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| 2022-2023 Catalog |
The academic regulations and the courses of instruction that follow provide a diverse and flexible program for all students. The general education requirements, planned by an experienced faculty, develop intellectual skills and explore themes that demonstrate the connections and applications of the liberal arts to our common life. Students are urged to read all regulations carefully and to study courses of instruction in all areas in order to help plan their educational programs in consultation with their advisors.
It is very important that students become familiar with all the academic requirements pertaining to their programs of study. The final responsibility for meeting all academic and graduation requirements rests with the student.
Students must complete the degree requirements as outlined in a catalog that is no more than five (5) years old at the time of graduation. Requirements are considered complete only when appropriate documentation is recorded in the Registrar’s Office.
This policy applies only to degree program requirements. Students are governed by the academic policies of the current catalog. Students must become thoroughly familiar with all current regulations of the university.
The University offers undergraduate programs leading to the bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees.
Students must graduate under the academic requirements of a single catalog that is no older than 5 years at the time of graduation.
A student must complete the following requirements.
Writing is an essential component of a college education at North Carolina Wesleyan University. All students are required to enroll in and complete writing intensive courses prior to graduation. (See Degree Requirements for specific requirements.)
The general characteristics of a writing intensive course are:
Student internships complement the academic program by enabling students to extend their education into the workplace. The internship program provides students the opportunity to see firsthand what is entailed in the career path he or she is seeking and to understand the value of the liberal arts curriculum in preparing for the world of work. After a successful internship, the student will better see the connections between the workplace and the classroom.
Students may apply for an internship once they have completed 36 semester hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. Students must also meet any other prerequisites listed in the course descriptions of this catalog before they are allowed to enroll in an internship.
Students must register for internship academic credit in the same term in which they are undertaking the internship. Students will not be allowed to register for internship credit in a term before or after the internship is undertaken.
Students may choose to enroll in an internship for credit in their major or for elective credit. Elective internships are identified as INT. An academic credit-based internship will require forty-five supervised hours in the field per semester per enrolled credit hour.
A maximum of six semester hours of INT credit counts toward graduation. Additional information on internships is available by contacting the Associate Dean of Career Development & Leadership.
Students who complete all requirements for a degree may graduate in December, May and August. The university holds a Commencement (graduation) ceremony in the spring. Students who complete their degree requirements in August and Decembter may participate in the spring Commencement Ceremony.
Each student who anticipates graduating from North Carolina Wesleyan University must complete and submit an application for graduation according to the following schedule:
August graduation: April 1-June 15
December graduation: July 1-September 15
May graduation: November 15-January 15
A student should apply for graduation for a given semester only if he or she is enrolled in all courses necessary to complete the degree requirements, including the GPA requirements, by the end of the academic semester in which they are applying for graduation. A graduation application will not be approved for any student for which a degree audit demonstrates that he or she will be unable to complete the necessary credit hours and requirements prior to the graduation date.
The graduation fee is $120 and is payable at the time of application for graduation. The graduation fee covers the cost of the cap and gown, diploma and diploma cover, administrative fees and expenses related to the commencement ceremony. A student is required to pay the graduation fee only once. All fees are nonrefundable.
A student may march in the Commencement Ceremony only if he or she has completed all requirements for the degree and has a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher and a GPA in the Major of 2.0 or higher at the time of Commencement.
A student who cannot graduate in a semester for which the application for graduation was submitted, will need to submit a new application for the new graduation date.
North Carolina Wesleyan University, in a commitment to ensure excellence in its educational and academic programs, has implemented a continuous program of institutional effectiveness and student assessment. These assessment activities are used to assess academic programs and student achievement, perceptions and attitudes. This information plays an important role in the determination of university policies and academic requirements. All students are required to participate in various assessment activities to determine how well the institution is achieving its mission and statement of purpose.
Students may arrange through the Registrar to audit courses on a noncredit basis for personal enrichment.
The Taylor-Crocker Honors Program at North Carolina Wesleyan University is an interdisciplinary complement to the University’s regular program of study. The goals of the program are to improve students’ experiences by offering courses that provide a stimulating challenge, to offer faculty members a chance to teach special subjects with students and to challenge the entire faculty and student body by the academic and intellectual energy created in the Honors Program classes.
Eligibility Requirements: Incoming students with a combined score of at least 1170 on the critical Reading and Mathematics sections of the SAT (or equivalent ACT scores) and a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher will be invited to submit a written application and two letters of recommendation to the Honors Program director. In each first-year class, a limited number of students are accepted into the program and the review process is selective and competitive. Other recommended students with outstanding academic records during their first year at North Carolina Wesleyan University and transfer students may be invited to apply to the program. Honors students must maintain an overall GPA of at least a 3.2 in order to remain in the program.
Program Structure: The program consists of a sequence of courses specially designed for honors students and taught by outstanding professors. Individuals in the program take unique courses with other academically talented and motivated students and have the opportunity to take Honors Option courses that provide greater depth of study of a course in the regular curriculum. Some honors courses can be used to satisfy general education requirements.
Students who participate in the Taylor-Crocker Honors Program show that they take a special interest in their education and receive special recognition and treatment from the University. Besides offering challenging, enriching instruction, the Honors Program provides its students with increased opportunities to meet visiting scholars, civic leaders and performing artists; travel to museums, the theatre and sites of cultural, historical or scientific importance; and attend or present at conferences. Honors students may gather for study or conversation in the Honors Lounge.
Every honors course that students take is marked as such on their transcript. Students who complete the entire program receive special recognition on their diploma, at graduation and on their transcript. Graduates of the program receive a special blue and gold cord to wear at graduation.
A course that does not appear on the schedule may be taken as an unscheduled course by special arrangement with an appropriate member of the faculty. This mode of study is made available for contingencies of an unusual or emergency nature. Students will be restricted to no more than 3 semester hours per semester in this mode and no more than 12 semester hours total in the pursuit of the degree with North Carolina Wesleyan. A student must register for an unscheduled course during the regular registration period. A learning contract must be submitted to the Registrar for approval prior to registration. Students will be allowed to take an unscheduled course only when:
Unusual circumstances not covered above must be approved by the Provost an Senior Vice-President for Academic Affairs.
