Student Services

Office of Counseling, Advising, Assessment, and Career Services
216 Davis Hall • Box 19156 • 817-272-3671
http://caacs.uta.edu

The major services offered to undergraduate students by the Office of Counseling, Advising, Assessment, and Career Services include personal/academic/career counseling, advising, assessment and career services.

Counseling (216 Davis Hall)
Assistance with questions or problems concerning personal matters, academic skill development and career planning is offered. In addition to the opportunity for individual counseling, a large number of training workshops are provided to students covering a full range of topics relating to academic skills and career planning. A computerized guidance system is available to those students who need a start in the career planning process.

For more information, call 817-272-3671 or access http://counseling.uta.edu.

University Advising Center (241 Davis Hall)
The primary focus of the University Advising Center (UAC) is to provide assistance to undeclared majors regarding basic University rules and regulations common to all students, the core curriculum, clarification of life and career goals, and the transition of students into a chosen academic major. UAC advisors help undeclared majors choose a major consistent with their career goals, interests, and aptitudes. Emphasis is placed on helping students attain acceptance into a chosen major as early as possible and before they reach the 45/75 hour rule (see p. 19). Departmental advisors must advise students who have declared pre-major and major status.

UAC advisors encourage students to take the core curriculum early to ensure that all undergraduates are offered breadth and balance in a coherent, general, and liberal education. The listing of core curriculum requirements can be found in this catalog and on the UAC Web site. All undergraduate students should be aware of the probationary policies described in this catalog.

The TASP advisor is located in the UAC. Other student advising services include programs designed to identify early in the semester students who are experiencing academic difficulties. Additionally, students in the Gateway Program and individually approved students are advised in the UAC.

For more information on academic advising, call 817-272-3140 or access http://uac.uta.edu.

Assessment Services (201 Davis Hall)
Three types of testing programs are offered:

• Admissions Tests: SAT, ACT, Graduate Record Exam, Graduate Management Admission Test, Law School Admissions Test and Medical College Aptitude Test.
• TASP Test: Required by Texas law to ensure that students in state colleges possess the academic skills to perform effectively.
• Credit by Examination: Several programs are available to earn credit by examination. Contact Assessment Services in 201 Davis Hall for a current list of credit by examination options, or visit the Assessment Services Web site below.

Students who wish to prepare for an admissions test may locate manuals in bookstores or may take a test preparation course from the U.T. Arlington Division of Continuing Education.

For more information on Assessment Services, call 817-272-2362 or access www.uta.edu/assessment.

TASP Examination
The Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP) is required by Texas law to ensure that students in Texas public colleges possess the academic skills needed to perform effectively. TASP includes a testing component designed to identify and diagnose the reading, writing and mathematics skills of each student.
Students required to take the TASP test must do so prior to enrolling in any college-level course work. The receipt of official scores from a regular TASP test administration and an addendum to the transcript or official scores from the school that administered a TASP alternative test are the accepted methods of verification of having taken the TASP test.

The TASP Office is located in the University Advising Center, Room 241, Davis Hall.
Students who qualify for and want to receive an exemption from TASP requirements are responsible for providing documentation to the University to establish the exemption. Students are eligible for an exemption if they meet any of the following criteria:

• The student earned three or more hours of college credit, including credit earned by examination, prior to September 1, 1989.
• The student was exempted from another Texas public college or university on the basis of any of the permitted criteria.
• April 1995 and thereafter, the student earned a total SAT score of 1070 on the “Recentered Scale” combined with a minimum of 500 on each of the mathematical and verbal tests. Prior to April 1995, the student earned a total SAT score of 970 combined with a minimum of 470 on the mathematical test and a 420 on the verbal test. Scores more than five years old will not be used.
• The student earned an ACT composite score of 23 with a 19 minimum on each of the mathematics and English tests. Scores more than five years old will not be used.
• On the TAAS test, the student earned a minimum scale score of 1770 on the writing test and a Texas Learning Index (TLI) of 86 on the mathematics test and 89 on the reading test. Scores more than three years old will not be used.
• Blind students will take the TASP test with appropriate accommodations, and deaf students will take the Stanford Achievement Test.

