Academic Regulations

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Each annual undergraduate catalog issue of The Record becomes effective at the opening of the fall term. To receive a degree, a student must satisfactorily complete all requirements of the catalog in effect when a major is declared. A student who leaves the university for a period of one calendar year or longer and then returns is required to meet the major requirements in effect at the time of return. A student who changes to another major is required to meet the requirements in effect at the time of the change. A student who takes longer than seven years to graduate may become subject to current catalog requirements. Exceptions to these policies may be necessitated by changes in course offerings, degree programs, or by action of authorities higher than the university; but every effort will be made to avoid penalizing the student.

By exercising a written option, a student may choose to graduate under the terms of a catalog in effect at a time of graduation. Students should discuss this option with their academic advisor, who will notify the Registrar’s Office of the desired change.

Courses listed in the catalog are offered at times appropriate for maximum availability to students; listings for each term are prepared well in advance. The university reserves the right to withdraw a course if enrollment is insufficient to justify offering it at the time planned.

Every effort has been made to assure the accuracy of this catalog to the extent possible at press time. Changes in or elimination of provisions contained herein on any and all matters may be made and applied before the next published catalog. However, the latest information is maintained on line under the Office of the Provost on Westerns home page or contact the appropriate department head, dean, or other administrative officer for current information.

Scholastic Status Check. Each student is expected to know the information in the catalog and to verify that qualitative and quantitative requirements for a particular class rank and for proper progress toward graduation are being met. All students should check official records periodically to confirm their status. The university does not assume responsibility for the student’s unexpected failure at the last minute to meet all requirements for graduation, whether failure is due to misunderstanding or negligence concerning those requirements or to an inability to meet them.

Registration takes place on designated days at the beginning of each semester and summer term. Students already enrolled also may register early for the next term during each regular semester. New students who attend one of the summer orientation sessions are registered for the following fall semester during the conference.

Late Registration. Except under special conditions, no student is permitted to register or add courses after the last day of late registration as announced in the academic calendar. A late registration fee will be charged.

The basic unit of credit is the semester hour. A semester hour represents one lecturerecitation hour or a minimum of one, two, or three laboratory hours a week for a semester. In experiential courses, a minimum of three hours is required per hour of credit.

Course Load for Undergraduates. The minimum full-time course load during a fall or spring semester is twelve hours. A normal load is sixteen hours; however, a student may take up to nineteen hours. Any schedule that exceeds nineteen hours constitutes an overload and must be approved by the student’s adviser and the appropriate administrators as indicated on the request and approval form. Twelve hours is the maximum that may be earned in experiential courses during a semester. Course load regulations for the mini or summer session are published in the Summer School Schedule of Classes.

Classification. Regular degree-seeking undergraduates are classified based upon cumulative hours earned:

Grading and Quality Point System*

*See Graduate Catalog for the graduate level grading system.

The grades of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D- and F indicate gradations in quality from Excellent to Failure. Please note that a C- grade is less than satisfactory and may not meet particular program and/or course requirements.

Students must be familiar with the class attendance, withdrawal, and drop-add policies and procedures.

Incomplete. The instructor may grant a student an I grade for work not completed if there is a reasonable prospect that the student can pass the course by making up the work missed if the incompletion is unavoidable and not caused by the student’s negligence. All incomplete grades must be removed and a grade of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F, S, or U must be submitted to the registrar. The work must be made up and a grade received by the registrar by the last day of classes of the next regular semester, or the grade will become an F. A student may not re-register for the course until the I is removed or changed to an F. The instructor is required to list the conditions to remove the I and send them to the department head. If the instructor is no longer employed by the university, the department head will remove the I upon completion of the stated requirements. In extenuating circumstances, students should refer to the “Academic Appeals Procedure” section in The Record.

In Progress. In-progress grades are assigned only in selected courses which have been approved for IP grading and are pending until the work is completed.

Satisfactory-Unsatisfactory. S/U grading is limited to courses in which standard or traditional grading is rendered difficult by the nature and purpose of the courses. There is no limit on the credit hours a student may earn in S/U grades except that imposed by the types of courses approved for such grading. S/U grades may not be awarded in courses unless specified in the course descriptions in this catalog and in the master class schedule. S and U are the only grades assigned in these courses. Neither grade is used in calculating the GPA, but an S allows hours of credit while a U does not.

Audit. When space is available, a registered student may audit a course with the approval of the adviser, the instructor, and the head of the department offering the course. A completed course audit form must be submitted in order to enroll. Change from audit to credit, or the reverse, is permitted only during the regular schedule adjustment period. No credit is earned for auditing, but the audited course must not add hours in excess of the student’s maximum load. An audited class will be noted on the student’s transcript. Audit courses do not count toward the twelve hours required for full-time enrollment. Participation in class activities is optional with the instructor. Tuition and fees for audited courses are determined by the hour value of the courses.

