The Catalog is not an
irrevocable contract. Regulations published in it are subject to change by the
University at any time without notice. University regulations are policy
statements to guide students, faculty, and administrative officers in achieving
the goals of the institution. Necessary
interpretations of these policies will be made by the appropriate authorities
with the interest of the students and the institution in mind. Students are
encouraged to consult an advisor if they have questions about the application
of any policy.
"The
University reserves the right to change any of the rules and regulations of the
University at any time, including those relating to admission, instruction, and
graduation. The University also reserves the right to withdraw curricula and
specific courses, alter course content, change the calendar, and to impose or
increase fees. All such changes are effective at such times as the proper
authorities determine and may apply not only to prospective students but also
to those who already are enrolled in the University."
Each new edition of the catalog becomes effective at the
opening of the fall semester following its publication. To receive a degree, an
undergraduate student must complete satisfactorily all requirements described
in the catalog in effect at the time of first enrollment as a degree
student at the University or all requirements described in the catalog
in effect at the time of graduation. Any student who changes from one major or
minor to another must meet requirements of the new major or minor in effect at
the time of the change. Any student who leaves the University or changes to
another major or minor for a period of one calendar year or longer and then
returns to the University or to the original major or minor will be required to
meet requirements in effect at the time of return.
Exceptions to these policies may be necessitated by changes in
course offerings, degree programs or by action of authorities higher than the
University. In that event, every effort will be made to avoid penalizing the
student.
Each student entering a degree program at UNC Charlotte is
assigned an academic advisor or advisory committee in the student's major
field. The Advising Center in the College of Arts
and Sciences advises students who have not yet chosen a major field and may be
consulted by other students for information about General Education
requirements. The advisor assists the student to develop a plan of study based
on the student's prior preparation and objectives. This assistance is not a
substitute for the personal responsibility of the student described in the
section of this Catalog on Student Responsibility.
Credits/Semester Hours.
The unit of measurement of University work is the semester hour. It ordinarily represents one lecture hour per week
for one semester; however, a sequence of two or three laboratory hours is
considered to be the equivalent of one lecture hour. Semester hours are also
referred to as credit hours or credits.
A bachelor's degree requires 120-128 semester hours.
Course Load. A course load of 15-18 hours constitutes a
normal full semester program for undergraduates. A student must complete 15-16
hours per semester to complete a bachelor's degree in four academic years. Enrollment
in more than 18 hours in a semester requires advance written approval of the
dean of the student's major college. An undergraduate student enrolled in 12 or
more hours is considered to be a full-time student and must pay full tuition
and fees.
A standard load for an undergraduate student enrolled in a
summer session is six to seven credit hours.
Enrollment in more than seven credit hours in a single summer session,
or in concurrent summer sessions (e.g., a 10-week and a 5-week session),
requires advance written approval of the dean of the student’s major college.
The appropriate course load for an undergraduate student is
dependent on two factors: scholastic
ability as reflected by the student's academic history and available study
time. Successful academic achievement usually requires about two hours of study
per week outside of class for each credit hour in which the student is
enrolled. For example, enrollment in 16 hours would require about 32 hours of
outside preparation per week.
Tuition Surcharge. Undergraduate
students who take more than 140 credit hours (or more than 110% of the hours required
to complete their baccalaureate degree program) are subject to a 25% tuition
surcharge on the excess hours taken. However, the surcharge will not apply to
students who exceed these credit hour limits while completing their degree
within the equivalent of four academic years, or in the case of five-year
programs, within the equivalent of five academic years. (One quarter of enrollment at an institution
on the quarter system equals two-thirds of a semester.) Finally, the surcharge does not apply to
students entering the University before Fall 1994.
Credit hours that count toward the specified limits include: all
courses attempted at UNC Charlotte during the fall and spring semesters
(including repeated courses, failed courses, and those dropped after the last
date to drop or withdraw without record) and all transfer credit hours (except
those earned during summer sessions at another UNC institution). The maximum transfer credit hours applied
toward the surcharge limit are the total hours required for the degree less the
30 hours necessary to meet residence requirements.
University Student Surveys. For
purposes of program assessment and improvement, as part of enrollment at UNC
Charlotte, students may be required to complete three or more institutional
student surveys, e.g., surveys of entering freshmen, second semester
sophomores, and graduating seniors.
