Frequently Asked Questions



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I'm a freshman. Why do I have a hold on my account?

If you're a freshman or a transfer students with fewer than 26 earned hours, UCAC will place a hold on your account until you exceed the 26-hour-mark so that we will be able to speak to you before you register for the next semester's courses. We want to make sure that you're not going to take courses that may endanger your academic standing and we also want to make sure that you are meeting core requirements, major requirements, and scholarship requirements.

An advisement hold can be removed by visiting with a UCAC advisor OR at the advisement center located within the college of your intended major. Visit with an advisor as soon as possible to insure you are able to register for classes without difficulty.

UCAC students who have an Advisement Hold will receive an email indicating the preferred time for you to visit. If you visit during your scheduled time, you will receive a registration incentive.

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I'm not a freshman. Why do I still have a hold?

ELIGIBILITY HOLDS — University College also places an "ELIGIBILITY" hold on those students who have met, or are nearing, the eligibility limitation for University College. UCAC's goal is to assist you in meeting the requirements for admission into the degree-granting program of your choice. UNM limits how long a student may stay in University College before they are admitted to a degree-granting program. Typically, your eligibility as an undeclared undergraduate student expires when you reach a maximum of 64 earned hours or 72 attempted hours.

An eligibility hold may require you to either apply to the College of your desired major OR submit a petition requesting "qualifying category" status. Acceptance into the Qualifying Category allows you to remain in University College while you complete the prerequisites for acceptance. For more information on the QC and if it applies to you, please click here.

PLEASE NOTE:
Qualifying Category status is not granted automatically and provides a very limited amount of additional time in University College. In addition, you will be complete a qualifying category in which you must agree to meet the conditions necessary for acceptance into your intended program. Many programs at UNM are highly competitive. It's always a good practice to have a "backup" major in mind.

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OK. So now I know why I have a hold. What do I do to get rid of it?

To have an academic hold taken off your account, simply visit our office in Student Services 114. All of our hours are walk-in hours and we see students during these times:

Monday 9:15-4:15
Tuesday 8:15-4:15
Wednesday 8:15-6:00 (Extended hours)
Thursday 8:15-4:15
Friday 8:15-4:15

We do not advise students over the phone or over email and we will not remove your holds this way.

If you believe you have an eligibility hold (because you're approaching 64 earned or 72 attempted hours), you may begin the process of lifting that hold by making an appointment with your intended college of major and completing a Qualifying Category with an advisor. For more information on the QC, please click here.

About Probation and Suspension Holds

PROBATION HOLDS

University College places a probation hold on a student's account when he or she is no longer in "good academic standing" with UNM. "Good academic standing" for students with fewer than 30 hours is a 1.7 cumulative GPA; for students with more than 30 hours, "good academic standing" is a 2.0 cumulative GPA. Placing a probation hold on your account is our way of making sure you come to develop a plan with your advisor to get back in good academic standing.

HOW TO GET OFF THE PROBATION LIST

The best way to get off of probation is to work with your advisor and develop a plan for the following semester. You may need to repeat one or more of the classes you did poorly in (see the section on replacing a grade). In addition, it's usually very helpful to seek out tutoring from CAPS or mentoring programs such as those offered through El Centro.

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What can I do to get off of probation?

The easiest way to get off probation is to repeat the courses in which you received grades of D+ or less. The UNM grade replacement policy allows you to replace 12 credit hours of course work. Once you have repeated classes and processed the paperwork, your GPA will usually improve tremendously. In contrast, doing well in courses for the upcoming semester (while still having the "bad" grades in the system) may not be enough to take you off of probation. In order for you to improve your chances of getting good grades, it's really important that you use the facilities UNM provides. CAPS and the many Student Services on campus will help you to ensure that you succeed.

SUSPENSION HOLDS

UNM does not let students continue if they are unable to maintain the GPA necessary to obtain a degree. A lack of academic progress over time is sufficient justification to suspend a student from UNM. University College places a hold on a student who has been SUSPENDED by the Registrar's Office due to a lack of academic progress.

PLEASE NOTE:
If you are notified that you have been suspended, it is possible to APPEAL the decision. In order for your appeal to be successful, you must have compelling evidence (and supporting documentation) of extenuating circumstances beyond your control.

STUDENTS ON SUSPENSION MAY NOT ENROLL FOR CLASSES AT UNM UNTIL THEIR SUSPENSION PERIOD HAS BEEN COMPLETED.

  • Students suspended for the first time may not enroll in classes at UNM for a period of ONE SEMESTER from the date of the suspension.
  • Students suspended for the second time may not enroll for classes for a period of TWO SEMESTERS from the date of suspension.
  • Students suspended for the third time may not enroll for classes for a period of FIVE ACADEMIC YEARS from the date of the suspension.
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How does the Second Chance Program Work?

