Academic Affairs
The Division of Academic Affairs is entrusted with the task of establishing and maintaining the academic climate and quality of Winston-Salem State University. Students enjoy a variety of choices for academic majors and are engaged by an excellent faculty. Take the opportunity to become familiar with all of the valuable information listed within this section.
Proper academic advising, along with institutional support and resources, are vital to your success. Whether you are a first-year student just beginning your collegiate academic experience, a transfer student joining us from another institution, or a continuing student embarking on upper-level major courses, effective guidance in navigating college life can mean the difference between timely graduation and falling short of your academic goals.
New students should attend Orientation prior to the start of the semester to take placement tests (if required), meet with an Academic Success Counselor and register for courses. It is important that new students take time to read the acceptance letter carefully as well as any other literature received from Winston-Salem State University for more details and information. Current students will receive information on the academic advising period before registration begins. To register for classes for the new term, returning students are required to meet with an Academic Success Counselor or Departmental Faculty Advisor to discuss classes to take, holds that exist and to obtain a registration access pin number (Alternate PIN). A student will not be able to register for classes without an Alternate pin number. It is the student’s responsibility to meet with your advisor prior to registering for classes.
Programs should be carefully planned under the guidance of the academic success counselor or department faculty advisor so that changes in registration will not be necessary. After a student has completed registration, changes may be made only by using the Registrar’s Electronic Services Catalog.
The courses for which a student is registered at the close of the registration period constitute his/her official registration and course load for the semester. No student will receive credit for any course or courses for which he/she is not properly registered.
The normal load for a regular student is the semester requirement as shown for his/her particular curriculum in the catalog or the program as outlined by the respective departments. Full-time students are those who register for a minimum of 12 SH of credit in a given semester. The maximum course load is 18 SH. No student is permitted to take more than 18 SH unless he/ she has a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better. Students who are on probation are required to carry a reduced load of no more than 13 SH. For information on registration at other institutions while enrolled at WSSU, consult the Undergraduate Catalog available online.
Persons who wish to audit courses will follow regular admission and registration procedures and are governed by the same regulations applied to regular students. An auditor pays the regular course fees, but does not take examinations or receive a grade. Students once registered for “audit” are not permitted to change to “credit” and vice versa after the close of the period for making changes in the program.
A student may officially drop courses from his/her schedule until the end of the drop period. The date for each semester appears on the academic calendar.
The university calendar is organized on the semester basis. All credit is computed in terms of semester hours. A semester hour is the equivalent of prepared work for one hour per week for a semester of approximately 16 weeks.
The student’s work in any course will be rated for quality by letters of the alphabet.
| Grade | Description | Grade Points Per Semester Hour |
|---|---|---|
| A | Excellent | 4 grade points per semester hour |
| B | Above average | 3 grade points per semester hour |
| C | Average | 2 grade points per semester hour |
| D | Poor | 1 grade point per semester hour |
| F | Failure | 0 grade points |
| I | Incomplete |
The grade of I is assigned at the discretion of the instructor when a student who is otherwise passing has not, due to circumstances beyond her/his control, completed all the work in the course. The missing work must be completed by the deadline specified by the instructor, but no later than 12 months. If the grade of I is not removed by a signed change of grade form from the instructor during the specified time, a grade of F is automatically assigned by the registrar. Departments have a process to document the missing work and the computed grade with and without the completed work. This is to be filed with the department chair whenever a grade of I is given in case the instructor does not return to the campus the next semester. (WSSU Policy 302.10).
This is to be filed with the department chair whenever a grade of I is given in case the instructor does not return to the campus the next semester. (WSSU Policy 303.18).
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| P, Passing | Student receives credit but no grade points. |
| W, W/E,W/P,W/F | Student has officially withdrawn from classes. |
| AU Course Audit |
No grade points, simply an indicator of status |
Mid-semester progress reports are issued at the middle of the term. End-of-semester reports are issued to all students at the close of each semester.
Final grades are reported to the Office of the Registrar and a copy forwarded to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs not later than 48 hours after the examination in each course is given, except on the last day of the examination period.
