Academic Support & Resources
Academic Support & Resources
Academic Wellness
Academic Wellness
The National Wellness Institute defines “wellness” as “an active process through which people become aware of, and make choices toward, a more successful existence.”
Using this definition as a guide, the Academic Success Center is dedicated to helping students better understand how they can recognize and utilize campus resources that support them on their journey to academic wellness — and ultimately, graduation at UNCA.
Our staff members partner with faculty, administrators, and other campus offices to provide a holistic ethic of care for our students, especially in their academic lives.
How Wellness Connects to Your Academic Journey
A key academic initiative that helps us identify when students might need extra support is Academic Alerts. The purpose of academic alerts is to help students stay on track and provide them with resources and support to improve their academic performance.
If a student finds themselves on Academic Warning, the Academic Success Program is designed to help them get back on track.
Campus Resources for Academic Wellness
Students are always encouraged to engage with the following offices to be good stewards of their own academic wellness. All of these services are free to UNCA students:
Academic Alerts
Academic Alerts
UNCA uses Academic Alerts as part of our student success and support efforts. Academic alerts provide students with timely feedback about their performance in class beyond regular assessments.
Alerts can serve as an indicator to students and their support system that action is needed to stay on track — or get back on track — in a class. They allow students to respond and increase the likelihood of positive academic outcomes.
It is in your best interest to respond to academic alert outreach as quickly as possible. Students who do so are more likely to earn credit for the course.
What Happens If You Receive an Academic Alert
- You’ll receive outreach from a member of your support network — your academic advisor, student success specialist, academic success coach, associate director of advising, or director of student success — sharing concerns that one or more of your faculty members have raised by entering an academic alert.
- Ideally, this should not be the first time that you are made aware of a concern. However, receiving outreach about an academic alert invites you to tap into the full suite of support resources available at UNCA.
- At any point in the semester, you can meet with your professor to ensure you understand the expectations of the course and discuss the behavior(s) that led to the academic alert.
- The professor can suggest a plan for your academic progress or might discuss your options if it is no longer possible for you to pass the class.
- Students are expected to take an active role in responding to Academic Alerts outreach. You should take alert outreach as a signal to connect to relevant support services and/or your support network to receive help connecting to those services.
Where to Go for Support
There are several resources on campus you can use to ensure strong academic performance. Remember to take advantage of the services provided at the Health & Counseling Center and the Office of Accessibility to discuss your situation and implement strategies for improvement.
Also consider taking advantage of the free opportunities listed below:
Academic Success Program
Academic Success Program
During your time at UNCA, you will be in “Good Academic Standing” as long as your cumulative and semester GPA is at or above 2.0, and you maintain a 67% completion ratio each semester.
Occasionally, you might experience personal or academic hardships that result in a lower GPA. In these instances, you will be on either “Academic Notice” or “Academic Warning” and placed into the Academic Success Program (ASP).
To learn more about Academic Standing policies, visit the Registrar’s website or the course catalog.
Academic Standing Explained
Academic Notice
You may be placed on Academic Notice if either of the following occurs:
- Your semester GPA is below 2.0, or
- Your completion ratio (earned credit hours ÷ attempted credit hours) for the semester is less than 67%.
Note: Audits, Incompletes/IP, and Withdrawals count as hours attempted but not earned. Dropping a course during the Add/Drop Period does not count as a withdrawal.
Academic Notice is communicated to you and your advisor/major department. It does not appear on your transcript. Students on Academic Notice are required to complete ASP requirements the following semester of enrollment (excluding summer).
Academic Warning
You may be placed on Academic Warning if:
- Your cumulative GPA falls below 2.0.
This status is noted on your permanent academic record and transcript for the semester of evaluation. Students on Academic Warning are required to complete ASP requirements in their next semester of enrollment (excluding summer).
To regain Good Academic Standing: bring your cumulative and semester GPA to 2.0 or above, and achieve a 67% completion ratio.
About the Program
In the Academic Success Program, students work alongside an Academic Success Coach. ASP meetings are student-driven and address a variety of academic success topics as well as the challenges that might impede a student’s path to long-term success. Students will reflect on their own educational history, identify strengths and weaknesses, and work on strategies and skills to help improve academic performance and their overall educational experience.
ASP Myth Busters
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Myth I will have to write additional papers or have additional coursework while in the program.Fact No additional coursework will be required while participating in ASP.
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Myth If I meet with my ASP coach, I will be removed from Academic Warning/Academic Notice.Fact To be removed from Academic Warning or Academic Notice, you must meet the requirements for Good Standing — meeting with your coach alone does not change your standing.
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Myth ASP coaches do mental health counseling.Fact ASP coaches will not do counseling of any nature, but they can refer you to the necessary places.
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Myth My academic standing will be impacted if I don’t follow my ASP coach’s recommendations.Fact Your academic standing will not be affected if you decide not to implement your coach’s recommendation. Standing is determined by your completion ratio, cumulative GPA, and semester GPA.
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Myth Participating in ASP guarantees that I will make good grades.Fact Good grades are determined by the effort the student puts into their coursework.
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Myth My ASP coach can help me with being motivated.Fact Your ASP coach can help you identify motivating factors, but they cannot create motivation for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
An email will be sent to you with details during the first week of classes.
Please contact the Office of Financial Aid for any questions regarding your scholarships or loans.
No. Academic Warning/Academic Notice is simply the university telling you that your academics need attention and that your academic performance was not sufficient to meet the requirements for Good Academic standing.
Yes, the program is free for all UNCA students.
No, but it is strongly encouraged that students on Academic Warning/Academic Notice attend and actively participate in the program. Students who participate in the program are more likely to have a better outcome than students who do not participate.
Yes, the Academic Warning shows on your transcript, only for the semester(s) that you are on Academic Warning.
Yes, Academic Notice is notated as “Good Standing – On Notice” on your transcript, only for the semester(s) that you are on Academic Notice.
Yes, Academic Warning is determined based on your cumulative and/or semester GPA as well as your completion ratio. If your GPA is above a 2.0 for both the semester and overall, determine your completion ratio for the semester in question by dividing the credit hours you earned [through passing a class] by the credit hours you were enrolled in for the semester. Your completion ratio needs to be above 67% in order to be in Good Standing.
Coaches are assigned, but if you would like to choose your coach you can reach out to the coordinator and request to be re-assigned
ASP meetings are generally in person. If that does not reflect your preference, speak with your coach about alternative arrangements.
Your ASP coach will only reach out to your instructor if needed.
No, ASP coaches will not reach out to your parents/family members.
ASP is tailored to each student’s specific circumstances, goals, and needs.
Any student on Academic Warning who does not regain Good Academic Standing at the end of the semester is potentially subject to a one-semester suspension from the university. Academic Standing is reviewed at the end of each semester and in addition to your semester and term GPA and your completion ratio, your engagement in the Academic Success Program as well as the overall trend of your academic performance will be taken into consideration to determine if a suspension is warranted.
If you are enrolled in a Maymester course you will be allowed to take and finish that course. All other summer courses will be dropped unless you submit a suspension appeal and the appeal is granted.