Academic Policies and Procedures

Student Responsibilities

All students are expected to be aware of their academic status and academic and university policies. All students are responsible for the proper completion of their academic program(s), for familiarity with the university catalog, for maintaining the required grade-point averages, and for meeting all other degree requirements. Advisors will advise and counsel, but the final responsibility remains that of the student. Final responsibility for scheduling and enrolling in courses required for the degree lies with the student.

If a student with a disability needs an accommodation, that request must be received by the Director of Disability Services four weeks prior to the start of the semester.

Students are required to have knowledge of and observe all regulations pertaining to campus life and student deportment. They are responsible for maintaining communication with the university by keeping a current address, including ZIP code and telephone number on file with the Office of the Registrar at all times.

Every student associated with the university is expected to behave in campus and community life in a manner that will reflect credit upon the university.

Academic Honesty

As a community of scholars dedicated to learning and the pursuit of knowledge, UNC Asheville relies on the honesty and academic integrity of all the members of its community. Any act of plagiarism or cheating is academic dishonesty. A person who knowingly assists another in cheating is likewise guilty of cheating. According to the instructor’s view of the gravity of the offense, a student may be punished by a failing grade or a grade of zero for the assignment or test, or a failing grade in the course. If it seems warranted, the instructor may also recommend to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs dismissal or other serious university sanction.

A student accused of academic dishonesty should talk with his or her instructor. In all situations where a student has been disciplined for plagiarism or cheating, the instructor is to submit to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs a brief statement of the case; the student is to receive a copy of this document. Depending upon the severity and/or repetition of the offense, the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs may choose to impose a penalty of cancellation of graduation with honors; cancellation of scholarships; dismissal from the university; or any other penalty which he or she deems logical and deserved. A student has 10 class days to respond to this document in writing; this response is to be sent to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for attachment to the document submitted by the instructor.

The student may choose to contact the Faculty Conciliator, who will advise the student of his or her rights, and attempt to mediate between the student and the instructor before proceeding to bring the case before the Academic Appeals Board. If the student is satisfied with the results of this mediation, then the formal hearing before the Board will not take place. The student must make the request for this formal hearing within 10 class days of receiving the copy of the instructor’s statement to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

Disruptive Behavior in the Classroom

Part of the role of a faculty member is to ensure that each student has a learning environment free from disruption. With the concurrence of the department chair or program director, the instructor may administratively withdraw a student from a course for behavior that is deemed to be disruptive to the class. A grade of W will be assigned if the behavior occurs before the deadline for withdrawing from a course without academic penalty. For behavior occurring after the withdrawal deadline, a grade of F will be assigned, although the instructor has the option of recommending a grade of W. See the addendum at the end of this catalog for specific procedures relating to instructor and student responsibilities.

Student Complaints and Grievances

The University of North Carolina at Asheville has established accessible policies and procedures for the filing and review of student complaints and grievances. These policies and procedures are defined in the Student Handbook, the University Catalog and on Student Affairs and Academic Affairs Web pages. Hard copies of the Student Handbook are available at the Highsmith University Union information desk. Hard copies of the University Catalog are available at both the OneStop Student Services and Admissions offices in University Hall.             

Where a student should go to file a complaint depends upon whether the complaint concerns academic or non-academic matters. In practice, student concerns, complaints or grievances are directed to one of two student ombudsmen. The Assistant Provost for Academic Administration is generally the first point of contact for academic student complaints and the Dean of Students is generally the first point of contact for non-academic student complaints. However, regardless of the initial contact, the two student ombudsmen work closely together and direct students to the appropriate complaint procedure and involve any other appropriate departments. Students may also institute complaints to the personnel involved in the procedure or action that yielded the complaint. For example, instructional matters are typically handled first by the class instructor, and then progressively by the department chair, the dean and the Provost if needed. Each office that receives student complaints will maintain a record of those complaints and their resolutions.

Contact information for the Assistant Provost for Academic Administration and for the Dean of Students, and additional information relevant to academic honesty and classroom behavior may be found in the Student Complaints, Grievances and Academic Misconduct addendum at the end of this catalog. 

