The full Graduate School Policy on Eligibility can be found here.

A student becomes academically ineligible to continue in The Graduate School for the following reasons:

1. Student receives a grade of F, F*, XF, or nine or more hours of L.

The computation of hours taken will include courses for which the student has received a grade of H, P, L, or F, as well as equivalent grades for courses taken through inter-institutional registration where other permanent letter grades may be assigned.

Undergraduate courses taken as a graduate student will not be included in this computation.

If a student completes or withdraws from one academic program and begins study in another academic program, all grades remain part of his or her permanent record. The grades for any courses to be credited toward the new program will be included in the calculation of academic eligibility.

2. Once a student is notified of failing a written or oral exam for the second time, the student automatically becomes ineligible for further graduate work.

• See “Failure of Examinations for Master’s degree or Doctoral degree” section in the MPA Student Handbook.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill facilitates the implementation of reasonable accommodations, including resources and services, for students with disabilities, chronic medical conditions, a temporary disability or pregnancy complications resulting in difficulties with accessing learning opportunities.

In order for School of Government faculty to facilitate accommodations, students must be approved and registered for accommodations through the Accessibility Resources and Service Office.

All accommodations are coordinated through the Accessibility Resources and Service Office. In the first instance students should visit their website http://accessibility.unc.edu, Tel:- 919-962-8300 or Email;- accessibility@unc.edu.A student is welcome to initiate the registration process at any time, however, the process can take time. ARS is particularly busy in the run-up to Finals and during Finals. Students submitting Self-ID forms at that time are unlikely to have accommodations set until the following semester.

Please contact ARS as early in the semester as possible.

ChatGPT and other generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools can produce text, images, and other media. These tools can assist with brainstorming, finding information, and even reading and creating materials. However, these tools must be used appropriately and ethically, and you must understand their limitations. Regardless of your use of any AI tools, you are responsible for the final product of you work, both academically and in the workforce.

Generative AI is extremely useful, but it has the following limitations:

• How output is arrived at is not clear as the internal processes used to produce a particular output within the generative AI cannot be determined.
• The output is based on existing data (often scraped from online sources) and may reflect biases that should be acknowledged. It may also be inaccurate or entirely fabricated, even if it appears reliable or factual. AI tools may also be trained on outdated data, and thus may produce outputs that do not reflect current events or up-to-date information.
• AI evokes a range of intellectual property concerns. Sourcing and ownership of information is unclear and the status of AI output raises numerous questions (e.g., Is output equivalent to a published resource? What citational responsibilities are in place for various AI interactions?).

The following sections provide the philosophy and specific guidelines for using these tools and features (increasingly, generative AI capabilities will be integrated with everyday applications).

In addition to the resources below, the UNC Graduate School has added guidance to the Graduate School Handbook.

Use of generative AI in your coursework is based on the following principles:

1. AI should help you think. Not think for you.
   Use these tools to give you ideas, perform research (in compliance with point 2 below), and analyze problems. Do not use them to do your work for you (e.g., do not enter an assignment question into ChatGPT and copy & paste the response as your answer).
2. Engage with AI responsibly and ethically.
   Engage with AI technologies responsibly, critically evaluating AI-generated outputs and considering potential biases, limitations, and ethical implications in your analysis and discussions. Utilize AI technologies ethically, respecting privacy, confidentiality, and intellectual property rights.
3. You are 100% responsible for your final product.
   You are the user. If the AI makes a mistake, and you use the output, it’s your mistake. If you don’t know whether a statement about any item in the output is true, then your responsibility is to research it. If you cannot verify it as factual, you should delete it. You hold full responsibility for AI-generated content as if you had produced the materials yourself. This means ideas must be attributed, facts are true, and sources must be verified.
4. The use of AI must be open and documented.
   The use of any AI in the creation of your work must be declared in your submission and explained. Details on how to attribute your AI usage are explained below.
5. Data that are confidential or personal should not be entered into generative AI tools.
   Putting personal data (e.g., your One Card details) or confidential information (e,g. information protected from disclosure by state or federal law) into these tools exposes you and others to the loss of important information. Therefore, do not do so.

Not following these guidelines may be a reportable violation to the UNC Honor Court.

AI use and assignments. The following list represents areas for which an instructor may allow AI use; in all cases instructor guidance and directives for their specific course establish permitted behavior for that course and supersede these guidelines.

