Academic Rules

Academic Advisement

The Advising Center is conveniently located at the Charles W. Chesnutt Library in the Bronco One Stop on the 2nd floor. The Advising Center delivers high-quality advising services to undergraduate students by providing personalized, accurate, and timely academic resources, materials, and information to the campus community. The Advising Center is the go-to source for everything students need to know about choosing courses, developing goals, and understanding degree requirements. Under this centralized structure, the Advising Center has Freshman Advisors, Advisors in the Major, Retention Specialists and General Advisors to fulfill the specific needs of FSU students (https://www.uncfsu.edu/academics/bronco-one-stop/advising-center). 

All students are assigned an advisor with whom they must consult in planning their academic programs, registering for classes, and making other decisions regarding their academic progression. Although students are expected to consult advisors on a regular basis, students bear final responsibility for the decisions that they make.

Advisors are assigned to students according to the following guidelines:

1. Freshmen advisors serve students who enter as first-time freshmen and students who have less than 30 credit hours.  Once students earn 30 credit hours, they are assigned to an advisor in their major
2. Academic advisors for the department majors serve as the initial point of contact for students who have obtained 30 credit hours.  
3. Pre-Major students who have obtained 30 credit hours are assigned to academic advisor for the department majors.  

To facilitate effective advisement and degree completion, students are required to take the following steps:

1. Students are required to check their FSU email on a regular basis to receive notifications about upcoming events and deadlines and information from academic advisors.
2. Students must communicate with the officially assigned advisor at least three times each semester to review the student’s progress toward degree completion. The best way to schedule an appointment is via Bronco Navigate (https://fayettevillestate.navigate.eab.com/app/#/authentication/remote/). 
3. Students whose GPA falls below 2.0 are required to meet with their advisor to complete an Academic Success Plan and take all actions agreed upon with advisors.
4. Students must meet with their advisor to review their online degree evaluation to develop a plan for degree completion.  Students can monitor their progress in Degree Works.
5. Students are eligible to apply for graduation once they have earned 90 credit hours. Students should run their online degree evaluation and confer with their advisor to determine graduation eligibility. Students must apply for graduation using their online Banner account.
6. Students must remain aware of and make decisions consistent with university policies, deadlines, and degree requirements as stated in the catalog, the FSU website, and other official documents.
7. Students must recognize that failure to follow the steps outlined above will delay their graduation.

To facilitate their advisees’ degree completion, Academic Advisors must take the following steps:

1. Advisors will be available during published office hours and at other times by appointment to assist advisees in completing the student responsibilities outlined above.
2. Advisors will provide accurate information in a timely manner. Advisors will usually respond to student inquiries within two business days. When advisors are not available, students should contact the director for advising at advising@uncfsu.edu. 
3. Advisors will help students understand their responsibilities, as outlined above, in the advisement process.
4. Advisors will direct students to appropriate university resources for assistance as needed. For students whose GPA falls below 2.0, advisors will work with the student to develop an Academic Success Plan and monitor student’s implementation of the plan.
5. Advisors will review online degree evaluations with students and advise them accordingly based on degree requirements and university policies.
6. Advisors will respect advisees as individuals with different backgrounds and educational/life goals.
7. Advisors will respect the confidentiality of information shared by advisees and protect the privacy of students as defined by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
8. Advisors are responsible for maintaining accurate records of meetings with advisees.
9. Advisors must recognize that failure to complete the responsibilities outlined in this document may delay a student’s graduation.

Academic Credit Hour

FSU follows the federal or Carnegie Foundation definition of the academic credit hour, a nationally recognized equivalency that consists of not less than:

1. 750 minutes of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of 1,500 minutes of out of class student work for one semester hour of credit.

a. Each credit hour corresponds to 50 minutes per week of classroom or direct faculty instruction and

b. A minimum of 100 minutes of out of class work per week for a 15-week semester, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or

2. At least an equivalent amount of work as required in part 1 of this definition for other academic activities or instructional modes of delivery as established by the institution including distance education, hybrid, and face-to-face instruction, laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.

The following terms apply to a student’s enrollment and academic record:

1. Credit hour – The minimum credit hours required for any baccalaureate degree at Fayetteville State University is 120.

2. Attempted hours – The credit hours in which a student is enrolled at Fayetteville State University, to include hours transferred from other institutions.

3. Earned hours – The credit hours for each course in which a student earns a final grade of D or better at Fayetteville State University and credit hours transferred from other institutions with a grade of C or better.

4. GPA hours – The credit hours used in the calculation of a student’s GPA. The minimum GPA required for any baccalaureate degree at Fayetteville State University is 2.0.

Academic Fresh Start

Academic Fresh Start is designed for degree-seeking undergraduate students who have experienced academic difficulty in their initial period of enrollment at Fayetteville State University. Special Visiting students are not eligible for Academic Fresh Start. Academic Fresh Start is granted to a student one-time only and allows the student to have a fresh start without the burden of the previous GPA that may prevent the student from achieving degree completion.  

To be eligible for Academic Fresh Start, an undergraduate student must meet all the criteria below:

• Must not have been granted Academic Fresh Start previously.
• Must meet Fayetteville State University admission criteria.
• Must have a period of non-enrollment for at least four consecutive semesters.
• Must have a cumulative GPA below 2.0.
• It must be determined that the student cannot earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 with fifteen (15) credit hours and repeating courses within the first academic semester of readmission.   
• Must submit the Academic Appeal Form and provide verifiable evidence that demonstrates the potential for degree completion and that the conditions have been corrected that led to the previous poor academic performance. Documentation must include an Academic Success Plan from an advisor.

If the undergraduate student is approved for Academic Fresh Start, then

1. All course work completed at FSU prior to the semester of re-admission will be excluded from the GPA calculation.
2. All previous courses in which the student earned a final grade of C or higher will be used to fulfill degree requirements. Such courses will be designated “XG” in the academic transcript.
3. All previous courses in which the student earned a D or lower will not be used to fulfill degree requirements and will not count as earned hours. Such courses will be designated “XC” in the academic transcript.
4. All course work will remain on the student’s transcript.
5. Beginning with the term of approval, the notation “Academic Fresh Start” will display on the student’s transcript. 

All attempted hours will remain on a student’s record, and, hence, hours covered by Academic Fresh Start will be used in determining financial aid eligibility. 

Academic Fresh Start recipients

• Must adhere to the Academic Success Plan submitted with their Academic Appeals Form to help them achieve success while re-enrolled.
• Will be eligible for financial aid in the first academic year of re-enrollment only if the request is based on a record of academic performance at another institution after their departure from FSU. A record of academic performance may be demonstrated by earning an Associate degree, earning an academic certificate, or earning at least fifteen (15) academic credit hours that are eligible for transfer toward an FSU degree program.
• Are not eligible for financial aid in the first academic year of re-enrollment if there is not a record of academic performance from another institution and must be responsible for all tuition and fees for the initial 15 credit hours of enrollment within an academic year.
• Who earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher in fifteen (15) or more credit hours with a 67% progression rate and less than 180 attempted hours will be eligible for financial aid at the end of their first semester of re-enrollment.
• Who earn an academic suspension may not be approved to return to FSU. 

Academic Fresh Start will be applied to the student’s academic record at the end of the semester or term (fall, spring, or summer) of completing fifteen (15) credit hours after final grades have been posted.

Academic Honors

The university recognizes student academic excellence through the Chancellor’s List, the Deans’ List, and invitation to membership in a number of honor societies. The annual Honors and Awards Day Ceremony highlights excellent academic achievements by students.

Chancellor’s List

Students who successfully complete at least fifteen (15) semester hours during one semester (or two consecutive terms for Fort Bragg students), earn a GPA of 3.75 or higher, and have no incomplete grades are placed on the Chancellor’s List.

Deans’ List

Students who successfully earn at least fifteen (15) semester hours during one semester (or two consecutive terms for Fort Bragg students), earn a GPA of 3.2 to 3.74, and have no incomplete grades are placed on the Deans’ List.

Honors and Awards Day

Students eligible for recognition at the Honors and Awards Day ceremony must be degree seeking undergraduate students. The criteria for recognition during the Honors and Awards Day ceremony are as follows:

1. The student must be full-time for both the fall and spring semesters.
2. The student must have a GPA of 3.2 or better.
3. The student must have earned the following hours at Fayetteville State University:
   1. Freshman -12 or more
   2. Sophomore - 20 or more
   3. Junior - 40 or more
   4. Senior - 60 or more

Honor Societies - General

Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society

A chapter of Alpha Kappa Mu National Honor Society was established at Fayetteville State University in 1940 to promote scholastic excellence among the students of the institution. To qualify for election to membership in Alpha Kappa Mu students must:

1. be classified as juniors or seniors.
2. have earned a minimum of sixty (60) semester credits.
3. maintain a GPA of 3.3 or higher.
4. graduate with fifteen (15) or more credit hours earned at FSU with a GPA of 3.7 or higher.

Transfer students are not eligible for membership in the organization until they have been in residence at the university for two semesters.

