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Academic AppealsSTUDENT TUTORIAL

Academic Advising Program in the College of Arts & Sciences and the General College

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What is an Academic Appeal?

An academic appeal is a student request for an exception to an academic rule or policy.

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Why are there academic appeals?The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is committed to helping each student reach his or her full academic potential.

Students are encouraged to give thoughtful consideration to their academic and personal goals and to take responsibility for their academic choices and decisions.

Nevertheless, on occasion, students’ academic performance is affected by circumstances beyond their control.

The academic appeals process is designed to give students an opportunity to appeal an academic rule or policy in extraordinary circumstances.

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The academic appeals process was created to help students succeed.

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How do I know if I should pursue an academic appeal?

There are many factors to consider when making the decision to pursue an academic appeal.

First, it is important that you understand the appeals process. This tutorial is designed to provide you with this information and more to help you make the best decision for you.

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Student SupportAs you move through this tutorial, we want you to know that the University is dedicated to your academic success. We care about

you and want you to know that you are not alone.

Once you've completed this tutorial, come see us in the Academic Advising Program offices. We will work with you to make this

important decision.

Schedule an appointmentCall us: 919.966.5116

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What types of appeals are there?Academic Actions– Course drop(s)– Semester withdrawal– Waiver– Grade appeals– Non-traditional readmission

Probation Requests– Probation– Continued probation

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Course Drops

• A course drop is a request to drop a class after the semester drop deadline*.

• If the course drop request is approved, the grade “W” (withdrew) will replace the letter grade.

• A grade of “W” does not affect grade point average.

* See the University Registrar's calendar for deadline dates

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Semester Withdrawals• A semester withdrawal is a request to remove a prior regular

or summer term from a student’s academic record.

• If approved, all courses for that semester are removed and a withdrawal designation is listed on the official transcript.

• The withdrawn semester is not included in the tally of cumulative hours/semesters toward graduation or cumulative grade point average.

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Waivers

Note: Waivers only apply to students who entered the University on or prior to May 14, 2007.

A waiver is a request to return to the University from students who are academically ineligible due to inadequate hours or cumulative grade point average.

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ProbationStudents must earn academic probation by passing at least 9 credits hours in the preceding fall or spring semester.Students who fail to do so may appeal for a semester of probation. Probation is an opportunity to get back on track. You cannot have probation in back-to-back fall or spring semesters. In most cases, students approved for probation have a cumulative GPA of at least a 1.600.Students who are approved for a semester of probation will be required to complete the probation intervention during their probationary semester.

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Continued ProbationIn the rarest of cases, a student who has already completed a semester on probation but did not return to good academic standing may be granted one semester of continued probation.

Students appealing for continued probation will have completed all the required steps of the probation intervention during the previous semester and should have at least a 1.900 cumulative GPA.

For more information about academic eligibility and probation, please visit the Student Success web pages.

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Grade Appeals

A grade appeal is a request to change a permanent grade based on:

• Arithmetic or clerical error

• Arbitrariness, possibly including discrimination based on race, sex, religion, or national origin of the student

• Personal malice

The request must be made no later than the last day of classes during the succeeding fall or spring semester.

For more information, please see the grade appeal student form.

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Non Traditional Readmission

A nontraditional readmission request is an appeal to return to the University from a student who is academically ineligible and who has not been enrolled at UNC-Chapel Hill or any other university as a full-time student during a regular fall or spring term in the preceding five calendar years.

For more information, please see the non-traditional readmission student form.

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Meet with an Advisor All students considering making an appeal are strongly encouraged to meet with an academic advisor by appointment or during walk-in hours.

Academic advisors are trained to explain the appeals process and discuss your options. You will decide whether or not to appeal and what to appeal for.

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Putting it all togetherShould you decide to pursue an appeal, you will need to complete the appropriate form.

If your appeal is for a course drop, semester withdrawal, waiver, probation, or continued probation, you will need to complete the Academic Appeal student form.

If you are submitting a grade appeal, you will need to complete the Grade Appeal student form.

If you are applying for non-traditional readmission, you will need to complete the Non-traditional Readmission student form.

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Writing your statement Strong appeals will answer the following questions in detail:

What factors beyond your control contributed to your academic situation?

What is the link between those factors beyond your control and your academic performance?

How did you address your academic situation at the time?How are things different now?What action steps will you take to prevent this from happening again?

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Supporting DocumentationYour appeal may be more compelling with supporting documentation. When appropriate, documents you may wish to include are:

Communications between you and the instructor Letter of support from instructorsLetter from a medical professionalDeath certificate, obituary, or funeral programCourse syllabus or grade progressionLegal summons

Documentation of relevant medical issues is also important. Medical documentation is handled differently from other components of your appeal. Continue on for more information.

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About Medical DocumentationIf your request is for medical reasons of a physical nature, you should bring a copy of your statement along with any additional medical documentation to the administrative offices of Campus Health Services (CHS).

If your request is for psychological reasons and you were seen by Counseling and Wellness Services on campus or if you were seen by a professional outside of the UNC system, please have your provider fill out the “Provider Information” section on the final page of the appeal form. The provider may attach a separate comments page if necessary. Please follow the directions for submitting provider information included on the form.

If you are unable to submit documentation to CHS, you may submit alternative documentation with your appeal, such as a letter from your health care provider.

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AgreementsIt is required that you initial agreements on the student academic appeals form.

By signing the agreements section of the form, you understand:

Submitting this form does not guarantee that your appeal will be granted.

Appeals are only granted in extraordinary circumstances. (For current semester drops, only)

You should continue to attend class as well as complete all coursework until you are officially notified of a decision.

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Helpful Tips Before submitting an appeal:

Give due consideration to whether or not an appeal is the best option for you at this time

Consult an academic advisorAllow time for the situation to resolveProvide a concise and factual account of your circumstancesDemonstrate your use of academic, campus, and other resourcesRecognize that we all operate under the UNC Honor System

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Your Decision

Your academic advisor is here to provide guidance on the appeals process and additional options. However, you are ultimately responsible for the decision to appeal. Your advisor cannot tell you what to do.

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Submitting Appeals

Appeals are heard on a weekly basis.

Check the Academic Advising website and the Student Success website for appeals deadlines (which can be as early as August 2 for fall semesters and January 2 for spring semesters).

Only complete appeals will be reviewed.

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When will I receive a decision?

Generally, students will receive an appeals decision via their UNC email account within two weeks of submitting the complete appeal.

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What do I do after I receive my appeal decision?

The decision of the appeals committee is final. If you have a question about your decision, you are encouraged to talk to your academic advisor. Consult with your academic advisor to discuss moving forward with your academic plan. Follow the appeals committee’s recommendations as stated in your decision letter.

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What if my appeal is denied?We understand that receiving a decision of denied can be difficult.

Try not to be discouraged.

Please come in and talk to us. We are here to help.

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You have completed the Academic Appeals Tutorial. We look forward to partnering with you on your academic success.