Class Attendance

Students are responsible for regular class attendance. Students failing to attend the first session of any class may be administratively dropped by the instructor; however, this is at the discretion of the instructor. It is the students’ responsibility to notify the OneStop Student Services Office of any changes to their schedules. Students who miss class to travel on university-sanctioned business, or for religious observances, are given excused absences for the class time missed. Occasional absences of this kind will have no punitive impact on their grades. It is the students’ responsibility to inform the instructor of their plans at least seven days prior to the sanctioned absence, and to make up all work missed within a specified time period, as agreed to by instructor and student. However, significant absences may affect academic performance and grades.

Student Records and Academic Information

Transcripts and Release of Student Records

In order to comply with federal regulations, the University of North Carolina at Asheville has adopted institutional policies and procedures to be followed with regard to the disclosure of information from the education records of current and former students. The student record policy of the University of North Carolina at Asheville conforms to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-380). Copies of Public Law 93-380 may be found in Ramsey Library and the Office of the Registrar. This policy gives a student the right to inspect his or her educational record within a reasonable length of time, to ask for interpretations, and to request that any inaccuracies be corrected. Education records are in the custody of the Registrar. A student’s academic transcript is permanently maintained. Other documents are retained pursuant to administrative policies.

Copies of the student’s official UNC Asheville transcript are released only on the written request of the student, and only after all obligations to the University, financial and otherwise, have been fulfilled. Currently enrolled students may request an official transcript through their UNC Asheville OnePort account. Former students and alumni may request an official transcript via the National Student Clearinghouse or by submitting a transcript request to the Office of the Registrar. There is no charge for transcripts unless they are requested through the National Student Clearinghouse, which charges a small service fee for processing. For more information, please visit the Office of the Registrar’s website. Transcripts are issued within one week of receipt of the official request, except during the beginning and ending weeks of each semester, when more processing time may be required. Transcripts received from other schools are the property of the university and are not copied or released.

Grades cannot be released to parents or guardians without the written permission of the student. Special forms to send copies of grades are available in the Office of the Registrar and must be completed each semester in which a student wishes to send grades to a third party.

The university does not permit access to, or the release of education records, without the written consent of the student with the following exceptions:  a) to UNC Asheville officials, including faculty, who require such records in the proper performance of their duties; b) in connection with the student’s application for or receipt of financial aid or Veterans Administration benefits; c) to organizations conducting studies for educational and governmental agencies (in which case individual students are neither identified nor identifiable); d) U.S. government agencies as listed in Public Law 93-380; e) parents of a dependent student as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1954; f) accrediting agencies;g) to comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena; h) appropriate persons in connection with an emergency if the knowledge of such information is necessary to protect the health or safety of a student or any other person; i) to other University of North Carolina system institutions if the student applies or is accepted for transfer to those institutions; and j) directory information.           

Directory information is defined as: student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, entrance status, classification, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received (including Dean’s List, Chancellor’s List and scholarships), and the most recent educational agency or institution previously attended by the student. Students who do not wish their information released outside the university or published in the campus directory must give written notice to the Office of the Registrar.

Acceptance of Transfer Credit

The university will accept for transfer credit those courses completed with a grade of C (2.0) or better taken at regionally accredited undergraduate institutions and determined to be compatible with the university’s programs. Courses submitted for transfer are evaluated by the Office of the Registrar. In cases of doubt, equivalency may be determined by the chairs of the appropriate departments.

Courses from regionally accredited two-year colleges will be evaluated in the same manner as those from four-year institutions, except in the case of specific administrative agreements with two-year colleges. Students with 60 or more credits from two-year institutions must earn a minimum of 60 additional credits at four-year institutions. Applied courses, whether technical or methodological (except in the fine arts), are not transferable unless they are approved by the chairs of the appropriate departments.

Courses to satisfy Integrative Liberal Studies and major requirements are judged individually. They should be generally equivalent in information and methodology to courses in the university’s Integrative Liberal Studies curriculum or major programs. In cases of doubt, the chairs of the appropriate departments will determine the equivalency accepted. Courses will be considered electives if they are not part of the Integrative Liberal Studies requirements or required for the major or minor.

