• First-time Entering Freshmen
• Transfer Students
• Concurrent/Dual Enrollment of High School Students
• Transient Students
• Unclassified Pre- and Post-Baccalaureate (Lifelong Learner)

UA Fort Smith admits anyone who can benefit from the University's programs and meets the admission requirements. It is a learning community committed to academic excellence and to fostering a learning climate that encourages full development of its students. UA Fort Smith students are active partners in the learning process, and they accept final responsibility for their own learning and academic success. The University provides people, programs, services, and facilities that promote student success. In return, the University expects all students to demonstrate learner, University, and community responsibility.

First-time Entering Freshmen

Students enrolling in the University for the first time may qualify for admission by one of the following methods:

1. Graduation from high school; or
2. Satisfactory completion of the General Education Development (GED) test.

Beginning freshmen must submit the following information to the Admissions and School Relations Office prior to registration:

1. A completed Application for Admission.
2. An official transcript (official meaning sealed by a notary) of high school grades, credits, and date of graduation, or GED scores.
3. Proof of immunization against measles, mumps, and rubella. Immunity can be shown by providing proof of having received two doses of measles, 1 dose of rubella, and one dose of mumps vaccine.
4. Official ACT or SAT student profile report or ASSET or COMPASS evaluation scores. Placement scores are current for four years. The COMPASS test is administered in the UA Fort Smith Testing Center.

Students seeking a bachelor's degree must successfully complete 30 credit hours and meet entrance requirements to be admitted to the College of the chosen major (arts and sciences, business, education, health sciences, or applied science and technology). Required admission documents will be kept for one full year. If the student does not enroll after one year, all documents will be purged.

Unconditional and Conditional Enrollment

Students must score an ACT composite of 19 or above to be admitted unconditionally to the University. Students scoring an ACT composite of 18 or below are admitted conditionally to the University. Conditional admission requires demonstration of satisfactory progress for continued enrollment.

The law requires that public high school students must have successfully completed the college core curriculum with a 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) GPA for unconditional admission to UA Fort Smith. Students who graduated from high school or received a GED after May 1, 2002, will be evaluated for conditional/ unconditional admission pursuant to Act 1290 of 1997, as amended by Act 520 of 1999 by the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas.

The college core curriculum from high school consists of:

4 Units of English with emphasis on writing skills, not to include courses in oral communication, journalism, drama, or debate.

3 Units of natural science with laboratories, chosen from physical science, biology, chemistry, or physics. Only one unit may come from a life science.

4 Units of math, including algebra I, algebra II, geometry, and a higher-level math course.

3 Units of social studies, including one of American history, one of world history, and at least one-half unit of civics or American government.

Act 1290 also requires any private school, home school, or GED student who graduates after May 1, 2002, to have successfully completed a composite score of 19 on the ACT or the equivalent score on the SAT, ASSET, or COMPASS for unconditional admission to UA Fort Smith.

Students who have not completed the requirements for Act 1290 and who are conditionally admitted to UA Fort Smith will be required to complete any necessary developmental courses along with 12 hours from the specified degree plans with a 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) GPA within the first 30 hours. Once this requirement has been met, the student’s status will change to "unconditional."

Transfer Students

Students who have previously attended other accredited colleges and universities may qualify for admission by submitting the following documents to the Admissions and School Relations Office:

1. A completed Application for Admission.
2. An official transcript of grades and credits from all colleges previously attended. Students must have a 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) cumulative GPA on all previous coursework to be eligible for admission to UA Fort Smith. Students must be in good financial and disciplinary standing and must not have been academically suspended from the last institution attended. Transcripts must be received prior to the start of the term and must be sent directly to the Records Office or be submitted in an official, sealed, school envelope. For registration purposes, students may be advised using unofficial transcripts, but official transcripts will be required to complete the registration process. Falsifying any part of the Application for Admission and/or failing to report previous college work will prevent a student from receiving federal financial aid and/or admission to the University.
3. Test scores: ACT, SAT, or COMPASS or previous college course work demonstrating acceptable reading, English, and math placement.
4. Proof of immunization against measles, mumps, and rubella. Immunity can be shown by providing proof of having received two doses of measles, 1 dose of rubella, and one dose of mumps vaccine.
5. Academic: Transfer students admitted to UA Fort Smith in good academic standing are subject to the same minimum academic standard requirements as continuing students. Thus, if at the end of the first enrollment period a transfer student’s grade point average on all college work attempted does not meet the minimum specified in the Minimum Standards table in the University Catalog for the proper classification hours at that time, the student is placed on academic probation for the next period of enrollment. Transfer students admitted to UA Fort Smith on academic probation are evaluated at the end of their first semester of enrollment either fall, spring, or summer I and II combined. They must have at least 2.00 on all work attempted at UA Fort Smith to continue as a student and not be suspended. Transfer students suspended from other institutions for academic reasons will not be allowed to enroll at UA Fort Smith until they are eligible for reenrollment at the institution previously attended.
6. Any transfer student who has been dismissed from a program for reasons other than failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress is not eligible for admission to the University for a period of five years from the date of dismissal. After five years, admission may be considered upon criteria deemed appropriate by the University.

Concurrent/Dual Enrollment of High School Students

In accordance with Act 1097 of 1991, a student enrolled in a secondary or home school may enroll at UA Fort Smith if he or she has successfully completed the eighth grade and demonstrates an ability to benefit from college-level courses. Interested students must submit the following documents:

1. A completed Application for Admission.
2. A current high school transcript.
3. A participation agreement form, submitted each term, signed by the student, his or her parents, and the school principal (or designee), stating that the student has approval to enroll. Students enrolling for summer terms do not have to obtain the high school’s permission to take courses.
4. ACT, SAT, ASSET, or COMPASS scores which indicate placement into college-level courses. Complete policies and guidelines for the concurrent/dual admission program are available from the Admissions and School Relations Office. Students must meet the requirements stated in the policies.

Conditions of Concurrent/Dual Enrollment of High School Students

1. Students may not enroll in developmental courses.
2. Students will not be eligible to participate in institutionally or federally-funded financial aid programs.
3. Students attending UA Fort Smith under this policy must maintain a 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) GPA each semester. Students failing to achieve the required GPA will be denied further enrollment until such time as they qualify under regular student admission requirements.
4. A high school freshman, sophomore, or junior may enroll in a maximum of six semester hours each fall and spring term as well as six hours each summer term.
5. A high school senior may enroll in a maximum of nine semester hours of credit each fall and spring term as well as six hours each summer term. Any student wishing to take more than the maximum allowed must appeal to the

director of Admissions. The student must provide no less than two letters of recommendation from high school teachers, counselors, or principals, stating why he or she should be allowed to enroll in more hours.

1. Students who withdraw from high school or home school will not be allowed to reenroll in UA Fort Smith until they qualify under regular student admission requirements.

Transient Students

Students who are actively enrolled in other institutions of higher education and wish to enroll for a summer session at UA Fort Smith must submit a completed Application for Admission and an official transcript indicating good academic standing from the institution in which they are actively enrolled. A student who enrolls in a course with a prerequisite must provide evidence of obtaining a "C" or higher in the prerequisite course. Students who continue to attend the University during the fall or spring semesters will be required to submit the same required documents as a transfer student.

Unclassified Pre- and Post-Baccalaureate (Lifelong Learner)

This category is for students who have previously completed a college degree or for students who are taking limited credit classes for personal enrichment, total fitness, or skills improvement. Transcripts documenting completion of prerequisites or placement scores are required. Students in this category are not eligible for financial aid.