The academic year consists of three semesters: Fall, Spring, and Summer. Traditional semesters are the Fall and Spring 15-week semesters. Fall and Spring are 15 weeks long and are followed by a 5-day final exam period. Fall has a two-day Fall Break around the middle of the semester and a three-day Thanksgiving Holiday. Spring includes a week-long Spring Break, usually near the middle of the semester. Summer has various terms from 6 - 14 weeks, with schedules adjusted to equal the time required in Fall and Spring schedules. Summer does not have a separate final exam period.
Non-Traditional Terms
Summer, block, and other non-traditional semesters will have waitlist, add, drop, audit, payment, and withdrawal deadlines assessed proportionally. Consult the Academic Calendar or contact the Registrar’s Office for specific deadlines.
Full-Time Students
A full-time undergraduate student is enrolled in 12 credits per semester. Most financial aid requires undergraduate students to be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits to receive full benefits, although some academic scholarships require 15 credits per semester.
In order to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in four years, students will need to enroll in at least 15 credits during each Fall and Spring semester or take additional credits in Summer.
A full-time graduate student is enrolled in 9 credits per semester. Graduate students enrolled in 5 or more credits are considered half-time. Graduate students must be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for student loans.
Excess Credit
Maximum registration is 20 credit hours per semester.
Registering for excess credit (over 20 credits per semester) requires a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA and permission from one of the following:
Department Chair of student’s declared major
Director of Academic Advisement Center
University Registrar
Additional tuition is assessed when students register for more than 20 credits. See Tuition and Fee Schedule in this catalog.
Classes / Credits
Utah Tech is required by Federal regulations to comply with these minimum standards for a semester credit hour:
One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or trimester hour of credit, or ten to twelve weeks for one quarter hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of term length.
Students should plan to spend two (2) hours on coursework outside of class for each hour they spend in class for each college credit. For example, a 3 credit course meets for three (3) hours per week and requires an average of six (6) additional hours of work outside of class per week.
At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution, including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours. Some instructional types require more hours.
Courses without direct faculty instruction, including independent study, require a minimum of 45 hours of work during the semester per credit.
Undergraduate Class Level
Registration is open to undergraduate students by class level, which is calculated by the number of completed credits:
Class Level
Standing
Credits
Freshman
0-29 credits
Sophomore
30-59 credits
Junior
60-89 credits
Senior
90 or more credits
Definitions
Placement refers to placement scores such as the ACT, SAT, Accuplacer (Writing/Reading) and/or Aleks (Math). The Accuplacer and Aleks can be taken in the Utah Tech Testing Center.
Prerequisite courses must be completed before beginning the next course, sometimes with a specific grade requirement. Some courses may also require that a student be enrolled in a specific academic program or have a specific academic status (junior or senior, for example).
Corequisite courses must be taken during the same semester.
Academic standing refers to a student’s cumulative and semester GPA. Undergraduate students whose cumulative or semester GPA falls below 2.0, or who do not improve their GPA to 2.0 or higher in subsequent semesters, will be placed on low academic status which will impact the student’s ability to register for classes. Graduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Adding Classes
Students should register for classes as soon as possible because space in classes can be limited.
Students may add classes once registration has been opened for their class level (senior, junior, etc.) through the 5th day of that semester.
To add a class after the 5th day of the semester, students must submit an ADD card with the instructor’s signature to the Registrar's Office.
No class may be added after the end of the 4th week of the semester.
An instructor’s signature on an add card will NOT override placement/prerequisite criteria. To override those requirements, the additional signature of the appropriate department chair or dean is required. Chairs and deans are listed in their department websites.
Waitlisting Full Classes
If a class is full and a Waitlist seat is available, a student may choose to be Waitlisted online in the student registration system.
The student will be notified if/when a seat becomes available in the class. A notification is sent to the student’s preferred email address. The notification will contain the date and time the waitlist notification expires (The notification window may be reduced during the first week of the semester). Being added to the class is NOT automatic; students must monitor their email account for the notification(s) and register for the class.
After the waitlist notification expires, if the student has not enrolled in the class, they are automatically dropped from the Waitlist.
Once dropped from the Waitlist, the student must re-select the Waitlist option for that class and begin the process again.
The Waitlist is available through the 4th day of the semester.
Dropping Classes
Students may drop classes online through the end of the 8th week of the semester via myUT.
If a course has a co-requisite, a student cannot drop one class and remain enrolled in the other class/lab.
Dropping a class or classes may affect a student’s financial aid.
A $10 fee per class is assessed for students dropping a course after the first week of the semester.
