Appealing Academic Suspension

Policy for Academic Suspension

Academic standing is evaluated for all students at the end of every Fall and Spring semester for which the student was enrolled, based on hours attempted at UNC Asheville. A student will have one of the following types of academic standing:

Good Academic Standing

To remain in good academic standing, a student must maintain:

• a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 and,
• a semester ratio of earned-to-attempted credit hours of at least two-thirds (67%).

This status appears as “Good Standing” on the student’s transcript.

Academic Notice

Students are placed on Academic Notice if either of the following two conditions occurs:

• The student’s semester GPA is < 2.0, or
• The student’s completion rate (earned hours divided by attempted hours) for the semester is less than two-thirds (67%).

Academic Notice indicates potential academic problems and is communicated to the student and to the student’s advisor and major department(s). This status appears as “Good Standing-on Notice” on the student’s transcript. Students on Academic Notice are required to complete the requirements of the Academic Success Program in the following semester of enrollment, excluding summer.

Academic Warning

A student whose cumulative GPA is below 2.0 is placed on Academic Warning. This status appears as “Academic Warning” on the student’s transcript. Students on Academic Warning are required to complete the Academic Success Program in their next semester of enrollment, excluding summer.

Academic Suspension

A student on academic warning whose cumulative GPA remains below 2.0 at the next evaluation is suspended from the University, unless the student’s GPA for that semester is at least 2.3, in which case the student remains on warning. The suspension period is one full semester and a readmission application is required to return. Students have the option to appeal their suspension, and information regarding the appeal process is included in the Academic Suspension notification email. This status appears as “Academic Suspension” on the student’s transcript. Students returning from Academic Suspension will automatically be placed on Academic Notice for at least their first term.

Exception for Summer Enrollment

Students who are on academic suspension after the Spring semester are permitted to enroll in Summer classes, but they are not allowed to enroll in the following Fall semester unless they appeal and are approved to continue.

Academic Success Program

The Academic Success Program (ASP) provides students with the support and resources to help them get back on track academically. It is designed to assist students on Academic Notice and Academic Warning with recovering from past academic difficulties and maintaining progress toward academic success and degree completion. Questions about the ASP should be directed to the Academic Success Center.

Summary of Academic Standing Rules

Students who are on academic warning and who fail to meet any of the three criteria necessary for continued enrollment (see above) will be suspended. (Students who earn all F grades or a combination of all F, U, or W grades in a semester will be suspended without a period of academic warning.) Students who are suspended are not eligible to enroll at the university during the next regular semester, but may return after they have served one semester of suspension.

Visit the University Catalog for more information about policies related to good academic standing, academic warning, and academic suspension.

Procedure for Appealing Academic Suspension Decisions

Students who wish to appeal academic suspension decisions may do so by completing the Suspension Appeal Form. The Enrollment Services Committee reviews appeals once in January (fall suspensions) and once in May (spring suspensions); the University Registrar communicates those decisions by email within two days of the committee meeting.

For further information, contact:

Office of the Registrar
University of North Carolina at Asheville
Ramsey 011, CPO 1570
One University Heights
Asheville, NC 28804
Phone: 828.350.4500
Fax: 828.251.6492
Email: registrar@unca.edu