Phi Eta Sigma

Phi Eta Sigma is a national honor society for college freshmen. Its goal is to encourage and reward academic excellence among freshmen in institutions of higher learning. The oldest and largest freshman honor society, Phi Eta Sigma was founded at the University of Illinois in 1923. The chapter at Fayetteville State University was established in 1992. To be eligible for membership in Phi Eta Sigma students must:

1. verify eligibility in the freshman year of study.
2. have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 at the close of the semester in which membership is sought.
3. apply for membership.

Tau Sigma

Tau Sigma is an academic honor society designed specifically to recognize and promote the academic excellence and involvement of transfer students. Tau Sigma was incorporated as a non-profit in 1999 with Auburn University being the home of the first chapter. The chapter at Fayetteville State University was established in 2008. To be eligible for membership in Tau Sigma students must:

1. transfer to a four-year institution of higher learning from another academic institution with at least one full years’ academic credits satisfied at the prior institution(s).
2. be registered in a course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree for an amount of work equal to an average full load (at least 12 hours).
3. attain superior academic achievement during their first term in the institution to which they transfer (only credit hours that count toward a bachelor’s degree can be used to determine Tau Sigma eligibility). The minimum academic average required for membership is a 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
4. apply for membership.

Honor Societies - Discipline Specific

Academic Standing

The university will evaluate academic standing at the end of each all, spring, and summer terms  to determine a student’s eligibility for continued enrollment and financial aid.

Students who fail to meet the GPA standard at the end of any term will be placed on academic probation or academic suspension. Students who fail to meet the GPA standard or the SAP standard at the end of any term will be placed on Financial Aid (SAP) Warning or Financial Aid (SAP) Hold. See Financial Aid, “Satisfactory Academic Progress”. The university will evaluate academic standing and SAP at the end of each term to determine continued enrollment and financial aid eligibility.

Academic standings are defined as follows. 

Good Standing applies to students who earn a 2.0 or higher cumulative GPA. Students are eligible for continued enrollment, however, meeting good standing does not guarantee financial aid eligibility. See Financial Aid, “Satisfactory Academic Progress”. First time students upon initial admission are in good standing.

Probation Standing applies to students who earn a less than 2.0 cumulative GPA at the end of a term following a good standing. A student on probation is eligible for continued enrollment and may be eligible for financial aid. See Financial Aid, “Satisfactory Academic Progress”.  Students on probation can enroll in no more than the allowable limits per the Course Load policy and must meet with their officially assigned advisor to create an Academic Success Plan. Students on probation enrolled in more than the allowed credit hours will have credits dropped to meet the minimum course load policy. Students placed on probation will sometimes be advised to delay subsequent enrollment to resolve the problems causing poor performance.

Suspension Standing applies to students whose cumulative GPA is below 2.0 for two consecutive terms of enrollment, to include summer. Students must submit the Academic Appeal Form to determine eligibility for enrollment, financial aid, or both, before the next term of enrollment. Students who are reinstated after successfully appealing suspension will be required to adhere to their Academic Success Plan and can enroll in no more than the allowed credit hours per the Course Load policy. Students who are suspended a second time must successfully appeal to determine continued enrollment, financial aid, or both, before the next term of enrollment.  If the appeal is not successful, the student may only return under the Academic Fresh Start program. The student should confer with their advisor to determine the best plan of action.

Academic Standing and Term/University Withdrawals
A student whose cumulative GPA is below 2.0 at the end of any term, enrolls in the next term of enrollment and then withdraws from all courses for that term, will be considered as having two consecutive terms below 2.0. The appropriate academic standing will apply to the student’s transcript and the student must submit an Academic Appeal Form to determine eligibility for further enrollment and financial aid eligibility. In these instances, withdrawing from the university can have an adverse effect.

Academic Eligibility for Co- and Extra-Curricular Activities – Students who meet academic eligibility requirements for participation in student organizations in the fall semester will retain their eligibility in the spring semester, unless otherwise specified by the constitution, guidelines, and/or contracts of the organization.

Appeal Procedure

Students may appeal academic suspension, excessive hours, and low Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) by submitting the online Academic Appeal form. The completed form must address each of the following:

1. The extenuating or unusual circumstances which contributed to the student’s academic suspension along with supporting documentation;
2. Actions the student has taken to change the circumstances so that they will not contribute again to poor academic performance;
3. Specific steps the students will take to improve his or her academic status in the upcoming semester;
4. An address and phone number at which the student may be notified of the committee’s decision.

Appeals will be granted only under extraordinary circumstances and must be appropriately documented. Student appeals submitted after the deadline may not be considered.

Application for Graduation

Students are eligible to apply for graduation once they have earned 90 or more credit hours. All students who expect to graduate must submit the online graduation application and pay the non-refundable graduation fee, through their online Banner account. Before doing so, the student should review and discuss their online degree evaluation with their advisor to determine if they are on track to meet degree requirements.

Fall graduates must apply for graduation by November 30.

Spring graduates must apply for graduation by March 30.

Summer graduates must apply for graduation by July 30.

Students must apply for graduation to participate in commencement exercises. Prospective graduates for Spring and Summer Commencement must apply for graduation by March 30 of the same year for purposes of being printed in the commencement book and participating in the commencement ceremony. The university assumes no responsibility for making special adjustments for students who file late applications for graduation. The university cannot guarantee that names of students who file late applications will appear in the Commencement booklet or the Honors supplement.

Students who fail to meet graduation requirements automatically void their candidacy for that graduation term. Students who do not graduate under the catalog for which they initially apply for graduation must re-apply and pay an additional application fee.

Auditing of Courses

Students who wish to audit a course must complete the Course Audit Form and submit it to the Office of the Registrar for enrollment in the course(s). Students must not have any type of hold which prevents registration. The Office of the Registrar will notify Student Accounts for appropriate billing at the end of late registration. Audited courses carry no credit and a grade of AU is given. Students registered for audit will not be permitted to change to credit after the close of late registration. Conversely, students registered for credit will not be permitted to change to audit after the close of late registration.

Senior Auditors - Persons at least 65 years of age and North Carolina residents

A senior auditor is a student who is at least 65 years of age and a North Carolina resident as determined by the UNC System through the Residency Determination System (RDS). Senior auditors may audit courses at any University of North Carolina constituent institution without payment of any required registration fee or tuition. Senior Auditors must be in good academic standing and must not have any financial holds that would prevent registration. Senior auditors can only audit lecture-based courses and not courses which require laboratories, studios, or performances. Auditing is not permitted in online distance education courses, independent studies courses, internships, special topics or other special courses as outlined by Fayetteville State University.

Catalog Policy

Students are not permitted to combine the requirements of two or more catalogs for one major. However, double or dual majors can use separate catalogs to meet degree requirements if the second declared major was not in existence at the time of the initial declared major. Students must complete the curriculum requirements as outlined in the catalog that is in effect at the time of their initial enrollment at the university, except for the following reasons:

1. Time to degree – Degree requirements remain in effect for six years for students who maintain six years of continuous enrollment from the date of their initial enrollment at the university. Students who do not complete all degree requirements within six years of continuous enrollment will be guided by the catalog in effect when they apply for graduation. Students who do not maintain continuous enrollment must apply for readmission to the university.
2. Readmitted students - Students who are not enrolled for more than two consecutive semesters (fall and spring or spring and fall) must apply for readmission to the university. If readmitted, students may follow the catalog in effect at the time of their re-enrollment or any subsequent catalog. For readmitted students, the time limit for completing all degree requirements will be calculated from the date of their re-enrollment. Readmitted students who are unable to complete their degrees within the time to degree limits must complete the curriculum requirements as outlined in the catalog that is in effect when they apply for graduation.
3. Selection of current catalog - Students may choose to be guided by any catalog in effect subsequent to their admission or readmission to include the catalog in effect when they apply for graduation. Students must meet all the requirements of that catalog. Students who are unable to complete their degrees within the time to degree limits must complete the curriculum requirements as outlined in the catalog that is in effect when they apply for graduation.
4. Requests for catalog changes outside this policy must be approved by the Provost using the Catalog Change Exception Request form.

This policy applies only to degree program requirements. Students are governed by the academic regulations of the current catalog. Students must become thoroughly familiar with all current regulations of the university. Students are solely responsible for complying with all regulations of the university, of their school or college, and of the departments from which they take courses. They are also responsible for fulfilling all requirements for their respective degree programs. Requirements are considered complete only when appropriate documentation is recorded in the Office of the Registrar.

Certificates

Students who want to complete an undergraduate certificate must:

1. Be admitted into an undergraduate degree program per Admissions guidelines.
2. Complete all requirements of the degree program and certificate.
3. Earn the minimum required Grade Point Average for courses in the degree program and the certificate.

Certificate credentials will not be awarded until the completion of the undergraduate degree program. Upon completion of program requirements, students must pay a $35.00 certificate printing fee in addition to the graduation application fee if they desire a printed certificate of completion.

Certificate Completion Dates

To ensure consistency in certificate completion dates and to better monitor when students complete the certificate, the certificate completion dates will be aligned with the published end of term graduation dates. That is, the certificate completion date will be at the end of the term of enrollment, regardless of when a student completes his/her required courses.

Students must check their official FSU student email account on a regular basis for updates on their certificate completion status. Students must maintain contact with their academic department and/or advisor to ensure that all necessary documents are completed and all certificate requirements are met. Requirements are considered complete only when appropriate documentation is received and verified by the Office of the Registrar.