Final Grade Changes. When a grade other than incomplete is reported officially by an instructor at the end of a term, the grade is recorded and can be changed only if an error was made in estimating or reporting it. The instructor will, with the approval of the department head, report the error in writing to the dean with a recommendation about the action to be taken. Only the instructor can change the grade in a course except as provided in the incomplete grade policy. Any request by a student for a change in a final grade must be submitted to the instructor within thirty-five days after the end of final exams.

A student may find it necessary or advisable to withdraw from one or more courses during a term. In some cases, he/she may find it necessary to withdraw from the university.

Course Withdrawal. After consultation with the academic adviser and the instructor of the course, a student may withdraw from any course prior to the expiration of one-half of the term and receive a W. A completed withdrawal form must be presented to the registrar prior to the withdrawal deadline for posting. Course withdrawals do not count toward the twelve hours required for full-time enrollment.

After one-half of a term, but prior to the fourteenth week of the semester (or before the last two class days of summer sessions), a “W” will be assigned only for written verifiable mental health, medical, legal, or administrative reasons. In order to obtain a “W”, the student must first consult with the course instructor, who may elect to support or withhold support for the student’s request. If the instructor supports in writing the student’s request, the student must receive written verifiable support from Western Carolina University Health Services’ staff, Counseling and Psychological Services’ staff, an official court of law, or a college dean, as appropriate. If a withdrawal is granted by the course instructor, the head of the department offering the course, and the student’s adviser, the withdrawal form must be submitted to the registrar no later than the last day of the thirteenth week of the semester. No Ws will be assigned after the last day of the thirteenth week of a semester, or during the last two class days of a summer session. In extenuating circumstances, or if the student’s request is not approved by any university party involved, the student can appeal through the Academic Appeal Procedure within thirty five days after the end of final exams.

University Withdrawal. To withdraw from the university (i.e. cease to attend all courses), a student must complete a withdrawal form from the Office for Student Affairs.

If an emergency prevents a student from completing the withdrawal process before leaving the campus, the student should call, write, or arrange for a relative to contact the Office for Student Affairs at 828-227-7234.

Any time a student is forced to withdraw from the university during a term for mental health, medical, legal, or administrative reasons which are verified in writing, a grade of W will be assigned in all courses in which the student is registered. If a student withdraws from the university for other than mental health, medical, legal, or administrative reasons after one-half of the total class time has elapsed, an F, W, or I grade will be assigned by the instructor according to the following guidelines:

1. A W grade will be assigned if the student is passing or if the student’s progress has not been evaluated.
2. An I grade will be assigned if the instructor agrees that there is a reasonable prospect that the work can be made up and agrees to allow the student to do so.
3. An F grade will be assigned if the student is failing.

Current policies and procedures pertaining to grades, indebtedness, and refunds are applicable upon withdrawal from the university. A student who withdraws from the university either during or at the end of a term for any reason is responsible for clearing any indebtedness to Residential Living, bookstore, financial aid office, controller’s office, library, university police department, academic departments, and health services.

Psychological/Mental Health University Withdrawal and Readmittance. If a student obtains a psychological or mental health withdrawal, readmittance to Western Carolina University is contingent upon review by Counseling and Psychological Services to ensure that recommended services can be obtained. These students will not be allowed to preregister or register for future classes until they have met the criteria outlined at the time of withdrawal.

Return to Residential Hall after Psychiatric Hospitalization. Students hospitalized for psychiatric reasons, while living in the residence halls, must meet the Guidelines for Conditional Return to Residence Hall before returning to live in the residence hall. This includes meeting with Residential Living and Counseling and Psychological Services Center staff to address personal safety and related concerns.

Academic Appeals Procedure. Undergraduate students who wish to appeal an assigned grade should follow, in order, the academic appeal procedure: (1) appeal verbally to the instructor; (2) appeal in writing to the instructor’s department head; (3) appeal in writing to the dean of the instructor’s college; (4) appeal in writing to the Academic Problems Committee as outlined below. Any request by a student for a change must be submitted to the instructor within thirty-five days after the end of final exams.

Undergraduate students who have other problems related to instruction are encouraged to discuss those problems and possible solutions with the instructor or student’s academic adviser. If this is not possible, the student should talk to the department head or appropriate dean.

The Academic Problems Committee is comprised of five members, including two students chosen by the SGA and three faculty members. In order to appeal to the Academic Problems Committee, students should write a one- or two-page letter to the faculty chair of the committee succinctly stating the grounds for the appeal and the requested action to resolve the appealed issue. After deliberation, the committee will make recommendations to the vice chancellor for academic affairs. The Provost’s decision may be appealed to the chancellor. Additional information about the composition and procedures of the Academic Problems Committee is available in the Faculty Handbook, or in the Office of the Provost.

