Student Government Association ||
Student Media ||
Multicultural Student Affairs
Services for Students ||
Housing and Residence Life ||
Recreation and Intramurals
Intercollegiate Athletics ||
University Regulations ||
UNCA Policy on Illegal Drugs
UNCA Catalog: Courses of Instruction
UNCA Catalog: Table of Contents
Campus Life encompasses organized activities outside the classroom that involve student participation or support students in a formal way. Administratively, the Division of Student Affairs has responsibility for the development and coordination of out-of-classroom student services and programs, including: Career Center, Counseling Center, Disability Services, Housing and Residence Life, Multicultural Student Affairs, Public Safety, Recreation, Student Health Services, Student Life and University Dining Services. A number of university committees are concerned with student life and programs, including the Campus Commission on Student Services Funds, Cultural and Special Events Committee, Program Board (Underdog Productions), Recreation and Intramurals Committee and Parking Commission. The Division of Student Affairs also oversees the Student Conduct system, maintaining a liaison with the Student Government Association.
The Office of Student Life comprises the following areas: Bulldog Barker (events newspaper), Campus Commission, Cultural and Special Events, Greek Life, Highsmith University Center, International Student Affairs, Religious Affairs, Student Organization Services, Student Programming and Summit orientation program for new students.
Published every two weeks, this tabloid lists campus events and includes information on programming and happenings at UNC Asheville.
Composed of students, faculty and staff, the Cultural and Special Events Committee schedules events to enrich, expand and extend the academic, intellectual and cultural atmosphere of the campus and the broader community of western North Carolina. Performances range from touring theatre and dance companies to concerts by national and international artists who perform classical, jazz and international music and other musical styles, as well as give lectures and readings.
Greek-letter sororities and fraternities, an integral part of co-curricular life, include the following organizations at UNC Asheville: Alpha Xi Delta, Gamma Phi Beta, Kappa Delta Rho, Sigma Nu and Theta Chi.
The Highsmith University Center is undergoing a $15 million renovation and is scheduled to open in 2004. It will house the Office of Student Life, Student Government Association, Bookstore, meeting rooms and performance spaces, and other facilities for students.
The Office of International Student Affairs coordinates advising, residency and programming for students studying at UNC Asheville from dozens of different countries.
Student Leadership Programs were developed with the belief that leadership skills can be learned and that UNC Asheville students deserve the best program available to develop these skills. These programs provide students with a range of opportunities to serve in a leadership capacity, from outdoor activities to workshops and seminars, with the goal of providing a comprehensive and diverse program of leadership development. They include the following:
Leadership Workshop Series -- A discussion series open to all students, faculty and staff that explores topics ranging from philosophy of leadership to strategic planning and communication skills.
Individual and Group Consultation -- The Student Life staff is available to provide assistance to individuals and groups on a one-to-one basis.
Perspectives on Leadership (IST 253) -- A 3-credit-hour interdisciplinary course for students interested in the academic study of leadership, focusing on leadership theory, practical application and personal leadership development.
Leadership Retreats/Workshops -- Assistance is provided in planning and implementing retreats and workshops of a half day or a full weekend, designed to help students learn new skills and ideas about leadership in a fun-filled, personal setting.
Academic and Leadership Awards Presentation -- This annual tradition honors the university's outstanding student leaders and scholars who have contributed to the campus community.
Co-curricular student organizations are an important aspect of college life. There are about 50 social and special interest clubs, honor societies, service groups, religious organizations and Greek organizations.
They offer an opportunity to develop leadership skills, self-confidence and individual talents.
Underdog Productions is UNC Asheville's student-run campus activities board. Membership is open to all students. The organization is dedicated to providing the campus community with entertaining social and educational events including concerts, coffeehouse solo artists, co-sponsored events with other student organizations and university departments.
The Summit program engages students in experiences that will help clarify college goals and involve them in many aspects of student life once they arrive on campus. Information on classes, campus services, diversity and individuality, and campus life programs are part of the Summit program, held four days at the beginning of fall semester.
Other campus media for students include the student newspaper, The Blue Banner, which is published Thursdays and covers campus news and features and other news that affects students, Headwaters Creative Arts Magazine and a campus radio station.
Return to the top of the page
The Student Government Association is recognized by the university as the governing body of the students. The SGA plays a vital role in policy-making procedures, serving as a voice for students and settling student grievances. The president of the Student Government Association is a full voting member of the Board of Trustees of UNC Asheville.
