ACADEMIC POLICIES
Requirements for Graduation
Academic Procedures and Policies
Requirements For Baccalaureate Graduation
Though appropriate UNCP
faculty and staff make every effort to insure that students register for the
courses required by their chosen degree program, the ultimate responsibility
for meeting graduation requirements lies with the individual student. Each
candidate for graduation must meet all of the following requirements:
1. Have a minimum of 120 to 128 semester hours of course work in accordance with specific degree requirements excluding ENG 104, MAT 104, EDN 104;
2. Have successfully completed the General Education Program;
3. Earn a grade of “C” (2.0) or better in both English composition courses, ENG 105 and ENG 106;
4. Have successfully completed a program for an academic major;
5. Have a minimum overall cumulative quality point average of 2.0 and have a minimum cumulative quality point average of 2.0 in all work attempted at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke;
6. Have a minimum overall cumulative quality point average of 2.0 in the major field of study;
7. Complete a minimum of 9 semester hours above the General Education Program level in the major field of study at UNC Pembroke if the student transferred here;
8. Be registered during the academic year in which the student’s graduation occurs;
9. Complete the last 25 percent of course work in residence at UNC Pembroke;
10. Count no more than 3 semester hours of activity courses toward the credit hours required for graduation. Activity courses are defined as having: no regularly scheduled class meeting time, no well defined instructional format, and no graded (A, B, C, D) work required. Excluded from this definition are FRS 100 (Freshman Seminar) and supervised internship courses.
11. Count no more than 24 semester hours of correspondence and/or extension credit (with no more than 12 hours of correspondence from regionally accredited institutions toward a degree, provided that such correspondence credit is approved by the Office of the Registrar and will not be applied to satisfy specifically stated course requirements in major programs) (NOTE: Any student needing to take correspondence work after admission to study at UNC Pembroke may be permitted to do so only after obtaining formal approval from the student’s academic advisor, from the Office of Academic Affairs, and from the Office of the Registrar.);
12. Meet the requirements of one catalog which were current at the time the student entered this institution or a subsequent catalog. Students will not be allowed to meet some of the requirements of one catalog and some of the requirements of another catalog;
13. Meet the requirements of the catalog in effect at time of readmission or those of a subsequent catalog if attendance is interrupted for more than one semester;
14. Have the recommendation of the faculty;
15. Make application for the degree by November 1st for the following spring or summer commencement and April 1st for the following winter commencement when earned hours reach 75 (end of first semester of junior year).
a. Complete (including all required signatures) a Degree Application Form (available in the Office of the Registrar);
b. Pay a non-refundable graduation fee of $40 by the required date or an additional $25 late filing fee will be charged;
c. If a candidate fails to qualify by the time of commencement, but does qualify at a later time, the student must submit another application and a $25 diploma fee;
d. If the candidate fails to meet this requirement as specified, the student must wait until the next commencement to receive his or her degree;
16. Satisfy all financial obligations to the University.
All candidates are encouraged to complete a file in the Career Services Center.
Commencement
A student may complete
graduation requirements at the end of fall, spring or summer session. A student who completes requirements in fall
or spring is required to attend commencement at that time. A student who completes
graduation at the close of the summer sessions will have the option of
returning to participate in the winter commencement or of receiving the diploma
in absentia. If the student elects to receive the diploma in absentia, the
student must submit to the Registrar one month prior to commencement a written
request which indicates the address to which the diploma will be mailed. The
diploma will be mailed after commencement.
A student may participate in
commencement exercises if he or she has met all the requirements for
graduation. When commencement takes place before final grades are processed, a
student may participate in commencement if the Registrar has not been notified
that the student will not meet all the requirements by the last day of exams.
PERMISSION TO TAKE A COURSE AS A VISITOR AT ANOTHER UNIVERSITY
Students who wish to enroll in
courses at other institutions to apply toward a degree at UNCP must adhere to the
following policies:
1. Have written approval from their UNCP advisor.
2. Have written approval from their UNCP Department Chair if the course is part of their major curriculum.
3. Have written approval from the UNCP Registrar.
4. Have a minimum QPA of 2.0.
5. Be in good social standing.
6. Have an official transcript submitted to the UNCP Office of the Registrar immediately upon completion of the course.
7. After attaining junior standing (60 hours), no student may take or transfer courses from any two-year college.
8. After completing 75% of course work, no student may take or transfer courses from any other academic institution.
9. Courses accepted for transfer credit will be evaluated in terms of UNCP’s academic policies, curriculum and the student’s proposed program at UNCP. Fractional credit will not be granted for partial completion of any course.
10. Credit hours will transfer for courses in which the student earns a “C” or better. Grades earned at other institutions are not used to compute UNCP’s quality point average.
11. Permission will not be granted to repeat a course at another institution. Students may elect to repeat any course if the original course and the repeat course are taken at UNCP.