Students may prepare or remediate for one or all three parts of the exam by registering for course-based developmental education through the English and Math departments. These classes are ENGL 0300 (Reading/Writing), ENGL 0301 (ESL Reading/Writing), MATH 0301 (TASP Preparation) and MATH 0302 (Fundamentals).

None of these courses/review sessions fulfill any degree requirements.
Important: Students who fail one or more sections of the TASP examination are required by state law to take developmental education by registering for the appropriate courses when registering for other credit courses. Failure to attend TASP-required developmental activities will result in students being dropped from all of their classes. Students must continue to enroll in developmental courses until successful completion of the developmental education sequence.

Students must pass all sections of the TASP test by the time they have completed 60 hours credit or its equivalent to enroll in upper division courses. For more information regarding TASP regulations, contact the academic advisor in the TASP Office in the University Advising Center.

A fee of $29 ($85 for the computer-administered test) must be paid when registering for the test. All fees are subject to change. For more information on registering for the TASP test, contact Assessment Services, 201 Davis Hall, 817-272-2362, or contact TASP, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, P.O. Box 12780, Austin, Texas, 78711, 512-427-6330.

Career Services
Career Services assists students and alumni in funding full- or part-time, internship and co-op employment opportunities. Services provided include: career development workshops, job listings, resume referral, on-campus employment interviews, career days and information on careers, employers and job search techniques.

Career Services has three offices across campus to better serve U.T. Arlington students and employers.

• Business Career Services offers part-time, full-time and internship opportunities to students and alumni interested in business careers.
• Student Employment Services offers non-degree-required part-time, full-time and internship opportunities to currently enrolled students in all degree programs. In addition, work-study positions are posted for both on- and off-campus employment.
• University Career Services offers full-time degreed opportunities to new graduates and alumni in all degree programs. On-campus recruiting is conducted in the fall (October and November) and in the spring (February and March).

Career Services Locations
Web site: http://careers.uta.edu
University Career Services: Room 216, Davis Hall, 817-272-2932
Business Career Services: Room 106, Business Bldg., 817-272-5201
Student Employment Services: First Level, University Center (West Entrance), 817-272-2895

Student Success Programs (241 Davis Hall)
The Office of Student Success Programs oversees the Year One at UTA program, administers the Maverick Scholar Association, and coordinates the activities of a variety of academic support programs on campus. The Student Success Programs Office provides information for students on University transition, transportation, disability assistance, academic support, financial aid, career advice, campus activities, and student health.

The Student Success Programs Office serves as a liaison between Academic Support Programs, including Honors Residential Mentors, TASP Developmental Courses, Online Academic Support, College Adjustment and Learning Frameworks Courses, SOAR Cost-Share Tutorial, Student Support Services, Upward Bound, Writing Center, Math Clinic, Science Learning Center, Library, and UTA Hosts.

Adapting to a new college environment can present both academic and social challenges to new freshman and transfer students. Student Success Programs links students to a wide variety of programs, activities, and services to enhance their U.T. Arlington experience. Both new and returning students are welcome to contact the Student Success Programs Office at 817-272-6107 or to access information at the Year One at UTA Web site, www.uta.edu/yearone.

Office of Information Technology (OIT)
B09 Davis Hall • Box 19318 • 817-272-3666 www2.uta.edu/oit

The Office of Information Technology is comprised of a diverse group of people working to meet the technological needs of the U.T. Arlington campus community. The four major components of OIT are Academic Computing Services (ACS), Business Computing Services (BCS), Campus Network Services (CNS), and Computer Operations & Services (COS).