Academic Honesty Policy. Western Carolina University, a community of scholarship, is also a community of honor. Faculty, staff, administrators, and students work together to achieve the highest standards of honesty and integrity. Academic dishonesty is a serious offense at WCU because it threatens the quality of scholarship and defrauds those who depend on knowledge and integrity. Academic dishonesty includes the following:

1. Cheating. Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise.
2. Fabrication. Intentional falsification or invention of information or citation in an academic exercise.
3. Plagiarism. Intentionally or knowingly representing the words or ideas of someone else as one’s own in an academic exercise.
4. Facilitation of Academic Dishonesty. Intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help someone else to commit an act of academic dishonesty, such as knowingly allowing another to copy information during an examination or other academic exercise.

For specific information on procedures for cases involving allegations of academic dishonesty, see relevant sections in the Student Handbook.

Transcripts. Transcripts are furnished, either to the student or by mail, only after accounts are cleared and only upon the student’s written request, which must include the student’s signature and student identification number. There is no charge for transcripts issued.

The forgery of transcripts and diplomas or the use of such documents with intent to defraud is illegal under North Carolina law. Appropriate action will be taken.

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

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’s office written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The registrar’s office will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students who believe that their education records contain information that is inaccurate or misleading, or is otherwise in violation of their privacy or other rights, may discuss their problems informally with the university director of Equal Opportunity Programs. If the decision is in agreement with the students’ requests, the appropriate records will be amended. If not, the students will be notified within a reasonable period of time that the records will not be amended, and they will be informed by the director of Equal Opportunity Programs of their right to a formal 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 or 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.
4. The right to file a complaint with the Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-4605 concerning alleged failures by Western Carolina University to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

Western Carolina University hereby designates the following categories of student information as public or “Directory Information.” Such information may be disclosed by the institution for any purpose, at its discretion.

Students may withhold directory information by notifying the registrar in writing within five working days from the first day of classes for the fall term, or by the first day of classes for subsequent terms. Students are warned, however, prior to making a decision to withhold personally-identifiable data, that undesirable consequences frequently occur, such as names of students on the Deans’ List are not published, names are not listed in commencement bulletins, and requests from prospective employers are denied. Forms are available in the Office of the Registrar, 201 H.F. Robinson Administration Building, and on the Web at registrar.wcu.edu/forms.

Western Carolina University’s complete FERPA policy may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar, 201 H.F. Robinson Administration Building.

Students’ Education Records At General Administration of The University of North Carolina: Annual Notification of Rights

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, General Administration, The University of North Carolina, 910 Raleigh Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27515.

Further details about FERPA and its 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, North Carolina (mailing address P.O. Box 2688, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27515-2688; telephone 919-962-4588).

A student’s academic standing during any term is determined by the cumulative grade point average (GPA) earned on the total quality hours. To be in good academic standing, a GPA of 2.0 must be maintained. A student who is not in good academic standing is not eligible for graduation.

Students on academic warning or academic probation are eligible to attend the university under specified provisions but are not in good standing.

Quality Points and Grade Point Average. A quality point is the numerical value assigned to a letter grade. The quality points earned in a course are determined by multiplying the quality point value of the grade earned by the credit-hour value of the course. The GPA is determined by dividing the total number of quality points by the total number of semester quality hours.

The credit hours earned in all of the university’s off-campus, degree-credit courses are awarded quality points on the same basis as courses on the Cullowhee campus.

Quality Hours. “Quality hours” refers to the total credit-hour value of all Western Carolina University courses in which a student has regularly enrolled and earned grades from A to F.

Transfer Hours. “Transfer hours” refers to the total credit-hour value of courses accepted toward a degree not earned by regular enrollment in Western Carolina University courses. This includes hours earned through (1) transfer of credit from other institutions, (2) military service courses, and (3) credit for experiential learning.

The GPA for honors is computed only on work completed at Western Carolina University.

The Deans’ List. To be on the deans’ list each semester, a student must have a GPA of 3.50 or higher on a regular semester’s work of not less than twelve hours, excluding remedial courses, with no grade of D+, D, D-, F, or an I.

Graduation with Honors. To graduate summa cum laude, a student must have earned a minimum GPA of 3.90 on quality hours attempted at Western Carolina University for the degree; to graduate magna cum laude, a GPA of 3.70; and to graduate cum laude, a GPA of 3.50. In case of transfer hours from other institutions, a student must earn the appropriate GPA in all courses taken at Western Carolina University in order to graduate with honors.