Eligibility to be named on the Dean’s List at the end of each semester shall be based on status as a full-time student (12 SH and above), with a grade point average of 3.0 or better for the semester, with no grade below C and no incomplete (I) grades on the report.
A grade once reported to the Office of the Registrar may be changed upon the authorization of the faculty member issuing the original grade and the approval of the vice chancellor for academic affairs. A change of grade is made using the Electronic Services Catalog available on the Registrar’s website. The request is approved by the issuing faculty member’s department chair and updated by the Registrar. The reason for the change of grade shall be entered on the form and signed by the faculty member, department chair, vice chancellor for academic affairs, and the registrar.
Courses taken at Winston-Salem State University may be repeated only twice; i.e., a course may be taken a maximum of three times. If the policy of a particular academic major or minor is to allow fewer than two repeats of a course, then students in that major or minor are obliged to follow the more restrictive policy of that academic department. (WSSU Policy 200.18)
Students are classified as freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors according to the total number of credits their official records in the Office of the Registrar show they have earned by the close of the preceding term.
- Freshmen—those having fewer than 30 SH
- Sophomores—those having 30 to 59 SH
- Juniors—those having 60 to 89 SH
- Seniors—those having 90 or more SH
Students may occasionally find it necessary to withdraw from the university after the semester begins due to personal or medical problems. Withdrawal is not intended to be used to alleviate academic difficulty. Students must consult with your assigned academic success counselor or department faculty advisor before withdrawing from the University. A withdrawal for extenuating circumstances must meet criteria identified and noted in the University Withdrawal Policy. (WSSU Policy 302.8)
Final examinations are held at the close of each semester. The examinations are required of all students.
Comprehensive evaluation of the student’s academic standing is indicated in the grade point average. A grade point average is computed by dividing the total number of grade points earned at WSSU by the total number of hours attempted at WSSU (passed and failed). When a course has been repeated, only the credits earned and points of the higher grade earned are counted. Since a C (2.0) cumulative average is required for graduation (see requirements for all baccalaureate degrees), a student’s record should reflect progress toward that level of achievement. Pass/Fail courses are not used in the computation of the grade point average. (WSSU Policy 302.7 and 302.10).
Winston-Salem State University has four honors categories, which include graduation with distinction, cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude. In order to be eligible for graduation with honors, undergraduate students must complete a minimum of 60 semester hours of graded coursework offered by Winston-Salem State University. A grade-point average in the range of 3.8-4.0 is required to graduate with summa cum laude honors. A grade point average in the range of 3.5-3.79 is required to graduate with magna cum laude honors. A grade point average in the range of 3.0-3.49 is required to graduate with cum laude honors.
In order to qualify for graduation with distinction, students must complete at least 30 semester hours and less than 60 semester hours of graded coursework offered by Winston-Salem State University. A minimum grade-point average of 3.0 or higher is required. (WSSU Policy 302.7).
Any student desiring to receive credit toward graduation for courses taken at any other institution must secure in advance the approval of the department chair in the department where the course is taught and the department chair of the student’s major area. This approval must be documented on the form:
“Permission to Take a Course at Another Institution” which is available by using the Registrar’s Electronic Services Catalog.
The institution at which the work is completed must be fully accredited. A student who has earned 64 SH at a two-year institution cannot earn additional credit from a two-year institution. For credit, the courses must be completed at the C level or higher. The student is responsible for requesting that an official copy of his/her transcript is mailed to the Registrar at Winston-Salem State University as soon as the courses are completed. (WSSU Policy 302.1).
Transfer and Nontraditional Student Services strives to build a community of engaged student learners who value academic excellence, intellectual, personal development, inclusion, ethical conduct, and compassionate service. Utilizing all experiences to enhance a student’s development, this unit serves as a way to refine skills, and develop competencies beyond the classroom. We are committed to identifying and offering learning activities and programs to provide you with that experience.
Additionally, Transfer and Nontraditional Student Services provides co-curricular activities and workshops to ensure that you are competitive among other students in the global working environment. Through enriched opportunities, we offer programs that will provide you exposure, skill development, and learning prospects to enhance your physical and emotional well-being. More information regarding these services can be found by visiting University College in Hill Hall.
