Academic Withdrawal Policy Implementation Plan

1. Course Withdrawal Limit PolicyAcademic Advisor Development ProgramFebruary 5, 2014

2. Academic Policy: Withdrawals • Academic Policy: Withdrawals • Regulations Related to Fostering Undergraduate Student Success adopted by President Ross on April 29, 2013 • UNC Charlotte Academic Policy: Withdrawals passed by Faculty Council September 26, 2013 to ensure compliance of regulations

3. Academic Policy: Withdrawals • Withdrawals • “Undergraduate students may receive a grade of W for no more than 16 credit hours over their academic careers.” • Applies to entire undergraduate student body beginning Fall 2014, but does not apply for W’s in courses prior to Fall 2014 • Consolidates withdrawal deadlines to the 9th week • All withdrawals will appear on transcript as W or WE (extenuating circumstances)

4. Implementation Timeline • April 29, 2013: Regulations adopted by President Ross • September 26, 2013: Policy passed Faculty Council • December 3, 2013: Communication regarding policy change began • Fall Term 2014: Policy goes into effect

5. Communication Plan • September 27, 2013: W Website Launch • December 3, 2013: Faculty/Staff Communication Launch • March 10, 2014: Student and Campus-Wide Communication Launch

6. Communication Plan • Campus Communication • Social Media: Facebook, Twitter • Electronic: Email, Websites, TV screens, Moodle, 49er Express, Inside UNC Charlotte article • Printed Material: Posters, table tents, fliers

7. Communication Plan • Faculty and Advisor-Specific Communication: • Email from Faculty Council President/Provost • Suggested Syllabi Language • Best Practices for Instructors • Faculty Handbook • AAIT • Academic Advisor Development Program

8. Communication Plan • Student-Specific Communication • Email announcing policy change to current students • Article in student newspaper and Student Orgs newsletter • Announcement to Student Orgs • Parent-Specific Communication • SOAR materials • Email to parent email address • Article in parent newsletter and magazine

9. Extenuating Circumstances

10. Extenuating Circumstances Three critical clauses: • Students who experience serious extenuating circumstances (personal or medical crisis or military deployment) may petition for a withdrawal that does not count against their career W limit. • The student is expected to submit the petition during the term the crisis begins. If approved, a grade of WE will be recorded for each course • Courses marked WE do not count in GPA or tuition surcharge calculations.

11. Extenuating Circumstances The Dean of Students Office is tasked by the Policy Statement with developing and communicating standards. Website deploying on May 19

12. Extenuating Circumstances What is an Extenuating Circumstance? • Personal Crisis • Medical Crisis • Military Deployment or Activation

13. Extenuating Circumstances Scope of authority • Must have 3rd party documentation • Letterhead • Signatures • Dates • Verifiable • Event occurred within the term of the request • No grades for the term posted Must be beyond their control

14. Extenuating Circumstances Examples: • Activation for national emergencies or events (DNC) • Deployment of Reservist, National Guard, etc. • Traumatic injury • Death of a family member • Reoccurrence of preexisting condition • Mental well being • Pregnancy Each is evaluated on a case-by-case basis

15. Advising for Withdrawals

16. Advising Tips W Policy designed to: • Ensure that students enroll only in those classes they intend to complete, thus freeing up more seats for ALL students. • Encourage students to assign high priority to completing what they start.

17. Advising Tips • Renewed and Redoubled Focus on: • Academic Performance • Responsibility • Accountability

18. Advising Tips Top 5 Reasons Students Give for Withdrawing • I was not happy with my grade. • I didn’t understand the material. • I didn’t like the course. • I didn’t like the professor. • The subject did not interest me. Dunwoody and Frank (1995)

19. Advising Tips Withdrawing has typically been an “easy out” for students. ‘ Sometimes “W” stands for “wisdom.” ‘ Liberal petitioning process (late Ws). NO MORE….

20. Advising Tips SPREAD THE WORD ACCURATELY! • Reinforce Univ.-wide messaging • Distinguish “drop” vs. “withdraw” • Understand other areas impacted (FA, housing, VA, visa students, etc.) • Emphasize enforcement

21. Advising Tips • More imperative now to: • PROBE – Why has student chosen courses? • ENDORSE SENSIBLE CHOICES – school/life balance • MONITOR – Refer to resources; use Early Alert • INFORM – Help student know options

22. Advising Tips POINTS TO STRESS: • Register as early as allowed • READ and UNDERSTAND syllabus • GO TO CLASS first week • If petitioning for extenuating circumstances, must be done within SAME semester

23. Important Websites Academic Policies and Procedures website includes most current academic policies: http://provost.uncc.edu/policies Withdrawals website includes most up-to-date implementation information regarding W policy include FAQs: http://provost.uncc.edu/withdrawals

24. Thank You Henrietta Thomas, Director, University Advising Center, hlthomas@uncc.edu Dennis Wiese, Senior Associate Dean of Students, dwiese@uncc.edu Leslie R. Zenk, Assistant Provost, lzenk@uncc.edu