Permission to Take a Course as a Visitor at Another Institution

Students who wish to take courses at another regionally accredited institution must receive written permission from UNC Asheville’s Office of the Registrar prior to enrolling at the other school. The Office of the Registrar gives approval for courses that will be used as electives or used to satisfy Integrative Liberal Studies requirements. If a course is to be used to satisfy a major requirement, written approval from the department chair of the student’s major must be presented to the Office of the Registrar before the request will be considered. Only students whose cumulative GPA is a 2.0 or above may receive permission to visit another school.

Students must earn 60 semester hours from 4-year institutions in order to graduate. Those who have 60 or more hours of transferred credit from 2-year schools (or if the courses requested will cause the student to exceed 60 semester hours) may not take additional courses at another two year institution without special permission from the Office of the Registrar.

Students must complete their final 30 semester hours in residence at UNC Asheville. Those who wish to attend another institution after reaching senior standing (or if the courses requested will cause the student to exceed 90 semester hours) may take courses at another institution if they have an additional 30 hours of requirements to complete upon returning to UNC Asheville.

Forms detailing additional regulations and the procedures for requesting permission to visit another institution are available in the Office of the Registrar, and must be filed prior to the student attending another institution.

Correspondence, Extension, CLEP or PEP Credit

UNC Asheville may accept a combined total of 30 semester hours of credit for correspondence or extension courses, or for examinations of the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and Proficiency Examination Program (PEP). In the case of correspondence credit, proficiency examinations may be required. Please contact the Office of the Registrar for specific information.

Advanced Placement

UNC Asheville awards academic credit of 3 to 6 semester hours to enrolled students who receive scores of 3, 4 or 5 on Advanced Placement tests offered by the College Board. The required score, amount of credit, and course waiver(s) offered are determined by the academic departments for which Advanced Placement tests are available. The Office of the Registrar maintains the following schedule of credit and waivers. Advanced Placement credit accepted at other post-secondary institutions is not automatically transferred to UNCA, but is reviewed in accordance with this schedule. 

Notes:

1. Students will not receive credit for both Language and Composition and Literature and Composition AP tests.
2. Students who score 5 on either test should contact the department chair for placement.
3. Students will not receive credit for both European and World History AP tests.

International Baccalaureate

UNC Asheville academic credit and course waivers will be granted to enrolled students who have obtained the required scores on the Higher-Level IB exams listed below. No academic credit will be awarded for Subsidiary-Level IB exams, and only those Higher-Level IB exams listed below are eligible for academic credit and/or course waiver. Official IB transcripts will be evaluated by the Office of the Registrar in consultation with department chairs. IB credit accepted at other post-secondary institutions is not automatically transferred to UNC Asheville but is reviewed in accordance with the schedule that follows.

British A Level Exams

The awarding of transfer credit for coursework or exams from overseas universities and schools, such as British A Level Exams, is determined by the appropriate department chair.

Registration and Schedule Changes

Courses are offered on a semester basis, generally meeting three hours a week. The regular academic year is divided into two semesters of 15 weeks each. A few selected classes will be offered during one of two mini-terms within each regular semester. Courses offered during these terms will meet on an accelerated schedule which will be detailed in that semester’s Schedule of Classes.

All eligible students register using web registration. The web registration program may be accessed through the UNC Asheville home page. A listing of each semester’s course schedule may be accessed on the Office of the Registrar’s website.           

Currently enrolled students register for spring semester classes in November, and fall and summer semester classes in April. Students who do not register during these advance registration periods may register at the beginning of the semester, but will be assessed a late registration fee. New students register during orientation sessions or at the beginning of the semester or summer terms. An additional late fee will be charged to any student who registers after the start of the semester. Students who have outstanding balances with the university or other registration holds will not be allowed to register until all obligations to the university have been fulfilled.

All new students must present complete admissions credentials by the published deadline prior to the date of registration. Students who do not complete the admissions process before the close of late registration for a given term may finish the process and be admitted, if eligible, for the next scheduled term. No person may attend class unless officially registered and cleared by the Bursar’s Office. Students who have not paid their tuition and fees by the announced deadline each semester will have their classes canceled. Students whose class schedules have been canceled must pay their tuition and fees and a re-registration fee before they will be eligible to re-register for classes. Students whose schedules have been cancelled for nonpayment are not eligible to attend classes until they have officially re-registered.

Students may Drop and Add during the first five days of class in a regular semester using web registration. Students should refer to the Dropping, Adding and Withdrawing policies for schedule changes after the first five days of class. 