COURSE LOAD AND PROGRESS TOWARD GRADUATION
Students are expected to
enroll in at least 15-16 semester hours credit per term so that it is possible
for them to graduate in four years (eight semesters). Full-time students must carry at least 12 semester hours each
semester. The maximum load is 18 semester hours except as follows. Students who
are on the Honors List may take up to 19 semester hours; students who are on
the Chancellor’s List may take up to 21 semester hours. Summer session students
may carry no more than 7 semester hours each summer session term. All course work counts toward student load
whether the student is enrolled for credit or as an auditor at this or another
institution
All undergraduate degree
programs at UNCP require between 120-128 semester hours for graduation. In
order to graduate in 4 years (8 semesters), it is necessary to take (and pass)
15-16 semester hours for 8 semesters. Students must work with their advisors
and their major departments to ensure that they follow the scheduling sequence
of required courses for their majors.
Students entering as of fall
1994 who take more than 140 hours to
complete a baccalaureate degree must pay a tuition surcharge of 25%. (See
Tuition and Fees.)
ACADEMIC PROCEDURES AND POLICIES
Students are expected to learn
the University requirements and regulations which are applicable to them, and
are individually responsible for meeting all such requirements and
regulations. Before the close of each semester, the student is expected to discharge
all financial obligations to the University. A student may not register for
a new semester nor receive a degree, certificate, or transcript until all University
bills are paid.
UNDERGRADUATE GRADING AND ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY
Regulations concerning
academic eligibility are subject to constant revision and change. In the event
of a change all students will conform to the newer regulations.
Classification
of Students
Regular students at UNCP are
classified according to the number of semester hours they have earned in
keeping with the following table:
|
Less than 30 hours-Freshman |
60 to 89 hours-Junior |
|
30 to 59 hours-Sophomore |
90 hours to graduation-Senior |
Grading
System (Undergraduate)
Students may view their
midterm and final grades on BraveWeb.
Students needing a copy of their grades may print them from BraveWeb or
request a transcript.
A letter grade and plus-minus
system for evaluating academic performance is used for evaluating all
undergraduate students. Each letter grade has a quality point value for each
semester hour it represents. The hour and quality points are used in
determining a student’s grade point average for a semester’s work and in
averaging grades for all work completed to find a student’s cumulative quality
point average.
Academic eligibility for a
student shall be determined by current regulations.
The letter grades and quality
points represented by each, as of 1 January 1989, are as follows:
|
A = 4.0 |
B-=2.7 |
D+ = 1.3 |
P = 0.0 |
|
A- = 3.7 |
C+= 2.3 |
D = 1.0 |
I = 0.0 |
|
B+=3.3 |
C = 2.0 |
D- = 0.7 |
T= 0.0 |
|
B = 3.0 |
C- = 1.7 |
F = 0.0 |
W or AU=
0.0 |
The “P” grade is earned in
designated courses and carries semester hours credit. However, the hours are
not counted in quality hours. Quality hours are the hours used in figuring
quality point averages.
The “I,” or incomplete grade,
is given when a student is unable to complete required work because of an
unavoidable circumstance such as illness.
It is not to be given to enable a student to do additional work to
improve a grade. Assigning the “I”
grade is at the discretion of the individual instructor. It is the student’s responsibility to
request the “I” grade. Generally, the
student will have completed most of the work required for the course before the
“I” grade is requested. An incomplete
must be removed within one semester (excluding summer term) or it will
automatically be converted to a grade of “F” by the University Registrar. In
determination of quality hours and quality point averages, an “I” is counted as
an “F” until it is removed. An “I” grade does not fulfill prerequisite
requirements.
The “T,” grade pending, is
given only for University Honors College courses until the thesis or project is
completed.
The “W” grade is assigned when
a student withdraws from a course during the designated drop-add period or when
special permission is granted to withdraw (see below, for withdrawal process).
When a student receives a “W” grade, the grade is recorded, but the semester
hours attempted are not counted as quality hours.
Audited classes are listed on
the permanent record. They are designated by the letters “AU.” The AU’s and W’s will be listed as attempted
hours, but not as quality hours for figuring quality point averages.
Quality Point Average and Scholastic Standing
Scholastic standing at UNC Pembroke
is based on the quality point average. To figure quality point average,
multiply the number of quality hours (attempted hours minus P credits, AU’s and
W’s) assigned to each course by the number of quality points received, add the
quality points received for all courses, and divide by the number of quality
hours.
Example:
|
Course |
Final Course Grade |
Quality Hours |
x |
Quality Points |
= |
Quality Points Earned |
|
Course A |
C+ |
3 |
x |
2.3 |
= |
6.9 |
|
Course B |
B- |
3 |
x |
2.7 |
= |
8.1 |
|
Course C |
A |
1 |
x |
4.0 |
= |
4.0 |
|
Course D |
P |
0* |
x |
0.0 |
= |
0.0 |
|
Course E |
F |
1 |
x |
0.0 |
= |
0.0 |
|
Course F |
B |
3 |
x |
3.0 |
= |
9.0 |
|
Course G |
A- |
3 |
x |
3.7 |
= |
11.1 |
|
Course H |
I |
2 |
x |
0.0 |
= |
0.0 |
|
|
|
Total Quality Hrs. 16 |
|
|
|
Total Quality Pts. 39.1 |
Quality Point Average = 39.1 divided by 16 = 2.44
*A grade of P counts as hours earned but not as quality hours and is computed as 0 hours in figuring quality point averages.