Students’ high school GPA and SAT (or ACT) scores are used to determine whether or not a student must take ENG 090 - Basic Writing and Reading before being eligible for ENG 111 - Writing I . Students whose writing skills are determined to be at college level are placed in ENG 111 , the first general education requirement for English.
A Research Topic may be on any topic of interest. Such a study, however, must have the endorsement of an instructor, the appropriate school chair, and the Provost and Senior Vice-President of Academic Affairs and a proposed learning contract must be submitted to the Registrar for approval. The contract must be received by th Registrar prior to registration. Before undertaking a Research Topic a student should have:
The student may not use a Research Topic to satisfy a general education requirement. A student on probation or with an incomplete grade is ineligible for a Research Topic.
The Silver Scholars Program enables senior citizens age 60 or older to enroll in courses tuition-free on a non-degree, space available basis. Seniors may enroll with “audit” status after the first day of class or during late registration for a maximum of 6 hours per semester. The program offers all credit courses taught by the University, including courses at all Adult Studies sites.
Seniors have the choice of doing homework, tests and/or outside assignments, with feedback at the discretion of the instructor. To enroll, seniors must complete a form available from the Rocky Mount Adult Studies Office, telephone 252.985.5128. There is a $50 enrollment fee per course.
To assist students in completing their academic program, students are assigned to a faculty member or a professional advisor who serves as his or her academic advisor. The advisor helps the student to plan the academic program, select courses during the registration period and is available throughout the year for additional advising on college success. New traditional program students are assigned a First-Year Advisor through the Student Success Center who provides academic guidance during the first year at Wesleyan. Upperclassman and transfer students in the traditional program are advised by a faculty member in their major. Advisors will make every attempt to give effective guidance to students in academic matters and to refer students to those qualified to help them in other matters. The responsibility for meeting all academic requirements for a selected program rests with the student.
To facilitate effective advisement and degree completion, students should take the following steps:
Full-Time Student: A student accepted as a degree candidate enrolled for at least 12 semester hours during a regular term or at least 6 semester hours during a summer session.
Part-Time Student: A student accepted as a degree candidate enrolled for fewer than 12 semester hours during a regular term or fewer than 6 semester hours during a summer session.
Resident Student: A student residing in campus residence halls and participating in the board plan.
Off-Campus Resident: full-time junior and senior day student living locally, away from their family residences.
Commuter Student: A student who does not reside in the campus residence halls but is enrolled in the University’s traditional or Adult Studies and Professional Program.
Non-degree Student: A student who is not a degree candidate.
Visiting Student: Students regularly enrolled at another institution.
Freshman 0 - 29 semester hours
Sophomore 30 - 59 semester hours
Junior 60 - 89 semester hours
Senior 90+ semester hours
An academic load includes all semester hours for which a student registers. To be considered full-time, a student must take at least 12 semester hours in a regular semester. A student taking fewer than 12 semester hours in a regular semester will be considered part-time. Taking more than 18 semester hours qualifies as a course overload; this must be approved by the Provost. Overload tuition is charged on a semester hour basis (See Financial Aid ). To graduate in 4 years, an average of 15 semester hours of passed coursework per semester is required.
The Registrar establishes a final examination schedule each semester to reduce conflicts in course final examinations and to meet the established course hour requirements. There will be no departure from the printed schedule of examinations except for clinical, laboratory and non-traditional class schedules.
Students are required to attend their scheduled examination for each course. Changes for individual student emergencies of a serious nature will be made only in consultation with the instructor. A student who is absent from an examination will be given a grade of F for the examination. An incomplete (INC) for the course could be given in the case of a student absent from the final examination who has presented a satisfactory excuse to the instructor.
The normal expectation is that the completion of both face-to-face and online courses will include a final examination or an alternate method of evaluating student progress. Final examinations are required at the discretion of the faculty member. No test intended to substitute for the final exam may be given during the week preceding the final examination period. Online courses that do not give a final examination must use the final exam week for instructional purposes. The chair of the school is responsible for ensuring adherence to scheduled examination requirements.
Reading Day is a day granted to students for the purpose of studying for final examinations. There will be no instructional activities on that day so that students may prepare for final examinations. Faculty may not give an examination or an assignment in lieu of an examination on Reading Day; the final examination period should be used for these final instructional activities or for the final exam.
There are two grading options at North Carolina Wesleyan University: letter grades and pass/fail grades. Registration for a course assumes the student will be evaluated with a letter grade unless the option of pass/fail grading is noted at the time of registration. A student who elects the pass/fail option will, if he or she passes the course, receive credits for the course completed. His or her grade point average will not be affected. If a student plans to go beyond the undergraduate level, it is wise to take most courses on the letter grade basis.
In addition, the following rules govern the taking of courses for credit only:
The above rules do not apply to credit earned by either course challenge or standardized examination.
A student’s grade point average is determined by multiplying the number of credits for a given course by the numerical value of the grade received, then adding the values for all courses completed and dividing by the total number of credits completed. Courses failed must be included in the calculation.
| Regular Letter Grades | Credit Only Grades | ||||
| A | 4.0 | C+ | 2.3 | P - Passing | |
| A- | 3.7 | C | 2.0 | FA - Fail | |
| B+ | 3.3 | C- | 1.7 | ||
| B | 3.0 | D+ | 1.3 | ||
| B- | 2.7 | D | 1.0 | ||
| F | 0 | ||||
Incomplete: A grade of Incomplete (INC) indicates that the completion of some part of the work for the course has been deferred. The grade of INC is assigned at the discretion of the instructor when a student who is otherwise passing has not, due to circumstances beyond his/her control, completed all the work in the course. The grade of INC should not be recorded for a student who has not completed the major portion of the work of the course. An INC should not be given if the faculty member is uncertain that the student attended the course; in that case, the grade of F should be assigned.