Student Classification. At
the beginning of each semester, regular students working toward a bachelor's
degree are classified on the basis of earned semester hours:
Classification Earned Semester Hours
Freshman
0-29
Sophomore 30-59
Junior 60-89
Senior 90
or more
The Registrar is responsible for the
management of the registration process by which students enroll in classes. Registration
policies and procedures for each term are described in the Schedule of Classes for that term.
Also see the Registrar's web page at: http://www.uncc.edu/registrar.
Through the registration process,
students assume academic and financial responsibility for the classes in which
they enroll. They are relieved of these
responsibilities only by formally terminating enrollment by dropping or
withdrawing in accordance with procedures and deadlines specified in the Schedule of Classes each term.
Registration Deadlines. University policies determine when students
may enroll or adjust their enrollment in classes. Deadlines for the spring and
fall semesters are shown below. (Deadlines
for summer sessions are approximately proportional based on the length of the
session.)
Register
for classes through the eighth instructional day of the semester.
Drop a class without record
(and remain enrolled in other classes) through the sixth instructional day of
the semester.
Withdraw from the University without
record through the sixth instructional day of the semester.
Drop a class with grade of W
recorded (and remain enrolled in other classes) through the
sixth week of classes in the semester.
No student will be allowed to drop a course after this deadline unless
there are extenuating circumstances recognized by the University.
Withdraw from the University with grade
of W recorded after the sixth instructional day through
the third week prior to the last day of classes of the semester. No student will be allowed to withdraw after
this deadline unless there are extenuating circumstances recognized by the
University. (See the Termination of
Enrollment section of this Catalog.)
Prerequisites and Permits. Credit will be awarded only to students who
are properly registered for it. All students, including visitors and non-degree
students, are required to meet course prerequisites and to obtain the required
permissions to enroll in courses specified in the Schedule of Classes.
Auditors.
With the consent of the instructor, a student may register as an auditor for any class in which space is
available. Fees and procedures for this non-credit enrollment are the same as
those for a credit enrollment.
No
student will be allowed to change the designation of a course from audit to
credit or from credit to audit after the eighth instructional day of a semester
(or a proportional period for summer school).
The
participation of auditors in class discussion and in tests or examinations is
optional with the instructor. Auditors receive no University credit, but they
are expected to attend class regularly. A formal record of the audit on the
student's transcript
is entered at the discretion of the instructor at the end of the course. The
procedure for adding or dropping an audit course is the same as for credit
enrollments.
Dual Undergraduate and Graduate Registration. Undergraduate
students at UNC Charlotte who are required to take fewer than 12 semester hours
of undergraduate work to fulfill all requirements for the bachelor's degree may
be allowed during their final semester to enroll in certain courses for the
purpose of obtaining graduate credit. Authorization for dual
undergraduate/graduate registration may be obtained by submitting to the Dean
of the Graduate School a
Special Request Form approved by the student's undergraduate academic advisor,
the instructor(s) of the graduate course(s), and the dean(s) of the college(s)
offering the graduate course(s), accompanied by the regular application for
admission to graduate study and supporting credentials. The total hours to be
carried in this status shall not exceed 12 hours, of which no more than nine
may be for graduate credit. On the basis of work attempted prior to the final
semester, such student must meet the grade point criteria for admission to a
graduate degree program at the University. No course for which credit is applied
to an undergraduate degree may receive graduate credit. Permission to take graduate courses under
dual registration does not constitute admission to any graduate degree program
at the University.
Consortium Registration.
The Charlotte Area Educational Consortium offers an inter-institutional
exchange during the fall and spring semesters for full-time undergraduate students.
UNC Charlotte students may take courses not available at UNC Charlotte
at one of the institutions listed below, have them appear on their
transcript and, be computed in their grade point average at this
University. The registration process is
initiated in the Registrar's Office and requires the approval of the student's
college dean.
Anson Community College
Barber-Scotia College
Belmont Abbey College
Catawba College
Catawba Valley Community College
Central Piedmont Community College
Cleveland Community College
Davidson College
Gardner-Webb University
Gaston College
Johnson
C. Smith University
Lenoir-Rhyne College
Livingstone College
Mitchell Community College
Pfeiffer College
Queens College
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
Stanly
Community College
University of South
Carolina at Lancaster
Wingate College
Winthrop University
York Technical College
Inter-Institutional Registration. An
inter-institutional registration program is available for a limited number of undergraduate and graduate
students with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro,
North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill, Duke University,
NC Central University, and NC
A&T University. The registration
process is initiated in the Registrar's Office and requires the approval of the
student's college dean.