A cumulative quality point
average is obtained by including in the quality point average calculation the
quality hours and quality points received from UNCP only.
Minimum
Scholastic Requirements
To indicate to a student
his/her scholastic standing, four categories have been established: good
standing, warning, probation, and suspension. Suspension means a minimum of two
semesters separation from the University to allow more maturation in those
attributes that enhance the student’s academic ability.
Required levels of academic
achievement increase progressively over the approximately four years leading to
graduation. This is in recognition of the adjustment period of transition from
high school to college level, which is sometimes difficult. The total semester
hours from all colleges attended will be the basis for determining the required
minimum cumulative Quality Point Average (QPA). However only those grades
earned at the University will be used to compute the student’s cumulative
quality point average. The cumulative quality point averages required are as
follows:
|
Semester Hours |
Quality Point Average |
|
1-29 |
1.375 |
|
30-44 |
1.500 |
|
45-59 |
1.625 |
|
60-74 |
1.750 |
|
75-89 |
1.875 |
|
90
or more |
2.000 |
Academic Warning and Probation Policy
A student who falls below the
specified cumulative grade point average for the number of quality hours
attempted (including transfer hours) will be placed on warning (1-18 attempted
hours) or probation (19 or more attempted hours) and restricted to enrollment
of not more than 13 semester hours.
The following policies will
apply to students who are placed on warning/probation:
1. In order to be taken off warning/probation, the student with 1-18 attempted hours must reach the required grade point average in two (2) semesters; the student with 19 or more attempted hours must reach the required grade point average in one (1) semester.
2. If the required cumulative minimum grade point average is not reached in the specified time, the student may continue on warning/probation if a grade point average of 2.0 or higher is earned for the probationary semester[s].
3. If either of the above requirements is not satisfied, the student will be suspended for two (2) semesters.
4. Any new student (first-semester freshman or new transfer student) who receives all “F”s in academic (three-semester-hour) courses will be placed on academic probation. In order to continue in the second semester, an academic contract must be completed in the Office of Advisement and Retention, and the student must enroll in a 6-week, non-credit Academic Success Seminar. One of the following conditions must be met to avoid a two (2) semester suspension at the conclusion of the second semester: (a) a second semester quality point average (QPA) of 2.0 or higher, and/or (b) an overall quality point average (QPA) above, or equal to, the University minimum for the number of earned semester hours.
a. Suspension and Readmission
After at least two semesters
of academic suspension for failure to meet the Minimum Scholastic Requirements
outlined above, a student may apply for readmission. Before registering for
classes, the student must meet with the Director of Retention Activities and
complete an “Academic Success Contract” that specifies the actions the student
will take to improve his/her academic standing. The Academic Success Contract will specify the following, all at
the discretion of the Director of Retention Activities: 1) the number of
semester hours (6-13) for which the student can register, 2) a schedule of
regular meetings with the Retention Officer, 3) class attendance policies, and
4) other appropriate intervention strategies.
Only after the Academic
Success Contract is signed by the student and the Director of Retention
Activities will the student be allowed to register for courses. Copies of the
Academic Success Contract will be kept on file in the Office of Advisement and
Retention and the Academic Affairs Office. The student’s advisor and the
student will also receive copies.
b.
Suspension and Early Readmission
A student may appeal his or
her two-semester suspension by complying with the following procedure:
1. Meet with the Director of Retention Activities and complete an Academic Success Contract, as defined above.
2. Enroll in a 6-week, non-credit seminar on academic success.
3. Present a written appeal to the Readmission Appeals Committee at least four days prior to registration for classes that contains the following items:
A) justification for the student’s early readmittance;
B) written proof of health, personal, or other problems that may have affected the student’s academic performance in the past, with an explanation of how these problems will be remedied
C) a signed copy of the Academic Success Contract.
If the required cumulative
minimum grade point average is not reached by the end of the semester, the
student may continue on warning/probation if a grade point average of 2.3 or
higher is earned for the probationary semester.
c.
Special Readmission Policy (See Admissions section of the catalog.)
Academic Honors
Graduation
with Honors
Graduating seniors may be considered
for honors if they have earned a Quality Point Average (QPA) of at least 3.4
for 45 semester hours of course work in residence at UNCP. All course work
attempted (including quality hours from other institutions and repeated hours)
will be included in the calculation of the cumulative QPA for determining the
particular honors designation awarded. Students who attain a cumulative QPA of
3.85 or higher are graduated summa cum
laude. Those who achieve a minimum cumulative QPA of 3.7 are graduated magna cum laude and students whose
cumulative QPA is at least 3.4 are graduated cum laude.
