We want you to be successful in achieving your B.A. degree in Rural Development. As part of that effort, we require you to complete an annual evaluation to make sure you are getting the most from the program. We have growing demands for admission but also have limited faculty and budget resources. Therefore, we expect students to make reasonable but steady progress toward their degree to remain in the program in good standing. This means that we expect you to complete at least 21 academic credits averaged over three semesters.

This requirement provides you with considerable flexibility in determining when and how to earn your credits. For example, you might choose to take nine credits for two semesters, and six for the next. Or, you could take 15 credits in one semester, six the next, and none in one semester. These can be earned by any of the means described above, including participating in Rural Development seminars, taking distance delivery courses, attending campus classes or summer courses, or pursuing RD individualized study. Talk with your advisor if you have questions about this expectation.

If unexpected or significant events (e.g., illness, death in the family) make it impossible for you to take classes in a given semester, you may-after consultation with your advisor-get permission to take up to one semester off without question. However, failure to re-enroll after the semester off may lead to probation or dismissal from the program.

The annual student evaluation process involves several steps. First, we ask you to write a brief (two to three page) narrative self-evaluation at the end of each academic year (April) in which you evaluate your participation in the program. This evaluation focuses on:

• adequacy of your current academic plan
• academic performance in courses and individualized study
• participation in Rural Development seminars
• involvement in community activities related to your degree program
• progress in completing at least 21 credits over three semesters
• factors that could improve your opportunity for success in the program

You should send your narrative self-evaluation to your advisor, who will then provide you with a written assessment by the faculty of your status in the program. Your progress will be assessed by faculty on the following basis:

• Outstanding performance Continue in good standing
• Satisfactory performance Continue in good standing
• Poor performance Probationary status for a specific period
• Unacceptable performance Termination from the program

This program evaluation has no effect on your status as a UAF student; that is, you may be terminated from the Applied Field-Based Program but still be in good academic standing at UAF. However, if you are academically disqualified from UAF, you are also disqualified from the program.