To be designated University Scholars, students must have enrolled as freshmen and completed their entire undergraduate careers at Western Carolina University with a GPA of 3.90. Students who meet this requirement, except for courses taken with permission at other institutions as transients, are eligible for designation as University Scholars. Students who wish to be part of the Honors College Scholar Program should contact the Honors College at 828-227-7383.

To be awarded an honors degree, a student must have successfully completed the Honors Program. With the appropriate GPA, a student receiving an honors degree will also receive the designation cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude.

The names of students graduating with honors must be jointly passed upon by the vice chancellor for academic affairs and the registrar.

Academic Probation for Continuing Students

Continuing students are placed on academic probation when their cumulative WCU grade point average (GPA) falls below 2.0. At the end of the term of academic probation, students must achieve one of the following:

1. Raise the cumulative GPA to good standing (2.0) while taking any number of hours, or
2. Earn a minimum 2.30 GPA on a full-time academic load during the probationary term.

Failure to achieve one of the above academic criteria will result in academic suspension.

Academic Probation for First Semester Freshmen and New Transfers

In addition to the above criteria, first semester freshmen and new transfer students who are placed on academic probation must meet specific guidelines in order to continue enrollment in the University.

First semester freshmen and new transfers who earn a cumulative GPA within the range of 1.0 to 1.999 at the end of their first semester may return to the University for their second semester only if they choose to participate in the Learning Contract program.

Learning Contract Program

First semester freshmen and new transfers will be placed on academic probation if their GPA falls within the range of 1.0 to 1.999 at the end of their first semester. Students placed on academic probation with a cumulative GPA in this range at the end of their first semester must participate in the Learning Contract program during their second semester. Students who do not choose this option are not eligible to continue enrollment in the University for one term. If readmitted after a lapse in enrollment, students are reminded that they will return to WCU under the general guidelines for academic probation.

The Learning Contract Program specifies that these students work closely with an academic advisor. The student and advisor will discuss academic performance issues, set realistic goals, and make the necessary plans to reach those goals. Students will be linked with the campus resources that can help them succeed. Follow-up contacts will occur throughout the semester.

When appropriate, students should use the University’s grade replacement policy to improve their academic standing (excluding the First Year Seminar).

Additionally, these students must make at least a 2.30 GPA on a full-time courseload during their second semester or bring their cumulative grade point average to good standing (2.0). Failure to achieve these guidelines will result in academic suspension.

Academic Suspension for Continuing Students

Academic Suspension from the University will occur as a result of failing to meet the criteria specified while on academic probation.

Students placed on academic suspension are not eligible to enroll in the University for one semester. After a one-semester suspension, students may apply for readmission to the University. If readmitted, students will return on academic probation.

The semester of suspension is intended to provide students with time to carefully consider the reasons for academic difficulty, resolve problems, clarify educational goals, and improve academic skills. If a student attends another institution while on suspension, the student must have a minimum 2.0 GPA on all work attempted since their last enrollment at Western Carolina University. Students are reminded that grades made in transferred courses are not computed in the GPA calculation at Western Carolina University.

Academic Suspension for First Semester Freshmen and New Transfers

First semester freshmen and new transfers who earn a cumulative GPA below a 1.0 at the end of their first semester will be placed on academic suspension and will not be eligible to enroll in the University for one semester. After a one-semester suspension, students may apply for readmission to the University. If readmitted, students will return on academic probation.

The semester of suspension is intended to provide students with time to carefully consider the reasons for academic difficulty, resolve problems, clarify educational goals, and improve academic skills. If a student attends another institution while on suspension, the student must have a minimum 2.0 GPA on all work attempted since their last enrollment at Western Carolina University. Students are reminded that grades made in transferred courses are not computed in the GPA calculation at Western Carolina University.

Appeal Process of Academic Suspension

Appeals for reinstatement without having to serve a specified period of suspension are approved or denied by the Academic and Admission Appeals Board (referred to as “Board”). The Board’s decision is final. The Board’s decision is based upon the student’s letter of appeal which includes the reason for poor academic performance, documentation of extenuating circumstances, and a plan for rectifying the academic performance and raising the GPA to acceptable standards, as well as the student’s previous academic history. Requests for reinstatement must be submitted to the One Stop Student Service Center by the deadline stated in the academic suspension notification letter. A student whose appeal for reinstatement is approved will be designated as “Suspended/Reinstated” on his or her academic record.

Readmission After Suspension

Students who have been out the required amount of time may apply for readmission in the same manner as other former students. See the “Admission of Former Students” in this catalog.

A separate form must be completed for each course that is to be replaced. Do not submit forms for lab courses that do not count as hours attempted.

A maximum of 15 credit hours may be repeated in order to earn a better grade. When a student repeats a course, only the most recent grade will be used in calculation of the student’s grade point average and counted in the hours toward graduation. However, all grades shall remain on the student’s transcript.

