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UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS

DEPARTMENT OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

 

         Graduation            Petition for Degree            Retention            FERPA        WITHDRAWAL

 

GRADUATE PROGRAM IN SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

 

ADVISEMENT:  Upon notification of acceptance to the graduate program and prior to initial registration, each student must consult with Sharon Ross, Graduate Program Coordinator and Graduate Advisor.  An educational program will be planned to enable the student to complete requirements for graduation, training program requirements for ASHA Certification, Arkansas State Licensure and Arkansas Teacher Licensure requirements (if desired). University policy is that students have sole responsibility for being familiar with and complying with graduation requirements.  We will do everything we can, through individual and group, academic and clinical advising, to be sure you have the information you need.

 

During the initial advising meeting, a review of undergraduate courses will be completed.  Progress towards meeting ASHA certification requirements will be documented on the Academic Coursework Summary Form.  This form is maintained in the student advising file and is updated each semester.  The graduate advisor will also review degree requirements and assist the student in compiling a schedule of courses to be taken during their first semester of graduate studies.

 

An additional advising meeting is scheduled during the first semester of the student’s graduate studies.  A preliminary plan of study is developed for each student.  This plan is maintained in the student’s advising file and a copy is given to the student.

 

During subsequent semesters, the graduate advisor will inform students of their progress towards meeting degree requirements and assist students with the registration process.

 

COMPLAINTS PROCESS: Students may file complaints according to the policies and procedures outlined in the UCA Student Handbook.  These include policies for academic complaints, sexual harassment, and standards of student conduct.  Processes for complaints/appeals vary depending upon the category.  All 1st semester graduate students will be given a UCA Student Handbook.  Students may consult with the department chair regarding appropriate procedures as outlined in the UCA Student Handbook.

 

The Master of Science degree program in speech-language pathology at the University of Central Arkansas is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).  Complaints against graduate education programs should be submitted to the chair of the Council on Academic Accreditation, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.  Procedures for submitting complaints have been posted in the department.  Click here for complaint procedures.

 

RETENTION:  Once admitted, a student’s progress in the Speech-Language Pathology program is reviewed routinely.  To remain in good standing the student must:

 

            A.  Maintain a minimum overall grade point average of 3.0        

A student whose cumulative grade-point average is less than 3.0 is on academic probation and will not be permitted to enroll in graduate clinical hours until a 3.0 is achieved.  In the next semester in attendance, the student should achieve a cumulative 3.0 or the student is ineligible to continue graduate studies at UCA.

 

B.  Observe the fundamental rules of ethical conduct as described in the Code of Ethics of the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association

 

C. Maintain satisfactory non-academic criteria that are important to function as a Speech-Language Pathologist. Consequently you are required to meet the following criteria: 

1. Oral communication abilities adequate to function as a speech-language pathologist. The program adheres to ASHA's position statement,  "Students and Professionals Who Speak English with Accents and Nonstandard Dialects."

2. Auditory ability adequate for assessing speech-language problems and providing treatment 

3. Interpersonal behaviors that reflect professional standards. Assessment of non-academic requirements involves the professional judgments of faculty and administrators. It is crucial that client and patient rights to appropriate speech and language services be protected. It is the University's responsibility to protect both students and the clients they serve. The UCA Speech-Language Pathology faculty deals with these issues through regular reviews of student progress during faculty meetings. Potential problems are raised as soon as possible with the student, remediation procedures are suggested, and the student is given time to respond. On rare occasions, it is necessary to counsel students out of the program for non-academic reasons. Before arriving at such a decision, there is extensive discussion, clear feedback to the student regarding the problems, and agreement among faculty as to the course of action. The intention of this policy is to give students a fair opportunity to succeed.

 

PETITION FOR DEGREE CANDIDACY AND PROGRAM OF STUDY: A graduate student must petition for candidacy to the selected master’s or specialist’s degree program.  This includes a program of study, which is a plan of coursework for the entire graduate career. This plan is compiled with and approved by the student’s academic advisor and the departmental chair.  The student may apply for degree candidacy at the end of the semester in which the total number of graduate hours accumulated reaches nine or more.  Normally application must be made no later than the end of the semester in which the accumulated total of graduate hours reaches eighteen. Petition for degree candidacy cannot be filed until the student has removed any conditions assigned at the time of admission to graduate study. Failure to apply at the proper time may result in a delay in the conferral of the degree.

 

The graduate advisor will assist students with the completion of the Petition for Degree Candidacy form.  This usually occurs during the 2nd semester of graduate study.  Click here for the Petition of Candidacy Form.

 

                                                                

GRADUATION:  All candidates are required to make formal application for the graduate degree and graduation by the dates specified in the University Calendar.  These selected dates are approximately September 15 for December graduation, February 3 for May graduation, and the first Friday of the Summer I session for August graduation.  STUDENTS NOT MEETING THIS DEADLINE WILL HAVE THEIR GRADUATION DELAYED BY ONE SEMESTER.

 

The graduate advisor in speech-language pathology will assist students with the completion of the graduate application by providing the application materials and information needed to complete the forms and process.  Click here for Application for Graduation.  Additional forms must be secured from the UCA Graduate Office.

 

GRADUATE SCHOOL: The graduate school at the University of Central Arkansas includes forty-four areas of study in eighteen departments with ten degree options including Ph.D. and DPT.  Dr. Elaine McNiece, Ed.D., a professor of speech-language pathology, serves as the Graduate Dean and Associate Provost for the university.

 

Information about graduate program policies, procedures, academic offerings, and general requirements for graduate studies can be obtained from the graduate school located on the 3rd floor of Torreyson Library, in the Graduate Bulletin, or on the Graduate Studies web page.

 

 FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)

Students should become familiar with provisions of FERPA.  Click here for a description of students rights under this act.

 

WITHDRAWAL POLICY

All students who have created a class schedule through the university are officially enrolled in the university.  Once that schedule is
created the student must process an official withdrawal through the Office of the Registrar (undergraduate level) or through the 

Office of Graduate Studies (graduate level) if they will not be attending. Students who do not withdraw in accordance with 

Board Policy 612 will be required to pay fees based on the class schedule they prepared.

Board Policy 612
Fall/Spring - Withdrawal Policy for Reduction of Charges
Day 1 through 5   (100%  Reduction of Charges)
Day 6 through 15  (75% Reduction of Charges)

After day 15 the charges must be paid in full.

10 Week Summer, Intercession, and Summer Terms - Withdrawal Policy for
Reduction of Charges
Day 1  (100 % Reduction of Charges)
Day 2 through 5 (75% Reduction of Charges)