The executive branch of the SGA is led by the president of the student body, the elected representative of the entire student body, charged with representing concerns of students as they are reflected by the Student Senate. The senate is responsible for recommending policies and procedures consistent with the welfare of the students. The legislative branch of the SGA, led by the vice president, is primarily responsible for this important function. Students are encouraged to get to know their Senate representatives so concerns of the student body can be properly reviewed. Senate meetings are held at least every other week during the academic year. All students are invited to attend.
The Office of Religious Affairs helps coordinate the activities of many different student religious organizations, including Baptist Student Union, Campus Crusade for Christ, Catholic Student Association, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Illumination, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Jewish Student Association, Presbyterian Campus Fellowship, Reformed University Fellowship and United Methodist Campus Ministry. Adjacent to campus are Baptist Student Union and Cooperative Campus Ministries houses.
Return to the top of the page
The Office of Multicultural Student Programs helps students of color adjust to college life academically, socially, culturally and personally. The office plans activities to involve minority students in the university and Asheville communities. Lectures, concerts, special programs, instructional seminars, leadership workshops and retreats, academic advising and mentoring programs, and career building activities are available. The office coordinates organizations such as the African American Student Association and organizes the following celebrations of diversity on campus: Hispanic Heritage Month, Native American Heritage Month, Holiday Fest (Kwanza, Ramadan, Hanukkah and Christmas), Martin Luther King Jr. program, Black History Month, Women's History Month and Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.
Return to the top of the page
The Counseling Center provides services designed to assist students in making decisions concerning their total development, including educational and personal counseling. In addition to individual short-term counseling, the center offers group counseling and workshops on a variety of topics throughout the year. The center is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday. All services are free and confidential.
The Career Center provides career planning and employment services to students and alumni. A professional staff is available to assist in deciding upon a major, career assessment, obtaining occupational information, developing resumes, honing interview skills and determining job hunting strategies. The Career Center also coordinates recruitment events with employers and maintains a Web site (www.unca.edu/career) with career-related information. The center's library houses employer, career, internship and graduate school information in book and software form, as well as current listings of full-time, part-time and summer job opportunities. The Career Center supervises on-campus testing programs related to graduate school admission, offers career-related courses and sponsors career education programs.
The era of college health services functioning strictly as infirmaries has largely passed. Universities today more fully recognize the importance of health as it relates to an individual's ability to learn and serve. Strong administrative support for an active and innovative health service has allowed UNCA to provide outstanding care and involvement with the university community at one of the lowest fees in the state system. The role of Student Health Services extends beyond simply illness-related care to the areas of disease prevention and health promotion.
Student Health Services in Weizanblatt Hall provides appropriate family practice-oriented care for the range of health needs and concerns of a varied population. Visits are covered through each student's health service fee, with on-the-spot charges for lab work only. Students are responsible for prescription medication costs. Hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., by appointment when school is in session, except during summer school when hours are curtailed. After-hours and weekend coverage is provided through the Mountain Area Family Health Center, with which Student Health Services is affiliated, though expenses incurred are not covered by the basic fee. The same is true if care is desired when school is not in session. Hospitalization through our physician and his associates is also available when the need arises. Local referrals can be arranged for special problems. A university-sponsored health insurance plan at a very reasonable rate is available to all students. Student Health Services is an active member of the American College Health Association and maintains the highest standards of care.
North Carolina General Statute, Chapter 130A, Article 6, Part 2, establishes specific immunization requirements for all students enrolled in colleges or universities. Student Health Services monitors student compliance with this immunization law. Students must submit the health form with immunization data signed by a physician in order for Student Health Services to review individual student compliance with the legal and UNCA requirements. Students should make every effort to submit verification of their compliance prior to enrollment at UNCA. State law allows a 30-day grace period for compliance. If, at the end of that time, students are not in compliance they are subject to dismissal from
UNCA. Under certain conditions, students may be reinstated within one week; however, reinstatement in individual classes will be subject to instructor approval, and financial aid awards may not be reinstated.
UNC Asheville complies with laws designed to protect the rights of disabled persons, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. UNC Asheville focuses on the student as an individual and works toward equal opportunity, full integration into the campus environment, physical accessibility and the provision of reasonable accommodations, auxiliary aids and services to students. Support services such as tutoring, readers, assistance and counseling for disabled students, and other services are available. Services are designed and developed based on individual needs, and students may use any of the services appropriate to their needs at no charge. A visit to the campus before acceptance or matriculation is recommended.
Dining Services is operated by Sodexho Management Services. The Dining Hall is the main dining facility for students, faculty and staff, offering options that include specialty grill items, entrees, pizza, salad bar, deli counter and items for special dietary needs. Resident students are required to purchase a meal plan, and commuting students also may purchase a meal plan. A dining points system allows students to make deposits into a fund that may be accessed for the Dining Hall or Cafe Ramsey.