An Incomplete (“INC”) grade must be removed within eight weeks following the end of the term. If the “INC” is not removed in the required time, a grade of “F” will be recorded. No student may register for an Independent Study or an Unscheduled Course with an “INC” on his or her record. The Provost and Senior Vice-President for Academic Affairs must approve extensions beyond the eight-week window. Extensions must be submitted in writing to the Provost and Senior Vice-President for Academic Affairs by the instructor.
All grades submitted at the end of each term will be permanently recorded.
A student may appeal a final grade in a course for any one of three reasons:
If the student first finds it necessary to appeal a course grade, he/she should:
A student must appeal within eight weeks of the last day of the course and should include the following:
The student should send all appeals to the Office of the Registrar for forwarding to the Chair of the Academic Policy Committee.
In the event that a general or specific issue is submitted in writing by a student, it is the policy of North Carolina Wesleyan University to respond to the student in an appropriate and timely manner. It is also the policy of North Carolina Wesleyan University to provide an appeal procedure for all issues, concerns, and grievances. North Carolina Wesleyan University assigns oversight for the listed area of responsibility to the individual designated below, and the designated individual is responsible for establishing written procedures which are to be published in appropriate documents.
Step 1: It is assumed that most general and specific student complaints can be resolved informally through dialogue between the student and the appropriate University personnel, such as the faculty or staff member with whom the complaint lies. Students are requested to make their grievance known immediately upon discovery so that University personnel can respond in a timely manner.
Step 2: On occasion, a student’s grievance may be unresolved through informal discussion with whom the complaint lies. When that happens, the student should submit the grievance, whether general or specific, in writing to the administrator who has jurisdiction over the department in which the incident occurred. The written grievance statement should include the following:
The University Administrator receiving the written complaint will send a written response to the student within five (5) calendar days to acknowledge receipt of the complaint and provide the student with a projection of the time required to investigate the grievance and take whatever action is deemed appropriate. The administrator will then investigate the complaint making sure that as a part of their process they communicate with the faculty, staff or others involved in the complaint prior to completing their investigation.
The person responsible for investigating the complaint will attempt to resolve all general and specific complaints within 14 calendar days. If the grievance is with the University Administrator, the written complaint should be filed with the Administrator’s Manager or the Provost/VP of Academic Affairs
Once the administrator completes their investigation, they shall report their findings to the student and all other persons involved in the complaint (e.g., faculty, staff, or other persons).
Step 3: When a grievance is not resolved to the student’s satisfaction, he/ she may submit a written appeal to the Provost/VP of Academic Affairs. The written appeal should include the following:
The Provost/VP of Academic Affairs will review the appeal and may wish to meet with the student at their discretion. The Provost may communicate with the faculty, staff, or others involved prior to notifying the student of their findings and offer them the opportunity to supply input into the matter. The Provost/VP of Academic Affairs will respond to the student within 30 calendar days. When University Administrators need more than the allotted time to respond, the need will be communicated to the student, along with a reason for the need and the expected resolution date. The Dean of Students may assist the student in this process if the student is not sure how, or with whom, to file a grievance.
Step 1: Directly discuss the issue with the appropriate individuals involved in the matter. If the grievance remains unresolved then, Step 2: File a written grievance with the individual who has jurisdiction over the department in which the grievance occurred, such as Department Chairs. A copy of the grievance documentation shall be forwarded to the person who the complaint is about as well. If the grievance remains unresolved then, Step 3: File a written appeal to the Provost/VP of Academic Affairs. The decision of the Provost/VP of Academic Affairs is final.
North Carolina Wesleyan University uses the Carnegie Unit as the minimum standard for assigning credit hours. A one credit hour course requires at least one hour (50 minutes) of classroom instruction and two hours of outside work per week for approximately 15 weeks. Therefore, for a three credit hour course, students should expect 3 hours of classroom instruction and at least six hours of outside work per week throughout the semester. Courses offered in non-traditional formats require an equivalent amount of work and are required to meet the same learning outcomes as the traditional 15 week course. Students enrolled in these accelerated or alternative format courses should expect substantial amounts of outside work to meet the same learning outcomes as the traditional class.
Degree honors are determined by grade point average. A student must have earned a minimum of 60 semester hours of credit with Wesleyan, of which at least 48 semester hours are on the “A-F” grading system. ENG 090 does not count in the determination of the 60 semester hours taken for credit at NCWU. Semester hours awarded from standardized exams, such as CLEP and DSST, are not included in the calculation of the 60 semester hours.
SUMMA CUM LAUDE: A degree candidate must attain a cumulative average of not less than 3.80, with no “F” grades.
MAGNA CUM LAUDE: A degree candidate must attain a cumulative average of not less than 3.60, with no “F” grades.
CUM LAUDE: A degree candidate must attain a cumulative average of not less than 3.40, with no “F” grades.
To qualify for honors as a transfer student, 31-59 semester hours on the “A-F” grading system with the University are required. Furthermore, a student must attain a 3.50 grade point average at North Carolina Wesleyan University, with no “F” grades.
The President’s Honor List and President’s List are issued at the end of the fall and spring semesters. To be eligible for inclusion, a student must carry a minimum of 12 semester hours on the “A-F” grading system, with no grades of “INC.” A student must attain a 3.75 grade point average with no grade below “C” for the President’s Honor List and a 3.25 grade point average with no grade below “C” for the President’s List for the semester.
The Part-Time Student Honor List is issued at the end of the fall and spring semesters. To be eligible for inclusion on the Part-Time Student Honor List, a student must carry a minimum of six but fewer than 12 semester hours on the “A-F” grading system and attain a 3.75 grade point average for the term.
The President’s Cup is awarded each year to the graduating senior who exhibits those characteristics considered most desirable in a student graduating from North Carolina Wesleyan University. The criteria to be considered for this award include a high standard of academic performance and embodiment of the ideals ad aims of the University. This award is presented each year at May Commencement.
