Document Actions

Frequently Asked Questions

by Angela W Coley — last modified 2010-01-08 16:00

Parent's Council Undergraduate Academics

Academic Advising

What is the mission of the Academic Advising Program in the College of Arts and Sciences and General College at UNC-Chapel Hill?
Are undergraduate professional school students, i.e., students in Kenan Flagler School of Business, advised by academic advisors in the Advising Program?
What online resources are available to parents on the academic advising process?
Where should my student begin addressing any academic matters related to advising?
Does my student have a primary advisor when they arrive at Carolina?
Does she/he have a major/departmental advisor?

Majors

Courses and Schedules

Special Services and Summers

Advising Answers

1) What is the mission of the Academic Advising Program in the College of Arts and Sciences and General College at UNC-Chapel Hill?

The mission of the Academic Advising Program is to assist students with all aspects of their academic planning while providing a foundation for appropriate academic decisions throughout their undergraduate studies.

The Academic Advising Program does this by helping students:

develop educational plans consistent with their interests, abilities, and goals;
identify courses to enhance skills and interests and choose a major field of study;
understand course choices within available course offerings;
become familiar with and follow academic policies, rules, procedures, and requirements;
maintain the required scholastic standards by identifying strategies and resources for academic success;
make timely and satisfactory progress towards a degree.
direct students to appropriate campus resources.

^top

2) Are undergraduate professional school student, i.e., students in Kenan Flagler School of Business, advised by academic advisors in the Advising Program?

During a student's first and second year, and/or until a student is admitted to a Professional School, students are advised by academic advisors in the Academic Advising Program. Once admitted to one of Carolina's professional schools, juniors and seniors will be assigned an advisor in their professional school. The professional school advisor will reveiw major requirements, discuss course options, inform students of special opportunities in their program, and clear them for graduation. After admission, students will need to see their school representatives for all advising needs, including dropping and adding courses, changing or adding a major and/or minor, and other administrative matters.

If a professional school student is approved for a second major in the College of Arts and Sciences, the student receives academic advising for their second major by the Academic Advising Program, and the professional school clears the student for graduation.

^top

3) What online resources are available to parents on the academic advising process?

You can find comprehensive information on the Academic Advising Program at our website. The website categorizes information under major headings that we hope will facilitate your finding the information you need. We believe that following might be of significant interest to parents: About Advising, Advising Year by Year, Curriculum Matters, Registration Information, Academic Policies, Academic Eligibility and Probation, Campus Resources, and Calenders and Deadlines.

^top

4) Where should my student begin addressing any academic matters related to advising?

Students are strongly encouraged to begin addressing any academic matters related to the advising process with his/her primary academic advisor or the assistant dean/senior assistant dean for his/her advising division.

^top

5) Does my student have a primary advisor when they arrive at Carolina?

Every new student who matriculates through the College of Arts and Sciences and General College will be assigned a primary academic advisor. Students will receive an email from Academic Advising informing them of their advisor's name and contact information. The student can also locate the name of his/her advisor via Student Central under Student Personal Information.

^top

6) Does she/he have a major/departmental advisor?

Juniors and Seniors in the College of Arts and Sciences will receive academic advising from their major department as well as from academic advisors in the Academic Advising Program. Departmental advisors will guide students in selecting courses within their major, and can discuss career and educational opportunities in the field. Departmental representatives will ensure that students understand what to expect from the department and familiarize students with departmental procedures such as accessing a departmental advisor, receiving approval for early registration, and learning about special opportunities available to students through the department. It is important for students to meet with their departmental advisors early in the first semester of their junior year and thereafter as needed or required. It is essential for students to meet at least once a year with an academic advisor in the Academic Advising Program to make sure they are on track for graduation.

^top

6a) Where can my student find information about their advisor, such as their name, office location, email address, telephone number, etc?

Students can find the name of their advisor on Student Central, and contact information for every employee at the University is found in the online campus directory.

^top

6b) What is the process for changing advisors?

