Academic Policies & Standards

Academic Year

The academic year consists of three semesters: fall, spring, and summer. Fall and spring semesters are each made up of 15 weeks of class work and one week for final exams. The summer semester is 14 weeks in length; most classes are offered in one of two condensed seven-week blocks and there is no final exam period during summer.

Course Administration

UVU reserves the right to adjust course offerings as needed at any time. This can include adding, modifying, and canceling courses. Course modification or cancelation may occur for reasons including, but not limited to, low enrollment, space/classroom availability, instructor change or loss, and/or program changes. Students enrolled in canceled courses will be removed and informed via email.

Class Periods/Credits

All credit hours are computed in semester hours. On average, three hours of work per week are expected to equal one semester credit hour; however, one credit hour may include any of the following combinations of work:

One hour of lecture, plus a minimum of two hours of personal work outside of class, regardless of course delivery (One hour of lecture is considered to be 50 minutes per week)
Three hours in a laboratory, internships, practica, studio work, or other academic work, regardless of course delivery, with additional outside work in preparation and documentation
Any other combination appropriate to a particular course as determined by the academic department

All transfer courses taken on a quarter system will be converted to semester hours using a three to two credit ratio. For example, a three-credit hour course from a quarter calendar institution transfers to UVU as two semester credits.

Full-time Student Status

Graduate

UVU considers graduate students registered for 9 credits or more per semester to be full-time graduate students.

Undergraduate

UVU considers students registered for 12 credits or more per semester to be full-time students. Certain benefits, such as financial aid, scholarships, and veteran's benefits are awarded by credit hour and/or full/part-time status. Dropping below full time status may cause adjustments in these and other benefits.

For students attending only the fall and spring semesters, 15 to 18 credits per semester is generally required to complete associate degree programs within two academic years or bachelor's degrees within four academic years, assuming all prerequisites and other requirements are satisfied (See individual major requirements for exceptions).

Credit Hour Loads in Excess of 20

By default, the maximum credit hour load per semester per student is 20. Students who wish to enroll in more than 20 credit hours in a semester must have approval from the department chair of their program of study. The Registrar's Office oversees this process.

Year Classifications & Credit Hours

Freshman: 0-29 credit hours
Sophomore: 30-59 credit hours
Junior: 60-89 credit hours
Senior: 90 or more credit hours

Grading Policies

Grades are assigned by instructors, based upon measures determined by the instructor and department, and may include: evaluation of responses, written exercises and examinations, performance exercises and examinations, classroom/laboratory contributions, mastery of pertinent skills, etc. The letter grade “A” is an exceptional grade indicating superior achievement; “B” is a grade indicating commendable mastery; “C” indicates satisfactory mastery and is considered an average grade; “D” indicates substandard progress and insufficient evidence of ability to succeed in sequential courses; “E” (failing) indicates inadequate mastery of pertinent skills or repeated absences from class.

The following table indicates each grade variant and the equivalent grade points for that variation.

Letter grades and corresponding point values.

Letter Grades Corresponding Point Values
One credit of	Equals grade points
A	4.0
A-	3.7
B+	3.4
B	3.0
B-	2.7
C+	2.4
C	2.0
C-	1.7
D+	1.4
D	1.0
D-	0.7
E	0.0

*Note: The 'UW' grading option was discontinued at UVU beginning Fall 2024. The 'UW' grade indicated unofficial withdrawal from class and was entered by the instructor when students failed the course due to non-attendance.

The following grades are not computed in the GPA:

Letter Grades Not Computed in the GPA
Letter Grade	Grade Description
W	Official Withdrawal
I	Incomplete
AU	Audit
CR	Credit Granted
NC	No Credit Granted
CEU	Noncredit—Continuing Education Unit
T	In Progress (Temporary Status)

The GPA is determined by dividing the total grade points earned (credit hours times grade in points above) by the number of semester hours attempted.

Students may view final grades electronically through the myUVU system after the end of the semester.