Students who achieve the hours
and the QPA requirement at the beginning of the last semester of their senior
year will be recognized at commencement. The final assessment is done after
graduation and honors are pending for all students until this is completed. The
honors designation will appear on the student’s diploma and transcript.
Honors/Chancellor’s
List
Students are eligible for
Honors List if they achieve a minimum semester quality point average of 3.2
while passing at least 15 semester hours of course work, of which at least 12
hours must not be Pass/Fail.
Students are eligible for
Chancellor’s List if they achieve a minimum semester quality point average of
3.7 while passing at least 15 semester hours of course work, of which at least
12 hours must not be Pass/Fail.
ORIENTATION AND ADVISEMENT
Freshman Orientation and Testing
A summer orientation program
is sponsored by the University for all new freshmen. The program is designed to
acquaint students with the academic, co-curricular, and social life of the
University. A battery of required University-administered tests is given to all
students during the orientation session.
Each freshman will take a
battery of University-administered tests prior to the student’s first
registration. No student will be allowed to register without being tested. The
tests will be administered during the Freshman Orientation sessions held in the
summer. The tests are not entrance examinations and will not deny admission to
any student. The purpose of the test is to provide information to assist in
advising every student and in planning the student’s program.
Students
who score below acceptable standards on the University-administered test in
Composition will be placed in CMA 104. Students who score below acceptable
standards on the University-administered mathematics test will be placed in MAT
104. Students who score below acceptable standards on the reading test will be
placed in EDN 104 (College Reading). Students placing in one or more of these
courses will be advised to limit their course loads to 12 semester hours in the
fall semester and to seek tutorial aid. CMA 104, MAT 104, and EDN 104 do not
count toward graduation.
Academic Advisement
New freshmen are advised by
the staff of the Office of Advisement and Retention when registering for first
semester courses, after which time they will be assigned faculty advisors. In most cases, Freshman Seminar instructors
become their students’ advisors. When a
student declares a major, he or she will be assigned an advisor in the
appropriate academic department. The
advisor’s role is to assist the student in planning a suitable academic program
and to maintain a record of progress during the student’s college career. However, the final responsibility for
meeting all academic program requirements lies with the student. The Office of
Advisement and Retention also serves as a resource center for students who may
wish to seek additional academic help.
In addition, faculty members may refer students to the Office of
Advisement and Retention for academic counseling.
REGISTRATION PROCEDURES AND POLICIES
Registration
Each student must complete
registration online. No student is considered to be officially registered until
the student has completed registration as outlined below. Students who fail to
complete registration as prescribed will have their names dropped from all
class rolls. If these students subsequently request to register, they must
follow registration procedures just as if they had not started registration
before.
The advisor’s role is to
assist the student in planning a suitable academic program. However,
the student is responsible for following all applicable academic
regulations. This includes general
education requirements, prerequisites, and major/minor requirements. Students are individually responsible for
all course registrations and for completing the requirements for
graduation. The Office of the Registrar
will drop students who register for courses without following departmental or
University regulations. Each student
must register online prior to the first day of class. After classes begin, each student must register in person in the
Office of the Registrar.
The University has a two-phase
registration system: the early registration phase and the regular registration
phase.
Students currently enrolled at
the University of North Carolina at Pembroke may complete their registration
by: (1) consulting with their advisor during the designated early registration
period, (2) obtaining the registration material (Permit to Register Card) from
the advisor and preparing their class schedule for the next semester, (3)
registering for the approved course work online, and (4) paying tuition and
fees to the Cashier’s Office.
Students
entering UNCP for the first time or returning after an absence of one semester
or more may complete their registration by: (1) consulting with their advisor
during the designated registration period, (2) obtaining a Permit to Register
Card and preparing their class schedule for the semester, (3) registering for
the approved course work online, and (4) paying tuition and fees at the
Cashier’s Office.
Adding, Dropping, and Withdrawing from Courses
After a student has completed
registration the only way the student’s schedule can be changed is through the
drop-add procedure. To add a course a student must obtain a Drop-Add Form from
an academic department, complete the form, have it approved by his or her
advisor, obtain the signature of the gaining professor, and present the form to
the Office of the Registrar. To drop a
course a student must obtain a Drop-Add Form from an academic department,
complete the form, have it approved by his or her advisor, and present the form
to the Office of the Registrar.
A student may withdraw from a
course after the drop-add period but prior to and including the last day of the
first week of classes after midterm grades are reported, with a grade of W, if
the student obtains the signature of her or his advisor.
Withdrawal without penalty from a course or courses after the
deadline for withdrawal but before the last two weeks of classes in the
semester, may be approved only for appropriate cause such as serious illness.
Appropriate documentation is required. Unsatisfactory academic performance does
not by itself constitute sufficient reason to grant a late withdrawal.
