Catalog of the University of North Carolina at Asheville

              Catalog 2005–2006
Volume 40
The information contained in this catalog is intended
for informational purposes only. Although this catalog
presents policies and programs as accurately as possible at
the time of publication, the university reserves the right to
revise any section or part without notice or obligation. Students
must follow the Integrative Liberal Studies (ILS) requirements
in effect at the time of their first term of attendance as a
degree-seeking student and major requirements in effect at the
time they formally declare their major. Students who must
reapply and are readmitted must follow the catalog in effect at
the time of their readmission. Administrative regulations are
not catalog specific and are subject to change at any time.
The University of North Carolina at Asheville is committed
to equality of educational experiences for students and
is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
ii ● TABLE OF CONTENTS
The University of North Carolina at Asheville...................................................................v
Mission Statement.............................................................................................................vi
Commitment to Equal Opportunity...................................................................................vi
2005-2006 Academic Calendar........................................................................................vii
Admission..........................................................................................................................1
Requirements and Procedures.............................................................................................1
Expenses and Payments......................................................................................................6
Financial Aid......................................................................................................................8
Types of Financial Aid...............................................................................................................8
Academic Scholarships..............................................................................................................9
Federal, State and Institutional Aid..........................................................................................10
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Financial Aid Recipients......................................11
Residency........................................................................................................................14
Campus Life.....................................................................................................................16
Cultural and Special Events.....................................................................................................16
Highsmith University Union....................................................................................................16
Recreation...............................................................................................................................17
Student Activities and Integrative Learning (SAIL)................................................................17
Student Government Association.............................................................................................18
Religious Affairs......................................................................................................................18
Services for Students........................................................................................................19
Career Center..........................................................................................................................19
Counseling Center....................................................................................................................19
Student Health Services...........................................................................................................19
Office of Liberal Arts Learning and Disability Services..........................................................20
Campus Police.........................................................................................................................20
Housing, Dining, and Residence Life...............................................................................20
Athletics Department........................................................................................................21
University Regulations.....................................................................................................22
Motor Vehicles.......................................................................................................................22
Policies Relating to Disruptive Conduct..................................................................................22
Sexual Harassment...................................................................................................................22
Alcoholic Beverages................................................................................................................22
Policy on Illegal Drugs............................................................................................................23
Academic Policies and Procedures...................................................................................26
Academic Honesty...................................................................................................................26
Transcripts and Release of Student Records............................................................................26
Acceptance of Transfer Credit.................................................................................................27
Permission to Take a Course as a Visitor at Another Institution......................................28
Advanced Placement........................................................................................................28
International Baccalaureate..............................................................................................30
Registration and Schedule Changes.........................................................................................30
Dropping, Adding, and Withdrawing from Courses........................................................31
Failure to Attend the First Class.......................................................................................31
Academic Advising..........................................................................................................31
Grading, Evaluation and Academic Progress...........................................................................32
Withdrawal from the University.......................................................................................34
Interruption of Enrollment...............................................................................................34
Competency and Proficiency Examinations.....................................................................35
Honors Lists.....................................................................................................................35
Academic Warning..........................................................................................................36
Academic Suspension and Dismissal...............................................................................36 TABLE OF CONTENTS ● iii
Graduation...............................................................................................................................36
University Graduation Requirements...............................................................................36
Academic Honors.............................................................................................................37
Other Student Responsibilities.................................................................................................38
Class Attendance..............................................................................................................38
Student Academic Grievances..........................................................................................38
Academic Programs.........................................................................................................38
Major Fields of Concentration..................................................................................................38
Declaration of Major................................................................................................................39
Degree Programs......................................................................................................................41
Integrative Liberal Studies Program.........................................................................................41
Post-Baccalaureate Study.........................................................................................................48
Specialized Baccalaureate Degree Programs............................................................................48
Joint Programs.........................................................................................................................49
Academic Support Services......................................................................................................50
Other Special Academic Opportunities............................................................................51
Academic Departments, Programs, and Courses.............................................................54
General Information.................................................................................................................54
Accounting (ACCT).................................................................................................................56
Africana Studies (AFST)..........................................................................................................56
Anthropology (ANTH).............................................................................................................57
Art (ART) and Art History (ARTH).........................................................................................57
Arts (ARTS)............................................................................................................................66
Astronomy (ASTR)..................................................................................................................67
Atmospheric Sciences (ATMS)................................................................................................67
Biology (BIOL)........................................................................................................................71
Business..................................................................................................................................76
Chemistry (CHEM)..................................................................................................................76
Classics (CLAS).......................................................................................................................82
Computer Science (CSCI)........................................................................................................88
Drama (DRAM).......................................................................................................................92
Economics (ECON)..................................................................................................................97
Education (EDUC).................................................................................................................102
Engineering (JEM).................................................................................................................110
Environmental Studies (ENVR).............................................................................................115
Ethics and Social Institutions (ESI)........................................................................................121
French (FREN).......................................................................................................................121
Geology.................................................................................................................................123
German (GERM)....................................................................................................................123
Health and Wellness (HW) and Health and Wellness Promotion (HWP)..............................126
Courses in Dance (DAN)........................................................................................................129
History (HIST).......................................................................................................................135
Honors (HON)........................................................................................................................140
Humanities (HUM)................................................................................................................141
Interdisciplinary Studies (IST)...............................................................................................143
International Studies...............................................................................................................147
Italian (ITAL).........................................................................................................................150
Legal Studies (LEGL)............................................................................................................150
Liberal Studies (LS)...............................................................................................................150
Library Research (LR)............................................................................................................151
Literature (LIT) and Language (LANG)................................................................................152
Management (MGMT) and Accounting (ACCT) Industrial and Engineering Management (IEMT)..............................................................................................................159
Mass Communication (MCOM) and Visual Media Production (VMP).................................167
Master of Liberal Arts (MLA)................................................................................................173 iv ● TABLE OF CONTENTS
Mathematics..........................................................................................................................176
Multimedia Arts and Sciences (MMAS)................................................................................183
Music (MUSC)......................................................................................................................186
Philosophy (PHIL).................................................................................................................192
Physics (PHYS).....................................................................................................................195
Political Science (POLS).......................................................................................................198
Psychology (PSYC)...............................................................................................................204
Religious Studies (RELS)......................................................................................................209
Sociology (SOC) and Anthropology (ANTH).......................................................................210
Spanish (SPAN).....................................................................................................................218
Statistics (STAT)...................................................................................................................220
Study Abroad (SABR)...........................................................................................................221
Women's Studies (WMST)....................................................................................................221
Special Study Programs.........................................................................................................223
North Carolina Research and Education Network.................................................................223
The University of North Carolina...................................................................................224
History..................................................................................................................................224
Office of the President...........................................................................................................225
Board of Governors................................................................................................................225
University of North Carolina at Asheville Board of Trustees.........................................226
Foundation Inc. Board of Directors................................................................................226
National Alumni Advisory Council................................................................................227
Administration................................................................................................................227
2005-2006 Faculty..........................................................................................................230
Faculty, Retired and Emeriti..................................................................................................240
UNCA Distinguished Teacher Award....................................................................................242
UNC Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching...............................................243
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE ● v
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE
The University of North Carolina at Asheville is the designated liberal arts university in The University of North Carolina system. An outstanding learning community, UNCA focuses its resources on academic excellence and community partnerships.
UNC Asheville opened in 1927 as Buncombe County Junior College for area residents interested in pursuing higher education. The school underwent several name changes, mergers with local governments and school systems, and moves before relocating in 1961 to its present campus in north Asheville. Asheville-Biltmore College joined The University of North Carolina system in 1969 as the University of North Carolina at Asheville, with the distinct mission to offer an excellent undergraduate liberal arts education. Today, UNC Asheville is the only designated undergraduate liberal arts university in the 16-campus UNC system.
UNC Asheville enrolls 3,350 students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in about 30 majors in the natural and social sciences, humanities, pre-professional and professional areas, as well as the Master of Liberal Arts. With an average class size of 20, UNC Asheville emphasizes a personal approach to undergraduate education characterized by close faculty-student interactions, challenging academic programs and opportunities for learning outside the classroom. The university has received national recognition for its Humanities and Undergraduate Research programs.
U.S. News & World Report ranks UNC Asheville fourth among 5 public liberal arts colleges in its “America’s Best Colleges” edition. U.S. News lists the Undergraduate Research Program among “Programs to Look For,” along with some of the top research universities in the country. UNC Asheville is consistently rated a “Best Buy” in the Fiske Guide to Colleges, which states, “The University of North Carolina at Asheville offers all the perks that are generally associated with pricier private institutions: rigorous academics, small classes and a beautiful setting. And it does it for a fraction of the cost.” The Princeton Review: the Best 351 Colleges rates UNC Asheville among schools offering the “Best Academic Bang for Your Buck.”
The 265-acre UNC Asheville campus is convenient to the museums, galleries, restaurants and shopping and points of interest in the thriving downtown area, as well as the outdoor opportunities in the surrounding Pisgah National Forest, Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The campus comprises classroom, administration, residence and recreation facilities, with $49 million in capital projects under way, funded by the 2000 North Carolina Higher Education Improvement Bonds. The campus also is home to the Asheville Graduate Center, which offers master’s and doctoral degree programs of other UNC institutions for people of the region, and the Reuter Center, home of the North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement.
The University of North Carolina at Asheville is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Ga. 30033-4097, 404/679-4501) to award baccalaureate and master’s degrees.
vi ● THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE
MISSION STATEMENT
The University of North Carolina at Asheville offers a superior liberal arts education for well-prepared students who are committed to learning and personal growth. Its education is liberating, promoting the free and rigorous pursuit of truth, respect for differing points of view and heritage, and an understanding that values play a role in thought and action. Through this education the university aims to develop students of broad perspective who think critically and creatively, communicate effectively, and participate actively in their communities. UNC Asheville is North Carolina’s only designated public liberal arts university.
Small by choice, UNC Asheville brings together faculty, students, and staff of diverse cultural backgrounds to interact closely in a supportive community. The university makes excellence in teaching the highest priority for its faculty. It fosters scholarship and creative activities by faculty and students alike.
UNC Asheville provides undergraduate programs in the arts, the humanities, the natural and social sciences, and in selected pre-professional programs that are solidly grounded in the liberal arts. The university seeks to connect the traditional liberal arts fields through interdisciplinary studies and to integrate these areas of inquiry with programs that prepare students for rewarding careers. To enhance and extend the undergraduate programs, UNC Asheville offers an interdisciplinary Master of Liberal Arts.
As a public university, UNC Asheville serves the region and state in ways that complement its educational mission. It encourages students, faculty, and staff to interact with and serve the community, and it shares cultural and educational resources with citizens at all stages of life and learning. The university houses the Asheville Graduate Center, the North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement, and other programs which provide opportunities to citizens for continued learning and public service.
The ultimate aim of the university is to provide students the best possible opportunity to acquire the skills, knowledge and understanding necessary to pursue their goals, to find meaning in their lives, and to take their places as contributing citizens of a changing society.
