General Information:
By Topic

Students enrolled at Winthrop University must earn a minimum cumulative grade-point average in accordance with the eligibility schedule below in order to avoid being placed on academic probation or suspension:

For more detailed information on probation and suspension, consult the undergraduate catalog.

President's List
Each undergraduate student who completes a minimum of 12 semester hours of courses taken on a letter-grade basis (excluding S/U) during the fall or spring semester and earns a grade-point average of 4.00 is eligible for the President's List for that semester.

Dean's List
Each undergraduate student who completes a minimum of 12 semester hours of courses taken on a letter-grade basis (excluding S/U) during the fall or spring semester and earns a grade-point average of at least 3.50 is eligible for the Dean's List for that semester.

Honor Graduates
Any undergraduate student who completes degree requirements with a final grade-point average of 3.50 to 3.74 shall be granted a diploma cum laude; any undergraduate student who completes degree requirements with a final grade-point average of 3.75 to 3.89 shall be granted a diploma magna cum laude; any undergraduate student who completes degree requirements with a final grade-point average of 3.90 or higher shall be granted a diploma summa cum laude.

In order for a student who has credits transferred from another institution to receive a diploma with honors (cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude), it is necessary for the student to have both of the following:

• The required grade-point average for all work taken at Winthrop
• The required grade-point average on the combination of:
  • Winthrop work (including courses lost due to utilization of academic forgiveness)
    AND
  • All work taken at other institutions.

Note: Coursework taken at other institutions cannot raise a graduate to a higher level of Academic Honors.

Students who transfer to Winthrop must have the required GPA on all course work taken, including courses taken at other institutions, to qualify for graduation with honors.

Honors Recognition
Any undergraduate student who completes degree requirements with a final grade point average of 3.75 and earned a minimum of 48 quality hours (earned hours on a regular letter grade basis) at Winthrop University will receive Honors Recognition.

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To assure accuracy in receiving correspondence from the University, it is important that addresses and telephone numbers are kept current. All students needing to update permanent and local addresses and telephone numbers, should do so by logging into Wingspan or by completing the appropriate form online and bringing, mailing, or faxing it to our office.

Campus PO Boxes must be changed through the Campus Post Office in Dinkins Student Center.

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As Winthrop transitions to a computerized degree audit system, each college is handling undergraduate degree audits differently. In the Colleges of Arts & Sciences and Education, please see your academic advisor. In the College of Business, go to the Student Services Office. In the College of Visual & Performing Arts, visit your departmental office.

• Provides the student and advisor the ability to track all remaining degree requirements.
• Notifies students early of any discrepancies or problems to enable them to resolve them.
• Enables students to register for classes they need.
• Helps students plan the scheduling of classes for their Junior and Senior years.

For more information on the final steps toward Graduation, click here.

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Undergraduate students my audit a course with the permission of the instructor of the course and the department chair or academic dean on a space available basis.  An auditor is not required to participate in any examinations or graded course assignments.  Participation in class activities and the class attendance policy is at the discretion of the instructor.  Students have until the last day of registration during the fall and spring semesters and the first day of each summer session to select the audit option.  Forms can be found in the Office of Records and Registration.

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The University reserves the right to cancel classes for which there is insufficient enrollment and to close classes when they reach a peak enrollment. For information about classes which were canceled, contact the appropriate college.

Hazardous Weather Conditions

In instances of unsafe road and traveling conditions, the University notifies local media outlets in areas where Winthrop students and employees live if scheduled classes and activities have been changed. Students should use their local media and discretion in judging the safety of traveling to the campus during periods of inclement weather. Students and employees may also check their Winthrop email or the Winthrop home page for official announcements and information during hazardous conditions.

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Charlotte Area Consortium

Winthrop participates in the Charlotte Area Educational Consortium (CAEC), which includes 24 colleges in the Charlotte area.  Under the CAEC Exchange Program, a full-time undergraduate student at Winthrop may be allowed to enroll in an additional course at a member school at no additional academic fee charge, provided the additional course does not enroll the student in a course overload.  The Exchange Program is available during fall and spring semesters only.  Further information as well as the Inter-Institutional Registration form are available in the Office of Records and Registration.  Winthrop students must obtain the signature of their Adviser and Student Services Office representative, bring it by the Office of Records and Registration, and then take it to the member college in which they wish to enroll.

