students are responsible for regularly reading and responding to email sent by the University faculty, staff, and administration to the students’ UArts email account for the entirety of the time they are enrolled at the University. Students are also required to use their UArts email account for all email correspondence with the University’s faculty, staff and administration. Therefore, the University’s offices and faculty will only accept email when sent via the student’s UArts email account.

Each student is assigned an email account upon enrolling, and is responsible for activating their account by the first day of classes of their first semester of attendance. Students can activate their email account online through the University portal. A letter containing the user account and pin number will be mailed to the student¹s home residence before the start of classes. The portal url address is http://myuarts.uarts.edu. Email and Portal support can be obtained by visiting Network Services in Room 250 in Hamilton Hall, via telephone at 215-717-6997, or by emailing portalsupport@uarts.edu.

Students are also expected to regularly check the My UArts Portal for University-related announcements and notifications. The portal is the primary source for student information, which includes grades, class schedules, transcripts, degree audits, and GPAs. Please note that information such as this is no longer mailed to students via U.S. mail, except upon request. Access to the portal, including student email, is available in the open computer labs on campus.

Email and portal accounts remain active for enrolled students and students on approved hiatus and will not be terminated unless the student is withdrawn from the University. The accounts for students who graduate from the University will remain active for one year from the graduation date, however, those interested in keeping their accounts beyond this time period can call the Development office at 215-717-6140 to make appropriate arrangements.

Students are also expected to regularly check the MyUArts portal for University-related announcements and notifications. The portal is the primary source for student information, as well as access to the student’s academic record. Through the MyUArts portal students can register online, change their address, request an official transcript or enrollment verification, review their grades, class schedules, transcripts, degree audits, and GPAs. Because this information is readily available through the portal, information such as this is no longer mailed to students via U.S. mail, except upon request.

It is essential that students keep the Office of the Registrar informed of all current addresses. A change of address can be completed through the MyUArts portal or by obtaining a form from the Office of the Registrar. All information sent via U.S. mail is mailed to the addresses provided by the student and cannot be changed by anyone other then the student.

Students must notify the Office of the Registrar of any change of name (through marriage, divorce, etc.) by bringing to the office an original legal document showing the change, which may be photocopied by the Registrar and kept on file.

Matriculated students are those who have applied, been accepted, and enrolled in a degree program at The University of the Arts during the semester for which they were admitted. Course credits completed prior to matriculation at the University will not necessarily be accepted into the degree programs. In no case will more than six credits taken as a non-matriculated student at The University of the Arts be accepted into the degree program. Students seeking degrees may enroll for part-time or full-time study.

A student who takes classes in a major department but is not enrolled in a degree program at The University of the Arts and has not submitted an application to the Office of Admission qualifies as a non-matriculated student.

Non-matriculated status provides opportunity to study with a specific professor, or pursue additional college-level instruction for those who already hold a bachelor’s degree.

Non-matriculated students may enroll for a maximum of 11.5 credits per semester and may not audit any classes.

Students who subsequently enroll in a University of the Arts degree program may apply a maximum of six credits taken as a nonmatriculated student to their degree at the discretion of the department director/chair. Non-matriculating students who are simultaneously enrolled or have plans to enroll at another institution may transfer credits to that institution if they have received prior approval in writing from that institution.

To enroll as a non-matriculated student, please contact the Office of the Registrar. Non-matriculated students must request permission from the department chairperson or director for each course in which they wish to enroll. Please be advised that there are no payment plans or financial aid opportunities for non-matriculated students, and access is dependent upon the availability of space in their desired program. Non-matriculated students are otherwise governed by all the rules and regulations that apply to matriculated students, including submission of proof of high school graduation prior to enrollment.

Full-time undergraduate students are defined as those who are enrolled in at least 12 credits a semester. Students wishing to take more than 18 credits in a semester must obtain permission from the dean of their college. Factors such as grade-point average and progress in meeting degree requirements will be considered in giving permission for an overload; students are expected to be in good standing and have a 3.0 GPA. Students seeking approval to register for an excess of 18 credits must complete the Request for Overload Approval form and submit it to the Office of the Dean, of their college, for approval. Please note that excess credits are subject to additional charges at the standard credit rate. Registration as Audit or Pass/Fail is counted the same as all other academic credit for the purpose of determining tuition.

