Academic Programs, Policies and Services

The academic regulations and the courses of instruction that follow provide a diverse and flexible program for all students. The general education requirements, planned by an experienced faculty, develop intellectual skills and explore themes that demonstrate the connections and applications of the liberal arts to our common life. Students are urged to read all regulations carefully and to study courses of instruction in all areas in order to help plan their educational programs in consultation with their advisors.

It is very important that students become familiar with all the academic requirements pertaining to their programs of study. The final responsibility for meeting all academic and graduation requirements rests with the student.

Catalog Policy

Students must complete the degree requirements as outlined in a catalog that is no more than five (5) years old at the time of graduation. Requirements are considered complete only when appropriate documentation is recorded in the Registrar’s Office.

This policy applies only to degree program requirements. Students are governed by the academic policies of the current catalog. Students must become thoroughly familiar with all current regulations of the university.

Degree Requirements

The University offers undergraduate programs leading to the bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees.

Students must graduate under the academic requirements of a single catalog that is no older than 5 years at the time of graduation.

A student must complete the following requirements.

1. General Education Requirements (see relevant pages)
2. EXS 100  (Traditional Only)
3. Major Requirements
   No more than 46 semester hours of credit in any single area of instruction may be applied toward graduation except in Exercise Science.
4. Writing Intensive Course Requirement
   All students, during their freshman and sophomore years, should take a minimum of two writing intensive courses. All students should take a minimum of three upper-level writing intensive courses during the junior and senior year. Students who enroll as first-year students and/or have less than 56 semester hours of accepted transfer credit at the time of matriculation are required to complete at least five writing intensive courses. The writing intensive courses are identified in the course description section of the University catalog. Transfer students with 56 semester hours of accepted transfer credit at the time of matriculation must complete a minimum of three upper-level writing intensive courses.
5. Upper-Level Course (300-400) Requirement
   Students majoring in accounting, business administration, computer information systems, education, environmental science, exercise science, mathematics and the sciences must complete a minimum of 33 semester hours in courses numbered 300 and above. Students majoring in criminal justice, the humanities or social sciences must complete a minimum of 39 upper-level semester hours. A minimum of nine semester hours of upperlevel credit must be earned in the major field at the University.
6. Total Credit Hour Requirement
   A minimum total of 120 semester hours of credit is required for graduation. Of the semester hours required for graduation, a minimum of 30 must be earned at North Carolina Wesleyan University.
7. GPA Requirement
   A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 must be attained for all coursework completed at North Carolina Wesleyan University and presented for graduation. A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 must be attained for all coursework completed in a student’s major at North Carolina Wesleyan University. Only courses completed with North Carolina Wesleyan University count toward a student’s grade point average.

Writing Intensive Courses

Writing is an essential component of a college education at North Carolina Wesleyan University. All students are required to enroll in and complete writing intensive courses prior to graduation. (See Degree Requirements for specific requirements.)

The general characteristics of a writing intensive course are:

• Expression of ideas and information is at least as valued as the ideas and information.
• Writing occurs on a regular basis both in and out of class.
• Writing is evaluated carefully, in detail, for style and grammar.
• At least 3,000 words of written work is expected.
• Writing should be shaped by class discussion with the possibility for revision

Internship Program

Student internships complement the academic program by enabling students to extend their education into the workplace. The internship program provides students the opportunity to see firsthand what is entailed in the career path he or she is seeking and to understand the value of the liberal arts curriculum in preparing for the world of work. After a successful internship, the student will better see the connections between the workplace and the classroom.

Students may apply for an internship once they have completed 36 semester hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. Students must also meet any other prerequisites listed in the course descriptions of this catalog before they are allowed to enroll in an internship.

Students must register for internship academic credit in the same term in which they are undertaking the internship. Students will not be allowed to register for internship credit in a term before or after the internship is undertaken.

Students may choose to enroll in an internship for credit in their major or for elective credit. Elective internships are identified as INT. An academic credit-based internship will require forty-five supervised hours in the field per semester per enrolled credit hour.

A maximum of six semester hours of INT credit counts toward graduation. Additional information on internships is available by contacting the Associate Dean of Career Development & Leadership.

Graduation and Commencement

Students who complete all requirements for a degree may graduate in December, May and August. The university holds a Commencement (graduation) ceremony in the spring. Students who complete their degree requirements in August and December may participate in the spring Commencement Ceremony.

Applying for Conferral

Each student who anticipates graduating from North Carolina Wesleyan University must complete and submit an application for graduation according to the following schedule:

August graduation: April 1-June 15
December graduation: July 1-September 15
May graduation: November 15-January 15

A student should apply for graduation for a given semester only if he or she is enrolled in all courses necessary to complete the degree requirements, including the GPA requirements, by the end of the academic semester in which they are applying for graduation. A graduation application will not be approved for any student for which a degree audit demonstrates that he or she will be unable to complete the necessary credit hours and requirements prior to the graduation date.

The graduation fee is $120 and is payable at the time of application for graduation. The graduation fee covers the cost of the cap and gown, diploma and diploma cover, administrative fees and expenses related to the commencement ceremony. A student is required to pay the graduation fee only once. All fees are nonrefundable.

Participation in the Commencement (Graduation) Ceremony

A student may march in the Commencement Ceremony only if he or she has completed all requirements for the degree and has a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher and a GPA in the Major of 2.0 or higher at the time of Commencement.

A student who cannot graduate in a semester for which the application for graduation was submitted, will need to submit a new application for the new graduation date.

Institutional Assessment and Effectiveness

North Carolina Wesleyan University, in a commitment to ensure excellence in its educational and academic programs, has implemented a continuous program of institutional effectiveness and student assessment. These assessment activities are used to assess academic programs and student achievement, perceptions and attitudes. This information plays an important role in the determination of university policies and academic requirements. All students are required to participate in various assessment activities to determine how well the institution is achieving its mission and statement of purpose.

Special Academic Programs

Auditing

Students may arrange through the Registrar to audit courses on a noncredit basis for personal enrichment.

Taylor-Crocker Honors Program

The Taylor-Crocker Honors Program at North Carolina Wesleyan University is an interdisciplinary complement to the University’s regular program of study. The goals of the program are to improve students’ experiences by offering courses that provide a stimulating challenge, to offer faculty members a chance to teach special subjects with students and to challenge the entire faculty and student body by the academic and intellectual energy created in the Honors Program classes.

Eligibility Requirements: Incoming students with a combined score of at least 1170 on the critical Reading and Mathematics sections of the SAT (or equivalent ACT scores) and a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher will be invited to submit a written application and two letters of recommendation to the Honors Program director. In each first-year class, a limited number of students are accepted into the program and the review process is selective and competitive. Other recommended students with outstanding academic records during their first year at North Carolina Wesleyan University and transfer students may be invited to apply to the program. Honors students must maintain an overall GPA of at least a 3.2 in order to remain in the program.

Program Structure: The program consists of a sequence of courses specially designed for honors students and taught by outstanding professors. Individuals in the program take unique courses with other academically talented and motivated students and have the opportunity to take Honors Option courses that provide greater depth of study of a course in the regular curriculum. Some honors courses can be used to satisfy general education requirements.

1. First-year honors students enroll in special Honors sections of English and Humanities (freshman seminars) which carry a total of 6 semester hours of credit. Transfer students or students entering the program late can waive these courses.
2. During their sophomore and junior years, honors students complete a total of 12 semester hours of honors courses, typically by enrolling in one 3 semester hour honors course each semester. A variety of honors courses are offered every semester and may come from areas in any of the University’s four schools (Business, Humanities, Mathematics and Sciences, Social Sciences and Education).
3. During the senior year, Honors Program students design and complete a supervised, interdisciplinary project consisting of a written and oral component which receives 6 semester hours of credit. This research or creative project gives honors students the unique opportunity to work on an individual basis with a faculty member.

Students who participate in the Taylor-Crocker Honors Program show that they take a special interest in their education and receive special recognition and treatment from the University. Besides offering challenging, enriching instruction, the Honors Program provides its students with increased opportunities to meet visiting scholars, civic leaders and performing artists; travel to museums, the theatre and sites of cultural, historical or scientific importance; and attend or present at conferences. Honors students may gather for study or conversation in the Honors Lounge.

Every honors course that students take is marked as such on their transcript. Students who complete the entire program receive special recognition on their diploma, at graduation and on their transcript. Graduates of the program receive a special blue and gold cord to wear at graduation.