• Writing and Presentation: In principle, you may submit material that contains AI-generated content, or is based on or derived from it, if your use of AI tools is properly documented and is permitted by your instructor. This may include drafting an outline, preparing individual sections, combining elements, removing redundant parts, and compiling and annotating references. Your documentation must make the process transparent – the submission itself must meet the relevant standards of attribution and validation.
• Multimedia Assignments: In principle, you may submit material that contains AI-generated content, or is based on or derived from it, if this use is properly documented. This may include the generation of images, audio, music, video, etc. Your documentation must make the process transparent – the submission itself must meet the relevant standards of attribution and validation.
• Mathematical and Statistical Analysis, Data Analysis, Data Interpretation, Coding of Data, etc.: Generative AI can be used for these purposes if allowed by your instructor; however, the output must be verified via your own mathematical calculations and proof of work provided in your assignment.
• Readings and Discussions: Generative AI can be used to analyze readings. However, you must also do the readings yourself. Generative AI analysis is not a substitute for reading the works themselves. Similarly, participating in online discussions of readings requires that you provide your own contributions.
• Research: If you use AI to support your research, you must account for and document your use. Possibilities include topic brainstorming, search assistance, source evaluation, summaries and source documentation. Track your use of AI throughout these stages, and then document this assistance as you submit the project. Any material generated through AI in your projects should also be documented in your citations. Please refer to the “Research Use Guidance for Generative Artificial Intelligence” document for more guidance on using AI as part of your research.
• Group Work: Group work guidelines are based on the type of assignment above (e.g., a group written assignment will use the guidelines for written assignments).
• In-Class Activities: Instructors will provide instructions on the appropriate use of AI for in-class activities.
• Written & Oral Exams: Unless instructors explicitly grant permission, the utilization of AI tools to complete or assist with written or oral exams is prohibited and could potentially constitute a reportable violation to the UNC Honor Court. If the use of AI tools is explicitly permitted, you are required to adhere to the guidelines concerning AI citation, verification, and clarity as outlined below.

• Accuracy: Generative AI may invent both facts and sources for those facts. Verification is your responsibility, whether the source of the error is you or the AI makes no difference. You need to check the facts, the quotes, the arguments, and the logic, and document what you did to validate your material.
• Attribution: All ideas that are not originally your own have a source and that source must be attributed. Please be aware that generative AI tends to invent sources. You have a two-fold obligation with respect to attribution:
  • (1) If a source is identified, find and attribute the original source of the idea, identify the location of the text within the source, and provide a working link to the location (if the source is available online). If you are not able to locate the source, delete that content.
  • (2) Document the process by explaining how you used generative AI in a work statement that will accompany your submission of major projects in the class. As you submit a project, develop, and include an appropriate version of the below statements:
    • “I attest that this project did not use AI at any stage in its development or in the creation of any of its components.”
    • “I attest that this project made use of AI in the following ways:”
      You must then use the following form to document your usage. *

* Note that such attribution is not a valid source for facts, only for the output itself.

The MPA program requires all incoming students to successfully demonstrate a working knowledge of the fundamentals of American Government**. The American Government course prerequisite ensures that MPA students begin the program with a solid understanding of government at the local, state, and federal levels.

Upon admission to the program, the Director of Admissions will review all applications to determine if the applicant has met the prerequisite requirement and notify students who have not. Students must have taken an acceptable course and received a passing grade as part of this review.

If a student has not met the prerequisite requirement upon admission, there are two options available:

1. Students can take our own Introduction to American Government course that is offered through our online platform. This is the same platform online students will use to take all of the MPA online format courses. This course is free for our enrolled students. Upon paying the enrollment deposit, we will give students access to the course within a week. This enables students to start on the course as soon as possible to give more time to complete it before the term starts. Students can view the course syllabus here. To successfully complete the course and meet the prerequisite requirement, students must earn an 80% average. If an 80% average is not earned, students must repeat assessments until they meet that average.
2. Students can complete an American Government course at an accredited university. A grade of B or better is required.

** Please note that American History, Introduction to Politics, and Western Civilization courses do not meet the prerequisite requirement for American Government.

