Academics A-Z
College has a language all its own, and to make sure you're asking the right questions, you need to make sure you're using the right words. If you don't know what "audit", "withdraw", or other college terms means, you'll find their definitions here!
Choose a letter
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
or
Scroll though the definitions below
A
Academic Calendar: Calendar which lists important dates and deadlines for the semester (available on the Office of the Registrar's website).
Academic Suspension: Students who fail to meet expected GPA levels are served with a one-semester academic suspension.
Academic Warning: The semester after your GPA falls below a 2.0, you may be placed on Academic Warning. This limits the number of hours you may register for to ensure that you have the best opportunity to improve your GPA and avoid Academic Suspension.
Advisor: A faculty or staff person specially trained to help students help academic plans, select courses, and interperet academic policies and procedures.
AP Credit: Academic credit awarded to students who receive a specific score on an Advanced Placement test offered by the College Board.
Attempted Hours: The cumulative number of credits for all courses which you have received a grade, including transfer credits and withdrawals.
Audit: Courses that appear on your transcript but are not taken for credit. Audit courses are graded X (satisfactory) or Y (unsatisfactory).
B
Banner ID Number: (see UNC Asheville ID)
Bursar: The primary person in charge of student billing and account receivables.
C
Cashier's Office: Where you can go to pay your account balances and discuss payment options. Located in OneStop.
Certificate of Major: An academic path which only requires a student to successfully complete the courses required for a particular major and does not require the completion of ILS requirements. This option can only be pursued by Post Baccalaureate students.
Chancellor's List: Academic honor in which a full-time student earns a 4.0 and has no Incomplete or In Progress grades.
Classification: The number of credit hours you have earned determines your level of academic achievement as indicated by the classification of freshman, sophomore, junior or senior status.
Cluster (see Topical Cluster)
Colloquium: A seminar course taught by faculty from across the curriculum. You are required to take a Liberal Studies Introductory Colloquium (LSIC) when you first arrive at UNC Asheville and a Liberal Studies Senior Colloquia (LSSC) during your last year. (See LSIC and LSSC)
Competency Requirements: All degree-seeking students must demonstrate major, oral and computer competencies for their specific major.
Course Load: The number of courses a student is registered for in a given semester.
Credit Hours/Credits: The value put on courses, based on the number of classroom and faculty contact hours for each course.
D
Dean's List: Academic honor in which a full-time student earns a minimum GPA of 3.5, has no grade lower than a C, and has no Incomplete or In Progress grades for the semester.
DegPAR (Degree Progress Advising Report): A function of OnePort that allows you to do a real-time calculation of progress towards any degree.
Deposit: After acceptance to UNC Asheville, most students must submit a tuition deposit to ensure their space in the upcoming semester.
Dismissal: Students who sit out a semester on academic suspension but are unable to bring their GPA up to expected levels upon return are dismissed from UNC Asheville. Dismissed students have no right to re-enrollment, but may appeal to return after a period of 3 years.
Diversity Intensive: Courses designed to engage you in the study of humanity and values, privilege and oppression, and the intersectionality of identities.
Drop/Add: The first 5 days of each semester when you can make changes to your schedule through OnePort without permanent record on your transcript.
Dual Enrollment: A student who is enrolled at UNC Asheville while still enrolled in high school.
E
Earned Hours: The cumulative number of credits for all courses for which you have received a passing grade.
Embark: Orientation for new Freshmen, Transfer, and Post Baccalaureate (Second Degree and Certificate of Major). Occurs in June or August for new students enrolling in the fall semester, January for new students enrolling in the spring semester.
Exit: To cease enrollment at UNC Asheville. To exit from all of your courses during the withdrawal period, you need to complete the Student Exit Checklist and Request to Exit the University forms.
F
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): You must submit your FAFSA in full before any financial aid award may be granted. You are required to submit a new FAFSA every academic year.
First Term: A course that meets only for the first half of a semester (from the first day of class through the last day before the semester break begins).
Freshman: A student who has earned less than 30 credit hours.
Full Term: Indicates a course that meets for an entire term or semester.
