University College

(http://www.uncw.edu/uc/)

University College is the first academic home for all freshmen and undeclared transfer students. Support is provided for specific populations to include pre-professional, military, early college, first-year spring admits and students between majors. Academic advising, curricular programs, learning communities, and a number of academic support programs are provided by the University College staff. University College is dedicated to providing assistance and support for new students as they transition into their new academic environment. Pre-professional student support is housed in the University College and is available for all students and alums looking to pursue graduate and professional degrees in health science and law.

University College Advising

Academic advising is essential to a successful educational experience. Our rich general education program, University Studies, provides our students with a strong academic foundation to build upon as they pursue their major and career interests. University College advisors work with students to support their transition into a new academic environment. Freshmen and undeclared transfer students declare their major once they have fulfilled appropriate requirements based on their major.

Students are advised by a professional advisor or a faculty advisor who provides students with guidance and encouragement in selecting courses and deciding on majors, meeting academic requirements, maintaining required scholastic standards, and considering possible career choices. Advisors meet with students whenever needed, however; it is mandatory for students to meet with their advisors at least twice in their first semester and once thereafter to assist with their academic transitions and to plan for course registration.

University College advisors can provide students with referrals to various specialized support services within the university to assist them in overcoming personal and academic difficulties, exploring academic options, and achieving academic and personal success. Advisors also monitor their students’ mid-semester academic progress and their end-of-semester grades and support students who are looking for new opportunities or experiencing academic difficulty. Advisors provide students with critical and timely information related to academic policies, procedures and regulations. Students are encouraged to read all communications from their advisor and University College. The University College implements several intervention programs to help students recover from academic difficulty in order to regain academic eligibility.

Student-Athlete Support Services (SASS)

Student-Athlete Support Services is a joint effort of the University College and the UNCW Athletic Department, which seeks to support the academic enrichment and life skill development of every Seahawk student-athlete. SASS Academic Coordinators work diligently to meet the needs of student-athletes’ healthy balance of athletic demands while maintaining satisfactory academic standards.

Once student-athletes are admitted to the university, Student-Athlete Support Services Academic Coordinators assist them with registration, sequencing and scheduling of required courses, and selection of a major. They also arrange tutoring assistance and monitor student-athletes’ grades, class attendance, study habits, and progress toward a degree. When a student-athlete declares his or her major, the Academic Coordinators continue to monitor academic performance and progress in conjunction with the student-athlete’s departmental advisor.

Central to the role of SASS is the maintenance of a strong working relationship between the program advisors and the university’s athletic department and coaches. The Academic Coordinators are knowledgeable about NCAA and CAA rules that apply to eligibility for practice and competition. They are available for consultation when unusual or difficult rule interpretations are needed. They also play a key role in the athletic certification process for all student-athletes.

Student-Athlete Academic Eligibility Requirements

Student-Athlete Support Services helps to monitor the academic progress of each student-athlete as it relates to NCAA, CAA and institutional rules and regulations. The following are examples of rules applying to a student-athlete’s academic progress:

• Student-athletes must be enrolled in no fewer than 12 semester hours (full-time) during the fall and spring semesters to be eligible for practice, competition and financial aid.
• Student-athletes must earn at least six (6) semester hours each semester to be eligible for the following semester.
• Student-athletes must earn 18 semester hours during the regular academic year (fall and spring).
• The NCAA requires student-athletes to maintain progress towards a degree and has set benchmarks they must meet throughout their career. Student-athletes must earn: 24 hours prior to the start of their third semester; 40% of a degree prior to the start of their fifth semester; 60% of a degree prior to the start of their seventh semester; 80% of a degree prior to the start of their ninth semester.
• The NCAA requires a student-athlete to designate a major by the beginning of their fifth semester, or to be
  taking major courses that lead to a degree, as certified by the dean or an appropriate academic advisor
• Student-athletes must declare and be accepted into a major field of study before or during the semester that they complete 45 semester hours of credit.
• Student-athletes must meet UNCW and NCAA minimum cumulative grade point averages in order to compete.
• In order to determine initial athletic eligibility, all student-athletes must be approved through the NCAA Eligibility Center.

A number of other policies affect a student-athlete’s participation in a varsity sport. Additional information can be found in the Student-Athlete Handbook.

NCAA Academic Requirements for Continuing Eligibility

The minimum guidelines defining satisfactory progress toward a degree for student-athletes are as follows:

Year 1 - Freshman

• Earn a minimum of 6 credit hours each semester to maintain eligibility for the following semester.

By the beginning of Year 2

• Earn 18 credit hours during the regular academic year (fall and spring semesters).
• Earn 24 credit hours before the start of the third semester of enrollment.
• Maintain at least a 1.80 cumulative GPA.

Year 2 - Sophomore

• Earn a minimum of 6 credit hours each semester to maintain eligibility the following semester.
• Maintain at least a 1.80 cumulative GPA through the third semester for eligibility the following semester.

By the beginning of Year 3

• Earn 18 credit hours during the regular academic year (fall and spring semesters).
• Declare a major.
• Meet 40% of degree requirements.
• Maintain at least a 1.90 cumulative GPA.

Year 3 - Junior

• Complete a minimum of 6 degree applicable hours each semester for eligibility the following semester.
• Maintain at least a 1.90 cumulative GPA through the fifth semester for eligibility the following semester.

By the beginning of Year 4

• Earn 18 degree applicable hours during the regular academic year (fall and spring semesters).
• Meet 60% of degree requirements.
• Maintain at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.

Year 4 - Senior

• Earn a minimum of 6 degree applicable hours each semester for eligibility the following semester.
• Maintain at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA through the seventh semester for eligibility the following semester.