A student can see any advisor associated with an advising division to discuss matters related to advising; however, if the student wishes to officially change his/her advisor, he/she should make the request via the administrative specialist associated with the division. The administrative specialist for each division is located at the reception desk on each floor of the Steele Building.

^top

7) Is a new advisor assigned when my student selects a new major?

If the new major is in a different advising division, a new advisor will be assigned. If the student remains in the same advising division, he/she keeps the same advisor unless a request is made to change to a new advisor.

^top

8) What peer advising resources - online and in-person - are available for my student and how might students access these resources?

Peer advising is available via numerous academic departments such as Psychology and Biology, and Student Government also offers peer advising. Information about these resources can be located via a search within the University homepage or contact the appropriate academic department.

^top

9) Is there ever an appropriate time for the parent to contact the academic advisor directly?

Yes, but please be cognizant of FERPA regulations. These federal regulations limit what an advisor can discuss with parents without a student's permission. With the student's written permission, the discussion may be more open.

If your student is sick or is expected to miss class for any length of time, contact the Academic Advising Program for assistance in notifying your students instructors.

^top

10) What steps should a student take if he/she cannot get an appointment or an appropriate response from his/her academic advisor?

Certain situations are handled on a walk-in basis or the student may see another advisor in their advising division. If the student cannot get an appropriate response from the advisor, he/she should feel free to contact one of the deans in the Academic Advising Program.

^top

11) Can advisors withhold grades until meetings are held or majors selected?

Advisors have no authority to withhold grades for students.

^top

Majors

12) If my student is studying abroad, who advises the student about academic concerns, housing and meal plans?

The Study Abroad Office is staffed with advisors who work closely with academic advisors in a student's major field of study. On the Study Abroad website you will find the Study Abroad Guide, which is designed to be a one-stop source for information on how to research, apply to, and prepare for the study abroad experience. The Study Abroad Guide provides a complete overview of all aspects of your student's academic studies abroad. There, students will find instructions for using the website, for finding the program best suited for their educational goals, for applying to that program, and for making final preparations to go. This guide is located at http://studyabroad.unc.edu/studyabroad.cfm. There is also a section designed for parents at http://studyabroad.unc.edu/parents.cfm

to assist parents with their questions or concerns.

^top

13) If my student is not sure about majors, where can they learn about options?

All administrative processes related to a student’s program of study should start with a student discussing matters with an academic advisor. The advisor will refer students to additional campus resources, e.g., Career Services or specific courses that will also augment the student’s major exploration.

^top

14) If my student wants to change majors, where does she/he start?

Students may change majors and/or minors by filling out a form with an advisor for the major or minor he/she wishes to declare at any time before applying for graduation. The student must be able to complete the remaining requirements within the eight semesters they are given to complete degree requirements. Upon changing m

ajors, the student may be assigned to a different advisor if the new major is within a different division.

First-year students and sophomores may declare a pre-major in one of the professional schools. If a student is not accepted into the program, he/she must change to a major within the College of Arts & Sciences. Any student who plans to apply to any professional school should also be making progress towards an alternate major in the College of Arts and Sciences, as entrance to professional programs is very competitive

Juniors or seniors who wish to change majors should consult with the appropriate Director of Undergraduate Studies or departmental advisor to ensure the feasibility of completing the new major.

^top

15) What resources are available for sophomores in selecting majors?

Talking to an academic advisor is an excellent first step when contemplating major and/or minor options. In addition, there are several resources available to help students who are undecided about their major. University Career Services has many resources to assist students who are undecided about majors or careers. Exploration courses are also offered in a variety of fields, usually during the fall semester.

EDUC 131 "Career Exploration" is a course designed for first and second year students who are undecided about a major.
CLSC 150 and RADI 432 are courses designed for students interested in topics relating to Clinical Laboratory Science and Radiologic Science, respectively.
Finally, take advantage of the amazing search capabilities of the Internet.

^top

Courses and Schedules

16) If my student cannot get a class she/he needs for acceptance to a major, what should they do?

Generally spaces in courses open and close during the first week of classes when students can add a class. If the course remains closed, the student needs the course, and this is his/her final semester to take the course, we recommend that the student contact the department concerned and present his/her case. Only the concerned department controls the number of students in a class.