(Adopted by the UNC Asheville Board of Trustees Aug. 24, 2000)
COMMITMENT TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
The University of North Carolina at Asheville is committed to equality of educational experiences for students and is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. UNC Asheville will not discriminate against students, applicants or employees on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation*, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation or any other legally protected status with respect to all terms, conditions or privileges of university-sponsored activities, employment and the use of university facilities.
The university supports the federal laws protecting members of its community, including Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended, Executive Order 11246, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1988, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Sections 799A and 845 of the Public Health Service Act, N.C. General Statutes 126–16 and 126–17 and other applicable federal and state laws.
More information about the university’s commitment to Equal Opportunity may be obtained from the Affirmative Action Officer, Human Resources, 232 Phillips Hall, CPO #1450, University of North Carolina at Asheville, One University Heights, Asheville, NC 28804-8503.
*UNC Asheville acknowledges and understands that the category of sexual orientation is not a protected category under federal or state laws and therefore cannot be grieved beyond the campus level. THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE ● vii
2005-2006 ACADEMIC CALENDAR
Fall Semester 2005
August
16 Tuesday Registration
17 Wednesday Classes begin
Late registration
19 Friday Last day to register or drop/add Term I
24 Wednesday Last day to register or drop/add Full
Semester
September
5 Monday Labor Day Holiday – No classes
21 Wednesday Last day withdraw Term I
October
4 Tuesday Classes end Term I
5 Wednesday Fall break begins – No classes
10 Monday Classes resume
Classes begin Term II
13 Thursday Last day to register or drop/add Term II
24 Monday Last day to withdraw Full Semester
November
11 Friday Last day to withdraw Term II
23 Wednesday Thanksgiving Holiday begins
28 Monday Classes resume
December
2 Friday Classes end
5 Monday Finals begin
9 Friday Finals end
10 Saturday Ceremony for December graduates
13 Tuesday Grades submitted by noon
Spring Semester 2006
January
10 Tuesday Registration
11 Wednesday Classes begin
Late registration
13 Friday Last day to register or drop/add Term I
16 Monday Martin Luther King, Jr. Observance –
no classes
18 Wednesday Last day to register or drop/add Full
Semester
24 Tuesday Last day to register or drop/add
Monday-only classes
February
15 Wednesday Last day withdraw Term I
March
3 Friday Classes end Term I
6 Monday Spring break begins viii ● THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE
13 Monday Classes resume
Classes begin Term II
15 Wednesday Last day to register or drop/add Term II
22 Wednesday Last day withdraw Full Semester
April
6 Thursday Snow make-up
NCUR
7 Friday Snow make-up
NCUR
8 Saturday NCUR
18 Tuesday Last day withdraw Term II
May
1 Monday Last day of class
2 Tuesday Senior grades submitted by noon
3 Wednesday Finals begin
9 Tuesday Finals end
13 Saturday Commencement
15 Monday Final grades submitted by noon
Summer Semester 2006
June
2 Friday Registration
Drop/add begins all terms
5 Monday Classes begin
Late registration
7 Wednesday Last day drop/add Term I
Last day registration Term I
8 Thursday Last day drop/add Full Semester
21 Wednesday Last day withdraw Term I
July
3 Monday Last day of class Term I
4 Tuesday Independence Day Holiday – no classes
5 Wednesday Classes begin Term II
7 Friday Last day to withdraw Full Semester
Last day to register or drop/add Term II
21 Friday Last day to withdraw Term II
August
1 Tuesday Last day of class
3 Thursday Final grades submitted by noon
ADMISSIONS ● 1
ADMISSION
The University of North Carolina at Asheville welcomes applications from those interested in postsecondary education and academic enrichment. To accommodate the diverse needs of the population served by UNC Asheville, five admission classifications have been established: beginning freshmen, transfer students, visiting students, post-baccalaureate students and non-degree students. The requirements and procedures for admission to each of these classifications are explained below. These classifications and the procedures for admission appropriate to each, apply to all students, whether full time or part time, day or evening. Students whose applications to UNC Asheville contain false statements or who fail to disclose all post-secondary institutions attended are subject to disciplinary action that may include dismissal from the university.
Inquiries by mail, telephone or in person are welcome at the Office of Admissions of the University of North Carolina at Asheville, CPO #1320, One University Heights, Asheville, NC 28804-8510, 828/251-6481 or 1-800/531-9842. Visit the UNC Asheville home page at www.unca.edu. Assistance is also available via e-mail at admissions@unca.edu.
REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES
Beginning Freshmen
Admission to UNC Asheville is competitive. Applicants are reviewed individually to evaluate how well their goals and strengths match the university’s educational mission. Factors taken into consideration include curriculum, grade point average, trend in grades, class rank if provided by the high school, and SAT Reasoning Test or ACT with Writing Test scores. The majority of the admissions decision is based on the high school record. Also considered are special interests and talents, honors received, participation in clubs and athletics, volunteer and leadership activities, international studies and other experiences that support academic achievement. Minimum Course Requirements (MCR) for the UNC system are as follows:
1. High school diploma from an accredited secondary school.
2. Four units of college preparatory English.
3. Three units of mathematics, including Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry (Effective Fall 2006, an additional unit of mathematics will be required. It is recommended that one unit be taken in the 12th grade.)
4. Three units of science, including one unit of biological science, one unit of physical science such as Chemistry or Physics, and one laboratory course.
5. Two units of social studies to include at least one unit of U.S. History.
6. Two units of the same foreign language.
Applicants who do not meet admissions requirements may elect to attend another regionally accredited institution of higher education and successfully complete either 30 transferable semester hours/40 transferable quarter hours (six transferable semester hours/nine transferable quarter hours in each of the following subject areas: English composition, mathematics, social sciences, natural sciences, and foreign language) or successfully complete an Associate in Arts, Associate in Science or Associate in Fine Arts. They may then reapply as a transfer applicant and be reviewed for admissions consideration.
Applications are reviewed on a deadline-based schedule. Fall applicants must apply by Nov. 28 for a non-binding early decision. The final priority deadline for fall applicants is March 1. Early application is encouraged. UNC Asheville merit-based scholarship applications require receipt of all admissions materials by Nov. 28.
Each applicant for admission as a beginning freshman must submit:
1. A completed application for admission. 2 ● ADMISSIONS
2. An application fee of $50. This is a non-refundable processing charge and does not apply to other university fees.
3. An official high school transcript (to be mailed directly by the school to UNC Asheville). This transcript should show all the applicant’s high school studies through the date of application and include the grade-point average (4.0 scale) and class rank. After graduation, the applicant must request a final high school transcript showing the date of graduation, final class rank and grade point average (4.0 scale). It is strongly recommended that all application materials be submitted together. This includes the application, application fee and high school transcript.
4. Official SAT Reasoning or ACT with Writing Test scores. These scores are to be sent directly from the College Entrance Examination Board or the American College Testing Program to the Office of Admissions of the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Information and applications for the tests are available from: College Entrance Examination Board, Box 592, Princeton, NJ 09540, www.collegeboard.com, telephone 609/771-7600 (code #5013 for UNC Asheville); or American College Testing Program, P.O. Box 168, Iowa City, IA 52343-0168, www.act.org, telephone 319/337-1000 (code #3064 for UNC Asheville).
5. Official Advanced Placement (AP) scores (only if AP classes were taken). These scores must be sent directly to the Office of Admissions of the University of North Carolina at Asheville by the College Board. Write to: AP Exams, P. O. Box 6671, Princeton, NJ 08541-6671, telephone 609/771-7300.
6. Official International Baccalaureate (IB) Transcript of Grades (if IB classes were taken) must be forwarded directly to the Office of Admissions of the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Write to: International Baccalaureate, 475 Riverside Drive, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10015, telephone 212/696-4464.
7. Official transcripts for any classes taken while in high school that earned college credit. The applicant must contact the Registrar at each college and request that two official transcripts be sent directly to the Office of Admissions of the University of North Carolina at Asheville.
8. A completed UNC Asheville health form, including immunization data required by North Carolina law, sent directly to UNC Asheville Health Services after official notification of acceptance. (See Student Health Services section for details.)
Transfer Students
Transfer applications are reviewed based on high school and college records. No minimum GPA guarantees admission. A strong performance in a challenging college curriculum is preferred.
For consideration, a student must possess a minimum GPA of 2.0 on all college course work and be eligible to return to the last school attended. All students under the age of 24 must satisfy Minimum Course Requirements as set by the University of North Carolina system. A student deficient in one or more of these courses must complete 30 hours of specific course work on the college level or earn an AA, AS or AFA before becoming eligible for admission consideration.
Each applicant for admission as a transfer student must submit:
1. A completed application for admission.
2. A $50 application fee. This is a non-refundable processing charge and does not apply to any other university fee.
3. An official high school transcript if under the age of 24 and have not earned an A.A., A.S., or A.F.A. degree.
4. Official college transcripts from all institutions previously attended, including those attended on a correspondence, extension or distance-learning basis. The applicant must contact the Registrar at each institution attended and request that two copies of an official transcript be sent directly to the Office of Admissions of the University of North Carolina at Asheville. ADMISSIONS ● 3
5. If you have not been awarded an A.A., A.S., A.F.A., B.A. or B.S. degree at time of application, you must have your high school forward an official copy of your high school transcript showing your grade-point average, class rank, date of graduation and SAT I/ACT scores (if not on transcript, please request scores from the appropriate testing service) directly to the Office of Admissions at the University of North Carolina at Asheville.
6. Official College Level Examination Program (CLEP) scores (only if CLEP exams were taken). To request CLEP scores write to: CLEP Transcript Service, P.O. Box 6600, Princeton, NJ 08541-6600, telephone 800/257-9558.
7. A completed UNC Asheville health form, including immunization data required by North Carolina law, sent directly to UNC Asheville Health Services after official notification of acceptance. (See Student Health Services section for details.)
Graduate Students - Master of Liberal Arts (M.L.A.)
Admission to the University of North Carolina at Asheville Master of Liberal Arts Program is based upon the applicant’s possession of a baccalaureate degree, or its equivalent, in any field, and demonstrated interest in pursuing advanced study in the liberal arts.
All applicants for admission as MLA degree candidates must submit to the UNC Asheville Office of Admissions, CPO#1320, One University Heights, Asheville, NC 28804-8510:
1. A completed MLA application form;
2. An application fee of $50. This is a non-refundable processing charge and does not apply to any other university fee;
3. Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work previously undertaken;
4. Three letters of recommendation;
5. A statement of purpose for seeking a Master of Liberal Arts degree. This brief autobiographical essay should describe the applicant’s pertinent personal and professional experience and education, as well as his or her interests and goals in pursuing the MLA degree.
In addition to these requirements, each applicant will also be interviewed on campus by members of the Graduate Council. Candidates for admission may submit their scores from the Graduate Record Examination, or other standardized tests, but that is not required.
