Academic Procedures

Regulations and Requirements
Policy on Awarding of Undergraduate Degrees and Transcript Notations
Registration
Auditing of Courses
Changes in Fall and Spring Semester Schedules
Policies and Guidelines for a Cooperative Learning Environment
Academic Course Load
Twenty-Five Percent Tuition Surcharge
Grading System
Academic Eligibility
Readmission Standards
Withdrawal
Graduation
Transcripts of Record
Interinstitutional Registration
Veterans Educational Benefits
Loan Deferments and Certification

Regulations and Requirements

The University does not recognize the regulations published in this bulletin as valid beyond the academic year for which the bulletin is published. The faculty reserves the right to make any changes deemed necessary in the curricula and in regulations. Ordinarily, students may expect to receive a degree by fulfilling the requirements of a curriculum as specified in the Undergraduate Bulletin that was in print during the semester that they first entered the University. The University is not strictly obligated to fulfill this expectation since changes to the structure of degree requirements may entail widespread curricular adjustments, but it will make every effort to modulate changes so that appropriate substitutes for particular requirements, or particular courses, are available to students operating under a previous set of expectations. Students are responsible for observing the procedures, regulations, and requirements of the University as they are set forth here and in other official University publications. This section describes many of the requirements and regulations that apply to undergraduates, but it is not a complete list of all such regulations and requirements. Unless otherwise stated, the regulations described below will govern the academic progress of the students from their first year in the General College through their final semester in the College of Arts and Sciences or one of the undergraduate professional schools. The staff of the University will gladly provide students with detailed information concerning their academic program or academic problems, but this does not relieve any student of individual responsibility for meeting the University’s requirements and observing University regulations.

Policy on Awarding of Undergraduate Degrees and Transcript Notations

The College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will award only one bachelor’s degree to a student, regardless of possible second-major declaration, and will not admit or award a degree to a student who has already earned a bachelor’s degree through another school of the University or at another college. Undergraduates in the professional schools in the Divisions of Academic Affairs and Health Affairs may earn a second major (not a second degree) in the College of Arts and Sciences, but the first major must be in the professional school. A student may earn a second bachelor’s degree in one of several health profession schools of the University after receiving a bachelor’s degree from the College of Arts and Sciences if the student is admitted to the professional school. Students pursuing two major fields of study for the bachelor of arts degree earn one degree and receive one diploma. Both the diploma and the official transcript will indicate the degree and the two majors. Students completing the requirements for both a bachelor of science degree and a bachelor of arts major earn only the bachelor of science degree and receive only that diploma. Note that these students must complete the Supplemental General Education requirements and any other General Education requirements pertinent to the bachelor of arts as well as the bachelor of science major. Both the diploma and the official transcript will indicate the degree (with its major) and the second major. Students completing the requirements for two bachelor of science degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences earn only one degree and receive only one diploma. Both the diploma and the official transcript will indicate the degree (with its major) and the second bachelor of science major program for which requirements were completed.

Related Policies

Only one undergraduate degree is awarded to students in the College of Arts and Sciences, and all graduation requirements must be completed before a degree is awarded. Undergraduates who meet the criteria for a degree in both the College of Arts and Sciences and the Division of Health Affairs cannot receive two degrees at the same graduation. The degree from the College of Arts and Sciences must be awarded first; the second degree can be awarded at a subsequent graduation, provided all degree requirements have been met. Under no circumstances can a second undergraduate degree be awarded in academic affairs after one has been earned in health affairs. In the rare instance that an undergraduate student completes the requirements for an undergraduate degree and a graduate degree at the same time, the two degrees cannot be awarded at the same graduation. The undergraduate degree must be awarded first, and the graduate degree awarded at a subsequent ceremony.

Students who apply to graduate on a given degree award date, but who must complete requirements (such as courses with grades of IN) after that degree award date, must reapply to graduate on a degree award date that follows the actual completion of requirements. Course work taken after the degree award date cannot be used to change a degree already awarded or to retroactively complete a degree or to retroactively add a second major or a minor. Ordinarily, adjustments may be made to a transcript only for one year following the date of graduation. Grade protests, for instance, can be initiated after graduation. Courses with temporary grades (AB or IN) can be completed after the date of graduation and the grade point average changes accordingly; however, the student status at the time of graduation is not affected. Graduation with distinction, for instance, is based only on the grade point average at the date of graduation and may not be awarded retroactively. Students who neglect to declare a second major or a minor at the time of graduation may request that the dean’s office verify that the requirements had been satisfied at the time of graduation. In such cases, indication of the second major or minor can be added to the transcript within one year after the graduation date.

Registration

General Policies

The majority of UNC–Chapel Hill students use the Web site at studentcentral.unc.edu to register for courses. Specific steps toward accomplishing registration are outlined in the online Directory of Classes, regweb.oit.unc.edu/resources/directory.php, which is available online in March for the summer and fall terms and in October for the spring term. Students should refer to the Web Registration Quick Reference on the Registrar’s Web site at regweb.oit.unc.edu/students/regref.php for instructions regarding registration.

Students who register during the billing period must pay tuition and fees or give notice of anticipated aid to the University Cashier’s Office by the published tuition and fees due date or their schedule will be cancelled and all their classes dropped before the beginning of classes. Students who register after the billing period must pay estimated tuition and fees or give notice of anticipated aid to the University cashier before they can register for that semester. Students who register after the date designated for official registration must pay an additional fee of $20 for late registration. If the delay results from circumstances clearly beyond the student’s control, an appeal may be made in writing to the registrar. The appeal must show sufficient justification for the delay and has to be approved by the dean of the school in which the student is enrolled. Approval of the dean is required before the appeal is submitted to the Office of the University Registrar.

North Carolina law requires that no person shall attend a college or university in North Carolina without presenting a certificate of immunization to the college or university on or before the first day of matriculation. This certificate indicates that the student has received immunizations required by law. New students at UNC–Chapel Hill must provide the director of Campus Health Services with an immunization record certified by a physician. Students who fail to present the required certificate of immunization within 30 days of enrollment will not be permitted to continue their enrollment at the University.

Registration for credit for any course at the start of the semester is limited to the first five days of classes unless a late registration is approved by the course instructor and the student’s dean or academic advisor. Registration changes that are limited to dropping courses may be effected by the student during the first 10 days of classes and must be in accordance with University requirements governing minimum academic hours of enrollment. After these deadlines, students must obtain a registration/drop/add form from a department or their school dean’s office with appropriate signatures as required by their dean. Any courses added after the first five days of classes must also be approved by the teaching department, specifically course instructors.

First-Year Students and Sophomores

All new first-year and sophomore transfer students are assigned to a primary academic advisor. Advisors’ names and office locations are posted on the Web at advising.unc.edu.

All first-year students must meet with their advisor for registration advising during their first semester on campus. Advisors will answer students’ questions and review students’ tentative course selections to ensure appropriate academic progress. In subsequent semesters, students are encouraged to discuss academic progress with their academic advisor in the Academic Advising Program in the College of Arts and Sciences and the General College. Students should consult the Academic Advising Program’s Web site about registration requirements that may vary according to their major and should follow instructions received from the Office of the University Registrar, which may be accessed by logging on to studentcentral.unc.edu and clicking on the menu item "Registration Information."

Juniors and Seniors

Juniors and seniors receive academic advising during registration periods according to the directives set out by their college/professional school and major. Juniors and seniors in the College of Arts and Sciences have a departmental advisor in their major department and a college advisor in the offices of the Academic Advising Program. The department in which the student’s major is housed determines the procedures juniors and seniors must follow for registration. In some cases, the student must meet with his or her major departmental advisor before the student will be able to register each semester. Departmental advisors are excellent resources for students who have questions specific to the major and to graduate and career opportunities in the field. The student’s total graduation requirements must be determined, however, by advisors in the office of Academic Advising Program. Students admitted to a professional school (for example, education, journalism, public health, business) will receive advising and assistance on all academic matters from an advisor in their school, where total graduation requirements will be determined. Again, students should review the "Registration Information" section at studentcentral.unc.edu.