Drop. A student may terminate enrollment in a
course but continue enrollment in other courses by following the procedure to
drop a course specified in the Schedule
of Classes. A student enrolled in only one course must withdraw officially
from the University to drop the course.
Withdrawal
from the University. Any
student voluntarily leaving the University before the close of the term must
withdraw officially. A student initiates the withdrawal procedure and files the
completed form at the Registrar's Office in person or by letter. A withdrawal
is effective when the form or letter is received by the Registrar's Office. A
student who withdraws from the University after the sixth instructional day
will receive the grade of W for all courses
in progress. No student will be allowed to withdraw within two weeks prior to
the last day of class (or as close to half the summer term as possible) unless
there are extenuating circumstances such as serious illness recognized by the
University and approved by the student's dean.
Any student who leaves the University
before the close of a term without withdrawing officially will receive a
failing or unsatisfactory grade (F
for undergraduate credit and U for
graduate credit) in each course for which he/she is registered. A graduate
student who receives a U must appeal
to the Dean of the Graduate
School for reinstatement.
Each instructor determines the attendance
regulations for his or her classes. Students are expected to attend punctually
all scheduled sessions in the courses for which they are registered and are
responsible for completing the work from all class sessions.
Absences from class may be excused by the
instructor for such reasons as personal illness, religious holidays, or
participating as an authorized University representative in an out-of-town
event. Whenever possible, students are expected to seek the permission of the
instructor prior to absences.
Declaration
of a Major. Undergraduate students must declare and be accepted
into a major field of study, or a pre-professional program, by the time they
have earned 60 semester hours of credit. Transfer students entering with 45 to
74 semester hours must declare and be accepted into a major field of study by
the time they have earned 15 semester hours at UNC Charlotte. Transfer students
entering with 75 or more semester hours must be accepted into a major as a
condition for admission. Students who do not satisfy these requirements must
have permission from the dean of Arts and Sciences to register for classes.
To facilitate the declaration process,
advising is required prior to registration for continuing students who have
completed 45 hours or more and have not been accepted into a major or
pre-professional program.
Change
of Degree or Major Program. An undergraduate student may change
from one degree program or area of academic concentration to another when space
is available provided he/she meets the prerequisites for admission to the new
program and has appropriate written approval via a "Declaration of
Program" filed at the Registrar's Office.
Second
Baccalaureate Major. Students who have earned a bachelor's
degree from UNC Charlotte or are working on a bachelor's degree at UNC
Charlotte may enroll in a program leading to a second major under the same
degree provided (1) the second major field selected is different from the
first; (2) the student meets the requirements for acceptance into the second
major program; and (3) the appropriate application for admission or
"Declaration of Program" is filed and approved.
Minor.
Students who
have earned a bachelor's degree from UNC Charlotte or are working on a
bachelor's degree at UNC Charlotte may enroll in a program leading to a minor
(or minors) under that degree provided: (1) the student meets the requirements
for acceptance into the minor program; and (2) the appropriate application for
admission or "Declaration of Program" is filed and approved.
Second
Baccalaureate Degree. Students who have earned bachelor's
degrees from UNC Charlotte or other accredited institutions may enroll in a
program leading to a second degree at the same level provided: (1) the major
field selected is different from that of the first degree; (2) the degree
sought is different from the first when that degree was granted by UNC
Charlotte; and (3) the appropriate application for admission is filed and
approved.
Students seeking a second baccalaureate
degree must: (1) satisfy residency requirements
if their first degree was not earned at UNC Charlotte; (2) achieve a minimum
grade point average of 2.0 on all work attempted toward the second degree; and
(3) satisfy all department and college requirements for the degree sought.
Students who hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution will
not
be
required to satisfy the UNC Charlotte General Education requirements for a
second degree.
Students who complete the equivalent of a
double major in areas for which different degrees are awarded, but who have not
met the requirements for the second degree, may have their accomplishment
acknowledged by an appropriate notation on their transcript.
Instructors assign grades on the basis of their
evaluation of the academic performance of each student enrolled in their
courses. At the end of the term, the
grades are reported to the Registrar's Office which is responsible for
maintaining student academic records and making grades available to students.
