Frequently Asked Questions about Student Academic Policies

Transcription

1 Frequently Asked Questins abut Student Academic Plicies The mst current infrmatin abut UNCW academic plicies and regulatins can be fund in each year s UNCW Undergraduate r Graduate Catalgues. *links t bth catalgues here+ The descriptins belw prvide a summary f answers t sme f the questins we receive mst ften in this ffice. What des it mean t drp a curse? Hw des ne g abut drpping a curse? When a curse is drpped, it disappears frm a student s academic recrds, as if there had never been enrllment in the curse. The University deadline fr drpping a curse, psted n the University Calendar, is apprximately ne week after classes begin in a fall r spring semester, and just days after classes begin in the summer sessins. Students can drp curses via SeaNet prir t the drp/add deadline. Curses cannt be drpped nce the deadline has passed. Students shuld check their schedule carefully prir t the drp/add deadline, t make sure that they are nt enrlled in any curses they d nt wish t cntinue. It is the student s respnsibility t drp any curse they d nt wish t cntinue via SeaNet prir t the drp/add deadline. What des it mean t withdraw frm a curse? Hw des ne g abut withdrawing? When a student withdraws frm a curse, the curse will remain part f the student s academic recrd; instead f a regular grade, a W (r WF ) will be psted fr that curse n the student s transcript. A W has n impact n a student s GPA, althugh the curse des cunt as hurs attempted. A WF is calculated int the GPA just as a grade f F wuld be; hurs cunt as GPA hurs. The University deadline fr withdrawing frm a curse is psted n the University calendar, and falls apprximately seven weeks after classes begin in the fall and spring semesters. This time perid is much shrter fr summer sessins. Prir t the withdrawal deadline, students can withdraw frm ne r mre classes via SeaNet. Hwever, it is nt pssible t withdraw frm all curses via SeaNet. Students wishing t withdraw frm all curses fr a given semester prir t the withdrawal deadline must reprt t the Office f the Dean f Students t cmplete the necessary frm. Students wishing t withdraw frm ne r mre classes after the withdrawal deadline must d s by reprting t the Registrar s Office; a grade f WF will be psted fr each curse frm which the student withdraws. Students wishing t withdraw frm all curses fr a term, after the withdrawal deadline, must reprt t the Office f the Dean f Students. Shuld extenuating circumstances warrant, the grade f WF assigned fr curses withdrawn after the withdrawal deadline may be appealed fr change t a W when a student seeks withdrawal frm all curses fr the semester. Fr students with a majr in the Cllege f Arts and Sciences, the appeal shuld be made t Dr. Carl Pilgrim, Assciate Dean fr Student Plicies and Curriculum. A successful appeal must include written dcumentatin f extenuating circumstances such as: death f an immediate family member; traumatic and unfreseen circumstances beynd a student s cntrl;

2 prlnged emtinal instability, physical injury r illness which has resulted in the student s inability t cmplete academic respnsibilities. It is the student s respnsibility t initiate the appeal by submitting a written request and supprting dcumentatin. The appeal must be made by the last day f classes in the semester fllwing the ne fr which the withdrawal is requested. Imprtant nte: Instructrs cannt assign a grade f W. The nly way t receive a W r WF is thrugh ne f the rutes described abve. What is a grade f Incmplete? What circumstances must be present in rder fr a grade f Incmplete t be awarded? A student must initiate a request fr a grade f Incmplete with the curse instructr by explaining and prviding evidence f extenuating circumstances that have prevented cmpletin f all wrk in the curse by the end f the term f enrllment. This request must be made befre grades are psted fr the curse. Decisins abut awarding the grade f Incmplete are at the discretin f the instructr. The instructr als determines the amunt f additinal time allwed t cmplete the wrk, up t a maximum f ne regular semester (fall r spring). It is the student s respnsibility t maintain cmmunicatin and schedule timely appintments with the instructr regarding the cmpletin f required wrk. When Incmpletes are nt satisfied by the date specified by the instructr, r by the end f the next regular semester, the I is cnverted t an F, and cannt be changed. Als, any grades f Incmplete remaining at the time f a student s graduatin will be cnverted t F. A student cannt register again fr a given class when attempting t remve a grade f Incmplete fr that class. The grade f I (Incmplete) may be assigned nly if all f the fllwing cnditins pertain: The student is in gd standing in the curse and has satisfactrily cmpleted the greater prtin f the requirements fr the class; and The student is prevented frm cmpleting the remaining requirements by unavidable circumstances (nt by incmpetence r neglect); and The student can cmplete the remaining requirements with the allwed time (up t a maximum f ne regular semester) withut repeating the curse; and The instructr and student have discussed and agreed t the grade and cnditins. The grade f I (Incmplete) cannt be given fr any f the fllwing reasns: A student therwise in gd standing fails t turn in an assignment r take the final examinatin with n cmmunicatin with the instructr; r The student is failing the curse r needs t repeat it. Fr these cases, the apprpriate grade is F. If the instructr later receives dcumentatin f the student s incapacitatin, the instructr may submit a grade change if apprved by the department Chair and the Assciate Dean f Student Plicy. Hwever, an F is the nly apprpriate grade when a student