For information about class standing, see the section on "Classification (Class Standing)" under "Academic Affairs."

Cancellation of Enrollment

A cancellation is, in effect, the same as not having a registration at all. No entry is made on the student’s permanent record, and no tuition and fees are charged. A registration cancellation will be processed for any student who has a "registration cancellation University stop" on the tuition and fees due date for each term. A cancellation notice will be mailed to the student’s grade/billing address. A cancellation will be processed if a student is not cleared financially; is not academically eligible to continue in school; or shows a cashier stop, undergraduate admissions stop, dean’s office stop, or Student Health Services cancellation stop. A registration cancellation notice is processed for any student who has not registered for courses as of the tuition and fees due date each term. Students may either come by the Office of the University Registrar or call to request a registration cancellation. For a cancellation after classes begin, however, students must process the cancellation through their school dean’s office.

Administrative Changes to Course Registration

It is the student’s responsibility to maintain the accuracy of his/her course schedule. A department (or curriculum) in the College of Arts and Sciences has the option to drop a course from a student’s registration if the student fails to attend both of the first two class meetings (or the first class meeting if the course meets only once each week). The appropriate dean’s office will be responsible for informing departments of approved late-arrival students who cannot attend the first two class meetings because of illness or other reasons approved by a dean. Students should never presume that an instructor or department will systematically drop classes from the student’s schedule. However, if such action is taken by a department, the registration openings resulting from these drops will be offered to other students seeking enrollment in the courses during the official add period (first five days of classes) or thereafter, as determined by the instructor of the class, department, or school. Before the last day to reduce a course load for financial credit, departments can drop students’ courses using the computerized registration system.

To effect such a drop after that date, the department or curriculum must submit a completed registration drop/add form first to the student’s dean’s office for approval and then to the Office of the University Registrar.

Auditing of Courses

To audit a course, students must get written permission from the course instructor and from the department chair. Students can request this permission only after the end of the official registration period. Auditing is permitted only in lecture-based courses and never in courses that include laboratories or performances. Auditing is not permitted in courses that focus on the development of written or oral communication skills or that rely heavily on class participation. Auditing is not permitted in independent studies courses, internships, special topics, directed readings, or similar courses. Students may not audit courses offered through the Friday Center for Continuing Education (Part-Time Classroom Studies, Carolina Courses Online, Self-Paced Courses, or tutorial programs) or courses preparing students for credit by examination. Students auditing a course do not write examinations, papers or other work, nor should they request grades or the review of written work by the instructor. Auditors should refrain from participating in class discussions unless otherwise directed by the course instructor. Students who audit a course may not subsequently receive course credit for that course.

Students officially registered for other courses during a semester or summer session may audit a course without paying a fee. Those not officially registered must pay a $20 fee to the University Cashier and must file a copy of the receipt with the course instructor at the beginning of the term.

Changes in Fall and Spring Semester Schedules

Course Schedule Changes before the End of the Eighth Week of Classes

Insofar as possible, changes in course registration schedules should be made during the first five days of classes. During this time, students may add courses using the online registration system. After the first five days of classes, the addition of a course to a student’s registration schedule requires the permission of the course instructor or the department concerned. Additionally, students must obtain a registration/drop/add form from their academic advisor, the concerned department, or their professional school. Students are required to obtain the signatures of both their instructor and their school dean (or dean’s designee) if they wish to register or make additions to their schedule after the final day to add classes. For students in the General College and the College of Arts and Sciences, only the associate dean for advising (or dean’s designee) has this authority. After the final day to add classes, deans will approve only those registrations or course additions that have first been approved by the instructor.

During the first two weeks of classes, students may drop a course using the online registration system, but they are responsible for insuring that their schedules do not fall below the minimum 12 academic hours required for full-time registration. After the second and before the end of the eighth week of classes, students who wish to drop a course must obtain a registration/drop/add form from their academic advisor, the concerned department, or their school. Students are required to have the signature of their advisor or dean on the form. If permission is granted, a registration/drop/add form is submitted to the Office of the University Registrar on behalf of the student.

Students admitted as first-year students or sophomore transfers are required to maintain continuous enrollment in ENGL 101 and 102 (ENGL 100, 101, and 102, if applicable) until they have completed their Foundations composition and rhetoric requirement. Students are not permitted to drop ENGL 100, 101, or 102, or levels 1 through 3 of Foundations courses in a foreign language, at any time during the semester, unless approved by a dean in the Academic Advising Program.

Course Schedule Changes after the Eighth Week of Classes

After the eighth week of classes, students must petition to drop courses through the dean’s office of the school in which they are enrolled. For students in the General College and the College of Arts and Sciences, the associate dean for advising (or designee) has this authority.

To drop a course after the eighth week of classes, students must complete and submit a petition form to the appeals committee of their college or school. In the General College and the College of Arts and Sciences, these committees meet weekly after the eighth week of classes to examine evidence and consider student petitions. Possible reasons for requesting a course drop after the eighth week of classes include serious illness, personal or family problems, financial problems requiring employment, or other serious problems that prevent students from meeting their academic responsibilities.

Students must first discuss their reasons for requesting a late course drop with an academic advisor or their academic dean. The advisor or dean provides the student with a standard form that explains the process for an appeal. The appeal must include a statement from the student, an evaluation of performance and class attendance from the course instructor, and any pertinent documentation that provides compelling support for the appeal. The student must submit the completed form to the office of the associate dean for advising in the Academic Advising Program of the College of Arts and Sciences and General College. Because submission of a petition does not ensure that the request will be granted, students must continue to attend classes until informed of the committee’s decision. If a course drop is approved, the registration/drop/add form is processed through the Office of the University Registrar. All drops approved by the committees appear with the notation of W (withdrawn without penalty) unless an exception is made and the dean’s office lists "no W" on the registration/drop/add form. If a petition is denied, the student may submit a second petition with additional supporting evidence.

Students enrolled in professional schools should acquaint themselves with the appropriate appeals procedures in their schools.

The notation of W (withdrawn without penalty) is employed for course drops made after the end of the eighth week of classes, unless an exception is made by the dean.

Other Procedures

A temporary grade of AB (absent) is computed as an F grade and is converted to a permanent F grade at the end of the next regularly scheduled semester (fall or spring) after the AB grade is awarded. A temporary grade of IN (incomplete) is computed as an F grade and is converted to a permanent F grade at the end of the first eight weeks of the next regularly scheduled semester (fall or spring) after the IN grade is awarded. The grade of FA (cannot pass the class) is computed as a permanent F grade upon assignment. A grade of F may be assigned instead of a temporary grade or a grade of FA where a final examination is not required in the course. The conditions that apply to the assignment of temporary grades are described under the section on "Grading System."

Any student who ceases to attend a class without officially being dropped may receive a temporary grade of AB or IN or a permanent grade of FA.

Policies and Guidelines for a Cooperative Learning Environment

Teaching and learning occur simultaneously through a partnership between instructor and student. Instructors share knowledge, experience, and ideas with their students. Students process these thoughts, generate new ones, and share them with their teachers and classmates. In most cases, students and instructors communicate clearly and effectively. However, misunderstandings do occur. In an attempt to foster a positive academic environment, the Faculty Council, upon recommendation of the Educational Policy Committee, establishes the following policies and guidelines.

The Faculty Council resolves:

Part I. Policies

Section 1.

The Faculty Council recognizes and affirms the following policies. This recognition is not to be interpreted as precluding modification of any policy by the appropriate authority.

• The Honor Code. The faculty should inform students of the provisions of the honor code and be aware of their own responsibilities specified in the honor code. Faculty responsibilities are stated in the Instrument of Student Judicial Governance.