Unscheduled Courses

A course that does not appear on the schedule may be taken as an unscheduled course by special arrangement with an appropriate member of the faculty. This mode of study is made available for contingencies of an unusual or emergency nature. Students will be restricted to no more than 3 semester hours per semester in this mode and no more than 12 semester hours total in the pursuit of the degree with North Carolina Wesleyan. A student must register for an unscheduled course during the regular registration period. A learning contract must be submitted to the Registrar for approval prior to registration. Students will be allowed to take an unscheduled course only when:

1. Prior written approval has been given by the instructor, the division chair and the Provost and Senior Vice-President for Academic Affairs.
2. A required course is not on the schedule and will not be scheduled before the student’s expected date of degree completion.
3. Two required courses are scheduled at the same time, making it impossible to take both and neither will be offered again before the student’s expected date of degree completion.
4. A class that is not scheduled is needed to maintain “full-time” study as required by various financial aid granting institutions or as required by specialized programs such as the military degree completion programs and no required or acceptable courses are available.
5. A student must have completed at least 12 semester hour credits with North Carolina Wesleyan University in the classroom environment before being allowed to take an unscheduled course.
6. No student on academic probation will be allowed to take an unscheduled course.

Unusual circumstances not covered above must be approved by the Provost an Senior Vice-President for Academic Affairs.

English Placement for Entering Students

Students’ high school GPA and SAT (or ACT) scores are used to determine whether or not a student must take ENG 090 - Basic Writing and Reading  before being eligible for ENG 111 - Writing I . Students whose writing skills are determined to be at college level are placed in ENG 111 , the first general education requirement for English.

Research Topics

A Research Topic may be on any topic of interest. Such a study, however, must have the endorsement of an instructor, the appropriate school chair, and the Provost and Senior Vice-President of Academic Affairs and a proposed learning contract must be submitted to the Registrar for approval. The contract must be received by the Registrar prior to registration. Before undertaking a Research Topic a student should have:

1. Completed a minimum of 25 semester hours of college credit, at least 12 of which have been at Wesleyan.
2. A minimum overall grade point average of 3.0.
3. Completed at least 9 hours in the major if the Research Topic is in the major area and 6 semester hours in a subject outside the major area.

The student may not use a Research Topic to satisfy a general education requirement. A student on probation or with an incomplete grade is ineligible for a Research Topic.

Silver Scholars Program

The Silver Scholars Program enables senior citizens age 60 or older to enroll in courses tuition-free on a non-degree, space available basis. Seniors may enroll with “audit” status after the first day of class or during late registration for a maximum of 6 hours per semester. The program offers all credit courses taught by the University, including courses at all Adult Studies sites.

Seniors have the choice of doing homework, tests and/or outside assignments, with feedback at the discretion of the instructor. To enroll, seniors must complete a form available from the Rocky Mount Adult Studies Office, telephone 252.985.5128. There is a $50 enrollment fee per course.

Academic Policies

Academic Advising

To assist students in completing their academic program, students are assigned to a faculty member or a professional advisor who serves as his or her academic advisor. The advisor helps the student to plan the academic program, select courses during the registration period and is available throughout the year for additional advising on college success. New traditional program students are assigned a First-Year Advisor through the Student Success Center who provides academic guidance during the first year at Wesleyan. Upperclassman and transfer students in the traditional program are advised by a faculty member in their major. Advisors will make every attempt to give effective guidance to students in academic matters and to refer students to those qualified to help them in other matters. The responsibility for meeting all academic requirements for a selected program rests with the student.

To facilitate effective advisement and degree completion, students should take the following steps:

1. Check their official NCWU email on a regular basis to receive information from instructors and advisors as well as notification of upcoming events and deadlines.
2. Communicate with their academic advisor at least twice during each semester to review their progress toward degree completion.
3. Run the Degree Audit Worksheet (through their my.ncwc.edu portal) each semester to plan and monitor their progress toward degree completion.
4. Check your mid-term grade report and your final grade report each semester. Students can access their grade report under the academic information section in my.ncwc.edu.
5. Remain aware of university policies, deadlines and degree requirements as stated in the catalog, the university website and other official university

Student Classification

Full-Time Student: A student accepted as a degree candidate enrolled for at least 12 semester hours during a regular term or at least 6 semester hours during a summer session.
Part-Time Student: A student accepted as a degree candidate enrolled for fewer than 12 semester hours during a regular term or fewer than 6 semester hours during a summer session.
Resident Student: A student residing in campus residence halls and participating in the board plan.
Off-Campus Resident: full-time junior and senior day student living locally, away from their family residences.
Commuter Student: A student who does not reside in the campus residence halls but is enrolled in the University’s traditional or Adult Studies and Professional Program.
Non-degree Student: A student who is not a degree candidate.
Visiting Student: Students regularly enrolled at another institution.

Class Standing

Freshman 0 - 29 semester hours
Sophomore 30 - 59 semester hours
Junior 60 - 89 semester hours
Senior 90+ semester hours

Academic Load

An academic load includes all semester hours for which a student registers. To be considered full-time, a student must take at least 12 semester hours in a regular semester. A student taking fewer than 12 semester hours in a regular semester will be considered part-time. Taking more than 18 semester hours qualifies as a course overload; this must be approved by the Provost. Overload tuition is charged on a semester hour basis (See Financial Aid ). To graduate in 4 years, an average of 15 semester hours of passed coursework per semester is required.

Final Examinations and Reading Day

The Registrar establishes a final examination schedule each semester to reduce conflicts in course final examinations and to meet the established course hour requirements. There will be no departure from the printed schedule of examinations except for clinical, laboratory and non-traditional class schedules.

Students are required to attend their scheduled examination for each course. Changes for individual student emergencies of a serious nature will be made only in consultation with the instructor. A student who is absent from an examination will be given a grade of F for the examination. An incomplete (INC) for the course could be given in the case of a student absent from the final examination who has presented a satisfactory excuse to the instructor.

The normal expectation is that the completion of both face-to-face and online courses will include a final examination or an alternate method of evaluating student progress. Final examinations are required at the discretion of the faculty member. No test intended to substitute for the final exam may be given during the week preceding the final examination period. Online courses that do not give a final examination must use the final exam week for instructional purposes. The chair of the school is responsible for ensuring adherence to scheduled examination requirements.

Reading Day is a day granted to students for the purpose of studying for final examinations. There will be no instructional activities on that day so that students may prepare for final examinations. Faculty may not give an examination or an assignment in lieu of an examination on Reading Day; the final examination period should be used for these final instructional activities or for the final exam.

Grading

There are three grading options at North Carolina Wesleyan University: traditional letter grades, ABCN grades and pass/fail grades. Registration for a course assumes the student will be evaluated with a letter grade unless the option of ABCN grading is attached to that particular course number in the catalog or if the pass/fail grading is selected by the student and properly entered at the time of registration.

In the case of courses that are designated ABCN, all students taking that course will be graded based on this scale. If the student receives a grade of C or higher in the course (as calculated by the instructor according to the rules of the syllabus), they will receive both credits and grade points for the course completed with the appropriate grade as assigned by the instructor. If the student does not achieve a passing grade, the student will receive an N for the course. Their grade point average will not be affected if the student receives N, but if the course is required for graduation, the student will need to repeat the course and receive a passing grade.

ABCN grading attaches to the course and is designated as such in this catalog. Students may not elect to add a particular course as ABCN grading nor may an instructor designate individual sections as ABCN if they are not designated as such in this catalog.

Students may not elect pass/fail grading for a course designated in this catalog as ABCN.

In the case of pass/fail courses, the student elects the pass/fail option in accordance with the rules and stipulations in this catalog. If the student passes the course, they will receive credits for the course completed. Their grade point average will not be affected by either “P” or the “FA” designation. If a student plans to go beyond the undergraduate level, it is wise to take most courses on the letter grade basis.

In addition, the following rules govern the taking of courses for credit only:

1. No course applied toward a general education requirement may be taken on a pass/fail basis, unless the instructor so stipulates.
2. No course required for a student’s major may be taken on a pass/fail basis, unless the instructor so stipulates.
3. No more than two courses (8 semester hours) a calendar year or more than eight courses altogether during a student’s career, may be taken on a pass/fail basis.

The above rules do not apply to credit earned by either course challenge or standardized examination.

Grading System

A student’s grade point average is determined by multiplying the number of credits for a given course by the numerical value of the grade received, then adding the values for all courses completed and dividing by the total number of credits completed. When taken using “regular letter grades”, courses failed must be included in the calculation.

Grading Rubric

All grades submitted at the end of each term will be permanently recorded.

Appealing A Grade

A student may appeal a final grade in a course for any one of three reasons:

1. The instructor made a calculation error in determining the grade.
2. The instructor failed to follow the grading policy described in the syllabus.
3. The instructor did not follow one or more of the university policies.