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Courses may be dropped via Wingspan prior to and during the first week of classes.  (During summer sessions, courses may be dropped via Wingspan through the first day of the session.)  After the first week of classes, course withdrawal forms are available in the Registration Office. The official date of withdrawal from a course is the date the withdrawal form is returned to the Registration Office with the signatures of both the instructor of the course and the student's advisor. (During summer sessions, the advisor signature is not required.)

Withdrawal from a course must be within the first 60% of the instructional days of the course.  (The last day to withdraw from a full-semester course for Spring 2008 is March 12.)  An automatic N is issued.  After this date, students may not withdraw from a class without documented extenuating circumstances.  These circumstances are outlined under the Academic Regulations section in the 2007-2008 catalog which is available online.

Students who wish to withdraw from all courses at Winthrop should initiate the withdrawal process in the Office of Records and Registration, 126 Tillman. (If you would like to complete the paperwork prior to visiting Records and Registration, download the "Withdrawal Form" now.) A student may withdraw after the course withdrawal deadline with documented extenuating circumstances.  A student may not withdraw during the last week of class. For further information on withdrawing from the University, please consult the undergraduate catalog.

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While the normal course load for an undergraduate student is 15 to 17 hours per semester, a full time course load may range from 12 to 18 hours. A continuing student with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher may register for up to 21 hours. A student on academic probation may take no more than 15 hours in a given semester.

During summer sessions, undergraduate students may not overload. The following is a breakdown of summer enrollment:

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Transfer Credit
Transfer Credit is determined by the academic unit in which the student enrolls. For further information on the Transfer Credit Policy, refer to the "Winthrop University Undergraduate Catalog".  Students who are transferring from a technical college in South Carolina may view transferable courses here.

Advanced Placement Credit (A/P)
Confirmation of A/P Credit can be obtained in 126 Tillman or on Wingspan under "Transfer Credit". Advanced Placement scores must be sent directly to Winthrop. Students successfully completing Advanced Placement courses and receiving a score of three or above on the exam shall receive credit for the appropriate Winthrop course. For a listing of acceptable AP Exams and required scores, visit the Office of Admissions web site.

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) Credit
CLEP Credit information may be obtained from Counseling Services, 203 Crawford (803-323-2233). The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests are administered monthly at Winthrop, except during midterms, final exams, and holidays. Interested students are advised to take the tests at least two weeks before they plan to enroll so that the test results may be received and evaluated prior to registration.

There are two types of CLEP examinations: the General Examination and the Subject Examination. Winthrop University grants credit only for the Subject Examinations, which are designed to exempt specific encourages students to take CLEP Subject Examinations for credit in subjects or areas which they have mastered through previous study, purposeful reading, travel, or other experiences. Students interested in foreign language exemptions are advised to take the CLEP Subject Examination in the desired language.

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Prior to graduating, each undergraduate student is required to attend three cultural events for every 20 hours completed at Winthrop University, not to exceed 18 cultural events. The purpose of the cultural events requirement is to establish and foster a life-enriching pattern of cultural involvement.

Programs which will earn cultural event credit will be in areas that are related to the arts such as plays, concerts, films, art shows, and dance performances or from lectures of universal appeal. Lectures that are included on the cultural events calendar are selected on the basis of the speaker's reputation and ability to generate new ideas and discussion on topics of universal significance.

Students may check the number of cultural events they have attended by logging on to Wingspan.

Find out more regarding the Winthrop University's Cultural Event requirement.

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Enrollment and Degree Verifications

Enrollment and degree verifications are provided upon request for insurance, deferments, and other purposes. Please contact the Office of Records and Registration.

Winthrop University has authorized the National Student Clearinghouse to provide degree and enrollment verifications. If you are an employer or background screening firm requesting this information, please contact the National Student Clearinghouse at 703-742-4200 or visit their web site.

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Students may access grades via Wingspan. The Wingspan system can display past term grades as well as a view of your unofficial transcript. Grades will not be available to students who have past due balances with the University.

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GPA’s are calculated by dividing quality hours (graded hours) by quality points. Visit the online Grade Calculator to figure out what your GPA will be at the end of the semester or even what it needs to be in order to improve your current GPA.

Note:  Graduate students who are taking an undergraduate course (below 500-level) will not have that course grade factored into their gpa.

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A $25 application fee will be assessed for all students. Failure to file an application as specified above will result in a late fee. If the application is filed during the first four weeks of the final semester, a $10 penalty is assessed; filing any later requires a $20 late fee. Applications are available online in the Graduate School website, or in the Office of Records and Registration, 126 Tillman Hall.