Students required to complete the prerequisite must email the Director of Academic Advising and Student Life, Elizabeth Langefeld, with their choice as soon as possible. If a student chooses to complete an outside course, they will need to communicate the institution name, date, and link to the course for pre-approval.

On campus students must complete this requirement before the start of the fall term and online students must complete the requirement before registration of their second term. Students who have not met the prerequisite requirement will not be able to register for their 2nd term.

Completed course documentation must be sent to the Director of Academic Advising and Student Life, Elizabeth Langefeld.

Students who have registered for a future term that they do not intend to attend may request a cancellation of enrollment with the University Registrar. Please note that this form closes before the first day of classes in the on-campus format. For terms where the online format starts later than on-campus, online students should email Elizabeth Langefeld to request a manual cancellation of enrollment.

Students should make every effort to attend all class sessions and to let faculty know in advance, if possible, of any unavoidable absences. Class attendance is very important in the MPA Program as class participation is part of a student’s grade. The university has outlined the official attendance policy, including details on approved absences, here. In addition, on-campus courses will follow a Protocol of Practice for medically-related absence requests.

Academic course load policy refers to University rules concerning the minimum and maximum number of hours in which students may enroll during a term.

Credit Overload

Credit overload refers to permission from the MPA Director and the Graduate School to take more than the maximum number of academic hours allowed in a term. Ordinarily, full-time graduate students may enroll in up to 16 credit hours. Requests to enroll in more than this credit hour limit require approval.

Note: Online students should consult with their SSA or Elizabeth Langefeld regarding an appropriate course load. While they may enroll in full-time hours, it may be advisable to take less given individual circumstances.

Process and Criteria

If you are interested in requesting an overload, the process is as follows:

• Email the MPA Director of Academic Advising, Elizabeth Langefeld, with your request for a credit overload. Include in your request the reasoning for this overload.
• The MPA Program Staff reviews your request, considering your previous academic performance and reasoning for the overload.
• If approved, your request is submitted to the Graduate School for final review and approval.

The MPA program allows students to waive core requirements under limited circumstances as allowed by Graduate School policy.

Core courses can be waived if students can demonstrate mastery of the material, regardless of how or when that mastery was obtained. A few common examples of students requesting course waivers are as follows:

• A student with a public administration undergraduate degree may request to waive out of PA Institutions and Values.
• A student who has completed comparable courses may request to waive out of Analysis & Evaluation I & II.
• A student with a Juris Doctor degree is required to waive out of Law for Public Administration. Please see the Juris Doctor Policy in this section for further details.

If a course is waived, the student must take another course in order to earn the required number of credit hours (45) to receive the MPA degree.

Students should consult with the Director of Academic Advising and Student Life for alternatives.

To waive a course, the student must submit the following to their academic advisor:

• A written request that a core course requirement be waived
• A syllabus or other appropriate documentation from the course when the reason for waiving is prior coursework
• An official transcript noting earned credit for the course (grades earned on course waivers must be equivalent to B or better and prior coursework on a pass/fail or satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis is not acceptable)
• A detailed description of how the mastery was obtained and supporting documentation when the reason for waiving is not due to prior coursework

Waiver requests are considered first by the lead faculty member who teaches the course. Faculty members may have specific requirements that must be met before they recommend that a student be allowed to waive their course. The faculty member will forward the waiver request and his/her recommendation to the MPA program director. The director makes a final recommendation to The Graduate School. The student will be notified in writing if the waiver is approved.

The requirements of the portfolio are communicated to the student when a core course is waived, ensuring that the necessary artifacts are obtained from other courses to complete the thesis substitute.

On-Campus

• Dropping a Course:
  • Graduate students may drop courses using the registration system during the first eight weeks of class. After the eighth week of classes and before the end of the twelfth week of classes, graduate students must obtain a Registration/Drop/Add Form from their academic advisor or program.
  • If a student drops below 9 credit hours after the second week and before the twelfth week, they will need to approval of their academic advisor and the MPA program director.
  • Course drops requested after the twelfth week require approval of The Graduate School.

• Adding a Course:
  • Changes in course registration schedules should be made during the first five days of classes. During this time, students may add courses using the registration system.
  • After the first five days of classes, the addition of a course to a student’s registration schedule requires permission of the MPA program director.

