Boreham Library
The Boreham Library at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith provides a wide variety of resources to support graduate programs. The library holds a growing number of electronic databases in business, management, leadership, health, and education. Many of these have full text articles and many others are indexes to articles. These include ABI Inform, Business Source Elite, Lexis Nexis, Education Research Complete, Education Next, ERIC, and the Professional Development Center. Abstracts from many other journals are available in databases, and those articles not available in full text may be obtained quickly and provided to users via interlibrary loan using email, fax, or regular mail. In addition, the library provides research guides and tutorials for students from links on the library website. Reference librarians are available to provide general or discipline specific instructional sessions targeted to assigned research projects. Current health sciences faculty often request these sessions. The electronic reserves module of the library automation system allows students to conveniently access articles, class notes, and other homework or related assignments made by faculty. Students are directed to the Boreham Library’s website which has detailed instructions and information concerning library services for off-campus students.
The library also holds extensive electronic resources in health sciences available both in-house and from remote locations. This comprehensive collection includes over 17,000 nationally recognized journal titles in the databases such as Cumulative Index for Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane Library, Health Source Nursing, Medline, Pub Med, and Science Direct.
Zotero is the most recent addition to the library’s resources. Zotero is a Firefox extension bibliographic tool designed to help gather, organize, cite, and share research sources. It is recommended by hundreds of institutions from around the world, including MIT, Stanford, and Yale. Boreham Library has placed a tutorial link on the library website to assist students who need help using the resource. The library staff works diligently to provide resources and services that can be independently used by students and provide the flexibility needed for library research and are always available for assistance.
Students enrolled in a totally online program have access to a wide variety of library resources and services. Through a userfriendly library website, students can access from off campus approximately one hundred reference databases holding more than 55,000 full text scholarly journals, newspapers, and other information sources. The library has made a special effort to obtain full-text documents if available. Resources not held by the library may be requested using the library’s online interlibrary loan service. This allows students to place and monitor the status of their requests online. Documents can be sent by email or by fax to students. The library has a collection of over 25,000 electronic books which may be easily accessed from the library web site. These e-books are recent titles and cover many subject areas. In addition, faculty may submit articles, class notes, and assignments to the library’s electronic reserve module making them available online for students in their specific classes. “Ask a Librarian” reference service with a quick response to questions posed is also offered by the library. Reference librarians have created and placed many discipline-specific research guides on the site to help students with their processes and are available to assist by phone or email, if needed. The library website has information on how students can connect from home to online resources.
All students have access to computers within the library proper and within the 24-hour study zone. Individual and group study rooms provide good space for students working on collaborative projects.
Career Services
Career Services offers employment assistance and additional graduate school information for current students and graduates. Employment services include resume building and interview skills assistance, job listings, job-market information, and job/ career fairs. In addition, Career Services serves as a link between UAFS students and employers in an effort to provide applicable work experience by way of cooperative education and internship opportunities prior to degree completion. The Career Services Website, CareerLink, allows students to access job listings, post resumes, and send resumes to prospective employers.
A detailed list of services and career development information can be found on the Career Services website. Career Services is located on the second floor of the library, room 212, and can be reached at (479) 788-7017.
Online Courses
Courses may be offered through online distance learning. Distance learning is an essential component for fulfilling the academic mission of UAFS. Graduate faculty may conduct instructional presentations and exams through the Blackboard Learning System with many online instructional tools, such as discussion forums, video, web pages, etc. UAFS incorporates synchronous and asynchronous learning via the Blackboard Learning System. Students will submit coursework and projects electronically. Students communicate with their faculty through email, online office hours, and other collaborative tools.
To take online courses, students must have access to a reliable computer with high speed Internet. Technical problems with a computer, Internet or network connection, contact UAFS Technical Support at 479-788-7460 or send an email to techsupport@uafs.edu.
Once admitted to the graduate program, each student will receive a secure user name and password that will provide them access to their online courses, My.UAFS intranet, and the UAFS email system.