^top

17) Are there other courses available than the ones listed in the First Year Guide and if so, how does a student find out about those?

Yes, there are other courses available than the ones listed in the First Year Guide. We strongly recommend that students use the online course search engine to determine the availability of courses during a given semester. For planning purposes, we strongly recommend that students use the most current edition of/version of the Undergraduate Bulletin to get an idea of every course that has been approved in the system. However, not all courses listed in the Bulletin

will be offered every semester.

^top

18) If a student wants to get into a course that is full at CTOPS, what steps should the student take?

The first week of classes in the new semester is an optimum time to check for classes since there are a lot of students who drop classes once they have attended. Students may be able to add a class that was full at CTOPS, but is now open. Also, students generally go to classes and speak with instructors to see if there is a possibility of being added. Students are encouraged to explore other interests and consider alternate classes whenever possible.

^top

19) If my student is on the waiting list for a course, what will happen?

The student remains on the waitlist until it is purged. If seats open, students will be enrolled in the course based on their priority on the waitlist. If no seats become available, when the waitlist is purged all students are dropped from the waitlist. Students may attempt to add the course during the first week of classes.

^top

20) Where can students and parents find information on the registration process, including drop/add?

This information can be found on the University Registrar's website and at the Academic Advising Program website.

^top

21) How can students be exempt from a course(s)? What documents are needed and does the University accept scores on College Board Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and SAT Subject Tests?

Students may receive credit for some Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses as well as College Board College-Level Examination Programs (CLEP). To be considered for credit and/or placement, students must ask the appropriate testing service to send the Office of Undergraduate Admissions their official test results. Generally, scores from the senior year of high school reach Admissions in late July, and they notify students in writing of the credit they'll receive shortly thereafter. Score reports for exams taken before the senior year must also be sent directly to Admissions from the testing service once a student is admitted.

The credits awarded from AP/IB/CLEP scores may be used to meet degree requirements and allow the opportunity to begin coursework on a more intermediate rather than introductory level. For example, if a student earns an appropriate score on an AP Calculus AB exam and receives credit for the first semester of calculus (Math 231), he/she is able to start with the second level calculus course (Math 232).

For students enrolling as first-year or transfer students beginning in the fall 2009 or later, there are new regulations concerning how credits earned from AP, IB, and SATII Subject tests may be applied to a student's major and minor. No more than two courses (6-8 credit hours) of BE credit may be used as part of the major core (the 8-10 courses beyond any introductory prerequisite course, if applicable). No more than one BE credit course (3-4 hours) may be used as a part of a minor. The grade of BE from an AP, IB, or SATII Subject test may not count toward the requirement that students earn at least 18 hours of C or better grades in the major core. There is no limit on the use of BE credits towards General Education requirements.

BE credit includes academic credit awarded from minimum scores and above required for College Board Advanced Placement and/or International Baccalaureate Examinations, as well as some departmental placement tests. Final authority for awarding of course credit from these examinations lies with the Chair of the department or curriculum in which credit is to be received. Minimum scores for placement may change from year to year.

Please see http://www.admissions.unc.edu/Academics/Credit/

for additional information.

^top

22) How can one find background information about the professors for courses and links to their websites?

Most faculty post their profiles on their departmental websites. Search in the campus directory for their contact information.

^top

23) Some faculty have endowed chairs and other distinctions. How can one find out more?

Faculty profiles on their websites and information from a Google Search will help you find a great deal of information about faculty.

^top

24) What is a recitation section and what is its purpose?

A recitation section is a required small group discussion session connected to a large lecture course. Its purpose is to provide students with an opportunity to ask questions and further explore topics from the lecture.

^top

25) How can one determine which courses will satisfy degree requirements? Are there alternatives for general courses like Freshman English (101/102) that are available based upon a major?