Undergraduate students, please visit Steps to Graduation.

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Students' health needs are met by the professional staff of Health Services. Nurses provide care on a walk-in basis from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Students are charged for medications, laboratory procedures, and some physician services. Charges are billed to the student's account and are due upon receipt of goods or services. Students must present a Winthrop identification card and must have a complete health record on file to receive services. A complete health record includes a medical history, a physical examination by a private physician, and the mandatory immunizations.

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Each registered student must obtain an official identification card (Eagle Passport). Identification cards are nontransferable. They allow students to take advantage of University facilities, obtain cultural event credit, use Cafe Cash, and utilize other campus services.

Winthrop student identification cards are issued by the Technology Services Office located in 15 Tillman upon a student's initial enrollment. The first ID card is free; replacements are $10 each. For specific questions concerning ID cards, contact Technology Services at 803-323-4774.

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All admitted Winthrop University students are required to have complete immunization records on file with Health Services. Students who have not filed current immunization records will not be permitted to register until they have done so. Students registering for on-campus short-session classes must contact the Health Services Office for immunization clearance. For more information contact Health Services at 803-323-2206.

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The forms to obtain name, social security number, and address changes are available in 126 Tillman. You may also access the forms online.

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Any undergraduate student may appeal for variations in the general education requirements and other university-wide academic regulations by submitting a typed petition to the Committee on Undergraduate Petitions.

Petitions must be accompanied by supporting statements or other documentary evidence which the student judges pertinent to the petition. Petitions should be addressed to the Committee on Undergraduate Petitions, c/o Registrar, and should include the student's name, social security number, address, major, class, telephone number, and name of advisor.

To be considered at a regular monthly meeting, petitions must be received by the Registrar at least one week prior to the published meeting date of the Petitions Committee. (See the Registration Calendar for dates.)  The Registrar forwards the petitions, along with any supporting documents, to the Undergraduate Petitions Committee and relays to the student the decisions reached by the Committee.

Petition forms are acquired in and submitted to 126 Tillman. Students are notified by mail from this office of the Petitions Committee decision. You may also access the "University-Wide Undergraduate Petition Form" online.

Graduate Students must contact The Graduate School.

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Any Winthrop undergraduate student who was not registered for courses the previous semester or has withdrawn from the University for any reason and fewer than five calendar years have elapsed, is required to apply for readmission through the Records & Registration Office in 126 Tillman. You may also access the "Application for Undergraduate Readmission" online.  Students who have attended another college since leaving Winthrop must have transcripts sent to Records and Registration. A 2.0 GPA is required for readmission if the student has enrolled in 12 hours or more.

Winthrop students who have been absent for five calendar years or longer must be readmitted through the Office of Admissions.

Former students who are 25 years or older may initiate readmission through the New Start Office.

Graduate students must be readmitted through The Graduate School.

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Winthrop University, in coordination with the Military Science and Aerospace Studies departments at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte, provides its students the opportunity to become commissioned officers in the United States Army or Air Force while simultaneously pursuing a Winthrop degree. In addition, ROTC offers numerous scholarships and incentives to qualified applicants in an effort to help offset some of the costs associated with earning an undergraduate or a graduate degree.

Full-time Winthrop University students can register for the ROTC courses through the Charlotte Area Educational Consortium. This collaboration between twenty-two colleges and universities in the Charlotte/Rock Hill area allows full-time students on one campus to take a course on another campus at no additional tuition charge. Students may register for up to their maximum course load (typically 18 hours) across both campuses. Winthrop students can pick up a consortium form at the Office of Records and Registration in 126 Tillman Hall.

ROTC courses taken at UNCC are transferred back to Winthrop and may be used as elective credit(s) toward a degree program. The grade will not be included in the student’s Winthrop GPA calculation.