No refunds are given for classes dropped after the end of the 3rd week of the semester. Classes dropped after the 3rd week of the semester will be marked with a “W” grade on the transcript.
Individual class(es) may not be dropped after the 8th week of the semester.
Students with extenuating circumstances may request a Complete Withdrawal from the University through the 12th week of the semester. (See Complete Withdrawal below)
Auditing Classes
Auditing enables a student to attend a class without receiving a grade or credit. A student who chooses to audit a class must pay all applicable tuition and fees, but no grade or credit will be issued. Once a student has requested a class be changed to audit status, a grade of "AU" will be issued.
A student may enroll in a class as an audit according to the ADD deadlines and procedures.
A student already enrolled in a class may change that class to an audit through the end of the first (1st) week of the semester.
A fee will be charged for changing a course to audit status beginning the second (2nd) week of the semester.
The request for audit status cannot be reversed.
Students should determine the impact changing a course to “Audit” will have on their financial aid.
Attendance
Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes. If a student misses the first day of a class without instructor permission to be absent, they may be administratively dropped from that course. (See Administrative Drop below)
Attendance at all class sessions is a significant predictor of college success, and attendance is required in many courses. If a student must be absent from a class due to illness or another personal issue, they should work with the instructor to stay current.
No one other than officially enrolled students may attend class unless the instructor gives express permission.
Administrative Drops
A student may be administratively dropped from a class or all classes for the following reasons:
Not attending a class on the first day of class without receiving permission from the instructor. (See Attendance above)
Prerequisites for registered class(es) are not met.
Neglecting to pay all tuition and fees by the tuition due date.
A registration hold was overridden incorrectly.
As part of disciplinary sanctions imposed through the Student Code.
IMPORTANT NOTES: There is no guarantee a student will be dropped for non-attendance or non-payment.
It is a student’s responsibility to drop classes they do not attend and to verify the accuracy of their class schedule.
Not all instructors drop students who never attend a class, although they are encouraged to do so.
Administrative drops may affect minimum load requirements, financial aid status, graduation requirements, or other areas.
Once a student registers for a class, tuition and fees are assessed, even if the student does not attend any class meetings.
Registering for a class but never attending will impact a student’s financial aid eligibility.
Administrative Drops for Non-Payment
Tuition and fees are due the 1st day of the semester. Students who have not paid or applied for the tuition payment plan may have their classes dropped for non-payment.
When an account is not paid in full by the corresponding deadline, the student may be "dropped for non-payment", meaning all classes will be dropped. Students whose schedule is canceled will be allowed to re-register on a space-available basis only. Reinstatement into one's original schedule may not be possible.
Complete Withdrawal from the University
A student who experiences serious personal issues (medical, psychological, financial, family, etc.) can request a complete withdrawal from all classes through the end of the 12th week of the semester.
Complete withdrawal must be from ALL classes, not an individual class or classes.
Complete withdrawals may be requested by filling out the online Complete Withdrawal form or by filling out the Complete Withdrawal form at the Registrar's Office.
Complete withdrawal may affect a student’s financial aid. Any possible refund for a complete withdrawal would be issued according to the deadlines published in each semester’s academic calendar.
Final Exams
The Final Exam period for each semester is posted online. Instructors are required to have a graded class activity during the final exam period for each class. Students are strongly discouraged from requesting early final exams, and such requests will only be granted in extreme circumstances. Permission to take an early final examination requires completion of the Early Final Exam request form, including documentation of severe circumstance requiring the accommodation, and must be approved by the course instructor and the appropriate Dean or his/her designee.
(Following this link will take you to the Academic Standing definitions and procedures)
Academic Renewal
Academic renewal allows currently enrolled students to remove previous poor grades from grade point calculations ONLY in limited circumstances.
Coursework must have been completed at least five (5) calendar years before the academic renewal request.
Academic renewal applies only to Utah Tech University or transfer courses graded of D+, D, D-, or F.
A student may only receive academic renewal once.
Academic renewal is not reversible.
If an academic renewal is granted, designated courses will not count in the GPA calculation and will not satisfy any requirement, including the number of credits. All such courses will remain unaltered on the transcript with the appropriate notation added to the transcript to indicate academic renewal.
Once a associate’s degree, or bachelor’s degree is awarded by any institution, all course(s) completed prior to the award of that degree do NOT qualify for academic renewal.
Conditions under which a petition for academic renewal will be considered:
The student must be enrolled at Utah Tech University when petitioning for academic renewal.
The student must have completed at least 15 credit hours at Utah Tech University after the coursework being considered for academic renewal.