Incomplete (I) Grades

Students are required to complete all courses for which they are registered by the end of the semester or block in which they enroll. In some cases, a student may be unable to complete all of the coursework due to extenuating circumstances. Examples of extenuating circumstances include, but are not limited to:

Incapacitating medical event (physical or mental) of a student or a student’s immediate family member
a death in the immediate family
Jury duty preventing a student from attending or participating in class(es)
Active military duty
A change in work schedule as required by the student’s employer that directly conflicts with a student’s class schedule (this excludes self-employment)

A student may petition the instructor for time beyond the end of the semester to finish the work. If the instructor agrees, an “I” grade will be given. An Incomplete Grade Form (found in myUVU) must be submitted electronically by the instructor. Failing to complete the “I” and replace it with the appropriate letter grade may negatively affect any financial aid.

Incomplete work cannot be completed by retaking the class. If such an option is preferred, the student must accept the grade earned and then retake the class for a better grade. The highest grade will be calculated in the GPA. In all cases, the “I” grade must be made up within one year. If it is not, the “I” grade will change to an “E” on the transcript. “I” grades are not calculated in the GPA.

Repeating a Course

No additional credit is allowed for repeating a course in which the initial grade was passing unless the course number for the course ends in the letter suffix “R” (a course designed to be repeatable for credit). For other repeated courses, the highest grade earned will be used in the calculation of the GPA. Upon completion of the repeated course, the repeat is indicated on the student’s transcript (E=Exclude, I=Include). All work will remain on the record, ensuring a true and accurate academic history. Note: Although not used in computing the UVU overall GPA for UVU purposes, many graduate programs, such as law or dental school, include ALL grades in calculating an overall GPA for admissions criteria.

Utah Board of Higher Education policy requires that students shall be charged at the full cost of the instruction for repeating a course more than once, unless the institution determines that the repetition is a result of illness, accident or other cause beyond the student’s control or unless the course is prescribed by the student’s program of study.

Changing a Grade Other than an Incomplete

Policy

This section is covered in more detail in UVU policy. To the extent any contradictions exist between this catalog and Utah Valley University policies, the policies take precedence and control.

Grade appeals fall under the authority of the Office of the Provost.

Students who believe that a grade assigned in a specific course is inaccurate have the right to appeal that grade. Students who seek to appeal their grade must follow the appeals procedure. UVU instructors shall honor the students’ right to due process in the contestation and/or appeal of their grades.

Procedure

The student shall first approach the instructor and discuss the merits of the appeal in an informal and non-threatening environment
If the student is still dissatisfied with the grade after discussing it informally with the instructor or if the original instructor is no longer available, the student has a right to submit a grade appeal form
The Council on Academic Standards (CAS) will review the appeal and communicate with the instructor and department chair, and with the student as necessary
If the CAS, instructor, and department chair are unable to resolve the matter, the CAS and the Deputy Provost together exercise final authority in adjudicating the appeal. When they agree that a grade change is justified and conclude the appeal process, the student shall receive the approved grade. The chair of the CAS shall submit a Change of Grade Form to the Registrar’s Office. The CAS shall contact all relevant parties regarding the grade change; students shall be contacted via their UVU student email address
Grade changes determined by the CAS and the Deputy Provost shall supersede the grade determined by the instructor and/or department chair. Their judgment is final

Withdrawal & Reinstatement

This section is covered in more detail in UVU policy. To the extent any contradictions exist between this catalog and Utah Valley University policies, the policies take precedence and control.

Withdrawal from Classes

Students may drop and withdraw from classes according to the published Student Dates and Deadlines (Academic Calendar). Classes may be dropped and will not appear on the transcript through the drop deadline. After the last day to drop noted on the published Student Dates and Deadlines, a grade of “W” will appear on the transcript for class withdrawals and no refund will be given. A “W” grade could impact a student’s satisfactory academic progress for financial aid and scholarship purposes.

Withdrawing from a course after the last day to withdraw deadline (Late Withdrawal or Withdrawal Exception) is done only for documented extenuating circumstances beyond the student's control. Late withdrawal petitions are submitted electronically to the Registrar's Office. Such changes to a student’s schedule may adversely affect current and future financial aid, scholarships, and/or refunds. It is recommended that students consult with a financial aid counselor before attempting to completely withdraw from school.

Withdrawal from the Institution

It is the responsibility of the student who seeks to withdraw from the institution to complete the online Leave of Absence process and drop/withdraw themselves from their classes in the registration system. If withdrawing after the refund period noted in the published Student Dates and Deadlines, a grade of “W” will appear on the transcript for all class withdrawals and no refund is issued. A “W” (withdrawal) grade could impact a student’s satisfactory academic progress for financial aid and scholarship purposes. Complete withdrawal from college may adversely affect financial aid and/or Veterans’ benefits.