Dropping, Adding, and Withdrawing from a Course

Students may adjust their schedule (drop or add courses) for regular semester courses during the first five days of the semester. It is the responsibility of students to process the proper forms and paperwork for all schedule changes made after the registration period in the  OneStop Student Services Office in University Hall. After the 5th day of classes, students may adjust their schedules as follows:

Add – Under exceptional circumstances, a student may add a regular semester course during the 6^th through the 10^th days of the semester by obtaining the signatures of approval of the instructor and department chair on a Late Add form. The form must be received in the OneStop Student Services Office by 5 p.m. on the 10^th day of the semester.

Withdraw – A student may withdraw from a semester course up to the end of the 9^th week of class, and a Term I or Term II course up to the end of the 5^th week of the class. A student who withdraws in this way will receive a grade of W for the course. Withdrawal (W) hours count as Attempted Hours.

A student who wants to withdraw from a course must meet with his or her advisor to review the student’s record, future plans and possible effects upon graduation date, eligibility for financial aid, veteran’s benefits, intercollegiate athletics and tuition surcharge. The recorded withdrawal date is the date on which the student submits the Withdrawal Form, signed by the student, his/her advisor, and the instructor of the course to the OneStop Student Services Office.

Requests for withdrawal after the deadline will be considered only for documentable emergencies beyond the student’s control. Students requesting Withdrawal after the deadline must obtain the proper forms from the OneStop Student Services Office and submit the completed forms with appropriate documentation prior to the final two weeks of the semester. Final approval rests with the Enrollment Services Committee and/or its designee. When the student’s situation is unusually severe, or an emergency, the committee may consider petitions that are retroactive for a prior semester; however, proposals will not be considered if submitted one calendar year beyond the date the initial grade was earned.

Students who withdraw from all of their courses are exiting from the university. There are special procedures for doing this. See the section on Withdrawal from the University.

Withdrawal from the University

A student who finds it necessary to withdraw from the university before the end of a term must contact the OneStop Student Services Office.

When a student withdraws after the drop/add period but before the announced deadline for withdrawal, a grade of W will be assigned for each course. The official date of withdrawal to be used for determining grades and tuition refunds is the day on which the student submits forms to withdraw from school to the OneStop Student Services Office. A student who fails to file the appropriate forms by the stated deadline will receive an F as the final grade in each course.

Interruption of Enrollment

Any University of North Carolina at Asheville student who interrupts his or her educational program by not registering for one or more regular terms of course work must reapply to the university. An application fee of $50 will be required only in those cases where the student has enrolled elsewhere since being enrolled at UNC Asheville (see Admissions  for specific information on readmittance). Returning students must comply with immunization requirements.

Students who are out of school for a full academic year must complete the Integrative Liberal Studies requirements (and major requirements, if they had earlier declared a major) listed in the current catalog when they return. Exceptions to the Integrative Liberal Studies requirements may be made by the Dean of University Programs; exceptions to the major requirements may be made by the chair of the major department with the approval of the appropriate Vice Chancellor. Forms to request either exception are available in the OneStop Student Services Office..

Failure to Attend the First Class

Students unable to attend the first class session should contact the appropriate instructor/department. Students registered, but not in attendance, for the first class session of any course may, at the instructor’s discretion, be administratively dropped; however, administrative drops for failure to attend the first class are not automatic and students should NOT assume that they have been dropped by the instructor. It is the student’s responsibility to check their semester’s enrollment and make any needed changes by the appropriate deadline.

Academic Advising

Each degree-seeking student at UNC Asheville is assigned an advisor to help with course scheduling, major selection, career planning and personal concerns. Advisors for students who have not chosen a major are assigned by the staff of Advising and Learning Support. When a student declares an academic major, the chair of the department assigns the student an advisor from within the department. Students usually declare a major during their sophomore year.

The advisor-advisee relationship plays an important part in a student’s academic success. UNC Asheville’s advising program is the primary source of assistance for student decision-making. Advisors take a special interest in the academic, social and personal welfare of their advisees. The staff of Advising and Learning Support also supports all advisors in their endeavors with advisees.