Certificates and transcripts for students who complete requirements in the summer will indicate the date at the end of the summer term.

Certificate Distribution

Students may begin to request official transcripts through their online Banner account four weeks after the commencement ceremony. Certificates will be mailed to students four to six weeks after the commencement ceremony. All financial obligations to the university must be met for students to receive a certificate and/or transcript.

Class Attendance or Participation

Regular attendance at course meetings is expected of all students attending an institution receiving Title IV funds. Students are expected to attend all class meetings, laboratories, and other instructional sessions for all courses in which they are enrolled. Students are also expected to arrive to class on time and remain in class for the entire scheduled period. When students must miss class(es) for unavoidable reasons—i.e., illness, family emergencies, participation in official university sponsored activities, or participation in required religious observances – they are responsible for informing faculty of the reasons for the absences, in advance if possible, and completing all missed assignments. Faculty members will indicate in their syllabi the conditions for making up missed assignments, as well as any penalties for unexcused absences or tardiness.

FSU’s policy authorizes a minimum of two excused absences each academic year for religious observances required by the faith of a student. For more detailed information and forms, see our policy on Religious Observances on https://www.uncfsu.edu/assets/Documents/Office%20of%20Legal%20Affairs/ReligiousObservances.pdf.

Faculty must assign an interim grade of FN to students who never attend class. 

Class attendance for face-to-face classes is defined as regularly attending and participating in the course where it is physically located. Class attendance for hybrid classes is defined as attending and participating in a format that combines face-to-face and distance education formats.

For distance education courses, Fayetteville State University follows the federal examples that explain acceptable indications of class attendance in distance education courses. Examples can include student submission of an academic assignment, student submission of an exam, documented student participation in an interactive tutorial or computer-assisted instruction, a posting by the student showing the student’s participation in an online study group that is assigned by the institution, a posting by the student in a discussion forum showing the student’s participation in an online discussion about academic matters, and an email from the student or other documentation showing that the student initiated contact with a faculty member to ask a question about the academic subject studied in the course. Documentation of a student logging into a class is not enough, by itself, to demonstrate academic attendance by the student in distance education classes. 

An instructor may request disenrollment of students from his or her class if students fail to attend the first class meeting of the semester or term and do not make contact to notify or explain the unavoidable reasons for not being able to meet the first day of class.

The instructor may request disenrollment by assigning the interim grade of FN, beginning the first day of class, to students who fail to attend and do not contact the instructor to notify or explain the unavoidable reasons for not being able to meet the first day of class. The student and the instructor of the class will receive an email notification confirming the interim grade. The student is immediately dropped from the course. If registration has not closed, the student can re-enroll in the class and notify the instructor of his or her intent. If registration has closed, the student may not be reinstated in the course. If registration has closed and the instructor will allow the student to be reinstated (based on documented and excused rationale of the student, i.e. illness, family emergencies, participation in official university-sponsored activities, or participation in required religious observances) the instructor of record must complete the online Reinstatement Form as long as the form is available for reinstatements.

Last Date of Attendance

Though Fayetteville State University is not required to take attendance, to remain in compliance with federal student aid reporting requirements, faculty must submit the last date of attendance for students who receive failing grades. For students who receive grades of “F”, faculty must assign the last date of attendance as the last date the student interacted with the class. The last date of attendance is used to identify students who do not remain in courses for the entire semester.

Class Cancellations

During any semester or summer session, the university reserves the right to cancel classes. Students will be notified by email of class cancellations. If classes are canceled after the close of the official drop-add period, provisions will be made to allow students to adjust their schedules. Students must have the approval of the instructor of the classes in which they intend to enroll.

Classification of Students

Undergraduate students at Fayetteville State University are classified according to the number of semester hours they have earned, including hours transferred from other institutions. Classifications are defined as:

Students are also classified according to the following categories:

1. Regular Student - A regular student is one who has met all admission requirements and who is pursuing a degree program.
2. Full-Time Student - A full-time student is one who registers for a minimum of twelve credit hours during a regular semester or six credit hours during a summer session. Students enrolled at the Fort Bragg Center are considered full time if they enroll in at least six hours per term for a minimum of twelve hours for the semester.
3. Part-Time Student - A part-time student is one who registers for fewer than twelve credit hours during a regular semester or fewer than six credit hours during a summer session.
4. Special Visiting Student - A special visiting student is one who is not pursing a degree program. Most special visiting students have permission from a home university or college to enroll in FSU courses, or are high school students earning university credit, or are non-degree seeking students enrolling for life enrichment.

Commencement and Degree Conferral

Official degree conferral and commencement are two distinct events.

Degrees are officially conferred only after the Registrar verifies that a student has completed all degree requirements and designates a degree conferral date on the student’s official transcript. Degrees are officially conferred three times a year, in May, August, and December. Diplomas bearing the official degree conferral date are mailed to graduates four to six weeks after the Registrar verifies completion of all requirements. Diplomas and transcripts will be withheld from any graduate with unpaid university bills.

Commencement is a traditional academic ceremony that celebrates students who have attained the important milestone of degree completion. The conferral of degrees by the Chancellor at commencement is for ceremonial purposes and does not guarantee official degree conferral.

Commencement is conducted once a year, at the end of the spring semester.

Graduates with degrees conferred in December are eligible to participate in the spring commencement immediately following degree completion. Prospective graduates with degree conferral scheduled for the end of Spring or Summer will be permitted to participate in the spring commencement of the same year as scheduled degree conferral if they are enrolled in all outstanding courses required for degree completion, which may include one or more summer terms.

All students must apply for graduation and pay the nonrefundable graduation fee regardless of whether they participate in commencement or not.

Concentration

A concentration is a well-defined area of specialization available to students within an approved major. In some cases, departments may use the terms “concentration” and “certificates” interchangeably, but in each case, departments will bundle certain existing courses for a concentration or certificate. The certificate and concentration are earned in conjunction with a degree in a specific degree program. A concentration or certificate should have a maximum of 8 courses. If necessary, a justification can be submitted to adjust the maximum number of courses required.

Course Level

The course level, indicated by the numbering for each class, is determined based on the academic expectations and skill sets appropriate for the content at different class standings. Academic program faculty for undergraduate programs develop curriculum maps to identify which courses will be used to present program learning outcomes at an introductory, reinforcement, or mastery level.

Course Load

The credit hours in which a student may enroll in a fall, spring, or summer semester is governed by the following guidelines.

Fall or Spring Semester

12 hours per semester: Minimum course load required for full-time status.

14 hours per semester: Maximum course load for students below 2.0.

15 hours per semester: Minimum average course load required each semester to graduate in four years.

18 hours per semester: Maximum course load for students with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.*

21 hours per semester: Maximum course load for students with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Eight Week Terms

6 hours per term: Minimum course load required for full-time status.

9 hours per term: Maximum load for each eight-week term.*

*Students with a minimum GPA of 2.0 may enroll concurrently in 16-week and 8-week classes for a maximum of 21 credit hours. Students must contact the Office of the Registrar for adjustments.

Maymester (Part of Spring Term)

4 hours for Maymester: Maximum course load for students with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.*

*Enrollment in Maymester does not reduce maximum course loads in any other session or term. Students with a cumulative GPA less than 2.0 are not eligible for enrollment in Maymester. 

Summer School

6 hours: Minimum course load required for full-time status.

9 hours: Maximum course load for student with cumulative GPA below 3.0.

12 hours: Maximum course load for students with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. 

Students with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 may exceed these course load limits only with the written approval of the advisor, department chair, and dean using the Course Overload Form. Such approvals will normally be given only in cases when the overload will enable the student to complete degree requirements in the semester/term for which the overload is requested.

Course Repeat Policy

Students may repeat a course but can only earn credit hours once for any given course (except in cases where the faculty designate a course as one that can earn credit more than once). When a student repeats a course, the lower grade is excluded from the calculation of the Grade Point Average and the higher grade is included. A student is allowed a maximum of 16 credit hours for course repeats without penalty (a student cannot replace the grades of the same course more than once). “Without Penalty” means that only the higher grade will be calculated into the student’s Grade Point Average. All original entries and grades will appear on the student’s permanent record with the designation that the lower grade has been excluded from the Grade Point Average.

If a student repeats the same course for a second time or more, and/or exceeds the maximum of 16 credit hours, all attempted hours will be counted and all grades will be calculated into the Grade Point Average. However, students can only earn credit once for each course.

If a student earns a passing grade twice for the same course, only one set of course credit hours will be counted toward graduation (except in cases where faculty designate a course as one that can earn credit more than once).

All repeated courses are included in a student’s total attempted hours.

This regulation will allow a student to receive Title IV federal financial aid for only one repeat of any previously passed course or its equivalency.

A student attempting a second repeat of a previously passed course cannot have the enrollment for the course count toward the student’s Title IV financial aid eligibility.

Course Substitutions and Waivers

Under exceptional circumstances a substitution of or exemption from prescribed courses in a curriculum will be permitted. The request for a course substitution or course waiver must be prepared and initiated by the student’s advisor for approval by the chair of the department and the dean of the college or school in which the student is earning a degree. The request must provide academically defensible arguments justifying the substitution or waiver.

