Academic Procedures and Policies

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Students are expected to learn the University requirements and regulations which are applicable to them, and are individually responsible for meeting all such requirements and regulations. Before the close of each semester, the student is expected to discharge all financial obligations to the University. A student may not register for a new semester nor receive a degree, certificate, or transcript until all University bills are paid.

Undergraduate Grading And Academic Eligibility

Regulations concerning academic eligibility are subject to constant revision and change. In the event of a change all students will conform to the newer regulations.

Classification of Students

Regular students at UNCP are classified according to the number of semester hours they have earned in keeping with the following table:

Grading System (Undergraduate)

Students may view their midterm and final grades on BraveWeb. Students needing a copy of their grades may print them from BraveWeb or request a transcript.

A letter grade and plus‑minus system for evaluating academic performance is used for evaluating all undergraduate students. Each letter grade has a quality point value for each semester hour it represents. The hour and quality points are used in determining a student’s grade point average for a semester’s work and in averaging grades for all work completed to find a student’s cumulative quality point average.

Academic eligibility for a student shall be determined by current regulations. The letter grades and quality points represented by each, as of 1 January 1989, are as follows:

The “P” grade is earned in designated courses and carries semester hours credit. However, the hours are not counted in quality hours. Quality hours are the hours used in figuring quality point averages.

The “I,” or incomplete grade, is given when a student is unable to complete required work because of an unavoidable circumstance such as illness. It is not to be given to enable a student to do additional work to improve a grade. Assigning the “I” grade is at the discretion of the individual instructor. It is the student’s responsibility to request the “I” grade. Generally, the student will have completed most of the work required for the course before the “I” grade is requested. An incomplete must be removed within one semester (excluding summer term) or it will automatically be converted to a grade of “F” by the University Registrar. In determination of quality hours and quality point averages, an “I” is counted as an “F” until it is removed. An “I” grade does not fulfill prerequisite requirements.

The “T,” grade pending, is given only for Esther G. Maynor Honors College courses until the thesis or project is completed.

The “W” grade is assigned when a student withdraws from a course during the designated drop‑ add period; the “WX” grade is assigned when special permission is granted to withdraw (see below, for withdrawal process). When a student receives a “W” or “WX” grade, the grade is recorded, but the semester hours attempted are not counted as quality hours.

Audited classes are listed on the permanent record. They are designated by the letters “AU.” The AU’s and W’s will be listed as attempted hours, but not as quality hours for figuring quality point averages.

Quality Point Average and Scholastic Standing

Scholastic standing at UNC Pembroke is based on the quality point average. To figure quality point average, multiply the number of quality hours (attempted hours minus P credits, AU’s and W’s) assigned to each course by the number of quality points received, add the quality points received for all courses, and divide by the number of quality hours.

Example:

Quality Point Average = 39.1 divided by 16 = 2.44

*A grade of P counts as hours earned but not as quality hours and is computed as 0 hours in figuring quality point averages.

A cumulative quality point average is obtained by including only the quality hours and quality points received from UNCP.

Academic Standing

A student’s academic standing during any term is determined by the cumulative grade point average (GPA) earned on the total quality hours. To be in good standing, a cumulative GPA of 2.0 and a 67% or greater earned‑to‑attempted pass rate must be maintained. Individuals with less than a cumulative 2.0 GPA or less than a 67% earned‑to‑attempted pass rate are placed on either probation or suspension.

Students are advised of their academic status at the end of every semester via email, Braveweb, and mail sent to their address on record. It is the student’s responsibility to know his or her academic standing status and to ensure that an accurate mailing address is on file with the Registrar.

Academic Probation

Continuing Students: A continuing student is placed on Academic Probation when his/her cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 or the earned‑to‑attempted pass rate falls below 67% at the end of any term (fall/spring/summer).

Students on academic probation are eligible to attend the University under specified provisions but are not in good standing. Enrollment for the probationary term will be limited to a maximum of 13 semester hours. At the end of the probationary term, students must achieve one of the following:

1. Raise the cumulative GPA to a minimum of 2.0, or
2. Earn a minimum GPA of 2.3 on at least 12 semester hours, excluding FRS 1000 and PE activity courses, for the probationary term.