If the student first finds it necessary to appeal a course grade, he/she should:

1. First, contact the instructor of the course and attempt to resolve the situation.
2. If resolution is not forthcoming and the student wishes to proceed, he or she must consult with the Chair of the School in which the course resides for mediation. Adult Studies students must consult with Adult Studies Director for mediation. If the instructor is also the Chair of the School in which the course resides, the student must consult with the Senior Vice-President of Academic Affairs.
3. If the dispute remains unresolved, the student may next appeal the grade (in writing) to the Academic Policy Committee. The function of the APC in a grade appeal is to evaluate the appeal in terms of the stated grounds for the appeal. The Committee’s decision may be to keep the assigned grade or to change the assigned grade. The Committee shall provide a written justification to the Provost and Senior Vice-President for Academic Affairs for its decision, including minority opinions when they exist, no later than one calendar week after the Committee’s meeting. The Provost and Senior Vice-President for Academic Affairs shall inform the student, the instructor and the registrar of the Committee’s decision and provide all parties with copies of the Committee report.
4. In the case of a change of grade, the Provost and Senior Vice-President for Academic Affairs shall implement the change of grade as recommended by the Committee on the student’s official transcript through the change of grade procedure. This shall be the last step in the deliberation of the formal grade appeal.

A student must appeal within eight weeks of the last day of the course and should include the following:

1. Specific academic reason(s) for appealing the grade.
2. Evidence supporting the grade appeal such as copies of graded assignments, course syllabus, relevant emails, etc.
3. Contact information (including email and mailing address) to which communication from the Chair of the Academic Policy Committee and Provost/Senior Vice-President of Academic Affairs will be sent and
4. Any additional items which support the grade appeal.

The student should send all appeals to the Office of the Registrar for forwarding to the Chair of the Academic Policy Committee.

General Academic Complaints for Issues Other than Grades

In the event that a general or specific issue is submitted in writing by a student, it is the policy of North Carolina Wesleyan University to respond to the student in an appropriate and timely manner. It is also the policy of North Carolina Wesleyan University to provide an appeal procedure for all issues, concerns, and grievances. North Carolina Wesleyan University assigns oversight for the listed area of responsibility to the individual designated below, and the designated individual is responsible for establishing written procedures which are to be published in appropriate documents.

1. Academic - Provost/Vice President of Academic Affairs
2. A.D.A - Accessibility Services Coordinator
3. Sexual Harassment -Title IX Coordinator
4. Non-Academic - Dean of Students

Non-grade Related Academic Complaint Procedure

Step 1: It is assumed that most general and specific student complaints can be resolved informally through dialogue between the student and the appropriate University personnel, such as the faculty or staff member with whom the complaint lies. Students are requested to make their grievance known immediately upon discovery so that University personnel can respond in a timely manner.

Step 2: On occasion, a student’s grievance may be unresolved through informal discussion with whom the complaint lies. When that happens, the student should submit the grievance, whether general or specific, in writing to the administrator who has jurisdiction over the department in which the incident occurred. The written grievance statement should include the following:

1. The exact nature and details of the concern.
2. The exact date, time, and place of the incident (if applicable).
3. Names of all witnesses who have knowledge of the circumstances.
4. All written documentation or evidence relevant to the concern, including all correspondence with whom the complaint lies.

The University Administrator receiving the written complaint will send a written response to the student within five (5) calendar days to acknowledge receipt of the complaint and provide the student with a projection of the time required to investigate the grievance and take whatever action is deemed appropriate. The administrator will then investigate the complaint making sure that as a part of their process they communicate with the faculty, staff or others involved in the complaint prior to completing their investigation.

The person responsible for investigating the complaint will attempt to resolve all general and specific complaints within 14 calendar days. If the grievance is with the University Administrator, the written complaint should be filed with the Administrator’s Manager or the Provost/VP of Academic Affairs

Once the administrator completes their investigation, they shall report their findings to the student and all other persons involved in the complaint (e.g., faculty, staff, or other persons).

Step 3: When a grievance is not resolved to the student’s satisfaction, he/ she may submit a written appeal to the Provost/VP of Academic Affairs. The written appeal should include the following:

1. A copy of the original written complaint.
2. A copy of the initial decision.
3. A detailed explanation of why the initial decision is unacceptable.

The Provost/VP of Academic Affairs will review the appeal and may wish to meet with the student at their discretion. The Provost may communicate with the faculty, staff, or others involved prior to notifying the student of their findings and offer them the opportunity to supply input into the matter. The Provost/VP of Academic Affairs will respond to the student within 30 calendar days. When University Administrators need more than the allotted time to respond, the need will be communicated to the student, along with a reason for the need and the expected resolution date. The Dean of Students may assist the student in this process if the student is not sure how, or with whom, to file a grievance.

Process Summary:

Step 1: Directly discuss the issue with the appropriate individuals involved in the matter. If the grievance remains unresolved then, Step 2: File a written grievance with the individual who has jurisdiction over the department in which the grievance occurred, such as Department Chairs. A copy of the grievance documentation shall be forwarded to the person who the complaint is about as well. If the grievance remains unresolved then, Step 3: File a written appeal to the Provost/VP of Academic Affairs. The decision of the Provost/VP of Academic Affairs is final.

Credit Hour Policy

North Carolina Wesleyan University uses the Carnegie Unit as the minimum standard for assigning credit hours. A one credit hour course requires at least one hour (50 minutes) of classroom instruction and two hours of outside work per week for approximately 15 weeks. Therefore, for a three credit hour course, students should expect 3 hours of classroom instruction and at least six hours of outside work per week throughout the semester. Courses offered in non-traditional formats require an equivalent amount of work and are required to meet the same learning outcomes as the traditional 15 week course. Students enrolled in these accelerated or alternative format courses should expect substantial amounts of outside work to meet the same learning outcomes as the traditional class.

Honors

Degrees with Distinction

Degree honors are determined by grade point average. A student must have earned a minimum of 60 semester hours of credit with Wesleyan, of which at least 48 semester hours are on the “A-F” grading system. ENG 090  does not count in the determination of the 60 semester hours taken for credit at NCWU. Semester hours awarded from standardized exams, such as CLEP and DSST, are not included in the calculation of the 60 semester hours.

SUMMA CUM LAUDE: A degree candidate must attain a cumulative average of not less than 3.80, with no “F” grades.

MAGNA CUM LAUDE: A degree candidate must attain a cumulative average of not less than 3.60, with no “F” grades.

CUM LAUDE: A degree candidate must attain a cumulative average of not less than 3.40, with no “F” grades.

Transfer Honors

To qualify for honors as a transfer student, 31-59 semester hours on the “A-F” grading system with the University are required. Furthermore, a student must attain a 3.50 grade point average at North Carolina Wesleyan University, with no “F” grades.

President’s Honor List and President’s List

The President’s Honor List and President’s List are issued at the end of the fall and spring semesters. To be eligible for inclusion, a student must carry a minimum of 12 semester hours on the “A-F” grading system, with no grades of “INC.” A student must attain a 3.75 grade point average with no grade below “C” for the President’s Honor List and a 3.25 grade point average with no grade below “C” for the President’s List for the semester.

Part-Time Student Honor List

The Part-Time Student Honor List is issued at the end of the fall and spring semesters. To be eligible for inclusion on the Part-Time Student Honor List, a student must carry a minimum of six but fewer than 12 semester hours on the “A-F” grading system and attain a 3.75 grade point average for the term.

President’s Cup

The President’s Cup is awarded each year to the graduating senior who exhibits those characteristics considered most desirable in a student graduating from North Carolina Wesleyan University. The criteria to be considered for this award include a high standard of academic performance and embodiment of the ideals ad aims of the University. This award is presented each year at May Commencement.

Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award

This award honors the qualities exhibited by the life of Algernon Sydney Sullivan, lawyer, scholar and orator, who was prominent in New York City social and civic activities from 1857 until his death in 1888. This award is presented to the student who best exemplifies academic achievement as well as excellence in character, leadership, service to the community and a commitment to spiritual values. This award is given each year to a senior at May Commencement.

Credit by Examination

College credit is available through examination as follows:

Advanced Placement Examinations are administered by the College Entrance Examination Board in Princeton, New Jersey, through a local high school. No credit is awarded for an Advanced Placement examination score lower than 3. Students seeking credit for a score of 3, 4 or 5 should consult the Registrar.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) subject tests are administered by the College Entrance Examination Board in Princeton, New Jersey or through North Carolina Wesleyan University.

Course Challenge is a method by which a student challenges selected courses in the Catalog by way of written examination, oral examination or proficiency test. The course examiner must be a full-time faculty member with primary responsibility in the discipline being challenged and he or she will be the sole judge of whether the objectives of the course have been met. Not all courses can be challenged. A Course Challenge form may be obtained from the Registrar’s Office.

DSST is administered by the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, New Jersey or through North Carolina Wesleyan University.

International Baccalaureate. North Carolina Wesleyan University recognizes the International Baccalaureate program. To receive college credit, students who take the higher level IB examination(s) must request that their scores be sent to the University. Upon receipt of the scores, an evaluation for credit will be performed. Students will be notified by mail of the results of that evaluation. Scores of 4 or better on the Higher level IB examination(s) will receive 3 semester hours of credit for each examination.

Withdrawal and Course Drops

A student may make changes in his schedule of courses by completing a “Drop-Add” form, which is available in the Registrar’s Office; obtaining the signed approval of the academic advisor and returning the completed “Drop-Add” form to the Registrar’s Office. Any change of schedule which causes a course overload must be approved by the Provost/Senior Vice-President of Academic Affairs.