Credit hours are not awarded when a course is waived. Hence, when a course waiver is approved, the student will usually need to complete additional electives to ensure completion of credit hours.

Cross-Listing and Cross-Level Listing Guidelines

Cross-listing and cross-level listing courses links courses together for scheduling purposes.  Cross-listed and cross-level courses meet in the same location, on the same days, and at the same times of day.  Types of acceptable cross-listed and cross-level courses include the following.

• Cross-listed courses where two or more disciplines use the same course title, description, fixed (non-variable) credit hours, repeat rules, instructor, curriculum, and prerequisites. Cross-listed courses must be approved and removed through the academic proposal process: all units responsible for a cross-listed course must endorse the proposal to cross-list a course; if a unit wishes to remove an existing cross-list, all affected units must agree to remove a cross-list, and the unit must contact the affected units before submitting the request. A cross-listed course becomes the responsibility of all units listing it.  Scheduling of a cross-listed course involves coordination of all units included in the cross-listing. Approved cross-listed courses must be noted at the end of catalog course descriptions as follows: This course is cross-listed with FINC 415.  
• Cross-level courses taught within the same discipline in which subject is related, but the course numbers differ by level within a numbering range of 400-699 to ensure academic rigor. Undergraduate courses of 399 or below shall not be cross-listed with a graduate course. Cross-level courses must be approved through the academic proposal process: the differentiation of cross-level courses and student learning outcomes must be explained and demonstrated in attached syllabi (requirements, readings, grading, rigor, etc.). The university will apply the appropriate grading basis for the student’s designated academic career. Approved cross-level courses must be noted at the end of catalog course descriptions as follows: This course is cross-level listed with MGMT 491.
   

Sections cannot be approved as cross-listed or cross-level courses in the following situations.

• They can be offered for variable credit.
• They satisfy different General Education requirements.
• They are traditional independent study, honors thesis, practica, internships, directed readings, master’s thesis, or dissertation courses.
   

Students only receive credit for the single section of the cross-listed or cross-level course for which they are registered.  Credit will not be awarded for a course where credit has been awarded for a cross-listed or cross-level course.  If the number of students enrolled in all sections of a cross-listed or cross-level course is less than the cap for one course, then all sections of a cross-listed or cross-level course count together as one course for instructional load purposes.

Curriculum Review

The curriculum committees of each college within Fayetteville State University act in accordance with the policy on credit hours in their review and approval of all courses and for certifying that the expected student learning for the course meets the credit hour standard. The determination of credit hours is made when a new course or a revision to an existing course is proposed. The submitted syllabus is examined for contact time as well as for assignments and evaluation mechanisms.

Diploma Distribution

Students can begin to request official transcripts through their online Banner account four weeks after the commencement ceremony. Diplomas will be mailed to students four to six weeks after the commencement ceremony. Students must satisfy all financial obligations to the university and complete the financial aid exit interview, if applicable, to receive a diploma and/or transcript.

Diplomas and transcripts for students who complete requirements in the summer will indicate the date at end of the summer term.

Dishonesty in Academic Affairs

Acts of dishonesty in any work constitute academic misconduct. Such acts include cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation, fabrication of information, and abetting any of the above. Plagiarism presents pitfalls to be avoided: failure to document any words, ideas, or other contributions that do not originate with the author constitutes plagiarism. Widespread use of the World Wide Web (Internet) requires particular attention to proper documentation practices. Individual course syllabi offer additional clarification about requirements for proper documentation. Actions outlined in the Fayetteville State University Student Handbook under Disciplinary System and Procedures will be followed for incidents of academic misconduct. The handbook may be obtained from the Office of Student Affairs located in the Collins Administration Building. Non-disclosure or misrepresentation on applications and other university records will make students liable for disciplinary action, including possible expulsion from the university.

Dropping and Adding Classes

Students may adjust their schedule of classes through the last day of late registration (see Academic Calendars for specific dates). After this date, students will be permitted to adjust their schedules only for unusual and documented circumstances beyond their control and must be approved by the faculty member, department chair, dean, and provost. Students are cautioned that adjustments of their official schedule may affect tuition, fees, and financial aid eligibility, and may require additional payment and/or reimbursement of financial aid awards.

Early Warning System

Fayetteville State University’s Early Warning System (EWS) complies with UNC policy and regulations on Fostering Student Success (400.1.5 and 400.1.5R). The purpose of the EWS is to alert campus personnel to signs of poor academic performance by a student or of behavior likely to lead to a student’s poor academic performance. Such students are considered “at-risk”.

A. Identification of At-Risk Students

At FSU, at-risk students are identified in several ways, including midterm grades, academic standing, and non-registration. All instructors are required to assign midterm grades in all undergraduate courses by the midterm grade deadline each term. See Grades in Academic Rules for more information about midterm grades. Academic Standing other than Good Standing is another indicator of poor performance. Students are placed on academic probation if their cumulative grade point average is below 2.0 at the end of the fall semester or summer term. If their cumulative GPA is below 2.0 at the end of the spring semester, they are placed on academic suspension. For more information on probation and suspension, see Scholastic Standards in Academic Rules.

Once registration opens for the following semester, students who neither applied to graduate nor registered for the following semester are also considered at-risk of not continuing.

B. Notification

At-risk identifiers are available to students, advisors, and other campus officials in Banner. However, FSU takes several steps to ensure that these parties are actively informed.

Students who earn grade alerts receive an e-mail. Students who fail to register for the following semester are sent e-mail reminders. Students are notified by e-mail if they are placed on Academic Probation or Academic Suspension.

Advisors are also informed of grade alerts. Twice each semester, at week five and at midterm, advisors receive an Advisement Reporting Survey that lists their advisees and any grade alerts their advisees may have received. Weekly grade alert reports are sent to department chairs and the directors of programs concerned with student success, such as Athletics and the Early College.

Academic standing is also communicated to advisors, chairs, and program directors. The advisement reporting surveys indicate the academic standing of advisees, allowing advisors to quickly identify students at risk because of low GPA. The grade alert reports that identify interim grade alerts for chairs and program directors also include academic standing.

Once registration for the following term begins, chairs receive weekly reports on which of their majors have registered for the following term. Advisors can see which of their advisees have registered through an advisement reporting survey administered after registration opens.

C. Follow-Up

Advisors are asked to communicate with students who earn grade alerts. Chairs and program directors also communicate with such students. Intervention may take the form of an e-mail, phone call, or office visit.
Students on academic probation are asked to create an Academic Success Plan with their advisor to identify strategies for succeeding in classes during the current term.

Students who fail to register are sent e-mails from their chair or from University College. Post cards and phone calls are also used to remind students to register for the following term.

Electronic Mail

Fayetteville State University provides to each student, free of charge, an electronic mail account that is easily accessible via the Internet. The university has established email as the primary mode of communicating with enrolled students about impending deadlines, upcoming events, and other information important to student progression at the university. Students are responsible for reading their email on a regular basis to remain aware of important information disseminated by the university. The university maintains open-use computer laboratories throughout the campus that can be used to access electronic mail.

Students making inquiries via email to FSU faculty and staff about academics, grades, bills, financial aid, and other matters of a confidential nature are required to use their FSU email account. The university electronic mail policy may be found at: https://www.uncfsu.edu/faculty-and-staff/departments-and-offices/office-of-legal-affairs/policies-and-procedures. 

Enrollment Verification Policy

An enrollment verification certificate is an official document that verifies a student’s enrollment status at the university.

Students may request enrollment verifications through the National Student Clearinghouse for current or previous enrollments. For more details, visit the Degree and Enrollment Verification page on the Office of the Registrar’s website.

Examinations and Assessments

Profile Examinations

Profile Examinations assess entering students’ basic academic skills. The results of these examinations are used in conjunction with students’ academic records to ensure effective advisement. Entering students should contact University Testing Services for information about dates, times, and locations for the administration of profile examinations. Profile Examinations are required of new students according to the following guidelines:

First-time freshmen, including students admitted as Special Visiting pending acceptance as degree-seeking students, must complete profile examinations before enrolling in classes.

Transfer students will not be required to complete profile examinations if they are transferring in 30 or more credit hours, including at least six credit hours of university-level English and at least six credit hours of university-level mathematics. Any transfer students not meeting all of these conditions must complete profile examinations. Transfer students who are unsure if they meet one or more of these requirements are advised to complete profile examinations to avoid possible delays in advisement and registration.

Special/Visiting students who do not plan to earn a degree at FSU (i.e. who are seeking teacher certification or life enhancement, or who have permission from another institution to enroll at FSU) are not required to complete profile exams UNLESS they plan to enroll in a mathematics or English course for which they have not completed the appropriate prerequisite.

Rising Junior Examination

Fayetteville State University administers the rising junior examination as part of its system of educational accountability. The examination assesses student proficiency in core student learning outcomes upon the completion of the University College Core Curriculum. All students who enter the university with fewer than 60 credit hours are required to complete the rising junior examination before being unconditionally admitted to the upper division.

PRAXIS I fulfills the rising junior examination requirement for students majoring in teacher education programs (contact the College of Education for additional information). The rising junior examination is administered each year. Currently, there is no fee to take the exam. Eligible students will receive notification of the requirement to take the examination at the completion of a minimum of 42 semester hours of course work.

