Honor Code

The Honor Code is the heart of integrity at UNC-CH. 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. The Campus Code requires students to conduct themselves in such ways as not to impair the welfare or the educational opportunities of others in the University community. As a UNC student, you have accepted a commitment to the Honor Code and the Campus Code, and the principles of academic integrity, personal honesty, and responsible citizenship on which they were founded more than 100 years ago.
Academic dishonesty in any form is unacceptable, because it circumvents the purpose of the University's life and work. All faculty members have a responsibility to report any possible Honor Code violations to the Student Attorney General. All written, individual assignments, should include the Honor Pledge, which states "On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this assignment."

Policies for distance education certificate programs 

Students who earn an "F" in a class will not be allowed to continue in the Certificate Program.

If a student receives an "L" in a course, it will not transfer into a degree program. Students can only receive 9 credit hours with an "L" in the Certificate program before their status will be withdrawn.

Students may take an incomplete in a class, but then have 1 year to complete that class or a grade of AB/FA will be assigned. This mark is equivalent to failing a course and will cause the student's removal from the program. Students may withdraw from a course by contacting the registrar within the time frame allowed for all graduate programs at the School of Public Health, as posted on the SPH calendar.

Certificate students may defer their course of study (i.e. not enroll for classes) for one year only. If they defer for more than one year they will be terminated from the program. If a student chooses to re-enroll in the program at a later date, they will need to submit another application to the program. If another application is submitted the student can add in their statement of purpose that they were enrolled in the program previously and provide the year in which they were enrolled.

All courses of study must be completed within 3 years of enrolling in the Certificate program.

Certificate program enrollees may not transfer in courses from another program or institution.

Students MUST keep their contact information current at all times with our office and in the UNC Student Information System (SIS). Contact information includes email address, mailing address and phone number. Any changes need to be entered at Student Central and you need to contact our office with the new information as well.

Grading Policy

The grades that you receive from the Certificate program are as follows:

IN - Instructors should assign an "IN" where the student took the final examination but did not complete some other course requirement. The student could pass the course if the assignment was completed. The "IN" is computed as an "F" in an undergraduate student's GPA. For undergraduate students, an "IN" is changed automatically to an "F" if the grade is not cleared by eight weeks into the next regular semester. For graduate students, an "IN" will revert to an "F*" (administratively assigned grade) if the grade is not cleared within one year from the original examination.

AB - Must be given to a student who did not take an exam regardless of the reason, but might have passed the course had they done so. The "AB" is computed as an "F" grade in an undergraduate student's GPA. For undergraduate students, an "AB" grade is changed automatically to an "F" if the grade is not cleared by the end of the next regular semester. For graduate students, an "AB" will revert to an "F" (administratively assigned grade) if the grade is not cleared within one year from the original examination.

It is very important to inform your TA, instructor, and us immediately if you choose to drop a course or withdraw from the program!!! If you do not inform us of your intentions, you could end up with an F or AB on your transcript. If you are not participating in the course discussions and work (without our knowledge that you are no longer in the program or course) you could receive an F on your transcript.

Withdrawal Policy

When you decide to withdraw from a course you need to contact the instructor, your TA, your other classmates that are in your discussion group, and Damian Gallina (Program Coordinator) at dgallina@email.unc.edu.

Fall and Spring semesters:
During the first week of classes you can withdraw from the Certificate
program and receive a 95% tuition and fee refund. During the next eight weeks, if you choose to withdraw, the refund is prorated at 10% less each week beginning with an 80% tuition and fee refund during the 2nd week. After the 9th week there will be no refund given.

If you are taking two courses and choose to drop one during the first two weeks of class you will receive a refund for that particular course. After the first two weeks, if you choose to drop a course you will not receive a refund, unless you can provide documentation from the professor that you did not participate in the course.

Summer semester:
Since classes are held throughout 1st and 2nd summer sessions, the policy will vary slightly from fall and spring. Both sessions total approximately ten weeks of instruction. Generally, only one course is taught during summer session. The last day to cancel your registration is the day before 1st summer session classes begin.

If you decide to withdraw within the first week of classes, you will receive a 75% refund. During the second week of classes you will receive a 50% refund and in the third week you will receive a 25% refund. Beginning with the fourth week of classes, no refund will be provided unless there are extenuating circumstances. Written documentation will be required.