Provost Reports: Fall ‘05 Admissions & “D-Rule”

Faculty Senate Meeting

The University of ArkansasFayetteville, ARFebruary 15, 2006

Bob SmithProvost & Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, The University of Arkansas

FALL 2005 NEW FRESHMEN

PROFILE OF ADMITTED APPLICANTS

ADMITS

PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL

ADMITTED

ENROLLED FALL 2005

AVG HS GPA AVG ACTAVG HS UNITS

AUTOMATIC ADMISSION3.0 GPA and 20 ACT and 16 UNIT

CORE3,259 75.77

2116(64.93%)

3.69 26.11 16

ADMINISTRATIVE ADMIT677 15.74

403(59.53%)

3.1 22.31 15.55

SUMMERPROGRAM 147 3.32

60(40.82%)

2.91 19.33 15.55

SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PROGRAM

(NON-DEGREE)222 4.16

94(42.34%)

2.66 20.13 15.22

February 15, 2006

“D-Rule” Report

“Old” “D” Transfer Rule

• Applies to UA students enrolled prior to January 1, 2004• Petition to Faculty Committee on Admission &

Transfer of Credit (FCATC) for “D” credit • FCATC makes final decision• Accepted “Ds” are for general transfer credit only • Petitioner must appeal to his or her college to have

“D”-graded work counted toward degree

“D-Rule” Report cont’d“New” “D” Transfer Rule • Effective for students enrolling at The U of A for 1st time after

1/1/04• Basic Requirements:

• Students must have cumulative 2.0 or greater GPA on a 4.0 scale

• Courses must meet general education core or elective requirements in student’s degree program

• Courses outside the degree program & courses in the major cannot be considered for transfer

• If accepted, courses count for general transfer & toward the student’s graduation requirements

“D-Rule” Report cont’d

Since January 1, 2004, how many students requested transfers? • “Old” rule: 45 petitioners requested transfers of

54 “D” grades; FCATC approved 30/54 “D” grades (56%)

• “New” rule: 106 petitioners requested transfers of 148 “D” grades; FCATC 29/148

(20%); 3rd Level Admin Review 117/148 (66%)

“D-Rule” Report cont’d

Since January 1, 2004, of the students & hours requested for transfer, how many involved athletes?• Eighteen (18) athletes petitioned for 28 courses

under the “New” rule• The FCATC recommended approving 11/28

(39%) “D”-grade transfers & recommended denying 17 “D”-grade transfers

•The 3rd Level Admission Committee approved all 28 courses for transfer

“D-Rule” Report cont’dHow many petitioners were from each college (under the “New” rule)?• Arts & Sciences = 41• Education & Health Professions = 40• Business = 13• Agricultural, Food, & Life Sciences = 9• Architecture = 3• Engineering = 3 Total = 109

“D-Rule” Report cont’dWhat were some of the reasons used in seeking transfer of “D” grades (under the “New” rule)?

• Didn’t feel grade represented capabilities & learning in course

• Course was too hard or unfairly administered • Grades in other courses were above “D” • Needed credit to graduate • Needed to save money • Have particular problems with certain subjects (e.g., math) • Needed courses for NCAA eligibility

“D-Rule” Report cont’d• Are there any statistical significant differences among petitioners and non-petitioning transfer students in weighted grade point average or average semester hours taken (under the “New” rule)?

• Based on available information of transfer students who have completed a semester at the U of A: • “New” rule approved petitioners: weighted grade point average = 2.70; average semester hours earned = 9.7 hours • Total transfer student population (excluding approved petitioners above) for like terms: weighted grade point average = 2.81; average semester hours earned = 8.7 hours • While the sample size for petitioners is small, there is no statistically significant difference between the average GPA of those who petitioned and those who did not.

Provost Reports: Fall ‘05 Admissions & “D-Rule”

Faculty Senate Meeting

The University of Arkansas

Fayetteville, ARFebruary 15, 2006

Q/A