• Student Grievance Procedures. According to UNC–Chapel Hill Student Grievance Committee procedures, students may file a grievance against a UNC–Chapel Hill employee, EPA nonfaculty employee, staff employee, or student employee (when acting in the role of employee) when there is a violation of one of the following:

A. The UNC–Chapel Hill Sexual Harassment Policy;

B. The UNC–Chapel Hill Racial Harassment Policy;

C. The UNC–Chapel Hill Policy on Sexual Orientation;

D. The Americans with Disabilities Act;

E. Title IX, which prohibits exclusion from participation on the basis of sex;

F. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which outlaws discrimination on the basis of a handicap; or

G. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which allows students to challenge the content of their educational records.

Copies of these can be obtained from the Office of the Dean of Students. They contain information about how to file a grievance. A grievance based on incidents that occurred more than six months before the complaint was filed will not be considered.

• Student Access to Academic Records—Protection against Improper Disclosure. As stated in The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, students may have access to their full academic records. Individuals who are, or have been, in attendance at UNC–Chapel Hill may inspect and review their education records. Otherwise, education records are subject to confidentiality requirements as specified by law and may not be disclosed improperly. Requests for recommendations imply that the student has given consent to the disclosure of information related to ability and performance. Judgments of ability and character may be provided under appropriate circumstances, normally with the knowledge or consent of the student. "Education records" are those records directly related to a student that are maintained by an educational institution. Particular University policy provisions are found in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Policies and Procedures under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.

• Appealing a Grade. The University has systems for appealing a grade. The exact procedures vary among the academic units. Students should consult with their dean or department chairperson to obtain information about grade appeal procedures. See the section on "Grade Protests."

Part II. Guidelines

Section 2.

The Faculty Council endorses the following guidelines for the faculty–student relationship. This endorsement shall not be construed as faculty legislation, is not intended to establish a contractual undertaking by the University or any individual, and shall not constitute the basis for civil action in a court or a claim in any administrative or judicial body of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

• Clear Definition of Potential Honor Code Violations. In an attempt to avoid unintended misunderstanding, instructors should clearly state what is acceptable in their class. When study aids such as computers are allowed, the instructor is responsible for explaining what constitutes proper use of these items. These rules should be established at the beginning of the course and should not be changed without giving students proper notice.

• Assignment of Graded Work during the Last Week of the Semester. Instructors may not assign graded work during the last week of classes unless the course syllabus clearly states that such an assignment will be given.

• Suggested Classroom Procedures. In general, instructors are strongly encouraged to follow the guidelines for course design and classroom procedures recommended by the Center for Teaching and Learning. When students enter into a learning relationship, they have certain needs and expectations. They are entitled to information about course procedures, content, and goals. Instructors should provide a syllabus that describes the course and methods of evaluation. Particular attention should be paid to several areas of special concern to students, including provision of reserve readings and grading policy.

Evaluated assignments should be returned to the students within a reasonable amount of time. Since part of the purpose of such assignments is to provide feedback, students should be given time to assess and to learn from their mistakes. Ideally, such assessment would take place while the relevant topics are still fresh in their minds.

Extra credit, if offered, should be announced publicly and made available to the entire class.

• Students Should Have Freedom of Expression. Students should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study. They are responsible, however, for learning the content of any course of study for which they are enrolled. Incorrect facts and poorly supported arguments or opinions inevitably have an impact on grades. Nothing herein shall be construed to limit the freedom of the faculty to assign grades according to appropriate academic standards.

• Responsibilities of Students and Teachers. Just as students ought to expect instructors who are knowledgeable and well prepared, so should teachers expect their students to be motivated, eager to learn, and actively engaged in class. It is the responsibility of teachers to make their courses serious intellectual experiences for themselves and for their students. It is the responsibility of students to take seriously the courses in which they enroll. Good teachers need good learners.

Students should understand that they are members of a community of scholars, and membership in such a community is not a passive activity. To be full participants in the educational community and to maximize the educational value of a class, preclass preparation is necessary. Proper class preparation involves obtaining course materials as they are needed and completing assignments as they are due. Full participation in a class requires regular attendance, arriving on time and remaining until class conclusion, and active involvement in the work of the class.

Students should also consider the extent of their own involvement in a class in assessing the educational value of a class.

Class Attendance Policy

The following legislation by the Faculty Council gives each instructor the authority to prescribe attendance regulations for his or her classes: "Regular class attendance is a student obligation, and 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." If a student misses three consecutive class meetings, or misses more classes than the instructor deems advisable, the instructor may report the facts to the student’s academic dean. However, only instructors excuse absences from class for valid reasons (illness or family emergency, etc.). A student should present his or her explanation for any absences to the instructor in advance if the reason for the absence can be foreseen, or at the next meeting if the reason for the absence could not be foreseen. Faculty members are encouraged to make reasonable accommodations for students requesting to miss class to observe religious holidays.

A student may appeal an instructor’s denial of a request that an absence be excused if the request to be excused from class and the reasons for the request are presented to the instructor in writing at least two weeks in advance of the date of the absence. The appeal is to be made to the instructor’s immediate academic supervisor.

Students who are members of regularly organized and authorized University activities and who may be out of town taking part in some scheduled event are to be excused during the approved period of absence. Notification of such an absence must be sent by the responsible University official to the instructor before the date(s) of the scheduled absence.

Improper Relationships between Students and Employees

On March 15, 1996, The University of North Carolina Board of Governors adopted a system-wide policy that prohibits amorous or sexual relationships between faculty or staff employees and 1) students they evaluate or supervise by virtue of their teaching, research, administrative, or other employment responsibility and 2) students who are minors below the age of 18. The policy also states that faculty or staff employees may not supervise or evaluate students to whom they are related by blood, law, or marriage. For the full guidelines based on the board’s policy, please see hr.unc.edu/Data/SPA/employeerelations/harassment/improper-relations.

Final Examinations

Undergraduate courses taught on campus must include a final assessment (i.e., final examination) unless the provost grants an exception. A traditional final examination is written, is administered at a predetermined time as specified in the final examination schedule, and takes place at a designated location. Only the provost can grant exceptions to the scheduled time and location of a traditional examination after review and approval of the appropriate department head and the dean.

The final examination schedule, announced prior to the beginning of the semester, sets the time for each examination. Once having been established, the schedule cannot be changed. Examinations must be held at the time shown on the schedule. No special preparation quizzes may be given during the last five days of classes (last two days of classes for Summer School) before the beginning of the final examination period. No examination (except for laboratory sections) may be held at a time other than that specified in the general schedule except with the advance approval of the provost (see below.) No examination may start later than 7:00 p.m. Final examinations for a full course should ordinarily cover a minimum of two hours and should not exceed a period of three hours. Only examinations requiring an exceptional portion of practical work should be longer than three hours.

An instructor may, due to highly unusual circumstances, petition for a change in the examination schedule. The petition must be made before the first day of final examinations, and it must be cleared by the department head and the appropriate dean before consideration by the provost. If the petition is approved, the instructor assumes responsibility for making special arrangements to give the examination to any student who has a schedule conflict as a result of the change.

Departmental chairs (i.e., heads of instructional units) must give permission for faculty members to use nontraditional examinations, such as a portfolio of a semester’s work or a take-home examination. The chair should submit to the appropriate dean an annual summary of the exceptions that were granted. For multidisciplinary and cotaught courses, permission to give a nontraditional examination must be granted solely by the chair of the instructional unit in which the course is based.

All regular final examinations must be held in Chapel Hill. Students who are absent from an examination receive a course grade of AB (absent), which is equivalent to F (zero quality points). When students are unable, for reasons clearly beyond their control, to take a final examination at the scheduled time, they can be excused only by the director of Campus Health Services (who can authorize the registrar to issue an "official permit to take final examination") or their academic dean (who can issue an "examination excuse"). An absence may be excused for severe health problems leading to the student’s placement on the Infirmary List, for serious personal or family problems, or for a scheduling conflict involving multiple examinations. In cases of illness or personal or family emergency, additional documentation may be required by the dean.