Students generally meet with their advisors to determine which courses will satisfy degree requirements. In the meeting with the advisor, an academic worksheet is a tool that allows the student and the advisor to chart the student's academic progress towards graduation. It reflects courses that have been taken and how the courses fulfill general education and major requirements, and shows what requirements the student has remaining to complete. The worksheet is a general outline of the student's undergraduate education. All students must complete specific General Education requirements such as English Composition and Foreign Language, regardless of major. Information about degree requirements can be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin.

^top

26) What is the class attendance policy?

As stated on page 380 of the Undergraduate Bulletin:

Class Attendance Policy
The following legislation by the Faculty Council gives each
instructor the authority to prescribe attendance regulations for his
or her classes: “Regular class attendance is a student obligation, and
a student is responsible for all the work, including tests and written
work, of all class meetings. No right or privilege exists that permits
a student to be absent from any given number of class meetings.”
If a student misses three consecutive class meetings, or misses
more classes than the instructor deems advisable, the instructor
may report the facts to the student’s academic dean. However, only
instructors excuse absences from class for valid reasons (illness or
family emergency, etc.). A student should present his or her explanation
for any absences to the instructor in advance if the reason for
the absence can be foreseen, or at the next meeting if the reason for
the absence could not be foreseen. Faculty members are encouraged
to make reasonable accommodations for students requesting to miss
class to observe religious holidays.

A student may appeal an instructor’s denial of a request that an
absence be excused if the request to be excused from class and the
reasons for the request are presented to the instructor in writing at
least two weeks in advance of the date of the absence. The appeal is
to be made to the instructor’s immediate academic supervisor.

Students who are members of regularly organized and authorized
University activities and who may be out of town taking part
in some scheduled event are to be excused during the approved
period of absence. Notification of such an absence must be sent by
the responsible University official to the instructor before the date(s)
of the scheduled absence.

^top

27) What is the policy regarding final exam excuses?

The final examination schedule, announced prior to the beginning of the semester, sets the time for each examination. A student who has three final exams within a 24-hour period or two scheduled at the same time may receive an exam excuse from an academic advisor for one of the exams. Other extenuating circumstances (illness, death in the family, etc.) may also warrant an exam excuse, but documentation may be required.

^top

Special Services and Summers

28) How can I find out about tutorial services, private music lessons and other resources my student may need?

Students will find all of the resources available on campus by searching the University website. They will also find numerous campus resources

linked directly from the Academic Advising Program website.

^top

29) Where can my student purchase new or used textbooks?

Everything a student needs to know about purchasing new or used text books can be found by searching for this at the University website.

^top

30) Is there a recommended way for students and parents to work together to access grades and other critical academic information?

We strongly advise students and their parent to discuss these matters prior to the student enrolling at the University. According to federal law, (FERPA), once a student enrolls at the University, the student's parents no longer have automatic access to the student's education records unless they claim the student as a dependent for federal income tax purposes or have the student's written consent. For additional information regarding this information, please go to the Office of the University Registrar's website.

As part of their transition to mature, self-reliant individuals - building on the foundation their parents have given them - students are encouraged to take responsibility for their academics, including grades.

^top

31) Is a student required to take summer school classes in order to graduate in eight semesters?

All full-time students must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 academic hours each semester (PHYA classes do not count towards the minimum). 15 to 17 hours is the recommended course load to complete the minimum 120 hours for a degree within the allotted 8 semesters. Unless a student's program of study specifies summer school, a student may not need to enroll in summer school to finish within the allotted 8 semesters. Students carrying below an average of 15 hours each semester or repeating courses that they need to graduate will need to plan on enrolling in summer school.

^top

32) Can my student receive credit hours for summer internships?

This depends on the type of internship. We strongly advise students to visit University Career Services for assistance in locating internship opportunities. Additional information about internships related to the student's field of study may be available at the major department's website or through the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies. The Office of Experiential Education is a further resource for internship and credit information. Each of these independent entities will determine if the internship carries any academic credit.

^top

Sections

Document Actions

Frequently Asked Questions

Parent's Council Undergraduate Academics

Academic Advising

Majors

Courses and Schedules

Special Services and Summers

Advising Answers

Majors

Courses and Schedules

Special Services and Summers

Personal tools