The student must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.5 in courses completed after the coursework being considered for academic renewal. The “new” coursework must have been completed within three (3) years prior to submitting the petition.
A non-refundable fee must be submitted with the academic renewal petition.
Exception to Policy Petition / Academic Appeals
A student may request an exception to a policy, as follows:
The Exception to Policy Committee accepts petitions for exceptions to deadlines and fees.
The Academic Appeals Committee accepts appeals of Academic actions, General Education requirements, and graduation requirements.
Required forms are located on the Registration web site and should be returned with any applicable supporting documents to the office indicated on the form.
General Education Letter of Completion
A student who completes Utah Tech’s General Education requirements and has a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA may request a General Education “Letter of Completion,” which will be accepted by other Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) institutions in fulfillment of General Education requirements in the same manner as an associate of science or associate of art degree. To request a GE Letter of Completion, please fill out the GE Letter of Completion form.
According to Utah Board of Regents policy R470, a student who transfers to Utah Tech and completes Utah Tech’s General Education requirements must meet the institutional residency requirement of 20 lower-division credits and have a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA in order to receive a General Education Letter of Completion.
Repeatable for Credit Courses
Courses marked with an “R” (example: FAST 1088R) are repeatable for credit up to a maximum number of credits specified in the catalog course description. There are also limits on the total number of credits of specific types of courses, including “repeatable for credit” courses, that a student may use to meet graduation requirements.
The total maximum for all repeatable for credit, internship, co-op, independent study, and activity courses that can be counted toward graduation requirements is as follows:
Associate’s degrees:
12 credits co-op.
15 credits total of co-op, internships, and independent study combined.
12 credits repeatable for credit.
20 credits total of co-op, internships, independent study, repeatable for credit, and activity courses combined.
Bachelor’s degrees:
12 credits co-op.
15 credits total of co-op, internships, and independent study combined.
24 credits repeatable for credit.1
30 credits total of co-op, internships, independent study, repeatable for credit, and activity courses combined.
1
Credits earned in repeatable for credit (“R”) private music lessons for Music majors (MUSC 1810R-MUSC 1821R, MUSC 2810R-MUSC 2821R, and MUSC 3810R-MUSC 3821R) will not be included in graduation restrictions for students applying for a baccalaureate degree with a Music major. Credits earned in repeatable for credit (“R”) dance courses for Dance majors or students with a Dance emphasis (DANC 1101R, DANC 1201R, DANC 2101R, DANC 2201R, DANC 3101R, DANC 3201R, DANC 4101R, DANC 4201R, DANC 4800R) will not be included in graduation restrictions for students applying for a baccalaureate degree with a Dance major or Dance emphasis.
NOTE: Some courses are “repeatable as topic varies”, which means the course number does not include an “R” because although the course number is repeated, the course content is different. Courses that are repeatable as topic varies will have a different course title each time they are taught, and a student cannot repeat the same course title. Repeatable as topic varies courses are not included in the limitations on repeatable for credit courses.
Absences Related to Official University Activities
A student requesting a schedule accommodation for an approved official University activity has an individual responsibility to provide the instructor in each class with official written verification of the approved official University event and his/her participation and to make arrangements for any course work that will be missed.
A request for schedule accommodation must be submitted in writing to the appropriate faculty member and must include the name and dates of the activity, the student's name and ID number, and the activity's sponsoring faculty or staff member.
Single Event: A student requesting a one-time schedule accommodation for an event that will occur once must submit a request to the instructor of each class at least seven (7) days before the activity.
Recurring or Frequent Activity: By the second day of class in a semester, a student requesting schedule accommodations for a recurrent activity must submit the request in writing, including the schedule of such absences, to the instructor of each class.
An instructor may determine that recurring, frequent, or lengthy absences will interfere with a student's ability to succeed in the course and recommend that the student seek an alternative.
In addition to the initial notice at the beginning of the semester, at least seven (7) calendar days but not more than 10 calendar days prior to the absence for which a schedule accommodation is requested, the student will confer with the faculty member to arrange for completion and submission of work.
No faculty member has an obligation to grant a request for an excused absence for an approved or unapproved official University event submitted to him/her less than seven (7) calendar days before the absence, but may do so at his/her discretion insofar as such action is non-discriminatory.
Absences for participation in approved University activities can usually be anticipated, and the student should be prepared to complete course work prior to the absence.