Simply stopping attendance does not qualify as an official withdrawal, and a student who does so may receive a failing grade.

Reinstatement

In most cases, student accounts remain active for 7 semesters from the admit term or from the term of last registration. Students who withdraw from UVU and then desire to be reinstated may do so by re-enrolling in classes within this 7 semester window. If the student has completed a leave of absence, they should contact a leave of absence coordinator. More information is available at https://www.uvu.edu/leaveofabsence. In cases where the student account is no longer active, formal re-admission to the institution is generally required.

Student Military Leave Procedure

Students activated into military service during a semester for which they are currently enrolled have the following options to choose from, in addition to other alternatives provided by existing policy and regulation. The student is responsible to notify appropriate institution officials regarding the implementation of the selected option.

A request to withdraw from school will be honored with a full refund of all tuition and fees paid. Non-punitive “W’s” will be recorded on the transcript and the date of action maintained on the student’s record
Incomplete grades may be negotiated with individual instructors and/or departments based on realistic means of completing the required objectives of the course(s). Where recommended by the department (instructors), the time limit for completing the “I” may be extended. This option may include “home study” as a means of completing the required work with instructor approval and where practical
Current grades (grades earned at the point of termination) may be issued at the discretion of individual instructor. This is also a negotiated option

The student activated into military service is eligible for readmission. Their re-admission status will be granted based on their equivalent student status prior to their withdrawal.

Administrative Drops

Students may be dropped from classes by the administration in the following cases:

The student registers, but does not attend courses within the first three class periods of a semester
The student registers for courses for which they have not completed prerequisites
The student neglects to pay tuition and fees for any given semester by the published deadline
Other administrative reasons

Students are generally notified of these actions via their student email. Such changes to a student’s schedule could affect financial aid, scholarships, and/or refunds.

Noncredit Continuing Education Unit (CEU)

Noncredit or Continuing Education courses are available for students to pursue personal or professional interest, gain general knowledge, learn a new skill, upgrade existing skills, or enrich their personal understanding of a wide variety of topics. These courses do not offer college credit, but in some cases noncredit or continuing education students can earn continuing education units, certification, or other evidence of class completion to meet personal or professional requirements. Noncredit coursework cannot be substituted for a credit requirement or any required course on a degree pathway.

College Credit

College credit at UVU may be obtained through the following methods:

UVU Credit: Credit obtained though completing coursework directly through Utah Valley University (including UVU concurrent enrollment courses)
Transfer Credit: Credit for coursework completed at other accredited institutions of higher education
Credit for Prior Learning (CPL): Credit awarded to a student who has demonstrated college-level knowledge, competencies, skills, and abilities through the successful completion of a prior learning assessment

Transfer Credit

It is the student’s responsibility to request that official transcripts of any previous college work completed elsewhere be sent to UVU. Official transcripts are evaluated and articulated according to equivalencies determined by UVU faculty or by the Utah System of Higher Education (US. Students may be required to supply the catalog, course description, or other relevant information from previous schools to assist in determining the transferability of specific courses. Transfer credit may or may not apply to UVU graduation requirements, regardless of the number of credits transferred.

For transfer credit to be accepted by UVU, the institution from which credit is transferred must be accredited by an organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the United States Department of Education (USDE). A list of these organizations is found at https://www.chea.org/chea-and-usde-recognized-accrediting-organizations.

Transfer courses numbered 1000 or above, with a grade of D- or higher, are awarded credit at UVU. Transfer courses are not calculated in a student’s GPA. Individual departments reserve the right to impose limits on the age and grade level of transfer credit. There is no limit to the number of transfer credits that may be accepted; however, UVU graduation requirements such as residency, total credits, and GPA must still be met.

Military courses are evaluated using the ACE recommendations from the Guide to the Evaluation of Education Experiences in the Armed Services. Approved credits will be applied if they directly pertain to a student’s individual undergraduate degree program.