All applicants will be informed by the program director of their admission status as soon as possible after all of their credentials have been reviewed. The notice of admission may include mention of any academic condition under which a student is offered admission. Unless otherwise indicated, failure to meet those conditions will result in the student’s dismissal.
Visiting Students
Students from other colleges or universities may attend the university as visitors, provided they are in good academic standing (2.0 on all previous credits) at the institution they have been attending. Visiting students must complete a Visiting Student Application signed by a dean or another responsible academic officer. Visiting applications must be submitted each semester. Verification of immunization compliance must also be provided.
Credit will be transferred to the sponsoring institution upon written request by the student. Visiting enrollment does not constitute regular admission to the University of North Carolina at Asheville. There is a $20, one-time-only, nonrefundable application fee for the first visiting student application.
Post-Baccalaureate Students
Students who already hold baccalaureate degrees from UNC Asheville or other regionally accredited institutions and are interested in additional undergraduate study have four choices: they may take individual courses; they may pursue a second degree; they may choose to complete a post-baccalaureate certificate of major; or they may enroll in the teacher licensure program where they may or may not choose to pursue a second degree (see Education section of catalog). The 4 ● ADMISSIONS
admission procedure is slightly different for each case. All students must provide verification of compliance with the North Carolina immunization requirement.
Those holding baccalaureate degrees who wish to pursue a second degree, or earn a certificate of major and/or enroll in the teacher licensure program will be considered transfer students for admission purposes.
Each applicant for admission as a post-baccalaureate student must submit:
1. A completed application for admission.
2. A $50 application fee. This is a non-refundable processing charge and does not apply to any other university fee.
3. Official transcripts from all institutions previously attended, including those attended on a correspondence, extension or distance-learning basis. The applicant must contact the Registrar at each institution attended and request that two copies of an official transcript be sent directly to the Office of Admissions.
4. Official College Level Examination Program (CLEP) scores (only if CLEP exams were taken). To request CLEP scores, write to CLEP Transcript Service, P.O. Box 6600, Princeton, NJ 08541-6600, telephone 609/951-1026.
5. A completed UNCA health form, including immunization data required by North Carolina law, sent directly to UNCA Health Services after official notification of acceptance. (See Student Health Services section for details.)
Returning Students
Any University of North Carolina at Asheville student who interrupts his or her educational program by not registering for one or more regular terms of course work must reapply to the university through the Office of Admissions. An application fee of $50 will be required only in those cases where the student has enrolled elsewhere since being enrolled at UNC Asheville. (See section pertaining to Transfer Students or Post-Baccalaureate Students.) Returning students must comply with immunization requirements.
Teacher Licensure
Applicants holding baccalaureate degrees who wish to pursue teacher licensure will be considered transfer students for admissions purposes. (Those who wish to take college courses to renew their licensure may be admitted to the university as non-degree students.) Applicants must have a 2.5 minimum cumulative grade-point average in their baccalaureate degree in order to be considered for the teacher licensure program.
Each applicant for admission as a teacher licensure student must submit:
1. A completed application for admission.
2. A $50 application fee. This is a non-refundable processing charge and does not apply to any other university fee.
3. Official transcripts from all institutions previously attended, including those attended on a correspondence, extension or distance-learning basis. The applicant must contact the registrar at each institution attended and request that two copies of an official transcript be sent directly to the Office of Admissions, University of North Carolina at Asheville, CPO #1320, One University Heights, Asheville, NC 28804-8510.
4. Official College Level Examination Program (CLEP) scores (only if CLEP exams were taken). To request CLEP scores write to: CLEP Transcript Service, P.O. Box 6600, Princeton, NJ 08541-6600, telephone 609/951-1026.
5. A completed UNCA health form, including immunization data required by North Carolina law, sent directly to UNCA Health Services after official notification of acceptance. (See Student Health Services section for details.)
Non-Degree Students
Applicants who wish to take college courses but have no clear intention of obtaining a degree may be admitted to the university as non-degree students. Non-degree students may take up to six (6) credit hours each semester. Each non-degree applicant under the age of 24 who has not ADMISSIONS ● 5
earned a Bachelors degree or an A.A., A.S., or A.F.A. degree, must contact his/her high school to request that an official copy of transcripts be mailed to the Office of Admissions of the University of North Carolina at Asheville as part of the application process. All students must provide verification of compliance with the North Carolina immunization requirement. Students who have been denied admission for reasons of academic deficiency, or previously enrolled students who have been dismissed, may not then be enrolled as non-degree students. Admission as a non-degree student does not of itself constitute regular admission to the university. Any non-degree student in good standing (2.5 grade-point average) who has accumulated 24 semester hours of credit must submit a degree application and any additional credentials required to be eligible to take additional courses. Students who wish to continue as non-degree students beyond 24 hours may apply for exemption to the Director of Admissions and Financial Aid. Rules on academic eligibility apply to non-degree students. A $20 non-refundable application fee is required.
Conditional Readmission Policy
Degree-seeking students who left UNC Asheville in poor academic standing (grade-point average below 2.0) may apply for readmission to the university under the Conditional Readmission Policy. This program gives students who might otherwise be unable to complete their baccalaureate degree for academic reasons the opportunity to prove themselves. To be considered for this policy, a student must not have attended UNC Asheville for a minimum of three years, and must show evidence that the reasons for the initial failure at UNC Asheville are no longer present. The Enrollment Services Committee will review all applicants.
A student approved under the policy is readmitted on a probationary basis, and must then complete 24 semester hours. Academic performance is reviewed by the Enrollment Services Committee at the completion of the 24 semester hours. If the standards established by the Committee have been met, the student is fully readmitted to UNC Asheville.
Academic work attempted prior to acceptance under the Conditional Readmission Policy is reviewed at this point, and only the credit hours (not grades) associated with courses in which the student earned a grade of C or better are applied to the degree program. Neither the hours, nor the grades for courses in which a student earned a C–, D, F or U are applied toward graduation. Required courses in which a student earned a grade below a C must be repeated.
A student’s academic transcript contains all attempted courses and grades earned at UNC Asheville; however, when a student is readmitted under the Conditional Readmission Policy, the grades in courses completed prior to the semester in which the student initially applied for readmission under the policy are not factored into the overall grade-point average. The transcript reflects the student’s admission to the program.
Students who are readmitted to UNC Asheville under this policy are not eligible for university-wide honors and cannot utilize the C–, D, F and U grade replacement policy. Once accepted into the Conditional Readmission program, students may not request to be removed from the program. Students may apply for Conditional Readmission one time.
Notice of Admission
Applications for admissions will be reviewed on a deadline-based schedule. Students will be notified of the admissions decision by mail. Please see the Office of Admissions website at http//www.unca.edu/admissions for deadlines and notification dates.
Housing Application
Submitting an application for admission does not reserve a room in a campus residence hall. A separate application for housing must be submitted along with an advanced tuition deposit and residence hall room deposit to the Office of Admissions immediately following notice of admission to the university. Additional information may be found in the Student Life section of this catalog.
6 ● EXPENSES AND PAYMENT
EXPENSES AND PAYMENTS
Estimated Expenses 2005-06 (Per Semester)
Tuition and Fees
In-State Residents Out-of-State Residents
Undergraduate Graduate Undergraduate Graduate
12 or more semester hours $1,762.75 $1,941.75 $6,662.75 $6,748.75
(full time)
9, 10 or 11 semester hours 1,322.25 1,457.25 4,997.25 5,062.25
(3/4 time)
6, 7 or 8 semester hours 881 971 3,331 3,374
(1/2 time)
1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 semester hours 440 485 1,665 1,687
Residence Hall Rooms
Founders Hall $1,280
Mills Hall 1,600
South Ridge 1,600
West Ridge 1,600
Governors Village 1,600 (single)
Governors Hall 1,725 (double), 2,075 (single)
Board Plan
$1,295
Late Registration
Each credit hour $10
Maximum $70
Note: These are estimated expenses. Final expenses may differ from these estimates. Students should request a current tuition and fee schedule.
Senior Citizens Tuition Waiver
Senior citizens (North Carolina residents who are age 65 or older) may receive a tuition waiver and register on a space-available basis only. To receive this waiver, senior citizens must register on the day of Late Registration as published in the Schedule of Classes. Senior citizens are required to pay UNC Asheville fees.
Orientation Fee
There is a one-time orientation fee of $100 charged to all new freshmen and transfer students.
Graduation
Graduating seniors must pay a $50 commencement fee and approximately $30 for cap and gown. Students must submit an application for graduation by the published deadline. A late fee of $50, in addition to the regular commencement fee, is required if the application is submitted after the published deadline.
Advance Tuition Deposit
An advance deposit of $75 to be applied against the student’s tuition and fees must be remitted by each degree-seeking applicant for admission by May 1 (or within three weeks of notice of acceptance by UNC Asheville if admitted after May 1 for Fall semester or Dec. 15 for Spring EXPENSES AND PAYMENT ● 7
semester). Failure to remit within this prescribed period will constitute withdrawal of application. If after remitting the deposit the applicant decides not to attend UNC Asheville and gives notice of this decision by May 1 (or Dec. 15 for Spring semester), the deposit will be refunded. Advance tuition deposits should be directed to the Office of Admissions of the University of North Carolina at Asheville.
Payment of Charges
Charges for pre-registered students are due by August 1 for Fall semester, December 15 for Spring semester, and May 20 for Summer school. Students who register immediately prior to a semester must pay all charges upon registration. Students who are registered for classes but miss a payment deadline will have their schedules canceled and must pay a $45 re-registration fee and all tuition and fees prior to re-registering. Approved financial aid arrangements will be considered by the Bursar for delayed payment. Tuition and/or fees are subject to change without notice.
A student who is indebted to the university for any prior period is not allowed to register. Such indebtedness includes tuition and fees, housing charges, fines, or amounts in arrears on loans including National Direct Student Loans. Transcripts will not be issued until all debts have been cleared.
Residence Hall Room Deposit
A $125 room reservation/damage deposit is required to reserve a room in a residence hall. This deposit will serve to reserve a room for each successive semester until graduation or until the student vacates the residence hall. It also serves as a damage deposit. Questions about financial hardships regarding the deposit should be directed to Housing and Residence Life.
Food Services
Food service is provided in the Dining Hall and campus snack bars. Students living in the residence halls are required to purchase a meal plan.
Required Fees
The required fees represent charges made to support student activities, athletic and recreational facilities, bond issue requirements and auxiliary services including health services.
Miscellaneous Charges
A late registration fee of $10 per credit hour (up to a maximum of $70) is charged if a student initially enrolls in a course(s) after the date set for registration. A late pre-registration fee of $30 is charged if a continuing student registers after the assigned pre-registration date. A re-registration fee of $45 is charged if a student has his or her schedule cancelled and wishes to enroll in classes again. The cost of books or other institutional materials to be purchased by the student is approximately $300 per semester but will vary with courses selected. For students seeking teacher licensure, North Carolina charges a fee for the processing and issuance of the initial licensure to teach in the state school system, as well as a fee for the processing and issuance of the licensure for endorsement in a second area, change of name, duplication of a license and raising the licensure to a higher level. Consult the Education Department for details. A fee of $25 is charged for any check returned to the university by the bank for any reason.