3 has nt cmpleted cursewrk withut being excused by the instructr. Students may retake such a curse under the curse repeat plicy. When can a curse be repeated? Hw des a grade replacement wrk? Students wh receive a grade f C (2.0) r better in a curse may nt repeat the curse fr credit r fr a grade, but may audit the curse withut credit. When students repeat a curse fr which they have previusly earned credit (e.g., as a transfer curse), the status will autmatically be changed t audit. Students wh receive a grade belw a C (2.0) in a curse taken at UNCW may repeat the curse at UNCW. Fr the first five different curses repeated, the grade and hurs f credit earned fr the curse the first time it was taken will be excluded in calculating the student s GPA and hurs tward graduatin. All curses and grades will remain n the student s transcript. It is imprtant t nte that the grade earned the secnd time a curse is taken always replaces the grade earned the first time the curse was taken, regardless f which grade was better. In interpreting the grade replacement plicy, it is t be understd that: The first five times means That the plicy is autmatically perative fr a student the first time the student repeats a curse, and That the five repeats invlve five different curses; A student may repeat mre than 5 curses, but the grade replacement plicy will hld fr nly the first five; This plicy des nt hld fr repeating graduate curses (see the Graduate Catalgue fr the apprpriate plicy). Students enrlled in a special tpics curse fr a grade replacement must enrll in the same tpic fr which they riginally received an unsatisfactry grade. Students shuld be aware that a given curse may be ffered infrequently, r in sme cases, nly nce. Similarly, curses are smetimes remved frm the curriculum. It is understd that grade replacement is an ptin nly when a regularly scheduled sectin f the same curse is ffered. Nte: A pr grade received wing t admitted r adjudicated academic dishnesty shall nt be replaced if the curse is repeated. Bth the penalty grade and the new grade will appear n the student s transcript and cunt in the student s GPA. A student may nt appeal the plicy stated in the paragraph t any faculty r administrative level. What is a grade appeal? What prcess needs t be fllwed when a student wished t appeal a grade in a particular curse? Any student cnsidering a grade appeal shuld understand that each faculty member has the academic freedm and respnsibility t determine grades accrding t any

4 methd, chsen by the faculty member, that is prfessinally acceptable, cmmunicated t everyne in the class, and applied t all students evenly. Hwever, prejudiced r capricius academic evaluatin by a faculty member is a vilatin f a student s rights and is the valid grund fr a grade appeal. Any student wh cntests a curse grade shall first attempt t reslve the matter with the instructr invlved. Failing t reach a satisfactry reslutin, the student may appeal the grade in accrdance with the prcedures utlined belw. These prcedures are nt t be used in cases invlving student academic dishnesty. An appeal must be made n later than the last day f class f the semester fllwing the ne in which the grade was earned. Grades nt appealed by that time are permanent. The student must present a written appeal t the Chair f the department within which the cntested grade was awarded. The written statement shall limit itself t descriptins f evidence pertaining t the valid grund fr the appeal. By cnferring with the student and the instructr, the Chair will seek reslutin by mutual agreement. Failing such reslutin, the department Chair shall transmit the written appeal t Dr. Carl Pilgrim, Assciate Dean fr Student Plicy. Dr. Pilgrim will schedule a meeting with the student t discuss the appeal, and then will cnvene the Grade Appeals Cmmittee. The Grade Appeals Cmmittee will cnsist f Dr. Pilgrim and five appinted faculty members. The Cmmittee will cnsider evidence frm the student and frm the instructr, and then make a decisin n the merits f the case. The Cmmittee may either affirm the instructr s decisin, r supprt the student s appeal. In the latter case, the Cmmittee will als prescribe the methd by which the student will be reevaluated. These results will be cmmunicated in writing t the instructr, the student, and the department Chair. The grade resulting frm the Cmmittee s decisin is final and may nt be further appealed. What is meant by academic retentin? What circumstances lead t academic prbatin r dismissal? UNCW and the Cllege f Arts and Sciences bth encurage and require schlarship. In rder t cntinue enrllment at UNCW, all students much meet the grade pint requirements utlined belw.