The student should secure a
course withdrawal form from the Registrar’s office, obtain the instructor’s
signature and the advisor’s signature, and return the form to the Academic
Affairs Office for review. Approved requests receive W in the course. A copy of
the completed form and any required documentation must be on file with the
Academic Affairs Office before a late course withdrawal will be considered. A second
copy of the completed withdrawal form will be forwarded to the Registrar’s
Office for entry of the assigned grade.
Withdrawal from the University
Up to the last day to receive
a W in a course, a student may complete a “Request for Withdrawal” form,
available from the Office of the Registrar. The student should get the required
signatures, take the I.D. card to the Student Accounts Office, and return the
form to the Office of the Registrar. The University makes applicable refunds
only after the withdrawal procedure is completed.
After the last day to receive
a W in a course, the Office for Academic Affairs approves withdrawal from the
University without academic penalty only when unusual and documentable
circumstances warrant. Unsatisfactory academic performance does not by itself meet the requirement. As soon
as possible, and no later than before the beginning of the last two weeks of
classes in the semester, the student petitioning to withdraw from the
University must meet with the Assistant Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs,
present the required documentation, and complete the necessary forms. Approved
requests receive W in all courses.
Students who stop attending classes without completing the withdrawal
procedure ordinarily receive an F in courses for which they are registered.
Repetition of Courses
a. Students Entering UNCP Prior to Fall 1994
Undergraduate students who
entered UNC Pembroke before the fall of 1994 and who repeat a course will
adhere to the following policy: Any course may be repeated. Semester hours and
quality points in courses repeated are counted only once, and the most recent
grade and the quality points corresponding to the most recent grade are used in
computing the quality point average and meeting graduation requirements.
b.
Students Entering UNCP for Fall 1994 and Thereafter
Beginning with the fall
semester of 1994, undergraduate students who enter UNC Pembroke will have all
enrollments in courses graded A, B, C, D (plus or minus), F and I included in
the computations of their overall grade point average and hours attempted.
Students may, for a variety of
reasons, elect to repeat any course. The original course and the repeat course
must be taken at UNCP. The following policies will govern the credit awarded
and the computation of quality point averages:
1. Credit hours earned in a
particular course will not be awarded more than one time.
2. When a course is repeated,
the grade earned in an earlier attempt can be replaced in the calculation of
the quality point average by a higher grade earned in a repeat of the class.
Students entering UNCP as freshmen will have the option of replacing a maximum
of 15 credit hours with improved grades earned by repeating courses. Students
transferring or readmitted to UNCP may replace grades for courses taken at UNCP
for a maximum number of hours as determined by the scale below, which is based
on the number of hours accepted for transfer or readmission.
|
Transfer or Readmission Hours
Accepted as of Fall 1994 |
Maximum Hours for Replacement |
|
0-23
hours |
15 |
|
24-51
hours |
12 |
|
52-89
hours |
9 |
|
90
or more hours |
6 |
|
Candidate
for Second Bachelor’s degree |
6 |
3. The student must secure a
form from the Registrar’s office and indicate in writing which course grades
are to be replaced for computation of the quality point average. The form
designating specific course grade replacements will be maintained on permanent
file in the Registrar’s office. Decisions for course grade replacement are irrevocable.
INTERNSHIPS, PRACTICA, AND INDEPENDENT LEARNING
Internships, practica, and
other external learning experiences provide opportunities for students to earn
academic credit for approved work or research programs in cooperating
business-government, or education organizations. The internships, which are of
one-term duration, are open to qualified junior or senior students with the
approval of the department chairman.
All internships, practica, and
other external learning experiences are supervised by UNC Pembroke faculty, who
also assign grades in the courses.
Experiential Learning and Cooperative Education
Practical work experience is
very important in today’s world. Students at UNC Pembroke may elect to get some
practical work experience which is related to their program major (or minor)
through several practical work experiences.
a. Experiential Learning Program: Experiential Learning is a working-and-learning arrangement. The student negotiates a proposal in some area of interest to the student. Negotiation involves the student, the University, and an organization (business, agency, etc.) where the student plans to work. Experiential Learning is available through academic departments and requires approval of the chairman.
The following regulations
govern the offerings of Experiential Learning:
1. The Experiential Learning Program consists largely of Experiential Learning I and Experiential Learning II. A student must take the courses in numerical order. They cannot be taken concurrently.
2. The amount of credit that can be earned in Experiential Learning I and II varies from one to three semester hours in each course, and is jointly determined by the student and the student’s major advisor on the basis of what the student contracts to do.
3. To be eligible for enrollment in Experiential Learning I or II, a student must:
* have declared for a major program in a department which provides its students with practical work experience through Experiential Learning I and II;
* be classified as a junior or senior;
* have an overall cumulative quality point average of at least 2.0;
* have the written recommendation and approval of the major department chairman and the major advisor.