Required Military Service
A student who is in "uniformed service" may request a schedule accommodation for short-term required military activities (deployment, activation, or mobilization) that must take place during the semester and are 14 calendar days or less in duration. If a student's absence is more than 14 calendar days in a full semester, they should consider doing a complete withdrawal from the semester. A student who is activated for military service should contact the Veteran's Coordinator in the Veterans Student Service Center as soon as possible for assistance with issues concerning current classes, registration status, and/or educational benefits.
The student must provide instructors with a printed copy of their "orders" to request a military activity schedule accommodation.
In the event written "orders" give a student less than seven (7) calendar days from notification to the onset of the absence, instructors are still encouraged to work with the student concerning the requested schedule accommodation.
An instructor may determine that recurring, frequent, or lengthy absences will interfere with a student's ability to succeed in the course and recommend that the student seek an alternative.
A student who requires an extension to the original period of absence must contact the Veteran's Coordinator, who will require verification of the required extension and then notify instructors, who may recommend that the student seek an alternative.
Absences for required military activities may or may not be anticipated.
A student with advance notice of a required military activity may be required to complete course work prior to the absence.
If the student has less than seven (7) calendar days' notice (as certified by the written "orders"), the instructor should make every effort to work with the student to accomplish the schedule accommodation.
Student Location
Utah Tech defines student location as the physical address that a student identifies during the registration process for that semester as the location where the student will physically reside (live and/or frequently stay) during the semester while the student is taking courses. It is a place of residence where the student would most likely be found to sleep at night during the semester.
Students can update their physical address at any time via Banner.
Student location is used to provide disclosures to students in educational programs leading to professional licensure regarding whether a University program meets licensure requirements in the state of the student's location and for Out-of-State Learning Placement (OOSLP) educational activities regulated by the states and territories within which they occur.
See University Policy 506 - Determination of Student Location - for more details.
Grades
Instructors must enter course grades in the student registration system by 5:00 p.m. on the second working day after the last final exam of the semester.
Grades are available by logging in to Student Services in the student portal on the Utah Tech home page.
A student must complete the Online Course Survey (often referred to as “student evaluations”) for each course to view grades at the end of a semester. A student who chooses not to complete the Online Course Surveys for all classes may be delayed in accessing their grades.
A student must be in good standing (have no unpaid obligations to the University or other holds on their record) to view grades.
Grades are calculated into a student's GPA (grade point average) as follows:
Grades
Grade
Point Value
Notes
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
F
0.0
Fail
P
*
Pass
I
*
Incomplete
AU
*
Audit
W
*
Withdrawal
NC
*
No Credit
NG
*
No Grade Issued
*
does not impact GPA
Incomplete (“I”) Grades
According to University Policy, a grade of “Incomplete” (“I”) may be issued ONLY in the following circumstances:
The student has completed a substantial portion of a course and is unable to complete the coursework for a legitimate reason (e.g., serious illness or accident).
The student is passing the course and needs to complete less than 20% of the coursework.
Copies of the incomplete contract, signed by the instructor and the student, MUST be submitted to the appropriate department chair and the Registrar’s Office before an Incomplete grade will be entered on a students transcript.
An “I” grade must not be used in a way that will permit a student to retake the course without paying tuition.
A student who receives an incomplete does not re-register for the class. If the situation requires that the student sign up for the class again, the instructor should give the grade that was earned. Ordinarily, completing the course will not require that a student attend class or complete the work by attending class.
Once the student has completed the coursework, the instructor must submit a Grade Change form to the Registrar’s Office.
If the student does not finish the work or if the instructor does not submit a Grade Change form within one calendar year, an “I” grade will be changed to the higher of the following:
Grade earned by the student at the time of final grading in the semester when the "I" was issued, if such an alternate grade was entered by the instructor at the same time the "I' was entered.
"F" grade.
Instructors may institute deadlines of less than one calendar year for the completion of coursework.
An "I" grade will affect a student’s financial aid in future semesters.
Students have 30 days after the last day of final exams in their graduation semester to resolve any incomplete "I" grades.
Grade Changes
According to University Policy, grade changes may be made ONLY in the following circumstances:
An incorrect grade was entered. If a student claims a grading error, they must notify the instructor no later than the last day of the following semester, excluding summer semester. Faculty are responsible for submitting a Grade Change form to the Registrar’s Office.
A student received an “I” grade, completes the work required to finish a class, and the instructor submits a Grade Change form within one calendar year of the “I” grade being issued.
A student received an “I” grade, but no Grade Change form is submitted within one (1) calendar year of the “I” grade being issued. The grade is automatically changed to “F” or an alternate grade submitted by the instructor when the course was graded with an "I".