During Schedule Change Period

During the first seven calendar days of the fall and spring semesters and Adult Studies terms, a student may drop or add a course or courses to his or her schedule or to change from the regular grading system to “pass/fail,” or vice versa.

The student should refer to the academic calendar for specific dates. The student should discuss schedule changes with his or her advisor prior to completing a “Drop-Add” form, which is available in the Registrar’s Office or Adult Studies Offices. After consultation with his or her advisor, the student secures the signature of the advisor on the Drop-Add form and takes it to the Office of the Registrar (or Adult Studies Office) for processing (emails and conversations may not be sufficient for a drop to occur).

After Schedule Change Period

During the first 50 percent of the regularly scheduled class meetings of a course (including the meeting for the final examination) a student may drop a course. The same 50 percent period rule applies to five and eight week courses as well. Students should refer to the Academic Calendar for specific dates. After consultation with his or her advisor, the student secures the signature of the advisor on the Drop-Add form and takes it to the Office of the Registrar (or Adult Studies Office) for processing. A grade of “W” will be recorded on the student’s transcript for courses dropped during this time period. If a student drops a course after the first 50 percent of the semester then the student will receive a grade of “F” in that course. After classes have ended, no withdrawal, except in the case of medical emergency, can be filed (see Medical Withdrawal Policy).

Students are strongly urged to confer with the instructor before making a final decision to drop a course.

Students should consult with the Business Office and/or the Office of Financial Aid prior to dropping courses to verify the effect of the course drop on their tuition and fee obligation. Tuition and fees will be refunded according to the university refund policy.

Students should pay particular attention to the procedural directions printed on the forms provided by the Registrar. No course is officially dropped or added until the required procedure is completed.

Administrative Course Drops

An instructor may recommend to the Provost and Senior Vice-President for Academic Affairs that a student be administratively dropped from a course if the student does not attend the first class session or misses more than twenty percent (20%) of the classes in the first 50 percent of the semester. A student administratively dropped for missing the first class meeting will receive no grade for the course. A student who is administratively dropped during the first 50 percent of the semester will receive a grade of “W.” Tuition and fees will be refunded according to the university refund policy.

A student may be withdrawn from a course for improper conduct by the Provost and Senior Vice-President for Academic Affairs. A student who is administratively dropped for improper conduct will receive a grade of F for each course. Tuition and fees will be refunded according to the university refund policy.

Withdrawal from the University

A student may withdraw from all classes at the University by completing and returning the Withdrawal Form available in the Registrar’s Office or the Office of Adult & Professional Studies. Students who withdraw prior to the first 50 percent of class meetings will receive a grade of “W” for each course; students who withdraw after the first 50 percent of the class meetings will receive a grade of “F” for each course (refer to the Academic Calendar  for specific drop/withdrawal dates). Students are not withdrawn from the University unless the appropriate form is completed and returned to the Registrar’s Office or the Office of Adult & Professional Studies. Tuition and fees will be refunded according to the university refund policy.

Medical Withdrawal

A student who is requesting a withdrawal from courses for medical or psychological reasons may apply for a medical withdrawal. The form is located on the student portal (my.ncwc.edu). Petitions for drops after the deadline for medical withdrawal will typically be granted only for unforeseen and uncontrollable medical or psychological problems directly affecting the student’s participation in the academic program. Applications for medical withdrawal should be addressed to the Registrar’s Office. The application for medical withdrawal should include:

1. A letter written by the student, detailing the specific medical or psychological reasons for withdrawing
2. Documentation from the student’s physician or licensed mental health provider that specifies the medical or psychological diagnosis and the impact of the medical or psychological problem on the student’s ability to attend classes.
3. Current contact information (both email and postal mail addresses) to which communication from the Provost’s Office will be sent
4. Any additional items that support the medical withdrawal

If approved, withdrawals for medical and psychological reasons are ordinarily approved for all courses (i.e. students cannot withdraw from some classes and not others) unless a specific medical or psychological reason exists for withdrawing from a specific course (i.e. a student with a broken leg who cannot participate in an exercise science course).

If a medical withdrawal is approved, a “W” will appear on the student’s transcript for each course. The student will not receive any academic credit for those courses. Tuition and fees will be refunded according to the university refund policy. Students should consult with the Business Office and/or the Office of Financial Aid prior to dropping courses to verify the effect of the course drop on their tuition and fee obligation.

Applications for withdrawal for medical or psychological reasons will only be considered for the current semester.

Administrative Withdrawal

The Provost and Senior Vice-President for Academic Affairs may remove a student from the institution for conduct that disrupts the academic programs of the university. Students who are administratively withdrawn for disruptive conduct will receive an F in all courses. Tuition and fees will be refunded according to the university refund policy.

Unofficial Withdrawal

A student who stops attending a class without notifying the university is considered to have made an Unofficial Drop. A final grade of XF is assigned by instructors for students who fail the class due to non-attendance. When instructors assign an XF grade they are asked to report the last known date of attendance, if possible. Students are defined as unofficially withdrawn for Title IV Federal Aid purposes when they do not have any grades for any courses in a term other than XF grades.

Those students who have all XF grades for a term are assumed to be unofficially withdrawn. A report is generated for those students with federal and state aid whom are assumed to have unofficially withdrawn from the university. The last date of attendance as reported by any of the instructors is determined and used in the return of Title IV funds calculation. If a last day of attendance cannot otherwise be determined, the student is assumed to have attended 50% of the enrollment period and the formula is calculated based on that length of attendance.

Students will be billed for resulting institutional charges and repayments of federal and/or state financial aid. An XF grade is treated as an F for all other policy purposes.

Involuntary Leave of Absence 

North Carolina Wesleyan University is committed to the well-being, health, and safety of our individual students and our community. There are times when a student may experience situations that significantly limit their ability to successfully function in the university environment. An involuntary leave of absence may be implemented to allow the student to leave North Carolina Wesleyan University in order to focus on the issues limiting their ability to successfully function.

An involuntary leave will not be imposed when student conduct, academic, or other responses to the student’s behavior are readily available and can be used to address the behavior. The University will explore the use of reasonable accommodations through the Office of Counseling and Accessibility Services whenever possible to assist students in addressing their concern. Additionally, when possible and appropriate, the University will encourage students to prioritize mental and/or physical health by taking a voluntary leave of absence to seek/follow a course of treatment that will allow them to resume their student status. The University will explore an involuntary leave only when other avenues and reasonable accommodations have been exhausted.

Notice to Student

The Dean of Students will issue a written notice to the student that an involuntary leave of absence is under consideration. The notice will include 1) the reason(s) why the student is being considered for an involuntary leave; 2) contact information for the Dean of Students: and 3) contact information for the Office of Counseling & Accessibility Services. Students will be provided the opportunity to take a voluntary leave of absence prior to an involuntary leave being issued. An involuntary leave of absence is considered when a student:

• presents a substantial risk of harm to self and/or others;
• is failing to carry out substantial self-care obligations;
• significantly disrupts the educational and/or other activities of the University community;
• is unable to participate meaningfully in educational activities; and/or
• requires a level of care from the University exceeding that which the University can provide.

The Dean of Students (or designee) will confer with the student to discuss the student’s needs and the University’s expectations. The Dean of Students (or designee) may also confer with a student’s parents, guardians, or emergency contact if deemed necessary to protect the student and/or others in the community. There will be full consideration for the student’s FERPA rights before contacting the student’s parents, guardians, or emergency contact.

1. Individualized Assessment & Written Decision

Where appropriate and feasible, the Dean of Students (or designee) will notify a student, in writing, that an involuntary leave under this policy is under review. In situations involving an imminent or ongoing threat to the student or NCWU’s community, it may be appropriate for the University to require the student to be away from the University while the individualized assessment and review are taking place. Students must cooperate in the assessment. The University may require a mental or physical evaluation from an appropriately trained clinician who is not associated with the University and who is not related to the student if the Dean of Students in consultation with the University’s Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) believes such an evaluation of the student will facilitate a more informed decision. If such evaluation is determined to be necessary, students must sign a release of information to facilitate discussions between the University and the clinician conducting an evaluation. The student is responsible for the cost of the evaluation.

The Behavioral Intervention Team may consider relevant documentation made available to them and may confer with individuals who have relevant information about whether a leave of absence under this policy is appropriate for the student. Although each case will vary, conferring individuals may include other health care professionals and other University community members.

1. The student will have the opportunity to respond to the concerns in writing, in person or via telephone to the Dean of Students.
2. The Dean of Students will consider potential accommodations and/or modifications that could neutralize the need for an involuntary leave of absence.
3. The decision to impose a leave will be made collectively by the Behavioral Intervention Team. The Dean of Students must provide written notice of the decision to the student.