4. Each eligible student who registers for Experiential Learning I or II is required to sign and carry out a written work-learning contract jointly developed by the student, the student’s advisor, and the organization providing the practical work experience which states:
* what the student is to do, what the major advisor is to do, and what the organization is to do;
* the number of semester hours the students will earn in completing the contract;
* that credit will be earned only if all of the contracted work is completed with a contract period of one-semester or term of summer session;
5. Eligible students are allowed to use not more than a total of six semester hours credit in Experiential Learning I and II in meeting the 128 semester hours minimum requirement for the degree.
b. Cooperative Education Program: Cooperative Education is an arrangement whereby UNC Pembroke cooperates with an outside business or agency to help a student directly explore a career-related field as an integral part of the educational program. The program allows participating students to alternate full-time work and on-campus study as complementary educational experiences while pursuing an academic degree program. To be eligible, a student must have completed a minimum of 30 semester hours and normally must have earned a cumulative QPA of 2.0 or above. Participants typically receive pay, and academic credit may be awarded if approved by the department chair, the Academic Affairs office, and the Registrar. Cooperative Education is coordinated by the Career Services Center.
Independent Study
A student who wishes to enroll
in an Independent Study Course in any department must: (1) meet the
requirements established by the department for Independent Study and (2) submit
a written Request for Independent Study to the department chair. The Request
for Independent Study must include a complete description of the Independent
Study Project and a schedule for submission of the Project. The Request must be
approved by (1) the professor supervising the Independent Study Project and (2)
the department chair. A student may
elect to work for one, two, or three semester hours of credit.
Upon completion of the
Independent Study Project, the student must submit the Project to the
supervising professor. The supervising
professor will evaluate the Project and assign a grade. A copy of the Project will be submitted to
the department chair, who will keep it on file.
Departments permitting
Independent Study Projects will have written guidelines setting out the
requirements for Independent Study.
Supervision of Independent Study Projects by faculty is voluntary.
CLASS ATTENDANCE POLICIES
Regular class attendance is
important to the educational experience of each student and to the academic
integrity of the university curriculum. Students are expected to attend every
class beginning with the first session. The University reserves the right to
administratively withdraw students who have never attended any classes for the
semester. Regular class attendance is a
student responsibility. 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.
For all general education
classes, instructors will keep attendance records. If a student misses three consecutive class meetings, or misses more
classes than the instructor deems advisable, the instructor will notify the
Office of Freshman Seminar and Academic
Advisement (administrator of the Early Alert program) for appropriate
follow-up. Departments may also
develop and distribute attendance policies and procedures to be followed for
students who miss an excessive number of classes.
For all classes, instructors
have the discretion to determine how the attendance policy will be implemented,
the circumstances under which make-up work may be allowed, and whether
attendance will be used as a criterion in determining the final grade.
Excessive absences may result in failure. Faculty will distribute a written statement of their attendance policy as
part of the course syllabus. Students
should not enroll in a course if participation in University-sponsored
activities causes them to miss an excessive number of classes, as determined by
the instructor.
When the University is
officially closed, no student can be counted absent, even if the instructor
holds class. Any course-related
material will be made available in some form by the instructor.
NOTICE
CONCERNING THE INSPECTION AND RELEASE OF STUDENT RECORDS
The University of North
Carolina at Pembroke complies with all provisions of the Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. The full statement of the University’s policy
is available in the Office of the Registrar located in Lumbee Hall. With some exceptions, students have the
right to inspect and to challenge the contents of their education records. Access to academic records is coordinated
through the Registrar’s Office.
Students wishing to inspect their records should contact the Registrar
in Lumbee Hall between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday,
while the University is in session.
The University routinely
releases to the public so-called Directory Information, as follows: the
student’s name, address, telephone listing, electronic mail address, major
field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports,
weight and height of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards
received, and previous educational agency or institution attended by the
student. Any student who wishes to have
the above Directory Information withheld must complete and sign a request in
the Registrar’s Office. This request
must be renewed at the beginning of each semester.
FEDERAL FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA):
Certain personally
identifiable information about students (“education records”) may be maintained
at The University of North Carolina General Administration, which serves the
Board of Governors of the University system. This student information may be
the same as, or derivative of, information maintained by a constituent
institution of the University; or it may be additional information. Whatever
their origins, education records maintained at General Administration are
subject to the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974
(FERPA).
FERPA provides that a student
may inspect his or her education records. If the student finds the records to
be inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights,
the student may request amendment to the record. FERPA also provides that a
student’s personally identifiable information may not be released to someone
else unless (1) the student has given a proper consent for disclosure or (2)
provisions of FERPA or federal regulations issued pursuant to FERPA permit the
information to be released without the student’s consent.
A student may file with the
U.S. Department of Education a complaint concerning failure of General
Administration or an institution to comply with FERPA.
The policies of The University
of North Carolina General Administration concerning FERPA may be inspected in
the office at each constituent institution designated to maintain the FERPA
policies of the institution. Policies of General Administration may also be
accessed in the Office of the Secretary of The University of North Carolina,
General Administration, 910 Raleigh Road, Chapel Hill, NC.