Exceptions:

1. The First Year Seminar may not be repeated.
2. Courses available for re-enrollment for additional credit are not counted as repeats unless the student declares a repeat or exceeds the number of times for which credit can be earned in the course.
3. Some academic programs may have policies that further regulate the number of repeats. Check with your advisor.

The 15 credit hour limit of the repeat policy may be appealed in writing to the student’s adviser, department head/program director, and Dean.

Note: Pursuant to actions of the North Carolina General Assembly and policy adopted by the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina, a twenty-five percent tuition surcharge applies to students who take more than 140 semester hours and more than eight regular semesters (i.e., fall and spring) to complete a baccalaureate degree. The semester hours used to calculate the total of 140 hours include repeated, failed, dropped (i.e., Ws) and transferred credit courses.

To be eligible to elect an academic re-evaluation, a student must have a cumulative GPA below 2.0 and must have made a GPA of 2.30 or better on twelve or more hours of work for each of two successive semesters, one of which may be summer school. At least eighteen hours of the work taken in the two semesters must apply to liberal studies requirements or the requirements in the major, if these have not been met already. A written request for re-evaluation is required.

To be eligible to graduate after re-evaluation, a student must complete at least two semesters in residence. No course passed with a C- or less prior to these two semesters will count toward the 120, 122, or 128 hours required for a degree. Such courses may be used to waive liberal studies requirements but not to fulfill major requirements.

The student’s GPA for retention and graduation will be computed only on work taken during and after the two semesters on which re-evaluation is based. However, the number of hours previously passed with a grade of C (2.0) or higher will be counted as earned hours.

This policy does not alter the administration of the two-year rule policy.

Two-Year Rule Policy. An undergraduate with a GPA below 2.0 who has not attended the university for two or more calendar years and who is eligible for readmission is given the option of having the two-year rule applied or not applied.

If the two-year rule is applied, all courses completed before the interruption are treated as if they were transferred from another institution. No hours of credit will be allowed for courses in which C- or less grades were earned, although, at the discretion of the student’s major department, they may be used to waive appropriate course requirements. The student’s cumulative GPA will be based on courses attempted after readmission. The earned hours will include all credits (1) transferred from other institutions, (2) completed with a grade of C (2.0) or higher before the two-year rule was applied, and (3) earned after the last two-year rule was applied.

If the two-year rule is not applied, the student will return with a cumulative GPA, credit hours, and grades as if the interruption had not occurred. The quality point deficit of some students may be of such a magnitude that the application for readmission from a student who has chosen not to apply the two-year rule may be rejected.

A student, having elected to have the two-year rule applied or not applied, may not reverse the option later. Applications for the two-year rule may be obtained from the Office of Admissions and submitted to that office prior to the initial term of re-enrollment.

Evaluation of transfer, CLEP, and advanced placement credits are coordinated through the Office of the Registrar. The university will accept or transfer appropriate undergraduate credits earned through credit by examination, advanced placement, CLEP, correspondence courses, extension courses, armed forces service schools, and college-level courses completed prior to graduation from high school. With the approval of the appropriate academic departments, the amount of such credit which may be applied toward a degree is subject to limitation only by the university’s general residence requirement and the prescribed courses in the major field of study; the degree program may not exceed 45 semester hours of CLEP credit. Credit toward a degree is not awarded for Continuing Education Units or for General Education Development tests (GED).

Transfer of Credit. An evaluation of credits offered in transfer is completed after admission and after all official records are received directly from each institution previously attended. The applicability of transferred credits toward degree requirements is determined by the registrar’s office and the department head of the student’s major. In some cases, due to accreditation standards, validation of a course by successful completion of more advanced work in the same discipline or by examination may be required.

Only work passed with a grade of C (2.0) or better may be transferred. Courses with other grading systems that are equivalent to a C or better may be transferred. Except for consortium agreements, no credit will be allowed toward graduation or toward fulfillment of major requirements for a course passed with a C- or less at another institution. Credit will not be awarded for courses determined to be below the collegiate level at Western Carolina University nor from an institution not accredited by a nationally recognized regional accrediting agency. Undergraduate credit will not be awarded for graduate-level courses.

A Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA) has been developed by the North Carolina Community College (NCCC) system and the University of North Carolina (UNC) General Administration providing for the transferability of a student’s first two years of collegiate work to a senior UNC institution. This agreement provides that a student who enrolls at a NCCC institution fall 1997 or later, and completes his/her home institution’s 44 semester hours of general education requirements with a grade of C or better in each course, is guaranteed that those hours will be applied toward a baccalaureate degree at any UNC institution. These 44 hours must be used to satisfy the receiving institution’s liberal studies requirements. In addition, the CAA also guarantees that upon completion of the Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree, 20-21 hours of pre major work with a grade of C or better will be transferred and applied toward the student’s baccalaureate degree at a UNC institution provided that the student remains within his/her major.