A student who has three final examinations scheduled by the Office of the University Registrar within a 24-hour period or two scheduled at the same time may petition his or her dean for permission to have one of the scheduled examinations rescheduled. In the event that one of the scheduled examinations is a common final examination for a multiple-section course, that examination is the one to be rescheduled.

Students who have secured an examination excuse or an official permit and who transmit the document to the instructor or the instructor’s departmental chair or dean must be granted permission to take the exam at an alternate time, although students will need to arrange a mutually convenient time with the instructor. Except when the provost has provided an exception in writing, the exam will be taken at a time subsequent to the regularly scheduled exam, though no later than the end of the following semester.

The final examination in any course may be taken only by regularly enrolled members of the class whose registration has been certified and by students certified to be eligible to take a special examination in that course. The certifying authority is the Office of the University Registrar.

Each student is required to sign a full and explicit Honor Code pledge certifying that he or she has neither given nor received aid during the examination.

Academic Course Load

Fall and Spring Semesters

To meet the minimum graduation requirement of 120 academic hours within the eight-semester limit, students should average 15 hours each semester. However, four-hour foreign language courses and four-hour laboratory science courses often account for course loads of 16 to 18 hours. Students may not enroll in more than 18 academic hours unless they have earned a 3.000 grade point average in the preceding regular semester and have a cumulative 2.500 grade point average. Exceptions require the approval of the student’s dean. With approval of their dean, seniors meeting graduation requirements during their final semester in residence may enroll in 20 academic hours if they have a cumulative and preceding semester grade point average of 2.000.

The minimum course load for a single semester is 12 academic hours. Students may not go below the 12-academic-hour minimum without permission of their dean. All students should discuss semester enrollment of fewer than 15 academic hours with their advisor because such enrollments may affect academic eligibility and the ability to complete all degree requirements in the required eight semesters.

Note: Students who enter the University as first-year students in summer 2007 or later, as sophomore transfer students in summer 2008 or later, or as junior transfer students in summer 2009 or later, must petition if they wish to enroll in a ninth semester. Permission to enroll in a ninth semester or beyond must be secured in advance from the appropriate officials in the college or school in which the student is enrolled.

Summer Sessions

Two three-semester-hour courses constitute the normal academic load for one summer session, although students are permitted to enroll in up to eight credit hours, in order to also enroll in lab sections and lifetime fitness courses. Students with a 2.000 cumulative grade point average may enroll in a maximum of nine hours during a summer session with the approval of their advisor or dean.

Maymester

Students may enroll in one Maymester course in any one year. It is recommended that students who enroll in a Maymester course not enroll in any other Summer Session I course.

Twenty-Five Percent Tuition Surcharge

Since 1993 undergraduate students seeking a baccalaureate degree at UNC–Chapel Hill are subject to a 25 percent tuition surcharge in some circumstances, as required by Section 89 (b), Senate Bill 27, of the 1993 Session laws. For detailed information, please see the Web site for the Office of the University Registrar at regweb.unc.edu/students/tuition.php.

Students Subject to the Surcharge

The surcharge should be imposed on all counted credit hours in excess of the threshold defined below for each of the following three categories of undergraduates:

A For students earning a first baccalaureate degree in a program that requires no more than 128 credit hours, the surcharge shall be applied to all counted credit hours in excess of 140.

B. For students earning a first baccalaureate degree in a board-approved program that requires more than 128 counted credit hours, the surcharge shall be applied to all credit hours that exceed 110 percent of the credit hours required for the degree. Such programs include those that have been officially designated by the Board of Governors as five-year programs, as well as those involving double majors or combined bachelor’s/master’s degrees.

C. For students earning a baccalaureate degree other than their first, the surcharge shall be applied to all counted credit hours that exceed 110 percent of the minimum additional credit hours needed to earn the additional baccalaureate degree.

Counted Credit Hours

The undergraduate credit hours to be counted for this purpose include 1) all regular session degree-creditable courses taken at UNC–Chapel Hill, including repeated courses, failed courses, and those dropped after the end of the second week of class; and 2) all transfer credit hours accepted by UNC–Chapel Hill. The following credit hours shall be excluded from the calculation: 1) those earned through the College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) and College Level Examination Program (CLEP) or similar programs; 2) those earned through institutional advanced placement, course validation, or any similar procedure for awarding course credit; and 3) those earned through summer sessions, the Friday Center for Continuing Education, or another UNC institution.

Grading System

Permanent Letter Grades

A letter-grade and plus/minus system for evaluating academic performance is employed for all undergraduates. Each letter grade corresponds to a number of grade points. Each letter-graded course receives a numerical value of quality points (quality points equal grade points times semester credit hours per course) to use in determining a student’s average (per credit hour) in a particular term and to find a student’s cumulative grade point average (per credit hour).

A = 4.0

A- = 3.7

B+ = 3.3

B = 3.0

B- = 2.7

C+ = 2.3

C = 2.0

C- = 1.7

D+ = 1.3

D = 1.0

F = 0.0

To determine the grade point average for a term, first determine the total quality points earned in the term by multiplying the number of grade points awarded for each course by the course’s assigned number of semester credit hours and adding the resulting quality points earned for each course in the term. Then divide the total quality points earned in the term by the number of semester credit hours attempted (for letter grades) in the term.

Example

Permanent grades are defined as follows:

A Mastery of course content at the highest level of attainment that can reasonably be expected of students at a given stage of development. The A grade states clearly that the student has shown such outstanding promise in the aspect of the discipline under study that he/she may be strongly encouraged to continue.

B Strong performance demonstrating a high level of attainment for a student at a given stage of development. The B grade states that the student has shown solid promise in the aspect of the discipline under study.

C A totally acceptable performance demonstrating an adequate level of attainment for a student at a given stage of development. The C grade states that while not yet showing any unusual promise, the student may continue to study in the discipline with reasonable hope of intellectual development.

D A marginal performance in the required exercises demonstrating a minimal passing level of attainment for a student at a given stage of development. The D grade states that the student has given no evidence of prospective growth in the discipline; an accumulation of D grades should be taken to mean that the student would be well advised not to continue in the academic field.

F For whatever reasons, an unacceptable performance. The F grade indicates that the student’s performance in the required exercises has revealed almost no understanding of the course content. A grade of F should warrant questioning whether the student may suitably register for further study in the discipline before remedial work is undertaken.

Note: Grades earned and semester hours attempted at other institutions are not included in the calculation of the University grade point average.

Plus/minus grades earned prior to the 1978 fall semester are not assigned a particular numerical quality point value; the value of the basic letter grade A, B, C, or D alone is used in computing a grade point average.

Records of progress are kept by this institution on all students. Students have three methods to gain access to term grades:

• Using a personal data browser on the World Wide Web at studentcentral.unc.edu.

• Submitting a written request for printed grades (submitted after the first day of classes but before the last day of classes) each enrolled term and sent to Office of the University Registrar, CB# 2100, UNC–Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-2100. The request should include the student’s full name, personal identification number, term for which grades should be mailed, and college/school in which the student is enrolled.

• Making a request in person at the Office of the University Registrar. Students should call the Office of the University Registrar at (919) 962-0495 if they have questions about grade reporting services.

Temporary Grades (IN and AB)

Students who do not complete all requirements in a course by the end of the semester receive a temporary grade of IN (incomplete) or AB (absent) in place of a permanent letter grade. Grades of IN and AB carry the value of an F grade (zero quality points) and are used in the computation of semester and cumulative grade point averages. Students who do not complete the course requirements within a specified period of time are assigned permanent F* grades on their academic transcripts by the Office of the University Registrar.

The instructor must report the grade of AB for any student who did not take the final examination and who, by taking the final examination, could pass the course. This AB grade translates to an F in computing the student’s cumulative and semester grade point average, and later converts to an F* unless the student arranges to take the final examination before the last class day of the next scheduled semester (fall or spring) after receiving the grade. If the student cannot pass the course regardless of a final examination performance, the instructor must report the grade FA.