Tuition Surcharge
Beginning in the 1994 Fall semester, the North Carolina General Assembly imposed a 25 percent tuition surcharge on those students initially entering the University of North Carolina system as undergraduates if they take more than 140 attempted hours to complete degree requirements. Students seeking a double major or second baccalaureate degree are allowed attempted hours to 110 percent of degree requirements before the surcharge is imposed. Students who exceed the attempted credit hour limits within the equivalent of four academic years of regular term enrollment, or within five academic years of regular term enrollment in a degree program officially designated by the Board of Governors as a five-year program, are not subject to the surcharge. 8 ● EXPENSES AND PAYMENT
Refunds
The following policies apply to refunds:
1. A student who leaves school without officially withdrawing from the university forfeits all rights to a refund or to a reduction in his or her account.
2. Refunds for tuition and fees for the Fall and Spring semesters (except the application fee and course fees, which are non-refundable) will be on the following basis, provided the student officially withdraws from all courses (exits from the university during that semester).
Date of Withdrawal Amount of Refund (percentage)
Through first week of classes 100
After 1 week of classes 90
After 2 weeks of classes 70
After 3 weeks of classes 50
After 4 weeks of classes 30
After 5 weeks of classes 15
After 6 weeks of classes None
All refunds will be based upon the date shown on the official withdrawal form.
3. Refunds for the summer terms will be made according to the refund schedule published by the Business Office.
4. Refunds for residence hall rental will be made from a schedule on file with the Vice Chancellor for Administration and Financial Affairs, who may make a pro rata refund due to extenuating circumstances.
5. Refunds for the board plan will be made from a schedule on file with the Vice Chancellor for Administration and Financial Affairs. No refunds will be made if a student moves out of the residence hall but remains in school. The refund is based on the end of the weekly board period after the meal ticket is returned.
FINANCIAL AID
TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID
The University of North Carolina at Asheville has a broad program of financial aid for students who qualify on the basis of need and academic potential. Financial aid may consist of a scholarship, a grant, a North Carolina grant-in-aid, a loan, campus employment or a combination of these. Assistance provided by the university is designed to supplement the resources of students and their parents and should not be relied upon to defray all expenses.
Applicants for financial aid must file the electronic Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov, indicating UNC Asheville as the college choice with federal school code 002907. If you do not have Internet access you may file a paper copy of the FAFSA.
Financial aid applications should be submitted between Jan. 1 and March 1 for the academic year, which begins in late August. Students applying for financial aid after March 1 will be given consideration for all types of financial aid on a fund-available basis. Awards are made only after students have met all admission requirements.
The types of financial aid offered by the university are outlined below. Further information is available from the Office of Financial Aid.
FINANCIAL AID ● 9
ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS
Through the generosity of past and present donors, the university offers a variety of scholarships ranging from approximately $500 to $2,500 per year to entering freshmen who demonstrate high academic and/or artistic achievements. Though some scholarships carry donor-specific restrictions, many of these scholarships are unrestricted and are available to students who meet the academic or academic/need criteria. Most scholarships are renewable as long as the recipient maintains the specified minimum grade-point average (GPA) and satisfactory academic progress towards his/her degree. To simplify the application process for students, UNC Asheville has placed all of these scholarships under two umbrellas-the University Laurels and Need-Based Merit Scholarships. Students should follow the application procedures listed for consideration for the various awards.
The University Laurels Program
The University Laurels Scholarship Committee will make merit awards to students with outstanding academic achievements and promise. Entering freshmen should be in the top 10 percent of their high school class and have SAT Reasoning Test scores of 1250 combined or higher on the Critical Reading and Math sections. The most competitive students will have a profile similar to the example below:
High School Rank Upper 10 percent
Minimum grade point average 3.8 on a 4-point scale
Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT Reasoning Test) or 1250 and higher on the Critical Reading and Math Sections
American College Test (ACT with Writing) 28 composite or higher
Entering freshmen who wish to be considered for Laurels Scholarships should follow the instructions provided on the admissions application. An essay, list of co-curricular activities, and participation in the Laurels Interview Day are requirements for consideration. Refer to current Admissions and Financial Aid publications for the University Laurels Program application deadline.
Need-Based Merit Scholarships
Unless otherwise stated, all students should apply through the UNC Asheville Office of Financial Aid for need-based merit scholarship consideration. Students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and be admitted to the university by March 1 for consideration. The Scholarship Committee considers demonstrated student need, academic achievements and donor criteria in making awards.
Scholarships Requiring a Separate Application Process
North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program
The North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program is for outstanding North Carolina high school students who have the desire and talent to become teachers. Each $26,000 fellowship covers the majority of the costs of tuition, fees, room, board, books and off-campus study opportunities. In exchange, they must teach for four years in North Carolina after graduation. UNC Asheville is one of 14 colleges and universities in the state offering the program. More information may be obtained from the Office of Admissions of the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Application deadline is late October.
Leadership Scholars Program
The Leadership Scholars Program offers scholarships in the amount of $1,000 per year, renewable for four years. To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate a solid academic record, but more importantly they must show a keen interest in and talent for leadership and service in their communities and schools. More information may be obtained from the Office of Admissions of the 10 ● FINANCIAL AID
University of North Carolina at Asheville. Refer to current Admissions and Financial Aid publications for application deadlines.
FEDERAL, STATE AND INSTITUTIONAL AID
Incentive Scholarship and Grant Program for Native Americans
The North Carolina General Assembly has provided funds for a number of grants to needy resident North Carolina Native American students in constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina. Eligibility for a grant under the Incentive Scholarship and Grant Program for Native Americans (ISGPNA) is limited to a person qualifying as follows:
(a) Admitted or enrolled as a student in good standing in a degree program at this institution.
(b) Classified by this institution as a resident of North Carolina for tuition purposes as defined in the residence status regulations (Residence Manual, current edition) of the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina.
(c) Found to have financial need by this institution.
(d) Coming within this definition of Native American: an individual who maintains cultural identification as a Native American through membership in a tribe recognized by the state of North Carolina or by the federal government or through other tribal affiliation or community recognition.
The University of North Carolina at Asheville Grants-in-Aid and the UNC Escheats Grants
These grants enable students who qualify for financial assistance to begin or continue their education at the university. Eligible candidates must be residents of North Carolina and must be full-time students for the academic year for which they request aid. Grants-in-aid are awarded primarily on the basis of need. Recipients must have a satisfactory academic record.
University of North Carolina at Asheville Foundation
The Foundation assists the Board of Trustees in developing general support for the university and raises funds for those areas of the UNC Asheville program for which state appropriations are not available or are available only in limited amounts. Most of the money raised by the Foundation is used for student financial aid.
North Carolina Student Incentive Grant
This provides grants to North Carolina residents who demonstrate financial need and are enrolled full time at the university. This program is administered for the North Carolina Education Assistance Authority by the College Foundation Inc.
University of North Carolina Need-Based Grant
This provides grants to North Carolina residents who are enrolled at the university at least half time. The program is administered for the North Carolina Education Assistance Authority by the College Foundation Inc.
Federal Pell Grant Program
The largest federal grant program, this provides education grants up to $4,050 per year which do not have to be repaid.
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant
Funded by the federal government, this grant provides assistance for students with exceptional financial need. It does not have to be repaid.
Federal Perkins Loan Program
This long-term, low-interest loan (5 percent) is funded by the federal government for qualified students who demonstrate need. Funds must be repaid.
FINANCIAL AID ● 11
Federal Work-Study Program
The program provides on- and off-campus jobs for students who need financial assistance and meet the qualifications set forth by the federal government.
William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program
William D. Ford Federal Direct Stafford Loan is a variable, long-term, low-interest loan designed to provide students with additional funds for college. Funds must be repaid. This program includes:
William D. Ford Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan for middle-income borrowers is a variable, long-term, low-interest loan designed to provide students who do not qualify for financial aid, or who need more money, with additional funds for college. Funds must be repaid.
Loan maximums for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Stafford and Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans:
Undergraduate Students
First year $2,625
Second year $3,500
Completed two years $5,500
Graduate students $8,500
William D. Ford Federal Direct Parent Loan Program
Parents of full-time or part-time dependent undergraduate or graduate students may borrow amounts that equal cost minus financial aid.
Emergency Student Loan Funds
These are made available by individuals or groups interested in providing interest-free loans to needy students. The Leonard S. Levitch Student Loan Fund is available for emergency situations and is repayable prior to the beginning of the next semester. Maximum loan amount is $250.
How Need Is Assessed
Need is assessed once the institution receives the outcome from the FAFSA. The information provides the institution with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and that figure is subtracted from the cost of attendance (COA). If the EFC is less than the COA, the student is said to have a financial need and could receive grants, work and loans. If the COA is greater than the EFC, the student is said to have no financial need and could receive unsubsidized loans.
Eligibility for Financial Aid
The following types of students are eligible for financial aid: undergraduates seeking their first bachelor’s degree whose total attempted credit hours (including transfer hours) or time enrolled are under 130 hours; students seeking a second undergraduate degree whose attempted credit hours are under 195 hours; and students seeking teacher licensure or for courses required to complete the licensure program.
The following types of students are not eligible for financial aid: visiting students; certificate of major students; students who are auditing classes; and non-degree students with classifications as follows: SPU (special undergraduate), SBP (special post baccalaureate), SPG (special graduate) and GSP (special graduate student).
SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS POLICY FOR FINANCIAL AID RECIPIENTS
Federal financial aid programs are authorized under the Higher Education Act of 1965. The law states that students must be “maintaining satisfactory progress in the courses of study they are pursuing, according to the standards and practices of the institution at which the student is in attendance.” The programs authorized under the Higher Education Act are: Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal Work-Study, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Stafford Loan, William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program and Parent 12 ● FINANCIAL AID
Loan. This policy also applies to all aid awarded through the university’s Financial Aid Office. It is necessary to provide consistency and equity to all students receiving assistance. Any student applying for assistance must have met the progress standards for previous enrollment at UNC Asheville, whether or not they received financial aid for that enrollment.
The Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy includes qualitative measures (grade-point average) and quantitative measures, which refers to the number of credit hours earned. They are as follows:
Qualitative Measures: Grade-Point Average
Students at UNC Asheville must meet the following standards:
Credit hours Grade-Point Average
0-29 credits 1.30
30-44 1.50
45-59 1.66
60-74 1.75
75-89 1.84
90-104 1.90
105-119 1.94
120+ 2.00
Full-time undergraduate students are considered to be making satisfactory academic progress for financial aid purposes if they:
• are not suspended for violation of university policy.
• have completed 12 or more semester hours with grades of A, B, C, D, S each semester by the end of the first academic year (freshman or transfer).
• have completed 24 or more semester hours each subsequent academic year with grades of A, B, C, D, S.