Credit may be transferred from a technical program of a two-year institution and applied toward an appropriate bachelor’s degree if the institution is regionally accredited. A minimum of twenty-five percent of semester hours applied toward a bachelor’s degree must be earned through regular enrollment in Western Carolina University junior-senior level courses, including a minimum of twelve hours in junior-senior courses in the major field.

In addition to those credits accepted as equivalents of the university’s freshman and sophomore courses, a maximum of thirty hours of credit may be allowed toward graduation for freshman and sophomore courses completed at other institutions which are normally offered above the sophomore level at Western Carolina University.

There is no time limit on the course work accepted for undergraduate transfer credit. However, students who plan to schedule courses with stated prerequisites should consider auditing the prerequisite courses if no work has been attempted in the field within the past five years.

Regularly enrolled students who desire to take any course at another institution on a transient basis for transfer to WCU must secure the appropriate department head’s and the registrar’s approval before enrollment at the other institution. Transient Permission Forms are available in the registrar’s office and the departments. Students must be in good standing and eligible to re-enroll at Western Carolina University to secure transient permission. Course work taken at an institution which has a consortium agreement with Western Carolina University will be given credit on the same basis as course work taken at Western Carolina University.

Grades made in transferred courses are not considered in computing the GPA at Western Carolina University, but transferred hours are added to earned hours and will affect the student’s overall academic standing. A student may not expect to have the repeat course policy applied on the basis of courses completed at other institutions. Currently enrolled and former students (those not enrolled for one or more of the immediately preceding semesters, excluding summer terms) who attempt courses at other institutions must earn a cumulative 2.0 GPA and submit official transcripts of all work attempted to the Office of Admissions in order to be eligible to return to Western Carolina University.

Transfer Students. Applicants must have official transcripts with statements of honorable dismissal by all institutions formally attended. The applicant must meet freshman admission requirements and submit an official high school transcript with SAT or ACT test results. Transfer applications should be submitted by July 1 for all fall admissions and at least thirty days prior to the beginning of spring semester.

Generally, transfer students must have earned a minimum GPA of 2.0 (C average) on all work attempted. Applicants who are ineligible to return to the last institution attended for any reason may be ineligible for admission to Western Carolina University. However, transfer students who have not attended any institution for a period of two or more years prior to the intended semester of enrollment will be considered for admission subject to review of specific circumstances by the director of admissions.

The academic records of transfer students will be evaluated by the Office of the Registrar and the department head/program director of the student’s major. University policies on transfer of undergraduate credit are explained in the section of this catalog on academic regulations.

Composition-Condition Marks. A student whose written work in any course fails to meet acceptable standards will be assigned a composition-condition (CC) mark by the instructor on the final grade report. All undergraduates who receive two CC grades prior to the semester in which they complete 110 hours at Western Carolina University are so notified by the registrar and are required to pass English 300 before they will be eligible for graduation. This course must be taken within two semesters of receiving the second CC and must be passed with a grade of C (2.0) or better.

Placement in First-Year Composition. Students with Advanced Placement credit or high school credit for English 101 and/or English 102 will be given credit for these courses. All other students will be placed in English 101. Members of the Honors College may be placed in English 101-H, and enrollment in these honors sections will be reserved for members of the Honors College. Students placed in English 101 or 101-H must complete the six-hour First-Year Composition sequence of English 101 or 101-H, followed by English 102 or 102-H.

Mathematics Placement Policy. A mathematics skills assessment is administered to students who wish to take Math 140 (Introductory Calculus), Math 145 (Trigonometry), Math 146 (Algebra and Analytic Geometry), or Math 153 (Calculus I) without first completing the prerequisite course(s). Students planning to major in mathematics, computer science, chemistry, biology, electronics engineering technology, industrial technology, and manufacturing engineering technology should plan to take this skills assessment. Students who have a strong mathematics background and would like to take the highest level course for which they are qualified should take the skills assessment. The skills assessment will be administered to entering freshmen in the fall when classes begin and to continuing students during early registration when they plan to register for one of the courses listed above in the next semester. Transfer students may take the skills assessment by arrangement with the director of mathematics placement. The assessment does not generate course credit for course requirements that are waived as a result of placement. A scientific or graphics calculator is recommended for taking the assessment. Transfer credit for college-equivalent courses can be used to meet prerequisites. Any student may take the liberal studies math course, Math 101 (Mathematical Concepts). There is no placement requirement for this course, but it does not satisfy the prerequisites for college algebra or any other algebra-based course.

Advanced Placement. Students may become eligible to enter intermediate or advanced courses in a field, bypassing one or more lower-level courses, if they qualify on the basis of their performance on advanced placement tests.