1. If a leave is imposed, the written decision will address: 1) a period when the student could be eligible to return; and 2) the conditions the student will need to satisfy to be eligible for return 3) the student’s right to appeal.
2. If a leave is not imposed, the Dean of Students may require conditions for the student’s continued enrollment at NCWU. These conditions will be in writing.

2. Appeal Process

A student placed on involuntary leave has 7 days from receipt of the letter from the Dean of Students to submit an appeal of the decision in writing to the President The written request for appeal must specify the specific substantive and/or procedural basis for the appeal. The President will make a determination based on the following considerations:

1. Were the proper facts and criteria used to make the decision? Were improper or extraneous facts or criteria used that substantially affected the decision to the detriment of the student?
2. Were there any procedural irregularities that substantially affected the outcome of the matter to the detriment of the student?
3. Given the proper facts, criteria, and procedures, was the decision reasonable?

The President may

1. uphold the decision without any modifications;
2. modify the decision;
3. overturn the decision;
4. return the decision to the Behavioral Intervention Team for further review.

The determination of whether a student will be removed from the University community while waiting for an appeal will occur on a case-by-case basis.

3. Implications of an Involuntary Leave of Absence

1. Student Status - Students on a leave of absence generally retain their admitted student status; however, since they are not registered for classes, they do not have the rights and privileges of registered students.
2. Housing - Consistent with NCWU’s policies and procedures, students assigned to a University residence are subject to the terms of the University Housing Agreement.
3. Effective date(s) of Leave - A student must leave the University within the timeframe set forth by the Dean of Students. The leave will remain in effect until (1) it is determined after an individualized assessment that the student is able to return to the University with or without reasonable accommodations and (2) the student has complied with any University requirements applicable to all students returning from a leave and all the conditions mandated by the Behavioral Intervention Team.
4. Notification - At any time during the leave process, the Dean of Students may notify a student’s parent, guardian, emergency contact, or other individual, consistent with the law, if notification is determined to be necessary.
5. Association with the University While on Leave - Unless expressly permitted by the Dean of Students in writing, students on an involuntary leave of absence are not permitted to be present at the University nor engage in any University-related activities, including on-campus employment.
6. Coursework Taken While on Leave - Consistent with NCWU’s policies and procedures, academic credit for work done elsewhere may transfer towards a NCWU degree. Students should consult with the Registrar’s Office and their department prior to taking any coursework while on an involuntary leave of absence. 
7. Student ID - Unless expressly allowed in writing by the Dean of Students, students on leave generally may not retain their ID privileges including entrance into all campus buildings.
8. Email Account - Unless expressly prohibited by the Dean of Students in writing, students on leave generally may retain their NCWU email account.
9. NCWU’s refund policy would be in effect for students issued an involuntary leave of absence.
10. Visa Status - International students (F-1 and J-1 Visa holders) placed on an involuntary leave of absence must speak with the International Studies Office.

4. Voluntary Withdrawal

At any point in the process the student may present a request for a voluntary withdrawal pursuant to the University’s withdrawal process. If the request is granted, the involuntary leave process will cease and the student will be subject to the institution’s readmission requirements. Voluntary withdrawal will not terminate any pending disciplinary action.

5. Return to the University

1. The conditions for return will be specified in writing and delivered to the student. Except in extraordinary circumstances, a student will not be permitted to return to the University until the leave period specified has elapsed and the conditions for return have been satisfied.
2. A medical and/or mental health professional clinician’s recommendation does not guarantee a student’s right to return to the University. The Behavioral Intervention Team will consider relevant documentation made available to them and may confer with individuals who have relevant information about whether a return to the University is appropriate at this time.
3. A student must make a written request to the Dean of Students to return to the University at least 30 days prior to the start of the academic term in which the student wishes to return. The request must include evidence that the conditions for return to the University have been satisfied (or will be satisfied by the start of the date of return). This may include the completion of the external assessment by a licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, or physician.
4. The Behavioral Intervention Team will conduct an individualized assessment of the student’s case, to include:
   1. Student’s receipt of appropriate and sufficient treatment from mental health and/or physical health care provider(s);
   2. Student’s demonstration of insight regarding circumstances that lead to the leave of absence; and
   3. Student’s demonstration of readiness to return to full-time enrollment, including an ability to function in the student environment either with or without reasonable accommodations.
5. If the Behavioral Intervention Team is not satisfied that the student is ready to return, the Dean of Students will notify the student in writing of the decision, including the reason for the decision.
6. A student not permitted to return may appeal the decision to President.

6. This Policy’s Interaction with other University Matters

An involuntary leave of absence is an administrative process. It is not a disciplinary process. It is possible that conduct leading to an involuntary leave under this policy may also be subject to review under the University’s disciplinary process. This policy does not supersede the authority of the Dean of Students to act under the Code of Student Conduct and does not supersede the President’s authority to take administrative action to ensure the safety of the community. Additionally, this policy does not limit the University’s ability to place holds on student accounts for reasons beyond the scope of this policy, including but not limited to outstanding financial obligations, failure to register, academic standing or disciplinary suspension. This policy does not relieve a student of financial obligations to the University that were in place at the time an involuntary leave of absence was imposed. 

7. Confidentiality

The University recognizes the sensitive and confidential nature of considering a voluntary or involuntary leave. The University’s use and disclosure of such information will be guided by laws governing the privacy of student information, such as FERPA and HIPAA, and the limited exceptions for disclosure provided by law. All records concerning both voluntary and involuntary leaves of absence are confidential and the official copy of such records will be retained by the Dean of Students or the Dean’s designee. Access to these records is limited by appropriate federal, state, and local law. Such records will be destroyed seven (7) years after the student’s graduation or separation from the University.

Student Military Deployment Policy

Student Military Deployment Policy 

Statement: North Carolina Wesleyan University appreciates the dedication of our students who continue to serve on active duty, guard or reserves while pursuing their education. 

Purpose: This policy provides equitable consistent treatment to its military students who are deployed or placed on active-duty status so that they may continue their education once their deployment or military service is complete. 

Policy: Students who are deployed/placed on active duty (defined as anyone with official active-duty orders including reservists and guard members serving on regularly scheduled Unit Training Assembly (UTA) weekends) status during the term they are enrolled may choose one of the following options: 

1. Continue the coursework through online/email participation. When deemed feasible by the instructor, the university will allow the student to continue the course by arranging with the instructor using either online resources or email correspondence during the time of deployment/active-duty status. 

2. Receive a grade of “incomplete.” The instructor will allow the student to continue working on the coursework for a time to be determined but no longer than 8 weeks past the term end date. Students must complete the course requirements within the period of time specified by the university to avoid receiving a failing grade for the course. Instructors will provide the assignments due and due dates to the student in writing via email. In the event that a student is required to participate in a field trip or an in-person, synchronous, or other activity within or outside the normal class meeting which conflicts with a scheduled drill weekend or other military training, the student will be excused from the activity and given the opportunity to make up work at a later time within the course when feasible. 

3. Drop without penalty. Students should consult with their primary advisor and instructors prior to dropping courses. If it is determined that dropping the class is the best option, the student should then complete the Military Leave Request including a copy of a completed Drop/Add form. Copies will be sent to the Registrar and the Academic Advisor. 

Student’s Responsibilities and Procedures: Student must alert their instructors as soon as they have a conflict or prior to the start of class, whichever occurs earlier.  Then the student must complete the Military Leave Request Form including official paperwork showing the dates of training as an attachment.  The Associate Dean of Veteran Services receives the form with documentation and alerts the student’s instructors, primary advisor, Provost’s office, business office and financial aid office. 

Readmission: Students returning from deployment will be readmitted at the same academic status as they had when previously attended. 

Deployment and Reintegration POC:  To ensure the service member is supported during the deployment, the Associate Dean of Veteran Services will guide the student through the Military Leave Request process beginning with pre-deployment through reintegration.  As needed, various other campus staff and resources will be available for the student to ensure a smooth transition back to Wesleyan. VeteranServices@ncwu.edu.  

Repeating Courses

An undergraduate student may remove academic deficiencies only by attending North Carolina Wesleyan University. A student may retake a course at North Carolina Wesleyan University to improve a grade. If a course is repeated, the highest grade will be figured into the student’s grade point average. The original grade is not deleted from the transcript. No additional credit hours are awarded for repeated courses that have previously been successfully completed. For more information contact the Registrar.

Policy on Cross Enrollments Between the Rocky Mount Traditional Day Program and the Adult Studies and Professional Program

Traditional students wishing to take a course offered through the Adult Studies and Professional Program must meet the following requirements:

1. At least 22 years of age
2. At least Junior standing
3. At least a 3.0 GPA
4. The student must choose the traditional class first unless there is a schedule conflict and one of the following conditions applies: (1) The course is a major requirement needed for graduation within the current or pending semester; or (2) The course is a major or minor requirement needed to maintain proper sequencing of major or minor courses.

The cap for traditional students enrolled in an Adult Studies course is 4 students yet there is no wait or limitation as to when a traditional student can register, as long as it is within the registration window for that session or semester. (The Adult Studies Director will monitor this.)

