The UNC Policy Manual
400.1.5
Adopted 01/08/93 Amended 09/08/06 Amended 07/01/07 Amended 01/11/13
Amended 01/26/18 Amended 12/17/20
Amended 11/17/22
Policy on Fostering Undergraduate Student Success
I.
Purpose. The University of North Carolina
(UNC) System’s policies
on student success
adopted by the Board of
Governors direct constituent institutions to:
A.
Set academic progress
and degree attainment as primary outcomes;
B.
Promote academic quality,
rigor, and integrity; and
C.
Make possible “seamless” educational opportunities across the UNC System
constituent institutions, with the North Carolina Community College System
(NCCCS), and early college high schools.
Improving retention, graduation rates, and time to degree
are important aspects
of such policies. However, the Board of Governors also recognizes that
students come into the system from a number of different life circumstances and
their paths to success vary accordingly. Policies,
therefore, set parameters within which a constituent institution can best meet
the needs of these diverse student populations.
II.
University-Wide
Policies
A.
The Board of Governors has adopted the following
policies for all institutions comprising the University of
North Carolina System except the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics.1
1.
Constituent institutions will require no more than 120 semester
credit hours for a four-year baccalaureate degree program unless an exception
is granted by a board of trustees as described in Section 400.1.5[R] of the UNC
Policy Manual.
2.
Constituent institutions will follow the credit hour
limits for five-year baccalaureate degree programs as described in Section
400.1.5[R] of the UNC Policy Manual.
3.
Constituent institutions will develop academic policies
within the regulations established by the UNC System on:
a.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
(SAP)
b.
Course Adjustment Periods
(“Drop/Add”)
c.
Course Withdrawal
d.
Grade Exclusion or
Replacement
e.
Minimum, Maximum, and Average Course
Load
4.
Constituent institutions will establish a student success and support structure to review and to issue regular reports
on:
a.
Retention, academic progression, graduation, and time to degree;
b.
Course scheduling as it relates to whether
courses required for graduation are offered
on a timely basis and with an adequate number
of sections and seats;
c.
Course offerings and grade requirements to assess if any undue additions
to general education requirements exist or if such requirements unintentionally
lengthen time to graduation; and
d.
The academic advisement system to ensure
students receive appropriate assistance in proceeding
toward graduation in a timely manner.
5.
Constituent institutions will be compliant with Title
IV regulations that define student eligibility for and receipt of federal
financial aid.
6.
Constituent institutions will be compliant with the
Comprehensive Articulation Agreement with the NCCCS and are encouraged to
develop policies that promote seamless transfer among schools in the University
of North Carolina System.
7.
The UNC System Office shall, in consultation with
faculty and staff from the constituent institutions, establish and maintain a
common course numbering system for
undergraduate lower division courses, which shall be mapped to the unique
course numbers used at each respective institution of higher education. The president shall approve regulations to
describe and implement this common undergraduate course numbering system, which shall be established and operational by the 2022-23 academic year.
8.
UNC institutions will either (1) accept
for transfer academic credit issued by regionally-accredited institutions for a
student’s participation in internships and academic programs managed by The
Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars (TWC), or (2) enter
into an agreement with TWC that provides that the UNC institution will issue
academic credit for a student’s participation in TWC internships and academic
programs.
B.
These policies are designed to ensure that campus and system-wide policies
and practices facilitate
behaviors that support retention and timely graduation.
III.
Other Matters
A.
Effective Date. The requirements of this policy
shall be effective on the date of adoption of this policy by the Board of
Governors.
B.
Relation to State Laws. The foregoing policy as adopted by the Board of Governors is
meant to supplement, and does not purport to supplant or modify, those
statutory enactments which may govern or relate to the subject matter of this
policy.
C.
Regulations and
Guidelines. This policy shall be implemented and applied in accordance
with such regulations and guidelines as may be adopted from time to time by the
president.
1The North Carolina School
of Science and Mathematics shall track data on student
attrition, completion rates of its high school curriculum, and high
school graduation. See G.S. 116-235.