Students making satisfactory academic progress in their first semester are eligible for aid in the subsequent term or academic year. Audited courses are not included in the GPA calculation because no credit is earned. Courses with grades of F, I, U, and W do not meet minimum standards. Repeated courses do not count because credit hours cannot be awarded for the same course twice.
Note: Students who receive a 0.00 grade-point average for any academic term—all Fs and/or Ws—are in violation of maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress. Their financial aid is withdrawn immediately until credit hours and grade-point average are made up. Students who do not formally withdraw from the university and received all Fs and/or Ws while receiving financial aid will be accessed back to the 50% refund time and may owe a refund back to the school as well as the federal government.
Quantitative Measures: Credit Hours
The university looks at earned academic credit hours in relation to attempted credit hours, using the maximum time frame for financial aid eligibility. Financial aid officers review credit hours at the end of each semester, making the final determination at the end of spring semester. “Attempted hours” includes all attempted coursework, including withdrawals, remedial courses (if applicable toward a degree), repeated courses, courses with incompletes or failing grades. “Attempted hours” does not include non-credit or audited courses.
Eligibility by Exception
Full-time students should complete a minimum 12-15 credits per semester to graduate on time. However, UNC Asheville grants “eligibility by exception,” which means that the total hours earned for the semester or year must equal at FINANCIAL AID ● 13
least 75 percent of the hours attempted for the academic year or semester. Students may request to appeal this decision, and adjustments may be made after review by the UNC Asheville Student Aid and Scholarship Committee. Students who do not meet “eligibility by exception” may be referred to private-source lenders.
Graduation in Five Years
The normal time frame for graduation is five years. All students—undergraduates seeking their first bachelor’s degree as well as graduate students—must complete all degree requirements within five academic years from the date of first enrollment. For graduate students this time period includes the thesis and the grade requirement of a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. Transfer students must graduate within the normal time frame based on their classification when admitted (sophomore, junior or senior, based on maximum credits accepted by UNC Asheville).
Non-Credit, Repeat Courses and Incomplete Grades
Non-Credit courses are not counted toward satisfactory progress. Incomplete courses cannot be counted until the required work is completed and a grade is posted in the Registrar’s Office by the academic department. Repeat courses that do not provide additional earned hours (for example, increasing a grade from a D to a B) cannot be counted. Courses taken at another school will be counted by UNC Asheville when they are accepted in the Registrar’s Office.
Summer School Credit
Hours earned in summer school will be used to determine whether or not a student has made satisfactory academic progress. Therefore, a student who has not made satisfactory progress at the end of an academic year may earn hours during the following summer semester without financial aid to regain satisfactory academic progress. Federal, state or institutional financial aid is not awarded during this period until the student has regained satisfactory academic progress.
Regaining Satisfactory Academic Progress
It is possible to regain satisfactory academic progress in one of two ways:
1. Earning sufficient hours in the summer or any subsequent terms.
2. Demonstrating unusual circumstances due to the following: serious illness or accident, death or serious illness in the immediate family. Documentation must be provided at the time of appeal and may come from a physician, attorney, counselor, etc.
Financial Aid Appeal Process
Students may appeal a decision to terminate financial assistance to the Office of Financial Aid. The appeal must be forwarded in writing to the office within two weeks after the notice of termination is sent to the student. The right to appeal is forfeited if the Office of Financial Aid is not notified in writing within the specified two-week period. Forfeited appeals cannot be reviewed.
Satisfactory Progress and Unusual Circumstances
Unusual circumstances during one semester which cause the cumulative hours to drop below the required number may be considered. Requests for such consideration must be submitted in writing accompanied by documentation of student’s illness, illness or death of a member of a student’s immediate family, or similar circumstances.
Satisfactory Progress Notification
At the end of each spring semester, all students who are applying for aid for the next school year and who do not meet the requirements for satisfactory progress will be notified by letter mailed to their permanent address from the Office of Financial Aid. The standards of progress outlined for financial aid recipients are not applicable for purposes of continued enrollment at UNC Asheville, since such determination will be made by the university in accordance with institutional policy.
All full-time financial aid recipients are expected to enroll in 12 or more credit hours each semester; three-quarter-time students, 9-11 credit hours each semester; half-time students, 6-8 hours 14 ● FINANCIAL AID
each semester. Courses with grades of A, B, C, D and S will qualify in meeting the minimum standards of progress. Courses with grades of F, I, U, W, X/Y and IP will not qualify in meeting minimum standards.
RESIDENCY
Residence Status for Tuition Payment
The basis for determining the appropriate tuition charge rests upon whether a student is a resident or a non-resident for tuition purposes. Each student must make a statement as to the length of his or her residence in North Carolina, with assessment by the institution of that statement to be conditioned by the following:
Residence. To qualify as a resident for tuition purposes, a person must become a legal resident and remain a legal resident for at least 12 months immediately prior to classification. Thus, there is a distinction between legal residence and residence for tuition purposes. Furthermore, 12 months of legal residence means more than simple abode in North Carolina. In particular, it means maintaining a domicile (permanent home of indefinite duration) as opposed to maintaining a mere temporary residence or abode incident to enrollment in an institution of higher education. The burden of establishing facts that justify the classification of a student as a resident entitled to in-state tuition rates is on the applicant for such classification, who must show his or her entitlement by the preponderance of the residentiary information.
Initiative. Being classified a resident for tuition purposes is contingent on the student’s seeking such status, filling out a Residence and Tuition Status Application, and providing corroborating documentary proof. This proof may include, but is not limited to: driver’s licenses, parental and student tax documents, lease agreements, visas, bank account statements and marriage licenses.
Parents’ Domicile. If an individual, irrespective of age, has living parent(s) or a court-appointed guardian, the domicile of such parent(s) or guardian is, prima facie, the domicile of the individual; but this prima facie evidence of the individual’s domicile may or may not be sustained by other information. Further, non-domiciliary status of parents is not deemed prima facie evidence of the applicant child’s status if the applicant has lived (though not necessarily legally resided) in North Carolina for the five years preceding enrollment or re-registration.
Effect of Marriage. Marriage alone does not prevent a person from becoming or continuing to be a resident for tuition purposes, nor does marriage in any circumstance insure that a person will become or continue to be a resident for tuition purposes. Marriage and the legal residence of one’s spouse are, however, relevant information in determining residentiary intent. Furthermore, if both a husband and his wife are legal residents of North Carolina, and if one of them has been a legal resident longer than the other, then the longer duration may be claimed by either spouse in meeting the 12-month requirement for in-state tuition status.
Military Personnel. A North Carolinian who serves outside the state in the armed forces does not lose North Carolina domicile simply by reason of such service. And students from the military may prove retention or establishment of residence by reference, as in other cases, to residentiary acts accompanied by residentiary intent.
In addition, a separate North Carolina statute affords tuition rate benefits to certain military personnel and their dependents even though not qualifying for the in-state tuition rate by reason of 12 months of legal residence in North Carolina. Members of the armed services, while stationed in and concurrently living in North Carolina, may be charged a tuition rate lower than the out-of-state tuition rate to the extent that the total of entitlements for applicable tuition costs available from the federal government, plus certain amounts based under a statutory formula upon the in-state tuition rate, is a sum less than the out-of-state tuition rate for the pertinent enrollment. A RESIDENCY ● 15
dependent relative of a service member stationed in North Carolina is eligible to be charged the in-state tuition rate while the dependent relative is living in North Carolina with the service member and if the dependent relative has met any requirement of the Selective Service system applicable to the dependent relative. These tuition benefits may be enjoyed only if the applicable requirements for admission have been met; these benefits alone do not provide the basis for receiving those derivative benefits under the provisions of the residence classification statute reviewed elsewhere in this summary.
Grace Period. If a person (1) has been a bona fide legal resident, (2) has consequently been classified a resident for tuition purposes, and (3) has subsequently lost North Carolina legal residence while enrolled at a public institution of higher education, that person may continue to enjoy the in-state tuition rate for a grace period of 12 months measured from the date on which North Carolina legal residence was lost. If the 12 months ends during an academic term for which the person is enrolled at a state institution of higher education, the grace period extends to the end of that term. The fact of
marriage to one who continues domiciled outside North Carolina does not by itself cause loss of legal residence, marking the beginning of the grace period.
Minors. Persons under 18 years of age usually have the domicile of their parents, but certain special cases are recognized by the residence classification statute in determining residence for tuition purposes.
(a) If a minor’s parents live apart, the minor’s domicile is deemed to be North Carolina for the time period(s) that either parent, as a North Carolina legal resident, may claim and does claim the minor as a tax dependent, even if other law or judicial act assigns the minor’s domicile outside North Carolina.
A minor thus deemed to be a legal resident will not, upon achieving majority before enrolling at an institution of higher education, lose North Carolina legal residence if that person (1) upon becoming an adult acts, to the extent that the person’s degree of actual emancipation permits, in a manner consistent with bona fide legal residence in North Carolina and (2) begins enrollment at an institution of higher education not later than the fall academic term next following completion of education prerequisite to admission at such institution.
(b) If a minor has lived for five or more consecutive years with relatives (other than parents) who are domiciled in North Carolina and if the relatives have functioned during this time as if they were personal guardians, the minor will be deemed a resident for tuition purposes for an enrolled term commencing immediately after at least five years in which these circumstances have existed. If under this consideration a minor is deemed to be a resident for tuition purposes immediately prior to his or her 18th birthday, that person on achieving majority, will be deemed a legal resident of North Carolina of at least 12 months’ duration. This provision acts to confer in-state tuition status even in the face of other provisions of law to the contrary; however, a person deemed a resident of 12 months’ duration pursuant to this provision continues to be a legal resident of the state only so long as he or she does not abandon North Carolina domicile.
Lost but Regained Domicile. If a student ceases enrollment at or graduates from an institution of higher education while classified a resident for tuition purposes and then both abandons and re-acquires North Carolina domicile within a 12-month period, that person, if he or she continues to maintain the re-acquired domicile into re-enrollment at an institution of higher education, may re-enroll at the in-state tuition rate without having to meet the usual 12-month duration requirement. However, any one person may receive the benefit of this provision only once.
Change of Status. A student admitted to initial enrollment in an institution (or permitted to re-enroll following an absence from the institutional program which involved a formal withdrawal from enrollment) must be classified by the admitting institution either as a resident or as a nonresident for tuition purposes prior to actual enrollment. A residence status classification once 16 ● RESIDENCY
assigned (and finalized pursuant to any appeal properly taken) may be changed thereafter (with corresponding change in billing rates) only at intervals corresponding with the established primary divisions of the academic year.
Transfer Students. When a student transfers from one North Carolina public institution of higher education to another, he or she is treated as a new student by the institution to which he or she is transferring and must be assigned an initial residence status classification for tuition purposes.
Teacher Licensure. Full-time teachers and other full-time public school personnel paid on the North Carolina teacher salary schedule and domiciled for any duration in this state can receive the in-state tuition rate for courses relevant to teacher licensure or to professional development as a teacher.