Failure to meet one of the conditions above will result in suspension from UNCP for one semester. Students continue on probation as long as their earned‑to‑attempted pass rate remains below 67%.

First-Semester Freshmen and First-Semester Transfer Students: In addition to the requirements above, first‑semester freshmen and first‑semester transfer students who earn between 1.5 and 1.99 at the end of their first semester are placed on probation for one term and must meet the following to continue:

1. Develop a Success Contract with a member of the Academic Support Center and adhere to guidelines established.
2. Meet monthly with their academic advisors.
3. Attend a minimum of three academic success seminars offered by the Academic Support Center.

First‑semester freshmen and first‑semester transfer students who earn between 1.5 and 1.99 and are placed on probation must agree to participate in the above activities during the second semester or they are ineligible to return to UNCP for one semester. Additionally, these students must earn a mini‑ mum GPA of 2.3 or achieve good academic standing status at the end of the second term. Failure to meet one of these criteria will result in a one‑semester suspension.

Academic Suspension

Continuing Students: If a continuing student does not meet the above GPA requirement(s) during the probationary semester, he/she will be suspended for one semester and can apply for readmission after the suspension semester (see Registrar’s Website).

Following an initial suspension of one semester and being readmitted to the University on probation, failure to meet the GPA requirements at the end of the semester will result in a suspension for two semesters. After two semesters, the student may apply for readmission to UNCP (see Registrar’s Website).

Students failing to meet the GPA requirements for continuation after the second suspension and readmission to UNCP will be suspended from the University for a minimum of three academic years.

NOTE: From time to time, students on suspension enroll at another institution to strengthen academic and study skills. While this can be a very beneficial use of the suspension semester, no credits earned while on suspension are transferrable to UNCP when readmitted.

First-Semester Freshmen and First-Semester Transfer Students: First‑semester freshmen and first‑semester transfers earning less than a 1.5 at the end of the first term of enrollment are placed on suspension and are ineligible to return to the University for one semester. They can apply for read‑ mission after the suspension semester (see Registrar’s Website). If readmitted, students will return on academic probation.

Suspension Appeals

A student who wishes to appeal his/her suspension must appeal to the Suspension Appeals Committee at least five (5) work days prior to the first day of classes of the semester for which enrollment is sought. Specific deadlines for each term can be found on the appeals form on the Web sites of the Academic Support Center and the office of Financial Aid. Appeals are coordinated by the staff of the Academic Support Center. Individuals wishing to appeal a suspension should contact the Center to schedule a meeting with a counselor to develop an appeals packet. Complete appeals packets include, at a minimum, letter of appeal, Success Contract, supporting documents of personal/medical reasons for performance, and statement of strategies/support programs that will be utilized during the semester to attain good academic standing status. No appeals will be heard if received after the deadline, and the decision of the Suspension Appeals Committee is final.

Academic Honors

Graduation With Honors

Graduating seniors may be considered for honors if they have earned a Quality Point Average (QPA) of at least 3.4 for 45 semester hours of course work in residence at UNCP. All course work attempted (including quality hours from other institutions and repeated hours) will be included in the calculation of the cumulative QPA for determining the particular honors designation awarded. Students who attain a cumulative QPA of 3.85 or higher are graduated summa cum laude. Those who achieve a minimum cumulative QPA of 3.7 are graduated magna cum laude and students whose cumulative QPA is at least 3.4 are graduated cum laude.

Students who achieve the hours and the QPA requirement at the beginning of the last semester of their senior year will be recognized at commencement. The final assessment is done after graduation and honors are pending for all students until this is completed. The honors designation will appear on the student’s diploma and transcript.

Honors/Chancellor’s List

Students are eligible for Honors List if they achieve a minimum semester quality point average of 3.2 while passing at least 12 semester hours of course work; none of the 12 hours may be Pass/Fail.

Students are eligible for Chancellor’s List if they achieve a minimum semester quality point average of 3.7 while passing at least 12 semester hours of course work; none of the 12 hours may be Pass/Fail.