When submitting an AB, an instructor must enter the grade on the instructor’s grade report and must also complete a temporary grade assignment form supplied by the Office of the University Registrar. The purpose of this form is to establish a record of what arrangements, if any, have been made between student and instructor to clear the AB. Absence from a final examination may be officially excused only by the student’s dean or the director of Campus Health Services or Counseling and Wellness Services. An absence may be excused for significant physical or emotional illness or for serious personal or family problems.

• Campus Health Services. Students who are seriously ill during the time of their final examination(s) should consult Campus Health Services or Counseling and Wellness Services about having their names entered on the Infirmary List. In some cases, outpatient treatment can also result in a student’s name being entered on the Infirmary List. Students on the Infirmary List may obtain an official permit from the Office of the University Registrar to take the final examination to remove a grade of AB. They must make arrangements to take the final examination with their course instructor and provide the instructor with their official permit. If students are treated at Campus Health Services or Counseling and Wellness Services but do not appear on the Infirmary List, they should see the dean of their college as soon as possible.

• Academic Dean. If students know in advance that they must miss one or more final examinations because of illness or other serious problems, they should see the dean of the school in which they are enrolled before the final examinations are given. If this is not possible, they should see their dean as soon after the fact as possible. For students in the College of Arts and Sciences, only the associate dean for advising (or designee) is authorized to issue examination excuses for reasons other than three exams in 24 hours or two exams at the same time. For other students, only the dean of the school in which the student is enrolled has that authority. The dean may require documentation of a student’s illness or problems.

Assuming that a student did not take a final examination for one of the reasons previously cited, the dean will issue an official "examination excuse," which the student must present to the course instructor when arrangements are made for a suitable time to take the final examination.

If a student presents an examination excuse or an official permit to take the final exam to an instructor or the instructor’s departmental chair or dean, then a final examination must be given to the student.

The grade IN may only be assigned by an instructor to a student who took the final examination in a course but did not complete some other course requirement such as signing the honor pledge and who, by virtue of completing that missing work, might pass the course. An IN translates to an F (zero quality points) in computing a student’s cumulative and semester grade point average. Unless removed within eight weeks of the beginning of the regularly scheduled semester (fall or spring) following its assignment, an IN converts to an F*.

When submitting a grade of IN, an instructor must enter the grade on the instructor’s grade report and must also complete a temporary grade assignment form supplied by the Office of the University Registrar. The purpose of this form is to establish a record of what arrangements, if any, have been made between student and instructor to clear the IN.

• Important Rules and Procedures Pertaining to AB and IN Grades. The decision to report an IN grade is solely the responsibility of the course instructor; however, a student may present proper justification for the instructor’s consideration.

Temporary grades should be cleared by completion of the work outstanding, preferably no later than the start of the following semester. The deadline for clearing a temporary grade of AB is the last class day of the next regularly scheduled semester (fall or spring) after the AB grade is awarded. A temporary grade of IN must be cleared within the first eight weeks of the regularly scheduled semester (fall or spring) after the IN grade is awarded.

If students intend to remove IN or excused AB grades, they should not officially enroll in the course(s) during the next semester or summer session. If recommended by the course instructor, a student may attend a part of that instructor’s section of the course or another instructor’s section of the same course in which the temporary grade was awarded.

If a student enrolls in a course in which a temporary grade has been previously received, the second enrollment is taken as evidence that the student could not or is not permitted to remove the temporary grade. This results in the replacement of the temporary grade by F* after the deadline for removing the temporary grade. The grade earned during the second enrollment is also reported on the student’s academic transcript and is used along with the F* grade in the computation of a cumulative grade point average.

Other Grades and Notations

A grade of PS (pass) indicates a passing grade in a course taken on a Pass/D+/D/Fail basis. The rules governing the use of the Pass/D+/D/Fail option are presented later in this section.

A notation of W (withdrawn passing) is entered in the grade column of students’ academic transcripts if they are permitted to drop a course after the eighth week of classes. This notation is automatically entered unless the student’s academic dean specifies otherwise. The symbol W is not employed in Summer School.

A notation of BE (by exam) is entered in the grade column of students’ academic transcripts if they are awarded credit for a course as a result of evaluation by examination.

A notation of PL (placement) is entered in the grade column of students’ academic transcripts if they are awarded exemption for a course as a result of an evaluation that would ordinarily place them in a succeeding course. PL does not confer credit hours.

A grade of SP (satisfactory progress) may be used in the first course of a departmental undergraduate honors program. The honors program runs through two semesters, and a final grade is not reported until completion of the second course. When the final grade is reported, the previously assigned SP grade must be changed to the appropriate permanent letter grade by an official grade change form. Credit hours are awarded for the first honors course only after a letter grade replaces the SP grade.

A blank grade is shown on courses when the instructor has not submitted the official grade roll for the course.

Repeating Course Enrollments

Students who have received passing grades in courses may not enroll in the same courses at a later time without the written approval of their academic dean. If a student proceeds with such an enrollment without securing permission, any grade received beyond the initial enrollment may be administratively removed from the student’s academic transcript.

A second enrollment in a course for which a student has received a grade less than C through a previous enrollment at the University will be approved in writing by an academic dean at the request of the student if any of the following apply:

• The course is specifically required by the student’s academic major and is a prerequisite to other courses required in the major;

• At least a grade of C (2.000) must be earned in a course specifically required in the student’s academic major to satisfy graduation requirements in the academic major;

• Several years have elapsed since a student’s initial enrollment in a course and a current, satisfactory knowledge of the course material is either required or advisable.

In some circumstances, permission may be granted to repeat a specific course regardless of the grade earned during the initial enrollment.

If a student is permitted to repeat a course in which a passing grade previously has been earned, no additional credit hours beyond the first enrollment will be counted toward the fulfillment of the University’s minimum graduation requirement of 120 academic hours. Grades and academic hours earned as a result of both enrollments, however, will be computed in the student’s semester and cumulative grade point averages.

Certain University courses (e.g., applied music, special studies, undergraduate research, etc.) may be taken more than once for credit and are so designated under individual department course descriptions in this publication. A particular physical education activity (PHYA) course may be taken more than once. However, a different level of the same course (beginning, intermediate, and advanced) must be taken during each separate enrollment. PHYA courses numbered above 200 do not award credit hours, but the grade is factored into the cumulative grade point average. Students may count up to two lifetime fitness (LFIT) courses in their credit hours toward graduation; any additional lifetime fitness courses will not count toward graduation and will not be factored into the student’s grade point average.

Grades Earned at Other Institutions

With the exception of courses taken via interinstitutional registration (see below), grades earned and semester hours attempted at other institutions are not included in the computation of a grade point average at the University. A grade point average earned at another university may not be used to restore academic eligibility; however, academic hours earned at another university may be used to restore academic eligibility if the student is short only credit hours. See "Academic Eligibility."

Grade Protests

The grades of H, HP, P, LP, L, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, PS, F, FA, F*, and numerical grades in the Law School are considered to be permanent grades. Once reported, the instructor’s grade report may not be changed except under certain conditions. For a grade change to be considered, it must be based upon one or more of the following grounds and upon allegation that the ground or grounds cited influenced the grade assignment to the student’s detriment:

• Arithmetic or clerical error

• Arbitrariness, possibly including discrimination based on race, sex, religion, or national origin of the student

• Personal malice

• Student conduct cognizable under the Instrument of Student Judicial Governance

A grade appeal must be made no later than the last day of classes for the succeeding fall or spring semester.

• Grade Appeals Correcting a Clerical or Arithmetical Error. An instructor who has reported an incorrect grade for a student because of an error in calculating the grade, or in transporting it on the official class roll and grade report, may change the grade to one of the other letter grades, provided this change is made no later than the last day of classes of the succeeding fall or spring semester. Such a change must be reported to the Office of the University Registrar on an official report of grade change form. This report must contain a statement to the effect that the grade change is due to clerical, arithmetical, or transposition error and must contain the written approval of the department chair concerned.