• Auditing a Course:
  • To audit a course, students must obtain the written permission of the course instructor and the academic program chair. Students can request this permission only after the end of the official registration period. Students may later enroll in and receive academic credit for a previously audited course; however, retroactive academic credit for an audited course is not permitted. Full-time students cannot audit courses in the Friday Center for Continuing Education or a course preparing a student for “Credit-by-Examination.” Students officially registered for other courses during a semester or summer session may audit a course without paying a fee.
  • Note: Auditing of online sections is not permitted.

Online

• Dropping a Course:
  • Online students are able to drop courses up until the last day of classes during the tenth week of the term (the class week runs Monday through Sunday, so Sunday would be the last day of classes in a week).
  • If a student is interested in dropping a course after the term starts, they should fill out the drop survey and set up a meeting with the Director of Academic Advising and Student Life to ensure that they understand the process and implications of a late drop.
  • There are financial implications to dropping a course after the term has started. The refund schedule below outlines how much tuition is returned to the student if they drop a course late based on what week of the term the student requested to drop the course.
  • The prorated tuition refund begins on the first day of class for the course.
  • Refund Schedule:

Students withquestions on how financial aid is impacted by a late drop should contact the Office of Student Aid and Scholarships directly.

• Adding a Course:
  • Online students are able to add a course during the first week of classes in a term if the instructor of the course approves.
  • Any student interested in adding a course during the first week of the term should reach out to the Director of Academic Advising and Student Life and the instructor of the course to discuss this potential option.

• Auditing a Course:
  • Online students are not eligible to audit courses.

Students wishing to use faculty members as references for further education, career reasons, and more should first speak with the faculty member in mind. The student should also fill out the FERPA Release Form for Faculty References and Recommendations (00052628) so that the faculty member knows who they may speak to and what parameters there might be, and the student should send copies to the faculty member and the MPA Program Office.

The full policy on grade appeals from The Graduate School can be found here.

MPA Program Grade Appeal Process:

The student should first address his or her concerns with the instructor who assigned the grade.

If, after consultation with the instructor, a satisfactory resolution cannot be reached, the student may lodge an appeal of the instructor’s decision, in writing, to the MPA program director.

To formally appeal a course grade, a student must submit a formal written and signed appeal to the MPA program director, and the director will provide a copy of this written and signed appeal to the instructor. The letter must specifically cite the evidence by which the student alleges (a) that an impermissible element existed in the instructor’s evaluation of the student’s course work and (b) that it influenced the grade assignment to the detriment of the student. The director will then be responsible for compiling the review package to include both the student and faculty information. (Note: Appeals should be submitted no later than the last day of classes of the next succeeding regular semester and may be done so via email.)

When an appeal of a course grade has been properly made to the MPA program director, the director will determine whether the evidence cited warrants further investigation. The burden of proof will fall upon the student. The determination by the MPA Program Director can be made only after providing the instructor with the opportunity to reply to the charges as cited in writing by the student. If the MPA program director judges that the student’s evidence is insufficient to warrant further investigation of the charges, the appeal will be denied. On the other hand, if the MPA program director judges the evidence cited as sufficient to warrant further investigation, the director will appoint a committee of no fewer than three members of the faculty to investigate the charges and render a written set of findings and recommendations. After reviewing these recommendations, the MPA program director’s decision will be communicated in writing to the student.

A student denied a grade appeal may lodge an appeal of the MPA program director’s decision with The Graduate School. Full information on The Graduate School policy for a grade appeal can be found here.

Decisions of The Graduate School are final and cannot be appealed.

Grading System:

The Graduate School grading scale in use at UNC-Chapel Hill is unique in that it cannot be converted to the more traditional ABC grading scale. Graduate students do not carry a numerical GPA.

Grade Scale:

Grading at the graduate level is intended to offer feedback to students on their performance in a given course, including once students reach the thesis and dissertation stage. Faculty are encouraged to specify course requirements and grading expectations for students.

• Graduate Permanent Grades:
  • H: High Pass – Clear Excellence
  • P: Pass – Entirely Satisfactory Graduate Work
  • L: Low Pass – Inadequate Graduate Work
  • F: Fail

Notes on Grading:

• There is not a program standard or Graduate School standard on what constitutes an H, P, L or F. This is on a course by course basis. The philosophy behind this is that each course would have different scales on what would constitute each grade so there is no “requirement” in order to not be restrictive in this way. One example of how an instructor may grade is to look for natural breaks in student performance—exceptional performance is scored with an H and performance that falls significantly below the mid-range for the course falls into the L.
• Instructors are encouraged, but not required, to put their grading scale on their course syllabus
• Students are encouraged to ask their instructor at the beginning or during the term if they have questions about individual assignment grading and/or the overall course grading process.