Orientation And Advisement

New Student and Family Orientation and Testing

The Office of New Student and Family Orientation offers several programs during the spring and summer of each year to acquaint new students and family members with the academic, co-curricular, and social opportunities offered at the University. These programs are designed to ease the transition of incoming students and their family members to UNC Pembroke. All students who are required to attend New Student and Family Orientation will be mailed information concerning the program. In addition, freshman students are required to attend the Becoming BRAVE Welcome Program in August.

Students are not required to test for placement in English and Math. Students are placed into the appropriate English course based on SAT score, ACT score, or high school experience. Any student who is placed into ENG 0104 is given the opportunity to challenge the placement in their first semester of enrollment. This placement challenge is offered during Welcome Week in the fall semester and the first week of class in the spring. Students are placed into the appropriate math course by major and advisement. Students who wish to begin in MAT 2210, Calculus I , can request a placement test from the math department to show that they can meet the expectations of the course.

In addition to Math and English, all incoming students with less than 15 hours of transfer work are required to test in order to place out of SPE 1020 . Details regarding this assessment are provided at New Student Orientation.

Academic Advisement

New freshmen are advised by the staff of the Advising Center when registering for first semester courses, after which time they will be assigned faculty advisors. In most cases, Freshman Seminar instructors become their students’ advisors until the student declares a major. As soon as a student decides on a major, the student should take a Declaration of Major form to the department chair for the chosen major. The chair will assign a faculty member in the student’s major as the new advisor. The student obtains the signature of the new advisor and submits the form to the Office of the Registrar in Lumbee Hall.

The advisor’s role is to assist the student in planning a suitable academic program and to maintain a record of progress during the student’s college career. The advisor also provides information and guidance regarding UNC Pembroke policies and procedures. However, the final responsibility for meeting all academic program requirements lies with the student. The Academic Support Center serves as a resource center for students who may wish to seek additional academic help, and faculty members may refer students to the Center.

Registration Procedures And Policies

Registration

Each student must complete registration online. No student is considered to be officially registered until the student has completed registration as outlined below. Students who fail to complete registration as prescribed will have their names dropped from all class rolls. If these students subsequently request to register, they must follow registration procedures just as if they had not started registration before.

The advisor’s role is to assist the student in planning a suitable academic program. However, the student is responsible for following all applicable academic regulations. This includes general education requirements, prerequisites, and major/minor requirements. Students are individually responsible for all course registrations and for completing the requirements for graduation. The Office of the Registrar will drop students who register for courses without following departmental or University regulations. Each student must register online prior to the first day of class. After classes begin, each student must register in person in the Office of the Registrar.

The University has a two‑phase registration system: the early or pre‑registration phase and the regular registration phase.

Students currently enrolled at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke may complete their registration by: (1) consulting with their advisor during the designated early registration period, (2) obtaining the personal identification number (PIN) from the advisor and preparing their class schedule for the next semester, (3) registering for the approved course work online, and (4) paying tuition and fees to the Cashier’s Office.

Students returning after an absence of one semester may complete their registration by: (1) consulting with their advisor during the designated registration period, (2) obtaining a PIN and preparing their class schedule for the semester, (3) registering for the approved course work online, and (4) paying tuition and fees at the Cashier’s Office.

Students who have not returned to the University in two semesters (one academic year), need to apply for readmission to the University. Please see Re‑Enrolling Students in the Undergraduate Admissions section of the Catalog. Students who are in good academic standing with the University maintain an active enrollment status for two semesters (one academic year).

Adding, Dropping, and Withdrawing from Courses

After a student has completed registration the only way the student’s schedule can be changed is through the drop‑add procedure. To add a course a student must obtain a Course Add Form from an academic department, complete the form, have it approved by his or her advisor, obtain the signature of the gaining professor, and present the form to the Office of the Registrar. To drop a course a student must obtain a Course Withdrawal Form from an academic department, complete the form, have it approved by his or her advisor, and present the form to the Office of the Registrar.

A student may withdraw from a course after the drop‑add period but prior to and including the last day of the first week of classes after midterm grades are reported, with a grade of W, if the student obtains the signature of her or his advisor and instructor. Students entering UNCP as freshmen will have the option of withdrawing from a maximum of 15 semester hours of coursework.