General Education for Transfer Students

USHE Institutions

For transfer students from any Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) institution, UVU shall accept at full value all General Education coursework approved by the sending institution, provided it meets the minimum D- letter grade requirement, in any area specified by Utah Board of Higher Education policy. These areas include Written Communication, Quantitative Literacy, Fine Arts, Humanities, Social Science, Biology and Physical Science. UVU shall require transfer students to complete any additional coursework needed to satisfy the unmet portions of the UVU General Education requirements. As each transfer student’s requirements may vary, see the Registrar's Office Transfer Credit department for specific transfer information.

A completed associate degree (i.e. AA or AS) earned at any USHE institution will meet the General Education requirements of UVU.

U.S. Institutions outside of USHE

A completed associate degree (i.e. AA or AS) designed for transfer may fill most of the UVU general education requirements, if the degree includes a minimum of 30 semester credit hours of general education that is broad and representative of UVU's general education core. The completed associate degree must include direct equivalents of UVU’s English, Mathematics, and American Institutions requirements or the student must fulfill these requirements separately. If the courses within the degree aren't considered to be transferable or general education courses, the classes and the degree may not be recognized and courses will be evaluated individually for transferability and equivalency.

Non-accredited institutions may be accepted on an exception basis by individual departments.

Credit for ACT/SAT Scores

Students who complete the ACT with a math score of 26 or higher, or the SAT with a math score of 660 or higher, are eligible for QL 1900, which satisfies the quantitative literacy general education requirement. While QL 1900 fulfills the quantitative literacy requirement generally, certain majors may require additional math courses, including courses required as prerequisites for higher level math courses.

International Institutions

The Registrar's Office Transfer Credit department, working with department academic advisors and instructors, is authorized to evaluate credit from foreign colleges, universities, and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) Diplomas after a student has been admitted to UVU. International students requesting transfer of credit from foreign institutions of higher education must submit a transcript from an approved foreign credentials evaluation service. See the Registrar's Office Transfer Credit department website for a list of these accepted services.

Transfer courses from international institutions are not calculated in the GPA.

Transferring out of UVU

Information regarding transferring from UVU to other institutions is divided generally into two categories – transferring to institutions within the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) and transferring to institutions outside of USHE.

Transferring to USHE institutions

Credit for courses numbered 1000 or above earned at a USHE institution is transferable within the system—regardless of whether the course is a general education course or not—and will be recorded on the student's transcript at the receiving institution. A student who completes their general education requirements at UVU, either through completion of a General Education Certificate, or an AA/AS degree, has met the general education requirements of all USHE institutions.

Outside of completed general education requirements, the receiving institution will determine how the transferred credits apply toward their program of study.

Transferring to non-USHE institutions

Institutions outside of USHE will make their own decisions regarding the transfer of credits. Students should contact the receiving institution to determine which courses will transfer and how they will apply toward their program of study.

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL)

Credit for prior learning is credit awarded by an institution to a student who demonstrates, through a prior learning assessment, that the student's prior learning meets college-level competencies, skills, and abilities acquired through work, professional training, military training, and other learning domains.

CPL may be applied toward courses in an academic certificate, associate degree, or bachelor's degree for the purpose of satisfying graduation requirements. No more than 10 required credits toward an academic certificate, 30 required credits toward an associate degree, or 50 credits toward a bachelor’s degree may be awarded through credit for prior learning.

Credit for courses that appear in the current catalog may be awarded to individuals who can prove through appropriate assessment and/or documentation that they have already acquired the equivalent knowledge and/or expertise required for successful completion of that course.

To receive CPL credit for a specific course, the student must:

Be enrolled at UVU
Document their prior learning and complete any required assessment as determined by the awarding academic department
Pay a nonrefundable processing fee

A specific course shall be challenged only once, and a student shall not receive challenge/experiential credit for a course that the student is/or has been previously enrolled in and received a grade, including a “W" or "AU" grade.

Duplicate credit will not be awarded.

Grades shall be recorded only as “CR” (credit) and shall not be calculated in a student’s university GPA.