Graduating Senior Assessment

The Graduating Senior Assessment (GSA) assesses critical thinking, analytical reasoning, writing and decision-making. All graduating seniors are required to complete the GSA after completing 90 or more semester hours (including credit by examination), but not later than the graduation semester. While FSU will notify seniors about dates, times, and locations of administration of the GSA through email, campus wide news, and notifications from instructors and advisors, students are responsible for making sure they complete the GSA. Eligible students who have not been notified of the assessment should contact the Office of University Testing Services.

Mid-term and Final Examinations

At the mid-term and at the close of each semester, course examinations are administered. Since a measure of students’ progress in a course is indicated by their performance on these examinations, they are required of all students except the following: (1) Students who are auditing courses or (2) Students who have maintained a 4.0 average in a course and, at the discretion of the instructor, are excused from the final examination provided that they have been evaluated substantially during the semester.

Since final examination periods are considered part of the instructional time for each class, final examinations are required in all classes. Students not present at an officially-scheduled final examination must contact the instructor of the course before the end of the final exam week to request a deferred final examination. Students who need to defer an examination must furnish valid support for the request. If the deferred examination is granted, a grade of “I” will be assigned. If the instructor is unavailable, the student should seek assistance from the instructor’s department chair or dean in contacting the faculty member before the end of the final exam week.

Other Institutional Assessments

As part of Fayetteville State University’s comprehensive efforts to assess its programs and services, students may be required to complete other examinations and/or surveys. The purpose of these surveys is to guide improvement of the university. Results of examinations and survey responses are confidential.

Credit by Examination

Fayetteville State University recognizes four types of examination programs for which students may receive credit toward baccalaureate degree requirements, provided that all departmental major or minor requirements have been satisfied. These examination programs include the awarding of credit for successfully passing approved examinations, subject to the following conditions:

1. Credit will not be awarded when equivalent degree credit has been granted for regular course work.
2. Credit will not be awarded for any course in which a student has previously earned a failing grade.
3. Duplicate credit will not be awarded for overlapping tests, i.e., CLEP and AP.
4. The total number of credits by examinations that a student may earn, whether the exams are internally or externally developed, is thirty (30).
5. Students may not attempt credit by examinations after earning (90) institutional credit hours of study at the university.
6. Credit by examination may not be attempted if the student has acceptable college credit for more advanced courses, or for courses whose content includes material similar to a course for which college credit has already been received. Exceptions can be made for students who are proficient in a language other than English to earn up to 12 credits through credit by examination with the consent of World Language faculty.

Advanced Placement Program (AP)

Many high schools offer advanced classes to superior students in conjunction with the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board. The university awards college credits in most areas for scores of 3 (good), 4 (high honors), or 5 (high honors). To be eligible for credit, students must request the College Board to send an official score report to the Office of Admissions for review.

College Level Exam Program (CLEP)

The following College Level Exam Program tests may be substituted for college credit, subject to the achievement of specified scores and the fulfillment of conditions stated in the policy on credit by examination outlined above and in the policy brochure available in University Testing Services. Students may not apply for College Level Exam credits for courses they have audited. 

CLEP General Exams are offered in the following areas: English Composition, Humanities, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, and History.

CLEP Subject Exams are offered in the following areas: Composition and Literature, Foreign Languages, History and Social Sciences, Business, Mathematics and Science.

DANTES Subject Standardized Tests

Fayetteville State University participates in the DANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support) program. DANTES tests, like CLEP tests, offer students opportunities to earn degree credits for work and life experiences. This examination program provides opportunities for students to gain college admission, earn academic credit, and obtain professional certification, as well as to identify their interests and aptitudes for purposes of educational counseling. DANTES tests are administered through the University Testing Services by appointment only.

Challenge Examinations

The university recognizes that exceptional students, by means of special studies or experiences, may already have achieved the objectives of certain courses in the core curriculum; therefore, students may petition to receive credit in selected courses by special departmentally approved examinations referred to as challenge examinations. Credit and a grade of “P” (pass) will be awarded to those who pass the challenge examination. Students may attempt a challenge examination only once per course. Students may not apply for challenge examination credits for courses they have audited, or for lower level courses when credit is received for higher numbered or subsequent courses in the same field or for lower level courses in the same field when the student is currently enrolled in higher number courses. Exceptions can be made for students who are proficient in a language other than English to earn up to 6 credits through credit by examination with the consent of World Language faculty. However, the exception does not apply to the auditing courses statement. Permission for challenge examination will be given only when there is evidence the student has gained a fundamental knowledge of the subject through prior preparation or experience. Candidates for the baccalaureate degree may earn no more than nine credit hours by challenge examinations. A passed challenge exam will be recorded as earned institutional credit with a grade of “P” (pass) on the student’s transcript. A $30.00 fee is required per challenge exam.

Procedures for Requesting Credit by Examination

Students interested in pursuing credit by examination should complete the Request for Credit by Exam form and obtain approval from their respective advisor, department chair or the Dean of University College (for students without a declared major), and the Registrar. After receiving all approvals, the student’s request will be forwarded to University Testing Services, which will administer the exam. For the Challenge Exams, the department chair is responsible for ensuring the exam results are forwarded to the Office of the Registrar using the Grade Submission Form and providing a copy of the exam.

For detailed information about these programs, call or visit University Testing Services, 134 Collins Administration Building, Fayetteville, NC 28301, (910) 672-1301.

Extension Grade Policy

An Extension Grade may be assigned in lieu of a final grade of D or F for undergraduate students taking any course in which the university provides a structured program of academic support. The Extension Grade may only be used the first time a student takes the course at Fayetteville State University.

The Extension Grade will be designated as “EX-D” or as “EX-F” and is not calculated into the student’s Grade Point Average but will remain on the student’s transcript. Any student requesting an Extension Grade must sign an Extension Grade Contract not later than the end of the fifth week of the semester, not later than the end of the first week of each summer term, or not later than the end of the second week of an eight-week term. The Extension Grade Contract will specify the course and section, the nature and duration of the academic support, and the individual or office that will verify completion of the academic support. An Extension Grade Contract must require at least 10 hours of academic support.

To be eligible for the Extension Grade, a student must complete all requirements for the course and all requirements of academic support services. The instructor will certify completion of the course requirements, and a representative of the appropriate academic support unit will verify completion of academic support requirements. When a student receives an Extension Grade, the student must re-enroll for the course in the next semester that the student matriculates at the university. If the student does not re-enroll in the course, the Extension Grade will revert to the original grade of D or F and will be calculated into the student’s Grade Point Average.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (The Buckley Amendment)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), also known as the Buckley Amendment, guarantees certain rights to students and qualified parents regarding a student’s education records. Fayetteville State University adheres to those statutory rights and has implemented this policy in order to comply. Specifically, students are afforded the following rights with respect to their educational records:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s educational records;
2. The right to consent to disclosure of the student’s education records to third parties, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent;
3. The right to request amendment of the student’s education records to ensure that they are not inaccurate or misleading;
4. The right to be notified annually of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA and;
5. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by FSU to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

FSU will not disclose or release personally identifiable student information in education records or allow access to those records without the prior consent of the students, except as provided by FERPA. For more details of this policy, see Student Records. Such consent must be written, signed, and dated, and must specify the records to be disclosed, the party to whom the records are to be disclosed, and the purpose of the disclosure.

To consent to disclosure or release of student educational records to a specific individual, see Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). 

Grade Appeals

If a student thinks that a final grade is inaccurate, he or she should first consult with the faculty member who awarded the grade. The university expects the majority of grade appeals to be resolved by the student and instructor. If the instructor agrees to change the student’s grade, the instructor must submit a grade change form for approval by the Department Chair, Dean, and Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. If these informal efforts are unsuccessful in resolving the student’s concern, the student may initiate a formal grade appeal.

The formal grade appeal must include documentation that one or more of the following occurred: 1) the instructor made an error in calculating the final grade; 2) the final grade was based on criteria and/or standards at variance with the course syllabus; and/or 3) the final grade was based on factors other than student achievement/performance. Failure to address one or more of these three reasons is a basis for rejection of that appeal. Students must recognize that they bear the burden of proof in the grade appeal process and that a grade appeal will not be successful without appropriate documentation.

The student must submit the written appeal, with documentation, first to the instructor. If the instructor rejects the appeal, the student may submit the appeal to the instructor’s department chair. If the department chair rejects the appeal, the student may submit the appeal to the dean of the college/school of the instructor. If the dean rejects the appeal, the student may submit the appeal to the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. If the department chair or dean supports a grade appeal, he or she will forward to the next administrative level for review. The grade appeal will be considered at each administrative level only after it has been reviewed at all previous levels. To ensure review of appeals at each level, each respondent to the appeal will send a copy of the response to next higher review, i.e., faculty will send copy to department chair, department chair to dean, and dean to provost. The department chair and dean will respond to the grade appeal either by upholding the original grade or working with the faculty member (and, in the case of the dean, with the chair) to propose a means of re-evaluating the student’s final grade. The chair and dean do not have the authority to change a student’s grade.