G
General Education: (see ILS - Integrative Liberal Studies Program)
Good Standing: Students whose GPA is a 2.0 or higher.
GPA Hours: The cumulative number of credits for all courses that are calculated in your GPA. Does not include Audits or transfer credits.
GPA (Grade Point Average): A calculation of the ratio of quality points to GPA hours.
Graduation Fee: A late application fee of $100 is charged if a student submits an application for graduation after the published deadline has passed.
H
Health Insurance Requirement: All full-time students must have health insurance and provide proof of insurance or purchase a health insurance plan through UNC Asheville.
Honors Program: UNC Asheville offers an Honors Program created for talented and motivated students. Successful completion of Honors Program requirements allows a student to graduate with Distinction as a University Scholar.
Humanities Cluster: A series of Humanities courses designed to develop world citizens of broad perspective who think critically and creatively, who communicate effectively, and who make educated and ethical decisions.
I
ID Number: (see UNC Asheville ID)
In Progress: A student can receive an In Progress (IP) grade when enrolled in a specially designated research course when the research has not been completed by the end of the semester.
Incompletes: An Incomplete (I) grade can be granted by an instructor to a student who experiences extenuating circumstances in which they cannot complete their coursework in a given semester. A Request for an Incomplete form must be completed and submitted to the Registrar's Office before the last day of class in order to take effect.
Information Literacy Intensive: Courses designed to develop your skills in finding, evaluating, and using information.
ILS (Integrative Liberal Studies) Program: UNC Asheville's requisite interdisciplinary curriculum for all degree-seeking students.
Intensive: A course that is designed to teach you a particular skill set, which may be distinct from the academic subject of the course.
J
Junior: A student who has earned 60-89 credit hours.
K
L
Last Term: A course that meets only for the last half of a semester (from the day students return from the semester break until the last day of the semester).
LSIC (Liberal Studies Introductory Colloquium Course): A required course that introduces you to a liberal arts environment and assists in the transition process to UNC Asheville. You are strongly encouraged to take this course during your first semester at UNC Asheville.
LSSC (Liberal Studies Senior Colloquium Course): A required course that engages you in a capstone Liberal Arts experience. You will take this course during your final year at UNC Asheville.
M
Major: Your primary area of academic focus, majors consistent of 33-74 hours of coursework. All students seeking a baccalaureate degree must have at least one declared major.
Major Declaration: In order to officially declare your major, you must complete a Major Declaration Form and have it signed by the Chair of the academic department you choose for your major.
Mathematics Assistance Center (Math Lab): A free, drop-in service available in Robinson Hall for all UNC Asheville students to receive guided assistance with Math assignments.
Medical Withdrawal: UNC Asheville does does not have a separate withdrawal process specifically for medical reasons. If you need to withdraw from your courses for the semester because of medical reasons, see exit.
Minor: An optional secondary area of academic focus, consisting of 18-45 hours of coursework.
Minor Declaration: In order to officially declare your minor, you must complete a Minor Declaration Form and have it signed by the Chair of the academic department you choose for your minor.
Moodle: A software system, accessible through OnePort, where faculty may post assignments and coordinate online discussions. You may also submit assignments and monitor your academic progress through Moodle.
N
Non-Degree: A student who is not pursing a degree or other credential from UNC Asheville.
O
OneCard: Your UNC Asheville ID card, used to give you access to the residence halls, dining facilities, library resources and more. You are required to keep your OneCard with you at all times while enrolled.
OneCard Number (see UNC Asheville ID)
OnePort: A secure portal that gives you access to all of your personal and academic information. Used to update information, view financial aid and student account status, register for classes, and check grades.
OneStop: Located on the 2nd floor of University Hall, OneStop includes Advising & Learning Support, the Cashier's Office, the Office of the Registrar, and Study Abroad/Study Away.
Orientation (see embark)
Orientation Fee: A one-time fee charged on all first semester degree seeking students whether you attend embark or not.
Override: An online permission faculty can submit to allow you to register for classes that you cannot add due to capacity, missing pre- or co-requisites, or time conflicts. After receiving an override, students must register themselves for the course.