• Special Permanent Grades
  • F*: Fail – Administratively Assigned; equivalent to F
  • NG: No grade assigned; administratively assigned only
  • XF: Fail – Honor Court hearing outcome; equivalent to F

• Temporary Grades
  • AB: Absent from final examination
  • IN: Work incomplete

Special Grading Symbols:

• Administrative F (F*) Grade:

The Office of the University Registrar automatically converts the temporary grades of AB and IN to F* when the time limit for a grade change on these temporary grades has expired. Receiving a grade of F* results in the student becoming academically ineligible to continue in The Graduate School.

• No Grade (NG) Assigned:

The symbol of NG is recorded for pending Honor Court situations. Should a faculty member need to assign a NG grade, please contact the Registrar’s Office, Records Section or the Office of Student Conduct.

• Honor Court (XF) Grade:

An Honor Court sanction of a failing grade in a course. Receiving a grade of XF results in the student becoming academically ineligible to continue in The Graduate School.

The Honor Code and the Campus Code, embodying the ideals of academic honesty, integrity, and responsible citizenship, govern the performance of all academic work and student conduct at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Acceptance by a student of enrollment in the University requires a commitment to the principles embodied in these codes.

The Honor Code:

It shall be the responsibility of every student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to obey and support the enforcement of the Honor Code. The Honor Code prohibits lying, cheating, or stealing when these actions involve academic processes or university, student, or academic personnel acting in an official capacity. By enrolling in any course which uses online components, you automatically agree to have your identity verified for authentication purposes as required by our accrediting bodies. Additionally, you also agree to our student code of conduct, and confirm that you will not share your login and password, nor receive any assistance with your assessments in your courses.

Student Responsibilities under the Honor Code:

Student and faculty responsibilities regarding the Honor Code are enumerated in the Instrument of Student Judicial Governance for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Specific student responsibilities under the Honor Code include but are not limited to the following:

• To conduct all academic work within the letter and spirit of the Honor Code which prohibits the giving or receiving of unauthorized aid.
• To consult with faculty and other sources to clarify the meaning of plagiarism and to identify allowable resource materials or aids to be used during examination or in completion of any graded work.
• To comply with faculty regulations designed to reduce the possibility of cheating.
• To maintain the confidentiality of examinations by divulging no information concerning an examination, directly or indirectly, to another student yet to write that same examination.
• To report any instance in which reasonable grounds exist to believe that a student has given or received unauthorized aid in graded work.

On-Campus Format:

As a general rule, the MPA Program and the School of Government follows the University closings policy in case of inclement weather. Therefore, if the University is closed, the School of Government is closed as well. The University’s dedicated inclement weather line is 919.843.1234. In certain circumstances, however, classes may be cancelled at the discretion of the instructor or the administration. In case of inclement weather, where classes are delayed or cancelled, first check the university’s main website and with your professor.

Online Format:

Classes and Holidays:

Well-being days and holidays are built into the 14-week term are spelled out in the calendar for that term. Class will not meet on those days, and no assignments will be due for a class during the week where the synchronous session is being replaced by a well-being day.

Classes and Inclement Weather:

Below are best practices in the case of inclement weather that prevents a student from attending online live sessions:

• Call Student Support at 855.672.8621 if you have urgent questions
• E-mail your instructor (if possible and/or necessary) as soon as possible
• Rest easy – Recordings will always be available for you to view
• Be sure to submit any assignments that may be due as soon as possible
• Download asynchronous course materials to your mobile device for review during periods of inclement weather

An independent study is an opportunity for a student to work directly with an instructor to obtain specialized knowledge for academic credit. This policy ensures a standard process for pursuing an independent study and for guaranteeing the study meets the standards of graduate academic credit.

MPA students may substitute a maximum of three credit hours with an independent study upon approval of the MPA program director. Up to three credits will be placed on the student’s transcript and tuition will be charged accordingly.