If the student submits the written appeal to the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Appeals, the appeal will be submitted for review to the Academic Credits Committee, which is comprised exclusively of faculty members. If the appeal is based on grounds other than the three specified above, the Academic Credits Committee will reject the appeal without further review. If the appeal is based on one of three grounds specified above, the committee will discuss the appeal with the instructor and the student and, after a careful review of all relevant information, recommend either that the original grade be upheld or that a new grade be awarded. If the committee upholds the original grade, the student will be informed in writing of the decision of the committee. If the committee recommends a new grade and the recommendation is approved by the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the committee’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Registrar, with a copy to the faculty member, for notation on the student’s record. A complete record of the grade appeal process will be placed in the student’s permanent file.

The decision of the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs regarding a grade appeal is final and may not be appealed further.

Timeline for Formal Grade Appeal Process

Students must initiate the formal grade appeal process no later than the 20th day of class in the next fall or spring semester after the contested grade was received. Grade appeals submitted after this deadline will not be considered. Grade appeals will be resolved before end of the semester in which they are submitted. Grade appeals are not considered during the summer.

Graduating seniors who initiate a formal grade appeal in the same semester that they plan to graduate should be aware that the grade appeal will very likely NOT be resolved in time for graduation clearance.

Grades

Midterm Grades

Midterm grades provide an assessment of student progress in courses during the first half of the semester. Students earning a midterm grade of D or F in a class must take corrective action to improve their academic status. All faculty teaching undergraduate courses in a fall and/ or spring semester are required to post midterm grades for all students. All students are required to review their midterm grades using their online accounts. Midterm grades are not required for the four-week summer terms. Midterm grades are required for the summer eight-week term. Midterm grades are not required for intersession terms. 

Final Grades

Final grades are calculated on a four-point system and affect a student’s grade point average as indicated below. Faculty members will delineate in each class syllabus the methods and evaluative criteria for determining final grades in the class. All students are required to review their final grades using their online accounts.

Grades and Definitions

Grade Point Average (GPA)

At the end of each semester and summer session a grade point average is calculated for each student for the current term and for the student’s entire career. The current GPA is based exclusively on the courses in which the student is enrolled for that specific term, while the cumulative GPA is based on all courses the student has completed at Fayetteville State University. The GPA is based on the following formula:

Your grade point average (GPA) is calculated by dividing the total number of quality points by the total number of credits earned. Specifically, “Total Quality Points” are computed by multiplying the grade by the number of credit hours earned (GPA hours) for each course and then adding the quality points. “Credit Hours Earned (GPA Hours)” refers to the credit hours for courses in which a student earned a final letter grade of A, B, C, D, or F. Withdrawals from the university and incompletes do not affect a student’s GPA hours; however, courses with a grade of F are calculated into the GPA. Letter grades are assigned the following grade point values:

A=4

B=3

C=2

D=1

F=0

The following example demonstrates the calculation of the GPA:

A student’s career or cumulative GPA is calculated by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total number of course credit hours earned (GPA hours) in all of the semesters of the student’s enrollment at Fayetteville State University.

Graduation with Distinction

Graduation distinctions are awarded based on final cumulative calculations. To be eligible to graduate with distinction, baccalaureate students must have earned a minimum of forty-five (45) credit hours at Fayetteville State University. Transfer hours are not included in the forty-five earned hours. 

Baccalaureate graduates may be awarded with the following honors:

Summa Cum Laude: to those having a scholastic average of 3.800 - 4.000
Magna Cum Laude: to those having a scholastic average of 3.500 - 3.799
Cum Laude: to those having a scholastic average of 3.200 - 3.499

For commencement ceremony purposes, students will be recognized for graduation with distinction based on their grade point average and earned hours at the end of the first eight-week term in the semester. The final graduation with distinction will be printed on the official transcript and diploma once the final clearance process is complete. Grade Point Averages are not rounded for graduation distinction calculations. 

Guidelines for Online Learning Environments

To determine appropriate credit hours for online learning environments, FSU follows guidelines suggested by Laurie Isenberg, Director of Postgraduate and Continuing Education at Life Chiropractic College West, in the Blended and Online Learning Constituent Group of EDUCAUSE:

1. In courses offered synchronously online (i.e. live online seminars or videoconference courses), credit hour definitions may be identical to traditional face-to-face courses. 
2. In courses offered asynchronously online, the “direct contact”/”hours outside of class” dichotomy does not accurately apply to all learning activities. 
3. Activities that may qualify as “direct contact” would have the direct oversight or supervision of the course instructor. Examples include:
   1. Interaction with posted modules or lessons written or procured by the instructor
   2. Chat room, phone, in-person, email, or video-conference discussions with the instructor and/or other students 
   3. Discussion board or wiki posting 
   4. Presentations
4. Activities that may qualify as “hours outside of class” are independently pursued and would include:
   1. Reflection and study
   2. Research
   3. Reading
   4. Writing, particularly writing outside of discussion boards
   5. Individual or group projects

Incomplete Grades

The grade of “I” may be assigned only when a student has maintained a passing average but for reasons beyond his or her control, is unable to complete a specific course requirement such as a report, field experience, experiment, or examination. An Incomplete Grade may not be assigned to students who have failed to fulfill multiple requirements in a class.

The final grade for an assigned incomplete grade must be submitted no later than the date final grades are due for the next regular (fall or spring) semester immediately following the semester or term in which the incomplete grade was assigned. If the final grade is not submitted within the required time, the grade will convert to “F.” See the “Academic Calendar” for dates.

Incomplete Due to Deployment: Active-duty military students who are preparing to deploy or have deployed (with deployment confirmed by our military-affiliated staff) may request that faculty assign an incomplete grade. This will allow these students to complete necessary assignments upon their return or while away. An active-duty service member who is not able to complete the necessary assignments by the end of the subsequent semester may request a university withdrawal due to extenuating circumstances. An active-duty service member’s spouse may be included in this exception with appropriate documentation.  

Incomplete Grades for Students Who Miss Final Exams

A student who misses an officially scheduled final exam may only be assigned an Incomplete grade if he/ she contacts the instructor of the course before the end of the final exam week to request a deferred final examination. Students who need to defer an examination must furnish valid support for the request. If the faculty member approves the deferred examination, a grade of “I” will be assigned.

Students whose requests for deferred exams are not granted or who miss final exams without contacting the instructor before the end of the final exam week are not eligible to receive an Incomplete Grade.

Independent Study

Independent Study is an individualized, carefully planned, and closely monitored study experience in which a student works under the direct supervision of a faculty member. Permission to pursue independent study will be granted only under the following conditions:

• The student is in his/her senior year of study,
• Course credit may not be earned through other regular courses offerings,
• The duration of the independent study is at least eight weeks, and
• The faculty member affirms that the learning outcomes, assessments, and grading criteria for the independent study are equivalent to similar courses as regularly offered.

A student may complete no more than one independent study per semester or term. A Request for Independent Study form—with a list of assignments, deadlines for completion, types of assessments, and grading criteria—must be approved by the faculty member who will teach the class and by the department chair and dean of the school/college in which the class is offered.

A course scheduled in a regular class format (whether face to face, online, or hybrid) may not be delivered as an Independent Study without being approved by the process outlined above.

An Individual Course that Fulfills Dual Requirements

In some instances, an individual course may fulfill requirements of both the core curriculum and the major requirements, and, in cases of students pursuing a double major or a second baccalaureate degree, two different programs. Credit hours, however, are awarded only once per course. Hence, when a student uses a single course to fulfill dual requirements, he or she will usually need to complete additional electives to ensure completion of the minimum credit hours required by the degree program.

Licensure Programs

Nursing

The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) is a nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses in the United States. After graduation from Fayetteville State University’s School of nursing, students are required to take the NCLEX exam to receive a nursing license. A nursing license gives an individual the permission to practice nursing.

Education

Teacher licensure is a state responsibility. The North Carolina state legislature creates laws that become State Board of Education policies and requirements for those desiring to teach. The requirements are a four-year degree from an educator preparation program approved by the State Department of Public Instruction after reviewing results from nationally published examinations and state requirements. The examinations vary according to teaching discipline and level. The current tests include Praxis I, Praxis II, Foundations of Reading, Content Knowledge in Math, and edTPA. The Fayetteville State University College of Education also participates in national reviews by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation which allows FSU graduates to be eligible for reciprocity with other states.

Major

Degree-seeking students must complete all requirements of a major field of study within a department (a unit within a college representing a discipline), including all correlative requirements such as a minor, concentration, certificate, or track. A major represents a degree-seeking student’s primary field of study. A major is an approved structured plan of study requiring a minimum of 27 credit hours within the discipline. It must be feasible for students to complete all degree requirements within 120 credit hours. Programs that exceed 120 hours may petition to have an exception approved by its board of trustees. 

Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to a specific degree program. Therefore, students must complete the Declaration of Major form to request admission to a degree program. Students cannot declare the same program for their major and minor. Students can request to declare their major during the registration drop/add period. Change of Major requests may not be honored once the drop/add period has closed. 

All degree-seeking students are placed into a pre-major category upon acceptance to the university. Students must declare a major once they have earned sixty (60) credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher and meet the admission requirements for their intended major.  Students are required to meet with their assigned advisor before the end of their sophomore year to finalize their graduation plan. Students are responsible for meeting with their advisor and/or department to determine if they are eligible for admission into their intended major.   