The Department of Public Safety, located in Vance Hall, exists to protect life and property, manage the university's parking services, provide crime prevention services, and be of general assistance to the university community (including 24-hour escorts, key extraction and jump-starts). The Department of Public Safety consist of university police, security, communications and parking services personnel whose mission is "to maintain a safe, secure and peaceful environment with a positive social atmosphere, where meaningful learning can take place."
All university police officers are state certified, derive their powers from North Carolina General Statute 116-40.5, and have met or exceeded the requirements established by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Training Standards Commission. These officers, supplemented by trained non-sworn Security Officers and Public Safety Telecommunicators, are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security and Campus Crime Statistics Act, UNCA's Public Safety information can be obtained at www.unca.edu/publicsafety.
The Office of Housing and Residence Life is committed to providing a clean, safe living environment for all residents. The residence halls represent a wide variety of living options including single, double and suite-style living arrangements. A professional staff member lives in each residence hall area, and resident assistants (RAs) live on every hall of each building. These staff are key to keeping the facilities in top-notch condition. Each of the five residence hall areas is a short walk from the classroom buildings, the library, dining hall, and recreation facilities. All areas offer computer labs, laundry facilities and lounges for students to study or relax. Rooms are furnished with beds, desks, chairs, chests of drawers, blinds, and closet space. Cable TV connections, high-speed Internet access and telephone service are included in the housing package at no additional cost.
Residence Life offers programming that complements and enriches classroom work. Staff members plan and coordinate educational and social programs and entertainment that include a wide variety of activities, such as lectures, movies, discussion groups and intramural teams.
Students who live in UNC Asheville housing sign a Housing and Food Service Contract upon checking into the residence halls. The term of this contract is for one academic year consisting of two semesters, or for an alternate period beginning sometime after fall semester begins and terminating at the end of spring semester. The Housing and Food Service Contract includes a meal plan that is required for all resident students. By signing this contract, each resident agrees to observe all rules and regulations of the university and the Office of Housing and Residence Life as outlined in the Residents' Handbook and the Student Handbook. A complete listing of policies and procedures is distributed to new residents each semester and is available to other students upon request. It contains regulations and guidelines pertaining to check-in and check-out, room assignments and changes, pets, personal safety, mail delivery, key replacement, parking, maintenance, overnight guests, visitation and many other topics.
Students who plan to live off campus make their own living arrangements. They are governed by the rules and regulations of the university when they are on campus.
Return to the top of the page
The Recreation Department comprises Informal Recreation through the Health and Fitness Center, Intramurals, Sport Clubs, UNCA Outdoors (Outdoor Education) and UNCA Wellness Programs. They provide students, faculty and staff with a range of extracurricular activities. Intramural sports held in the Spring and Fall include flag football, volleyball, basketball, tennis, softball, racquetball, soccer, badminton, golf, kickball and more. Sport clubs are formed by interested groups of students. Current clubs include target, martial arts, cycling and others. UNCA Outdoors programs take advantage of UNC Asheville's mountain settinghiking and backpacking, mountain biking, white-water rafting and kayaking, rock climbing and more. Wellness programs include the Mind/Body Fitness Challenge, Wellness Week and special events. Recreation programs use the facilities of Justice Center, Health and Fitness Center and outdoor playing fields and courts.
Return to the top of the page
UNC Asheville is a selective public liberal arts institution. UNCA's intercollegiate athletics program reflects the attitudes and values underlying the university's overall mission: academic excellence, diversity, equity, integrity, service and accomplishment. The UNCA athletics program contributes to this liberal arts culture in two ways. First, athletic programs foster a sense of community and pride by fielding NCAA Division I teams and developing talented student-athletes who successfully represent UNCA in competition and reflect the university's commitment to overall excellence. Accordingly, the athletics program encourages an atmosphere of respect for self and others through the development of ethical conduct, sportsmanship, leadership and citizenship, and provides equitable opportunities for all students and staff including women, minorities and individuals of all sexual identities. Second, the program provides an additional campus experience for capable students to grow and develop academically, personally, socially and athletically. This experience promotes institutional commitment and pride on the part of students, faculty, staff and alumni.
The university participates in Division I competition of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, fielding teams for men and women in basketball, soccer, cross country, tennis and indoor and outdoor track, as well as men's baseball and women's volleyball. A member of the Big South Conference, UNC Asheville has won numerous conference championships for men's basketball, women's and men's soccer, volleyball, cross country and tennis. In 2003 the men's basketball team won the Big South Conference Championship, advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. Conference
Coach of the Year honors have gone to UNCA coaches of men's basketball, cross country, and men's and women's soccer.