Course Number System

0000-0999: Developmental courses; These courses carry no credit applicable to an academic award, develop basic precollege concepts and principles related to an area of study, and are designed to lead to mastery of precollege learning outcomes
1000-2999: Lower-division courses; These courses are for students beginning in the study of a discipline and offer breadth, foundation, general education, preparation for employment, or preparation for continued study and may serve as prerequisites for upper-division courses
3000-4999: Upper-division courses; These courses are for students usually beyond their first two years of study in college and integrate and build upon learning outcomes from earlier studies. In general, upper-division courses offer specialized learning outcomes for a specific degree and provide depth, specialization, refinement, and preparation for employment or graduate study. Upper-division courses are directed toward the more central concepts of a discipline
5000-5999: Advanced upper-division courses; These courses are designed for advanced undergraduate or graduate students, typically requiring 4000-level prerequisites or equivalent background. They may count toward graduate certificates or degree requirements (up to 12 credits)
6000-6999: Graduate-level courses; Advanced courses, designed to apply toward graduate degrees and certificates

Suffix in Course Numbers

The suffix “R” indicates that a course is repeatable for credit (example: PES 1610R). Course descriptions indicate the number of repeats allowed
The suffix "H" indicates an Honors credit course (example: ENGL 2250H Introduction to Creative Writing Honors)
The suffix "G" indicates a Global/Intercultural credit course (example: ANTH 1010G Social Cultural Anthropology)

Other historical suffixes such as A, B, C, D, E, F, G, J, or K indicate a course was offered for reduced credit, were taken in sequence, or were offered as independent study. See the catalog archives for more information.

Undergraduate Academic Standards

Policy

Academic standing is determined by the grades a student earns at UVU. A student with the most recent semester grade point average (GPA) and cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale is in good academic standing. When a full- or part-time undergraduate student fails to maintain a semester or cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, the student shall be notified of progressive academic intervention actions.

Students placed on alert status, academic warning, academic notice, and continued academic notice remain eligible for all extracurricular activities as governed by the rules of the specific activity. This policy does not include nor preclude additional program requirements that may be mandated by specific departmental majors.

Procedures

Academic intervention shall be applied progressively in the order described below.

Alert Status

When a student is not making adequate progress towards course completion and the instructor is unable to resolve the issue with the student, the student may be placed on alert status. A registration hold may be placed on the student’s record. The student must then meet with their academic advisor for guidance before the registration hold will be removed.

Academic Warning

When the semester GPA falls below 2.0 and the cumulative GPA is 2.0 or above, the student shall be placed on academic warning regardless of alert status. A registration hold shall be placed on the student’s record. The student must complete an academic success warning workshop and meet with their academic advisor before the registration hold will be removed.

Academic Notice

When the semester and cumulative GPA both fall below 2.0, the student will be placed on academic notice. A registration hold shall be placed on the student’s record. The student must complete an academic notice workshop, develop an academic success plan, and meet with their academic advisor before the registration hold will be removed.

Continued Academic Notice

If the student on academic notice fails to raise the cumulative GPA to a 2.0 or above in the subsequent semester, the student will be placed on continued academic notice. A registration hold shall be placed on the student’s record and the student must prepare an academic success plan with their academic advisor as well as the academic standards counselor before the registration hold will be removed. The student may also be required to attend another academic notice workshop and/or enroll in a college success class.

All students on continued academic notice will be required to submit an in-progress grade report to the Academic Standards Office in order to register for any subsequent semester(s). The student shall continue to receive advisement from the academic standards counselor, as well as their academic advisor, to monitor and promote academic progress.

Academic Suspension

When on continued academic notice, a student receiving a semester and cumulative GPA below 2.0 in a subsequent semester shall be placed on academic suspension. The student shall be immediately dropped from enrollment in all current semester classes and a registration hold shall be placed on the student’s record. The student shall be suspended for a minimum of one full semester. During this time, the student is expected to resolve all academic problems that led to the academic suspension.

To re-enroll at the university, a student must submit a Petition for Academic Suspension Review to the Academic Support Committee. This committee will make suggestions for specific customized interventions to be approved by the Academic Standards Committee. A decision shall then be rendered as to whether, and under what conditions, the student may continue to study at the university. The student must complete the requirements set forth by the Academic Standards Committee before the registration hold will be removed.

Academic Notice Returning from Academic Suspension

When the academic suspension petition is granted, the student is allowed to resume their academic studies under notice returning from suspension. This status allows the student to register for classes under the guidance of the Academic Standards Office, in conjunction with their academic advisor. As long as the student acquires a semester GPA of 2.0 or above in all subsequent semesters and abides by the conditions outlined by the Academic Standards Committee, the student may continue to enroll in classes. The student will remain on academic notice returning from academic suspension until the cumulative GPA is at or above 2.0.