Academic Computing Services provides computing resources for campuswide research and student instructional activities. Computing resources provided by ACS include six student computer labs, accounts on centralized systems that provide access to compilers, programming tools, utilities, e-mail, telnet, file transfer protocol, and Web access, online documentation, and IT professionals to provide assistance to students, faculty and staff.

ACS’ seven on-campus computer labs are located in the Business Building, Central Library, Fine Arts Building, Nedderman Hall, Ransom Hall, and University Hall. The Ransom Hall Computer Learning Center is open 24 hours per day, seven days a week. This three-story computing facility is networked with Macintosh and IBM-compatible computers and it provides color and grayscale laser printing, color flatbed scanners, and teaching classrooms. The Business Computing Facility provides IBM-compatible PC systems, color and grayscale laser printing, and teaching classrooms. The Fine Arts Computing Facility provides Macintosh computers and grayscale printing. The Library Computing Facility, located on the fifth floor of the Central Library, provides networked Macintosh and IBM-compatible computers, dot matrix printing, color and grayscale laser printing, a color flatbed scanner, and teaching classrooms. The Internet Café, located on the first floor of the Central Library, provides networked IBM-compatible PCs, grayscale laser printing, and laptop desks. The Nedderman Hall Computing Facility provides networked IBM-compatible PCs, SUN Solaris client workstations, and NCD X-Windows systems, and dot matrix and laser printers. The University Hall Computing Facility provides networked IBM-compatible PC systems, dot matrix and laser printers, and teaching classrooms.

ACS also provides free dial in access to the campus network and Internet, personalized e-mail accounts on UNIX and Windows NT with Web-based interface, personal Web space, and personal disk space for storage of files. ACS maintains online documentation and staff consultants to assist with everything from desktop operating systems to statistical analysis to batch processing on one of the research super computers.
ACS supports both large, centralized computing resources, as well as distributed client/server computing. The large centralized resources consist of:

1. An SGI Origin 2000, with sixteen R10000 processors for parallel process applications, 4GB of memory, and 153GB of disk space, runs IRIX 6.5 and scientific application software. This system, called RESEARCH, is dedicated exclusively for UTA’s researchers.
2. A second system for scientific research is a computer farm consisting of 17 Compaq Proliant DL360s, each with 2 933 MHz PCUs, _GB RAM and 36GB disks, each running the LINUX operating system, 6 Compaq Alpha Server DS20Es with 2 667MHz CPUs, 2GB RAM, 36GB disks, running Compaq True64 operating system, 5 Compaq Alpha Server ES40s with 4 833MHz CPUs, 4GB RAM, 72GB Hard Drives, running True64, and one network attached storage device with 500GB disk space. All of the computers will be networked together with a gigabit switch.
3. A Compaq AlphaServer 4000 5/400, with two 21164 Alpha Processors, 1GB of memory, and 74GB of RAID disk space, runs Compaq Tru64 UNIX, various compilers, programming tools, utilities, database management systems, statistical packages/libraries, and provides network connectivity to the Internet. This system, called OMEGA, supports both teaching and research activities. OMEGA accounts are available upon request for U.T. Arlington students, faculty, and staff.
4. A Sun Ultra Enterprise 3000, with two 250MHZ UltraSPARC processors, 2GB of memory, and 114GB of RAID disk space, runs Sun Solaris 2.6, a SYSTEM V based UNIX operating system. This system, called GAMMA2, acts as a computer and/or print/file server for teaching and research purposes, provides programming tools, libraries, utilities, engineering application software, and full network connectivity to the Internet. GAMMA2 accounts are available upon request for U.T. Arlington students, faculty, and staff.
5. A Compaq AlphaServer 1000A, with one 21164 5/500 MHz Alpha Processor, 1GB of memory, and 63GB of disk space, runs OpenVMS, various compilers, programming tools, utilities, provides excellent connectivity to the Internet, and supports a large number of interactive and batch users. This system, called UTARLG, supports both teaching and research activities. UTARLG accounts are available upon request for U.T. Arlington students, faculty, and staff.
6. An SGI Origin 200, with two R10000 processors, 384MB of Memory, and 108GB of disk space, runs IRIX 6.5 and SGI’s MediaServer software. This system is dedicated for distance learning at U.T. Arlington.
7. A SUN E250 with 1GB of memory and 7x18GB disk drives, running Sun Solaris 2.7. This system serves as UTA’s WWW Server.
8. A SUN Ultra 1 Model 140, with 96MB of memory and 10GB of disk spaces, runs Sun Solaris 2.7. This system serves as UTA’s online course (WebCT ) Server.

