2002-2003 UAF Catalog

Undergraduate

Academic Regulations

Student Code of Conduct

As a UAF student, you're subject to the Student Code of Conduct. In accordance with Board of Regents' Policy 09.02.01, UAF will maintain an academic environment in which the freedom to teach, conduct research, learn, and administer the university is protected. Students will enjoy maximum benefit from this environment by accepting responsibilities commensurate with their role in the academic community. The principles of the Code are designed to facilitate communication, foster academic integrity, and defend freedoms of inquiry, discussion, and expression among members of the university community.

UAF requires students to conduct themselves honestly and responsibly, and to respect the rights of others. Conduct that unreasonably interferes with the learning environment or that violates the rights of others is prohibited. Students and student organizations will be responsible for ensuring that they and their guests comply with the Code while on property owned or controlled by the university or at activities authorized by the university.

Disciplinary action may be initiated by the university and disciplinary sanctions imposed against any student or student organization found responsible for committing, attempting to commit, or intentionally assisting in the commission of any of the following prohibited forms of conduct:

  1. cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic dishonesty;
  2. forgery, falsification, alteration, or misuse of documents, funds, or property;
  3. damage or destruction of property;
  4. theft of property or services;
  5. harassment;
  6. endangerment, assault, or infliction of physical harm;
  7. disruptive or obstructive actions;
  8. misuse of firearms, explosives, weapons, dangerous devices, or dangerous chemicals;
  9. failure to comply with university directives;
  10. misuse of alcohol or other intoxicants or drugs;
  11. violation of published university policies, regulations, rules, or procedures; or
  12. any other actions that result in unreasonable interference with the learning environment or the rights of others.

This list is not intended to define prohibited conduct in exhaustive terms, but rather to set forth examples to serve as guidelines for acceptable and unacceptable behavior.

Honesty is a primary responsibility of you and every other UAF student. The following are common guidelines regarding academic integrity:

  1. Students will not collaborate on any quizzes, in-class exams, or take-home exams that will contribute to their grade in a course, unless permission is granted by the instructor of the course. Only those materials permitted by the instructor may be used to assist in quizzes and examinations.
  2. Students will not represent the work of others as their own. A student will attribute the source of information not original with himself or herself (direct quotes or paraphrases) in compositions, theses and other reports.
  3. No work submitted for one course may be submitted for credit in another course without the explicit approval of both instructors.

Alleged violations of the Code of Conduct will be reviewed in accordance with procedures specified in regent's policy, university regulations and UAF rules and procedures. For additional information and details about the Student Code of Conduct, contact the Dean of Student Services or web www.alaska.edu/bor/ or refer to the student handbook that is printed in the back of the class schedule for each semester. Students are encouraged to review the entire code.

Student Behavioral Standards

Education at the university is conceived as training for citizenship as well as for personal self-improvement and development. Generally, UAF behavioral regulations are designed to help you work efficiently in courses and live responsibly in the campus environment. They are not designed to ignore your individuality but rather to encourage you to exercise self-discipline and accept your social responsibility. These regulations, in most instances, were developed jointly by staff and students. You should become familiar with campus policies and regulations as published in the student handbook.

Information Release

Access to Records

Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, you are entitled, as a UAF student, to review your records. Except for directory information, no personally identifiable information is disclosed to agencies outside UAF without the written permission of the student. Records are made available for legitimate UAF professional use on a need-to-know basis.

Directory Information

Directory information is disclosed to the public on a routine basis unless you request, in writing, to the university registrar that such information not be released. Forms to request that directory information not be released are available in the Office of the Registrar. You must complete this form each semester. No directory information is released during the first five working days of each semester. After that, information will be released when appropriate, unless you return the form to the Office of the Registrar. The following is considered directory information:

  1. Name
  2. Address, telephone
  3. Home address (permanent)
  4. Weight and height of students on athletic teams
  5. Date of birth
  6. Dates of attendance and current class standing
  7. Major field(s) of study
  8. Degrees and awards received, including dates
  9. Participation in officially recognized activities
  10. Chancellor's List and Dean's List recognition each semester

Majors

You may declare a major when you are admitted as a degree-seeking undergraduate student to UAF. If you do not follow a curriculum leading to a specific degree, you will be enrolled as a general studies major. If you are interested in a particular school or college, but have not selected a major, you will be enrolled as a non-major within that division.

If you're an associate degree or certificate student wishing to declare a baccalaureate degree major, you must complete the admission process for bachelor's degree programs. (See Admission Requirements.)

Non-degree students aren't eligible to declare a major or to be assigned class standing.

Change of Major

You may change your major during registration by completing a change of major form, available from the Registrar's Office. You need to have the written consent of the department heads concerned and must turn the completed form into the Registrar's Office. A change of major becomes effective only at the beginning of a semester.

Petitions

Deviations from academic requirements and regulations for undergraduate students must be approved by academic petition. If you submit a petition on the basis of a disability, the coordinator of disability services will be consulted. Petition forms are available from the Office of the Registrar. Once the required signatures have been obtained, you'll need to submit all petitions to the Registrar's Office. There are three types of petitions:

  1. Core Curriculum Petitions: If your petition deals with Baccalaureate Core requirements, have it approved by your advisor and the head of the department of the academic area involved. After you turn in the completed petition to the Registrar's Office, it will be forwarded to the chair of the Core Review Committee for final approval.
  2. Major or Minor Degree Requirement Petitions: If you wish to waive or substitute courses in your major or minor, you'll need to get the signatures of your advisor and of the department or program head of your major or minor area before turning in the completed petition at the Registrar's Office.
  3. Petitions for Other Requirements: If your petition deals with general university and/or specific requirements for your degree or other academic policies, you must obtain approval from your advisor and the dean or director of the college of school in which your major is located. The Registrar's Office will forward the petition to the provost for final approval.

You will be notified by the Registrar's Office when your petition has been approved.

Reserving Courses for Graduate Programs

If you're a senior with only a few remaining requirements for your bachelor's degree, you may take courses at the upper division or graduate level if space is available and have them reserved for an advanced degree. To do this, you must be in your final year of an undergraduate program and must submit a written petition during the first four weeks of the semester identifying which courses being taken that semester are to be reserved for graduate study and are not to be counted toward your bachelor's degree. (Reserving these courses, however, does not assure that they will be accepted by a graduate advisory committee as part of your eventual graduate program.)

Students' Rights and Responsibilities

The university subscribes to principles of due process and fair hearings as specified in the "Joint Statement on Rights and Freedoms of Students." You are encouraged to familiarize yourself with this document, which can be found in the Office of Student Services.

Most students find it relatively easy to adjust to the privileges and responsibilities of university citizenship. For those who find this more difficult, the university attempts to provide needed counsel to help you gain insight and confidence in adjusting to your new environment. In some cases, if you are unable or unwilling to assume your social responsibilities as a citizen in the university community, the institution may terminate your enrollment or take whatever action is deemed necessary and appropriate.