Academic Dismissal

When failing to comply with the conditions set forth by the Academic Standards Committee while on academic notice returning from academic suspension, the student shall be dismissed from the university and immediately dropped from enrollment in all classes. A registration hold shall be placed on the student’s record.

The student may not re-enroll at the university or submit a Petition for Academic Dismissal Review for a minimum of one full calendar year from the date of academic dismissal. During this calendar year, the student may also be required to attend another institution and complete 18 credits with at least a 2.5 GPA. Upon review by both the Academic Support Committee and the Academic Standards Committee, a decision will be rendered as to whether or not, and under what conditions, the student may re-enroll at the university.

Any student who returns to the university after being dismissed will be placed on academic notice returning from academic dismissal and will be required to follow the academic plan outlined by the Academic Standards Committee.

Academic Notice Returning from Academic Dismissal

When the Petition for Academic Dismissal Review is granted by the Academic Standards Committee, the student is allowed to continue their academic studies on academic notice returning from academic dismissal. The student is allowed to register for classes under the guidance of the Academic Standards Office, in conjunction with their academic advisor. As long as the student acquires a semester GPA of 2.0 or above in all subsequent semesters and abides by the conditions outlined by the Academic Standards Committee, the student may continue to enroll in classes. The student will remain on notice returning from dismissal until the cumulative GPA is at or above 2.0.

When a student is unsuccessful at this level and does not have the ability to benefit from continuing with their education at the university, academic counseling will be provided by the Academic Standards Office to explore alternative pathways to success.

Appeals

When the student’s Petition for Academic Suspension Review or Petition for Academic Dismissal Review is denied by the Academic Standards Committee, the student may present an appeal to a hearing panel that consists of the Academic Standards Committee and a representative appointed by the President of the Utah Valley University Student Association (UVUSA). After review of the petition, the hearing panel will determine if the student’s appeal is granted or denied. If the appeal is granted, the hearing panel shall determine the conditions for re-enrollment at the university.

If the student is unsatisfied with the hearing panel’s decision, the student has the right to appeal in writing to the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Academic Distinction

The Dean’s list recognizes those who have demonstrated outstanding academic performance during a term or semester. To be eligible:

The student must complete 12 semester hours or more in any semester and a commensurate number of hours in any term
The student must earn a semester GPA of 3.6 or above
The student must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0

Student Record Adjustments and Refund Petitions

Policy

This section is covered in more detail in UVU policy. To the extent any contradictions exist between this catalog and Utah Valley University policies, the policies take precedence and control.

Utah Valley University is committed to providing support to students who experience unexpected life events outside of their control or periods of poor academic performance. This policy describes how students can request record adjustments, refunds, and academic renewal. This policy also satisfies requirements under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which guarantees students the right to request amendments to their education records (see UVU Policy 542 FERPA).

Students who wish to petition for records adjustments, refunds, or academic renewal, must follow the instructions on the Registrar’s Office website, using the online request form.

Extenuating Circumstances

With the exception of Academic Renewal, petitions require documented proof of extenuating circumstances: a personal, non-academic situation that was beyond the student’s control and prevented the student from successfully completing a course. Examples of extenuating circumstances include but are not limited to:

Illness or medical event (physical or mental) that incapacitates a student or a student’s immediate family member
Death of an immediate family member
Jury duty that prevents a student from attending or participating in class(es)
Active military duty
A change in work schedule required by the student’s employer that directly conflicts with a student’s class schedule (this excludes self-employment).

Immediate Family Member

Immediate family members are defined as: a student’s grandparent, parent, sibling, spouse, child, or grandchild; in-law, foster or step-relatives in the relationships listed; relatives of the student's spouse in the relationships listed.

Petition Types

Academic Renewal

The purpose of academic renewal is to assist students who have experienced a period of low GPA. Students can use academic renewal to remove a limited amount of previous undergraduate coursework from their cumulative GPA. Students may petition the Registrar’s Office for academic renewal only one time during their enrollment at the university. Students who are granted academic renewal are not eligible for academic honors status. To be eligible, a student shall meet the following conditions at the time the petition is filed:

They must be an active student at UVU
Their requested coursework must have not been used toward an existing degree, certificate, or other credential

The student may request one specific semester of academic coursework to be eliminated from their earned credits and cumulative GPA. The student cannot request the elimination of individual courses within the selected semester.