Classification of Students

Degree-seeking students are classified according to the number of semester hours of credit earned: freshman, up to 29 semester hours; sophomore, 30-59; junior, 60-89; senior, 90 or more.

Academic Load

A normal academic course load is 12 to 18 semester hours in the fall and spring semesters. Students wishing to register for more than 18 semester hours must have the approval of their advisor(s). The maximum credit-hour load for summer terms depends on the length of the term, but normally does not exceed 10 hours, with a maximum of 7 hours per term. The minimum number of semester hours for a full-time student is 12 for the semester. However, students who take just the minimum of 12 hours each semester will not complete all graduation requirements in four years.

Attempted Hours

Every course for which a student is enrolled at the end of the last day of the drop-add period receives a grading symbol and counts toward attempted hours. For a list of grading symbols, see the section on Quality Points.

Grading, Evaluation and Academic Progress

Examinations and Evaluations

Each instructor arranges examinations in courses as appropriate. The student should receive the results of at least one evaluation by the end of the fifth week of each course. A week at the end of each regular semester is reserved for final examinations. Classes will meet for a single 2 ½-hour period during which an exam or other form of evaluation may be given. The schedule is publicized well in advance.

Quality Points

The University of North Carolina at Asheville uses a quality-point average system and semester hours of credit for calculating student achievement. Grading symbols used are: A (4.0 quality points), A- (3.67 quality points), B+ (3.33 quality points), B (3.0 quality points), B- (2.67 quality points), C+ (2.33 quality points), C (2.0 quality points), C- (1.67 quality points), D+ (1.33 quality points), D (1.0 quality point), F (zero quality points), U-unsatisfactory (zero quality points), S-satisfactory, X/Y-no credit, W-withdrawal, I-incomplete, and IP-in progress. X/Y, W, I, IP and S carry no quality points and are not included in the calculation of the grade-point average. Those courses for which the faculty has approved awarding a satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) grade are indicated in the catalog course descriptions. Special Topics courses may be offered on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory, S/U, basis only with the approval of the department chair or program director and the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. The grade-point average is determined by dividing the accumulated number of quality points earned by the accumulated number of quality hours. Grade-point averages are computed to the thousandth of a point.

A grade of U earns no credit and is calculated as an F grade in the term and cumulative grade-point averages. Grades of H, G, P, F received prior to 1978 are also used in calculating grade-point averages for students currently enrolled. Grading symbols used are: H-Honors (four quality points), G-Good (three quality points), P-Pass (two quality points), and F-Fail (zero quality points).

Incomplete Grades

An instructor may give a grade of Incomplete (I) at the student’s request, on the grounds of some documentable occurrence beyond the student’s control causing him or her to miss final examinations or some other limited amount of work at the end of the semester or term. An incomplete grade must not be used as a substitute for an F when the student’s performance in the course is less than satisfactory or is indicative of failing. An incomplete is only appropriate when the successful completion of the outstanding work, missed as a result of the documented occurrence, will enable the student to pass the course. Students with an outstanding incomplete grade are not permitted to attend additional class sessions in the following semester to make up coursework.

Students must submit a request for an incomplete grade to the instructor before the end of the last class day of the term and must state the reason in writing or, if necessary, by telephone to be followed up in writing. If the reason is acceptable, the instructor will fill out a Request for Incomplete Grade form stating the reason, the precise work to be made up (cannot require an additional amount of class time), and the date due. The instructor must also assign the grade to be recorded in the event that the student fails to make up the work. The form is to be signed by both the instructor and the student, with a copy given to the student. The original copy of the approved form must then be submitted to the Office of the Registrar before final grades are due.

Grades for Incompletes approved for courses taken during the spring or summer are due no later than four weeks prior to the end of the following Fall semester. Grades for Incompletes approved for courses taken during the fall are due no later than four weeks prior to the end of the following Spring semester. Instructors must submit a Change of Grade form before the deadline listed on the incomplete request form. If a Change of Grade form is not submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the deadline, the default grade specified on the incomplete contract will be recorded. If no default grade was assigned, a grade of F will be recorded. Requests to change a grade that has been defaulted must be submitted via a Change of Grade form and must have the Department Chair’s signature. If the instructor is the Department Chair, the appropriate Dean must sign the form. Requests for extensions of the completion deadline will not be routinely approved. In the event of extraordinary circumstances, the instructor and student may petition the Assistant Provost for Academic Administration for consideration. Students cannot graduate with an outstanding I on their record.