A student who transfers to UNCP may not withdraw from more than the maximum number of hours of coursework as determined by the table below during his/her undergraduate career at UNCP. After a student has withdrawn from the maximum allowed number of credit hours, any subsequent withdrawal will result automatically in a grade of “F.” These limits apply only to the Fall and Spring semester courses, not to Summer session courses.

 The Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment may approve withdrawal from a course or courses at any time without academic penalty if serious extenuating circumstances, such as serious illness, exist. Unsatisfactory academic performance does not by itself constitute an extenuating circumstance. As soon as possible, the student petitioning to withdraw from a course due to extenuating circumstances must meet with the Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment, present the appropriate medical or legal documentation, and complete the necessary forms. Approved requests receive a grade of WX. In addition, the following conditions apply:

1. a WX will be recorded on the transcript;
2. the course(s) will count as attempted hours;
3. the course(s) will not count in tuition surcharge calculations;
4. the course(s) will not count in GPA calculation;
5. the course(s) are subject to all Financial Aid and SAP rules and calculations.

Students denied a request for the grade of WX may appeal to the Provost or designee whose decision will be final.

Withdrawal from the University

Up to the last day to receive a W in a course, a student may complete a “Request for Withdraw‑ al” form, available from the Office of the Registrar webpage at www.uncp.edu/registrar. The student should get the required signatures, take the I.D. card to the Student Accounts Office, and return the form to the Office of the Registrar. The University makes applicable refunds only after the withdrawal procedure is completed.

After the last day to receive a W in a course, or if the student wishes to withdraw on time with grades of WX, the Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment approves withdrawal from the University without academic penalty only when unusual and documentable circumstances warrant. Unsatisfactory academic performance does not by itself meet the requirement. As soon as possible, the student petitioning to withdraw from the University must meet with the Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment, present the appropriate medical or legal documentation, and complete the necessary forms. Withdrawal under these circumstances will not count toward a student’s 15 hour career withdrawal limit. In addition, the following conditions apply:

1. a WX will be recorded on the transcript;
2. the course(s) will count as attempted hours;
3. the course(s) will not count in tuition surcharge calculations;
4. the course(s) will not count in GPA calculation;
5. the course(s) are subject to all Financial Aid and SAP rules and calculations.

Students denied a request for the grade of WX may appeal to the Provost or designee whose decision will be final.

Students who stop attending classes without completing the withdrawal procedure ordinarily receive an F in courses for which they are registered.

Repetition of Course Work

A student who wishes to repeat a course must adhere to the following policies:

1. The original course and the repeat course must be taken at UNCP.
2. The course being repeated must be the same course taken previously; no substitutions are allowed.
3. Students may repeat a course twice. Exceptions to this limit require approval of the chair of the department offering the course and the appropriate dean.
4. All grades received in courses repeated will be used to compute the quality point average, unless the student elects to use a grade replacement (see “Grade Replacement Policy” below).
5. A student will receive credit (earned hours) for a course one time, and the most recent grade will be used in meeting graduation requirements.
6. All entries remain a part of the student’s permanent record.

Grade Replacement Policy

a. Students Entering UNCP Prior to Fall 1994

Undergraduate students who entered UNCP before the fall of 1994 and who follow the repeat policy will automatically have the grade replaced for all eligible repeats. The semester hours and quality points in courses repeated are counted only once, and the most recent grade and the quality points corresponding to the most recent grade are used in computing the quality point average and meeting graduation requirements. However, all entries remain a part of the student’s permanent record.

b. Students Entering UNCP for Fall 1994 and Thereafter

Beginning with the fall semester of 1994, undergraduate students who enter UNCP and who wish to replace a course grade must adhere to/the following policies:

