ACADEMIC REGULATIONS AND DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY

Each student is responsible for the proper completion of his or her academic program, for familiarity with the UNC Charlotte Undergraduate Catalog, for maintaining the grade point average required, and for meeting all other degree requirements. The advisor will counsel, but the final responsibility remains that of the student.

A student is required to have knowledge of and observe all regulations pertaining to campus life and student behavior. The University has enacted two codes of student responsibility --The UNC Charlotte Code of Student Academic Integrity and The UNC Charlotte Code of Student Responsibility -- which are summarized in this Catalog and available in full online at www.legal.uncc.edu/policies/#student. As students willingly accept the benefits of membership in the UNC Charlotte academic community, they acquire obligations to observe and uphold the principles and standards that define the terms of UNC Charlotte community cooperation and make those benefits possible.

Each student is responsible for checking their uncc.edu email regularly, as well as maintaining communication with the University and keeping on file with the Office of the Registrar at all times a current address, including ZIP code, and telephone number.

Each student, while associated with the University, is expected to participate in campus and community life in a manner that will reflect credit upon the student and the University.

ABOUT THE CATALOG (POLICIES INCLUDED)

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 are already enrolled in the University.

Each new edition of the UNC Charlotte Undergraduate Catalog becomes effective at the opening of the fall semester following its publication. To receive a degree, an undergraduate student must satisfactorily complete 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.

ACADEMIC ADVISING
www.advising.uncc.edu

Each student at UNC Charlotte is assigned an academic advisor or advisory committee in the student's major field of study. Students who have declared a major, or pre-major, should seek advising from their advisor in that academic department. (Freshmen with majors in Arts and Sciences departments are advised by the Arts and Sciences Advising Center during their first year of study.) Students who have more than one major should seek advice from each of their assigned advisors in each academic department.

Students who have not yet chosen a major will be assigned an advisor from the University Advising Center. The University Advising Center also provides services to freshman and transfer students who enter the University as pre-declared majors, sophomores who remain pre-declared, students who are transitioning from one major to another, and students needing assistance in clarifying general education program requirements. In helping these students to achieve their educational and career goals, the advisors will focus on enhancing the student’s transition from high school or community college, will offer assistance in understanding University policies and procedures, and refer students to campus services that will aid in determining the major program that best suits the student’s career goals. The advisors will also facilitate the development of decision-making skills critical to success in college and life. Each student’s assigned advisor will communicate regularly with the student throughout the year about important dates, programs, and services that will help ensure success at UNC Charlotte.

The advisor assists the student to develop a plan of study based on the student's prior preparation and objectives. However, this assistance is not a substitute for the personal responsibility of the student described earlier in this section on Student Responsibility.

COURSE LOAD

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 attempt 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. For complete information, please visit www.registrar.uncc.edu/students/surcharge.htm.

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:
 

REGISTRATION

The Registrar is responsible for the management of the registration process by which students enroll in classes. Please see the Registrar’s web page at www.registrar.uncc.edu.

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 deadlines specified in the Academic Calendar, which can be found online at www.registrar.uncc.edu/calendars/calendar.asp.

Registration Appointment Time assignments are made according to student classification and credits and can be viewed on the web.

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 tenth 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” heading later in this 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 through the department which sponsors the course.

Auditors. With the permission 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 an Academic Petition 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 students 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 Office of the Registrar and requires the approval of the student's college dean.

• Belmont Abbey College
• Cabarrus College of Health Science
• Carolinas College of Health Sciences
• Catawba College
• Catawba Valley Community College
• Central Piedmont Community College
• Cleveland Community College
• Davidson College
• Gardner-Webb University
• Gaston College
• Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
• Johnson C. Smith University
• Lenoir-Rhyne College
• Livingstone College
• Mitchell Community College
• Pfeiffer University
• Queens University of Charlotte
• Stanly Community College
• South Piedmont Community College
• University of South Carolina at Lancaster
• Wingate University
• 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, and NC Central University. The registration process is initiated in the Office of the Registrar and requires the approval of the student's college dean.

TERMINATION OF ENROLLMENT

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 Academic Calendar (www.registrar.uncc.edu/calendars/calendar.asp). 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 Office of the Registrar in person or by letter. A withdrawal is effective when the form or letter is received by the Office of the Registrar. 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.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

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.