Graduate students are considered full-time if enrolled in at least nine credits per term.

International students must maintain full-time status.

The traditional  academic year includes a  fall and spring semester, which together include 31  weeks of  instructional time; 15 in the Fall, and 16 in the Spring. The  University  considers critiques, juries and examinations as instructional time,  and  therefore the Spring semester includes a 16th week for end-of-the-year presentation and assessment of student work. Summer semesters are each  six  weeks long.  

Within an academic year, the number of  credits that  the University suggests a full-time matriculated   student complete varies  from program to program.  The University, however, expects full-time  undergraduate students to  complete a minimum of 24 credits within an academic  year, but no more  then 36 credits. Full time matriculated graduate  students are  expected to complete a minimum of 18 credits within an academic  year,  but no more than 36 credits.
 
The University Catalog   includes the credit-to-contact hour ratios for each course.  This   information is based on a 15 -week semester. Therefore, a three-credit  course  meeting for six hours per week will have 90 contact hours.   Courses  scheduled during the summer session meet with greater  frequency to insure that  the appropriate number of contact hours is  delivered within the six-week time  frame.
 
Courses offered  in the summer sessions are usually limited to the Liberal Arts and electives.  Major programs, with the exception  of Foundation and some graduate  programs, do not usually offer major  coursework during the summer.   Summer Sessions are not  considered part of the standard academic  year, with the  exception of those students who enter the first semester  of the Foundation  Program in the College of Art and Design in the spring   semester, and the low residency MFA. Students enrolled in the Foundation  Program are expected to enroll in and complete  9  credits, and low residency MFA  students are expected to register for 12 credits.  All other  students enroll for summer courses on a part-time, per credit basis.  

A student’s class status is determined by the number of credits earned, regardless of the number of semesters of enrollment or the student’s standing in his or her major program. Class status is a factor in determining financial aid eligibility and is one indicator of academic progress. Class standing is also used to prioritize scheduling during registration.

Students may receive credit for courses taken at other regionally accredited institutions that are similar in content, purpose, and standards to those offered at The University of the Arts. A minimum grade of “C” in a course is required for consideration for transfer credit. Only credits are transferable, not grades.

Candidates are given a preliminary transfer credit evaluation at the time of admission; final award of transfer credit and placement level are subject to receipt of final official transcripts and verification by the registrar at the time of enrollment.

Based on the applicant’s portfolio or audition, credit may be awarded at the time of admission by the department chairperson/director of the intended major. The maximum number of credits awarded may not exceed the number of credits earned at the nonaccredited institution (as adjusted to conform with the University’s credit evaluation policies). These credits may be assigned to fulfill specific requirements of The University of the Arts degree as agreed upon by the department chair/director and the Registrar.

A maximum of 18 credits may be granted to applicants by portfolio review or audition for artistic experience independent of any coursework. Credit by portfolio or audition is granted only for work done prior to matriculation at The University of the Arts.

• Academic standing and course credit based on portfolio review are determined by the appropriate department chairperson/director during the admission process. This portfolio work cannot have been part of the assigned work for a secondary or post-secondary course.
• Audition credit requires the approval of the Audition Committee and the school director. Academic standing and course credit based on the audition are determined during the admission process.

1. A student who has completed one degree and wishes to matriculate in another does so by applying to the new program through the Office of Admission.
2. A student may be awarded a particular degree from the University only once; i.e., once the student has earned an MA, he or she may not be awarded another MA.
3. A student may not receive two different master’s degrees from the same program; i.e., he or she cannot pursue both the MA in Art Education and MAT in Visual Arts.
4. A student may earn up to two master’s degrees at the University, either simultaneously or sequentially.
5. If a student is approved for a double degree, and six credits are shared between the two programs, the student may transfer a maximum of six additional credits from an accredited institution.
6. Students in the Summer MFA program who wish to pursue a second graduate degree will be charged the regular graduate tuition rate in the semesters in which they are pursuing two degrees.