A student’s Exception to Policy petition was granted, or Academic Appeal was approved. Exception to Policy petitions must be received within four (4) calendar years of the grade being issued. Academic Appeals for a semester grade must be filed within 20 days of the final grading deadline for that semester.
Repeating a Course for a Higher Grade
If a student wants or needs to repeat a course for a higher grade, they must register and pay tuition and fees for the repeated class. The repeated course will remain on the transcript but, only the most recent grade earned in any course will be used in GPA calculations.
Previous grades and credit hours for the repeated course remain on the student’s transcript but are not calculated in the GPA or total hours completed. Credit hours for repeated courses will be counted only once toward graduation and other requirements. Some programs may have limitations on which courses can be repeated for a higher grade. In addition, a student’s financial aid may be impacted by repeating courses for a higher grade.
A student may repeat a course for a higher grade in the following circumstances:
The course was originally taken at Utah Tech and was repeated at Utah Tech. If the course prefix and number are the same, the most recent grade earned in a course will automatically replace a previous grade.
The course, originally taken at another institution, articulates to a Utah Tech course as determined by an existing articulation agreement or the appropriate Utah Tech department chair.
The course, originally taken at Utah Tech, was later repeated at another institution. If a course repeat is taken at another institution, the course must articulate to the previously taken Utah Tech course as determined by an existing articulation agreement or the appropriate University department chair. The student must submit an official transcript from the other institution.
Transfer Credit
Students transferring to Utah Tech must supply an official transcript either in an envelope sealed by an official of the sending institution or by authorized electronic means. A student’s official transcript will be evaluated by the Registrar’s Office (to determine the applicability and transferability of credits) after the student has matriculated into a degree program. Transfer credits are calculated in a student’s cumulative GPA.
To be accepted as transfer credit at Utah Tech, transfer credits must be college level (not remedial, developmental or pre-college) and must be completed with a grade of D- or above. Where no articulation agreement exists, Utah Tech academic departments determine course equivalencies in their subject areas. Transfer credit may be limited based on institutional accreditation or existing articulation agreement (or lack thereof), and/or in amount or by age by a Utah Tech academic department. Students may be asked to supply information from a college or university catalog, bulletin, syllabus, and/or course outline to aid in the evaluation of a transcript or a specific course.
Transfer credit may be accepted from other institutions for the purpose of posting a grade repeat for a course already taken at Utah Tech, providing the transfer course is equivalent as established by either an articulation agreement between the two institutions or approval by the appropriate department chair.
Transfer credit earned at a 1000 or 2000 level usually does not substitute for a 3000 or 4000 level class at Utah Tech. Exceptions may be permitted when the course is equivalent to the Utah Tech class and require the approval of the director/department chair and dean who administer the program that controls that course prefix.
The University reserves the right to deny credit for courses that are not compatible with those offered in its academic programs. For example, courses that provide religious instruction in a particular doctrine and courses offered for non-credit continuing education units will not be awarded Utah Tech credit.
Students who have fulfilled the General Education requirements at a regionally accredited institution will be considered to have fulfilled the General Education requirements at Utah Tech. Students from non-USHE institutions must meet Utah Tech and Utah Board of Regents requirements in three core areas: American Institutions, English Composition, and Mathematics.
International Transfer Credit
In order for students to receive credit for college or university coursework completed outside of the U.S., transcripts need to be sent to an approved credential evaluation service. Once transcripts are received at Utah Tech from a credential evaluation service, they will be evaluated for specific equivalencies (course syllabi are required for major-specific course credit). Courses not meeting equivalency requirements may be accepted as elective credit. For more information, see the International Students section of this catalog.
Credit by Examination (Extra Institutional Credit)
Utah Tech awards credit for knowledge and competencies as measured by standard examinations such as the Advanced Placement program (AP) and the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Specific exams, subject areas accepted, the minimum score requirements and the amount of credit granted are posted below.
Conditions for receiving credit by examination:
Students must be currently enrolled at Utah Tech to receive any credit by examination.
A fee is assessed for posting credit by examination to a transcript.
Credit may not be received more than once for the same course.
If a student has ever received a grade, including a “W,” in a course for which credit by exam is awarded, the credit by exam option is no longer available. A credit by exam cannot replace a course grade.
All credit received for examinations is graded “P” (Pass).
Credit earned by exam can be used to fulfill General Education requirements as appropriate.
Utah Tech will award no more than a combined maximum of 30 total credits for the following:
Advance Placement credit (AP)
College Level Examination Program credit (CLEP)
Foreign Language Achievement Testing Services credit (BYU FLATS)
International Baccalaureate credit
Specific exam scores and course credits awarded are listed in the Registration section of this catalog.