1. A student must follow all regulations regarding repetition of course work.
2. Some courses may be taken more than once for full credit; these courses are not eligible for grade replacement.
3. The semester hours and quality points in courses repeated are counted only once, and the most recent grade and the quality points corresponding to the most recent grade are used in computing the quality point average and meeting graduation requirements.
4. Students entering UNCP as freshmen from Fall 1994 through Spring 2013 will have the option of replacing a maximum of 15 credit hours with improved grades earned by repeating courses. Students entering UNCP as freshmen beginning in Fall 2013 will have the option of replacing a maximum of 12 credit hours with improved grades earned by repeating courses. No student is eligible for more than 15 hours of replacement credit regardless of his/her entry date.
5. The credit hours associated with each repeated course will count toward the cumulative replacement hours.
6. Students transferring or readmitted to UNCP may replace grades for courses taken at UNCP for a maximum number of hours as determined by the scale below, which is based on the number of hours accepted for transfer or readmission.

7. The student must secure a form from the Registrar’s Office and indicate in writing which course grades are to be replaced for computation of the quality point average. The form designating specific course grade replacements will be maintained on permanent file in the Registrar’s Office.
8. Decisions for course grade replacement are irrevocable.
9. All entries remain a part of the student’s permanent record.

Internships, Practica, And Independent Learning

Internships, practica, and other external learning experiences provide opportunities for students to earn academic credit for approved work or research programs in cooperating business‑government, or education organizations. The internships, which are of one‑term duration, are open to qualified junior or senior students with the approval of the department chairman.

All internships, practica, and other external learning experiences are supervised by UNC Pembroke faculty, who also assign grades in the courses.

Experiential Learning and Cooperative Education

Practical work experience is very important in today’s world. Students at UNC Pembroke may elect to get some practical work experience which is related to their program major (or minor) through several practical work experiences.

a. Experiential Learning Program: Experiential Learning is a working‑and‑learning arrangement. The student negotiates a proposal in some area of interest to the student. Negotiation involves the student, the University, and an organization (business, agency, etc.) where the student plans to work. Experiential Learning is available through academic departments and requires approval of the chairman.

The following regulations govern the offerings of Experiential Learning:

1. The Experiential Learning Program consists largely of Experiential Learning I and Experiential Learning II. A student must take the courses in numerical order. They cannot be taken concurrently.
2. The amount of credit that can be earned in Experiential Learning I and II varies from one to three semester hours in each course, and is jointly determined by the student and the student’s major advisor on the basis of what the student contracts to do.
3. To be eligible for enrollment in Experiential Learning I or II, a student must:
   1. have declared for a major program in a department which provides its students with practical work experience through Experiential Learning I and II;
   2. be classified as a junior or senior;
   3. have an overall cumulative quality point average of at least 2.0;
   4. have the written recommendation and approval of the major department chairman and the major advisor.
4. Each eligible student who registers for Experiential Learning I or II is required to sign and carry out a written work‑learning contract jointly developed by the student, the student’s advisor, and the organization providing the practical work experience which states:
   1. what the student is to do, what the major advisor is to do, and what the organization is to do;
   2. the number of semester hours the students will earn in completing the contract;
   3. that credit will be earned only if all of the contracted work is completed with a contract period of one‑semester or term of summer session;
5. Eligible students are allowed to use not more than a total of six semester hours credit in Experiential Learning I and II in meeting the 128 semester hours minimum requirement for the degree.

b. Cooperative Education Program: Cooperative Education is an arrangement whereby UNC Pembroke cooperates with an outside business or agency to help a student directly explore a career‑related field as an integral part of the educational program. The program allows participating students to alternate full‑time work and on‑campus study as complementary educational experiences while pursuing an academic degree program. To be eligible, a student must have completed a minimum of 30 semester hours and normally must have earned a cumulative QPA of 2.0 or above. Participants typically receive pay, and academic credit may be awarded if approved by the department chair, the Academic Affairs office, and the Registrar. Cooperative Education is coordinated by the Career Center.

Independent Study

A student who wishes to enroll in an Independent Study Course in any department must: (1) meet the requirements established by the department for Independent Study and (2) submit a written Request for Independent Study to the department chair. The Request for Independent Study must include a complete description of the Independent Study Project and a schedule for submission of the Project. The Request must be approved by (1) the professor supervising the Independent Study Project and (2) the department chair. A student may elect to work for one, two, or three semester hours of credit.