The distributed client/server environment supports thousands of computers located on the desktops of UTA’s faculty and staff offices as well as in the student computer labs. Distributed client/server resources consists of:

1. A SUN Solaris server and 41 Solaris clients. The client stations are SUN Ultra 1 Model 170E with one 167MHZ UltraSPARC processor, 128MB of memory, 3D graphics card, and 2GB of disk space. These client stations run Solaris 2.6 operating system.
2. Three Netfinity 5600s each with 2933Mhz CPUs, 1GB RAM, and a total of 1 Terabyte disk space, running Windows-NT server operating system 4.0, and serve as print/file and application servers to Macintosh and IBM-compatible computers located in ACS-supported computing facilities, and Student personal disk space and Web pages.
3. Many IBM Netfinity and Compaq Prioris servers run Windows-NT 4.0 to serve as Exchange, SQL, SMS, and print/file servers. Together, these servers support the University’s e-mail, and desktop and departmental applications.

One of Campus Network Services’ major responsibilities is to provide a high-speed data network within the U.T. Arlington campus as well as interconnections to major regional, national, and international networks (e.g. Internet, THEnet, etc.).

Additional information about OIT’s computers, network, and student computing facilities, as well as access to documentation and staff consultants is available at the Computing Services Help Desk on the first floor of the Central Library, (817) 272-2208, helpdesk@uta.edu. All OIT labs and resources are available to current U.T. Arlington students, faculty, and staff.

International Office
Lower Level, University Center • Box 19028 • 817-272-2355 www.uta.edu/io

The International Office serves the needs of the 2,000 international students and scholars at The University of Texas at Arlington. The staff handles all immigration procedures and provides information, advice and counseling on a variety of issues affecting international visitors. The International Office sponsors numerous cultural events and informational workshops throughout the year and publishes a newsletter each semester informing students of immigration issues, deadlines and events of special interest. All new international students must attend international student orientation, hosted by the International Office, before matriculation.

The University of Texas at Arlington offers opportunities for study on exchange programs, faculty-led programs or affiliated programs in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and Thailand. New programs are being developed every year. Students interested in study abroad opportunities, scholarship, travel and work opportunities abroad will find information at the International Office.

Office of Multicultural Services
Lower Level, University Center • Box 19353 • 817-272-2099

The Office of Multicultural Services is committed to fostering the full participation of ethnic minorities at The University of Texas at Arlington by helping create an academic, social and cultural atmosphere conducive to the presence and responsive to the needs of African-American, Native American Indian, Mexican-American and Pacific Island students. It is important that prospective students receive orientation to the diverse and numerous offices designed to assist students at the University. While the Office of Multicultural Services is committed to facilitating full participation of ethnic minorities in every aspect of university life, its doors are open to all students at The University of Texas at Arlington.

Academic assistance services are available to promote a successful learning experience. In addition, seminars and workshops provide leadership training and enhance the social skills and positive self-concepts necessary for successful living. Rich cultural diversity is reflected in the number and variety of minority student organizations on campus.

The Center for Multicultural Cooperation (CMC) is a comprehensive, campuswide outreach initiative for attracting, orienting and retaining minority students. The CMC seeks to recruit minority students in various ways, including the utilization of volunteer students and staff recruiters.

The CMC provides an orientation program for minority students. Students receive a thorough overview on how the campus operates, who to see for a particular problem, and what is required of them if their campus experience is to be successful. The program stresses class attendance, establishing friendships, participating in campus activities and accepting responsibility.