Challenging Courses for Credit
A matriculated student in good standing who is able to provide evidence of prior learning that fulfills the student learning outcomes of a course may request to challenge that course for credit by successfully completing a comprehensive assessment or examination under the following circumstances:
The student must be enrolled in the course and may only challenge during the first two weeks of the semester. If a student has ever received a grade in a course (A – F, AU, W, etc.), they may not challenge that course.
The instructor and the department chair agree that a challenge is appropriate for the course and that the assessment or examination is an acceptable measure of the course’s student learning outcomes. If the department chair is the instructor, the approval of the dean is required.
An examination fee may be required.
A student who successfully challenges a course will receive the grade indicated by the assessment or examination score. Final grades will be entered according to the semester schedule.
Testing Out of a Course with No Credit
A limited number of competency-based courses that fulfill institutional requirements offer students the option of passing a test to fulfill the requirement in lieu of taking the course.
If the student fails the examination, nothing is posted to the transcript.
If the student earns a passing score on the examination, fulfillment of the requirement is noted on the transcript, but no credit or grade is awarded.
There may be a fee to take the examination, but no posting fee will be applied since no credit is awarded.
Courses currently offering this option are listed in the University Catalog.
Vertical Credit for Foreign Language Classes
Vertical Credit is only awarded to advanced foreign language students and is not available for other types of classes. After passing an advanced foreign language class with a C grade or higher, up to sixteen (16) credits of vertical credit may be received for the courses that are preparatory to the advanced class using the following procedures and guidelines:
Pay the posting fee at the Cashier's Office
Fill out and return the Extra-Institutional Credit form with a copy of your receipt for the posting fee to the Registrar's Office.
After the above steps are completed, ungraded elective or General Education foreign language credit is awarded for the preparatory foreign language course(s).
See the Extra-Institutional Credit policy (523) for more information.
Prior Learning Assessment
Utah Tech University (Utah Tech) recognizes that learners in higher education come from varied backgrounds with a wide variety of life experiences that might qualify for college course credit. At Utah Tech, our students have multiple pathways toward receiving credit for prior learning. You can learn more about these pathways from your program advisor, the University catalog and Utah Tech Policy 523.
Some restrictions apply to all Utah Tech prior learning credit.
Only matriculated Utah Tech students are eligible to receive Utah Tech prior learning credit.
All credit by examination or for prior learning is graded as “Pass” rather than a letter grade.
In compliance with accreditation standards, no more than 25% of credit by examination and prior learning can be applied toward a degree (15 credits for associate’s, 30 for bachelor’s).
Not all Utah Tech courses are eligible for credit by examination or prior learning.
The Prior Learning Assessment Portfolio for experiential learning may not be used for General Education courses.
Prior learning credit cannot be awarded for courses where a student has already received a grade.
Transfer Credit
American Council on Education (ACE) – Evaluated Military Training Credit
College-level courses transferred in from a regionally accredited institution according to articulation standards.
Vertical Foreign Language Credit
Exam Credit
Advanced Placement (AP)
BYU Foreign Language FLATS Credit
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Course Challenge
DANTES Subject Standardized Test (DSST) Credit
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Testing Out – No Credit
Experiential Learning Credit
Experiential Learning Credit is credit awarded for college-level learning that has been attained outside of a legally authorized and accredited post-secondary educational institution; learning which will then be backed up by documentation.
Students have certain rights concerning their “education records” under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, as amended, 20 U.S.C. §1232g, et seq. These include:
The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day Utah Tech receives the request for access.
All enrolled and former students may access their education records maintained by Utah Tech. Written requests identifying the record(s) to be inspected should be submitted to the Registrar’s Office. The Utah Tech official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the Utah Tech official to whom the request was submitted, that official will advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed. A student may receive one copy of each item of information contained in the education record at a cost of $.25 per page (charge subject to change).
The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.
Students may ask Utah Tech to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading as recorded or reported in that record. They should write the Utah Tech official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading.
If Utah Tech decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, Utah Tech will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
The right to consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information (defined below) contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
Individuals and agencies having access to a student’s records without the student's consent include “school officials,” defined below, with legitimate educational interests; parents claiming a student as a dependent on their federal income tax; scholarship and other financial aid organizations supporting the student; organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, educational agencies or institutions for the purpose of developing, validating, or administering predictive tests, student aid programs, or to improve instruction; organizations carrying out accrediting functions of programs offered by Utah Tech; appropriate person(s) in an emergency; and any party designated by judicial order or subpoena, provided that, except for subpoenas and orders issued for law enforcement purposes, Utah Tech first notifies the student of the order or subpoena. Any other individual or organization must have a student’s written consent to view or have access to the education record.
