2.C.3 Admissions, Placement, and Academic Standing
The institution’s academic and administrative policies and procedures should include admission and placement policies that guide the enrollment of students in courses and programs through an evaluation of prerequisite knowledge, skills, and abilities to ensure a reasonable probability of student success at a level commensurate with the institution’s expectations. Such policies should also include a policy regarding continuation in and termination from its educational programs, including its appeal and readmission policy.
UAF is committed to ensuring that students possess the prerequisite knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to meet the institution’s academic expectations. Admission policies assess students’ preparedness for their chosen programs, while placement procedures help guide course enrollment to maximize their likelihood of success.
Undergraduate admissions. The UAF Office of Admissions serves as the primary point of contact for prospective undergraduate students, guiding them through the application and enrollment process. It processes and evaluates admission applications, ensuring all materials meet university and program-specific requirements. The office provides support through campus visits, outreach events, and direct advising to help students understand academic offerings and admission pathways. Admissions collaborates with the offices of Financial Aid, the Registrar, Military and Veteran Services, and Disability Services, as well as the Academic Advising Center and academic departments, to maintain accurate, up-to-date information and ensure a smooth transition for new students.
The outlines the qualifications for admission to various types of undergraduate programs. Degree- or certificate-seeking students are admitted on a rolling basis for the fall, spring, and summer terms, either at the certificate/associate level or the baccalaureate level. UAF follows an open admission policy where applicants may be admitted if they have graduated from high school, earned a GED or passed a state-recognized high school equivalency test, demonstrated an ability to benefit through an approved Ability to Benefit test, or provided a transcript verifying successful completion of an Associate of Arts. Applicants seeking admission to baccalaureate programs must have a high school diploma, complete the 16-credit high school core curriculum, and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5. All first-year baccalaureate students must meet the to meet admissions standards to ensure adequate preparation for academic success in their chosen program of study.
Undergraduate placement. At UAF, students require . For writing placement, EdReady is an adaptive learning platform that provides real-time student performance data for writing course placement in an unproctored, untimed format that supports both flexibility and accessibility for students. Adopted in February 2022 after a faculty committee customized the assessment and aligned placement tiers with UAF’s curriculum, EdReady allows students to follow personalized study paths to improve their performance and increase their placement. Since implementation, students have completed 4,936 assessments, with 1,488 students engaging in one or more study paths to raise their scores. The median initial EdReady score is 75, which is within five points of the target course placement score of 80. Among students who complete a study path, the average score gain is five points. In 2026, UAF began transitioning from EdReady-based placement to a directed self-placement (DSP) model, a growing practice in higher education associated with higher pass rates, improved retention, and stronger persistence. This approach emphasizes student agency by enabling them to reflect on their writing experiences and make informed choices about placement; Directed self-placement will replace EdReady for all incoming UAF students in fall 2026. The implementation of DSP is a collaboration between the English Department, Foundational Writing, and the Office of the Provost.
Math placement is determined through the ALEKS assessment, an online, adaptive test designed to place students in the appropriate math, statistics, or quantitative courses from pre-algebra through calculus I and introductory statistics. While Math Department faculty play a central role in setting score targets for math classes to ensure students are placed in courses where they can succeed, ALEKS includes free access to learning modules and up to four retakes. Following the test, students receive a detailed score report and have the option to use ALEKS’s built-in review tools to improve their skills and retest if desired. Developmental math requires scores below 30, college-level math begins at a score of 55, and calculus I requires a score of 78 or higher. For the AY21-25 student cohorts, approximately 6,800 students have taken ALEKS, averaging 1,700 students per year, with roughly 75% of students making only one attempt. Fewer students retested during that four-year period, although retake scores often clustered around key cutoffs (e.g., 30, 55, 78), suggesting the possible use of external resources. Twenty-five percent of students continue to score below 30, while high scorers (78–100) have increased post-COVID. Data from proctored versus unproctored ALEKS tests show mixed reliability, prompting (but later reversing) a UA systemwide push for required proctoring due to access concerns in rural Alaska. While ALEKS offers flexibility, accessibility, and multiple pathways for improvement, concerns remain about inflated scores, technology barriers, and the stress of beginning college with a lengthy online math test.
Undergraduate academic standing. for undergraduate students is evaluated at the end of each semester, including summer. Students with either a semester or cumulative GPA below 2.0 are placed on academic warning and encouraged to seek advising. If both semester and cumulative GPAs fall below 2.0, students are placed on academic probation and may not enroll in more than 13 credits per semester without special approval. Probationary students are referred for academic support and must work with an advisor to develop a plan for improving their GPA. If a student on probation fails to earn a semester GPA of 2.0 or higher, they are academically disqualified and must sit out for one academic semester before applying for reinstatement. Reinstated students remain on probation and must maintain a term GPA of 2.0 or higher to continue enrollment. Multiple disqualifications result in longer mandatory sit-out periods and, after a third disqualification, students must reapply for admission. Students may appeal a disqualification or opt to transition into an associate-level or certificate program through the UAF Community and Technical ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ or the ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ of Indigenous Studies, provided that they develop an academic success plan with their new program advisor.
Graduate admissions. The UAF Graduate School office oversees the graduate admissions process as it relates to the review of prospective graduate students. This allows the Graduate School to review and revise, as appropriate, current graduate admissions practices across the academic colleges. The Graduate School serves to recruit, market, and assist students through the initial enrollment process. In addition, the Graduate School handles prospective student communication, responding to inquiries and engaging the community to promote the educational opportunities UAF offers, working closely with individual departments/colleges to adhere to admissions policies and practices set forth by the units. Admissions decisions are rendered by the academic department upon review of a prospective students’ application and approved, reviewed, and implemented by the Graduate School.
General requirements for admissions to graduate study ensure a reasonable probability of student success and are described on the Graduate Admissions page in the . These include criteria related to previous degrees and a minimum GPA. Admissions are undertaken by each graduate program, which are then reviewed and approved by the Graduate School. Each program has their own admission criteria and document requirements, as described on the program page in the UAF Academic Catalog and on program websites. Application deadlines vary, and some programs have rolling admissions.
Graduate academic standing. and are placed on probation when their academic performance falls below the required standards, indicating they are no longer in good standing. The dean of the college or school, along with the student’s advisory committee, outline specific requirements for returning to good standing. If the student does not meet these requirements within two semesters, they may face dismissal from their degree program. Graduate students may also be dismissed due to unsatisfactory performance, which includes exceeding the maximum time limit for the degree, failing to maintain continuous enrollment, having a cumulative GPA below 3.0, remaining on probation for more than two consecutive semesters, violating the , demonstrating a lack of progress as determined by their advisory committee, or providing inaccurate information in their admissions application. Dismissal recommendations must be approved by the director of the Graduate School.
Removal from undergraduate and graduate programs for program-specific academic standards and readmission. Students may be removed from a program for not meeting academic standards specific to the program. These standards and processes are outlined in program handbooks. removed from a major are placed in exploratory studies status and must follow the change of major process to select a new program. may continue as non-degree-seeking students and apply for admission to another graduate program.
Appealing removal from a program for academic reasons. Students may appeal their removal from an academic program through the , outlined in the UAF Academic Catalog. This process follows and .