DEGREE OR MAJOR PROGRAMS AND MINORS

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 the College 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 Office of the Registrar.

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 minor field is different from the major field; (2) the student meets the requirements for acceptance into the minor program; and (3) 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.

GRADING POLICIES

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 Office of the Registrar which is responsible for maintaining student academic records and making grades available to students.

Final Grades. Final grades are available through the secure student access pages of 49er Express found online at: www.express.uncc.edu.

Unsatisfactory grade reports are mailed to students in the middle of each semester for courses in which the student is performing below average. Mid-term grades are also available through the student access pages of 49er Express.

Final Grade Changes and Appeals from Final Course Grades. When a final course grade other than Incomplete (I) is officially reported by the instructor at the end of an academic term, the grade is recorded by the Registrar and can be changed only if the grade has been assigned arbitrarily or impermissibly as defined in the Faculty’s “Policy and Procedures for Student Appeals of Final Course Grades,” available online at www.legal.uncc.edu/policies/GradeAppeal.html

For guidelines on applying this policy, see: www.legal.uncc.edu/policies/GradeAppealGuide.html

Students should follow the procedures outlined in that policy if they believe that the final course grade that has been assigned is incorrect. The policy encourages the student to discuss the grade with the instructor as soon as possible after the grade is received. Students should note, however, that the University is not obliged to respond to a grade appeal unless the student files it with the appropriate department chairperson or interdisciplinary program director within the first four weeks of the next regular academic semester. 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 grade change for a grade other than I, the Change of Grade Form must be signed by his/her Department Chair and College Dean.

Grades. Letters are used to designate the quality of student academic achievement.
 

* Not used in computation of grade point average

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, but no later than 12 months. 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 tenth 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 Office of the Registrar.

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 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.

Repeating Courses. A student may receive credit for a course one time only, unless the course description specifies that it “may be repeated for credit.” However, students can repeat a course to improve their GPAs under two different sets of conditions. In the first case, within the limits specified in the next paragraph, a student may replace a grade. This process is called “With Grade Replacement.” In the second case, a student may repeat a course with the new grade averaging in with all others for this same course. This is specified in the second paragraph below as “Without Grade Replacement.”

With Grade Replacement. Undergraduate students may replace up to two (2) courses (maximum of 8 hours) for grade replacement. Both grades will be reflected on the transcript. However, the higher of the two grades will be used in calculation of the GPA. This policy applies to courses first taken in Fall 2007 and thereafter. (NOTE: Some courses in the College of Health and Human Services may not allow grade replacement.) All courses for which a grade of A, B, C, D, or F may be assigned are eligible for grade replacement under this policy. The course to be replaced and the repeat course must have their grades assigned by UNC Charlotte. Students must file a completed “Grade Replacement Form” with the Office of the Registrar by the last day to drop a course with no record in the semester or summer session in which the course is to be repeated. A repeated course may not be selected retroactively to use this grade replacement policy. In classes for which the final grade assigned was an F or a D, the student may file the grade replacement form without further approval, providing it is within the course and hour limits specified in this policy. In classes for which the final grade assigned was a C or better, the student must obtain approval of the Department Chair and the College Dean of the student’s program or major, and remain within the two-course, eight-hour limitations of this policy. Once a student has filed a grade replacement form for a course, that choice cannot be revoked due to withdrawing from the class or from the University. [Medical or special circumstances may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.] The original course grade will be the grade of record for the course and not the W. Any such withdrawal still consumes one of the two course substitutions permitted under this policy. Students enrolled in special topics classes for a grade replacement must enroll in the same topic for which they originally received the grade to be replaced. A grade received owing to an admitted or adjudicated academic dishonesty violation shall not be replaced if the course is repeated. This exception is not subject to appeal or academic petition.

Without Grade Replacement. In all courses which are not identified as being repeatable for additional credits, a student who has received a grade of C, H, P or better in a course may repeat that course only with prior approval of the student’s advisor, department chair, and dean. An undergraduate student who received a D, F, or U in a course may repeat a course without seeking outside approval. All grades for repeated courses will be shown on the student’s official transcript and be used in the calculation of the grade point average. For prerequisite purposes, the most recent grade will be used whether or not it is the highest.