Items 1-4 will be verified by the advisor and program coordinator.

If all of the policies on cross enrollments listed above are met, then the signatures are only needed by:

1. Academic Advisor (must make sure all prerequisites are met)
2. Program Coordinator of student’s major
3. Student Accounts
4. Adult Studies Campus Director

Any exceptions to this policy require the signed approval of the Provost.

Class Attendance and Participation

All students are admitted to North Carolina Wesleyan University with the understanding that they are mature and responsible enough to meet their obligations for all class requirements, including class attendance. Punctual attendance is expected for every class and laboratory session or field experience. Students are expected to participate in course activities and complete assignments as described in the course syllabus except in the case of illness or university extracurricular activities as approved by the Provost and Senior Vice-President for Academic Affairs. Students registering late are expected to makeup all missed assignments in a manner determined by the instructor.

Each instructor shall determine the class attendance policy for each of his or her courses as long as the instructor’s policy does not conflict with any university policy. The instructor’s attendance policy, along with other course requirements, must be provided to the class on a syllabus distributed at the first class meeting. Class attendance may be a criterion in determining a student’s final grade in the course if the instructor provides a written statement to this effect in the course syllabus. In determining the number of unexcused absences which will be accepted, the instructor should consider carefully the nature of the course, the maturity level of the students enrolled and the consequent degree of flexibility included in the instructor’s policy.

The Provost and Senior Vice-President for Academic Affairs may authorize a university-excused absence for student participation in authorized activities as an official representative of the University (i.e. athletic events, delegate to regional or national meetings or conferences, participation in university-sponsored performances). No class absences will be excused for practices or rehearsals. Only absences for performances/events and necessary travel to and from the performance/event are excused.

The Vice-President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students may authorize a university-excused absence in the following situations:

1. An extreme personal emergency about which the student is unable to speak directly to the instructor.
2. The death of an immediate family member (such as parent, sibling, spouse or child).
3. Student participation in religious holidays.

Students should consult with their instructors about all class absences. It is the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor immediately about class absences, to provide appropriate documentation for an absence and discuss any missed class time, tests or assignments. Except in the case of a university-excused absence, it is the decision of the instructor to excuse an absence or to allow for any additional time to make up missed tests or assignments. Instructors should normally honor written medical excuses from a licensed medical or psychological practitioner that state that the student was too ill or injured to attend class and provides the specific date(s) for which the student was unable to attend class due to the medical or psychological problem. Excused absences should not lower a student’s course grade, provided that the student, in a manner determined by the instructor, is able to make up the work that has been missed and is maintaining satisfactory progress in the course.

An instructor may request that the Provost and Senior Vice-President for Academic Affairs administratively drop a student from a course if the student misses the first class meeting or misses twenty percent of class meetings during the first 50 percent of the semester or term.

Students must determine if he or she will miss 10% or more of class meeting time as a result of university-excused absences and if so, are required to meet with the instructor of each affected course at the beginning of the semester. Student experiences that cannot be made up should be discussed at the onset of the course to ensure that continued enrollment is feasible while there is still the opportunity to drop the course within the schedule change period.

Academic Eligibility Standards

The University expects students to demonstrate steady academic progress toward graduation. Students who have an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher are considered to be in good academic standing. Students who are not making adequate academic progress will receive notification from the Registrar who will contact them on behalf of the Academic Policy Committee. This status will be noted on their transcript and Degree Audit Worksheet. If a student fails to meet the requirements for good academic standing, they will be placed on academic warning (step 1), academic probation (step 2), or academic suspension (step 3) as detailed below.

Regardless of formal academic status determinations, any student who earns a GPA of 1.2 or lower in any given semester will be contacted by the Provost’s Office or their APS advisor and required to meet regularly with their advisor and the Student Success Center whether or not they are placed on academic warning (step 1) or academic probation (step 2).

Step 1: Academic Warning

A student who does not meet the 2.0 cumulative grade point average requirement will be placed on academic warning (step 1). The student must meet the minimum cumulative 2.0 grade point average standard by the next semester or they will be placed on academic probation (step 2). Students achieving a term grade point average of at least a 2.0 while they are on academic warning (step 1) will not be placed on academic probation (step 2) but will remain on academic warning (step 1).

Step 2: Academic Probation

A student who does not meet the cumulative 2.0 grade point average requirement after being on academic warning (step 1) will be placed on academic probation (step 2). The student must meet the 2.0 minimum cumulative grade point average by the next semester or the student will be suspended (step 3). Students achieving a term grade point average of at least 2.0 while they are on academic probation (step 2) will not be suspended (step 3) but will remain on academic probation (step 2). Students on academic warning (step 1) or academic probation (step 2) are encouraged to consult with their advisor in order to:

1. Determine courses to repeat in which a grade of “F” was earned.
2. Determine courses to repeat in which a grade of “D” was earned. Repeating a course where a “D” was earned may improve a student’s grade point average but does not increase the number of earned credit hours.
3. Assess if a change of major may lead to greater academic success.
4. Seek tutoring services from the Student Success Center.
5. Attempt no more than 16 semester hours in the next semester.

Students not in good academic standing are encouraged to consult and/or follow any additional advice from the Academic Policy Committee, the Registrar, and administrative academic staff.

Step 3: Academic Suspension

Because a student with persistent academic difficulties may benefit from taking time off from the university, the University imposes a period of academic suspension (step 3) when a student fails to meet minimum academic standards. A student will be suspended for the following reasons:

1. The student is on academic probation (step 2) and does not meet the minimum cumulative grade point average at the conclusion of the next semester and does not achieve a term grade point average of at least 2.0 during the semester they are on academic probation (step 2).
2. The student fails the same developmental course for the third time, regardless of their grade point average.

1st academic suspension = one semester not including summer school

2nd academic suspension = two semesters not including summer school

3rd academic suspension = not allowed to re-enroll at the University

If a student is granted a suspension appeal, it is counted in determining the level of subsequent academic suspensions, should another academic suspension occur. For example, if a student is suspended but an appeal is granted, this is a second occurrence. A successful appeal never allows a student to remove the academic suspension from the student’s record.

Students who have served an academic suspension of any length and are readmitted to the University or who have been granted an appeal of academic suspension, will return on academic probation (step 2)

A successful appeal of academic suspension (step 3) does not grant an appeal to Student Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information.

Appealing Academic Suspension

A student who wishes to appeal his or her academic suspension must appeal in writing to the Academic Policy Committee. A continuing student who has served a semester of a one-year academic suspension and who wishes exemption from the remainder may also submit an appeal to be allowed to return early. This request must be received in the Office of the Registrar by the dates in the suspension notification letter from the registrar. The Academic Policy Committee normally will not approve an appeal unless it is based on personal, medical or psychological problems of an extreme nature that were unforeseeable and uncontrollable and the student provides evidence that the situation has been remedied. The written appeal must contain the following information:

• Rationale for the appeal
• Documentation of personal, family or medical problems
• Evidence that the problems have been resolved

Readmission after Academic Suspension

Students who have been suspended for the first time are eligible to apply for readmission after the lapse of one semester. Students who have been suspended twice will not be eligible to apply for readmission until at least one year has elapsed. Students returning from academic suspension (step 3) are placed on academic probation (step 2). Students on academic suspension (step 3) are urged to carefully consider their motivation for attending the university and to seek remedial instruction to improve their academic skills. Students who have been suspended and wish to be readmitted after sitting out the appropriate time must submit their readmission application for the semester they wish to return by the following deadlines:

Fall Semester           August 1

Spring Semester      December 1

Summer Semester    April 1

Readmission under Academic Forgiveness

Former students who have not been enrolled at North Carolina Wesleyan University or other accredited college or university for a minimum of five consecutive academic years (summer sessions excluded) and are otherwise eligible to return to NCWU, may request readmission under the Academic Forgiveness Policy. Such requests must be submitted on the application for readmission according to application deadline dates as specified in the admissions section of this catalog. The student’s university account must be cleared with the Business Office of any outstanding balance, if any, prior to registration for the term of readmission.

Subsequent North Carolina Wesleyan University GPAs of students readmitted under this policy will be computed without inclusion of previous course work in which a grade D or F was received; credit toward graduation will not be allowed for excluded course work. All NCWU grades, including those earned prior to readmission under this Academic Forgiveness Policy, will appear on the academic transcript and will be included in calculations for consideration for degrees with distinction and other university honors.

Academic forgiveness cannot be granted if a student has earned a postsecondary degree following his/her initial North Carolina Wesleyan University attendance and applied NCWU credits toward that degree. A student may take advantage of the readmission under the Academic Forgiveness Policy only one time. The student’s transcript will have a notation beginning the semester of entry that the individual has been admitted under the Academic Forgiveness Policy and that course work and grades excluded under the policy are not computed in the GPA or used for degree credit.