This award honors the qualities exhibited by the life of Algernon Sydney Sullivan, lawyer, scholar and orator, who was prominent in New York City social and civic activities from 1857 until his death in 1888. This award is presented to the student who best exemplifies academic achievement as well as excellence in character, leadership, service to the community and a commitment to spiritual values. This award is given each year to a senior at May Commencement.
College credit is available through examination as follows:
Advanced Placement Examinations are administered by the College Entrance Examination Board in Princeton, New Jersey, through a local high school. No credit is awarded for an Advanced Placement examination score lower than 3. Students seeking credit for a score of 3, 4 or 5 should consult the Registrar.
College Level Examination Program (CLEP) subject tests are administered by the College Entrance Examination Board in Princeton, New Jersey or through North Carolina Wesleyan University.
Course Challenge is a method by which a student challenges selected courses in the Catalog by way of written examination, oral examination or proficiency test. The course examiner must be a full-time faculty member with primary responsibility in the discipline being challenged and he or she will be the sole judge of whether the objectives of the course have been met. Not all courses can be challenged. A Course Challenge form may be obtained from the Registrar’s Office.
DSST is administered by the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, New Jersey or through North Carolina Wesleyan University.
International Baccalaureate. North Carolina Wesleyan University recognizes the International Baccalaureate program. To receive college credit, students who take the higher level IB examination(s) must request that their scores be sent to the University. Upon receipt of the scores, an evaluation for credit will be performed. Students will be notified by mail of the results of that evaluation. Scores of 4 or better on the Higher level IB examination(s) will receive 3 semester hours of credit for each examination.
A student may make changes in his schedule of courses by completing a “Drop-Add” form, which is available in the Registrar’s Office; obtaining the signed approval of the academic advisor and returning the completed “Drop-Add” form to the Registrar’s Office. Any change of schedule which causes a course overload must be approved by the Provost/Senior Vice-President of Academic Affairs.
During the first seven calendar days of the fall and spring semesters and Adult Studies terms, a student may drop or add a course or courses to his or her schedule or to change from the regular grading system to “pass/fail,” or vice versa.
The student should refer to the academic calendar for specific dates. The student should discuss schedule changes with his or her advisor prior to completing a “Drop-Add” form, which is available in the Registrar’s Office or Adult Studies Offices. After consultation with his or her advisor, the student secures the signature of the advisor on the Drop-Add form and takes it to the Office of the Registrar (or Adult Studies Office) for processing (emails and conversations may not be sufficient for a drop to occur).
During the first 50 percent of the regularly scheduled class meetings of a course (including the meeting for the final examination) a student may drop a course. The same 50 percent period rule applies to five and eight week courses as well. Students should refer to the Academic Calendar for specific dates. After consultation with his or her advisor, the student secures the signature of the advisor on the Drop-Add form and takes it to the Office of the Registrar (or Adult Studies Office) for processing. A grade of “W” will be recorded on the student’s transcript for courses dropped during this time period. If a student drops a course after the first 50 percent of the semester then the student will receive a grade of “F” in that course. After classes have ended, no withdrawal, except in the case of medical emergency, can be filed (see Medical Withdrawal Policy).
Students are strongly urged to confer with the instructor before making a final decision to drop a course.
Students should consult with the Business Office and/or the Office of Financial Aid prior to dropping courses to verify the effect of the course drop on their tuition and fee obligation. Tuition and fees will be refunded according to the university refund policy.
Students should pay particular attention to the procedural directions printed on the forms provided by the Registrar. No course is officially dropped or added until the required procedure is completed.
An instructor may recommend to the Provost and Senior Vice-President for Academic Affairs that a student be administratively dropped from a course if the student does not attend the first class session or misses more than twenty percent (20%) of the classes in the first 50 percent of the semester. A student administratively dropped for missing the first class meeting will receive no grade for the course. A student who is administratively dropped during the first 50 percent of the semester will receive a grade of “W.” Tuition and fees will be refunded according to the university refund policy.
A student may be withdrawn from a course for improper conduct by the Provost and Senior Vice-President for Academic Affairs. A student who is administratively dropped for improper conduct will receive a grade of F for each course. Tuition and fees will be refunded according to the university refund policy.
A student may withdraw from all classes at the University by completing and returning the Withdrawal Form available in the Registrar’s Office or the Office of Adult & Professional Studies. Students who withdraw prior to the first 50 percent of class meetings will receive a grade of “W” for each course; students who withdraw after the first 50 percent of the class meetings will receive a grade of “F” for each course (refer to the Academic Calendar for specific drop/withdrawal dates). Students are not withdrawn from the University unless the appropriate form is completed and returned to the Registrar’s Office or the Office of Adult & Professional Studies. Tuition and fees will be refunded according to the university refund policy.
A student who is requesting a withdrawal from courses for medical or psychological reasons may apply for a medical withdrawal. The form is located on the student portal (my.ncwc.edu). Petitions for drops after the deadline for medical withdrawal will typically be granted only for unforeseen and uncontrollable medical or psychological problems directly affecting the student’s participation in the academic program. Applications for medical withdrawal should be addressed to the Registrar’s Office. The application for medical withdrawal should include:
If approved, withdrawals for medical and psychological reasons are ordinarily approved for all courses (i.e. students cannot withdraw from some classes and not others) unless a specific medical or psychological reason exists for withdrawing from a specific course (i.e. a student with a broken leg who cannot participate in an exercise science course).
If a medical withdrawal is approved, a “W” will appear on the student’s transcript for each course. The student will not receive any academic credit for those courses. Tuition and fees will be refunded according to the university refund policy. Students should consult with the Business Office and/or the Office of Financial Aid prior to dropping courses to verify the effect of the course drop on their tuition and fee obligation.
Applications for withdrawal for medical or psychological reasons will only be considered for the current semester.
The Provost and Senior Vice-President for Academic Affairs may remove a student from the institution for conduct that disrupts the academic programs of the university. Students who are administratively withdrawn for disruptive conduct will receive an F in all courses. Tuition and fees will be refunded according to the university refund policy.