• Other Grade Appeals. Any student who protests a course grade shall first attempt to resolve this disagreement with the instructor concerned. (As explained in the preceding paragraph, an instructor may change a permanent grade only when a clerical or arithmetical error is involved.) Failing to reach a satisfactory resolution, the student may appeal the grade in accordance with the procedures outlined below. Such appeal must be made no later than the last day of classes of the succeeding fall or spring semester.

Students should present the appeal in writing to the dean of their school (for students in the College of Arts and Sciences, this is the associate dean for advising). The dean will refer the appeal to the administrative board of his/her school, which will meet to consider whether the student has offered sufficient grounds for referring the appeal to the chair of the department concerned. If the decision of the administrative board is favorable, the department chair will then appoint a committee to consider the appeal and will make a recommendation to the administrative board based on the committee’s findings. The administrative board will make the final decision, and no change of grade will be made except as a result of the decision by the board. The chair will report such decision to change the grade to the Office of the University Registrar.

Pass/D+/D/Fail Option

The Pass/D+/D/Fail option provides students an opportunity to enroll in an additional course (beyond the usual load of five academic courses) or to reduce their concerns about competing with prospective majors in a course in which they have considerable interest. Students who declare a course on the Pass/D+/D/Fail option will receive the grade of PS (pass) when a letter grade of A through C- is recorded on the official grade roll, a D+ or D when a letter grade of D+ or D is recorded on the grade roll, or F when the course is failed. For the purpose of computing a grade point average, a PS grade does not count as hours attempted; therefore, a PS grade does not affect a student’s average. Grades of D+, D, or F under the Pass/D+/D/Fail option count as hours attempted and are treated in the same manner as D+, D, and F grades earned in any other course.

Course content and requirements are the same for Pass/D+/D/Fail registrants as for regular registrants. The minimum performance for a PS grade is equivalent to the minimum performance for the letter grade of C-.

Regulations Governing the Pass/D+/D/Fail Option

The following regulations govern the use of the Pass/D+/D/Fail option:

A. Students must take at least nine academic hours for regular letter-grade credit in the semester in which other hours are declared Pass/D+/D/Fail.

B. No more than four credit hours (e.g., one three-hour academic course and a physical education activity course) may be taken on the Pass/D+/D/Fail grading system during a single semester.

C. A maximum of 11 hours of Pass/D+/D/Fail credit may be taken in a student’s undergraduate career.

D. Not to be counted in the limits specified in B and C above are up to seven hours taken in courses for which ONLY PS or F grades are assigned.

E. The following courses may not be declared Pass/D+/D/Fail:

• Courses used to satisfy General Education requirements (with the exceptions of lifetime fitness courses and some forms of experiential education)

• Courses in one’s major or minor department (or cross-listed with those departments), even if used as an elective (see note 1 below)

• Courses specifically required by the major or minor, including foreign language courses (see note 2 below)

• Summer School courses

• Carolina Courses Online

• An honors seminar or honors section of a course (note that some honors seminars are designated by the Honors Office to receive only Pass/Fail credit)

• Courses taken via interinstitutional enrollment

• First-year seminars

Students who place into level 4 of a foreign language (and will receive credit for level 3 upon successful completion of level 4) may not declare level 4 Pass/D+/D/Fail if using that language to satisfy the Foundations foreign language requirement.

Note 1: Students who change their major (or minor) may count in the new major (or minor) one course previously completed with the grade PS.

Note 2: There is one exception. Students pursuing a B.S. degree in one of the natural sciences may declare a foreign language course Pass/D+/D/Fail if that course is not used to satisfy the minimum Foundations foreign language requirement (e.g., level 4 for students who placed into level 1, 2, or 3).

Pass/D+/D/Fail Declaration Procedure

To declare a course on the Pass/D+/D/Fail grading system, a student must complete the Pass/D+/D/Fail course declaration form. It is obtained from the academic advisor or dean’s office. Students should always discuss the advisability of taking a course on the Pass/D+/D/Fail grading system with their advisor before committing themselves to a formal declaration.

The period for making Pass/D+/D/Fail declarations begins on the fifth day of classes of each semester and concludes at the end of the eighth week of classes. Pass/D+/D/Fail request forms may not be submitted after the eighth week of classes.

Academic Eligibility

Academic Eligibility Standards Effective Summer 2007

New academic eligibility standards were passed by Faculty Council in February 2007. These rules apply to first-year students entering the University on or after May 14, 2007. They also apply to sophomore transfer students entering the University in or after the 2008 summer sessions and to junior transfer students entering the University in or after the 2009 summer sessions.

Eligibility Standards for Continued Enrollment

Good Standing entitles a student to enroll in a fall or spring term. Good Standing is not required for students to enroll in summer sessions or Carolina Courses Online. A student in an Ineligibility Pending status enrolling during the summer continues to be an eligible student for financial aid purposes. The Ineligibility Pending status allows a student to continue enrolling in credits that will be applied toward his or her degree.

• Ordinary Good Standing. The requirements for ordinary Good Standing are as follows:

A 2.000 cumulative UNC–Chapel Hill grade point average and the following number of academic semester credit hours passed:

• 9 academic hours to enter a second semester (15 hours is recommended)

• 24 academic hours to enter a third semester (30 hours is recommended)

• 36 academic hours to enter a fourth semester (45 hours is recommended)

• 51 academic hours to enter a fifth semester (60 hours is recommended)

• 63 academic hours to enter a sixth semester (75 hours is recommended)

• 78 academic hours to enter a seventh semester (90 hours is recommended)

• 93 academic hours to enter an eighth semester (105 hours is recommended)

• Special permission of the dean to enter a ninth semester

• Good Standing—On Probation. Students who fall short of the standards for ordinary Good Standing will be considered in "Good Standing—On Probation" for one semester provided they passed at least nine credit hours of graded coursework (excluding BE or PL credits) in the preceding semester and were not already on probation. During the probationary semester, students must complete a 4-Step Academic Intervention program found at www.studentsuccess.unc.edu. If students do not complete the interventions, a "stop" will be placed on their account preventing them from registering for the following fall or spring semester.

Academic Ineligibility

Students who do not qualify for automatic probation or who do not meet cumulative eligibility standards after a probationary term are academically ineligible and may not enroll in a spring or fall semester. They may, however, seek to regain Good Standing, as discussed in the section "Restoration of Academic Eligibility" below.

Appeals

Under extraordinary circumstances, students may submit an appeal requesting to be approved for one semester of academic probation. The appeal must be made in writing and presented to the dean of their school; for students in the College of Arts and Sciences, this is the associate dean for advising. The dean will refer the appeal to the appeals committee of the College’s administrative board.

Calculation of Transferred Semesters Based on the Number of Transferred Credit Hours

Several academic procedures, including determination of academic eligibility, depend on the tally of semesters that students have completed. A student is allowed a maximum of eight fall or spring semesters of full-time enrollment at the University; therefore, when credit hours are transferred, a calculation must be made as to the number of semesters the student is regarded as having used up. This calculation is based on the number of credit hours accepted by UNC–Chapel Hill for transfer, not on the number of semesters in which the student was enrolled at other colleges. Credit hours awarded for courses taken prior to high school graduation are not included in this calculation.

Students are regarded as having used up one semester for every full multiple of 15.0 semester credit hours accepted for transfer. When credits are transferred from a college that operates on the quarter-term system, one quarter-term credit hour equals two-thirds of a semester credit hour. More specifically,

• A student having fewer than 15.0 credit hours accepted for transfer will be regarded as having exhausted no semesters

• A student having between 15.0 and 29.9 credit hours accepted for transfer will be regarded as having exhausted one semester

• A student having between 30.0 and 44.9 credit hours accepted for transfer will be regarded as having exhausted two semesters

• A student having between 45.0 and 59.9 credit hours accepted for transfer will be regarded as having exhausted three semesters

• A student having between 60.0 and 74.9 credit hours accepted for transfer will be regarded as having exhausted four semesters

• A student having 75.0 credit hours accepted for transfer will be regarded as having exhausted five semesters

The same formula is applied to credit hours that a student earns while enrolled in Part-Time Classroom Studies at UNC–Chapel Hill, with 90 hours regarded as six semesters and 105 hours regarded as seven semesters.

