Grading

⁺Credits not used to compute grade point average (GPA) and not counted toward graduation.

⁺⁺Credits not used to compute GPA but counted toward graduation. "S" is a UNC assigned course grade. "CR" is non-UNC assigned course grade.

A “W” indicates an approved withdrawal from the course and is assigned only when the student has completed the official withdrawal processes.

A “UW” indicates an unauthorized withdrawal and is assigned only when the student has never attended the class for which he/she enrolled.

An "F", or "W", or "U" grade requires the submission of a last date of a student's "academic-related activity". "UW" grades are only submitted when the student never attended the class. As outlined by the U.S. Department of Education (34 C.F.R. 668.22), the submission of the "Last Date of Attendance" is necessary to ensure that any student receiving a failing grade actually attended the class and, therefore, is eligible for any federal financial aid they may have received.

As defined by the U.S. Department of Education, an "academically-related activity" includes, but is not limited to—

• Physically attending the class
• Submitting an academic assignment
• Taking an exam, and interactive tutorial, or computer-assisted instruction
• Attending a study group that is assigned by the institution
• Participating in an online discussion about academic matters
• Initiating contact with a faculty member to ask a question about the academic subject studies in the course

"Academic attendance" and "attendance at an academic-related activity" do not include activities where a student may be present, but not academically engaged, such as:

• Living in institutional housing
• Participating in the institution's meal plan
• Logging into an online class without active participation; or
• Participating in academic counseling or advisement (34 C.F.R. 668.22)(I)(7)(i)(A)

UNC is required to determine "academic attendance" or "attendance at an academically-related activity" for all students. (34 C.F.R. 668-22(I)(7)(ii). (Also see Withdrawal from the University)

At the discretion of the instructor, a temporary grade of Incomplete - "I" may be given to a student who demonstrates that he/she could not complete the requirements of the course due to circumstances beyond the student's control and not reasonably foreseeable. A student must be passing a course at the time that an Incomplete is requested unless the instructor determines that there are extenuating circumstances to assign an Incomplete to a student who is not passing the course.

Students completing an Incomplete grade should not register for the course a second time. 

The instructor must submit to the department chair or school director, a written notice of the specific coursework to be completed before the final grade is determined as well as reasons for the Incomplete grade; a copy is kept in the school/department and one is provided to the student.

If the course requirements are not completed after one year or at the end of the semester in which the student graduates (whichever comes first) and the grade change received in the Registrar’s Office, the grade will be recorded on the academic record as a failing or unsatisfactory grade. Once the incomplete grade(s) have rolled to unsatisfactory/failing, a grade change(s) will not be permitted.

The grade of “NR” is used for theses, dissertations, and other courses that have been granted approval for "NR" grading at the graduate level. The “NR” is assigned when the coursework requires longer than a semester to complete. The “NR” will be replaced by the appropriate grade when the work is completed. Once "NR" grades have rolled to an unsatisfactory/failing, grade changes will not be permitted.

The course syllabus contains important information regarding course requirements and the grading system utilized. It is the responsibility of the students to read the syllabus and consult the instructor if they have questions.