HONORS PROGRAM 
The Honors Program at UWF is designed to provide creative ways for students to explore their academic talents. Students admitted to the Program are required to enroll in honors courses within major disciplines. Faculty from across UWF's three colleges work with Honors students affording them opportunities to contribute to serious research, scholarship, and creative productions under the supervision of recognized experts in their fields.

To qualify for UWF's Honors Program, entering high school graduates (or early/dual enrolled students) must meet two of the following entrance requirements: rank in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class or have a cumulative high school GPA of 3.5 or higher and have an E-ACT composite score of 26 or higher or a combined score of 1170 or higher on the R-SAT.

Some benefits for participation in the Program include early registration, small classes (average of 15 students), Honors Speakers Series, social and cultural activities, a certificate of completion when Program requirements are met, annotation on the UWF transcript of Honors courses taken, participation in an Honors Commencement Ceremony for recognition of Program graduates held prior to graduation, and individual recognition by UWF's President during Commencement exercises.

Interested students should contact the Honors Office for more information.

REPEAT COURSE SURCHARGE
By act of the 1997 Florida Legislature (H.B. 1545), each university of the State University System is required to implement a repeat course surcharge for students who take a State-funded undergraduate course for the third time.

Effective Fall Semester 1997, students taking the same course for the third time at UWF will be subject to increased matriculation fee of 100% of the cost of instruction. However, exceptions may be made for individualized study, courses that are repeated as a requirement of a major, and courses that are intended as continuing over multiple semesters. The repeat of coursework more than two times to increase grade point average or meet minimum course grade requirements is subject to the surcharge (see Tuition and Registration Fees). Appeals should be addressed to the Academic Appeals Committee and submitted to the Office of the Registrar.

CANCELLATION OF REGISTRATION
Students may cancel registration prior to the last day of drop/add by notifying the Office of the Registrar in writing. Students who cancel their registration within this time frame are not liable for tuition. Students should request a full refund of fees from the Cashier's Office.

After the last day of drop/add, students must apply for withdrawal from the University by completing the appropriate forms in the Office of the Registrar. Withdrawals are not automatic (see section on Withdrawals). Standard letter grades will be assigned if a student discontinues attending classes without officially withdrawing.

DEAD WEEK
To provide students time to prepare for final examinations and other end-of-course assignments, the University maintains the following dead week policy.

There is a designated period each semester during which no written examination, test, or quiz will be given. Refer to the Academic Calendar (pp. 5-8) for specific dates for each semester.

Laboratory components of courses will be excluded, and the last regularly scheduled day of such classes may be used for final examinations. Oral presentations and other non-written activities will be permitted. Examinations rescheduled for the benefit of individual students will be allowed. 

Instructors who believe their ability to evaluate students adequately in a particular course is jeopardized or impaired by this rule may petition, in writing, their respective college dean for an exception for the particular course. All exceptions shall be reported to the academic vice president, who will make a summary report each semester to the Faculty Senate for their information. 

No intercollegiate athletic events may be added after midterm to the schedule during dead week, with the exception of tournament-type play for which a berth has been earned by a team or individual player as a result of earlier competition. 

TRANSCRIPTS 
UWF transcripts include all course work taken at UWF, degrees awarded, and transfer credit (institutions, courses, and grades). UWF transcripts only list UWF's grade point averages. In order to process a request for a transcript, students should submit the request in writing (student signature is required to release academic records) to the Registrar's Office. The request should include student name, student number (in most instances this is the social security number), number of transcripts requested, names and addresses of recipients, and any special instructions (hold for degree posting, place in a sealed envelope, etc.). Transcripts that are sent directly to the student will be stamped "issued to student" and may not be considered official by some recipients.

Students may also elect to suppress specific information that is normally reflected on the academic transcript. Beginning in Fall, 1993, the University began listing all transfer courses on the UWF transcript. Students may elect to suppress their date of birth, transfer work, or a combination of both from appearing on the UWF transcript. The student must indicate this "option" at the time a transcript is requested. Summary information (the number of hours transferred) will remain on all the transcripts. Each time students request transcripts they must indicate on the request the information which should be suppressed. The following statement will appear at the end of the transcript for students who select the option of suppressing transfer credit: "This student has requested that this transcript includes only course work taken at UWF." 

Transcript request forms are available in the Registrar's Office or on line through the Registrar's home page at uwf.edu/registrar. This form can printed and mailed at the student's convenience. Options for suppression of information are available only for hard copy transcripts and are not available for electronic (FASTER formatted) transcripts used in the State of Florida. 