5 RETENTION CHART Ttal Quality (GPA) Hurs Gd Academic Academic Required GPA fr plus Transfer Hurs Standing Prbatin Eligibility t Cntinue r mre Transfer students are placed in the retentin charts abve based n ttal hurs transferred frm all institutins attended. Transfer students grade pint averages (GPAs) are cmputed nly n quality hurs attempted at UNCW. An undergraduate student is autmatically placed n academic prbatin when the cumulative GPA falls belw 2.0. Students wh fall within the academic prbatin categry at the end f any semester will be limited t enrlling in n mre than 14 hurs in the fllwing semester. A student n academic prbatin is expected t shw satisfactry academic prgress by the end f the next semester, regardless f the number f hurs attempted. Satisfactry academic prgress is generally defined as imprvement in the GPA earned at the end f each semester during the prbatinary perid. A student is expected t be in gd academic standing within 30 credit hurs after being placed n academic prbatin. When a student is placed n academic prbatin, it is the respnsibility f the student t arrange regular meetings with his r her academic advisr t cnsider specific academic interventin strategies. Academic Dismissal: Students wh d nt meet the minimum GPA requirement fr retentin at the cnclusin f the spring semester will be academically ineligible t enrll in UNCW curse fr the fllwing fall. The student has the ptin f attempting t make up deficiencies during UNCW s summer sessins immediately fllwing the spring semester in which the ineligibility was declared. If a student is nt in gd academic standing at the cnclusin f the summer sessins, the student will be dismissed frm the university and will nt be permitted t enrll fr tw cnsecutive regular semesters (fall and spring).

6 Full-time students (at least 12 hurs) wh earn a 0.0 GPA in any semester will be dismissed frm the university and will nt be permitted t enrll fr tw cnsecutive regular semesters. Full-time students (at least 12 hurs) wh d nt earn at least a 1.00 semester GPA and pass at least nine academic hurs in any semester will be reviewed by Dr. Pilgrim t determine academic eligibility. Students wh have been dismissed may appeal fr readmissin after a minimum f tw cnsecutive regular semesters away frm UNCW. Readmissin is cntingent upn the results f the Re-enrllment Review. Students wishing t appeal fr readmissin shuld pay careful attentin t the early due dates (psted n the Registrar s website; see ADMISSIONS FORMER STUDENTS) fr submitting materials. If a student s appeal is apprved and the student is allwed t re-enrll, she/he must see an academic advisr befre registering fr classes. Academically dismissed students may enrll in any summer sessin at UNCW. Students wh have been academically dismissed fr the first time may seek administrative review f mitigating circumstances fr authrizatin t enrll in the fllwing semester under an academic cntract. Students in the Cllege f Arts and Sciences wh seek a review must submit the required appeal frm and a written statement explaining their circumstances t Dr. Pilgrim. The appeal must be submitted within 10 days after the end f the last semester (spring r summer) in which a student is enrlled. Students must submit a hard cpy f the appeal in persn in 109 Bear Hall and at that time, schedule an appintment t meet with Dr. Pilgrim. Students must understand that submitting an appeal des nt guarantee an apprval; indeed, the number f appeals apprved each year is small. The appeal prcess may take several days t be cmpleted. After a secnd declaratin f academic dismissal, eligibility fr readmissin during a regular semester (fall r spring) can be restred nly by cmpleting wrk during the summer sessins at UNCW sufficient t imprve the GPA t the required level, as indicated in the Retentin Chart abve. What is meant by Transient Study? What is the apprpriate prcess when a current UNCW student wishes t take a curse at anther university, t be transferred back t UNCW? Students engaged in Transient Study earn credits tward degree requirements at UNCW by taking curses at ther reginally-accredited tw- and fur-year clleges and universities in the U.S. and abrad. Students shuld always btain permissin fr transient study cursewrk f interest prir t enrlling in the curse(s). T receive permissin, a student must cmplete the Permissin fr Transient Study request available in myseaprt prir t registering fr the curse. The department s apprval must be prcessed with the Office f the Registrar prir t the student leaving campus.