The Second Chance Program was designed by UCAC as a special program for students who have been suspended. Participation in this program MAY allow you to have your suspension lifted early. The suspension will still remain on your transcript, but you will be allowed to remain in school while participating. Acceptance into the program is not automatic: you must fill out an application, petition for acceptance, and be willing to sign a special contract between you and an advisor.. Students accepted into the program are limited to a maximum of 6 credit hours per semester. You MAY NOT take additional hours at another institution. You are required to meet with your advisor every other week and follow any additional requirements contained in the contract you sign with your advisor (repeating class, going for tutoring or other assistance, etc.). Failure to abide by any of these requirements may result in disenrollement and you will need to serve out the remainder of your suspension.

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When do I get to register?

Registration dates are published in the front pages of the Schedule of Classes. Your registration date is based on the number of credit hours you have earned, not the number of hours you have in-progress. The more hours you have earned, the sooner you can register! Remember that you can always check LoboWeb to see how many earned hours you have.

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How do I drop a class?

Depending on the date, dropping a class can be very easy. Using your student ID and PIN number, log on to LoboWeb, check the "Drop" box next to the class you want to drop, and click "Submit". Please consider how dropping a class will affect your financial aid and scholarships. Below are some other considerations you will also want to take into account.

ALWAYS consider the potential impact on your academic progress.

By withdrawing from or dropping a class, your ultimate progress towards graduation may be delayed. On the other hand, not dropping a course that will negatively affect your GPA may slow your academic progress if it causes you to be suspended. Please visit with one of our advisors to help you make this decision!

ALWAYS consider the potential impact on your scholarships and/or financial aid.

All scholarships and financial aid require you to maintain a specific number of credit hours per semester AND a specific GPA. Don't forget to take both into account when considering dropping a class.

A. Dropping a Class Without a Grade.

You can only drop a class without a grade before the end of the fourth week of the current 16-week semester (see the Schedule of Classes for twelve-week or other classes). Classes dropped before this time are not recorded on your official transcript.

B. Dropping a Class Without the Dean's Approval (A grade of WP or WF is required and will be recorded on your transcript).

After the end of the fourth week, but before the end of the 12th week of the current semester (or 9th week for twelve-week classes), you may drop a class without the approval of the Dean of your College.

PLEASE NOTE:
When you drop a class after the fourth week of the semester, your instructor is required to give you a grade of WP or WF (Withdrew Passing or Withdrew Failing). A grade of WP indicates you were passing the class at the time you dropped. The class will not be calculated in your GPA. A WF indicates you were not passing the class at the time you dropped and this grade is calculated as an F in your GPA.
UCAC does not recommend you drop a class during this period unless you have discussed the situation with the instructor and received explicit assurance that you will be given a WP. If you feel it is necessary to drop a class, visit with an advisor to make sure you have considered all the consequences.
WARNING!
 A "WF" is included as part of your GPA, and will be calculated exactly like a regular F.

C. Dropping a Class WITH Dean's Approval (A grade of WP or WF is required and will be recorded on your transcript).

After the 12th week of classes (or 9th week for 12 week courses), course withdrawals are only accepted with approval from the Dean or Director of your college. University College requires that you meet specific criteria in order to drop a course at this point in the semester. In addition, the Dean will not give permission to drop without the explicit permission from your instructor.

In order to receive permission to drop a course with Dean's approval, you must have extenuating circumstances that can be documented, (i.e. medical problems, changes in work schedule, death in the family, etc.)

PLEASE NOTE:
Not doing well in the class IS NOT a sufficient reason to allow you to drop.
The Dean cannot give permission to drop without the explicit written permission from your instructor.
Your instructor is required to give you a grade of WP or WF (Withdrew Passing or Withdrew Failing). A grade of WP indicates you were passing the class at the time you dropped. The class will not be calculated in your GPA. A WF indicates you were not passing the class at the time you dropped.
WARNING!
 A "WF" is included as part of your GPA, and will be calculated exactly like a regular F.

PROCEDURE FOR DROPPING WITH DEAN'S APPROVAL
 • 
 Gather and organize ALL documentation supporting your extenuating circumstances.
 • 
 Prepare a written explanation of the circumstances.
 • 
 Obtain a YELLOW card from the Records Office in Student Services 250.
 • 
 Obtain a "Withdraw with Dean's Approval" sheet from UCAC (Student Services 114).
 • 
 Have your instructor sign the "Withdraw with Dean's Approval" sheet acknowledging that he/she is allowing you to drop the course in question.
 • 
 Meet with an advisor. During this meeting, you will submit all the documents you have gathered to this point to review with your advisor.
 • 
 If the documentation meets the requirements, your advisor is authorized to sign the Yellow Card for the Dean and allow you to drop the class.
 • 
 You MUST take the signed yellow card to Records and Registration for final processing (a Drop with Dean's Approval CANNOT be processed on the LoboWeb system).