Appeals of Rulings. Any student or prospective student may appeal the ruling of the Registrar’s Office in writing to the chair of the Institutional Residency Appeals Committee. Appeal of this committee’s ruling may be made to the State Residence Committee; such appeals are to be filed with the chair of the Institutional Residency Appeals Committee and will be forwarded to the state committee. Details concerning appeals may be obtained from the Registrar’s Office.
CAMPUS LIFE
Campus Life encompasses organized activities outside the classroom that involve student participation or support students in a formal way. Campus Life includes five broad areas of responsibility: Housing and Dining Services; Student Health Services and Counseling; Highsmith University Union; Recreation; and Student Activities and Integrative Learning (SAIL). A number of university committees are concerned with student life and programs, including the Campus Commission on Student Services Funds, Cultural and Special Events Committee, Program Board (Underdog Productions), Recreation and Intramurals Committee, Parking Commission and Student Conduct system.
Bulldog Barker
Distributed online every two weeks, this list of campus events includes information on programming and happenings at UNC Asheville.
CULTURAL AND SPECIAL EVENTS
Composed of students, faculty and staff, the Cultural and Special Events Committee works closely with the Integrative Liberal Studies program to schedule events that enrich, expand and extend the academic, intellectual and cultural atmosphere of the campus and the broader community of Western North Carolina. Performances range from touring theatre and dance companies to concerts by national and international artists who perform classical, jazz and international music and other musical styles, as well as give lectures and readings.
HIGHSMITH UNIVERSITY UNION
Highsmith University Union is the center of UNCA campus life. Highsmith University Union is dedicated to serving the entire campus community as a social center and by offering a variety of programs. Union programs, while being educational and fun, are opportunities for participants to develop a lifelong commitment to personal wellness, practice leadership, and develop a sense of attachment to their peers, to the Union and to the University. The Union offers comprehensive development programs for student staff focusing on transferable skills, field specific skills, and program ownership. Highsmith Union houses the game room, food court, bookstore, Rocky’s convenience store, computer lounge, cycle chop, OneCard office, and the Copy & CAMPUS LIFE ● 17
Shipping Center. Union and Underdog Productions’ programming includes lawn party, block party, comedians, magicians, game shows, bands, Homecoming, and much more. Complete information about Highsmith Union facilities and programs is available at www.unca.edu/highsmith.
Student Programming (Underdog Productions)
Underdog Productions is UNC Asheville’s student-run campus activities board. Membership is open to all students. The organization is dedicated to providing the campus community with entertaining social and educational events including concerts, coffeehouse solo artists, co-sponsored events with other student organizations and university departments.
International Student Affairs
The Office of International Student Affairs coordinates advising, residency and programming for students studying at UNC Asheville from dozens of different countries.
RECREATION
UNCA Campus Recreation is a partnership of people who facilitate the development of healthy lifestyles through leisure activity by providing diverse recreational and educational programming in an environment which values and embraces individual differences. Participants in Campus Recreation programs develop a lifelong commitment to personal wellness, practice leadership, and develop a sense of attachment to their peers, to Campus Recreation and to the University. Campus Recreation offers comprehensive development programs for student staff focusing on transferable skills, field specific skills and program ownership. Campus Recreation program areas include the Health & Fitness Center, Outdoors, Wellness, Intramural Sports and Sport Clubs. Complete information about all Campus Recreation programs is available at www.unca.edu/recreation.
STUDENT ACTIVITIES AND INTEGRATIVE LEARNING (SAIL)
Student Leadership Programs
Student Leadership Programs were developed with the belief that leadership skills can be learned and that UNC Asheville students deserve the best program available to develop these skills. These programs provide students with a range of opportunities to serve in a leadership capacity, from outdoor activities to workshops and seminars, with the goal of providing a comprehensive and diverse program of leadership development. They include the following:
Leadership Workshop Series. A discussion series open to all students, faculty and staff that explores topics ranging from philosophy of leadership to strategic planning and communication skills.
Individual and Group Consultation. The Student Life staff is available to provide assistance to individuals and groups on a one-to-one basis.
Perspectives on Leadership (IST 253). A 3-credit-hour interdisciplinary course for students interested in the academic study of leadership, focusing on leadership theory, practical application and personal leadership development.
Leadership Retreats/Workshops. Assistance is provided in planning and implementing retreats and workshops of a half day or a full weekend, designed to help students learn new skills and ideas about leadership in a fun-filled, personal setting.
Academic and Leadership Awards Presentation. This annual tradition honors the university’s outstanding student leaders and scholars who have contributed to the campus community. 18 ● CAMPUS LIFE
Student Organization Services
Co-curricular student organizations are an important aspect of college life. There are about 50 social and special interest clubs, honor societies, service groups, religious organizations and Greek organizations. They offer an opportunity to develop leadership skills, self-confidence and individual talents.
Greek Life
Greek-letter sororities and fraternities, an integral part of co-curricular life, include the following organizations at UNC Asheville: Alpha Xi Delta, Gamma Phi Beta, Kappa Delta Rho, Sigma Nu and Theta Chi.
Summit Program for New Students
The Summit program engages students in experiences that will help clarify college goals and involve them in many aspects of student life once they arrive on campus. Information on classes, campus services, diversity and individuality, and campus life programs are part of the Summit program, held four days at the beginning of fall semester.
Student Media
Other campus media for students include the student newspaper, The Blue Banner, which is published Thursdays and covers campus news and features and other news that affects students, Headwaters creative arts magazine and a campus radio station.
Multicultural and Diversity Student Affairs
The Office of Multicultural Student Programs promotes diverse events that are inclusive, multicultural and enlightening. Lectures, concerts, seminars, conferences, leadership workshops, educational/ recreational trips, special programs, and career building experiences are organized by this office to help prepare students to live in a global society. Hispanic Native American, Black History, Women’s History, and Asian/Pacific Islander Heritage months are celebrated in collaboration with respective student organizations. The department presents programming that helps students develop a clearer understanding of world views that effectively impact their work and relationships with colleagues, students, and others.
STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION
The Student Government Association is recognized by the university as the governing body of the students. The SGA plays a vital role in policy-making procedures, serving as a voice for students and settling student grievances. The president of the Student Government Association is a full voting member of the Board of Trustees of UNC Asheville.
The executive branch of the SGA is led by the president of the student body, the elected representative of the entire student body, charged with representing concerns of students as they are reflected by the Student Senate. The senate is responsible for recommending policies and procedures consistent with the welfare of the students. The legislative branch of the SGA, led by the vice president, is primarily responsible for this important function. Students are encouraged to get to know their Senate representatives so concerns of the student body can be properly reviewed. Senate meetings are held at least every other week during the academic year. All students are invited to attend.
RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS
The Office of Religious Affairs helps coordinate the activities of many different student religious organizations, including Baptist Student Union, Campus Crusade for Christ, Catholic Student Association, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Illumination, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Jewish Student Association, Presbyterian Campus Fellowship, Reformed University Fellowship and United Methodist Campus Ministry. Adjacent to campus are Baptist Student Union and Cooperative Campus Ministries houses.SERVICES FOR STUDENTS ● 19
SERVICES FOR STUDENTS
CAREER CENTER
The Career Center, located in 259 Highsmith Union, provides students and alumni with comprehensive guidance and services for their lifelong career development. Professional staff is available to assist with career-related concerns including choice of a major, career assessment, obtaining occupational information, developing a resume, honing interviewing skills and determining internship, graduate school, and job-searching strategies. The Career Center coordinates the campus Student Employment Program, on-campus job fairs and information sessions with employers, and maintains a website (www.unca.edu/careeer) with career-related information and job and internship listings. Additional career and graduate school resources are housed in the Career Center’s library.
COUNSELING CENTER
The Counseling Center, located in Weizenblatt Hall, provides services designed to assist students in making decisions concerning their total development, including personal counseling and psycho-education. In addition to short-term individual counseling, the center offers group counseling, alcohol/substance abuse education, and provides workshops on a variety of topics throughout the year. The center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday and counselors are on-call after hours for psychological emergencies. The center is staffed by licensed professional staff. All services are free and confidential.
STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES
The era of college health services functioning strictly as infirmaries has largely passed. Universities today more fully recognize the importance of health as it relates to an individual’s ability to learn and serve. Strong administrative support for an active and innovative health service has allowed UNC Asheville to provide outstanding care and involvement with the university community at one of the lowest fees in the state system. The role of Student Health Services extends beyond simply illness-related care to the areas of disease prevention and health promotion.
Student Health Services in Weizanblatt Hall provides appropriate family practice-oriented care for the range of health needs and concerns of a varied population. Visits are covered through each student’s health service fee, with on-the-spot charges for lab work only. Students are responsible for prescription medication costs. Hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., preferably by appointment when school is in session, except during summer school when hours are curtailed. After-hours and weekend coverage is provided through the Mountain Area Family Health Center, with which Student Health Services is affiliated, though expenses incurred are not covered by the basic fee. Hospitalization through our physician and his associates is also available when the need arises. Local referrals can be arranged for special problems. A university-sponsored health insurance plan at a very reasonable rate is available to all students. Student Health Services is an active member of the American College Health Association and maintains the highest standards of care.
North Carolina General Statute 130A, Article 6, Part 2, establishes specific immunization requirements for all students enrolled in colleges or universities. Student Health Services monitors student compliance with this immunization law. Students must submit the health form with immunization data signed by a physician in order for Student Health Services to review individual student compliance with the legal and UNC Asheville requirements. Students should make every effort to submit verification of their compliance prior to enrollment at UNC Asheville. State law allows a 30-day grace period for compliance. If, at the end of that time, students are not in compliance they are subject to dismissal from UNC Asheville. Under certain conditions, students 20 ● SERVICES FOR STUDENTS
may be reinstated within one week; however, reinstatement in individual classes will be subject to instructor approval, and financial aid awards may not be reinstated.
OFFICE OF LIBERAL ARTS LEARNING AND DISABILITY SERVICES
UNC Asheville complies with laws designed to protect the rights of disabled persons, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. UNC Asheville focuses on the student as an individual and works toward equal opportunity, full integration into the campus environment, physical accessibility and the provision of reasonable accommodations, auxiliary aids and services to students. Support services such as tutoring, readers, assistance and counseling for disabled students, and other services are available. Services are designed and developed based on individual needs, and students may use any of the services appropriate to their needs at no charge. A visit to the campus before acceptance or matriculation is recommended.
CAMPUS POLICE
The Department of Campus Police, located in Vance Hall, exists to protect life and property, manage the university’s parking services, provide crime prevention services, and be of general assistance to the university community (including 24-hour escorts, key extraction and jump-starts). The department consists of university police, security, communications and parking services personnel whose mission is “to maintain a safe, secure and peaceful environment with a positive social atmosphere, where meaningful learning can take place.”
All university police officers are state certified, derive their powers from North Carolina General Statute 116-40.5, and have met or exceeded the requirements established by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Training Standards Commission. These officers, supplemented by trained non-sworn security officers and public safety telecommunicators, are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security and Campus Crime Statistics Act, UNC Asheville’s Campus Police information can be obtained at www.unca.edu/publicsafety.