Grade Point Average (GPA). The grade point average for an undergraduate student is determined by multiplying the number of grade points for each grade by the number of semester hours credit received in that course, adding all accumulated grade points together, and then dividing by the total number of semester hours the student has attempted, except those for which the student received a grade of I, W, H, P, AU, or N. In computing the grade point average, only those credits attempted at UNC Charlotte or through the Charlotte Area Educational Consortium are included.

Grade Point Deficit. The grade point deficit is the number of additional grade points required to bring a student's cumulative grade point average up to 2.0.

GPA Calculation / Grade Point Deficit. GPA is calculated by dividing quality points (QPTS) by quality hours (QHRS).

QPTS are determined by multiplying the number of quality points for each grade (A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0) by the number of semester hours credit associated with that course.

QHRS are the total number of semester hours the student has attempted, except for those for which a grade of I, W, P, AU, or N is recorded.

GRADE POINT DEFICIT is the difference between the number of quality points a student has earned and the number necessary to yield a GPA of 2.00. (Number necessary to yield a GPA of 2.00 is equal to 2 times the number of QHRS.)

Example of GPA Calculation / Grade Point Deficit
GRD QHRS QPTS
ENGL 1101 B 3 9
MATH 1100 C 3 6
ESCI 1101 D 4 4
TOTALS 10 19

GPA = 19/10 = 1.90
QPTS necessary for 2.00 is 20 (2x10)
Grade point deficit = 1

ACADEMIC RECORDS AND TRANSCRIPTS

The Registrar is responsible for maintaining the official academic records for all students. Upon written request by the student, an official transcript of the academic record will be issued to the person or institution designated, provided that all the student's obligations to the University have been settled satisfactorily.

Each student is entitled to one transcript without cost, regardless of how early in his/her academic career the request is made. A fee of $5 per copy must accompany subsequent requests. Requests should reach the Office of the Registrar at least one week before the date the transcript is needed.

Currently, the Registrar cannot accept requests via email; however, the request form is available online at www.registrar.uncc.edu/students/trans.htm. Fax and mailing address information can be found there as well.

FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA) NOTIFICATION

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. They are:

1.) The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the University receives a request for access.

Students should submit to the Registrar, dean, chair of the academic department, or other appropriate official written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The University official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the University official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.

2.) The right to request amendment of the student's education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.

Students may ask the University to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the University official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading.

If the University decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the University will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.

3.) The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

One exception that permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the University has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.

A school official has legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his/her professional responsibility.

4.) The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by UNC Charlotte to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The Office that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 20202.

UNC Charlotte intends to comply fully with these requirements. Policy Statement No. 69, "Student Records," explains the procedures for compliance. Students may obtain copies of the policy in the Office of the Registrar or online at www.legal.uncc.edu/policies/ps-69.html. Copies of the policy statement are also available for inspection in the offices of each dean and department chair. The policy includes a list of the locations of all education records maintained by the institution.

The following categories of personally identifiable information about students have been designated as public or directory information that may be disclosed for any purpose without student consent: name, local and permanent address, telephone number, email address, date and place of birth, class, major field of study, dates of attendance, enrollment status, degrees and awards (including scholarships) received, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of an athletic team, and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended.

Currently enrolled students may request that the University withhold disclosure of Directory Information by completing the appropriate form available in the Office of the Registrar. A request for non-disclosure will be honored by the University indefinitely, unless the student submits to the Registrar a written revocation of such request for non-disclosure.

All questions concerning this policy on educational records may be directed to the attention of the Registrar.

ACADEMIC STANDING

ACADEMIC HONORS

Chancellor's List. The Chancellor's List recognizes undergraduate students with outstanding records of academic performance. To qualify for the Chancellor's List during the fall or spring semester, a full time student must earn a grade point average of at least 3.8 in 12 or more semester hours of credit graded A, B, or C, with no grade less than C. A part time student must earn a combined fall and spring grade point average of at least 3.8 in 12 or more semester hours of credit graded A, B, or C, with no grade less than C. To qualify for the Chancellor's List as a part time student, a student must enroll on a part-time basis in both fall and spring semesters in the same academic year. Students who receive the grade of AU, H, or P are not excluded from recognition as long as 12 hours are completed with A, B, or C. Students who receive the grade of D, F, I, NR, or N are not eligible for recognition. Chancellor’s List recognition appears on the student’s academic record (official transcript).