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I finished a "repeat" class, how do I change the grade?

Grade replacement is NOT AUTOMATIC! Once you have successfully retaken a class at UNM and received your final grade, you must process paperwork authorizing the replacement at the Records Office (located in Student Services 250). The Registrar's Office will remove the grade for the previous class from your UNM cumulative GPA calculation. It takes approximately 6 weeks for your transcript to be updated.

PLEASE NOTE:
You can ONLY replace a UNM grade with another UNM grade. A course repeated at a different institution (like TVI) cannot replace your UNM grade. If you plan to repeat a class and replace the grade, you must do it at UNM.
You can replace a MAXIMUM of twelve (12) credit hours of coursework. This typically means 4 classes, but if you are replacing a course with a mandatory 1 credit hour lab (Biology 121L for example), it can limit the number of courses you can replace.
The original class will still be listed on your official transcript (with an "N" next to it), but will not be calculated in your UNM cumulative GPA.
If you exceed the 12 hour limit, you may still repeat a class for a better grade, but the class grades will be averaged together when your cumulative GPA is calculated.

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How do I transfer into my college?

The application process, deadlines, and the prerequisites required for acceptance into a degree-granting program are very different from college to college. Many of these prerequisites can be found in the UNM Course Catalog. Visit with an advisor as early as possible to ensure that you are taking the right courses in the right order to be accepted into the college of your major. While you are in University College, work closely with an advisor to insure you are taking the appropriate classes necessary to apply to your intended college. In most cases, the MINIMUM requirements include a 2.0 cumulative GPA and passing English 102 with a "C" or better (or equivalent). Many programs require considerably more in terms of both required course work and cumulative GPA. We strongly encourage you to seek admission to your chosen degree-granting program as soon as possible.

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Do I have to take my Introductory Studies (IS) classes?

Not necessarily. UNM places incoming students into Introductory Studies courses based on their SATs or ACTs. If you feel these test scores don't reflect your ability, you may attempt to challenge your math, reading, and/or english placement by taking a "Compass" exam at the UNM Testing Center. There is a $3 fee for each of these tests and the Testing Center is located in the basement of the Student Health Center. You are encouraged to call the Testing Center at (505) 277-5346 for additional information.

The University College Advisement Center encourages you to honestly evaluate your skill level in any of these areas before deciding to attempt a Compass challenge. While we recognize that standardized tests may not always be the best indication of your skill level, experience has also shown us that a student who is "borderline" in terms of skills really does benefit from IS classes. IS courses provide a solid foundation of skills you will need to be successful.

PLEASE NOTE:
It is not possible to repeat a Compass test. You may only take each test (Math, English, and Reading) once.

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Why should students take UNIV 216?

Ever wonder why you are in college, and what you want to do for a living when you get out? This course will help you target your college career, decide on a major, and plan any additional steps you need to take to turn your passions into a career! It will also give you an opportunity to explore the world of different careers through the stories and firsthand experiences of people who are in the trenches of the work world every day. You may find out about new skills and passions you did not know you had, you may find out that the job you always wanted is not a good fit for you, or you may become affirmed in your present career goals and benefit from potential future job connections.

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How do I change my major?

Until you have been formally admitted to a degree-granting program, you only declare an "interest" in a specific major. Your advisor can update your profile in the UNM "Progress" system at any time. "Progress" is the UNM degree audit system that reviews your transcript, matches it against the requirements for a specific degree program, and provides a report that shows both what you have and what you need to meet the requirements for graduation.

Visit with your advisor to discuss your intended major. Your advisor has access to information concerning the specific program or programs you are interested in. Always be sure to have a good understanding of what is required in terms of prerequisite course work, GPA, and any additional requirements (eg. passing the "NM Teacher Assessment of Basic Skills and General Knowledge" to be eligible for admission to any licensure program offered by the College of Education). The UNM Catalog also lists all of the requirements for admission into a specific program.

PLEASE NOTE:
You can request a "Progress" report by logging on to LoboWeb. Click the "Registration, Grades, etc." button. You will find the "Progress Report" button in the Information Requests table. If a current report is not available, you may need to visit with an advisor to request a current or updated one.

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What do I need to do to earn and keep my Lottery Scholarship?

The New Mexico Lottery Success Scholarship is a state-funded tuition scholarship for New Mexico high school graduates attending public, post-secondary New Mexico institutions. It was created by the State Legislature and funded from lottery revenues with the intention of making a higher education more accessible to New Mexico high school graduates. The New Mexico Lottery Success Scholarship is awarded after your first semester has been successfully completed.