Students may request a change of major through the Office of the Registrar. Students are advised to initiate the Change of Major Petition prior to registration for the upcoming semester. The petition requires the approval of the appropriate chairpersons or directors of both the former and the intended new department or school. The student will be required either to present a portfolio or to audition as part of the transfer review process. Please note that acceptance into a new major program within the University may be contingent upon the successful completion of the courses in which the student was enrolled at the time the application to make the change was submitted. Therefore, approval to change majors may be rescinded based on the result of that semester’s coursework.

After completion of a change of major, students are advised to review their degree program requirements with their new academic advisor, the department chair or school director, and the dean of the appropriate college.

Students who have not completed degree requirements at the end of seven years from the date of initial matriculation may be subject to new degree requirements, which will be determined by the department chairperson and the Office of the Registrar on a case-by-case basis.

Occasionally a student may not be able to enroll in the exact course required for the degree program, or the department may recommend an alternate course to better suit a specific academic goal. In these cases, the student is to request an approval for a course substitution from the department chairperson or program director. The director/chair lists the required course and the approved substitution on the form. After completion the department chairperson or program director submits the form to the Office of the Registrar for processing.

Beginning with the first week of the semester, students who have obtained Student Billing Office clearance may revise their schedules without academic penalty until the end of the Drop/Add period. The Drop/Add period takes place during the first 10 days of classes each semester in accordance with the Academic Calendar.

A student may withdraw from a course with a “W” (Withdrawal) grade from the last day of the Drop/Add period through the last day of the tenth week of the semester. The withdrawal form must be signed by the course instructor and the student’s advisor and submitted to the Office of the Registrar prior to the deadline.

After the end of the tenth week a “W” grade is possible only under unusual circumstances such as an accident or severe illness, which must be documented. Permission to withdraw under such unusual circumstances must be given by the instructor and the Office of the Dean of Students.

A student who wishes to withdraw from all classes must initiate an official Withdrawal or Leave of Absence from the University as outlined in this catalog. If a student withdraws from all classes and does not officially withdraw from the University or take a leave of absence, he/she may be administratively withdrawn from the University or dismissed in accordance with Academic Review policies.

There are two types of Leave of Absence, medical and general.

A Medical Leave of Absence is granted to students who wish to apply for a leave due to a medical condition. A Medical Leave must be approved by the Dean of Students. An approved Medical Leave of Absence indicates that a student may return to classes at the end of his/her leave once appropriate medical documentation has been received and verified by the Dean of Students.

A General Leave of Absence is granted to students who wish to take time away from school for personal reasons of a non-medical nature.

For both leaves the date effective is the date of separation from the University that will be noted on the transcript.

Date Effective is determined by the Dean of Students for all Medical Leaves of Absence, and by the date that the Request for Leave of Absence Form is issued, as indicated by the Office of the Registrar.

The effective date for the Leave of Absence is the date the form is obtained from the Office of the Registrar. The Dean of Students may override this date based on medical conditions for a medical leave of absence, when deemed appropriate.

A student may request either type of Leave of Absence by obtaining a Leave of Absence Form, available in the Office of the Registrar. Only students in good academic standing may request a Leave of Absence. Undergraduate students who maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative and semester grade-point average (GPA) are considered to be in good standing. A Leave may be granted for one or two semesters, with approval granted by the Dean of the appropriate college, for a general leave, and by the Dean of Students for a Medical Leave. If a student plans to be away for more than two semesters a Leave cannot be granted and the student must withdraw and then apply for readmission at the time they wish to return.

A Leave of Absence for a semester already in progress will not be granted after the tenth week of the semester. If a student wishes to leave prior to the end of the tenth week and the request is approved, he/she may withdraw from the current semester courses, with the leave taking effect in the current and subsequent semester. In this instance, the student will be subject to the grading, withdrawal periods, and withdrawal refund policies listed elsewhere in this catalog. If a student wishes to depart after the tenth week of the semester, he/she must withdraw from the University.

A student may return before the expiration of the Leave by indicating his/her intention to do so in writing to the Office of the Registrar.