If a student takes courses at other institutions after matriculating at UNC–Chapel Hill, the above formula is applied to transfer credit hours awarded for any such courses taken at other institutions during fall or spring semesters, but not for those taken during summer terms.

Academic Eligibility Standards for Students Enrolled in Part-Time Classroom Studies

There are academic eligibility standards unique to students pursuing part-time enrollment through Part-Time Classroom Studies. The following standards apply to students entering the University as new first-year students in or after the 2007 summer sessions, sophomore transfer students entering the University in or after the 2008 summer sessions, and junior transfer students entering the University in or after the 2009 summer sessions.

Once they have attempted nine or more credit hours in UNC–Chapel Hill courses, students enrolled in Part-Time Classroom Studies must maintain a minimum cumulative UNC–Chapel Hill grade point average of 2.000 in order to remain in Good Standing. Students who fail to meet this standard may submit a written petition requesting to be approved for continued enrollment on probation.

Students who earn 15 or more semester credit hours for courses taken while enrolled in Part-Time Classroom Studies will be regarded as having used up one or more of the eight full-time fall and spring semesters in which degree-seeking students are allowed to enroll. See "Calculation of Transferred Semesters Based on the Number of Transferred Credit Hours" above.

Restoration of Academic Eligibility

Certain procedures are required of students who wish to restore their academic eligibility. Information can be obtained from the student’s academic advisor or dean. Students can locate information regarding their academic eligibility status at studentcentral.unc.edu and should check their eligibility at the end of each semester. Students failing to meet the minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.000 may attempt to restore or retain their academic eligibility by the following means:

• Taking courses in the Summer School at UNC–Chapel Hill;

• Taking courses through the Carolina Courses Online program of Internet courses that follow the semester schedule at UNC–Chapel Hill; or

• Removing excused AB or IN grades.

Students satisfying the minimum cumulative UNC–Chapel Hill grade point average of 2.000, but failing to satisfy the requirement for cumulative semester hours passed, may use one or more of the above procedures in attempting to retain or restore academic eligibility. To satisfy the requirement for cumulative hours passed, students also may use semester hours of approved transfer credit from another institution. Students wishing to use transfer credit for this purpose should obtain approval from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and their academic dean or advisor before enrolling in these courses. (Not all courses are acceptable for transfer credit.) To receive credit hours for a course taken at another institution, a student must earn a grade of C- or higher in the course; however, grades earned at another institution are not included in a student’s UNC–Chapel Hill grade point average.

In addition, students should understand the following regulations concerning restoration of academic eligibility:

A. If students earn 15 or more transfer semester credit hours for courses taken at other institutions cumulatively over the fall/spring semesters before applying for readmission to the University, a calculation will be made as to how many semesters the student is regarded as having used up, based on the number of hours accepted for transfer credit. The resulting tally of total semesters completed will determine requirements for restoring academic eligibility. See "Calculation of Transferred Semesters Based on the Number of Transferred Credit Hours" above.

B. Students who are academically ineligible or who have pending academic ineligibility because of their cumulative grade point average should consult with their academic dean if they are considering taking classes at another institution. Grades do not transfer, and credit hours accumulated through enrollment in fall and spring semesters at other schools can affect the number of remaining semesters that students have to complete their degree requirements at UNC–Chapel Hill.

C. Students who are declared academically ineligible, who attend another institution (summer, fall, or spring), and who apply for readmission, must have at least a 2.000 (C) average in work at the other institution.

D. Academically ineligible students who have a housing assignment or a housing contract on file for the following semester should either cancel their application or contract or notify the University’s Department of Housing and Residential Education of their plan to seek continued admission by restoring their academic eligibility.

Summer Sessions

Good Standing is not required to enroll in Summer School. Students whose standing is On Probation, Academically Ineligible, or Ineligibility Pending are strongly encouraged to attend Summer School to restore their academic eligibility.

Students not regularly enrolled in courses on campus during a spring semester must apply for readmission in order to attend the University’s summer session of that same year. For more information, visit admissions.unc.edu/applying/readmission.htm and see the "Admissions" section of this Undergraduate Bulletin (following the "Introduction").

Summer sessions do not count toward the eight-semester limit for the undergraduate degree.

Distance-Learning Courses via the Friday Center for Continuing Education

A new and revised policy governing the use of distance learning courses via the Friday Center for Continuing Education became effective July 1, 2008, for all new and transfer students admitted to the College of Arts and Sciences as degree-seeking students (both full-time and part-time) in fall 2008. The new regulations do not apply to coursework taken prior to matriculation. The Friday Center for Continuing Education offers two kinds of distance-learning courses: Carolina Courses Online (Internet) and Self-Paced Courses (Internet or print-based). The following policies apply to courses offered via either distance-learning option:

• Courses offered in this modality follow established University policy. Each online course must have appropriate methods for assignments, grading, examinations, and course evaluations appropriate to online instruction while at the same time keeping the course equivalent to that taught in the traditional format. The number of assignments may vary, as may their value.

• No more than six online courses or 18 credit hours (all of which must be designated UNC–Chapel Hill) can be counted toward a degree in the College of Arts and Sciences. Online courses required for a degree are not included in this total.

• First-year students may not take online courses in other than exceptional circumstances and must secure the permission of their academic dean in advance of enrolling in such courses.

• No more than two online courses in any one department or curriculum may count toward a major, minor, or degree in the College of Arts and Sciences.

• Self-paced courses cannot be counted towards a degree in the College of Arts and Sciences in other than exceptional circumstances. Students must secure the permission of their academic dean in advance of enrolling in such courses.

Carolina Courses Online

Carolina Courses Online is a distance education program that offers courses over the Internet. Class sessions are not required, but courses follow the semester schedule. Students must have access to the World Wide Web and e-mail. The courses are administered through the Friday Center for Continuing Education, (919) 962-1134, fridaycenter.unc.edu. To enroll, contact the Friday Center or visit its Web page. Certain restrictions may apply. Students should consult the dean’s office of their school for details.

Removing AB or IN Grades

For information about completing courses with grades of AB (absent from final examination) or IN (incomplete), see the grading system information in the pages of this Undergraduate Bulletin immediately preceding this section on academic eligibility.

Readmission Standards

After their first enrollment at UNC–Chapel Hill, students who withdraw from or do not enroll in one or more fall or spring semesters must apply for readmission in order to return to courses on the UNC–Chapel Hill campus in a subsequent fall, spring, or summer term.

The following requirements for readmission apply to students entering the University as new first-year students in or after the 2007 summer sessions, sophomore transfer students entering the University in or after the 2008 summer sessions, and junior transfer students entering the University in or after the 2009 summer sessions.

To be readmitted to a fall or spring semester, a student must have a 2.000 cumulative UNC–Chapel Hill grade point average and the following number of academic semester credit hours passed:

• 9 academic hours to enter a second semester

• 24 academic hours to enter a third semester

• 36 academic hours to enter a fourth semester

• 51 academic hours to enter a fifth semester

• 63 academic hours to enter a sixth semester

• 78 academic hours to enter a seventh semester

• 93 academic hours to enter an eighth semester

• Special permission of the dean to enter a ninth semester

If a student who is approved to enroll in a fall or spring semester On Probation either withdraws from or does not enroll in that probationary semester, the student may employ that probationary status, if needed, when next applying for readmission to a fall or spring semester.