A student who stops attending a class without notifying the university is considered to have made an Unofficial Drop. A final grade of XF is assigned by instructors for students who fail the class due to non-attendance. When instructors assign an XF grade they are asked to report the last known date of attendance, if possible. Students are defined as unofficially withdrawn for Title IV Federal Aid purposes when they do not have any grades for any courses in a term other than XF grades.
Those students who have all XF grades for a term are assumed to be unofficially withdrawn. A report is generated for those students with federal and state aid whom are assumed to have unofficially withdrawn from the university. The last date of attendance as reported by any of the instructors is determined and used in the return of Title IV funds calculation. If a last day of attendance cannot otherwise be determined, the student is assumed to have attended 50% of the enrollment period and the formula is calculated based on that length of attendance.
Students will be billed for resulting institutional charges and repayments of federal and/or state financial aid. An XF grade is treated as an F for all other policy purposes.
North Carolina Wesleyan University is committed to the well-being, health, and safety of our individual students and our community. There are times when a student may experience situations that significantly limit their ability to successfully function in the university environment. An involuntary leave of absence may be implemented to allow the student to leave North Carolina Wesleyan University in order to focus on the issues limiting their ability to successfully function.
An involuntary leave will not be imposed when student conduct, academic, or other responses to the student’s behavior are readily available and can be used to address the behavior. The University will explore the use of reasonable accommodations through the Office of Counseling and Accessibility Services whenever possible to assist students in addressing their concern. Additionally, when possible and appropriate, the University will encourage students to prioritize mental and/or physical health by taking a voluntary leave of absence to seek/follow a course of treatment that will allow them to resume their student status. The University will explore an involuntary leave only when other avenues and reasonable accommodations have been exhausted.
Notice to Student
The Dean of Students (or designee) will confer with the student to discuss the student’s needs and the University’s expectations. The Dean of Students (or designee) may also confer with a student’s parents, guardians, or emergency contact if deemed necessary to protect the student and/or others in the community. There will be full consideration for the student’s FERPA rights before contacting the student’s parents, guardians, or emergency contact.
Where appropriate and feasible, the Dean of Students (or designee) will notify a student, in writing, that an involuntary leave under this policy is under review. In situations involving an imminent or ongoing threat to the student or NCWU’s community, it may be appropriate for the University to require the student to be away from the University while the individualized assessment and review are taking place. Students must cooperate in the assessment. The University may require a mental or physical evaluation from an appropriately trained clinician who is not associated with the University and who is not related to the student if the Dean of Students in consultation with the University’s Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) believes such an evaluation of the student will facilitate a more informed decision. If such evaluation is determined to be necessary, students must sign a release of information to facilitate discussions between the University and the clinician conducting an evaluation. The student is responsible for the cost of the evaluation.
The Behavioral Intervention Team may consider relevant documentation made available to them and may confer with individuals who have relevant information about whether a leave of absence under this policy is appropriate for the student. Although each case will vary, conferring individuals may include other health care professionals and other University community members.
A student placed on involuntary leave has 7 days from receipt of the letter from the Dean of Students to submit an appeal of the decision in writing to the President The written request for appeal must specify the specific substantive and/or procedural basis for the appeal. The President will make a determination based on the following considerations:
The President may
The determination of whether a student will be removed from the University community while waiting for an appeal will occur on a case-by-case basis.
At any point in the process the student may present a request for a voluntary withdrawal pursuant to the University’s withdrawal process. If the request is granted, the involuntary leave process will cease and the student will be subject to the institution’s readmission requirements. Voluntary withdrawal will not terminate any pending disciplinary action.
An involuntary leave of absence is an administrative process. It is not a disciplinary process. It is possible that conduct leading to an involuntary leave under this policy may also be subject to review under the University’s disciplinary process. This policy does not supersede the authority of the Dean of Students to act under the Code of Student Conduct and does not supersede the President’s authority to take administrative action to ensure the safety of the community. Additionally, this policy does not limit the University’s ability to place holds on student accounts for reasons beyond the scope of this policy, including but not limited to outstanding financial obligations, failure to register, academic standing or disciplinary suspension. This policy does not relieve a student of financial obligations to the University that were in place at the time an involuntary leave of absence was imposed.
The University recognizes the sensitive and confidential nature of considering a voluntary or involuntary leave. The University’s use and disclosure of such information will be guided by laws governing the privacy of student information, such as FERPA and HIPAA, and the limited exceptions for disclosure provided by law. All records concerning both voluntary and involuntary leaves of absence are confidential and the official copy of such records will be retained by the Dean of Students or the Dean’s designee. Access to these records is limited by appropriate federal, state, and local law. Such records will be destroyed seven (7) years after the student’s graduation or separation from the University.
Statement: North Carolina Wesleyan University appreciates the dedication of our students who continue to serve on active duty, guard or reserves while pursuing their education.
Purpose: This policy provides equitable consistent treatment to its military students who are deployed or placed on active duty status so that they may continue their education once their deployment or military service is complete.
Policy: Students who are deployed/placed on active duty (defined as anyone with official active duty orders including reservists and guard members serving on regularly scheduled Unit Training Assembly (UTA) weekends) status during the term they are enrolled may choose one of the following options:
Student’s Responsibilities and Procedures: Student must alert their instructors as soon as they have a conflict or prior to the start of class, whichever occurs earlier by completing the Military Leave Request. Copy of form along with official paperwork should also be submitted to their instructor for signature and forward to either the Registrar (traditional/ or their academic advisor (Adult Studies) with a copy to the School Certifying Official.
Readmission: Students returning from deployment will be readmitted at the same academic status as they had when previously attended.
An undergraduate student may remove academic deficiencies only by attending North Carolina Wesleyan University. A student may retake a course at North Carolina Wesleyan University to improve a grade. If a course is repeated, the highest grade will be figured into the student’s grade point average. The original grade is not deleted from the transcript. No additional credit hours are awarded for repeated courses that have previously been successfully completed. For more information contact the Registrar.
Traditional students wishing to take a course offered through the Adult Studies and Professional Program must meet the following requirements:
The cap for traditional students enrolled in an Adult Studies course is 4 students yet there is no wait or limitation as to when a traditional student can register, as long as it is within the registration window for that session or semester. (The Adult Studies Director will monitor this.)