For purposes of disclosure of information about the student to school officials with legitimate educational interests, a "school official" is a person employed by Utah Tech in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel in an educational role and health staff); a person or company with whom Utah Tech has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the governing board of Utah Tech; or a student serving on an official committee, or in a volunteer capacity, such as a peer mentor or member of a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. Such officials have legitimate educational interests when they need to review a student’s education records to fulfill their responsibilities to Utah Tech. As an example of a company with whom Utah Tech has contracted, Utah Tech works with the National Student Clearinghouse which provides an Enrollment Verification Certificate and/or degree verification to students and vendors indicating whether the students are enrolled for part-time or full-time status at Utah Tech, or have received a degree.
Students can authorize the release of their private information that is otherwise available through the secure online student portal that provides limited access to a student’s education records to families and trusted individuals designated by the student. The following types of student information can be viewed in the student portal:
• eBilling information
• Grades for the last completed term
• Unofficial transcript
• Class schedule for the semester in session
• Tax information
An exception to the requirement for prior authorization for release of records exists for public release of “directory information” which is published in university directories and may be released to third parties. FERPA allows a student to limit the release of directory information; see the Office of the Registrar for procedures to apply restrictions on directory information.
Utah Tech defines “directory information” as the following:
• Full Name
• User ID (D-Number)
• Local and permanent address(es)
• E-mail address
• Telephone numbers
• Date of Birth
• Residency status
• Enrollment status (full/part-time)
• Major field of study
• Dates of attendance
• Degrees and awards received
• Previous school(s) attended
• Academic level (freshman, sophomore, etc.)
• Photographs and videos of students
• Participation in officially recognized activities or sports
• Height and weight of athletic team members
The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Utah Tech to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:
Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20202-4605.
Personally Identifiable (Private) Information
Personally identifiable (private) information is data or information, which includes, but is not limited to: the student's name; the name of the student's parent or other family members; the address of the student or student's family; a personal identifier, such as the student's social security number, student number, or biometric records, such as defined in C.R.S. § 24-73-103(1)(a); an employer, student, or military identification number; a financial transaction device as defined in C.R.S. § 18-5-701(3); other indirect identifiers, such as the student's date of birth, place of birth, and mother's maiden name; other information that, alone or in combination, is linked or linkable to a specific student and that would allow a reasonable person in the school community who does not have personal knowledge of the relevant circumstances to identity the student with reasonable certainty; or information requested by a person who the educational agency or institution reasonably believes knows the identity of the student to whom the education record relates.
Utah Tech defines Personally Identifiable (Private Information) as information, excluding Directory information, that if disclosed alone or in combination with other available information, would make it possible to identify an individual to whom the information pertains. This includes items such as a social security number; a personal identification number; a password; a pass code; an official state or government-issued driver's license or identification card number; a government passport number; biometric data, such as defined in C.R.S. § 24-73-103(1)(a); an employer, student, or military identification number; a financial transaction device as defined in C.R.S. § 18-5-701(3); grades, financial/account information; student ID photo; class and work schedules; residency status; class rank; age; birth date and place of birth. None of these items may be released without the student’s permission, except as otherwise allowed by FERPA.
Deceased Student Information Disclosure
Due to the sensitivity and privacy issues involved in student deaths, a Confidential Information alert will be placed on the deceased student’s accounts and records to block public access to all personal and academic information once verification of the death is confirmed.
Further information about Utah Tech's FERPA policy and related guidance and resources are available from the Office of the Registrar.
Catalog Rights
A student has catalog rights for associate degree requirements, including General Education requirements, for four (4) years beginning with the date of matriculation into any degree program as long as they maintain continuous enrollment by completing at least one Utah Tech credit-bearing course each academic year. The date of matriculation is not always the same as the date of first admission.
A student has catalog rights for baccalaureate degree requirements, including General Education requirements, for seven (7) years beginning with the date of matriculation into any degree program as long as they maintain continuous enrollment by completing at least one Utah Tech credit-bearing course each academic year. The date of matriculation is not always the same as the date of first admission.
A student has catalog rights for master degree requirements, for seven (7) years beginning with the date of enrollment as long as they maintain continuous enrollment by completing at least one Utah Tech credit-bearing course each academic year.
A student may also maintain catalog rights, as listed above if they have an approved enrollment deferral or leave of absences on file. The time a student is away, however, still counts toward the lifespan of the catalog rights.