At no cost to the student, the University automatically provides one transcript to each student with their diploma at the time of graduation. The charge for all other academic transcripts is $5.00 per transcript issued, and the fee is due prior to the issuance of the transcript. Payment may be made by cash, check, or money order. At this time, credit card payments are not accepted by the University. All financial obligations to the University must be cleared prior to the release of a transcript. Transcript requests are normally processed within 24 hours of receipt.

DISTANCE LEARNING
The University of West Florida's distance learning goal is to use emerging technology and distance learning capabilities to provide its citizens with enhanced learning opportunities and improved access by making learning available at times and in formats best suited to their needs. The initial focus is to provide courses and workshops using two-way interactive video, the Internet, public access television, and CD-ROM distribution. Two-way interactive courses are being delivered to and from the Fort Walton Beach campus. A number of courses are offered via the internet. Courses offered each semester are listed in the Course Planning Guide or on the UWF Home Page.

STATE EMPLOYEES
Employees of the State of Florida who are classified as permanent full-time employees may be allowed to register on a space-available basis at the University for six semester hours of tuition-free courses per term. Admission, readmission, and registration information may be obtained by contacting either the Office of Admissions or the Registrar. Registration and tuition waiver forms should be completed and submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the end of the late registration period. Registrations will be processed on the last day of registration. Waivers may not be used for directed studies, internships, theses, and dissertations. State employees attending the Pensacola campus are required to purchase a Nautilus Card and parking decal.

State employee waiver forms must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the close of the drop/add period. It is the responsibility of the employee to insure that the waiver form matches the courses for which a waiver is sought. When necessary, the student must contact the employing agency for a corrected or a supplemental waiver form for courses not included on the original waiver form. It is suggested that alternate courses be included on the original waiver form in case an employee may not be able to register for one or more requested courses. State employees using the state waiver benefit may not preregister for courses for which fees are to be waived.

If a state employee preregisters for courses applicable to the waiver, the right to state employee waiver will be forfeited. State employees using the State Employee Waiver whose waiver form does not match the fees remaining on the student schedule at the close of the drop/add-fee payment period will be assessed a late payment fee for late submission of an approved waiver form that matches the student's course schedule.

FLORIDA RESIDENT SENIOR CITIZENS
Students 60 years or older who meet residency requirements may enroll on a space-available basis without payment of the registration fees. Course work is noncredit. Registration information may be obtained by contacting the Registrar's Office. Students must submit the tuition waiver form, registration form, and other pertinent documents to the Registrar's Office by the end of the late registration period. Senior citizen students enrolled in courses on the Pensacola campus are required to purchase a Nautilus Card and parking decal.

DUAL ENROLLMENT
Dual enrollment is a program in which academically talented students receive permission from the high school to take one or more college courses while taking the majority of course work at the high school. Eligibility for participation is determined by written agreement between each school district and the University. Students are not required to pay tuition; however, they must pay for a Nautilus Card, parking decal, and textbooks. Dual enrollment forms must be received prior to the end of the drop/add period. Dual enrolled students are subject to the same policies and procedures as other UWF students.
For further information on dual enrollment, consult the Office of Admissions.

TRAVELING SCHOLAR PROGRAM
The University participates in a traveling scholar program which enables graduate students to take advantage of special resources available on another campus but not available on the home campus. Examples are special course offerings, research opportunities, unique laboratories, and library collections.

A traveling scholar's graduate advisor will approach an appropriate faculty member at the proposed host institution and recommend the scholar for a visiting arrangement. After agreement by the student's advisor and the faculty member at the host institution, graduate deans of both institutions will be fully informed by the advisor and have the power to approve or disapprove. A student will register at the host institution and will pay tuition and/or registration fees according to fee schedules established at that institution. Credit for the work taken will be recorded at the home university.

Each university retains its full right to accept or reject any student who wishes to study under its auspices. A traveling scholar will normally be limited to one term on the campus of the host institution. A traveling scholar accepted by the host institution will be regarded as being registered at that institution for the period.

A traveling scholar is not entitled to displacement allowance, mileage, or per diem payments. The home university, however, may at its option continue its financial support of the traveling scholar in the form of a fellowship or graduate assistantship with any work obligation to be discharged either at the home or at the host institution.