7 Students shuld be aware that the number f credits earned utside f UNCW and allwed t cunt tward UNCW graduatin requirements is limited. A maximum f 64 credits frm a 2-year cllege can cunt tward UNCW graduatin requirements (including bth transfer and transient study credits). A maximum f 93 credits frm a 4- year cllege r university can cunt tward UNCW graduatin requirements (including bth transfer and transient study credits). AP, CLEP, and military credit are included in these ttals. Students shuld als be aware that hurs attempted and grades earned at ther institutins are nt used in cmputing their UNCW GPA. In ther wrds, a student s UNCW GPA will nt be impacted by taking curses elsewhere. Students shuld be careful nt t repeat a curse at anther institutin if they have previusly earned a lw grade in the same curse at UNCW and wish t replace the grade. Transfer credit received fr the curse will prevent the student frm repeating the curse at UNCW t imprve the UNCW GPA. Credit hurs earned at anther institutin are included in the determinatin f the GPA necessary fr academic eligibility (see the Retentin Chart). Thus, earning credits elsewhere can result in an increase in the GPA required fr eligibility. Hurs attempted and grades earned at ther institutins are als used when determining graduatin hnrs and distinctins. What are the Attendance Plicies at UNCW and in the Cllege f Arts and Sciences? Students are expected t be present at all regular class meetings and examinatins fr the curses in which they are registered. Each faculty member is respnsible fr setting the plicy cncerning the rle f attendance in determining grades fr their classes. It is the respnsibility f the students t learn and cmply with the plicies set fr each class in which they are registered. Students shuld familiarize themselves thrughly with each curse s attendance plicy, as explained in the curse syllabus. Students shuld be aware that when a curse plicy allws fr a specific number f absences with n penalty, that number typically includes absences fr any reasn (including thse with dcumented justificatin). Fr many curses, absences beynd the allwed number mean that the student has nt cmpleted the same wrk as ther students in the class and therefre cannt receive the same grade. An instructr f any curse may cancel a student s registratin in the curse if the registered student fails t attend the first class meeting f the term and fails t ntify the instructr f her/his desire t remain enrlled within 24 hurs f the class meeting time. Hwever, students wishing t drp r withdraw frm a class shuld nt assume they have dne s by nt attending the first class r subsequent classes. Students wishing t drp r withdraw must take the necessary steps, described in this dcument and in the Undergraduate Catalgue.

8 Hw lng can curses be added t a student s schedule? As lng as the SeaNet registratin system is pen, students can enrll, r add, available curses t their schedule at any time frm pre-registratin up thrugh the Drp/Add Deadline. The University deadline fr adding a curse, psted n the University Calendar, is apprximately ne week after classes begin in a fall r spring semester, and just days after classes begin in the summer sessins. Students shuld be aware that there are risks invlved when adding int a curse after classes have begun. Just because it is pssible t add a curse des nt mean that ding s is a gd idea. Students are respnsible fr any wrk missed in the curse prir t their enrllment. If ne r mre class meetings have been held, students are strngly advised t speak with the curse instructr prir t adding, t determine whether adding is apprpriate. When students add a curse at the end f the drp/add perid, there may be little r n pprtunity t drp the curse if it prves t be a pr fit fr the student s needs. Curses cannt be added nce the deadline has passed. Students shuld check their schedule carefully prir t the drp/add deadline, t make sure that they are enrlled in every curse they are attending and wish t cntinue (if there are pen seats in the curse). It is the student s respnsibility t add each curse she/he wishes t cntinue via SeaNet prir t the drp/add deadline. What is the maximum number f enrlled hurs allwed fr a single semester? What are the plicies fr requesting an verlad? Degree students may enrll in up t 18 hurs in a regular semester (fall r spring) withut special permissin. The maximum number f hurs allwed in a single summer term is 8, unless special permissin is granted. Students wh have a cumulative GPA f 3.5 r higher may request special permissin t enrll in up t 21 semester hurs. Students shuld always cnsult first with their academic advisr abut the advisability f taking n a curse verlad. If the advisr agrees that the extra hurs are apprpriate, she r he shuld send an t Dr. Pilgrim, verifying their endrsement and including the student s name, ID number, and number f hurs requested. Special exceptins t the 3.5 GPA may be cnsidered nly when the student s GPA is very clse t that criterin, and the advisr can prvide strng justificatin fr the additinal hurs. Students shuld understand that nce apprved, prcessing the request may take several days. Thus, a request fr permissin fr extra hurs must be made well befre the drp/add deadline.

9 What is a Directed Individual Study (DIS)? Hw des a student enrll in a DIS? What are the requirements and plicies fr a DIS? A DIS curse, designated in each academic department as 491, invlves investigatin f a subject matter beynd what is ffered in existing curses. Students interested in explring a DIS must make arrangements with an individual faculty member. The student and faculty mentr design an individualized learning experience, with specific activities and means f evaluatin specified prir t enrllment. A DIS curse is an excellent pprtunity fr qualified students t learn abut their chsen field at a mre advanced level, wrking cllabratively with a faculty expert, ften in cutting-edge schlarly and artistic prjects.