Further details about FERPA
and FERPA procedures at General Administration are to be found in the referenced
policies. Questions about the policies may be directed to Legal Section, Office
of the President, The University of North Carolina, General Administration,
Annex Building, 910 Raleigh Road, Chapel Hill, NC (mailing address P.O. Box
2688, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2688; tel: 919-962-4588). Edition 5/97
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT PEMBROKE
ACADEMIC HONOR CODE
I. OVERVIEW
The University of North
Carolina at Pembroke Academic Honor Code sets forth the standards of academic
honesty and integrity for students at UNCP and describes attendant faculty
responsibilities. Students and faculty are expected to be familiar with its
provisions. This Code defines student behavior which violates the standards
(Section III), and enumerates the penalties for violations and the
circumstances under which such penalties may be imposed (Section IV).
Section V sets forth the procedures for dealing with cases where a violation of the Academic Honor Code is alleged. Those procedures permit a faculty member to address a student’s first violation through discussion with the student. If the student freely admits the offense and accepts the penalty assigned by the faculty member, an agreement settling the matter is signed by both, the faculty member imposes the penalty, and the matter ends (Section V.A.). If UNCP records show that the student has previously committed an Academic Honor Code violation, or if the student decides not to admit guilt or accept the penalty, or if the faculty member believes that the seriousness of the offense warrants a more severe penalty than those which may be imposed in the settlement process, the matter must be referred to the Campus hearing Board (Section V.B.) if any penalty is to be imposed. The Campus Hearing Board hears the evidence from the faculty member and student and determines whether the student did commit a violation. If no violation if found, the matter ends and no penalty may be imposed. If the Campus Hearing Board finds that the student did commit a violation, it determines the appropriate penalty (Section V.C.). A student found guilty may appeal the Campus Hearing Board’s decision to the Campus Appeal Board (Section V.D.).
II.
STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES
Academic honor and integrity
are essential to the existence of a university community. Without maintenance
of high standards of honesty, members of the instructional faculty are
defrauded, students are unfairly treated, and society itself is poorly served.
Maintaining the academic standards of honesty and integrity is ultimately the
formal responsibility of the instructional faculty. To meet their
responsibilities when academic dishonesty is suspected, individual faculty
members must follow the policies and procedures stated in this Code.
Students are also members of
the academic community. As responsible members of the University, students are
obligated not to violate the basic standards of honor, and they are expected to
take an active role in encouraging other members to respect those standards.
Should a student suspect a violation of the Academic Honor Code, he/she should
make the suspicion known to a member of the faculty or University
administration.
Commitment to maintaining and
encouraging high standards of academic honesty and integrity is demonstrated in
many ways. One manifestation is the policies and procedures governing violation
of the standards. Herein contained are the provisions of the UNCP Academic
Honor Code.
III.
DEFINITIONS OF VIOLATIONS
Definitions and/or examples of
violations of the Academic Honor Code are as follows.
A. CHEATING:
Intentionally using or
attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, notes, study aids or
other devices in any academic exercise. This definition includes unauthorized
communication (oral and/or written) or receipt of such information during an
academic exercise.
B. PLAGIARISM:
Intentionally or knowingly
presenting the work of another as one’s own (i.e., without proper acknowledgment
of the source).
C. FABRICATION AND FALSIFICATION:
Intentional and unauthorized
alteration or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise.
Falsification is a matter of altering information while fabrication is a matter
of inventing or counterfeiting information for use in any academic exercise.
D. ABUSE OF ACADEMIC MATERIALS:
Intentionally or knowingly
destroying, stealing, or making inaccessible library or other academic
material.
E. COMPLICITY IN ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
Intentionally or knowingly
helping or attempting to help another to commit an act of academic dishonesty.
IV.
PENALTIES
All acts of academic
dishonesty violate standards essential to the existence of any academic
community. Some first offenses are properly handled and remedied by the faculty
member teaching the specific course in which they occur. The faculty member
must use the settlement procedure described in Section V to handle such an
offense. The penalties which may be assessed are limited to the following: (a)
a formal warning/reprimand, (b) a reduced grade (including F) for the
assignment, (c) a reduced grade (including F) for the entire course. Whatever
the penalty, a signed form regarding the settlement will be kept for five years
(or until the student graduates) in the Office for Student Affairs. The purpose
of this record-keeping is to be sure students who violate the Academic Honor
Code a second time are dealt with appropriately. A second purpose is to deter
students from repeating offenses.
All second offenses and some
first offenses have import beyond the specific course in which the violation
occurred. The Campus Hearing Board handles such violations, and the possible
penalties are greater. In these cases the Campus Hearing Board may impose any
of the penalties listed above (a,b,c) and/or the following: (d) disciplinary
suspension from the University for a designated period of time (one semester,
one year, etc.); or (e) dismissal from University for an indefinite period of
time.