UNCA Athletics Department offices are located in the Justice Center, which also houses the indoor swimming pool, 1,100-seat basketball arena and locker rooms. The Health and Fitness Center addition has a weight and fitness room, elevated 1/10-mile indoor track, and basketball, volleyball and racquetball courts. Outdoor athletic facilities include Greenwood Fields for soccer and baseball, university tennis courts, 1/4-mile track, new steeplechase pit, pole vault pit and straight-away chute.
Return to the top of the page
All students are governed by federal, state and local laws in addition to university rules and regulations. By authority of The Code provisions governing The University of North Carolina and the chancellor, it is the duty of the University Judicial System to have jurisdiction over matters pertaining to students in situations where: (1) infractions of university rules and regulations are possibly serious enough to lead to probation, suspension or expulsion; (2) infractions of university rules and regulations result in damages to property and there is a dispute as to guilt. Procedures of the university judicial system will afford students an opportunity for due process in these situations. Specific university rules and regulations may be found in the Student Handbook, which is published annually.
All vehicles parked on campus must be registered with the Department of Public Safety and are subject to current Traffic and Parking Regulations, published annually by the Department of Public Safety.
The University of North Carolina has long honored the right of free discussion and expression, peaceful picketing and demonstrations, the right to petition and to assemble peaceably. That these rights are a part of the fabric of this institution is not questioned. They must remain secure. It is equally clear, however, that in a community of learning, willful disruption of the educational process, destruction of property, and interference with the rights of other members of the community cannot be tolerated. Accordingly, it shall be the policy of the university to deal with any such disruption, destruction or interference promptly and effectively, but also fairly and impartially, without regard to race, religion, sex or political beliefs.
Sexual harassment is illegal. It is against university policy and will lead to disciplinary action. If you have experienced or witnessed what you believe to be sexual harassment, or if you have questions, you should contact your advisor, a member of the Counseling Center staff or the Affirmative Action officer/director of Human Resources/Personnel.
The university will establish no policy or regulation that sanctions either the use of alcoholic beverages or any action which contravenes state or federal law regarding their purchase or consumption. North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Laws make it unlawful for anyone under 21 years of age to purchase or possess or consume alcohol, or for anyone to aid such a minor in purchasing, possessing or consuming alcoholic beverages.
All members of the university community are responsible for obeying state laws indicated above and state laws pertaining to the transportation of alcohol and the consumption of alcohol in public places
(General Statutes 18-51). Students are further expected to follow the university's Alcoholic Beverage Policy as stated in the Student Handbook.
The university discourages the drinking of alcoholic beverages, drunkenness and other abuses of alcoholic beverages by any person. Being under the influence of alcohol is considered a serious breach of conduct, and students who violate these standards are subject to appropriate disciplinary action as outlined in the Student Handbook.
Return to the top of the page
The University of North Carolina at Asheville is an academic community dedicated to the transmission and advancement of knowledge and understanding. The Board of Trustees is committed to the maintenance and protection of an environment in which students and faculty members may responsibly pursue these goals through teaching, learning, research, discussion and publication, free from internal or external restraints that would unreasonably restrict their academic endeavors. Moreover, it is the obligation of all members of the university communityfaculty, students, administrators and other employeesto help maintain an environment where academic freedom flourishes and in which the rights of each member of the academic community are respected. The illegal use of and trafficking in drugs can jeopardize the welfare of members of this academic community. Accordingly, in an effort to responsibly address such threats to the integrity of the academic environment, the Board of Trustees adopts this policy.
When a student, faculty member, administrator or other employee has been charged by the university with a violation of policies concerning illegal drugs, he or she may be suspended from enrollment or employment before initiation or completion of regular disciplinary proceedings if, assuming the truth of the charges, the Chancellor or, in the Chancellor's absence, the Chancellor's designee concludes that the person's continued presence within the university community would constitute a clear and immediate danger to the health or welfare of other members of the university community, provided that if such a suspension is imposed, an appropriate hearing of the charges against the suspended person shall be held as promptly as possible thereafter.
Annually, the Chancellor shall submit to the Board of Trustees a report on campus activities related to illegal drugs for the preceding year. The reports shall include, as a minimum, the following: (1) a listing of the major educational activities conducted during the year; (2) a report on any illegal drug-related incidents, including any sanctions imposed; (3) an assessment by the Chancellor of the effectiveness of the campus program and; (4) any proposed changes in the policy on illegal drugs. A copy of the report shall be provided to the President of The University of North Carolina system.
Return to the UNCA Catalog: Table of Contents