The responsibility of proposing, recruiting faculty, obtaining approval, and completing an independent study is on the student. Neither the faculty nor the program staff is responsible for coordinating independent studies.

An independent study must have the same dates and length of a corresponding University term. Independent study contracts must be on file by the fifth day of classes in a given term.

The process for obtaining approval for an independent study is as follows:

• Student identifies and consults with a faculty member to develop the topic and content to be covered in the independent study.

• Student submits a written proposal to the MPA Program Director no later than one month before the term in which the independent study is scheduled. A proposal should include:
  • faculty member information
  • syllabus or contract, including learning outcomes and deliverables

• The MPA program director will approve or deny the proposal and inform the student in writing.

• If approved, the student should work with the MPA student services director to enroll in the independent study course.

Upon completion of the independent study, the faculty member assigns the grade and submits to the MPA program director for recording.

Students should consult with the Director of Academic Advising and Student Life for appropriate alternatives.

Further information on Independent Study coursework may be found on this page.

Students who enter the MPA program having previously earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree have already completed sufficient coursework in law such that they have met the fundamental learning objectives of the Law for Public Administration course (PUBA 760). PUBA 760 is intended to be an introduction to law for MPA students who have not completed the law school curriculum.

Therefore, students holding a J.D. are not permitted to enroll in PUBA 760. These students will substitute three additional elective credits for PUBA 760. The graduation requirement remains 45 credits.

In addition, students who have attended law school may transfer no more than 12 elective credits towards their MPA requirements, per the Transfer Credit Application policy.

Students should consult with the Director of Academic Advising and Student Life for appropriate alternatives.

Leave of Absence (LOA):

Graduate School Policy: Within the five-year limit, a student in good academic standing may request one leave of absence from graduate study for a definite, stated period of time (up to one year) during which the student does not plan to make academic progress. To be eligible for a leave of absence, a student should not have received an extension of the degree time limit and not have temporary grades of IN or AB on courses taken.

In advance of the leave period, the student must complete and submit a Request for Leave of Absence Form. This form requires approval by the academic program. If the academic program and The Graduate School approves the leave of absence, the time of that leave will not count against the total time allowed for the degree. Readmission to The Graduate School after an approved leave of absence is generally a formality. Ordinarily, a leave of absence may not be renewed.

Students should be aware that while on leave no progress towards their graduate degree should be made. When on an approved leave of absence, they cannot be considered enrolled students and therefore will not have access to campus services and benefits afforded to enrolled students, including eligibility for holding student employment positions (e.g., TA or RA) or student health insurance, among other services.

Readmission:

Formal application for readmission is required whenever a student fails to register for a regular (fall/spring) semester, whether the student had an approved leave of absence or withdrew. Forms and instructions for leaves of absence and readmission are outlined below.

LOA & Readmission Forms and Instructions:

• Request for Leave of Absence Form
  • If approved for the LOA, the time students are not taking classes will not count against the five-year limit in which students must complete the degree.
  • To initiate this process, students will need to complete the top half portion of the Request for Leave of Absence Form and return to the Director of Academic Advising and Student Life (online or on-campus students).
  • As part of programming for student support in the UNC MPA online format, it is required that any student that is not enrolled during a term to meet with their Student Support Advisor during the term in which they are not taking classes. The purpose of these check-ins are to help students remain connected to the program, establish goals during the time they are away and goals for return, as well as ensure a successful transition back to the program.

• Application for Readmission Form
  • Instructions:
    • Return the completed Application for Readmission Form to the Director of Academic Advising and Student Life (online or on-campus students). Please be sure to clearly indicate which term you are applying to be readmitted for (Fall, Spring, or Summer I).
    • The MPA program director and Graduate School will review and approve or deny the application. If approved, the Graduate School will email the student with the decision and students should be able to register for the next term a few days following.
    • Readmission Deadlines:
      • Applications for readmission must be received in the Graduate School no later than the dates indicated below for the relevant term.
      • Term Application Deadline
        • Readmission applications are due by the end of week 8 in the term prior to the term in which the student would like to return.
  • Residency Application – North Carolina residents who have have not been enrolled for a year or more will also need to reapply for in-state residency to receive in-state tuition. Once completed, please ensure that your tuition rate is correct in ConnectCarolina.