HOUSING, DINING, AND RESIDENCE LIFE
Dining Services
Dining Services is operated by Chartwells Dining Services. The Dining Hall is the main dining facility for students, faculty and staff, offering options that include specialty grill items, entrees, pizza, salad bar, deli counter and items for special dietary needs. Resident students are required to purchase a meal plan, and commuting students also may purchase a meal plan. A dining points system allows students to make deposits into a fund that may be accessed for the Dining Hall or Cafe Ramsey.
Residence Halls
The Office of Housing and Residence Life is committed to providing a clean, safe living environment for all residents. The residence halls represent a wide variety of living options including single, double and suite-style living arrangements. A professional staff member lives in each residence hall area, and resident assistants (RAs) live on every hall of each building. These staff are key to keeping the facilities in top-notch condition. Each of the five residence hall areas is a short walk from the classroom buildings, the library, dining hall, and recreation facilities. All areas offer computer labs, laundry facilities and lounges for students to study or relax. Rooms are furnished with beds, desks, chairs, chests of drawers, blinds, and closet space. Cable TV SERVICES FOR STUDENTS ● 21
connections, high-speed Internet access and telephone service are included in the housing package at no additional cost.
Residence Life offers programming that complements and enriches classroom work. Staff members plan and coordinate educational and social programs and entertainment that include a wide variety of activities, such as lectures, movies, discussion groups and intramural teams.
Students who live in UNC Asheville housing sign a Housing and Food Service Contract upon checking into the residence halls. The term of this contract is for one academic year consisting of two semesters, or for an alternate period beginning sometime after fall semester begins and terminating at the end of spring semester. The Housing and Food Service Contract includes a meal plan that is required for all resident students. By signing this contract, each resident agrees to observe all rules and regulations of the university and the Office of Housing and Residence Life as outlined in the Residents’ Handbook and the Student Handbook. A complete listing of policies and procedures is distributed to new residents each semester and is available to other students upon request. It contains regulations and guidelines pertaining to check-in and check-out, room assignments and changes, pets, personal safety, mail delivery, key replacement, parking, maintenance, overnight guests, visitation and many other topics.
Off-Campus Housing
Students who plan to live off campus make their own living arrangements. They are governed by the rules and regulations of the university when they are on campus.
ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT
Mission Statement
UNC Asheville is a selective, public liberal arts institution. UNC Asheville's Intercollegiate Athletic Program reflects the attitudes and values underlying the University's overall mission: academic excellence, diversity, equity, integrity, service, and accomplishment. The UNC Asheville athletics program contributes to this liberal arts culture in two ways. First, athletics programs foster a sense of community and pride by fielding NCAA Division I teams and developing talented student-athletes who successfully represent UNC Asheville in competition and reflect the University's commitment to overall excellence. Accordingly, the athletics program encourages an atmosphere of respect for self and others through the development of ethical conduct, sportsmanship, leadership, and citizenship and provides equitable opportunities for all students and staff, including women, minorities and individuals of all sexual identities. Second, the program provides an additional campus experience for capable students to grow and develop academically, personally, socially, and athletically. This experience promotes institutional commitment and pride on the part of students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
UNC Asheville intercollegiate athletics has participated in NCAA Division I competition for the past 20 years. The school is a member of the Big South Conference and offers 14 sports. The sports include on the men’s side: baseball, basketball, cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field, soccer and tennis. On the women’s side: basketball, cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field, soccer, tennis and volleyball. UNC Asheville has built a wonderful tradition in intercollegiate athletics with recent highlights such as men’s basketball winning the league championship and becoming the first team in Big South history to win a NCAA Tournament basketball game, women’s basketball was the most improved team in the country in 2004 and reached the Big South title game the following season, the women’s soccer team captured its first ever Big South regular-season championship in the fall of 2004 and volleyball player Leslie Whitfield set a NCAA record for digs in the 2002 season.
The UNC Asheville Athletic Department offices are located in the Justice Center. The Justice Center houses a 1,100-seat basketball arena and locker rooms plus an indoor swimming pool. The Health and Fitness Center is located next to the Justice Center and has a weight and 22 ● SERVICES FOR STUDENTS
fitness room, elevated track, basketball, volleyball and racquetball courts. Outdoor athletic facilities include the UNC Asheville Tennis Center, Greenwood Fields for soccer and baseball and the Karl Straus Track.
Looking to the future, UNC Asheville’s athletic teams will be playing in renovated and new facilities. The school has recently adopted a master plan to renovate all of UNC Asheville’s outdoor facilities which means improved venues for baseball, soccer, tennis and track and field. UNC Asheville will also be a part of the new convocation center that will be built in the near future. The convocation center will house the home court for basketball and volleyball teams.
UNIVERSITY REGULATIONS
University Rules and Regulations
All students are governed by federal, state and local laws in addition to university rules and regulations. By authority of The Code provisions governing The University of North Carolina and the chancellor, it is the duty of the University Judicial System to have jurisdiction over matters pertaining to students in situations where: (1) infractions of university rules and regulations are possibly serious enough to lead to probation, suspension or expulsion; (2) infractions of university rules and regulations result in damages to property and there is a dispute as to guilt. Procedures of the university judicial system will afford students an opportunity for due process in these situations. Specific university rules and regulations may be found in the Student Handbook, which is published annually.
MOTOR VEHICLES
All vehicles parked on campus must be registered with the Department of Public Safety and are subject to current Traffic and Parking Regulations, published annually by the Department of Public Safety.
POLICIES RELATING TO DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT
The University of North Carolina has long honored the right of free discussion and expression, peaceful picketing and demonstrations, the right to petition and to assemble peaceably. That these rights are a part of the fabric of this institution is not questioned. They must remain secure. It is equally clear, however, that in a community of learning, willful disruption of the educational process, destruction of property, and interference with the rights of other members of the community cannot be tolerated. Accordingly, it shall be the policy of the university to deal with any such disruption,
destruction or interference promptly and effectively, but also fairly and impartially, without regard to race, religion, sex or political beliefs.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Sexual harassment is illegal. It is against university policy and will lead to disciplinary action. If you have experienced or witnessed what you believe to be sexual harassment, or if you have questions, you should contact your advisor, a member of the Counseling Center staff or the Affirmative Action officer/director of Human Resources/Personnel.
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
The university will establish no policy or regulation that sanctions either the use of alcoholic beverages or any action which contravenes state or federal law regarding their purchase or consumption. North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Laws make it unlawful for anyone under UNIVERSITY REGULATIONS ● 23
21 years of age to purchase or possess or consume alcohol, or for anyone to aid such a minor in purchasing, possessing or consuming alcoholic beverages.
All members of the university community are responsible for obeying state laws indicated above and state laws pertaining to the transportation of alcohol and the consumption of alcohol in public places (General Statutes 18-51). Students are further expected to follow the university’s Alcoholic Beverage Policy as stated in the Student Handbook.
The university discourages the drinking of alcoholic beverages, drunkenness and other abuses of alcoholic beverages by any person. Being under the influence of alcohol is considered a serious breach of conduct, and students who violate these standards are subject to appropriate disciplinary action as outlined in the Student Handbook.
POLICY ON ILLEGAL DRUGS
I. Purpose
The University of North Carolina at Asheville is an academic community dedicated to the transmission and advancement of knowledge and understanding. The Board of Trustees is committed to the maintenance and protection of an environment in which students and faculty members may responsibly pursue these goals through teaching, learning, research, discussion and publication, free from internal or external restraints that would unreasonably restrict their academic endeavors. Moreover, it is the obligation of all members of the university community—faculty, students, administrators and other employees—to help maintain an environment where academic freedom flourishes and in which the rights of each member of the academic community are respected. The illegal use of and trafficking in drugs can jeopardize the welfare of members of this academic community. Accordingly, in an effort to responsibly address such threats to the integrity of the academic environment, the Board of Trustees adopts this policy.
II. Applicable Policies, Practices and Programs
A. Education, Prevention, Counseling and Rehabilitation.
1. Just as the primary purpose of the University of North Carolina at Asheville is education, so also the university’s major effort to address drug abuse should be educational in nature. The university shall maintain a comprehensive drug education program available to all members of the academic community (students, faculty, administration and staff). The activities of the program shall be the responsibility of the Drug and Alcohol Education Task Force composed of two faculty members appointed by the Provost, two students appointed by the Student Government President and two staff/ administrators appointed by the Chancellor. The Provost or his designee shall chair the committee. The Task Force shall develop and coordinate an ongoing program available to all members of the academic community that:
a. informs members of the academic community about the health hazards associated with drug abuse.
b. emphasizes the incompatibility of drug abuse and the maximum achievement of personal and educational goals.
c. encourages members of the campus community to make use of available campus and community counseling, as well as medical and rehabilitation resources in dealing with drug abuse problems.
d. informs members of the academic community that they also may be subject to criminal prosecution for violating state laws relating to the illegal use, possession, delivery, sale, manufacture or creation of controlled substances.
24 ● UNIVERSITY REGULATIONS
2. UNC Asheville shall provide information about drug counseling and rehabilitation services to members of the university community through campus-based programs for students and through community-based organizations for faculty, staff and students. Persons who voluntarily avail themselves of university services shall be assured that applicable professional standards of confidentiality will be observed.
B. Enforcement and Penalties
1. The University of North Carolina at Asheville shall take all actions necessary, consistent with state and federal law and applicable University policy, to eliminate illegal drugs from the University community. The institutional policy on illegal drugs shall be publicized in catalogs and other relevant materials prepared for all enrolled and prospective students and in relevant materials distributed to faculty members, administrators and other employees.
2. Students, faculty members, administrators and other employees are responsible, as citizens, for knowing about and complying with the provisions of North Carolina law that make it a crime to possess, sell, deliver or manufacture those drugs designated collectively as controlled substances in Article 5, Chapter 90, of the North Carolina General Statutes. Any member of the university community who violates that law is subject both to prosecution and punishment by civil authorities and to disciplinary proceedings by the university. It is not double jeopardy for both the civil authorities and the university to proceed against and punish a person for the same specified conduct. The university shall initiate its own disciplinary proceedings against a student, faculty member, administrator or other employee when the alleged conduct is deemed to affect the interests of the university.
3. Penalties shall be imposed by the university in accordance with procedural safeguards applicable to disciplinary actions against students and faculty members according to the Student Government Association Judicial Code of the University of North Carolina at Asheville; The Code, Board of Governors, The University of North Carolina, Chapter VI, Academic Freedom and Tenure, Section 603, Due Process before Discharge or the Imposition of Serious Sanctions; appropriate sections of the current UNC Asheville Faculty Handbook; and the University Personnel Policies for Designated Employees Exempt From the State Personnel Act, the University of North Carolina at Asheville; and by regulations for the State Personnel Commission.
