Navigating Your Academic Journey at UAFS: A Comprehensive Guide to Blackboard Learn and Workday

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith (UAFS) is dedicated to providing a supportive and enriching academic environment for its students. This guide aims to equip you with the essential information needed to navigate your academic journey, focusing on key platforms like Blackboard Learn and Workday, as well as important policies and procedures.

Embracing Workday: Your Central Student Information System

UAFS has transitioned to Workday, a comprehensive student information system designed to streamline your academic experience. Workday serves as your go-to hub for various tasks, but it's important to note that Blackboard and Navigate will remain active and in use.

Logging into Workday

Accessing Workday is straightforward. If you encounter any login issues, don't hesitate to contact the IT Service Desk at 479-788-7460 for assistance. Students sometimes experience login problems at the beginning of a semester; rest assured that these issues will be resolved as quickly as possible.

Utilizing the Academics Hub

Workday consolidates all essential academic information in one convenient location: your Academics Hub. Here, you can manage tasks related to registration and financial aid authorization, ensuring you're fully prepared for each term. It's advisable to address these items promptly. The “My Tasks” section within Workday will display items requiring your attention. Review the information and complete the required actions.

Course Registration: A Step-by-Step Guide

Registering for classes is a crucial step each term. Here's a breakdown of the process:

Read also: Learn about Blackboard Learn at UD

Check your Registration Window: Look up when your registration window opens to ensure you register at the earliest opportunity.
Resolve Holds: Review and resolve any registration holds, as these can prevent you from registering for classes. You can find this information in the Academics Hub or by searching for "View My Active Holds" in the search bar.
Meet with Your Advisor: Connect with your academic advisor to discuss your degree requirements and academic goals. You can find your advisor's information in the Academics Hub.
Course Schedule and Registration: Log in to Workday to view the course schedule and register for classes. If you do not have a Workday account please use the Public View Course Schedule. (Note: The Public View does not provide a real-time look at available courses.) The schedule will also be removed from public view 60 days after the term begins.

Understanding Course Numbering

UAFS has transitioned to the five-digit common course numbering index with the University of Arkansas System.

Methods for Registering for Classes

There are three ways you can register for classes, ensuring flexibility and convenience.

Dropping Courses

If you need to drop a course, be aware of the deadlines and procedures. Please note that if you drop a course after the semester has started, you MUST complete the required questionnaire to complete the drop.

Managing Finances: BankMobile and Payment Plans

UAFS utilizes BankMobile for refunds. Ensure your refund preference is on file in Workday prior to the start of the term. If you already have a BankMobile account, no further action is needed. You can also manage payment plans in Workday, and financial aid are applied to the student's account.

Finding Student Employment

Workday also provides resources for finding student jobs at UAFS, helping you gain valuable work experience while pursuing your education.

Adding Friends & Family

Instructions for adding your friends and family in Workday are available to allow them access to specific information.

Blackboard Learn: Your Online Learning Environment

Blackboard Learn is the online platform where you'll access course materials, submit assignments, and interact with your instructors and classmates. You must enter your UAFS user ID and password to log in to online courses.

Accessing Courses

Access to your online courses typically becomes available on the first day of the semester for full online courses.

Navigating Tests and Assignments

Test Duration: Always check the test duration time set by the instructor before taking the test. Your test time is limited, and once the time expires, that attempt is over.
Password Protected Tests: Some instructors may require a password to access tests. Your instructor will add the password for you.

Troubleshooting Common Blackboard Issues

Browser Issues: Sometimes, cached data in your browser can interfere with Blackboard's functionality. Clearing your browser's cache and cookies can often resolve these issues. Close the browser, clear the cache, do a Shut Down of the computer. Instructions for clearing the cache in several browsers including the ones on your smartphone.
Error Pages: Occasionally your connection with Blackboard may produce an error page.
File Attachments: Ensure that any file you attach to an assignment has the correct file extension (e.g., .docx, .pdf). You may have attached a shortcut of the file to your assignment. Save all changes to your file before attaching the file to an assignment.
Pop-Up Blockers: You need to allow pop-ups in your computer Web browsers.

Essential UAFS Policies and Procedures

Understanding UAFS policies and procedures is crucial for a successful and positive academic experience.

Wireless Network Access

For details on connecting to the UAFS wireless network on campus, see the IT Services Knowledgebase for information on configuring Windows PCs, Macs, and mobile devices.

Instructor Responsibilities

Each instructor is in charge of class activity, course requirements, grading procedures, and student discipline within the context of the classes they are assigned to teach. If assistance is needed, contact the instructor, or if necessary, the department head of the appropriate program. Full-time instructors are available by appointment or for walk-in or online assistance during their posted office hours.