In all determinations of
penalty, the following factors should be considered:
1. The nature and seriousness of the offense.
2. The injury or damage resulting from the misconduct.
3. The student’s motivation and state of mind at the time of the incident.
4. The student’s prior disciplinary record.
5. The student’s attitude and demeanor subsequent to the violation.
V.
PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING CASES
A faculty member responsible
for assigning final grades in a course may acquire evidence directly, or
through information supplied by others, that a student violation of the
Academic Honor Code may have occurred. After collecting the evidence available,
the faculty member should determine whether it warrants proceeding to the next
level of inquiry.
If the faculty member
determines that the evidence is sufficient, he/she should contact the Vice
Chancellor for Student Affairs, who will determine from his records whether the
student has previously admitted to or been found guilty of an Academic Honor
Code violation. If the suspected violation would be a second offense, the
faculty member must take the case of the Chairperson of the Campus Hearing
Board. If the suspected violation would constitute a first offense but one
which the faculty member considers the appropriate penalty to be more severe
than an F in the course, the case must be brought to the Chairperson of the
Campus Hearing Board. If the faculty member believes, however, that the
suspected violation would be remedied by a penalty no greater than F in the
course, the settlement procedure may be used to conclude the matter and provide
a record (see Section IV. Penalties).
Once a student has received
notice that he/she is charged with an Academic Honor Code offense, the student
is not permitted to withdraw from the course in order to avoid the appropriate
penalty.
A. Settlement Procedure: The faculty member meets with the student and presents the evidence of an Academic Honor Code violation, then request an explanation from the student. After hearing the explanation, if the faculty member determines that a violation has occurred, he/she fills out and signs the approved form distributed to all faculty members, noting the penalty to be applied, and gives the form to the student. The student has three school days to consider and seek advice on whether to admit guilt and accept the penalty by signing the form. If the student agrees to sign, he/she does so in the presence of the faculty member who then implements the penalty. The faculty member forwards the settlement form to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, who keeps a record of first offenses for five years (or until the student graduates), and thus the matter is ended. If the student decides not to admit guilt or not accept the penalty, the faculty member must take the case to the Chairperson of the Campus Hearing Board, if any penalty is to be imposed.
B. Campus Hearing Board: The Campus Hearing Board is made up of three faculty members and one administrative member appointed by the Chancellor of the University, and three students appointed by the President of the Student Government Association. The conduct of Hearings is outlined in Article IV, Section C.2 of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke Student Constitution.
Where a student is not found
in violation of the Academic Honor Code, a written report is prepared and sent
to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, who will maintain a confidential
file of materials related to the case. No part of that file becomes part of the
student’s disciplinary record. The case is closed, and no penalty may be
imposed.
Where a student is found
guilty of violating the Academic Honor Code, the Campus Hearing Board
determines the appropriate penalty. Both student and faculty may submit
evidence and make statements concerning the appropriate sanctions to be
imposed. The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs will supply the Student’s
previous Academic Honor Code disciplinary record.
At the conclusion of the
evidence of the appropriate penalty, the Campus Hearing Board determines the
penalty, and prepares a written report to the student and the Provost and Vice
Chancellor for Academic Affairs, who notified the faculty member and the Vice
Chancellor for Academic Affairs of its contents. If a penalty of a grade of F
in the course or less is to be assigned, the faculty member imposes that
penalty determined by the Campus Hearing Board and no other penalty. If a
greater penalty is deemed appropriate, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
implements the penalty indicated in the report. The student will be notified
within five days of the Campus Hearing Board’s determination of penalty.
C. Campus Appeal Board
A student found guilty has the
right of appeal, and is permitted five school days from the date the student
receives notice of the report of the Campus Hearing Board to file a written
notice of appeal with the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. Failure to do so
will render the decision on the Campus Hearing Board final and conclusive.
If the request for appeal has
been timely filed, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs shall deliver this
request as well as materials related to this case to the Campus Appeal Board.
The composition of the Campus
Appeal Board and its adjudicatory powers are descried in Article V, Section C.1
of the University Student Constitution. For Academic Honor Code violations and
their appeals, the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs or his
designate will represent the Chancellor of the University.
VI. ADVICE
TO THE FACULTY
1. Faculty members should
outline their expectations pertaining to the Academic Honor Code at the
beginning of each course. In doing so they might authorize or prohibit specific
forms of student conduct which are unique to their courses of disciplines. They
should refer students to this Academic Honor Code. It is recommended that the
following statement be included in all course syllabi: Student
Academic Honor Code: Students have the responsibility to know and observe the
UNCP Academic Honor Code. This code forbids cheating, plagiarism, abuse of
academic materials, fabrication, or falsification of information, and
complicity in academic dishonesty. Any special requirements or permission
regarding academic honesty in this course will be provided to the students in
writing at the beginning of the course, and are binding on the students.
Students who violate the code can be dismissed from the University. The normal
penalty for a first offense is an F in the course. Students are expected to
report cases of academic dishonesty to the instructor.
2. Faculty members should take
preventive measures to avoid cases of academic dishonesty (e.g., examinations
should be carefully protected).