Also, the CMC works to increase minority student retention by providing assistance with academic preparation, academic advising, cultural activities, sociocultural adjustment, financial resources and faculty/staff recruitment. The CMC views retention as a campuswide effort involving all aspects of the educational process.

In summary, the intent of the CMC is to recruit minority students with the goal of graduating minority students.

The office hours are Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. For more information, contact Casey Gonzales at 817-272-2099 or 817-272-2128.

The Minority Mentor Project matches freshman and sophomore students with U.T. Arlington faculty and staff to facilitate successful graduation rates. Freshmen or sophomores with fewer than 60 hours should contact the Office of Multicultural Services to participate.

Services for Students with Disabilities
Lower Level, University Center • Box 19355 • 817-272-3364
TDD 817-272-3452 • www.uta.edu/disability

Well known for its leadership in program accessibility for students with disabilities, U.T. Arlington has developed one of the leading support service programs in North Texas through its Office for Students with Disabilities. U.T. Arlington is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation.

The Adaptive Resource Center is a division of the Office for Students with Disabilities and provides accommodated testing services as well as study facilities with specialized adaptive technology. Test-taking accommodations include readers, transcribers, extended time, distraction-free environments, use of CCTVs, interpreters, use of computers with proctor, enlargement of tests, tape recorded tests and many other functions.

Please contact the Office for Students with Disabilities at 817-272-3364 (voice) or 817-272-3452 (TDD) for more information. Students needing academic accommodations must submit a request to the Office for Students with Disabilities.

Attorney for the Students
Lower Level, University Center • Box 19355 • 817-272-3771 www2.uta.edu/attorney

Legal advice and counsel are available to currently enrolled students who have paid the appropriate student service fees. The attorney for the students may not act as counsel of record nor represent any student, faculty member, staff member, or any group or combination of students, faculty members or staff members:

• In any matter that requires an administrative decision to be made by any officer, committee board or agency of a component institution of the U.T. System or the Board of Regents
• At any stage of any criminal proceeding in any federal, state, county or local court
• At any stage of any civil proceeding in any federal, state, county or local court where such proceeding is directly or indirectly antagonistic to the interest of the U.T. System or its component institutions
Students must bring their Mav Express card to the appointment for verification of current enrollment.

SOAR (Students Obtaining Academic Readiness)
132 Hammond Hall • Box 19509 • 817-272-3684 www.uta.edu/soar

SOAR Learning Services provides academic assistance to students through the following programs:
Student Support Services: Free academic support is offered for qualifying students.

• Trained and certified peer tutors work with small groups on a weekly basis.
• Professional counselors provide academic, career, personal and post-graduate education counseling.
• Software learning programs are available in the SOAR computer lab to enhance academic and study skills.
• Seminars relating to academic success and university life are conducted on a regular basis.

Since 1976, the purpose of Student Support Services has been to retain and graduate U.T. Arlington students. For more information, call (817) 272-3684 or visit Room 132, Hammond Hall. Cost-Share Tutorial Program: Provides low-cost academic support to any U.T. Arlington student in a variety of courses. To work with a Cost-Share tutor on an individual basis, students charge the $4.50 per hour fee to their student account at the Cost-Share Office, Room 130, Hammond Hall. Study groups of four to 10 students may be formed that meet once per week all semester. Cost to each student is $20 per semester. Tutoring and study groups are offered for specific courses in the following subject areas: math, English, history, physics, chemistry, biology, modern languages and statistics in addition to entry-level prerequisite courses in business and engineering. Cost-Share offers review sessions in algebra for specific courses and Spanish 1441, 1442 and 2313 mid-term and final exam reviews. Helpful handouts are provided. Cost-Share also offers the required TASP labs which meet one hour per week for 14 weeks and are attached to all English 0300 and 0301 courses.