Upon completion of the Independent Study Project, the student must submit the Project to the supervising professor. The supervising professor will evaluate the Project and assign a grade. A copy of the Project will be submitted to the department chair, who will keep it on file.

Departments permitting Independent Study Projects will have written guidelines setting out the requirements for Independent Study. Supervision of Independent Study Projects by faculty is voluntary.

Class Attendance Policies

Regular class attendance is important to the educational experience of each student and to the academic integrity of the university curriculum. Students are expected to attend every class beginning with the first session. The University reserves the right to administratively withdraw students who have never attended any classes for the semester. Regular class attendance is a student responsibility. A student is responsible for all the work, including tests and written work, of all class meetings. No right or privilege exists that permits a student to be absent from any given number of class meetings.

For all general education classes, instructors will keep attendance records. If a student misses three consecutive class meetings, or misses more classes than the instructor deems advisable, the instructor will notify the Academic Support Center for appropriate follow‑up. Departments may also develop and distribute attendance policies and procedures to be followed for students who miss an excessive number of classes.

For all classes, instructors have the discretion to determine how the attendance policy will be implemented, the circumstances under which make‑up work may be allowed, and whether attendance will be used as a criterion in determining the final grade. Excessive absences may result in failure. Faculty will distribute a written statement of their attendance policy as part of the course syllabus. Students should not enroll in a course if participation in University‑sponsored activities causes them to miss an excessive number of classes, as determined by the instructor.

When the University is officially closed, no student can be counted absent, even if the instructor holds class. Any course‑related material will be made available in some form by the instructor.

Notice Concerning The Inspection and Release Of Student Records

The University of North Carolina at Pembroke complies with all provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. The full statement of the University’s policy is available in the Office of the Registrar located in Lumbee Hall. With some exceptions, students have the right to inspect and to challenge the contents of their education records. Access to academic records is coordinated through the Registrar’s Office. Students wishing to inspect their records should contact the Registrar in Lumbee Hall between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday ‑ Friday, while the University is in session.

The University routinely releases to the public so‑called Directory Information, as follows: the student’s name, address, telephone listing, electronic mail address, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, and previous educational agency or institution attended by the student. Any student who wishes to have the above Directory Information withheld must complete and sign a request in the Registrar’s Office. The consent for non‑disclosure will remain on the student’s record until the student signs consent to lift the confidential status hold.

Federal Family Educational Rights And Privacy Act (FERPA):

Certain personally identifiable information about students (“education records”) may be maintained at The University of North Carolina General Administration, which serves the Board of Governors of the University system. This student information may be the same as, or derivative of, information maintained by a constituent institution of the University; or it may be additional information. Whatever their origins, education records maintained at General Administration are subject to the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA).

FERPA provides that a student may inspect his or her education records. If the student finds the records to be inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights, the student may request amendment to the record. FERPA also provides that a student’s personally identifiable information may not be released to someone else unless (1) the student has given a proper consent for disclosure or (2) provisions of FERPA or federal regulations issued pursuant to FERPA permit the information to be released without the student’s consent.

A student may file with the U.S. Department of Education a complaint concerning failure of General Administration or an institution to comply with FERPA.

The policies of The University of North Carolina General Administration concerning FERPA may be inspected in the office at each constituent institution designated to maintain the FERPA policies of the institution. Policies of General Administration may also be accessed in the Office of the Secretary of The University of North Carolina, General Administration, 910 Raleigh Road, Chapel Hill, NC.

Further details about FERPA and FERPA procedures at General Administration are to be found in the referenced policies. Questions about the policies may be directed to Legal Section, Office of the President, The University of North Carolina, General Administration, Annex Building, 910 Raleigh Road, Chapel Hill, NC (mailing address P.O. Box 2688, Chapel Hill, NC 27515‑2688; tel: 919‑962‑ 4588). Edition 5/97

The University Of North Carolina At Pembroke Academic Honor Code

By accepting admission to The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, each student also accepts the standards of conduct, both in the classroom and outside it, of the UNCP community. One of the most important of these standards is academic honesty. Students are expected to know what the Academic Honor Code says and to apply the provisions of that Code to their conduct at the University.