Placement in Modern Foreign Languages. Students will be placed at the appropriate level in a language based on the number of years of high school and/or college-level language study. Any student placed in the second or higher course in French, German, or Spanish who passes that course with a grade of C (2.0) or better will receive three or six hours of credit for the courses bypassed. This may include the liberal studies course 101. Additional information can be obtained from the department or from the Advising Center.

Chemistry. Freshmen with above-average ability in chemistry are encouraged to take a chemistry placement examination. Satisfactory performance allows a student credit in either CHEM 132 or 140. Additional tests may be taken for a maximum of eight hours of credit.

Advanced Placement Program. Students who earn a grade of three or above on the College Board advanced placement courses are eligible to receive credit based upon the evaluations of the appropriate department heads. Currently, credit may be earned in American and European history, art history, biology, calculus, chemistry, computer science, economics, English, environmental science, French language and literature, German language, Latin, music, Physics, political science, psychology, and Spanish language and literature and statistics.

Assessment Program. As part of Western Carolina University’s continuing effort to maintain the quality of academic programs and university services, the university conducts student outcomes assessment. Measuring student intellectual growth, attitudes, perceptions, and skills provides the university with essential information in evaluating its effectiveness. Students are required to participate in these assessments throughout their enrollment at the university. The assessment information is not part of the student’s official record, and individual scores may be reported only to the student. Other uses of assessment data include reporting data only in aggregate form to the university community and required external sources.

Noncredit Courses. Credit earned in MATH 100 will not count toward the 120-128 hours required for graduation.

A student may apply to be examined in any course identified by a department head as available for credit by examination. The student must present an approved permission form after the examination has been completed. Students making an A (4.0) or B (3.0) will receive credit. Those making C (2.0) do not receive credit, but are eligible for a waiver of a course requirement. With a D or F, credit may be earned only by regular enrollment during a subsequent semester. The GPA will not be affected by the grade made on the examination. All credit by examination attempts must be completed prior to the semester of graduation.

The examination procedure may be attempted only once for any one course. Students who have completed more than two collegiate courses in the field of study concerned may earn credit by examination only after securing written approval of the head of the department in which the course is offered. However, they may take the examination and secure a waiver of a curricular requirement by scoring a C (2.0) or higher.

The fee for scheduling a course on a credit by examination basis is $15. No fee will be assessed if the examination is being used to validate transfer credits or when the student is enrolled fulltime during a fall or spring semester.

The College Level Examination Program. The university cooperates with the College Board in this program, through which credit may be awarded for the CLEP general and the CLEP subject examinations that have been approved by the academic departments as appropriate measures of academic achievement in their courses. Elective credit may be granted for examinations covering material which is not the substantial equivalent of any specific Western Carolina University course. These elective credits may be applied toward graduation requirements if the student fulfills certain liberal studies requirements or complies with other conditions prescribed by the appropriate deans and department heads. The subject examinations also may be used to validate credits earned at unaccredited institutions or courses taken through military service and to earn credit for courses failed at the university or other institutions. A current list of approved examinations and the credit that may be awarded is available via the Registrar’s Office web site (registrar.wcu.edu).

The American Council on Education has endorsed a uniform credit granting score of 50 for all 34 exams. Percentile scores are no longer used as a basis for granting credit. Departments also may require demonstration of achievement by satisfactory completion of an essay or by provision of other evidence of the competencies to be mastered in a course or course sequence.

Credits earned through CLEP will be posted on the transcript, but no grades are recorded. The student’s GPA will not be affected. Duplicate credit is not awarded in any case. CLEP credits earned at other institutions will be evaluated in the same manner as the equivalent courses at those institutions. The same policies and procedures used in evaluating the applicability of other advanced-standing and transfer credits toward a degree will be applied.

Western Carolina University endorses the concept of undergraduate credit for experiential learning in recognition of valid learning experiences. Departments awarding credit for experiential learning do so on the basis of detailed departmental guidelines and procedures as approved by the Academic Policy and Review Council. However, credit is awarded by a department only for those competencies which are related to areas of instruction in that department and which are applicable to the degree program being completed. Credit is not extended automatically or in blanket fashion.

To receive credit for experiential learning, a student must submit a request to the appropriate department head. A faculty committee named by the department head will review the request. If the request seems appropriate, the student will be provided with guidelines for preparing a portfolio which the committee will review to determine the conditions and amount of credit to be awarded.

Credit for all or part of a course(s) may be awarded. If partial credit is awarded, the student will pay the full cost of the course, but will be required to attend only those classes and do additional work as designated. There is no charge for courses for which full credit is awarded. Committee actions, when endorsed by the department head and dean, must be reported to the registrar. The credit awarded is not applicable to the university’s residency requirement.