If the petition qualifies under this policy, the Registrar’s Office shall annotate the student’s transcript with “Academic Renewal” and append the course grades with an “R.” All coursework shall remain on the transcript, ensuring a true and accurate academic history. No work taken during the selected semester, even if satisfactory, shall apply toward earned credits, GPA, academic standing, and/or graduation requirements.

Academic Renewal cannot be applied for either hours attempted/completed (quantitative Satisfactory Academic Progress), or cumulative GPA (qualitative Satisfactory Academic Progress) for Title IV (Federal Financial Aid) purposes. Students who are granted Academic Renewal at UVU will have the credit hours removed from their earned credits and GPA for academic purposes. However, for Satisfactory Academic Progress purposes, students are measured based on the original grades and not the changes due to academic renewal.

This policy may not be accepted at transfer institutions, and all credit, including those with academic renewal, may still be calculated by the transfer institution.

Student Records Adjustments and Refund Requests

Record adjustment and refund requests allow the student to seek reparations to their records due to life events outside of their control.

Students who petition for record adjustments must provide documentation about their extenuating circumstances. The documentation requirements and records adjustment request process are explained on the Registrar’s Office website and the online request form
It is a violation of Policy 541 Student Code of Conduct for students to submit false information or documentation in a petition; doing so may subject students to disciplinary review
The Registrar's Office will not consider petitions that have been falsified or contain speech found to be in violation of Policy 161 Freedom of Speech
The Registrar's Office will review the documentation of extenuating circumstances for the semester in question and determine if the student has a valid reason for requesting a change to their records. They may consult with other university offices or departments, as necessary
After the Registrar’s Office confirms that the extenuating circumstances the student documented are eligible, the Registrar's Office may take one or more of the following actions:
- Withdraw the student from courses
- Add courses to the student record retroactively (with the approval and a grade provided by the course instructor or department chair)
- Change credit amounts for variable-credit courses with course instructor or department chair approval
- Remove courses entirely from the student record under very limited circumstances such as university error
- Request refund/reversal of tuition and fees from the Bursar’s Office
- Append an “R” (“record adjustment” or “academic renewal”) to the grade assigned by the faculty
Appended grades will be excluded from the student’s GPA. The Registrar’s Office shall not remove the original grade assigned by the faculty, thus maintaining a true and accurate academic history subject to the conditions listed below
In the case of active military duty, the Registrar’s Office may take other action in accordance with Policy 522 Undergraduate Credits and Transcripts
Record adjustments shall be limited to “E,” “UW,” and “W” grades
Appended grades are calculated into satisfactory academic progress for financial aid purposes and NCAA eligibility

Limits and Exclusions to Record Adjustments and Refund Requests

It is not possible to list every potential extenuating circumstance a student could experience. It is also not possible to list every potential limit or exclusion to this policy. The Registrar’s Office must have some discretion to address unique circumstances. The following provides the basic, overarching limits and exclusions but is not an exhaustive list:

The Registrar’s Office shall not change instructor-assigned grades to another grade at the student’s request. Instructors are responsible for submitting grade changes by submitting a Change of Grade Form to the Registrar’s Office. See Policy 523 Grading for procedures addressing student-faculty grade disputes
Letter grades “A” through “D-” shall not be changed to a withdrawal status “W” (except for students on active military duty as described in Policy 522 Undergraduate Credits and Transcripts)
Courses graded “A” through “D-” are not eligible for refund
Even if a student’s petition is approved, certain fees may not be refundable. These fees include, but are not limited to, course materials, flight expenses, specialized training, and collections efforts
Courses taken in prior fiscal years may not be eligible for refund
The Registrar’s Office will not consider petitions that are missing the required supporting documentation
The Registrar’s Office will not approve petitions that include insufficient or open-ended documentation that is without parameters, date ranges, applicable terms, etc., or that are submitted for multiple terms for the same extenuating circumstance(s)

University Advanced Standing (UAS)

Definition effective as of the 2021-2022 academic year:

Before students can register for upper-division coursework (3000-level or higher), they must qualify for University Advanced Standing (UAS) by:

Completing or being registered for Quantitative Literacy (MAT 1030 Quantitative Reasoning or higher)
Completing or being registered for ENGL 2010 Intermediate Academic Writing or equivalent