1. Right of Privacy - Every student shall have a right of privacy with respect to the educational records. Personally identifiable records or reports of a student, and any personal information contained therein, are confidential and exempt from the provisions of Florida Statutes. The University of West Florida will not permit the release of such records, reports, or information without the written consent of the student's parent or guardian, or of the student if the student is qualified as provided in this subsection, to any individual, agency, or organization. These exemptions are subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act in accordance with Florida Statutes. However, personally identifiable records or reports of a student may be released without the consent of the student or the parent to (or for):
   1. officials of the University with a legitimate educational interest
   2. certain government agencies,
   3. accrediting organizations,
   4. certain financial aid matters,
   5. certain research circumstances,
   6. health and safety emergencies,
   7. a court pursuant to subpoena, and
   8. as otherwise provided by law.
2. Subject to statutory conditions and limitations, prior consent of the student is not required for disclosure of certain types of information for:
   1. portions of the educational record for which the student has signed a waiver;
   2. portions of the educational record which are exempted by law, including records of law enforcement agencies of the University; employment records of the student within University personal records of instructional, supervisory or administrative personnel; and alumni records related to that student; and
   3. records transmitted to another school or school system in which the student seeks or intends to enroll, since the University generally forwards these on request.
      More specific information regarding such exempted information can be obtained from the Office of the Registrar. For the complete text of the applicable statutes, refer to Florida Statutes,
3. Under the provisions of the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act, students have the right to withhold disclosure of the information listed below. These items are designated as "Directory Information" and may be released by this university to noninstitutional persons or organizations.
   Requests to withhold directory information will be honored and must be directed to the Registrar's Office. The university will not assume responsibility to contact students for subsequent permission for release of these items. The university assumes no liability for honoring requests that such information be withheld.
   The information listed below may be released or published by the University without prior written consent of the student unless exception is made in writing by the student.
   1. Options for printed and/or verbal release prohibited (does not include Electronic Directory Release): 
      Category I 
      Name, address, telephone number, dates of attendance, e-mail address. 
      Category II 
      Most recent previous institution attended, major field of study, awards, honors (includes Deans' list), degrees conferred (including dates).
      Category III 
      Past and present participation in officially recognized sports and activities, physical factors (height, weight of athletes) date and place of birth.
      Category IV 
      Commencement Program (name and degree at time of graduation).
      Category V 
      News releases (at time of graduation).
   2. Students may choose to restrict all or a portion of their directory information from the electronic directory by checking:
      1. no restrictions
      2. suppress all information
      3. suppress home address only
      4. suppress home phone only
      5. suppress home address and phone.
      Students who wish to have the privacy flag removed from their permanent academic record must contact the Registrar's Office in writing. NOTE that electronic release of information is separate from other printed and verbal release.
4. Request to prevent publication of directory information: Students may inform the University in writing of their desire to prevent publication of such directory information or release of such information except as required by law. Appropriate forms for such action are made available in the Office of the Registrar. Students having questions regarding the confidentiality of records or specific requests concerning their records should contact the Office of the Registrar.
5. Rights of Parent, Guardian, or Student: The parent or guardian of any student who attends or has attended any public institution of higher education in the SUS shall have the rights noted below with respect to any records or reports created, maintained, and used by any public educational institution in the State. When a student has attained 18 years of age or is attending an institution of postsecondary education, the permission or consent required of, and the rights accorded to, the parents of the student shall thereafter be required of and accorded to the student only, unless the student is a dependent student of such parents as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1954. The State Board of Education shall formulate, adopt, and promulgate rules whereby parents, guardians, or students may exercise these rights:
   1. Right of access: 
      1. Such parent, guardian, or student shall have the right, upon request directed to the appropriate official, to be provided with a list of types of records and reports, directly related to students, as maintained by the institution which the student attends or has attended.
      2. Such parent, guardian, or student shall have the right, upon request, to be shown any record or report relating to such student maintained by any public educational institution.
      3. Copies of any list, record or report requested under the provisions of this paragraph shall be furnished to the parent, guardian, or student upon request. However, access to any report or record requested under these provisions shall be granted within 30 days after receipt of such request by the institution.
   2. Right of waiver of access to confidential letters or statements: Such parent, guardian, or student shall have the right to waive the right of access to letters or statements of recommendation or evaluation, except that such waiver shall apply to recommendations or evaluations only if:
      1. The parent, guardian, or student is, upon request, notified of the names of all persons submitting confidential letters or statements; and
      2. Such recommendations or evaluations are used solely for the purpose for which they were specifically intended.
         Such waivers may not be required as a condition for admission to, receipt of financial aid from, or receipt of any other services or benefits from, any public agency or public educational institution in this State.
   3. Right to challenge and hearing: Such parent, guardian, or student shall have the right to challenge the content of any record or report to which such person is granted access under paragraph (1), to ensure that the record or report is not inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the privacy or other rights of the student and to provide an opportunity for the correction, deletion, or expunction of any inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise inappropriate data or material contained therein.