Transfer students will be placed in a pre-major and must declare a major by the end of their first semester of enrollment. If students meet the admission requirements of their intended major, the department will accept the student into the major and assign an advisor. If students select a major and do not meet the admission requirements for the major, the department will recommend an alternative pathway or recommend continuation in the pre-major category until they meet the admission criteria for the major. The pre-major designation is not allowed beyond the junior year. The department must notify the student of the decision. 

A student wishing to change his or her major after officially declaring a major should recognize that the hours completed for the initial major may not be applicable to the new major and may delay the student’s progress toward graduation. Hence, students should take advantage of the educational guidance offered by advisors, administrative officers, the catalog, and the online degree evaluation program before changing majors. To change a major, the student must complete the Change of Major form. The chair of the department of the new major will assign the student an advisor. Students’ requests for changes or declarations will be processed during the registration periods for the subsequent semester.  

All degree-seeking students are required to declare a major. Students without an officially declared major cannot graduate.

Special visiting students cannot declare a major. Special visiting students must contact the Office of Admissions for steps to change their status to degree-seeking to declare a major. Special visiting students are not eligible for financial aid.

Military Affiliated Services

The FSU Learning Center at Fort Liberty offers a wide variety of military supportive programs to service members, their dependents, reservists, and national guardsman. Services include tuition assistance for all services branches, MY Career Advancement Account (MYCAA), Green to Gold (ROTC), AECP program (Nursing), admission and residency application, registration assistance, eight-week classes, and aid to service members when military deployment, temporary duty, and permanent change of station orders present a challenge to academic progress. Contact the FSU Learning Center at Fort Liberty via email at military@uncfsu.edu.  

The Military Affiliated and Veteran’s Resource Center (MAVRC) provides GI Bill® Education Benefit counseling to help students requesting the correct benefit. The center also provides assistance with VA certification. The MBA Program (housed in the Broadwell College of Business and Economics) participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Contact the Military Affiliated and Veteran’s Resource Center (MAVRC) at veterans@uncfsu.edu.

Minor

A minor represents an optional, secondary field of study for a degree-seeking student; no student may declare a major and a minor in the same discipline. A minor is a structured plan of study requiring a maximum of 6 courses. A minor is earned in conjunction with a degree in a degree program. Some minors are interdisciplinary, drawing on courses from several different disciplines. If necessary, a justification can be submitted to adjust the maximum number of courses for a minor. A student cannot declare a minor without declaring a major.

Pre-Majors

Pre-majors are designations for students who intend to declare a major but who do not yet meet the admission requirements for that major. Upon admission, all degree-seeking students are placed in the pre-major corresponding to the first major indicated on their application for admission. Pre-majors are assigned an advisor in that major. Students may change their pre-major by completing the Change of Major form on the university website. Some pre-majors have requirements for remaining in the pre-major. These requirements can be found on the appropriate Program of Study page of the Catalog.

Pre-majors are not declared majors. Students can only graduate with a declared major. Some majors require admission to the major before students can take advanced courses in the major. Placement in a pre-major does guarantee admission to at least one corresponding major once all major admission requirements are met. However, placement in a pre-major may not guarantee admission to all corresponding majors within that category. Students can apply to change from pre-major to major by completing the Change of Major form on the university website. Students are encouraged to declare a major in the first semester in which they meet the admission requirements for that major. Students must be in a declared major to apply for graduation. The pre-major designation is not allowed beyond the junior year. 

Refunds of Tuition and Fees

To be eligible for a refund of tuition and fees, a student must withdraw from all of the classes in which he or she is enrolled. Students who withdraw from the university may be eligible for a partial refund of tuition and fees, depending on the date of the completion of the official withdrawal process.

Registration

Students are responsible for registering for classes according to procedures and deadlines established by the University. The classes in which a student is registered at the close of the official registration period constitute the student’s official schedule and course load. Tuition and fees are based on the student’s total hours of enrollment at the close of the official registration period.

Attending a class does not constitute official enrollment in that class. Students will not receive credit or a grade for any class in which they are not officially enrolled. Therefore, students must ensure that they are officially registered for the classes they attend.

Failure to attend class does not constitute official withdrawal from that class. Students are responsible for initiating the class withdrawal process if they wish to discontinue enrollment in a class.

Financial aid will be canceled for any class(es) that a student does not attend.

Release of Directory Information

Unless a student requests in writing to the contrary, FSU is permitted to release directory information without consent. FSU recognizes the following as directory information: a student’s name, photograph, campus email address, enrollment status (undergraduate, graduate, full-time or part-time), major field of study, dates of attendance, honors, degrees and awards (including scholarships) received, participation in officially recognized activities/organizations and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended.

Under FERPA, a student has the right to request that the disclosure of directory information be withheld if the student is enrolled at FSU. If a student wishes to have his or her directory information withheld, the student should submit a written request to the Office of the Registrar by completing the Request for Non-Disclosure of Directory Information form (https://www.uncfsu.edu/assets/Documents/nondisclosure(0).pdf). Directory information may be released without permission for students no longer enrolled at FSU unless that student, at his/her last opportunity as a student, requested otherwise.

A student or parent may not use the right to opt out of directory information disclosure to prevent FSU from disclosing or from requiring a student to disclose the student’s name, identifier, or institutional e-mail address in a class in which the student is enrolled.

A copy of complete FERPA policies and procedures may be obtained online.

Requirements for a Double Major and/or Dual Degree

A student may earn a degree in two different academic disciplines with the permission of the department chairs of both areas and if all requirements of both majors are fulfilled. Students are not permitted to combine the requirements of two or more catalogs. However, double or dual majors can use separate catalogs to meet degree requirements if the second declared major was not in existence at the time of the initial declared major. A diploma will be issued for each major. Students are not permitted to pursue an undergraduate and graduate degree at the same time.

Requirements for Dual/ Multiple Concentrations

A student may earn dual or multiple concentrations within the same major, where applicable, with the permission of the department chair and if all requirements of all concentrations are fulfilled. Students are not permitted to combine the requirements of two or more catalogs. Classes may count toward requirements in more than one concentration but will be counted only once for GPA purposes. Only one diploma will be issued for the said major. The academic transcript will indicate all concentrations. Students are not permitted to pursue undergraduate and graduate concentrations at the same time.

Requirements for Graduation

To be eligible for graduation, a student must:

1. Be admitted as a degree-seeking student. Special Visiting students are not eligible to earn a degree.
2. Complete the online Declaration of Major form. Pre-major students and students who have not declared a major cannot earn a degree.
3. Complete all requirements of the major degree program, dual/double majors, or dual/multiple concentrations, to include the University Core, the minimum number of earned credit hours, and the minimum cumulative GPA required for the degree program(s). No student will be awarded a degree without having earned at least 120 hours and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. Some programs require a higher GPA and additional hours. See degree program information for specific requirements. Students enrolled in multiple degree programs concurrently must complete requirements for all programs to receive all degrees at the time of graduation. If a student is not meeting requirements for one or more programs, those programs must be dropped to graduate with the program for which requirements are being met. To complete the requirements of the other programs afterward, the student must apply for readmission and pay the application fee, submit the declaration of major form, and meet the Requirements for a Second Baccalaureate Degree.
4. Complete a minimum of 25% of the total earned credit hours required for the degree program curriculum in residence at Fayetteville State University. Depending on the degree program, the minimum requirement will range from 30 to 33 hours.
5. Earn the minimum required Grade Point Average for courses in the major. Some programs require a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the major, while others require a minimum grade of “C” in all major courses. See degree program for specific requirements.
6. Complete the Graduating Senior Assessment (see Examinations and Assessments)

Students must check their official FSU student email account on a regular basis for updates on their graduation status. Students must maintain contact with their academic department and/or advisor to ensure that all necessary documents are completed and all graduation requirements are met. Requirements are considered complete only when appropriate documentation is received and verified by the Office of the Registrar.

Students are subject to the institutional regulations in effect when they apply for graduation. Changes in institutional regulations may change the graduation requirements specified above. Hence, students are encouraged to know the institutional regulations in effect at the time of their anticipated graduation. Once a degree is conferred, the academic record is closed and therefore no changes may be made relevant to that program.

Requirements for a Second Baccalaureate Degree

A student who has already earned a baccalaureate degree from Fayetteville State University may earn a second baccalaureate degree by fulfilling all the requirements of the second degree, including the current core curriculum requirements, and completing a minimum of thirty (30) credits beyond the requirements of the first degree.

Senior Enrollment for Graduate Level Courses

An undergraduate student will be permitted to enroll in 500-level classes if he/she meets the following stipulations:

1. has a senior classification;
2. has a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher;
3. obtains approval from his/her advisor and department chair;
4. consults the instructor of the course(s) in which the student seeks to enroll to ensure its appropriateness; and
5. enrolls in a maximum of fifteen credits per semester (of which no more than six credits may be graduate credits) or a maximum of six hours in a summer session (of which no more than three credits may be graduate credits.)

Students are not permitted to pursue an undergraduate and graduate degree at the same time. Graduate credits earned by undergraduate students may subsequently be counted toward a graduate degree only if the credits were not used to fulfill undergraduate requirements.