If the student does not register for the term following the Leave’s expiration, but wishes to resume his/her studies at a later date, the student must apply for readmission following the reapplication guidelines in this catalog.

If a student is granted a Leave of Absence for a future semester, but is subsequently placed on probation for the current semester, the Leave of Absence will be converted to a withdrawal. Notification of a conversion to “withdrawn” status will be provided in writing by the Office of the Registrar. Students who are converted to a “withdrawn” status must apply for readmission through the Office of the Registrar in accordance with the policies described in this catalog.

The following is required to obtain a Leave of Absence:

1. The student obtains a Request for Leave of Absence Form from the Office of the Registrar.
2. The student obtains approval from his/her department chair/director.
3. The Student submits the form to the college dean to request a General Leave of Absence and to the Dean of Students for a Medical Leave of Absence for approval.
4. After the Leave of Absence approvals are obtained, the student submits the completed form to the Office of the Registrar for processing and coding. A copy of the form will then be distributed to the student and the Deans.

A graduate student may take a Leave of Absence prior to the completion of all coursework, subject to approval by his/her program director, and in accordance with the policy described above. Graduate students may take a maximum of two one-semester Leaves of Absence throughout their course of study, whether in sequence or as needed. Once the thesis or Master of Music graduate project has begun and all coursework has been completed, graduate students are not eligible for a Leave of Absence. Students must register and pay for the thesis continuation fee for successive semesters and are not eligible for a Leave of Absence.

A student may withdraw from the University by initiating an official Withdrawal process with the Office of the Registrar. Students who withdraw prior to the beginning of the fall, spring or summer semesters, or prior to the end of the Drop/Add period, do so without academic penalty.

Official Withdrawals after the Drop/Add period, but prior to the end of the tenth week of the respective fall or spring semester or second week of the respective summer session, will result in the notation of the grade “W” (Withdrawal) for all courses.

Students are not permitted to withdraw without academic penalty from the University after the end of the tenth week of a fall or spring semester or second week of a summer session, except when non-academic extenuating circumstances exist, in which case documentation (by a physician or a counseling professional) must be presented and approval of the appropriate Dean must be obtained.

Students who have withdrawn and who wish to resume their studies at a later date must submit a Reapplication Form to the Office of the Registrar, in accordance with application deadlines, and pay the readmission fee.

The following procedure should be followed to obtain official Withdrawal from the University:

1. The student obtains a Withdrawal from the University Form from the Office of the Registrar.
2. If the student does so in person, the Office of the Registrar will advise the student to visit the Dean of Students.

If the student withdrawing from the University is not physically on campus, the Office of the Registrar will accept a letter signed by the student or an email from the student’s UArts email account. After processing the withdrawal, appropriate departments will be notified.

Non-attendance in classes or non-payment of tuition does not constitute grounds for withdrawal. The University does not recognize non-attendance in classes or non-payment of tuition as the equivalent of withdrawal. If the student has not officially withdrawn, and does not attend classes, he/she will be administratively withdrawn prior to the next semester.

Written appeal for reinstatement as a degree candidate requires submission of a completed Reapplication form (see above), available in the Office of the Registrar, and a payment of a $50.00 reapplication fee by June 1 for the fall semester and November 1 for the spring semester. Appropriate deans, departmental chairpersons/directors, and the Student Billing Office must endorse the readmission prior to registration. The major department reserves the right to require transcripts, letters of recommendation, an additional portfolio review, or audition. Credit for courses taken seven or more years prior to the date of readmission will be re-evaluated in conjunction with degree programs currently offered. Academic units may choose not to accept courses regardless of when they were completed for credit toward the degree. Final determination on the reapplication will be made by the dean of the college. A decision on readmission applies only to the semester listed on the reapplication. If the student is accepted and does not return for that semester, the student must reapply.

In the event of dismissal, an application for readmission will not be entertained until a full academic year has elapsed. Readmitted students will carry the cumulative GPA that was in place at the completion of the last semester attended at UArts. Please also note that previous censure from the Academic Review Committee will apply to all readmitted students.