New Student Checklist

Welcome to the Program!

Now that you have been admitted to the Adult and Lifelong Learning program, there are a few things you will need to do to establish yourself in the system and to ease your transition.

1. Accept your Admission

Once admitted to the program, you will receive an email from Graduate Admissions directing you to accept your admission so that you can register for classes. Go to your Student Center in UAConnect to accept your admission. If you still need to set up your UARK account and access UAConnect, see below No. 4 "Activate Your UARK Account." Contact Graduate Admissions at 479-575-4401 if you have questions.

2. Apply for Financial Aid

If you are interested in receiving financial assistance, contact the Office of Financial Aid at 479-575-3806, or visit their website.

3. Immunizations

As an online student, you are not required to submit immunization records to the University. However, you must contact the Pat Walker Health Center to inform them that you are an off-campus student. The center's phone is 479-575-4451. You cannot register or enroll in classes until the immunization hold has been removed .

4. Activate Your UARK Account

Every U of A student has access to technology services, including an email account and access to UAConnect through Information Technology Services. Go to IT Services to learn about your UARK account and how to set up your email. Your username and password are required to access your courses in Blackboard.

Note: Adult and Lifelong Learning M.Ed. students should check their UARK account regularly as course communications, campus announcements and listserv messages are sent to UARK accounts, not personal accounts.

5. Contact your Advisor

Each student is assigned to a faculty advisor in the department who can answer questions about the Program of Study and offer guidance about course selection. The advisor's name and email address appear in the email you receive from the department notifying you of your admission.

Contact your advisor by email if you need to schedule an advising appointment.

6. Register for Classes

Before you register for classes each semester:

  • Review and update your ADLL Program of Study to determine which courses you need to take. Use this template alongside the tentative ADLL Course Rotation to plan your course schedule and anticipated graduation timeline. Please note that official course offerings will be available in UAConnect when registration opens for each semester.
  • Consult the ADLL Course Rotation to see which courses are typically offered each spring, fall and summer. Use this rotation to plan ahead.
  • Go to your UAConnect Student Homepage to confirm offerings and enroll in courses. Enter the correct term and ADLL in Class Search in the Subject box. For a complete list of courses, unclick Show Open Classes Only. This allows you to see if a course you would like to take is already closed.
    • Note: If a course you want to take is closed, you can contact the instructor of record to ask permission for an override. Override requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.

7. Pay your Balance through the Treasurer's Office

View your balance and make payments through UAconnect.

*If you are eligible for the UA Employee Discount, please see the representative on your campus about tuition payment.

"Direct questions about the senior citizens' tuition-free opportunity to the Graduate School."

8. Order your Textbooks

Textbooks can be ordered online through the U of A Bookstore. Order your textbooks as early as possible. The ADLL program recommends ordering from the U of A Bookstore rather than an alternate vendor to ensure timely delivery and to receive alerts about issues such as back-ordered texts. You do not need to wait until the class begins to order your books; they are available through the U of A Bookstore several months before the first day of classes.

Please check the UA Bookstore to see if a textbook is required for your enrolled courses.

9. Access Blackboard

Blackboard is the online learning management system the ADLL program uses to deliver online learning. You can access your course on or before the first day of class. Go to Blackboard to sign into your courses with your user name and password.

Before you have access to your courses, you can use the Blackboard tutorial to familiarize yourself with the system:

  1. Go to Blackboard
  2. Click Preview as Guest
  3. At the top of the page click on Courses
  4. On the Welcome page, click the course name under the My Courses column

Other Useful Information