The health and safety of the University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College community, staff, faculty, and students is paramount. The COVID-19 health crisis has necessitated quick and adaptable approaches to both instruction and institutional operations. We recognize the unpredictable nature of this crisis and have taken steps to mitigate academic interruption and protect the health and safety of the UA-PTC student body and community at-large. Care will be taken to protect all constituents from danger and/or harm.
UA-PTC will continue to follow guidance from state and federal public health agencies, including the University of Arkansas System, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Arkansas Department of Health. Campus functions will return in a phased status that prioritizes safety. At any time, all academic and student services units could be moved to a remote environment to ensure safety of all students and employees. If this occurs, communication will be sent to all student via email, blackboard, and social media outlets.
Students are personally responsible for their own safety and actions while visiting and using services at all UA-Pulaski Tech locations. Students must comply with all UA-PTC policies and rules, including but not limited to all policies, guidelines, signage, and instructions regarding COVID-19 safety measures. Certain program and institutional events may require additional waiver of liability.
Measures to Manage Risk
Some people are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 complications. Based on current data, vulnerable populations include people 65 years of age or older, those with serious underlying conditions, and those with weakened immune systems. Vulnerable populations are encouraged to utilize virtual and online academic and student services whenever possible.
UA-Pulaski Tech recommends all students and employees:
- Respect social distancing measures of keeping at least 6 feet of distance from others.
- Wear face coverings or masks while on campus in public environments where socialdistancing measures are difficult to maintain.
- Practice frequent hand-washing hygiene and respiratory etiquette.
- Practice self-assessment - Stay home and call your medical provider
- If you are not feeling well or exhibiting symptoms of illness
- If you are recently diagnosed with COVID-19
- If you have had contact with a person with a confirmed case of COVID-19
- If you have travelled to a destination designated by CDC/ADH as hot spot
Because this is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation, new information about the transmissibility, severity, and other features associated with COVID-19 Pandemic and investigations are ongoing.
Respect & Discipline
UA-Pulaski Tech expects all students and employees to conduct themselves respectfully. The increased need for safety precautions are not at the expense of consideration, respect, and kindness. Social and physical distancing guidelines, such as flow of traffic markers, public outdoor space restrictions, and adjusted greeting etiquette should be respectfully observed.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct from the time of application for admission through the actual awarding of a degree. Misconduct or prohibited behavior includes action that endangers the health, safety or well-being of another person or group. Any student found to have committed misconduct is subject to disciplinary sanction(s), condition(s) and/or restriction(s). At no time should face coverings be used to conceal a person’s identity.
College Admission
Due to restrictions of on-campus services, the institution has made temporary exceptions to the application and admission requirements for the Summer and Fall 2020 terms. The following practice regarding placement scores has been adjusted for admission:
- Official placement scores (ACT, ACCUPLACER, SAT, COMPASS) are still required for admission to the institution.
- Scores are no longer required to be no more than five years old.
- Scores lower than the minimum required score to be admitted may only be used if another measure (such as GED, GPA, etc.) can be used to determine college readiness.
College Readiness / Placement
For Reading, Writing, and Math course placement, students can use the following adjusted placement measures to determine “college readiness” and the ability to bypass developmental coursework. Academic advisors are to use multiple measures whenever possible. In the absence of multiple measures, any of the measures below can be used for stand-alone placement:
- Eligible ACCUPLACER, ACT, COMPASS or SAT scores
- Test scores must be no older than five (5) years to ensure accurate placement.
- Scores older than five years will not be used as a stand-alone measure for placement purposes but should be used as a consideration.
- Documentation of successful completion of a college-level or developmental reading, writing, or mathematics course(s)
- No time restriction is placed on the use of successful completion of coursework.
- Failed attempts at college-level or development coursework can be used as a consideration for placement but should not be used as a stand-alone placement measure. Advisors will use multiple measures for placement.
- If eligible test scores and previous successful completion of coursework are not available, the institution will use cumulative high school grade point average (GPA) as a stand-alone measure for placement.
- Students with a cumulative high school GPA lower than 1.5 will not be admitted to the institution
- Students must submit official high school transcripts with GPA. Self-reported high school GPAs will not be accepted.
- No time restriction is placed on the use of high school GPA as a placement measure.
- Official General Education Development (GED) scores with completion date
Course descriptions have not been altered to include new COVID-19 placement measures. Please see an academic advisor for guidance.
Records & Transcripts
Due to unforeseen and unavoidable barriers to access coursework after the institution moved to exclusively offer online coursework after March 13th, 2020, the institution created the “Withdrawal in Crisis” option. This option was created specifically for students who were unable to continue coursework due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. This option was only available to students who withdrew from the Spring 2020 semester after the institution moved to exclusively offer online coursework after March 13th, 2020. Withdrawal in crisis will be noted on student transcripts by “WC”.
CARES Act Funding
UA-PTC has signed and returned the Recipient’s Funding Certification and Agreement form for the Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and intends to use the funds to provide the mandated amount of at least 50% of the emergency financial aid grants to eligible UA-PTC students who were enrolled during the Spring 2020 semester. If you have questions about eligibility requirements, please visit uaptc.edu/cares.
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