In Progress

An instructor may give an In-Progress (IP) grade to a student enrolled in a specially designated research course when the research has not been completed by the end of the semester. Course descriptions indicate if an IP grade may be given for a course. If an IP grade is necessary, the instructor must submit a written request for the IP to the Office of the Registrar before the end of the last class day of the term. A default grade must be included with the original request in the event that contact with the student is lost or the student fails to complete the required work.

Once the IP grade is assigned, the student and instructor must maintain periodic contact to ensure progress is being made toward completion of the outstanding work. Every effort should be made by the student to complete In-Progress work within one year of the date the IP grade is originally assigned. If the student is unable to complete the work within one year, he or she must submit a written request for an extension to the instructor. If approved, the instructor will forward the request to the Office of the Registrar. If the request for an extension is not approved by the instructor, or if the student does not request an extension, the instructor must submit a Change of Grade form to the Office of the Registrar assigning a grade for the course.           

All work for an IP must be completed within three years. Following completion of the course, the instructor must submit a Change of Grade form to the Office of the Registrar indicating the final grade. After three years, any outstanding IP grades will have the default grade, as specified on the original request, recorded. Students cannot graduate with an outstanding IP on their record.

Non-Graded Enrollment in Courses

Students electing to participate in non-graded (audit) status for a course may do so by registering for the specific course on a X/Y (non-grade/non-completion) basis and by paying the regular tuition and fees for the course. Students who are otherwise enrolled in a full-time status may take a course in this manner for no additional charge.

Satisfactory completion of the course work associated with the X/Y status as defined by the instructor, shall result in the awarding of non-graduation credit (X grade) for the course. Failure to satisfactorily complete the course work shall result in a non-completion (Y) grade by the instructor. Students may register for X/Y status on a space-available basis only on the last scheduled day of drop/add. Students may change their status from regular credit to X/Y credit until the announced deadline for withdrawal. Forms are available in the OneStop Student Services Office.

Change of Grade

 If a student or instructor discovers that an error has been made in recording a grade, the instructor must request a change of grade. The only acceptable grounds for such a change are the instructor’s error in the calculation of the grade or misjudgment in the evaluation of the student’s work. To change a grade, the instructor must state the reason for the requested grade change on the appropriate form, indicate the correct grade, sign it, and receive the approval of the department chair, who will sign the form. If the department chair is making the change, the appropriate Dean must sign. The deadline for such a request is no later than the last day of the third week of class in the semester immediately following the recording of the original grade, summer terms not included. 

Replacement of C-, D, F and U Grades

If a student repeats a course for which he or she has earned a grade of C or better, the new hours and quality points will not be used in the calculation of the grade-point average nor will the new hours count toward graduation requirements. If a student repeats either a failed course or a course in which he or she has received a C-, D or U grade, only the new quality points and semester hours of credit will be used in the calculation of the grade-point average. However, if the second grade is an F, no credit is earned and both grades will be used in the calculation of the grade-point average. Courses taken at other institutions cannot be used to replace a grade earned in a UNC Asheville course.

A student may take advantage of this forgiveness clause for a maximum of 15 semester hours of credit. However, the student’s permanent record will be a complete record of all courses attempted and the grades received for these courses. When taking a course to replace a grade, students must comply with procedures established by the Office of the Registrar by filing a Repeat Course Form. This policy will apply to course credits earned at UNC Asheville beginning with the 1982-83 fall semester.

Competency and Proficiency Examinations

Major Competency. A demonstration of competency in the major field (or, in the case of students not pursuing a traditional major program, in an area of academic concentration) is required of every degree candidate in the senior year. The departmental faculty determines the form of the major field demonstration of competency. The Director of Interdisciplinary Studies will determine the form of demonstration for students pursuing interdisciplinary or individual degree programs. The demonstration of competency may take the form of a comprehensive examination that is oral, written or both; a research project; an analytical paper in which appropriate principles and methodologies are applied; or any other form established by the faculty group responsible for its administration. As a condition of graduation, any academic deficiencies or weaknesses revealed by the demonstration of competency must be corrected to the satisfaction of the supervising faculty group.