Dean's List. The Dean's List recognizes undergraduate students who earn a grade point average of at least 3.4 and not more than 3.79 and meet all other criteria as described for the Chancellor's List.

Commencement Marshals. At each commencement ceremony, the University honors the juniors with the highest grade point averages by inviting them to serve as the marshals who lead the processions of graduates, faculty members, and the platform party. To select students for this honor, the University considers juniors who have completed 75 hours of degree work, enrolled full-time (12 or more hours per semester) during the two most recent semesters, and are able to attend the ceremony.

Graduation With Distinction. Students may earn undergraduate degrees at different levels of distinction: Cum Laude (“With Honor”), Magna Cum Laude (“With Great Honor”), and Summa Cum Laude (“With Highest Honor”). Each of the undergraduate degrees is awarded Cum Laude when the graduating student's cumulative grade point average is 3.4 or more but less than 3.80, Magna Cum Laude when it is at least 3.8 but less than 4.0, and Summa Cum Laude when it is 4.0. To be eligible to graduate with distinction, a student must have a grade point average computed on at least 48 semester hours of credit completed in residence at UNC Charlotte.

REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTINUED ENROLLMENT

Good Academic Standing. An undergraduate student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above at UNC Charlotte to remain in good academic standing.

Academic Probation. An undergraduate student who has a grade point deficit between 1 and 13 is placed on academic probation, and this is noted on the student's academic record and grade report.

Academic Suspension. A student is suspended when either of the following apply: (1) the student has a grade point deficit of 14 or more OR (2) the student fails to achieve good standing by the end of two successive semesters (excluding summer sessions).

However, a student will not be suspended:

(1) who was in good standing at the end of the most recent regular semester (excluding summer sessions); OR
(2) who is finishing the first regular semester of enrollment (excluding summer sessions) at UNC Charlotte; OR
(3) who has a 2.5 GPA for the current semester (excluding summer sessions); OR
(4) who is readmitted after a break in UNC Charlotte enrollment of two calendar years or more.

Exception for Summer Enrollment. Students who are on academic suspension are permitted to enroll in summer session classes. They are not eligible to continue enrollment in the fall and spring semesters until they have applied and been approved for readmission.

READMISSION OF FORMER STUDENTS

A student who has been suspended or has not attended UNC Charlotte for 12 consecutive months must make application for readmission to the University prior to the semester or summer term for which registration is sought. Application should be filed at the Office of the Registrar in accordance with the published dates. Such students must meet the GPA and departmental progression requirements of the major in which they will return. Official transcripts from any institution attended during the student’s absence from the University must be submitted prior to enrollment.

Failure to indicate all institutions of higher education attended on any application for admission or readmission to UNC Charlotte is considered falsification of the application and will result in forfeiture of the transfer of all credits from those institutions attended, as well as possible disciplinary action.

Associate Degree Rule. Students who leave UNC Charlotte and subsequently earn an Associate of Arts (AA), an Associate of Science (AS), or an Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) degree may apply for admission as transfer students and transfer a maximum of 64 semester hours, including hours from UNC Charlotte or other four-year institutions applied to the Associate degree. Students may be readmitted one time under either this Associate Degree Rule or the Two-Year Rule but not both.

Two-Year Rule for Undergraduate Students. Any undergraduate student who has not been enrolled at UNC Charlotte for a minimum period of 24 consecutive months is eligible for one readmission under the "Two-Year Rule." Students may be readmitted one time under either the Associate Degree Rule or the “Two-Year Rule” but not both. The “Two-Year Rule” will be applied automatically if the student is eligible. (Students electing not to have it applied may exercise this option by filing a form with the Registrar after consulting with their advisor.) Colleges and departments which have published admission or continued enrollment standards that are more restrictive than general University requirements retain the right to admit or to deny admission to a specific program.