Study at Another Institution

Students in residence at the university who wish to earn credits at another institution must obtain pre-approval for the courses to be completed. In the absence of such pre-approval, credits earned at other institutions may not be used to fulfill FSU degree requirements. To obtain approval for study at another institution, students must consult their department chair to ensure the course will transfer. Once the course is completed, the student must submit the official transcript to the Office of the Registrar.

Credit will be awarded only for courses in which students earn a grade of C (2.0) or higher. Since grades earned at other institutions do not affect the FSU GPA, students seeking to improve their GPAs should not pursue study at other institutions.

Time to Degree

Students can complete a 120-hour undergraduate degree program in eight semesters of 15 hours each. Students completing programs with more than 120 hours will have to take additional hours per semester to complete the program in 8 semesters. Changing majors, withdrawing from, dropping, or failing courses, enrolling in fewer than 15 hours and/or receiving Ds in major area coursework will extend the length of time to complete a degree and may affect financial aid eligibility. Degree requirements remain in effect for six years for students who maintain continuous enrollment from the date of their initial enrollment at the university.

Track

A program track is designed to provide a degree pathway for students who have prior educational experience in a chosen program separate from students without prior educational experience. There are typically two (or more) independent pathways/tracks of study in a department or program that prepare students for the same degree.

Transcript Request Policy

Students may request transcripts through the National Student Clearinghouse for the required processing fee. For more details, visit the Office of the Registrar’s website at https://www.uncfsu.edu/faculty-and-staff/departments-and-offices/office-of-the-registrar/student-resources. Students who request transcripts using the mail-in or walk-in method will be charged $10.00 per transcript. Faxed requests are not accepted. Transcripts are released only when the student’s account is paid in full and loan payments are current. Requests for transcripts can be mailed to:

Office of the Registrar
Lilly Building, 3rd Floor
Fayetteville State University
1200 Murchison Road
Fayetteville, NC 28301-4298
Phone: 910-672-1185

Students who request to pick up a transcript will be assessed $10.00 per transcript. The transcript will be addressed to the student and the envelope labeled “Released to Student.” Transcripts are not available on demand.

Indebtedness to the University

All indebtedness to the university must be satisfactorily settled before a transcript of record will be issued.

Change of Name and Address

Students should notify the Office of the Registrar of any change in name or mailing address. Legal documentation is required for name changes.

A student’s official name as recorded in university records during the period of attendance will appear on the diploma.

Withdrawal Policies

Class Withdrawals

Students may withdraw from individual classes until the deadline each semester, term, or session (see Academic Calendars for specific dates). Students who complete the class withdrawal process will receive a grade of W. Tuition and fees are not adjusted for withdrawing from individual classes. Students are required to earn at least 67% of their attempted hours each semester to maintain financial aid eligibility. Students who withdraw from more than 33% of their attempted hours in a semester will lose financial aid. Failure to attend class does not constitute official withdrawal from that class.

If students are enrolled in only one (1) course and choose to withdraw from the course, the student must withdraw from the university instead of withdrawing from the course.

Students are permitted to withdraw from a maximum of 16 credit hours throughout their undergraduate career. After a student has exceeded this limit, the student must earn a final grade of A, B, C, D, or F.

If a student, using the online course withdrawal process, withdraws from all courses for which the student is enrolled, the student is considered to have officially withdrawn from the university. The official university withdrawal date will be the date the student withdrew from the last class. However, administration will also request assistance from Housing and the One Card office to determine last date(s) of utilization of university services for the purpose of calculating final student charges for billing purposes. A student’s financial aid may be prorated during this process.

Extenuating Circumstances Withdrawal

Students may withdraw from individual courses or from the university for extenuating circumstances without academic penalty:

• WU will be recorded on the transcript;
• Course(s) count in attempted hours;
• Course(s) do not count in GPA calculations;
• Course(s) will not count toward the withdrawal maximum of 16 hours;
• Course(s) are subject to Title IV regulation (SAP rules and calculations).

Extenuating circumstances include:

• Military Service Obligation: Duty on a voluntary or involuntary basis in connection with service in the Armed Forces, Reserves, or National Guard including, but not limited to active duty, active duty for training, initial active duty for training, and inactive duty training.
• Serious Medical Debilitation of the Student: Illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition requiring inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential medical care facility.

Documentation required includes:

• Military Service Obligation: Verification of the student’s voluntary or involuntary basis in connection with service in the Armed Forces, Reserves, or National Guard including, but not limited to, active duty for training, initial active duty for training, and inactive duty training. Acceptable documentation may include, for example, copies of orders, letters from a commanding officer, etc.
• Serious Medical Debilitation of the Student: A certificate issued by the treating health care professional(s) stating each of the following:

1. Approximate date on which the student’s condition began;
2. Extent to which the condition has impacted the student’s pursuit of a degree;
3. Relevant and appropriate medical facts regarding the student’s condition.

Extenuating Circumstances Withdrawal Review Process

The student will submit a statement and all required documentation to the Counseling and Personal Development Center. The statement must include:

• Student name and Banner ID, date of request, names and section numbers of requested course(s) for withdrawal, and detailed reason the student is requesting withdrawal for extenuating circumstances.

The Counseling and Personal Development Center will review the request and documentation and forward with a recommendation to the Dean of the College or School and the Office of the Registrar.

If approved by the college dean (or designee), the Office of the Registrar will process the withdrawal for extenuating circumstances. If not approved by the college dean (or designee), the college dean’s office will contact the student and the advisor to determine the best course of action for the student. A student may appeal a denial through the Office of the Provost.

Late Withdrawal

Students seeking to withdraw from individual courses or from the university after the published deadline, before courses have been graded, and who do not meet the criteria for Extenuating Circumstances Withdrawal, must make the request for late withdrawal by completing the online Late Withdrawal Request form. This request must include documentation of unavoidable and unforeseen circumstances that prevented the student from meeting the published deadline.

Administration will request the assistance of the assigned instructors to verify attendance and participation in classes, as well as assistance from Housing and the One Card office to determine last date(s) of utilization of university services for the purpose of calculating final student charges for billing purposes.

Such requests must be made no later than the end of the semester in which the course was taken.

Mandatory University Withdrawal

The university reserves the right to request the withdrawal of a student at any time if (1) the student’s conduct is judged to be undesirable; (2) the student persistently disregards the regulations of the university; (3) the student fails to maintain an acceptable standard of work; or (4) the student’s mental or physical health precludes satisfactory academic progress or becomes detrimental to others.

Retroactive Withdrawal

Students seeking to withdraw from individual courses or from the university after the published deadline, for which courses have been graded and who do not meet the criteria for an Extenuating Circumstances Withdrawal must make the request for Retroactive Withdrawal by completing the online Retroactive Withdrawal Request form. This request must include verifiable documentation of unavoidable and unforeseen circumstances which prevented the student from meeting the published deadline.

Administration will request the assistance of the assigned instructors to verify attendance and participation in classes, as well as assistance from Housing and the One Card office to determine last date(s) of utilization of university services for the purpose of calculating final student charges for billing purposes.

Such requests must be made no later than the end of the next regular semester after the semester for which the university withdrawal is requested.

University Withdrawal

A university withdrawal is defined as withdrawing from all classes for which a student is enrolled. Before deciding to withdraw from the university, a student must consult with his or her advisor to discuss the reasons for the withdrawal and the student’s plan for continuing his or her education. The student can then begin the official university withdrawal process by submitting the online University Withdrawal form. Students who are under 18 years of age must have the approval of a parent or guardian before withdrawing from the university. The official date of withdrawal (for purposes of computing charges and grades) will be the date the student submits the online form. However, administration will also request assistance from Housing and the One Card office to determine last date(s) of utilization of university services for the purpose of calculating final student charges for billing purposes. 

The university will not make any refund of tuition/ fees or room and board charges until four (4) weeks after the student completes the official withdrawal process. All refunds will be made by the method selected by the student for refunds. Students may withdraw from the university until two weeks prior to the beginning of final exams (see Academic Calendars for specific deadlines).

Students who officially withdraw from the university will receive a WU grade in all of their classes (see “Grades”). Students who receive WU grades may re-enroll in the next regular semester or summer term without applying for readmission and cannot enroll in the same semester for an 8-week term. Students who seek to withdraw from the university within the deadline but have earned grades in the previous 8-week session will retain those grades. The student will be assigned a WU for the remaining courses.

Hours with a grade of WU count as hours attempted but not completed for the purposes of financial aid. Withdrawal from the university may therefore have an adverse effect on financial aid. In addition, a student who withdraws from the university the semester after being placed on Academic Probation will be considered to have two consecutive semesters below 2.0 for the purposes of calculating academic standing. Withdrawal from the university may therefore have an adverse effect on academic standing as well.

Unofficial Withdrawal

At the end of each semester, students who were assigned all grades of F, I, or W or a combination are considered unofficially withdrawn from the University.

Adjustment of Tuition and Financial Aid for Unofficial Withdrawals: The university’s policy and schedule for refunds will be applied to students who unofficially withdraw from the university. Financial aid will be adjusted based on the unofficial withdrawal date, which may result in the requirement for recipients of financial aid to repay all or some of the aid they received for that semester. Administration will also request assistance from Housing and the One Card office to determine last date(s) of utilization of university services for the purpose of calculating final student charges for billing purposes.