Nontraditional Readmission

The University’s policy for traditional readmission as an undergraduate requires that former University students fulfill certain minimal requirements. These requirements include a specified cumulative grade point average and number of academic hours passed based on their total number of semesters in residence.

Although the traditional policy for readmission is the norm, the University recognizes that individuals can gain personal and intellectual maturity over a period of years. In such cases, the University may choose to evaluate applicants for readmission on the basis of their current academic promise rather than their earlier academic performance.

Under this policy, the University will review applicants who have not been enrolled full time in a formal educational program for at least five years and who by their special life experiences might be considered nontraditional applicants. Readmission to the General College or the College of Arts and Sciences under this policy requires the approval of the associate dean for advising or the appeals committee of the college. Readmission to a professional school under this policy requires the approval of the professional school to which the student is seeking readmission.

Advising and degree-granting bodies within the University will monitor the performances of all individuals admitted under this policy. This monitoring will provide up-to-date guidance and counseling and insure that each person readmitted fulfills the requirements for continued enrollment as specified in the letter of readmission issued by the Admissions Office. Students who fail to meet these requirements and who lose their academic eligibility must then meet traditional readmission requirements before they will be permitted to continue their enrollment at the University. A nontraditional readmission to the University is granted only once.

Withdrawal

Students withdrawing from the University should complete an official withdrawal through the appropriate University office (see sections on medical and academic withdrawal below) before the end of classes during a semester or summer session. An official withdrawal constitutes an honorable dismissal from the University and may facilitate readmission. Failure to withdraw officially results in the assignment of an AB course grade that is computed as an F grade in establishing grade point averages and academic eligibility. Students who do not withdraw officially will be responsible for the tuition and fee payments associated with the course(s).

Medical Withdrawal

If a student decides to withdraw for reasons of illness, either physical or psychological, the student should contact Campus Health Services or Counseling and Wellness Services, whether the treatment was received there or elsewhere. If a medical withdrawal is authorized, the official withdrawal will be handled through the Office of the Director of Campus Health Services or Counseling and Wellness Services. A medical withdrawal is effected without grades and without a semester in residence.

Academic Withdrawal

If a student decides to withdraw for reasons other than illness, or if a medical withdrawal cannot be authorized, the student must contact the dean’s office of the school in which he or she is enrolled. An official withdrawal involves the completion of an application for withdrawal form.

The student must obtain clearance signatures from course instructors and certain University offices, as determined by their dean’s office, before the form is submitted. In determining an undergraduate student’s eligibility for readmission the following conditions apply:

Students who officially withdraw from the University are awarded a semester in residence if their withdrawal is initiated before the end of classes during a fall or spring semester and if it is accompanied by the recording of six or more academic hours of F grades for that semester’s work.

Withdrawal from a summer session is not counted as a semester in residence. Failing grades are recorded, however, if the student is reported as below passing in more than one academic course. Students enrolled as summer session visitors must withdraw through the Office of the Dean of the Summer School.

If a student completes an official withdrawal from a fall or spring semester, tuition and fees will be prorated over a period of nine weeks at a rate of one-tenth of the semester’s bill, after deducting an administrative charge. The last date for credit on a student’s financial account for withdrawal is nine weeks after registration. If a student completes official withdrawal from a summer session, tuition and fees will be prorated over a period of three weeks at a rate of one-fourth of the summer session’s bill, after deducting an administrative charge.

If students withdraw from the University during a semester and they receive financial aid funds prior to the date of withdrawal, they may be expected to repay a portion of the funds to the aid program(s). The repayment will be calculated by the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid when the student is cleared by that office at the time of withdrawal.

Retroactive Withdrawal

Students may request a retroactive withdrawal from a semester or summer session on the basis of extraordinary circumstances. Such requests must be made in writing to the appeals committee of the administrative board of the college or school having jurisdiction over the student during the semester or summer session in question. The decision of that appeals committee is final.

Graduation

To qualify for an undergraduate degree, a student must successfully complete at least 120 academic semester hours (requirements are higher than this minimum in some bachelor of science degree curricula). Also, the student must have a 2.000 average on all work attempted at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

A minimum of 45 academic credit hours must be earned from UNC–Chapel Hill courses, and at least 24 of the last 30 academic credit hours applied to the degree requirements must be earned from UNC–Chapel Hill courses. These may include credits from study abroad programs sponsored by the University; up to 18 credit-hours earned through Carolina Courses Online; and in exceptional circumstances, Self-Paced Courses.

In the College of Arts and Sciences, at least 18 semester hours of work with grades of C (not C-) or higher are required in the student’s major. Some majors may require more, and at least half of the student’s major must be completed in this University. Beginning with the first day of classes in the term for which the students expect to graduate, students should file an application for a degree in the office of the dean. For students in the College of Arts and Sciences, this is the office of the Academic Advising Program. A student who has not filed an application for graduation on or before the announced deadlines for fall graduation and for spring graduation will not be included in the graduation program.

Students must pay tuition, fees, and other obligations owed the University before receiving a diploma.

Degrees with Distinction

To graduate with distinction or with highest distinction, a student must have completed at least 45 academic hours at UNC–Chapel Hill and have an overall grade point average of at least 3.5 or 3.8 respectively. The grade point average is based on the grades received and recorded by the Office of the University Registrar as of the degree award date. No changes are permitted to the awards after that date.

Transcripts of Record

A statement of official academic record includes all significant recorded information concerning the student’s admission, classification, and scholarship. No partial or incomplete scholastic record will be given.

The student’s transcript notes his or her academic eligibility status. A statement of honorable dismissal will not be granted to students whose conduct and character would not entitle them to remain enrolled at the University, or whose transcripts contain a notation of any probation, suspension, or other temporary restriction imposed for unsatisfactory conduct and still in force when the statement is made.

The University does not release an official transcript unless tuition, fees, and other obligations due the University have been paid. Students have two methods by which they may obtain a transcript from the Office of the University Registrar: in person or in writing. These methods require the student’s signature before
the Office of the University Registrar can release the transcript. Students may inspect their academic records at the Office of the University Registrar, Student and Academic Services Building North. For more information on how to request a transcript, please call (919) 962-3954.

Interinstitutional Registration

A student regularly enrolled in a degree program at the University may enroll by interinstitutional registration for a course at Duke University, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, or the University of North Carolina at Greensboro under the following conditions:

A. Space must be available in the course.

B. The student’s academic dean must certify 1) that the course is appropriate for the student’s degree program, and 2) that an equivalent course is not available at this University during the same term.

C. Enrollment in interinstitutional registration is normally limited to one course per term, provided that the student is also registered for the balance of his or her normal load at the home institution. All enrollment transactions must be processed by the Office of the University Registrar.

D. A student will be billed by his or her home institution for all the courses taken (including interinstitutional courses) at the prevailing tuition rate. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will receive no fees from an interinstitutional student taking courses at this campus unless there is a special fee associated with a particular course. In such a case, the student must pay the fee.

E. Students must comply with the academic calendar of their home institution for all dates such as the drop and add deadline.

Additional information, procedural instructions and forms are available at the Office of the University Registrar, Student and Academic Services Building North.

Veterans Educational Benefits

Students who expect to use their veterans’ educational benefits must contact the Veterans Services Assistant in the Office of the University Registrar, located in the Student and Academic Services Building North. Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress to be eligible for VA educational benefits. Students who are not in Good Standing at the end of the term will not be eligible for veteran’s educational benefits in subsequent terms until they regain Good Standing. For further information, please visit regweb.unc.edu/veterans/index.html or call (919) 962-8292.

Loan Deferments and Certification/Verification of Enrollment Status

The Office of the University Registrar provides confirmation of student enrollment data to financial institutions, organizations, or agencies requiring proof of registration. To obtain enrollment certification, students may complete an online request at regweb.unc.edu/regweb/enrollment_proof, or call (919) 962-3954, or come to Student and Academic Services Building North, or mail their request to the Office of the University Registrar, CB# 2100, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-2100.