Items 1-4 will be verified by the advisor and program coordinator.
If all of the policies on cross enrollments listed above are met, then the signatures are only needed by:
Any exceptions to this policy require the signed approval of the Provost.
All students are admitted to North Carolina Wesleyan University with the understanding that they are mature and responsible enough to meet their obligations for all class requirements, including class attendance. Punctual attendance is expected for every class and laboratory session or field experience. Students are expected to participate in course activities and complete assignments as described in the course syllabus except in the case of illness or university extracurricular activities as approved by the Provost and Senior Vice-President for Academic Affairs. Students registering late are expected to makeup all missed assignments in a manner determined by the instructor.
Each instructor shall determine the class attendance policy for each of his or her courses as long as the instructor’s policy does not conflict with any university policy. The instructor’s attendance policy, along with other course requirements, must be provided to the class on a syllabus distributed at the first class meeting. Class attendance may be a criterion in determining a student’s final grade in the course if the instructor provides a written statement to this effect in the course syllabus. In determining the number of unexcused absences which will be accepted, the instructor should consider carefully the nature of the course, the maturity level of the students enrolled and the consequent degree of flexibility included in the instructor’s policy.
The Provost and Senior Vice-President for Academic Affairs may authorize a university-excused absence for student participation in authorized activities as an official representative of the University (i.e. athletic events, delegate to regional or national meetings or conferences, participation in university-sponsored performances). No class absences will be excused for practices or rehearsals. Only absences for performances/events and necessary travel to and from the performance/event are excused.
The Vice-President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students may authorize a university-excused absence in the following situations:
Students should consult with their instructors about all class absences. It is the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor immediately about class absences, to provide appropriate documentation for an absence and discuss any missed class time, tests or assignments. Except in the case of a university-excused absence, it is the decision of the instructor to excuse an absence or to allow for any additional time to make up missed tests or assignments. Instructors should normally honor written medical excuses from a licensed medical or psychological practitioner that state that the student was too ill or injured to attend class and provides the specific date(s) for which the student was unable to attend class due to the medical or psychological problem. Excused absences should not lower a student’s course grade, provided that the student, in a manner determined by the instructor, is able to make up the work that has been missed and is maintaining satisfactory progress in the course.
An instructor may request that the Provost and Senior Vice-President for Academic Affairs administratively drop a student from a course if the student misses the first class meeting or misses twenty percent of class meetings during the first 50 percent of the semester or term.
Students must determine if he or she will miss 10% or more of class meeting time as a result of university-excused absences and if so, are required to meet with the instructor of each affected course at the beginning of the semester. Student experiences that cannot be made up should be discussed at the onset of the course to ensure that continued enrollment is feasible while there is still the opportunity to drop the course within the schedule change period.
The University expects students to demonstrate steady academic progress toward graduation. Students who have an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher will be in good academic standing. In order to continue enrollment at the University all students must meet the minimum academic standards below:
| Career Semester Hours Attempted | 1.0 | 15.5 | 31.0 | 46.5 | 62.0 (and higher) |
| Minimum Cumulative GPA Required | 1.30 | 1.40 | 1.60 | 1.80 | 2.00 |
Students who are not making adequate academic progress will receive notification of their progress on their transcript and Degree Audit Worksheet. If a student fails to meet the requirements for good academic standing, they will be placed on academic warning, probation or suspension as detailed below.
A student who does not meet the cumulative grade point average requirements above will be placed on academic probation. The student must meet the minimum cumulative grade point average standard by the next career semester hour level or they will be placed on academic warning. Students achieving a term grade point average of at least a 2.00 while they are on academic probation will not be placed on academic warning but will be continued on academic probation.
A student who does not meet the cumulative grade point average requirements after being on academic probation will be placed on academic warning. The student must meet the minimum cumulative grade point average standards in the minimum academic standards by the time the next career semester hour level is attained or the student will be suspended. Students achieving a term grade point average of at least 2.00 while they are on academic warning will not be suspended but will remain on academic warning.
Students on academic probation or academic warning are encouraged to:
Because a student with persistent academic difficulties may benefit from taking time off from the university, the University imposes a period of suspension when a student fails to meet minimum academic standards. A student will be suspended for the following reasons:
Students who are academically suspended for the first time are suspended for one semester not including summer school. Students who are academically suspended for the second time are suspended for two semesters not including summer school. Students who are academically suspended for a third time are not allowed to re-enroll at the University.
For purposes of determining the length of subsequent suspensions, a student whose appeal is granted by the Academic Policy Committee (see Appealing Academic Suspension below) is still considered to have served a suspension. A successful appeal allows a student to return to North Carolina Wesleyan University but does not remove the suspension from the student’s record. If the student fails to attain the required academic standard then they will advance to the next level of suspension.
Students who have served a suspension of any length and are readmitted to the University or who have been granted an appeal of suspension, will return on Academic Warning.
A successful appeal of academic suspension does not also grant an appeal to Student Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information.
A student who wishes to appeal his or her suspension must appeal in writing to the Academic Policy Committee. A continuing student who has served a semester of a one-year suspension and who wishes exemption from the remainder may also submit an appeal to be allowed to return early. This request must be received in the Office of the Registrar by the dates in the suspension notification letter from the registrar.
The Academic Policy Committee normally will not approve an appeal unless it is based on personal, medical or psychological problems of an extreme nature that were unforeseeable and uncontrollable and the student provides evidence that the situation has been remedied. The written appeal must contain the following information:
Students who have been suspended for the first time are eligible to apply for readmission after the lapse of one semester. Students who have been suspended twice will not be eligible to apply for readmission until at least one year has elapsed. Students returning from academic suspension are placed on academic warning.