If a student is readmitted under the provisions of the two-year rule, then only those courses for which the student has received a grade of C or better (or H or P) can be used for academic credit. His/her GPA will be based only on the courses that return with them and the work attempted after readmission. Eligibility for continued enrollment is determined as in the case of transfer students. To qualify for graduation with honors, a student must have a GPA computed on at least 48 hours taken in residence on which the UNC Charlotte GPA is based.

Second Baccalaureate Major/Additional Minor. Students who have earned a bachelor's degree from UNC Charlotte may apply for readmission into a program leading to a second major or to an additional minor. See requirements which follow.

Note. Readmission after suspension is not automatic. An application for readmission must be made and approved. Included in the approval must be an acceptance from the Department in which the student would major. (See the section on Readmission of Former Students elsewhere in this catalog.)

ACADEMIC SUSPENSION APPEAL PROCEDURES

Undergraduate students may appeal an academic suspension by submitting a written statement online to the Office of the Registrar at www.registrar.uncc.edu/students/susp.htm.

Other grievances relating to academic status are to be addressed by the college where the grievance arises or, if no particular college is appropriate, by the University Registrar.

Written procedures are available from the dean of each college and the Office of the Registrar. For additional information, see “Student Grievance Procedures” at www.legal.uncc.edu/StudentGrievanceProcedure.html.

TRANSFER CREDIT AND ADVANCED ACADEMIC STANDING

Evaluation of transfer credits, advanced standing, CLEP, AP, and IB are coordinated through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Prospective students who desire further information about policies and procedures for awarding credit should contact Undergraduate Admissions.

UNC Charlotte will accept appropriate undergraduate credits earned through AP, IB, CLEP, correspondence courses, extension courses, armed forces service schools, and college level courses completed prior to graduation from high school. In addition, UNC Charlotte will accept or transfer appropriate undergraduate and graduate credits earned at another accredited institution or through credit by examination. Credit toward a degree is not awarded for Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

Advanced Placement Course Credit (AP). The University will accept appropriate undergraduate credits earned through Advanced Placement Program Tests completed prior to graduation from high school. Students must request that official Advanced Placement test results be sent directly to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for evaluation (UNC Charlotte code 5105). Prospective students who desire further information about policies and procedures for awarding credit should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. View score requirements at www.admissions.uncc.edu.

International Baccalaureate Program (IB). The University will award credit for subjects in which students score appropriate scores on the IB examinations. Contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for further information. View score requirements at www.admissions.uncc.edu.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) General Examination. An undergraduate student may receive up to 23 semester hours of elective credit.

Subject Matter Examinations. Credit may be awarded for subject matter examinations listed below at the levels recommended in the current edition of CLEP Scores: Interpretation and Use:

Business
Information Systems and Computer Applications
Principles of Management
Introductory Accounting
Introductory Business Law
Principles of Marketing

Education
Introduction to Educational Psychology
Human Growth and Development

Foreign Language
College French I & II
College German I & II
College Spanish I & II

Humanities
American Literature
Analysis & Interpretation of Literature
College Composition (with Essay)
English Literature

Mathematics
Calculus w/Elementary Functions
College Algebra
College Algebra-Trigonometry
Trigonometry

Sciences
General Biology
General Chemistry

Social Sciences
American Government
American History I & II
Introduction to Psychology
Introduction to Macroeconomics
Introduction to Microeconomics
Introduction to Sociology
Western Civilization I & II

CLEP credit will be awarded according to UNC Charlotte policy in place at the time of evaluation. View score requirements at www.admissions.uncc.edu.

The amount of CLEP credit that is applicable to a specific degree program is determined by the Department offering the program.

Transfer Credit from Other Institutions. Transcripts are evaluated in the Admissions Office and the results are provided to the applicant and to the major department/ college. Determining the applicability of transferred credits to major or program requirements is the responsibility of the Department Chairperson or Program Director. General rules governing transfer credit:

1. Only courses taken at a regionally accredited institution will be considered for transfer credit.

2. Provisional transfer credit may be granted for study at foreign institutions or U.S. institutions that are not regionally accredited, but must be validated by 30 semester hours of successful performance in residence at UNC Charlotte.

3. Courses for which credit is accepted must be appropriate for approved University programs and curricula in which the student is enrolled.