By the beginning of Year 5

• Earn 18 degree applicable hours during the regular academic year (fall and spring semesters).
• Earn 80% of degree requirements.
• Maintain at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.

University College Curriculum

The University College offers a number of credit-bearing courses that support students in making a successful adjustment to college life, developing academic skills, and enriching their educational experience: UNI 101 First-Year Seminar , UNI 201 Transfer Seminar , UNI 120 Civic Engagement for Pre-Health Students .

First-Year Seminar UNI 101

The First-Year Seminar is a graduation requirement taken by all freshmen in their first semester on campus. The course provides incoming freshmen with skills, strategies, resources, and information necessary to make a successful academic, personal, and social transition to UNCW.  The learning outcomes of this course assist students in making a successful adjustment to university life, developing effective academic strategies and problem solving skills, enhancing information literacy competency, establishing an academic plan, and engaging in career exploration. The small class size allows for mentor relationships with instructors and academic advisors.

Transfer Seminar UNI 201

The Transfer Seminar is a 3 credit, elective seminar-style course that supports transfer students in their transition to UNCW. Students earn 6 hours towards graduation – 3 hours of Information Literacy and 3 hours of Writing Intensive Competencies. UNI 201 is only open to transfer students in their first semester (fall or spring) at UNCW. Students will leave UNI 201 with an academic and career plan; a résumé and cover letter; academic strategies and skills; knowledge of campus resources, opportunities, and policies; library and research skills; and community with other transfer students, advisors, and peer mentors.

Civic Engagement for Pre-Health Students UNI 120

Civic Engagement for Pre-Health Students is a course designed to facilitate civic engagement for pre-health students. Students will gain a better understanding of becoming an engaged citizen in the pre-health community by volunteering, reflecting on experiences, building leadership skills and educating others. This course will provide pre-health students with opportunities to engage in meaningful service in the local community and gain a broad understanding of strong leadership that can impact change in healthcare while preparing for a successful graduate school application process. This course fulfills the Explorations Beyond the Classroom graduation requirement.

First-Year Learning Communities (LC)

First-Year Learning Communities (LC) are structured experiences in which a small group of first-year students share common classes and activities related to an academic or personal interest. Students in first-year learning communities will enjoy the benefits of a shared academic experience while making new friends, exploring common interests and being a part of a close community of peers. First-year students have opportunities to participate in a First-Year Seminar that is connected with a Learning Community during their first semester in UNCW.

Cornerstone Learning Communities (CLC) are housed in UNCW’s Cornerstone residence hall. This living-learning program allows students to select a CLC consisting of three courses integrated by a common interdisciplinary theme and to reside with their classmates. Students are accepted into this program through application and attend their CLC classes in classrooms located in Cornerstone residence hall. The courses are appropriate for first-year students, and the program is designed to aid students in their transition to college. Cornerstone Learning Communities foster strong connections between students, faculty and advisors. The learning experience is enhanced by supplemental programs in the residence hall.

The Adventure Recreation Learning Community (ALC) is aimed to promote a positive, productive, and healthy transition to UNCW. Twenty students will reside in Schwartz Hall and will progress as a collective group through ENG 290 Themes in Literature , PED 101 Physical Activity and Wellness , and UNI 101 First-Year Seminar . The instructors of this learning community believe that through the theory and practice of adventure, students can connect the mind and body with the educational experience, further an appreciation and personal connection to the natural world, and become active members of the community.

The Education Learning Community (ELC) provides first-year, future teachers a residential learning community that supports academic, social, and educational development. ELC participants will have the opportunity to live with other pre-education majors in Schwartz Hall, and share two of the same classes: EDN 203 Psychological Foundations of Teaching , and UNI 101 First-Year Seminar . In addition, students in the ELC will attend seminars together, connect with Watson faculty and staff, and participate in education field experiences prior to being admitted into the Watson College of Education. Students will engage in various activities on and off campus that explore cultural diversity, educational growth, and establish lifelong friendships.

The Hollywood East Learning Community (HELC) is geared toward students with creative interests and skills in music, creative writing, acting, and/or film or television production. Students will gain a more focused exploration of the Arts and will work toward creating original productions to be displayed to the UNCW community. These projects will be short films or other commercial products or public service messages through which students can apply their creative talents of writing, developing a screenplay, creating a musical score, or producing the technical elements of a final production. Students in this community will reside in Schwartz Hall and take FST 210 Moviemakers and Scholars Series  and UNI 101 First-Year Seminar .

The Leadership and Service Learning Community has at its core a mission to inspire emerging leaders through active community service and civic engagement. Students participating in this program will reside on the Hewlett Hall fourth floor and participate in one of two EDGE (Explore, Discover, Grow, Engage) First-Year Seminar courses. Leadership and Service Learning Community participants cultivate their leadership skills through participation in programs facilitated by the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement. Students begin work toward leadership certification through completion of educational workshops and community service opportunities.

The Nursing Learning Community provides students pursuing this major an opportunity to share two key courses that must be completed in the first semester and a First-Year Seminar that is geared toward the major. Academic support, program requirements, and career options are emphasized.

The PULSE Learning Community is designed specifically for first-year students who plan to pursue a professional graduate program in the health field. All students in PULSE are enrolled in the same sections of

The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Learning Community (STEM) is designed to support students pursuing a major in STEM related disciplines. Students will develop effective academic strategies to apply in their study of STEM subjects as well as other academic disciplines. This learning community offers co-curricular activities designed to promote early engagement with STEM departments, faculty, staff and students. Students are also made aware of undergraduate research opportunities, and explore STEM related careers. Upper-class STEM students serve as peer mentors within this learning community. Students in the STEM learning community may choose a residential or nonresidential experience.