Students readmitted under this policy are on Academic Warning for the first 24 semester hours of attempted course work. At the end of the term in which the nineteenth semester hour is attempted, a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA must have been earned on all course work attempted since readmission under this policy. Failure to meet this stipulation will result in the student being ineligible to return.

A student electing to be readmitted under the Academic Forgiveness Policy will use the catalog of record at the time the student reenters to determine degree and graduation requirements.

Students should be aware that the Readmission Under Academic Forgiveness Policy is a university academic policy. This policy is not recognized in the US Department of Education’s calculation of financial aid eligibility. Students who plan to apply for or receive financial aid should contact the Office of Financial Aid prior to enrolling.

*Readmission under Academic Forgiveness is not available to students enrolled in the graduate program.

Academic Integrity Policy

North Carolina Wesleyan University’s administration, faculty, and students are dedicated to upholding the integrity of the academic process and working together to prevent the occurrence of all forms of academic dishonesty, including plagiarism and cheating.

Faculty Responsibilities

Faculty members are responsible for ensuring that students are completing their assignments in an ethical manner and in compliance with all academic integrity standards. The following are some examples of how this can be accomplished:

• Rationale for the appeal
• Design syllabi that make students aware of the University’s academic integrity policy
• Explain how the policy applies to their particular course
• Provide resources in class or on MyNCWC that instruct students on the citation style used in the course
• Incorporate, formally or informally, the steps of the writing process, particularly revision, into major assignments to help address possible violations before a final project is turned in for grading.
• Evaluate students’ work based on criteria provided to the students on assignment sheets or associated grading rubrics
• Communicate with students in violation of the plagiarism and academic integrity policies to ensure that they understand the facts of the violation and the process that the professor must follow as a result of their violation
• Provide students with resources, such as TurnItIn, to review their work for similarity with outside sources in order to make changes and cite work correctly prior to their final submission.

Student Responsibilities

Students are responsible for making sure that they act ethically as they complete their academic work by doing the following:

• Read, understand, and follow NCWU’s academic integrity policy
• Seek help from faculty members and campus resources to ensure that they are following assignment guidelines correctly
• Use sources correctly by citing them in the style used in the course. This includes both in-text referencing and reference pages
• Avoid situations that undermine the guidelines put in place to uphold the integrity of an assignment

Plagiarism

The most basic definition of plagiarism is using someone else’s work or ideas without giving them credit and claiming, implicitly or explicitly, that the work and ideas are your own. While this is a good working definition, it can be helpful to review some of the different forms of plagiarism:

• Turning in for a grade an assignment that you claim to be your own original work when all or part of it was created by someone else
  • Ex 1: You find an essay in the library or on the internet that answers all the questions on your assignment, and you turn it in as if it were your own.
  • Ex 2: You find a really interesting sentence on a website or in a book that you think will make your paper sound good. You add it to your paper without giving credit to the source.
  • Ex 3: Your friend or classmate already wrote a paper like the one you are assigned. You turn in their paper as your own.
  • Ex 4: You work together with a friend/classmate on a paper that you were supposed to do on your own.
  • Ex 5: You use the organization and evidence from a model essay to structure your own writing without changing the content of your writing to match your experience, purpose, audience, or situation
• Turning in for a grade an assignment that uses outside sources without giving proper credit to those sources
  • Ex 1: You use information from a source but do not put direct quotes in quotation marks or indicate where you paraphrased their ideas.
  • Ex 2: You use information from a source but do not provide proper citations for sources you used.
  • Ex 3: You use an idea or major term throughout your paper from a source that you read without giving credit.
  • Ex 4: You write a paper in which all of the major arguments come from a source that you do not credit or build on.
• Self-Plagiarism. Turning in for a grade work that you have already submitted in whole or in part to another class without the approval of both faculty members.
  • Ex 1: You wrote a paper for your history class and received a grade on it. Your English professor assigns a similar paper. Instead of writing a new essay, you turn in the history paper.

Plagiarism may be purposeful or accidental. Accidental plagiarism usually happens when a student does not have enough knowledge about plagiarism or how to give credit to sources. It can also occur if a student has read about their topic but has not taken careful notes on where they found their information. Because it is almost impossible for an instructor to know if plagiarism is purposeful or accidental, accidental plagiarism shall be considered purposeful, unless proven otherwise.

Copyright, Fair Use and the Public Domain

Copyright refers to the legal protections awarded to creators of original written, audio, and visual works. When a copyrighted work is used without the permission of the creator, this is called copyright infringement. Even if you cite a work correctly, you may still be committing copyright infringement. If you use a work without permission and do not give credit to the creator, you are also committing plagiarism.

Fair use allows for the limited use of copyrighted materials in certain circumstances as long as credit is given to the creator of the materials. When deciding if what you are doing is fair use, ask yourself these questions:

• Am I using this material for commercial or educational purposes? Using a work to complete a class project is usually considered fair use. Once you plan to profit financially, it becomes copyright infringement.
• Is the material a factual or creative work? The more creative a work is, the less likely your use of its information or content is to fall under fair use.
• How much of the work will I be using? Giving credit to the creator is not enough to guarantee fair use if you have used a substantial portion of a work in your project.
• How will my use affect the value of the work? If your use of the work will negatively affect its current or future value for its creator, then it is not considered fair use.
• Is my use of the work transformative? Satirical and digital remix projects tend to be considered fair use. In these cases, you are creating something new by significantly changing the meaning of the work, adding to it, or providing criticism.

Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright, either because the creator chose not to protect the work or because the copyright has been allowed to expire. These works are free to use. However, students still need to give credit to the creator. Sites like the Creative Commons offer copyright free materials and provide rules for citing these materials. If you are using works from the public domain in an academic project, you will be expected to acknowledge that the material is not your own and provide citations where possible. While not illegal, not giving credit could still lead to an academic integrity violation.

Cheating

Cheating is the giving or receiving of information illicitly with the intent to deceive the faculty member in his or her effort to grade fairly and accurately any academic work. It also harms you because cheating prevents you from demonstrating the knowledge you have acquired in a course. Below are some common forms of cheating:

• Knowingly permitting one’s work to be submitted by another student as if it were that student’s original work.
  • Ex 1: You lend/give your paper to a friend/classmate to turn in as their own work.
  • Ex 2: You lend/give your paper to a friend/classmate as an example, and they copy all or part of it in their work.
• Violating procedures prescribed to protect the integrity of the assignment.
  • Ex 1: The professor asks that you turn in the articles that you used in your paper, but you do not.
  • Ex 2: The professor asks you not to share the assignment with students in another class, but you give it to your friend in another section.
  • Ex 3: The professor asks you to turn in the questions at the end of a test, but you do not.
• Lying in order to gain time on an assignment.
  • Ex 1: You claim that you have a family emergency or illness when you do not.
  • Ex 2: You claim you are having computer or car trouble when you are not.
• Destroying or monopolizing resources to keep other students from gaining access to them or to sabotage their work.
  • Ex 1: You know that a classmate has chosen a topic similar to yours, so you reserve every book in the library on the subject to keep them from being able to use them.
  • Ex 2: You destroy a classmate’s lab experiment to hurt their grade.

Appropriate and Inappropriate Collaboration

Academic collaboration is an important and exciting part of the university experience; however, some forms of collaboration may be a violation of academic integrity. The best thing to do is to talk to your instructor about what forms you are allowed to practice in their course. Below are some examples of what are usually considered appropriate and inappropriate collaboration.

• Appropriate Collaboration
  • Reviewing a classmate’s work during an in-class peer review
  • Group work assigned by the professor
  • Visiting the Writing Center, Math Lab, and other academic support services
  • Forming a study group to review for a test
• Inappropriate Collaboration
  • Working with a group to complete an individual (non-group) assignment
  • Asking a friend or classmate to do your work for you
    Sharing assignment sheets and tests with students in a different section of the course

Academic Integrity Violations: Reporting, Penalties and Appeals

When a faculty member believes an academic integrity violation has occurred in their class, the faculty member will discuss with the student the reasons for their suspicion of an academic integrity violation. The student will be given the opportunity to respond and to explain any circumstances that he or she believes the faculty member needs to consider with regard to the situation. Following this discussion, the faculty member shall make a decision as to whether the student committed a violation.

If a faculty member determines that a student has violated the University’s cheating or plagiarism policy, the faculty member will submit the University’s standard written report form of the incident to the office of the Registrar. The student shall also receive both digital and physical copies of the report. The report will be filed in the student’s permanent folder.

The faculty’s report to the Registrar’s office shall include information documenting the meeting with the student; assignment instructions and rubric, if used; a copy of the document that was in violation with the specific areas of the violation highlighted; the faculty member’s explanation of why and how this is a violation; and the findings of the meeting between the student and faculty member.