Students on academic suspension are urged to consider carefully their motivation for attending the universitye and to seek remedial instruction to improve their academic skills. Students who have been suspended and wish to be readmitted after sitting out the appropriate time must submit their readmission application for the semester they wish to return by the following deadlines:
| Fall Semester | August 1 |
| Spring Semester | December 1 |
| Summer Semester | April 1 |
Former students who have not been enrolled at North Carolina Wesleyan University or other accredited college or university for a minimum of five consecutive academic years (summer sessions excluded) and are otherwise eligible to return to NCWU, may request readmission under the Academic Forgiveness Policy. Such requests must be submitted on the application for readmission according to application deadline dates as specified in the admissions section of this catalog. The student’s university account must be cleared with the Business Office of any outstanding balance, if any, prior to registration for the term of readmission.
Subsequent North Carolina Wesleyan University GPAs of students readmitted under this policy will be computed without inclusion of previous course work in which a grade D or F was received; credit toward graduation will not be allowed for excluded course work. All NCWU grades, including those earned prior to readmission under this Academic Forgiveness Policy, will appear on the academic transcript and will be included in calculations for consideration for degrees with distinction and other university honors.
Academic forgiveness cannot be granted if a student has earned a postsecondary degree following his/her initial North Carolina Wesleyan University attendance and applied NCWU credits toward that degree. A student may take advantage of the readmission under the Academic Forgiveness Policy only one time. The student’s transcript will have a notation beginning the semester of entry that the individual has been admitted under the Academic Forgiveness Policy and that course work and grades excluded under the policy are not computed in the GPA or used for degree credit.
Students readmitted under this policy are on Academic Warning for the first 24 semester hours of attempted course work. At the end of the term in which the nineteenth semester hour is attempted, a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA must have been earned on all course work attempted since readmission under this policy. Failure to meet this stipulation will result in the student being ineligible to return.
A student electing to be readmitted under the Academic Forgiveness Policy will use the catalog of record at the time the student reenters to determine degree and graduation requirements.
Students should be aware that the Readmission Under Academic Forgiveness Policy is a university academic policy. This policy is not recognized in the US Department of Education’s calculation of financial aid eligibility. Students who plan to apply for or receive financial aid should contact the Office of Financial Aid prior to enrolling.
*Readmission under Academic Forgiveness is not available to students enrolled in the graduate program.
North Carolina Wesleyan University’s administration, faculty, and students are dedicated to upholding the integrity of the academic process and working together to prevent the occurrence of all forms of academic dishonesty, including plagiarism and cheating.
Faculty members are responsible for ensuring that students are completing their assignments in an ethical manner and in compliance with all academic integrity standards. The following are some examples of how this can be accomplished:
Students are responsible for making sure that they act ethically as they complete their academic work by doing the following:
The most basic definition of plagiarism is using someone else’s work or ideas without giving them credit and claiming, implicitly or explicitly, that the work and ideas are your own. While this is a good working definition, it can be helpful to review some of the different forms of plagiarism:
Plagiarism may be purposeful or accidental. Accidental plagiarism usually happens when a student does not have enough knowledge about plagiarism or how to give credit to sources. It can also occur if a student has read about their topic but has not taken careful notes on where they found their information. Because it is almost impossible for an instructor to know if plagiarism is purposeful or accidental, accidental plagiarism shall be considered purposeful, unless proven otherwise.
Copyright refers to the legal protections awarded to creators of original written, audio, and visual works. When a copyrighted work is used without the permission of the creator, this is called copyright infringement. Even if you cite a work correctly, you may still be committing copyright infringement. If you use a work without permission and do not give credit to the creator, you are also committing plagiarism.
Fair use allows for the limited use of copyrighted materials in certain circumstances as long as credit is given to the creator of the materials. When deciding if what you are doing is fair use, ask yourself these questions:
Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright, either because the creator chose not to protect the work or because the copyright has been allowed to expire. These works are free to use. However, students still need to give credit to the creator. Sites like the Creative Commons offer copyright free materials and provide rules for citing these materials. If you are using works from the public domain in an academic project, you will be expected to acknowledge that the material is not your own and provide citations where possible. While not illegal, not giving credit could still lead to an academic integrity violation.
Cheating is the giving or receiving of information illicitly with the intent to deceive the faculty member in his or her effort to grade fairly and accurately any academic work. It also harms you because cheating prevents you from demonstrating the knowledge you have acquired in a course. Below are some common forms of cheating:
Academic collaboration is an important and exciting part of the university experience; however, some forms of collaboration may be a violation of academic integrity. The best thing to do is to talk to your instructor about what forms you are allowed to practice in their course. Below are some examples of what are usually considered appropriate and inappropriate collaboration.
When a faculty member believes an academic integrity violation has occurred in their class, the faculty member will discuss with the student the reasons for their suspicion of an academic integrity violation. The student will be given the opportunity to respond and to explain any circumstances that he or she believes the faculty member needs to consider with regard to the situation. Following this discussion, the faculty member shall make a decision as to whether the student committed a violation.
If a faculty member determines that a student has violated the University’s cheating or plagiarism policy, the faculty member will submit the University’s standard written report form of the incident to the office of the Registrar. The student shall also receive both digital and physical copies of the report. The report will be filed in the student’s permanent folder.
The faculty’s report to the Registrar’s office shall include information documenting the meeting with the student; assignment instructions and rubric, if used; a copy of the document that was in violation with the specific areas of the violation highlighted; the faculty member’s explanation of why and how this is a violation; and the findings of the meeting between the student and faculty member.
Students may appeal an academic policy violation within eight weeks of the last day of the course. If the student appeals the charges, the Registrar must then forward a copy of the student’s appeal letter, a copy of the faculty member’s report that gives the details of the violation, and copies of emails or other documents that will be useful in determining the facts of the case to the Academic Policy Committee (APC). If clarifications are needed from the faculty member or student by the APC, the Registrar is responsible for gathering the information and forwarding it to APC Committee members. The Registrar is also responsible for notifying the faculty member declaring the violation that an appeal has been filed by the student. The Registrar will also supply the faculty member with a copy of the student’s appeal documents.
