Probation Appeals
What is a Probation Appeal?
A Probation Appeal is an option for students who are either: currently on academic Warning status who do not anticipate meeting all four SAP eligibility standards by the end of the semester, or already on academic Probation and will not return to Good Standing by the end of the semester. This appeal is used for both academic ineligibility AND financial aid ineligibility. Some students may be ineligible in one case, and not the other.
When faced with academic Suspension, students must be approved for Probation to enroll in classes for any term (Fall, Spring, or Summer). Students who are Suspended or academically ineligible will be dropped from their classes for the following semester if not approved for Probation.
Not sure what those SAP eligibility standards or different academic statuses are, or how to check yours? Check out our page on Academic Eligibility.
Here’s What You Should Be Doing:
Please read through the Appeal Resource Guide. This guide will give you all the information you need to prepare your appeal and give you helpful guidance throughout the process. We encourage you to give thoughtful consideration to your academic and personal goals and take responsibility for your academic choices and decisions as part of this journey.
Your appeal will consist of three main elements: a letter of appeal to detail your circumstances and your academic performance for the semester, a plan of action that outlines realistic steps to return back to Good Standing, and supporting documentation that pertains to your particular situation(s). We suggest students work on their appeal in a Word document or other place outside of the submission portal; if the portal were to time out while you were working on your appeal, it would erase all your work.
Think about what kind of courseload you are interested in taking on for the following semester. We suggest you use the tuition and fee information provided by the Cashier’s Office to help you make your decision. You are able to express a preference for full-time enrollment, less than full-time, or no preference. The Appeal Review Committee may determine enrollment in fewer hours to be beneficial for a student to help with balance and improving academics. The maximum number of credits a student can enroll for or stay enrolled in for the following semester will be outlined in your letter of approval and will need to be adjusted if it does not align with your current courseload.
Please communicate with your academic advisor if you have any questions about completing your Probation Appeal.
Here’s How We Can Help:
Appeals can feel overwhelming and stressful- we completely understand. We are here to help answer any questions you may have, look over any materials or parts of your Probation Appeal you would like an extra set of eyes on and be a source of support as you navigate this process. We can help you to reflect on your academic journey and prepare an appeal that best demonstrates your circumstance, goals, and plans for moving forward.
If you would like to learn more about the guidelines that inform appeal decisions, please look over the last two pages of the Appeal Resource Guide. We will do our best to work through every Probation Appeal as quickly as we can, while keeping the integrity of the process.
When is my probation appeal due?
We suggest to all students who are on warning or probation to work on their probation appeal ahead of final grades being posted to ConnectCarolina, as the turnaround from then to the appeal due date can be a matter of only a day or two. If you end up back in good standing- that’s great! But if you need the probation appeal for next semester, it will be much less stressful for you to have part, or all, of that appeal already completed.
| Term | Appeal Deadline | Appeal Decision Date |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2024 | Thursday, December 7, 11:59pm | Monday, January 8 |
| Summer I 2024 | Thursday, April 25, 11:59pm | Friday, May 17 |
| Summer II 2024 | Thursday, June 6, 11:59pm | Wednesday, June 26 |
| Fall 2024 | Thursday, July 25, 11:59pm | Tuesday, August 13 |
How is my appeal for probation evaluated?
All appeals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. However, the following guidelines are considered for both appeals for probation and SAP eligibility:
- Semester or term GPA of at least 2.0 (semester or term GPA of at least 2.3 preferred)
- Demonstrated academic improvement
- Engagement with prior support services, specifically within UNC Advising
- Engagement with resources and support across campus or in the community
- Specific and realistic Plan of Action
- Demonstrated resolution of problems that led to current academic standing
- Use of time while away from the University, if appropriate
Please note that these guidelines inform our decisions, but do not dictate them.
We strongly encourage you to use this opportunity for personal reflection and intentional action. Review the Appeal Resource Guide for more information.