A student may fulfill Utah Tech General Education requirements through any of the following methods:
Previously earned Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree from a regionally accredited institution.1
Previously earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.1
General Education Letter of Completion from a Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) institution.
Credits awarded for scores on specific examinations as outlined in the Utah Tech catalog current at the time of posting.
Completion of the International Baccalaureate exams and diploma.
1
Students with previously earned degrees from non-Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) institutions, must meet Utah Tech and the Utah Board of Regents minimum standards in American Institutions, English Composition, and Quantitative Literacy (Mathematics).
A student who has not fulfilled General Education requirements through any of the methods listed above and who has catalog rights must select any of the following sets of program and General Education requirements:
Requirements in effect at the time of matriculation into any Utah Tech degree program.
Requirements in effect at the time of matriculation into the specific degree program in which the student will graduate.
Requirements in effect at the time the student applies for graduation.
A student who matriculates into a degree program that was not in the Utah Tech catalog when the student matriculated into any Utah Tech degree program must select from the following sets of program and General Education requirements, with the exception that General Education requirements may be fulfilled through any of the methods listed above.
Requirements in effect at the time of matriculation into the specific degree program in which the student will graduate.
Requirements in effect at the time of graduation.
A student must fulfill all degree requirements from one catalog. Students may not split requirements between two catalogs for a single degree.
A student may apply for an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree and a baccalaureate degree at the same time using different catalogs requirements for each degree. In other words, a student who enrolled in Fall 2019 can apply to receive an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree under the General Education requirements in place on the date of their matriculation into any degree program up to four (4) years from the date of enrollment into any degree program, even if the student is simultaneously applying to graduate with a baccalaureate degree under another catalog.
Leave of Absence (LOA)
Undergraduate students are eligible to register up to one calendar year from the last term of enrollment.
Graduate students are required to maintain continuous enrollment and must submit for a Leave of Absence (LOA prior to the start of the semester they will not be enrolled.
A LOA allows current students who have attended at least one semester and are in academic and financial good standing to extend enrollment eligibility for a maximum of seven consecutive semesters (including summers) after the last term of enrollment. Students granted LOA will not need to reapply or pay a readmission fee and may, in some circumstances, retain an awarded scholarship.
First-time entering freshmen, transfer students, and readmitted students may not request a LOA but may apply for Deferred Admission. See Deferred Admission in the Admissions section of the University catalog.
Application for LOA must be submitted before the first day of classes for the semester in which the Leave of Absence will begin.
A LOA may be granted for the following reasons:
Serving a humanitarian or religious mission
Severe medical condition
Financial hardship
Military service
Students granted a LOA will not be required to apply for readmission during the period of the leave or for the first semester immediately following that leave.
Students requesting a LOA who also have been awarded a scholarship may request a deferment of that scholarship for the same length of time.
Non-resident tuition waivers are not deferred, but students granted such a waiver who are granted a LOA will receive first priority for such a waiver upon their return, pending eligibility and program restrictions.
It is a student’s responsibility to register in classes for the semester following a LOA. If desired, the student may designate someone to register for classes for him/her prior to his/her return.
If a student does not register for courses in the term indicated on the request for LOA, the student will forfeit any scholarship or waiver rights and will need to apply for readmission.
A student may not request a LOA to attend any other post-secondary institution, including a university, college, or technical/vocational school.
Leave of Absence Checklist
If you plan on taking a Leave of Absence (LOA), plan your courses accordingly. For example, mathematics courses and exams taken as a prerequisite to another Math class are only valid for two years. You may have to retake a Math class or re-test when you return. Graduate courses may only be offered in a cohort rotation which may delay your ability to enroll in courses.
Complete and submit Leave of Absence and Scholarship Deferment form if applicable.
If you want someone else to register you for classes before you actually return to campus, you must designate that individual on the LOA form.
Meet with an academic advisor to determine a plan for your return, including the courses you will take when you re-enroll.
Complete any courses graded “I,” which will automatically become “F” grades one year after that grade was issued.
Returning from a Leave of Absence
Contact the Admissions and/or Scholarship Office to determine if additional or updated information needs to be submitted.
Register for classes to take during the first full semester after your return. If you decide to re-enroll at Utah Tech prior to your anticipated return date, contact the Admissions Office.
Take the Aleks exam if needed for Math prerequisites.
Meet with an undergraduate academic advisor or graduate faculty advisor to create an academic plan to review updated or new program or graduation requirements.
If you learned a foreign language while on your leave of absence, you may be eligible to earn up to 16 credits by taking an exam and/or course. See the Extra-Institutional Credit policy (523) for more information.