For more information on the ROTC programs contact:
Air Force ROTC web: http://www.coas.uncc.edu/afrotc/index.htm
Email: det592@email.uncc.edu

Army ROTC web: http://www.arotc.uncc.edu/
Email: armyrotc@email.uncc.edu

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There are four basic residence requirements:

1. A minimum of 31 semester hours of course credits must be taken in residence at Winthrop University within five calendar years preceding the date the degree is granted.
2. A minimum of 22 of the final 31 hours required for the degree must be taken in residence at Winthrop exclusive of CLEP credit. However, a minimum of 15 is required if the student participates in a recognized exchange program at Winthrop University. This exception will require the approval of the Winthrop director of the exchange program, the head of the student’s department, and the director of student services in the college of the student’s major.
3. When part of the final 31 hours is taken at another institution, the student must have taken a minimum of 30 semester hours at Winthrop prior to taking the final 31 hours. The institution and the course(s) taken must be satisfactory to the student’s advisor and to the dean of the college.
4. A minimum of 12 semester hours of course credits must be taken in residence at Winthrop in the major discipline(s).

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Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

Students may elect the S/U option on one class per semester, up to 4 in their undergraduate career.  (Graduate students may not elect an S/U.)  They may elect this option within the first two weeks of the fall and spring semesters (summer sessions are shorter—check registration calendar).  Students may RESCIND the S/U on a course after the second week and up until the last day to withdraw from a class.  If a student rescinds their S/U, it counts toward their maximum of 4.

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If there is any question about status as a legal resident of South Carolina, the student is responsible for proving his/her entitlement to the fees afforded to a legal resident of this state. The law applies to a student's own legal residence if the student is independent of his/her parent, guardian, or spouse. If the student is claimed as a dependent for income tax purposes and/or receives more than half of his/her support from a parent, guardian, or spouse, the law applies to the legal residence of the person who provides the principal financial support.

New students should direct questions to:
Office of Admissions, Debi Barber, Joynes Hall, (803) 323-2191.

Returning and continuing students should direct questions to:
Records & Registration Office, Tim Drueke, 126 Tillman Hall, (803) 323-2194.

Access the entire SC Residency application packet online.

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South Carolina residents 60 and older may attend classes at Winthrop University on a space-available basis without paying tuition. Registration and laboratory fees, where applicable, must be paid.

For more information, undergraduate students should contact the New Start Office located in Joynes Hall at 803-323-2106, and graduate students should contact the Graduate School office located in 209 Tillman at 803-323-2204.

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Students requiring special registration accommodations should contact the Counselor for Students with Disabilities. Counseling Services coordinates all services for students with disabilities. For facilities information, contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities in Crawford at 803-323-3290.

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A permanent record of each student's courses, credits, and grades earned is maintained in the Records & Registration Office. Transcripts are provided upon written request of the student. There is no fee for transcripts, except in the cases of:

• same day = $10.00
• faxed = $5.00
• same day faxed = $15.00
• overnight express (DHL or UPS Next Day charge, usually $14-20)
• same day overnight express ($10 plus express charge)

Transcripts are withheld from those students and former students who have unpaid accounts with the University.

Transcript requests are processed in 126 Tillman. You may access an online form which you will need to complete and bring to 126 Tillman, fax to 803-323-4600, or mail to Records and Registration, 126 Tillman Hall, Rock Hill, SC 29733.

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Validation

Validation is the last and final step in the registration process. Validation is a term used to verify that a student will be attending classes and that all financial obligations have been met.  Even if a student receives enough financial aid and scholarships to cover all tuition and fees, students must still validate their schedule by the fee payment deadline so that their schedule will not be dropped.  This is done through the Cashier's Office via phone or web. Click here for further information on Validation.

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Students authorized to operate and park a motor vehicle on campus must register the vehicle. For additional information regarding vehicle registration, parking, or violations, contact Campus Police in the Good Building at 803-323-2553.

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Eligible students are certified for enrollment in the Records and Registration Office, 126 Tillman. This office serves as a liaison between the student and the VA Regional Office in matters related to academic eligibility and enrollment.

Be sure to visit the Veteran Affairs Office web site for more information.

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Winthrop University realizes that our students have a lot of preparations to make whether they are coming to college for the first time or whether they have been at Winthrop for several years. Changing your voter registration so that you can vote while at college may not be one of the preparations you make prior to attending school. We would like to make this process as easy for you as possible so you can be an active member in the Nation's voting community.

Unfortunately, less than half of eligible citizens voted in the last election. But studies consistently show that keeping voters actively registered is the key to increasing voter turnout. It is important that you exercise your right to vote!

Register to vote by visiting the Office of Records and Registration in 126 Tillman Hall and picking up a voter registration form, or visit one of the web sites listed below:

• Federal Election Commission, National Mail Voter Registration
• York County Registration and Elections
  (Click on "Where to Register to Vote" to access the online Voter Registration Application.)