Credit for Military Training. To receive credit for military training, a service member or a veteran must have served at least twelve months in continuous active duty in a branch of military service and present the registrar an official copy of the Department of Defense (DD) 214, AARTS, or SMART transcript. Once evaluated, the student will receive six hours of free electives and one hour for PE activity course if the degree program requires a minimum of 120 credit hours. Service school courses will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis using the American Council of Education recommendations for evaluation of military credits. This award of credit does not alter other university requirements, or major, minor, concentration, or liberal studies requirements for a degree.

Western Carolina University expects students to recognize the positive effect on academic success of class attendance and participation. All undergraduates are expected to attend all meetings of the courses in which they are enrolled; any absence is incurred at the student’s own risk.

Each instructor will establish the attendance requirements, make-up procedures, and guidelines for excused absences in each course and the effect that irregular attendance, lack of participation, and inadequate preparation will have upon a student’s grade. The instructor will distribute written attendance policies to students at the beginning of each term. An instructor may establish special and more demanding attendance requirements for students who are performing less than satisfactorily. Each student is responsible for complying with the announced procedures for making up missed work.

A student with more unexcused absences in a 100-(freshman) or 200-(sophomore) level course than the semester hours given for the course can expect the instructor to lower the course grade. Class attendance may be required of undergraduate students as a condition of admission or readmission to the university or of eligibility to continue enrollment.

Group Absences and Field Trips. Classes missed because of field trips, service to or for the university, or participation in athletic events must be processed in advance by the instructor and each participating student. The faculty member or coach in charge must obtain permission to travel from the dean, Provost, advisor or athletic director, at least ten days in advance and give each student a copy of the approved request. Each student must give the request at least one class meeting prior to the day of the absence. The request should contain the name of the sponsor and group, the purpose, dates, location of the event, and time and the names of the participating students.

A student who misses an examination or quiz because of an approved absence is responsible for contacting the instructor within one class meeting after returning to make mutually satisfactory arrangements for a make-up. The instructor will provide a make-up if the student notifies the instructor of the approved absence at least one class meeting prior to date of absence. The student also is responsible for making up assignments and for knowing the material covered. The opportunity to make up work missed due to a prior-approved absence does not obligate the instructor to modify the announced class policy for counting absences. The University Sponsored Absence Form is found on the Registrar’s and Office of Provost’s webpage at www.wcu.edu/affairsweb/. (See Class Attendance Policy, above, for details.)

An end-of-course evaluation of student work is required in every credit course. End-of-course evaluation may take the form of final exams, reports, projects, performances, portfolios, research papers, conferences, etc.

Many end-of-course evaluations are written final exams. In order to reduce conflicts and final evaluation overloads for both students and faculty, a final examination schedule is developed by the registrar for the entire university. All final exams are to be administered at their designated times and places during final exam week. Change in time of an examination for an entire class for any reason must be approved by the head of the department, by the dean of the college, the vice chancellor for academic affairs, and the chancellor.

No student is required to take more than two final exams on any one day. Any student who has three final exams scheduled on one day has the option of taking all three or submitting to the professors a written request for rescheduling. However, a request to have an examination rescheduled must be made in writing at least five days before the examination is scheduled.

To reschedule, the following steps should be taken:

1. The student should request in writing a change in date from the instructors of the courses that present the conflict.
2. If the conflict is not resolved, the student should work with his/her academic adviser to have one of the exams rescheduled.
3. If the conflict still cannot be resolved, the student should work with the Office for Academic Affairs to have one of the exams rescheduled.

Other end-of-course evaluations, whatever form they take, must also be administered and completed during final exam week.

Application for Graduation. After earning ninety (90) hours, to be certified as a candidate for graduation, the student must file an application form with the dean. (In order to obtain the application form, the student must first present a paid receipt to the dean’s office that the $30 graduation fee has been paid to the university cashier.) The dean will send the application to the student’s department head. The student and the adviser will meet to determine all requirements remaining to be completed. The student will sign the application after remaining requirements are specified.

At the beginning of the final semester, the application will be updated and signed by the advisor, signed and certified by the department head as fulfilling all requirements not including the final semester, and returned to the dean who will sign it and forward it to the Registrar.

Undergraduate students should begin this procedure immediately after ninety (90) hours have been earned. Specific deadlines for filing degree applications are listed in the “Academic Calendar.”

Certification and Licensure. Completion of a bachelor’s degree in teacher education, nursing, or health sciences qualifies a student to seek the appropriate certification or licensure. Information about the policies and procedures is available from the dean of the appropriate college. Procedures for teacher licensure are found in the College of Education and Allied Professions section of the catalog.

Graduation Attendance. Attendance at graduation is required of candidates for graduation A diploma may be granted in absentia only with approval of the vice chancellor for academic affairs or his/her designee.