Oral Competency. A demonstration of oral competency is required of every degree candidate. The departmental faculty determines the form of the demonstration. The Director of Interdisciplinary Studies will determine the form of the demonstration for students pursuing interdisciplinary or individual degree programs. As a condition of graduation, any academic deficiencies or weaknesses revealed by the demonstration of competency must be corrected to the satisfaction of the supervising faculty group.

Computer Competency. A demonstration of computer competency is required of every degree candidate. Departmental faculty determines the form of the demonstration. The Director of Interdisciplinary Studies will determine the form of the demonstration for students pursuing interdisciplinary or individual degree programs. As a condition of graduation, any academic deficiencies or weaknesses revealed by the demonstration of competency must be corrected to the satisfaction of the supervising faculty group.

Proficiency Examination. Currently enrolled students may fulfill the requirement for many courses, including Integrative Liberal Studies requirements, by passing a proficiency examination. LANG 120 and courses such as internships, theses, research seminars, field experiences, or any course that meets the departmental requirement of competency or is graded S/U are excluded from this option.

The student completes a Proficiency Examination form obtained from the Office of the Registrar and makes arrangements with the department chair in which the course is taught to take an examination covering all material in the course. Any student who is in good academic standing may request approval from the appropriate department chair to take a proficiency examination. Departments have the discretion to determine courses in which examination is appropriate. Grading will be Pass or Fail. If passed, the results will be noted on the student’s transcript. The minimum number of hours for a degree will not be reduced. There is a $15 fee that must be paid to the Bursar prior to the administration of the exam.

Honors Lists

At the end of each semester, the university will publish Honors Lists honoring those students who have distinguished themselves academically. Students will receive the highest honor for which they are eligible. The minimum qualifications are:

Chancellor’s List. Students are qualified for the Chancellor’s List if they earn a 4.0 with a minimum of 12 semester hours and have no Incomplete or IP grades.

Dean’s List. The Dean’s List honors those students who complete a minimum full-time load of 12 semester hours, have no grade lower than a C, have no Incomplete or IP grades, and have a GPA of at least a 3.5 for the semester.

Academic Warning, Suspension and Dismissal

A student whose cumulative grade-point average falls below a 2.0 at the end of any semester is placed on academic warning. This is not a punishment but a way of extending help to those in academic difficulty. Students placed on academic warning will be sent email notification of their status to their UNC Asheville email account. Students on academic warning are limited to 14 credit hours per semester and to one course per summer term. Students placed on academic warning must see their academic advisors to discuss the issues surrounding the poor performance and to determine ways to improve.

Because students with persistent academic difficulties may benefit from taking time off, the university imposes a suspension of one regular semester when students fail to meet a minimum grade-point average on their total attempted hours. Students must maintain a gradepoint average at or above the following levels in order to be enrolled at UNC Asheville.

First Semester Rule

Students completing their first semester of enrollment at UNC Asheville must earn a grade-point average of 1.00 or above. Students whose grade-point average is below 1.00 at the end of their first semester will be suspended for one semester.

Students who have academic difficulty after their first semester must have been on academic warning for at least one regular semester of enrollment at UNCA before being subject to suspension.

Returning to the University after Suspension

After suspension, a student is eligible to re-enroll by submitting an Application for Readmission to the Office of the Registrar by the stated deadline for the semester of reenrollment. Students returning from suspension are limited to 14 credit hours per semester or one course per summer term.

A student returning from Suspension or Dismissal must:

1. earn a 2.25 semester GPA during each semester or summer term of enrollment until his/her cumulative GPA is above minimal levels, AND
2. achieve his/her appropriate minimal cumulative GPA level within 24 attempted semester hours after re-enrollment.

Students who fail to achieve either of these two conditions will be dismissed from the University. Students who have been dismissed and have been out of school for at least three calendar years may apply for readmission. However, students who are dismissed from the university have no guarantee of reinstatement.

Academic warning, suspension and dismissal apply to all classifications of students. A student who is eligible to register at UNC Asheville is considered to be in good academic standing. This policy became effective in the Fall of 1988. Academic appeals forms and submission deadlines may be obtained  from the OneStop Student Services Office. 