Grade Reports. Final grades are available through the
secure, student access pages of the Registrar's web page and through the
telephone registration system (consult Schedule
of Classes for access instructions).
Unsatisfactory grade reports are mailed to students in the middle of
each semester for courses in which the student is performing below average.
Final
Grade Changes/Appeals. When a grade of other than Incomplete (I) is reported
officially by an instructor at the end of a term, the grade is recorded by the
Registrar and can be changed only if an error has been made in assigning or
reporting the grade. When a grade is assigned consistent with University
policy, only the instructor has the right to change the grade except as
provided in the Incomplete grade
policy. When an instructor reports a change for a grade other than I, the Change of Grade Form must be
signed by his/her Department Chairperson and Dean. When a student believes that
a course grade is incorrect, the student’s inquiry should be directed to the
instructor within 10 days after the formal grade report is received. If the student is unable to resolve the
grievance through consultation with the instructor, a written request for
review of the course grade may be submitted to the chair of the department or
program in which the course was taught.
Requests for review must be submitted within the first four weeks of the
next regular academic semester. Requests
for review submitted after the deadline will be heard only in exceptional cases
as determined by the dean of the college in which the appealed course grade
occurred. To initiate a grade review,
the student should request in writing to the department chair a review of the
final course grade.
Grades.
Letters are used to designate the quality of student academic achievement.
Grade
of I (Incomplete).
The grade of I is assigned at the discretion of the instructor when
a student who is otherwise passing has not, due to circumstances beyond his/her
control, completed all the work in the course. The missing work must be
completed by the deadline specified by the instructor or during the next
semester (fall or spring) in residence, but no later than 12 months after the
term in which the I was assigned,
whichever comes first. If the I is
not removed during the specified time, a grade of F, U or N
as
appropriate is automatically assigned. The
grade of I cannot be removed by enrolling again in the same course.
Grade
of IP (In Progress). The grade of IP
is based on coursework for courses that extend over more than one semester. For
example, a course that requires enrollment for
two
consecutive semesters would be eligible for an IP grade in the first
term (i.e., Graduate Thesis, Undergraduate Senior Project, etc.) The grade in
the second term is also awarded for the course in the first semester. A grade
of IP should not be given for coursework to be completed in one given term.
It
cannot be substituted for a grade of I. The IP grade expires after six years, and if
no final grade has been awarded by that
time, the IP grade will default to a grade of N (no credit).
Grade
of W (Withdrawal or Drop). No
grade will be given for a course dropped on or before the last day to drop a
course without record. After this period a student who is permitted to drop or
withdraw from a course will receive a grade of W. Only students with such extenuating circumstances as serious
illness will be permitted to drop a course after the sixth week of classes in
the semester or to withdraw from all courses during the last two weeks of
classes in the semester. Unsatisfactory academic performance itself is not
an extenuating circumstance. The date of
withdrawal is determined when the withdrawal form is accepted by the Registrar’s Office.
Pass/No
Credit Option. Every student will be permitted during
his/her undergraduate years to select
a total of four courses in which he/she will be evaluated on a pass/no credit
basis. Only one such course may be selected during an academic year. Every
course in the University is offered on this basis except when taken by a student for departmental credit toward
his/her major or minor or to satisfy University General Education (COGE)
requirements. Courses completed with the grade of Honors or Pass will count
toward graduation, but they will not be considered in the computation of the
grade point average.
This option is designed to encourage
curiosity, exploration, and experimentation in areas where a student has strong
interest but little or no previous experience. Note: Courses designated by the faculty to be graded only on a Pass/No Credit basis are not counted as
part of this option. The student must declare his/her intention to take a Pass/No Credit option by the end of the
eighth instructional day in the semester.
Grades for General Education Courses. A
course taken to satisfy a General Education requirement must be graded A, B, C, D, F unless it is offered only
with Pass/No Credit grading. The Pass/No Credit Option described above
cannot be applied to General Education courses.
Repeated Courses. Courses listed as "May be repeated for credit" are not subject to the following regulations for repeated courses.
A student who has received a grade of C,
H, P or better in a course may repeat that course only with the prior
approval of the student's advisor, department chair, and dean. A student may
receive credit for a course one time only unless the course description
specifies that it "may be repeated for credit."