Student Grievances

If you are unhappy about something at the university that is not related to student behavior or discipline, that’s called a student grievance. You can file a grievance if you have an unresolved issue with a faculty or staff member, another student, student group, or administrator. To file a grievance, you need to show that a university rule, policy, or practice has been violated. You must provide evidence to support your claim. Please note, that this process does not prevent the university from changing its rules, policies, or practices.

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA)

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith (UAFS) is approved by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE) to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA) to offer online programs and courses to out-of-state students. NC-SARA provides states a mechanism for monitoring the quality of online programs delivered by out-of-state colleges and universities to its citizens. SARA applies solely to distance education activity conducted across state lines. The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. UAFS is committed to ensuring that its distance learning programs and courses are intellectually stimulating and professionally rewarding. Complaints regarding student grades or student conduct violations are governed entirely by UAFS policy and the laws of the state of Arkansas. Please note that students who wish to file a complaint relating to an online course or program offered by UAFS must first go through the UAFS procedures for resolution of grievances. If after exhausting the institutional process a student feels a complaint has not been adequately addressed, the student may file a complaint with the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE) by completing the student complaint form.

Attendance Policy

Students are expected to attend all classes. After an unavoidable absence due to illness or an emergency, students are responsible for contacting faculty members to make up any missed work. Each faculty member’s specific attendance policy will be distributed with other course information at the beginning of each semester. This procedure does not remove the primary responsibility of the student for taking official withdrawal action. Students dropped by a faculty member receive a W through the 12th week of a regular semester and the fourth week of a summer five-week term. Courses dropped by a faculty member may be subject to the return of Title IV funds. Withdrawals will end on Friday of the 12th week of the regular semesters and the fourth week of the five-week summer terms and other five-week courses. Students engaged in sanctioned extracurricular activities in which they are representing the university should be excused from class and be allowed to make up work without penalty. Students are responsible for all material covered and for any class activities missed during the absence. Students are required to contact each of their instructors at least one week prior to the absence to discuss requirements for completing missed assignments.

Auditing Courses

Students who audit courses must be officially admitted to the university and pay the regular tuition and fees for the course. Those who audit courses will receive a grade of AU. An auditing student may drop a course or be dropped by a faculty member following normal withdrawal procedures at any time during the withdrawal period and receive a grade of W. Ideally, students who wish to audit a course should declare their intentions when they enroll. Students may change from audit to credit status or credit to audit status through the fifth day of the fall or spring semester. Summer terms and off-schedule courses will follow a prorated time period.

Course Load

Students may carry up to 18 hours in the fall or spring semester without special permission; however, the average is 15. No more than nine hours in a summer semester will be allowed without special permission. Special permission for additional hours must be obtained from the appropriate dean. In keeping with Arkansas Department of Higher Education policy (as specified in Appendix A, Section 6 of AHECB Policies, 2015), a credit hour is earned when students satisfactorily complete class work to which they devote the equivalent of three hours (one hour academic engagement and 2 hours of academic preparation) per week during the period of instruction.

Grading System

Mid-term and final grades for each semester are accessible through My.UAFS. Students can review and print unofficial copies of their current grades and transcripts through My.UAFS. Only the final grade is posted on the official transcript. Find the total grade points earned by multiplying the value of each grade times the number of credit hours for each course, using the table above for quality points. Add all credit hours attempted, including those for which you earned an F. Now divide the grade points earned by the total credit hours. At the end of any semester, a faculty member may assign a grade of IP if extenuating circumstances have prevented the student from completing all course requirements. An IP grade is appropriate ONLY in situations where the student has completed at least 75 percent of the course requirements, based on the professional judgment of the faculty member. If a grade of IP is assigned, the faculty member will make a written contract with the student, list the work to be completed, and provide a specific date for completion of the coursework. The faculty member will file the contract with the Registrar’s Office. If a final grade has not been assigned by the faculty member by the end of the next spring or fall semester, the Registrar’s Office will automatically change the IP grade to an F. However, if the contract on file in the Registrar’s Office has a later completion date, that contract date is the final deadline for changing an IP to an F.

Transcripts

Official transcripts of a student’s work at UAFS may be obtained from the Registrar’s Office in accordance with federal guidelines. Requests for transcripts are made through the Registrar’s Office webpage or in person at the Registrar’s Office. Transcripts which have been presented for admission or evaluation of credit become the property of UAFS as a part of the student’s permanent record and are not reissued.

Seeking Assistance

UAFS offers various resources to support you throughout your academic journey. For Workday-related questions, please contact UAFS IT Services. We’ve also created a library of quick reference guides and videos to answer common Workday questions. Find Student Jobs Learn how to search for student jobs at UAFS.

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