Graduation Requirements

University Graduation Requirements

The university confers degrees three times during the academic year: at the end of the fall semester, at the end of the spring semester, and at the end of the summer semester. Formal commencement ceremonies are held at the end of the spring and fall semesters. Students earning degrees in summer or fall semesters will belong to the class of the spring commencement next succeeding. To graduate a student must:

1. Complete all Integrative Liberal Studies requirements of the catalog in effect when he or she entered UNC Asheville as a degree-seeking student or re-entered after an absence of one academic year or more.

2. Complete all major and correlate requirements of the catalog in effect on the date the major or concentration is declared or changed, or in effect when returning after an absence of one academic year or more.

3. Complete a minimum of 30 hours in residence at UNC Asheville if transferring from a four-year school. (The final 30 hours must be completed in residence at UNC Asheville.) If seeking a second degree, UNC Asheville graduates must complete 30 additional hours after the initial degree was awarded.

4. Complete a minimum of 60 hours at four-year institutions.

5. Accumulate a minimum of 120 hours (more if requirements are not completed in 120).

6. Complete a minimum of 30 hours at 300-400 level.

7. Achieve at least a C (2.0) average on work attempted at UNC Asheville. This 2.0 minimum applies to courses in the major department and the minor department, as well as in the overall program.

8. Complete at least one-half of the major at UNC Asheville if a transfer student; two-thirds of the major if a post-baccalaureate student receiving a second degree or certificate of major.

9. Submit an application for graduation to the Office of the Registrar by the appropriate deadline. For May graduation, the application is due December 1; for Summer graduation, the application is due June 1; for December graduation, the application is due September 1. A late application fee of $100 is charged if the application is submitted after the published deadline. If a student does not graduate as expected, a new application must be submitted by the deadline for the appropriate term.

10. Minors, which are optional, are only awarded at the completion of degree requirements. Required hours for a minor vary according to departments. All minors require a minimum C (2.0) average on all work attempted at UNC Asheville. One-half of the hours required for a minor must be completed at UNC Asheville. All minors require that a minimum of 6 semester hours of 300-400 level courses be completed at UNC Asheville.

Academic Honors

The university awards five kinds of academic honors to its eligible graduating students: university-wide honors of cum laude (with honors), magna cum laude (with high honors) and summa cum laude (with highest honors); Departmental Distinction; University Research Scholar; University Scholar and Community Engaged Scholar. The Honors Committee must approve all recommendations and report them to the faculty, which has sole authority to award honors.

Universitywide Latin honors are granted on the basis of cumulative grade-point average for those courses completed at UNC Asheville. Students must earn at least 75 semester hours at UNC Asheville to be eligible for Latin honors. Students who are readmitted to UNC Asheville under the Conditional Readmission policy are not eligible for universitywide Latin honors. Students must achieve a cumulative grade-point average of 3.60 to graduate cum laude, 3.75 to graduate magna cum laude, and 3.90 to graduate summa cum laude. Since the work of some students is not adequately represented by grades alone, the Honors Committee solicits recommendations from the faculty that are used for two purposes. The Honors Committee may recommend to the faculty that a student receive a higher honor than the one that would apply automatically; and, in numbers not to exceed 1 percent of the graduating class, the Honors Committee may also recommend to the faculty that students whose grades do not qualify them for automatic honors receive honors at appropriate levels.

Upon recommendation by the major department, Departmental Distinction is granted for outstanding performance in the major program. For this award, each department applies standards approved by the Honors Committee.

Upon recommendation by the Undergraduate Research Council, which applies standards approved by the Honors Committee, the University Research Scholar designation is granted for outstanding performance in undergraduate research.

Students enrolled in the University Honors Program who have successfully completed the program, maintained an overall grade-point average of at least 3.25 and a 3.50 grade-point average for Honors courses may graduate with Distinction as a University Scholar.

Students who complete at least six academic credit hours in Service-Learning Designated courses (with a minimum grade of B- in each course), a Key Center workshop on Service Learning, and a Public Service Project under the supervision of a faculty member and representative of a community organization may graduate as a Community Engaged Scholar. Additional information is available at http://www.unca.edu/keycenter.

In addition to the academic honors listed above, The Manly E. Wright Scholarship Award is presented to the graduating student first in scholarship.