Military-Affiliated Student Hub

Military-Affiliated Student Hub (MASH)
Office: LC-408
E-mail: mailto:mash@uvu.edu
Phone: 801-863-8212
Web: MASH

New Military Connected Students

New students requesting Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits are required to submit the following documents to the UVU Military-Affiliated Student Hub:

VA Certificate of Eligibility
Official JST and/or CCAF military transcript for veterans and service members
UVU Veteran Class Schedule Form completed online at uvu.edu/military-affiliated/

Veterans and service members not requesting VA education benefits are also encouraged to send their military transcripts to the UVU Admissions Office. For a step-by-step guide to benefit setup, visit the Get Benefits web page at https://www.uvu.edu/military-affiliated/benefits/index.html. Benefit requests will only be certified for courses that are required for graduation in the student’s declared degree. Benefit requests will not be certified for courses that are taken in audit (AU) format. A complete list of benefit policies and procedures is located on the UVU Veteran Class Schedule Form.

Military Prior Credit Policy

VA requires that all prior credits be evaluated and that all official transcripts from previous colleges or vocational schools be submitted to the UVU Admissions Office. Veterans and service members must also submit a military transcript. The military transcript is either the Joint Services Transcript (Army/Navy/Marines/Coast Guard) or Community College of the Air Force Transcript (Air Force only). Students can receive credit for EXSC 1097 Fitness for Life TE and HLTH 1100 Personal Health and Wellness TE upon completion of Initial Active Duty for Training (IADT). Joint Service Transcripts will be subject to an initial evaluation in which any military course that has been deemed as a direct equivalence AND directly pertains to the student’s specific degree will be awarded. Awarded credit cannot be removed once applied. All other completed military courses on the Joint Service Transcript that do not pertain to the student’s specific program of study will not be awarded. For more information, visit https://www.uvu.edu/transfer/military.html.

Residency Status for Military Connected Students

The UVU Admissions Office makes all determinations with respect to residency status. To view military exceptions and access the residency application, visit https://www.uvu.edu/admissions/residency/military-exemption/index.html. By law, schools are allowed to have additional requirements (such as documentation) that must be met for a covered individual to be charged the resident rate for tuition and fees.

Attendance Rate for VA Benefit Recipients

Full-time status for VA Benefit Recipients may differ from the full-time status for UVU or Financial Aid purposes. To verify your VA Rate of Pursuit (attendance rate), contact the UVU Military-Affiliated Student Hub prior to the add/drop deadlines.

Satisfactory Academic Progress for VA Benefit Recipients

Students must maintain a 2.0 or higher GPA to maintain their benefits. If they are placed on Academic Suspension, they cannot use benefits for one semester and must petition to return to school. If they are placed on Academic Dismissal, they cannot use benefits for one year and must petition to return to school. The Academic Standards Office makes final determinations regarding Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Financial Debts for VA Benefit Recipients

Students receiving VA benefits may owe a debt for any course that is assigned a "W" grade (withdrawal) or “RE” grade (failed course factored out of the GPA, if accompanied by a tuition refund), according to the last day of attendance or effective date of the grade. A debt may also be incurred if the student adds or drops a course(s) after submitting their initial benefit request. For assistance with resolving a debt owed to VA, contact the Debt Management Center at 800-827-0648.

Statements of Compliance

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679(e), Utah Valley University adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post-9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Veteran Readiness & Employment (Chapter 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from VA. Utah Valley University will not:

Prevent the student’s enrollment
Assess a late penalty fee to the student
Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding
Deny the student access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution

However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:

Produce the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by the first day of class
Provide a written request to be certified; or turn in proper documentation requesting certification
Provide additional information or documentation needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies

UVU has a signed, public MOU on file with the Department of Defense at https://www.dodmou.com/Home/InstitutionList. This MOU includes an agreement to abide by the Principles of Excellence Program contained in Executive Order 13607.

UVU Policy 165 (available at https://www.uvu.edu/policies/manual/) states that the university complies with applicable law in providing military leave and other exceptions to qualifying students.

Information about the cost of attendance, costs covered by VA education benefits, and available benefit types is available at https://www.uvu.edu/military-affiliated/benefits/options/. UVU protection policies and designated points of contact for military-affiliated students are available at https://www.uvu.edu/military-affiliated/resources/index.html.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).