Supplemental Instruction (SI): A series of weekly review sessions led by an outstanding student who sits through the course again, prepares study aids and review materials, and leads group discussion. SI targets historically difficult academic courses and offers all enrolled students an opportunity to compare notes, discuss readings, develop organizational tools and prepare for exams. For each targeted course, three outside-of-class study sessions and two office hours for tutorial assistance are offered each week. Supplemental Instruction is offered in selected biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, accounting, economics, finance and history courses. Call (817) 272-2617 or visit Room 130, Hammond Hall for more information.

McNair Scholars Program: This federal program prepares eligible undergraduates (sophomores through seniors) for graduate school. It recruits new scholars each fall for program admission in the spring. McNair Scholars Program benefits include:

• Enrichment/skill-building seminars
• Research methods training
• Summer research program with stipend ($2,800)
• Annual McNair Research Journal (includes student research papers)
• GRE preparation
• Assistance with graduate school application process
• Participation in undergraduate research/professional conferences
• Free tutoring
• Financial incentives offered by various national graduate programs

For more information, call (817) 272-3715 or visit Room 122, Hammond Hall.

YWCA Child Development Center
106 W. 6th St. (corner of 6th and Speer streets) • 817-275-4066
The YWCA Child Development Center is operated by the YWCA of Fort Worth and Tarrant County and offers full-time infant, toddler and preschool child care. Part-time care can be scheduled for children of U.T. Arlington students, staff and faculty. The center is open from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Some scholarships are available for children of U.T. Arlington students. For enrollment information, call 817-275-4066.

Other Student Services
Several offices on campus offer specific services to students. Refer to the following directory for information regarding these services.
Office of Admissions
Room 123, Davis Hall
• Information concerning undergraduate admission
• Filing of either high school or college transcripts
• Transferring credits from another institution

Office of the Registrar
Room 129, Davis Hall

• Withdrawals (resignations) from the University
• Application for graduation
• Class schedules
• Information concerning degrees
• Address changes and name changes
• Veterans’ advising and enrollment certification
• Grade reports at termination of semester
• Request for transcript
• Registration
Bursar Services
Room 130, Davis Hall
• Payment of debts to the University
• Conferences on all problems arising in connection with fees and bills
• Information concerning repayment of loans
• Check cashing services

Check Cashing Procedures: A current University identification card and a driver’s license are required to cash a personal check. A student may cash a personal check for an amount not to exceed $25.

Returned Checks: A charge of $25 will be made for each returned check. A person who gives U.T. Arlington a bad check (one in which the bank is not at fault) will be subject to one or more of the following actions: (1) a bar against readmission of the student, (2) withholding of the student’s grades and official transcript, (3) withholding of degree to which the student otherwise would be entitled until the debt and any applicable fees have been paid, (4) all other penalties and actions authorized by law.
Additionally, the University will not accept a check from anyone who has given a total of two bad checks unless the person submits a written statement from the bank stating “bank error or unusual circumstance” to be the cause of the bad checks.

Police Department
University Police Building, 700 S. Davis

• Provides motorist assistance and patrols campus 24 hours a day
• Investigates traffic accidents
• Investigates, makes arrests, assists prosecution as necessary
• Conducts crime prevention programs
• Provides public service speakers for classes, clubs and special events
• Recovers, returns found and stolen property
• Provides parking hang tags, rules and information (see Parking Fees)
• Maintains and operates University shuttle bus services
• Provides escort services for personal safety as requested

MAVMAIL
MAVMAIL is designed to provide answers to questions, direct inquirers to the appropriate office(s), and forward suggestions or compliments to the correct individuals or offices. Staff members in the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs provide responses after contacting appropriate individuals to gain answers to the questions posed.

To contact MAVMAIL:
Send an E-mail message to MAVMAIL@UTA.EDU
Drop a note in campus mail to MAVMAIL (no box number needed)
Use U.S. mail and address it to MAVMAIL, U.T. Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019

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