Testing Services
For online courses, all presentations, quizzes, and assignments will be completed online. The final exam and some major exams will be required to be completed either on the UAFS campus or through an approved proctoring site. When examinations are administered off campus, the following guidelines apply:
- The student, in collaboration with the faculty, is responsible for securing the off-campus examination site. Off-campus sites may include: a regionally accredited university/ college testing facility; public or private school guidance and counseling officials; for-profit examination centers; government/corporate training/education directors; or authorized United States military education centers. Examination sites must be approved in advance by the faculty teaching the course with faculty notification to the Dean. Alternate examination procedures must be approved in advance by the Dean. It is recommended that the secure proctor services be completed during the first two weeks of the course. This allows enough time for the proctor approval process to be completed before a scheduled examination.
- Proctors at an approved site must certify that the examination was completed under supervision.
- The student is responsible for any costs incurred for testing at an off-campus site.
Registrar’s Office
The Registrar’s Office provides official student records and transcripts, student enrollment verification, processes graduation and registration forms. It is the student’s responsibility to maintain his/her correct addresses, telephone number(s), and legal name and to report any changes in information promptly to the Registrar’s Office. Students may update their phone number and address through My.UAFS. Students can visit the Registrar’s Office or request many services via the Registrar’s Office website or call 479-788-7230.
UAFS email- Students will receive a UAFS email account. The UAFS email is used as the official means of communication between UAFS officials, including faculty and students. All students are expected to check their UAFS email account frequently to stay current with UAFS communications.
Lions ID Card- Students can receive their university official identification card from the Registrar’s Office. The Lions ID card provides admission for many of the university’s sponsored social, cultural, athletics, and recreational events. The card also serves as the Boreham Library card, security clearance for email logon, and other campus services and for proctoring identification for offcampus testing sites. A distance student who is unable to come to campus to obtain their ID can request it via their UAFS email account. This email must include a digital photo of the student (head only), full name, student ID number, and the address where the Lions ID card should be mailed. All requests should be sent to registrar@uafs.edu.
UAFS Lions Bookstore
The UAFS Lions Bookstore, located in the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center, stocks the required textbooks and supplies. The bookstore also offers a textbook rental program and a selection of e-textbooks.
Students are entitled to a full refund on textbooks through the first week of class for any reason, with a valid receipt. Students are also entitled to a full refund on textbooks through the first 30 days of class if the class is dropped and the student presents a valid receipt and drop form. This 30 day return policy applies ONLY to the fall and spring semesters. Book buyback is conducted year round in the bookstore. See store for additional return and book-buyback information.
Students can find textbook information, buy test books, and find general bookstore information on the UAFS Lions Bookstore website. Textbooks and other resources are also available at off-campus locations.
Student ADA Services
UAFS seeks to make every effort to offer equal educational opportunities for all students. To ensure a total university experience for students with disabilities, UAFS provides reasonable accommodations and services to students who have physical, emotional, and/or learning disabilities. The underlying philosophy of the program is to provide support, here possible, that will maximize each student’s opportunities for academic success.
Working in partnership with the student, the Student ADA Services coordinator will develop an individualized plan for services which may include academic advising and accommodations in testing and instruction. A student with disabilities may present validation of the disability and request services by contacting the Student ADA Services coordinator at 479-788-7577.
Registration with Student ADA Services is a separate process from the application for admission to the university. In order to be considered for accommodations, a student must first submit verification of the condition based on Student ADA Services’ guidelines and meet with the Student ADA Services coordinator to discuss accommodation requests.
UAFS is committed to a policy of ensuring that no otherwise qualified individual with a disability is excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination in university programs or activities due to his or her disability. The university is fully committed to complying with all requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, and to providing equal educational opportunities to otherwise qualified students with disabilities. Any student who believes he or she has been subjected to discrimination on the basis of disability, or has been denied access or accommodations required by law, shall have the right to file a grievance. To obtain a copy of Services for Students with Disabilities brochure, which includes application information and the grievance procedure, contact the Student ADA Services Office at 479-788-7577, or the ADA website for more information.
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