For our students in the Armed Services, please speak with your academic advisor as soon as you are aware of an upcoming military deployment. Our online classes may be taken anywhere in the world with a strong internet connection, but we also recognize that you may need to focus on your deployment, mobilization, or other training obligations while away. Some considerations may include:

• Taking a Leave of Absence (LOA): An official Leave of Absence (details above) may be necessary to “stop the clock” on your time towards graduation. An official LOA also prevents a student from needing to go through readmission at the end of the LOA timeframe, which allows for a more streamlined return to enrollment.
• Withdrawing from a term: Details on withdrawing from a term are located at the bottom of this page. Please note that grade input forms are still required. Students may wish to speak with their VA Benefits Coordinator to determine financial implications of a withdrawal. Prorated tuition, as defined in the Drop section of this page, is utilized based on week of withdrawal.

As always, each student will have individual needs. Please speak with your academic advisor to determine best steps.

Instructions are on the Registrar’s Website for students wanting to request their name be changed on their student record. Please note that the Diploma name in ConnectCarolina will be printed on diplomas. These may be different from the Preferred Name, so please check when applying to graduate.

When special circumstances warrant, a student made academically ineligible under the Academic Eligibility Policy may be reinstated upon petition initiated through the student’s academic program. Students and academic program representatives must develop an appropriate academic plan as part of the Request for Reinstatement to Graduate School Form.

The student’s director of graduate studies must submit the petition together with a statement endorsing or declining to endorse the student’s request to The Graduate School. Final approval rests with The Graduate School. Graduate School staff are authorized to consider routine, first instances of reinstatement requests. If there is a disagreement between the student and his/her academic program, or for any subsequent reinstatement requests, the Academic Policy Committee of the Administrative Board of The Graduate School will hear and vote on the situation. Decisions are final and cannot be appealed.

After academic eligibility reinstatement, any subsequent grade below P or failure of the third attempt of written or oral examinations will result in the student becoming academically ineligible again.

School of Government Petition for Reinstatement Process:

Students who become ineligible may petition for reinstatement in writing to the Director of the MPA Program using the Request for Reinstatement Form outlined by the Graduate School. There is a standing program Petition for Reinstatement Faculty Committee comprised of the MPA Program Director and four other faculty members. For each hearing, the MPA Director, two faculty members from this standing committee, and the Director of Student Services and Program Operations will be formed to consider a student’s petition. The role of the Director of Student Services and Program Operations on the committee is to initiate and facilitate the request for reinstatement process and be a support to the student in this process. The Director of Student Services and Program Operations will not be a voting member of the committee, but will be able to provide information to the committee as needed. The committee will examine all information relevant to the student’s petition and make a decision to support or deny the request. The committee will primarily consider the following:

• If there was poor performance in previous classes
• If there were strong mitigating factors that caused the student to perform below expectations during this class or these classes
• If these factors have been rectified
• If the student has strong potential to complete the curriculum without further academic difficulty
• If the student has strong potential to represent the program successfully
• The academic plan that was put forward in the students petition for reinstatement, as well as assist the student in developing the plan up front

The student who wishes to be reinstated must prepare a reinstatement petition that sufficiently addresses each of the five concerns mentioned above, and any other relevant facts including their academic plan. It should be submitted to the Director of the MPA Program. Upon receipt of the petition for reinstatement, the committee will be formed within one week and the interview with the student will occur within two weeks. Before interviewing the student and rendering a decision, the committee will consider written statements from all of the professors who taught the student as well as seek input from the Director of Academic Advising and Student Life. Reinstatement is conditioned upon earning only grades of P and above and may include recommendations such as additional coursework, time and stress management counseling, or regular meetings with the Director of Academic Advising and Student Life during their first semester back in the program. Students must meet the conditions of their reinstatement (e.g., coursework) at their own expense. Students are responsible for meeting all of the conditions of their reinstatement.

In an appeal, the Academic Policy Committee of the Administrative Board of the Graduate School has several options: upholding the committee’s recommendations; over-ruling the committee’s recommendations; submitting the recommendations for reconsideration by the original faculty committee; or appointing a new faculty committee to consider the case.

