Transfer Evaluations

Evaluations of transfer records are done by Admissions & New Student Services for students who are applying to or enrolled in a bachelor or associate of arts program. An Evaluation of Transfer Records is included in the acceptance letter packet and in the advising materials distributed during orientation. It is recommended that students provide their advisors with transfer course descriptions.

As part of an evaluation, Admissions & New Student Services reviews all academic work for possible repeated courses and assigns courses to the appropriate UM General Education areas. Credit for courses judged by Admissions & New Student Services to be of college level will be applied toward the free elective requirements of the associate and baccalaureate degrees. Accepted credits are subject to restrictions noted in the Credit Maximums presented later in the section under Degree Requirements. These and other limitations are explained in that section. The academic department is authorized to determine the applicability of accepted credit toward major department requirements. Students are required to seek the advice of their departmental advisors prior to registration each term.

Students in the College of Technology may submit official transcripts for evaluation if they feel a course or courses taken at another institution may substitute for specific College of Technology courses. The evaluation will be done by the associate dean and the chair of the department of the equivalent course. Courses in which a grade lower than "C" was earned, internship, clinical experience, and some laboratory courses will not be considered for transfer credit.

Transfer Guides

The UM Admissions & New Student Services Office publishes guides to the evaluation of transfer courses from various two and four year colleges in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. These guides are available at the transfer schools and from Admissions & New Student Services, The University of Montana-Missoula, Missoula, MT 59812.

Validation Required Credit

The Montana University System Board of Regents has stipulated that college level credit from colleges and universities having candidacy status in a regional accrediting association can be accepted only after the student has successfully completed twenty (20) semester credits at the receiving institution. At UM, these credits are termed "validation required" (VR) credits. As students successfully complete twenty credits at UM, the VR credit is released by the UM Registrar and added to the undergraduate credits.

Vocational-Technical Credit

Courses from regionally accredited colleges which are intended for use exclusively in terminal, nontransfer programs (associate of applied science or certificate programs) are termed vocational-technical. Transfer credit toward an A.A. or baccalaureate program is not accepted for vocational-technical courses, and vocational- technical courses are not used to determine academic eligibility for admission to these programs at UM. Vocational-technical courses will appear on the UM permanent record designated by "VT". Although credits for vocational-technical courses are not accepted in transfer, except in the College of Technology the vocational-technical petition process enables a student's UM major department to grant up to 10 semester credits based on vocational-technical experiences which enhance the major program.

To receive a vocational-technical credit grant, a student may petition her or his major department by securing the petition form from the Registrar's Office. This form, together with a copy of The University of Montana-Missoula permanent record and a copy of the transfer institution's catalog, should be presented to the department chair of the student's major. The department chair will return the form to the Registrar's Office indicating how many, if any, credits may be applied toward the degree. This completed form is an agreement between the institution and the student that the credits apply toward graduation requirements provided the student retains his or her major in the same field. Should the student elect to change majors, the same procedure must be followed with the new department chair.

This petition process may be used by students wishing to count up to 10 semester credits in technical courses taken from the College of Technology to an associate of arts or baccalaureate degree program. Technical courses are designated by a course number suffix of "T".

Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education

The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education's Professional Student Exchange Program enables students in thirteen western states to enroll in out-of-state professional programs when those fields of study are not available in their home states. Exchange students receive preference in admission. They pay reduced level of tuition - for most students, resident tuition in public institutions and approximately one-third the standard tuition at private schools. The home state pays a support fee to the admitting schools, to help cover the cost of students' education for the "normal" length of the program. Years shown in the parentheses following the available fields are the normal maximum for WICHE support. Available fields are architecture (three academic years), dentistry (four academic years), law (three academic years), library studies (graduate; varies), maritime technology (four academic years), nursing (graduate; two academic years), occupational therapy (two years), optometry (four academic years), osteopathic medicine (four academic years), pharmacy (varies), physical therapy (two years), podiatry (four academic years), public health (two academic years), and veterinary medicine (four academic years). For more information about the Professional Student Exchange Program, contact Admissions & New Student Services, Lodge 101.

Western Montana College/The University of Montana

Because some students would benefit from the special advantages offered by both Western Montana College and The University of Montana-Missoula, the two schools are cooperating in a unique effort_"Integrated Programs". Under these programs a student may take his or her first year or two of courses at Western and transfer to the University.

Western Undergraduate Exchange

The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program at The University of Montana-Missoula is administered as a scholarship through The University of Montana-Missoula Scholarship Program. Requirements of The University of Montana-Missoula Scholarship program apply to WUE Scholarship applicants, with the following exceptions or restrictions:

  1. To apply for the WUE Scholarship, applicants must submit a signed WUE Scholarship Supplemental Application form along with a complete University of Montana-Missoula General Scholarship Application and credentials to the Scholarship Coordinator, Financial Aid Office, The University of Montana-Missoula, Missoula, MT 59812. Complete materials must be received by February 1.

  2. Amount of the WUE Scholarship is the difference between out-of-state fees and 150% of in-state fees.

  3. New University of Montana-Missoula students only are eligible to apply for the WUE Scholarship.

  4. State of legal residence for the applicant must be one of the WUE participating states. The states are Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.

  5. Declared major field of study for the applicant must be one of those approved for WUE by the Montana University System Board of Regents. The approved majors are Anthropology, Art (BFA), Classics, Economics, Forestry, Geography, Geology, Journalism (including Radio-TV), Latin, Music, (BM), Philosophy or Theatre (BFA).

  6. Duration of the WUE scholarship, once awarded, extends through four full calendar years or completion of the bachelor's degree, whichever is first, provided:

    1. major field of study does not change,
    2. state of legal residence does not change and
    3. all other criteria of the UM Scholarship program are met, including maintenance of a cumulative UM gpa of 3.40 or above.
    4. WUE students who interrupt their UM attendance by 12 months or more lose their WUE status.

  7. Notice: Time as a WUE Scholarship recipient cannot be used toward fulfilling in-state residency requirements for fee purposes at any unit of the Montana University System. Once declined, the WUE scholarship will not be offered again.

  8. Spring Semester WUE Scholarship applications may be considered by the Scholarship Coordinator on a space available basis.

  9. Alternative measures of exceptional ability may be presented. In order to encompass creative talent, recognize special circumstances and promote cultural diversity, applicants who do not meet the stated requirements are encouraged to provide other measures of exceptional ability along with the regular application materials.

Student Conduct Code

The Student Conduct Code, embodying the ideals of academic honesty, integrity, human rights and responsible citizenship, governs all student conduct at the University. Student enrollment presupposes a commitment to the principles and policies embodied in this Code.

The Student Conduct Code sets forth University jurisdiction, student rights, standards of academic and general student conduct, disciplinary sanctions for breach of the standards of student conduct and procedures to be followed in adjudicating charges of both academic andgeneral misconduct.

The Dean of Students is responsible for procedural administration of the Student Conduct Code for all general conduct. The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs is responsible for all academic conduct.

The Student Conduct Code is set forth in a separately printed handbook, copies of which may be obtained from the Office of the Dean of Students, the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, or ASUM (The Associated Students of The University of Montana-Missoula).

95-96 UM Undergraduate Catalog