4. The penalties to be imposed by the university shall range from written warnings with probationary status to expulsions from enrollment and discharges from employment. However, the following minimum penalties shall be imposed for the particular offenses described.
a. Trafficking in Illegal Drugs
(1) For the illegal manufacture, sale or delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver any controlled substance identified in Schedule I, N.C. General Statutes 90-89, or Schedule II, N.C. General Statutes 90-90 (including, but not limited to, heroin, mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide, opium, cocaine, amphetamine, methaqualine), any student shall be expelled and UNIVERSITY REGULATIONS ● 25
any faculty member, administrator or other employee shall be discharged.
(2) For a first offense involving the illegal manufacture, sale or delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver any controlled substance identified in Schedules III through VI, N.C. General Statutes 90-91 through 90-94 (including, but not limited to, marijuana, phenobarbital, codeine), the minimum penalty shall be suspension from enrollment or from employment for a period of at least one semester or its equivalent. For a second offense, any student shall be expelled and any faculty member, administrator or other employee shall be discharged.
b. Illegal Possession of Drugs
(1) For a first offense involving the illegal possession of any controlled substance identified in Schedule I, N.C. General Statutes 90-89, or Schedule II, N.C. General Statutes 90-90, the minimum penalty shall be suspension from enrollment or from employment for a period of at least one semester or it’s equivalent.
(2) For a first offense involving the illegal possession of any controlled substance identified in Schedules III through VI, N.C. General Statutes 90-91 through 90-94, the minimum penalty shall be probation for a period to be determined on a case-by-case basis. A person on probation must agree to participate in a drug education and counseling program, consent to regular drug testing, and accept such other conditions and restrictions, including a program of community service, as the Chancellor or the Chancellor’s designee deems appropriate. Refusal or failure to abide by the terms of probation shall result in suspension from enrollment or from employment for any unexpired balance of the prescribed period of probation.
(3) For second or other subsequent offenses involving the illegal possession of controlled substances, progressively more severe penalties shall be imposed, including expulsion of students and discharge of faculty members, administrators or other employees.
5. Suspension Pending Final Disposition
When a student, faculty member, administrator or other employee has been charged by the university with a violation of policies concerning illegal drugs, he or she may be suspended from enrollment or employment before initiation or completion of regular disciplinary proceedings if, assuming the truth of the charges, the Chancellor or, in the Chancellor’s absence, the Chancellor’s designee concludes that the person’s continued presence within the university community would constitute a clear and immediate danger to the health or welfare of other members of the university community, provided that if such a suspension is imposed, an appropriate hearing of the charges against the suspended person shall be held as promptly as possible thereafter.
III. Implementation and Reporting
Annually, the Chancellor shall submit to the Board of Trustees a report on campus activities related to illegal drugs for the preceding year. The reports shall include, as a minimum, the following: (1) a listing of the major educational activities conducted during 26 ● UNIVERSITY REGULATIONS
the year; (2) a report on any illegal drug-related incidents, including any sanctions imposed; (3) an assessment by the Chancellor of the effectiveness of the campus program and; (4) any proposed changes in the policy on illegal drugs. A copy of the report shall be provided to the President of The University of North Carolina system.
ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
All students are expected to be aware of their academic status and academic and university policies. All students are responsible for the proper completion of their academic program(s), for familiarity with the university catalog, for maintaining the grade-point average required, and for meeting all other degree requirements, including attendance at the commencement exercises at which they will receive their diplomas. Advisors will advise and counsel, but the final responsibility remains that of the student. Final responsibility for scheduling and enrolling for courses required for the degree lies with the student. If a student with a disability needs an accommodation, that request must be received by the Director of Disability Services four weeks prior to the start of the semester.
Students are required to have knowledge of and observe all regulations pertaining to campus life and student deportment. They are responsible for maintaining communication with the university by keeping on file with the Registrar’s Office at all times a current address, including ZIP code and telephone number.
Every student while associated with the university is expected to behave in campus and community life in a manner that will reflect credit upon the university.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
Any act of plagiarism or cheating is academic dishonesty. A person who knowingly assists another in cheating is likewise guilty of cheating. According to the instructor’s view of the gravity of the offense, a student may be punished by a failing grade or a grade of zero for the assignment or test, or a failing grade in the course. If it seems warranted, the instructor may also recommend to the Provost dismissal or other serious university sanction.
A student accused of academic dishonesty should talk with his or her instructor. In all situations where a student has been disciplined for plagiarism or cheating, the instructor is to submit to the Provost a brief statement of the case; the
student is to receive a copy of this document. Depending upon the severity and/or repetition of the offense, the Provost may choose to impose a penalty of cancellation of graduation with honors; cancellation of scholarships; dismissal from the university; or any other penalty which he or she deems logical and deserved. A student has 10 class days to respond to this document in writing; this response is to be sent to the Provost for attachment to the document submitted by the instructor.
The student may choose to contact the Faculty Conciliator, who will advise the student of his or her rights, and attempt to mediate between the student and the instructor before proceeding to bring the case before the Academic Appeals Board. If the student is satisfied with the results of this mediation, then the formal hearing before the Board will not take place. The request for this formal hearing must be made by the student within 10 class days of receiving the copy of the instructor’s statement to the Provost.
TRANSCRIPTS AND RELEASE OF STUDENT RECORDS
In order to comply with federal regulations, the University of North Carolina at Asheville has adopted institutional policies and procedures to be followed with regard to the disclosure of information from the education records of current and former students. The student record policy of the University of North Carolina at Asheville conforms to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-380). Copies of Public Law 93-380 may be found in Ramsey Library and the Registrar’s Office. This policy gives a student the right to inspect his or her ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ● 27
educational record within a reasonable length of time, to ask for interpretations, and to request that any inaccuracies be corrected. Education records are in the custody of the Registrar. The original and two microfilm copies of the UNCA transcript are kept permanently. All other documents are destroyed six years after graduation or after the student has failed to re-enroll at the University for six consecutive years.
Copies of the student’s official UNC Asheville transcript are released only on the written request of the student and only after all obligations to the University, financial and otherwise, have been fulfilled. Requests for transcripts should be made to the Office of the Registrar. A free copy of the UNC Asheville transcript will be sent to each student following graduation; there is a $5 charge for all other copies. Transcripts are issued within one week of receipt of the written request, except during the beginning and ending weeks of each semester, when more processing time may be required. Transcripts received from other schools are the property of the university and are not copied or released.
Grades cannot be released to parents or guardians without the written permission of the student. Special forms to send additional copies of grades are available in the Registrar’s Office and must be completed each semester in which a student wishes to send grades to a third party. There is no charge for duplicate grade reports.
With the exception of directory information, the university does not permit access to or the release of education records without the written consent of the student, with the exception of the following: (a) to UNC Asheville officials, including faculty, who require such records in the proper performance of their duties; (b) in connection with the student’s application for or receipt of financial aid or Veterans Administration benefits; (c) to organizations conducting studies for educational and governmental agencies (in which case individual students are neither identified nor identifiable); (d) U.S. government agencies as listed in Public Law 93-380; (e) parents of a dependent student as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1954; (f) accrediting agencies; (g) to comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena; and (h) appropriate persons in connection with an emergency if the knowledge of such information is necessary to protect the health or safety of a student or any other person.
Directory information is defined as: student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, entrance status, classification, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, (including Dean’s List, Chancellor’s List and scholarships) and the most recent educational agency or institution previously attended by the student. Students who do not wish their information released outside the university or published in the campus directory must give written notice to the Registrar’s Office.
The University of North Carolina at Asheville assigns the Social Security number as the Student Identification Number. Should any student object to this practice, he or she may submit a written request to the Registrar and a non-identifiable number will be assigned.
ACCEPTANCE OF TRANSFER CREDIT
The university will accept for transfer credit those courses completed with a grade of C or better taken at regionally accredited undergraduate institutions and determined to be compatible with the university’s programs. Courses submitted for transfer credit are evaluated by the Registrar’s Office and, in cases of doubt, equivalency may be determined by the chairs of appropriate departments.
Courses from regionally accredited two-year colleges will be evaluated in the same manner as those from four-year institutions, except in the case of specific administrative agreements with two-year colleges. Students with 60 or more
credits from two-year institutions must earn a minimum of 60 additional credits at four-year institutions. Applied courses, whether technical or methodological (except in the fine arts), are not transferable unless they are approved by the chairs of the appropriate departments.
Courses to satisfy Integrative Liberal Studies and major requirements are judged individually. They should be generally equivalent in information and methodology to courses in the university’s Integrative Liberal Studies curriculum or major programs. In cases of doubt, the chairs of the appropriate departments will determine the equivalency accepted. Courses will be considered 28 ● ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
electives if they are not part of the Integrative Liberal Studies requirements or required for the major or minor.
PERMISSION TO TAKE A COURSE AS A VISITOR AT ANOTHER INSTITUTION
UNC Asheville students in good academic standing who wish to take courses at another regionally accredited institution must have written permission from UNC Asheville’s Office of the Registrar prior to enrolling at another school. If a course is to be used as an Integrative Liberal Studies requirement or as an elective, only the Registrar’s permission is required; if a course is a requirement for the major, written approval by the student’s major department chair must be presented to the Registrar before permission can be granted. UNC Asheville students are prohibited from being dually enrolled at another institution while attending UNC Asheville.
Only students in good academic standing may have permission to visit another school. Students who have reached junior or senior standing (or if the courses requested will cause the student to exceed 60 semester hours) may not receive permission to receive course credit from a two-year school.
Special forms detailing additional regulations and the procedures for requesting permission to visit another institution are available in the Registrar’s Office.
Correspondence, Extension, CLEP or PEP Credit
UNC Asheville may accept a combined total of 30 semester hours of credit for correspondence or extension courses, or for examinations of the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and Proficiency Examination Program (PEP). In the case of correspondence credit, proficiency examinations may be required. Please contact the Registrar’s Office for specific information.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT
UNC Asheville academic credit of 3 to 6 semester hours will be granted to enrolled students who receive scores of 3, 4 or 5 on Advanced Placement tests offered by the College Board. The required score, amount of credit, and course waiver(s) offered are determined by the academic departments for which Advanced Placement tests are available. The following schedule of credit and waivers is maintained by the Registrar. Advanced Placement credit accepted at other post-secondary institutions is not automatically transferred to UNCA but is reviewed in accordance with the schedule.
AP Test Grade Credit Hours Course Waiver
Art
History 5 3 ARTH 201 or 202
Studio, Drawing 5 3 None (A)
Studio, General 5 3 ART 100
Biology 3 3 None
4, 5 5 BIOL 105
Chemistry 3 3 CHEM 132
4, 5 4 CHEM 144
Computer Science
A 3, 4, 5 3 CSCI 201
AB 3 3 CSCI 201
4, 5 6 CSCI 201, 202 ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ● 29
Economics
Macro 3, 4, 5 3 ECON 101
Micro 3, 4, 5 3 ECON 102
English
Language & Composition 5 4 LANG 120
Literature & Composition 5 4 LANG 120
Environmental Science 3, 4, 5 3 ENVR 130
Foreign Language
French
Language 3 3 FREN 210
4, 5 6 FREN 210, 220 (C)
Literatur