The Honor Code and Plagiarism:

In accordance with the UNC Honor Code, it shall be the responsibility of every student enrolled at the University of North Carolina to support the principles of academic integrity and to refrain from all forms of academic dishonesty including, but not limited to:

• Plagiarism
• Falsification, fabrication, or misrepresentation
• Unauthorized assistance or unauthorized collaboration
• Cheating
• Violating procedures pertaining to the academic process
• Deliberately furnishing false information
• Forging, falsifying, or misusing University documents
• Violating other University policies, and
• Assisting or aiding another

When faculty, staff, or students suspect academic dishonesty, in any form, by any student, the MPA program director and MPA student services director shall be informed.

Academic Dishonesty and the Office of Student Conduct:

When faculty suspect academic dishonesty, such as plagiarism, by a student in their class, a report shall be filed with the Office of Student Conduct. It is the responsibility of the Honor Court, and not of the MPA Program Office, to investigate and determine next steps. Faculty who suspect academic dishonesty should:

• Review the faculty resource materials available here.
• Notify the MPA program director and MPA student services director of the situation and intent to file an official report.
• Inform student of suspected violation and intent to file an official report. Student can be instructed to contact the MPA student services director for advice on next steps.
• Report suspected violations using the online form found here.
• Post a grade of IN for the student until the Honor Court completes its investigation.

Additional Resources:

• Resource for faculty
• Resources for students
• Full Instrument of Student Judicial Governance

Please also read the AI Usage guidelines on this page. If there are questions about this policy or process, please contact Heather Duhart.

The MPA Program utilizes a variety of course delivery methods. Please see the MPA Section Format Glossary of Terms to learn more about options.

Scope: Applicable to Residential and Online Courses

The MPA Program is committed to high quality instruction and effective classroom experiences for all students. Therefore, the teaching paradigm embraced by MPA instructors relies on the expectation of an active learning environment, often with the seminar-style approach, where students are contributing to learning outcomes. The MPA program also is committed to the effective use of faculty time, which includes teaching responsibilities.

Given these complementary objectives, the MPA program requires that each course or section has a minimum enrollment of 7 students. The MPA program director may approve exceptions to this policy based on special circumstances, faculty interests, and other needs of the MPA program.

Student Code of Conduct:

Every student at the University of North Carolina must adhere to the Student Code of Conduct. This includes the responsibility to obey and support the enforcement of the Honor Code as well as abide by the Campus Code; namely to conduct oneself so as not to impair significantly the welfare or the educational opportunities of others in the University community. Some of the information contained within the UNC Code of Conduct will be relevant only during the immersion experiences, which are face to face.

Student Responsibilities under the Code of Conduct:

Student and faculty responsibilities regarding the Campus Code are enumerated in the Instrument of Student Judicial Governance for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Conduct specifically prohibited by the Campus Code includes but is not limited to the following:

• Academic cheating, including (but not limited to) unauthorized copying, collaboration or use of notes or books on examinations, and plagiarism (defined as the intentional representation of another person’s words, thoughts, or ideas as one’s own).
• Furnishing of false information, with intent to deceive, to members of the University community who are acting in the exercise of their official duties.
• Forgery, falsification, or fraudulent misuse of University documents, records, or identification cards.
• The knowing abuse of a position of trust or responsibility within the University community.
• The unauthorized use of the name of the University or the names of members or organizations in the University community.
• Knowingly committing a sexual invasion.
• Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when such conduct: (a) constitutes an express or implied condition to another person’s academic pursuits, University employment, or participation in activities sponsored by the University or organizations or groups related to the University, or (b) is engaged in for the purpose of interfering with such pursuits, employment or participation, or
• (c) creates an intimidating, hostile, or demeaning environment for such pursuit employment, or participation.
• Conduct that is directed towards a particular person or persons and discriminates on the basis of race in (a) University employment, including the condition, working environment, and privileges of such employment, (b) opportunity for participation in any University benefit, service, or offering, or (c) participation in University sponsored extracurricular activities.

Legal definitions of specific offenses and possible sanctions for these offenses are described in the Instrument of Student Judicial Governance for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Please see the full process of transferring in credit to the MPA Program on the Transfer Credit Application page.

Full details on withdrawing from a term can be found on the Withdrawal from the Term page.

NOTE: Cancellation of enrollment may be requested before classes start in a term.

We understand that sometimes students need to leave the MPA Program prior to graduation. Please speak with Elizabeth Langefeld regarding anything that would need to be taken care of should you need to withdraw from the program. If you are able to return at a later time, we can help you with that as well!