The following procedure will be used by the Academic Policy Committee when processing appeals of academic policy violations:
The following penalties for cheating and plagiarism will apply:
Current North Carolina Wesleyan University students who wish to enroll in courses at another collegiate institution must receive a Permission to Enroll at Another Institution form from the Registrar’s Office. Only courses successfully completed with a grade of “C” or better are acceptable for transfer. Quality points and grade point averages do not transfer.
The University maintains two laboratories equipped with 24 computer workstations for student instruction. The computers are available for student use when not being utilized for instruction. Students also have access to additional computer workstations in the library and in the Hartness Center. All residence hall rooms have network connections.
The library serves the North Carolina Wesleyan University community at all campuses by providing access to appropriate resources, effective instruction, and inviting learning environments. In Rocky Mount, Pearsall Library is a gathering place on campus that provides print, media, and electronic resources to support both academic work and recreational needs. The library offers comfortable study space for both independent and collaborative work and includes a Flexible Instruction Lab, a Media Production Lab, and the Writing Center. Library staff members are readily available in person, via email (reference@ncwc.edu), by appointment, via telephone, and online through our virtual reference service, to help users at all campuses find and use information in all formats and to help them manage technology. The library’s website links to a wide array of electronic information resources. These include online databases that provide access to full-text articles in about 46,000 magazines, newspapers and journals; about 255,000 electronic books; and about 48,000 educational and documentary streaming videos accessible online. Students can access these resources at any time, day or night, via the library’s website (https://ncwc.edu/academics/library/) or off-campus using their campus login username and password. Books and articles that are not readily available online may be requested via interlibrary loan by using the online request form on the library’s website or contact the library at (252) 985-5350. The library’s website also provides online research guides and tutorials to help students find and use information resources. The Library provides laptops for students checkout for use within and outside the library, including weekends. The Library hours are - Sundays: 1:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.; Mondays to Thursdays: 7:30 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.; Fridays: 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; and Saturdays: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The Writing Center offers students in all courses one-on-one help in writing at any stage of the writing process. By working collaboratively with students, the Writing Center staff help students to develop their writing skills and to value consultation and reflection as an integral part of composing. In addition to conducting face-to-face tutorials, the Center also operates an Online Writing Lab (OWL) that enables students to access an Internet data bank and hundreds of handouts on writing, to e-mail questions about writing and to engage in online consultations with members of the Writing Center staff.
The Registrar’s Office is responsible for maintaining student academic records. Students may request that the Registrar provide copies of their academic transcript to another college or university, a prospective employer or other third party.
The Student Success Center provides a wide range of programs and services designed to assist students in achieving their personal and academic goals. Programs and services offered through the center include academic advising and academic support services such as tutoring. The Center also provides intervention, assistance and referral programs for at-risk students.
New Student Orientation is a two-part event that assists students in preparing for their transition to the university community. Part one, Bishop Business Day, occurs during the summer months and is designed to provide students and their families with essential information before campus move-in and the start of classes. Students and their families attend sessions pertaining to financial aid, academic advising and course registration, MyNCWC student account and residence life. Part two, New Student Welcome, kicksoff with campus move-in day the weekend before classes begin. Students will engage in activities and attend sessions to connect with other students and the Wesleyan community.
First-Year Advising: All first-year students are assigned to an academic advisor in the Student Success Center for their first year. Advisors assist students in clarifying their goals and values as well as understanding the nature and purpose of higher education. In addition, advisors help students to:
The advising process involves planning an educational program consistent with the student’s interests and abilities while providing accurate information about educational options, requirements, policies and procedures. After the first year, students will transition to a faculty advisor in their chosen major.
First Year Experience: North Carolina Wesleyan University believes in the potential of each student to be successful at Wesleyan and the days ahead. The First Year Experience program strives to inspire new students to maximize their potential by providing support and resources that assist them in their transition to college and the Wesleyan community. The First Year Experience program consists of a one credit course for first-year students and unique programming throughout the year to bolster student success and engagement.
COL 103 Wesleyan Transition: A one-credit seminar course that assists first-year students in their college transition and helps to further orient them to the North Carolina Wesleyan University environment. All first-year students are enrolled in COL 103 the first semester, which is instructed by their assigned academic advisor. The course emphasizes collegiate success, campus engagement and career exploration.
First Year Mentors: A team of dedicated and constructive student leaders that are passionate about North Carolina Wesleyan University and believe in every student’s success. From the beginnings at New Student Welcome and throughout the fall semester, First Year Mentors help new students connect with the Wesleyan community. They serve as mentors and role models to first-year students and attend an assigned COL 103 course section to be accessible and provide insight as a mentor.
First Year Programming: This program provides a series of informative sessions throughout the year called WesWay. WesWay focuses on academic and personal development, while addressing specific needs and questions common to first-year students.
Freshman Advantage: This is a selective program designed to promote success during the first year of college. Requirements of the program include developing a Student Learning Plan, meeting regularly with an academic advisor, utilizing academic support resources, updating an advisor weekly on class progress and attending Student Success Center sponsored workshops- all in an effort to improve performance.
Academic Support: The Center provides both peer and professional tutorial services to assist students with improving their academic performance. Students receive help in developing and improving basic academic skills, as well as tutoring in specific courses. The Center also provides tutorial services through the Academic Labs on campus: Accounting & Business lab and Math lab. Supplemental Instruction (SI) is an academic assistance program that targets historically difficult courses. The program aims to help students improve their understanding of course material and improve their grades. The program offers assistance in targeted classes by providing a trained peer SI leader to assist with the subject material. Three times each week, SI leaders conduct regularly scheduled sessions where students can go to ask questions about course content and learn how to study for the course. Supplemental Instruction supports students with what to learn and with how to learn.
This area assists students’ professional and leadership development while also serving as a resource to students, faculty and the business community. By emphasizing hands-on learning as an important tool for both full-time employment and development of a career path, programs and services help students realize their career goals and leadership growth. Specific services include career exploration/planning, creating job/internship search materials (resumes, etc), and developing interview skills while also assisting with the identification of internship/career opportunities through career fairs and postings. Leadership development programming is also offered through the National Society of Leadership & Success and the Leadership Wesleyan program.
