THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE

 

FACULTY SENATE

 

Senate Document Number     5905S

 

Date of Senate Approval      04/07/05  

 

 

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Statement of Faculty Senate Action:

APC Document  47:                  Changes in Drop/Add Policy; 
Changes in Academic Suspension and Dismissal Policy
(Revision of SD3704S)

Effective Date:   Fall 2005

1)         Change in Drop/Add policy.

Current Policy: 

Students may adjust their schedule (drop or add courses) for regular semester courses using Web registration during the first five days of the semester. 

 

Proposed Policy:

Students may adjust their schedule (drop or add courses) for regular semester courses using Web registration during the first five days of the semester.  After the 5th day of classes, students may adjust their schedules as follows:

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

Withdraw – A student may withdraw from courses from the 2nd through 9th weeks of classes by filing a Withdrawal form with the Office of Advising and Registration Services.  A grade of W is recorded on the student’s transcript and the course hours count as Attempted Hours.
  

Impact:
This change will allow students to add classes for an additional five days with instructor and department chair approval. 

Rationale:    
This is currently the campus practice and adjusting the policy will allow “practice” to match policy.  If a student, instructor, and department chair feel that it is in the best interest of the student to add the class, even though it is the second week of class, they can signal that approval via their signatures.

 

2)         Academic Suspension and Dismissal

Delete:       In 2004-05 Catalog, on page 34, entry on Academic Suspension and Academic Dismissal

Replace with:

Academic Suspension and Dismissal

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

Total Attempted Hours
(Includes transferred hours
and UNC Asheville attempted hours)

Minimum Grade-Point Average

24-44

1.50

45-74

1.75

75 and above

2.00 (required to graduate)

No student with fewer than 24 hours attempted at UNC Asheville will be suspended. A student must have been on academic warning for at least one regular semester during his/her enrollment at UNCA prior to suspension.

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

A student returning from Suspension or Dismissal must:

a)       earn a 2.25 semester GPA during each semester or summer term of enrollment until his/her cumulative GPA is above minimal levels, AND

b)       achieve his/her appropriate minimal cumulative GPA level within 24 attempted semester hours after re-enrollment.

Students who fail to achieve either of these two conditions will be Dismissed from the University.  Students who are Dismissed from the university have no right to reinstatement; however, they may, after a period of one calendar year, apply for readmission.  Students who have been Dismissed and have been out of school for at least three calendar years should consider applying for readmission under the Conditional Readmission Policy. (See Admissions)

Impact:
This policy change clarifies the suspension and dismissal policy, setting clearer guidelines for students with regard to achievement expectations.  It is possible that more students will be suspended or dismissed.  The entire Academic Regulations and Policies section of the catalog is being editorially revised; this policy will be included at the appropriate location.

 

 

Rationale:

There are three main issues addressed in the proposed change:

 

  1. The minimal levels are changed from seven levels to three.  The Enrollment Services committee felt that by the middle of a student’s junior year (75 hours), he/she should attain the minimal 2.0 GPA level. 

 

  1. Expectations for students returning from suspension are clarified.  Too often, students return from suspension and continue their poor performance.  Without these minimal expectations, they could continue this pattern for two or three semesters.  Additionally, it will help students understand the need to radically improve their performance in order to earn their degree. 

 

  1. Clarifies the meaning of Dismissal and requires that a student wait at least one calendar year prior to attempting to re-enroll.