P
Peer Tutoring Program: A free, student-run tutoring service available to all UNC Asheville students. Visit the Advising and Learning Support Office in OneStop for additional details.
Permission to Take a Course as a Visitor at Another Institution: If you are in good academic standing and wish to take a course at another school during your time at UNC Asheville, you must complete this form and receive permission from the Office of the Registrar prior to enrolling in the course.
Post Baccalaureate: A student who has earned at least one prior 4-year degree and is pursuing another degree or other credential from UNC Asheville.
Pre-Professional Program: UNC Asheville offers special advising and individual programs for students who intend to enroll in medical, dental, veterinary or law school after graduation. Visit the Advising and Learning Support Office in OneStop for details.
Pre-registration: A 3-week period in each semester when current students are expected to register for the upcoming semester(s).
Pre-Rendezblue: An optional orientation program that offers incoming students the chance to participate in 1 of 6 special-interest programs before classes begin in August.
Pre-requisite: A course you must have in order to take a more advanced course.
Probation: (see Academic Warning)
Q
Quality Points: The number of points you receive for each course based on its credit hours and the grade you earned.
Quantitative Intensive: Courses designed to ensure you are able to critically apply mathematics to the understanding of issues and the solving of problems.
R
Registrar: The office primarily in charge of administering academic records. Located in the OneStop.
RAN (Registration Access Number): A randomly generated number you must enter into the online registration system when registering for classes.
Release of Student Records: Your educational records are protected from being released without your consent. To allow your parents or others access to your records, you must complete a Student Authorization for Release of Information form in OneStop in front of a UNC Asheville representative.
Rendezblue: A series of social and educational orientation activities that take place in August prior to the start of classes. Rendezblue gives you the opportunity to meet other students and get acclimated to the UNC Asheville campus.
S
Second Degree: A Post Baccalaureate student who is seeking another baccalaureate degree.
Senior: A student who has earned 90 or more credit hours.
Sophomore: A student who has earned 30-59 credit hours.
Suspension: (See academic suspension)
T
Teacher Licensure: The set of courses that prepares students for North Carolina teaching certification. May be pursued by undergraduate as well as post baccalaureate students.
Term 1: Designation of a course that meets during the first four weeks of the summer session term.
Term 2: Designation of a course that meets during the second four weeks of the summer session term.
Term 3: Designation of a course that meets during the entire eight weeks of the summer session term.
Topical Cluster: A set of courses that deal with a common subject, concern, or question. Completion of 3 courses (9 credit hours) in your chosen Topical Cluster are required within the ILS.
Transcript: The official record of your academic activity, including transfer credits and all attempted courses.
Transfer Articulation: The official record of the relationship between transfer credits from your previous institution(s) and UNC Asheville's courses.
Transfer Credit: Courses taken at another institution may transfer and be accepted as fulfilling requirements of UNC Asheville's curriculum.
Transfer Evaluation: The process by which the Office of the Registrar reviews credit earned at other colleges or universities and determines its equivalent credit at UNC Asheville.
Tuition Surcharge: An additional fee requirement charged by the State of North Carolina on most students who have attempted more than 140 hours.
Tutoring (see Peer Tutoring Program)
U
UNC Asheville ID: Your official ID number, this is a 9-digit number that begins with "930..."
Unofficial Transcript: A version of your transcript that you can print yourself from OnePort. Also see Transcript.
User Name: The part of your UNC Asheville email prior to "@unca.edu." Your user name also serves as your login for Moodle and OnePort.
UWC (University Writing Center): Located in Ramsey Library, the UWC provides support for writing projects by offering guidance and attention to the various aspects the writing process.
V
Visiting: A student who is pursuing a degree at another college or university and has received permission from their school to study at UNC Asheville for one semester.
W
Withdraw: To formally leave a course or all courses after the end of the Drop/Add Period. Withdrawals appear on your transcript as W grades and count in your Attempted Hours. For withdrawal from all your courses, see Exit.
Writing Intensive: Courses designed to ensure that you master a breadth of writing techniques.
X
Y
Z
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