Students may appeal an academic policy violation within eight weeks of the last day of the course. If the student appeals the charges, the Registrar must then forward a copy of the student’s appeal letter, a copy of the faculty member’s report that gives the details of the violation, and copies of emails or other documents that will be useful in determining the facts of the case to the Academic Policy Committee (APC). If clarifications are needed from the faculty member or student by the APC, the Registrar is responsible for gathering the information and forwarding it to APC Committee members. The Registrar is also responsible for notifying the faculty member declaring the violation that an appeal has been filed by the student. The Registrar will also supply the faculty member with a copy of the student’s appeal documents.

The following procedure will be used by the Academic Policy Committee when processing appeals of academic policy violations:

1. Once the appeal is received by the APC members, the committee chair may elect to schedule a virtual meeting with the committee members, faculty member, and student involved in the appeal to discuss the facts of the violation. If any party does not have access to the technology for a virtual meeting, a conference call may be held instead. The professor may begin with establishing their findings concerning the violation. The student may then be given an opportunity to discuss their perspective and circumstances in the violation. Committee members may then be given the opportunity to ask questions seeking further clarifications.
2. After the first meeting has been completed, the APC members will then meet again in private to discuss their findings and conclusions about the violation. The Academic Policy Committee will then consider the evidence and either uphold or overturn the decision. The Academic Policy Committee will not have the right to change the penalty. All decisions of the Academic Policy Committee will be by majority vote.
3. Once the APC members make their decision concerning the violation, the committee chair shall submit a digital document to the Registrar’s office explaining the committee’s findings, conclusions, and rationale for their decision. The Registrar is then responsible for submitting a copy of the document to all parties involved.

The following penalties for cheating and plagiarism will apply:

• First Offense: The instructor will not give the student any credit for the work involved.
• Second Offense: The Provost/Senior Vice-President of Academic Affairs will withdraw the student from the course in which the second offense occurred and the student will receive an “F” in that course. The withdrawal will be effective immediately upon the Provost’s notification to the student and Registrar.
• Third Offense: The Provost/Senior Vice-President of Academic Affairs will suspend the student from the University for one semester (details of the suspension and the procedure for readmission will be provided in the letter of notification from the Provost). The suspension will be effective immediately upon the Provost’s notification to the student and the Registrar. The student will receive an “F” in all courses the student is enrolled in at the time of the suspension.
• Fourth Offense: The Provost/Senior Vice-President of Academic Affairs will permanently expel the student from the University. The expulsion will be effective immediately upon the Provost’s notification to the student and the Registrar. The student will receive an “F” in all courses the student is enrolled in at the time of the expulsion.

Transfer Credit for Current Students

Current North Carolina Wesleyan University students who wish to enroll in courses at another collegiate institution must receive a Permission to Enroll at Another Institution form from the Registrar’s Office. Only courses successfully completed with a grade of “C” or better are acceptable for transfer. Quality points and grade point averages do not transfer.

Academic Services

Academic Computing

The University maintains two laboratories equipped with 24 computer workstations for student instruction. The computers are available for student use when not being utilized for instruction. Students also have access to additional computer workstations in the library and in the Hartness Center. All residence hall rooms have network connections.

Library

The library serves the North Carolina Wesleyan University community at all campuses by providing access to appropriate resources, effective instruction, and inviting learning environments. In Rocky Mount, Pearsall Library is a place on campus that provides print, media, and electronic resources to support both academic work and recreational needs. The library offers comfortable study space for both independent and collaborative work and includes a Flexible Instruction Lab, a Media Production Lab, and the Writing Center. Library staff members are readily available in person, via email (reference@ncwu.edu), by appointment, via telephone, and online through our chat reference service, to help users at all campuses find and use information in all formats and to help them manage technology. The library’s website links to a wide array of electronic information resources. These include online databases that provide access to full-text articles in about 61,000 magazines, newspapers and journals; about 319,000 electronic books; and about 50,000 educational and documentary streaming videos accessible online. Students can access these resources at any time, day or night, via the library’s website (https://ncwu.edu/academics/library/) or off-campus using their campus login username and password. Books and articles that are not readily available online may be requested via interlibrary loan by using the online request form on the library’s website or contact the library at (252) 985-5350. The library’s website also provides online research guides and tutorials to help students find and use information resources. The library provides laptops for students to checkout for use within and outside the library, including weekends. The library’s hours during the academic year are Sundays: 1:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.; Mondays to Thursdays: 7:30 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.; Fridays: 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; and Saturdays: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Writing Center

The Writing Center offers students in all courses one-on-one help in writing at any stage of the writing process. By working collaboratively with students, the Writing Center staff help students to develop their writing skills and to value consultation and reflection as an integral part of composing. In addition to conducting face-to-face tutorials, the Center also operates an Online Writing Lab (OWL) that enables students to access an Internet data bank and hundreds of handouts on writing, to e-mail questions about writing and to engage in online consultations with members of the Writing Center staff.

Registrar

The Registrar’s Office is responsible for maintaining student academic records. Students may request that the Registrar provide copies of their academic transcript to another college or university, a prospective employer or other third party.

Student Success Center (192 Pearsall Building)

The Student Success Center provides a wide range of programs and services designed to assist students in achieving their personal and academic goals. Programs and services offered through the center include academic advising and academic support services such as tutoring. The Center also provides intervention, assistance and referral programs for at-risk students.

New Student Orientation

New Student Orientation is called WesWay and it is a three-part event that assists students in preparing for their transition to the university community. Part one, WES 101, is an online orientation course within the student portal (MyNCWU) that helps familiarize students with important offices and services on campus. Part two, WesWay Day, occurs during the summer months and is designed to provide students and their families with essential information before campus move-in and the start of classes. Students and their families attend sessions pertaining to financial aid, academic advising and course registration, MyNCWU student account and residence life. Part three, WesWay Weekend, kicks off with campus check-in day the weekend before classes begin. Students will engage in activities and attend sessions to connect with other students and the Wesleyan community.

First-Year Advising: All first-year students are assigned to an academic advisor in the Student Success Center for their first year. Advisors assist students in clarifying their goals and values as well as understanding the nature and purpose of higher education. In addition, advisors help students to:

1. Understand the University’s general education requirements
2. Prepare fall and spring term registration
3. Fulfill university requirements
4. Search for majors and careers that are a good fit
5. Utilize available resources to reach goals
6. Set short and long term academic goals

The advising process involves planning an educational program consistent with the student’s interests and abilities while providing accurate information about educational options, requirements, policies and procedures. After the first year, students will transition to a faculty advisor in their chosen major.

First Year Experience: North Carolina Wesleyan University believes in the potential of each student to be successful at Wesleyan and the days ahead. The First Year Experience program strives to inspire new students to maximize their potential by providing support and resources that assist them in their transition to college and the Wesleyan community. The First Year Experience program consists of a one credit course for first-year students and unique programming throughout the year to bolster student success and engagement.

COL 103 Wesleyan Transition: A one-credit seminar course that assists first-year students in their college transition and helps to further orient them to the North Carolina Wesleyan University environment. All first-year students are enrolled in COL 103  the first semester, which is instructed by their assigned academic advisor. The course emphasizes collegiate success, campus engagement and career exploration.

First Year Mentors: A team of dedicated and constructive student leaders that are passionate about North Carolina Wesleyan University and believe in every student’s success. From the beginnings at New Student Welcome and throughout the fall semester, First Year Mentors help new students connect with the Wesleyan community. They serve as mentors and role models to first-year students and attend an assigned COL 103  course section to be accessible and provide insight as a mentor.

Academic Support: The Bishop Tutoring Center provides both peer and professional tutorial services to assist students with improving their academic performance. Students receive help in developing and improving basic academic skills, as well as tutoring in specific courses. The Center also provides tutorial services through the Academic Labs on campus: Math Lab and Tech Lab. Supplemental Instruction (SI) is an academic assistance program that targets historically difficult courses. The program aims to help students improve their understanding of course material and improve their grades. The program offers assistance in targeted classes by providing a trained peer SI leader to assist with the subject material. Three times each week, SI leaders conduct regularly scheduled sessions where students can go to ask questions about course content and learn how to study for the course. Supplemental Instruction supports students with what to learn and with how to learn.

Academic Intervention: NCWU utilizes an Early Alert system where faculty and staff can post alerts and updates on students of concern. An alert goes directly to the individuals or offices that can intervene and help the student get back on track toward academic success. The Student Success Center also invites students to join Project Success. This program is designed for students in academic jeopardy, those admitted through Freshman Advantage, and those on an academic plan mandated by Financial Aid. Focused academic coaching, consistent use of support services, and enrichment workshops provide students with the accountability and tools to improve their academic status.

Office of Career Development and Leadership

This area assists students’ professional and leadership development while also serving as a resource to students, faculty and the business community. By emphasizing hands-on learning as an important tool for both full-time employment and development of a career path, programs and services help students realize their career goals and leadership growth. Specific services include career exploration/planning, creating job/internship search materials (resumes, etc), and developing interview skills while also assisting with the identification of internship/career opportunities through career fairs and postings. Leadership development programming is also offered through the National Society of Leadership & Success and the Leadership Wesleyan program.