4. Any course from an accredited institution that transfers as a course on the General Education list carrying the "IR" (initiation date retroactive indefinitely) notation will satisfy the goals for which the UNC Charlotte course is applicable. All restrictions that apply to UNC Charlotte courses apply to transfer courses.

5. No credit below C level will be accepted; grade points and averages do not transfer.

6. Transfer credit is awarded only upon receipt in the UNC Charlotte Office of Undergraduate Admissions of an official transcript from the institution where the credit was earned.

Credit for Military Training. The University will approve academic credit for military training equivalent to UNC Charlotte courses required for the students' major, minor, or General Education requirements and up to three hours of elective credit. The credit must be approved by the student's major Department Chair, College Dean, and the Department that offers the course.

Documentation of the training, such as a license of completion or notation on the student's DD Form 214, is required. The same requirements apply to transfer or military training credit approved by another institution. Contact the Office of the Registrar for further information.

Credit from Two-Year Institutions. The University accepts a maximum of 64 semester hours of credit from two year institutions for undergraduate students.

Transient Study. Courses undertaken by UNC Charlotte undergraduate degree students at other accredited institutions may be transferred to the University subject to the following regulations:

1. The University is not obligated to accept any credit from another institution unless the student has obtained the prior approval of the dean of the college in which he/she is enrolled. A Permit for Transient Study form should be completed and filed in the UNC Charlotte Office of the Registrar prior to enrollment at another institution.

2. No credit will be accepted for courses below C level for undergraduate students or below B level for graduate students.

3. The student must request that an official transcript be mailed to the Office of the Registrar upon completion of the course. A form for this purpose is available in the Office of the Registrar.

4. College of Arts and Sciences students are not permitted to take courses at another educational institution in the fall or spring semester if they are enrolled full-time (12 credits or more) at UNC Charlotte in the same semester unless it is a course not offered at UNC Charlotte (e.g., American Sign Language).

Credit by Examination. A student currently enrolled at UNC Charlotte may pass a specially prepared challenge examination and receive credit for a University course without having to do the normal course work. The student contacts the Chair of the Department in which credit is sought to request administration of an examination. Since it may not be appropriate to award credit by examination for some courses, the decision to offer an examination is that of the Department. If the Chair authorizes an examination, the student is instructed to pay the required fee for credit by examination and to bring the receipt of payment to the examination. Hours earned through credit by examination will be indicated on the transcript, but no grade points will be awarded. Hours attempted will be assigned equal to the hours earned. Failure on such an examination will incur no grade point penalty or hours attempted. A department may allow a student to take examinations for courses not offered at UNC Charlotte, if it deems it appropriate to do so. No student may challenge a course for which either a passing or failing grade has been received at UNC Charlotte.

GRADUATION

Application for the Degree. Each student should make application for his/her degree no later than the filing date specified in the academic calendar. The application may be submitted through the Registrar’s web page at www.registrar.uncc.edu. The fee for graduation is $57. Degrees are awarded at commencement exercises held at the end of the Fall and Spring semesters; however, the diploma and transcript will reflect the term in which all requirements were completed.

Students completing their degree requirements in May participate in the May ceremony. Students completing degrees in a summer term, as well as those completing in December, participate in the December ceremony.

Teacher Licensure. Students who have completed degree requirements and obtained passing scores on appropriate exit tests (e.g., Principles of Teaching and Learning, Praxis II Subject Assessments) must apply for licensure through the Office of Student Academic Services (OSAS) in the College of Education. OSAS will process and submit application packets including Praxis scores, final transcripts, and required fees to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI). Licenses are mailed directly to applicants by NCDPI.

BACCALAUREATE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Credit Hours. The baccalaureate degrees require completion of 120-128 semester hours of credit, including all requirements for a major field of study. Specific requirements for degrees and programs are presented under each College Department’s section of this Catalog.

Residence. A student must earn the last 25% of baccalaureate degree requirements at UNC Charlotte, including the last 12 semester hours of work in the major field and at least six hours of any minor field of study. Exceptions to these hour provisions may be made upon the recommendation of the student's major department and with the approval of the dean of the college of the student's major.

Coursework taken in residence shall be construed to mean work offered by UNC Charlotte and taken in courses on the UNC Charlotte campus or at an approved off-campus center. Credit earn