A. To be awarded the New Mexico Lottery Success Scholarship you must...

  • Be a US citizen or permanent resident alien.
  • Be a New Mexico high school graduate (public or accredited private school or NM GED).
  • Have met the admission requirements and been accepted for enrollment as a student at UNM.
  • Have enrolled in a degree-seeking program at UNM during the first regular semester (not including summer) immediately following graduation from a NM high school or receipt of a NM GED.
  • You need to earn at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA and successfully complete a minimum of 12 credit hours by the end of your first semester at UNM.

It is very important to have a successful first semester to qualify for the Lottery. Work with your advisor to select a balanced course load that will be challenging, helps you meet your Core Curriculum requirements, yet which also provides the best opportunity to qualify for the Lottery Scholarship.

PLEASE NOTE:
Classes taken for CR/NC (credit/no credit) or P/F (Pass/Fail) ARE NOT calculated into your grade point average. Your GPA will be based ONLY on the classes you are taking for a letter grade. Remember that the GPA for the classes you are taking for a letter grade must be at least a 2.5 to qualify for the Lottery scholarship.
If you receive a grade of "CR" in a CR/NC class, the hours WILL count towards the minimum 12 earned credit hours you must receive to remain eligible. Classes with a grade of NC will NOT count towards your "earned hours".
Introductory Studies classes (IS Math, English and Reading) are only offered on a CR/NC basis.
Math 120 (if required) is only offered on a CR/NC basis.

B. To maintain eligibility for the New Mexico Lottery Success Scholarship you must:

  • Continue to earn a minimum of 12 credit hours every semester.
  • Continue to maintain at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA.
  • Register for every consecutive semester (not including summers).
PLEASE NOTE:
If you take a semester off, you will not be eligible for the Lottery Success Scholarship when you return.
The Lottery Success Scholarship is not available for summer sessions.
As with qualifying, classes taken for CR/NC (credit/no credit) or P/F (Pass/Fail) ARE NOT calculated into your grade point average. Your GPA will be based ONLY on the classes you are taking for a letter grade. Remember that the GPA for the classes you are taking for a letter grade must be at least a 2.5 to qualify for the Lottery scholarship.

C. Additional New Mexico Lottery Success Scholarship Information:

What is the amount of the scholarship?

Currently, the scholarship covers full-time cost of tuition. Fees are not included. Future awards are dependent on the amount of lottery revenue available for the program and any future action by the State Legislature.

Do I need to apply for the Lottery Success Scholarship?

No. UNM automatically awards the Lottery Success Scholarship to students who qualify at the end of their first semester.

Can I get this award in addition to other awards that cover tuition?

The intention of the law is to provide public funds for up to 100% of a students tuition, but not more than 100%. Students who receive other scholarships may be awarded additional support for such things as fees and books (sometimes a room and board allowance). However, no student may receive more than one tuition payment.

Always see an advisor if you have questions about your Lottery Scholarship. Also feel free to discuss your scholarship with the Scholarship Office. Their office will always have the most up-to-date information on the Lottery Scholarship!

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Can I take more than 18 credit hours in a semester?

Yes, in some instances. In general, the Dean of your current college must approve "overload" requests. The Dean of University College has developed specific guidelines you must meet in order for your "overload" request to be granted while you are part of University College. You must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and have earned at least 30 credit hours. If you meet these guidelines, a UCAC advisor is authorized to grant you up to 21 credit hours for a semester. If you desire more than 21 hours (not recommended) you will need to appeal directly to the Dean.

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How do I find out who my advisor is?

UCAC advisors see students in a first-come, first-served basis due to the large number of students we advise. However, requests to see a specific UCAC advisor are ALWAYS welcome. We encourage you to work with the same advisor as he or she can get to know you and understand how your academic progress and coursework relates to your goals and career plans. Getting to know your advisor is also very helpful if you need references for various programs or internships. Other UNM Advisement Centers often assign students to a specific advisor in programs like CEP, El Centro de la Raza, and other student support services.

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What does "eligibility" mean and why am I out of it?

UCAC's mission is to provide advisement and supervision to students who are admitted to UNM, but have not yet met the requirements for admission to their degree-granting college. Because of this, UNM policy normally prevents us from keeping a student who is approaching their junior year in University College. You are allowed to stay in University College until you have a maximum of 64 earned hours (or 72 attempted hours). If you are approaching these limits, an "Eligibility Hold" will automatically be placed on your student account.

A. Qualifying Category

If you have not met the admission requirements for your intended college, it is possible to seek a special "Qualifying Category" status and remain at University College for a limited amount of time. If you are a sophomore/junior or transfer student working on prerequisite courses for a major college or maybe an upper level student who needs a semester or so to raise your GPA to apply to your desired college, this category may be for you. Unless you were admitted directly into this category by the UNM Admissions Office, you MUST submit a petition and apply for acceptance into the Qualifying Category.

An eligibility hold may require you to either apply to the College of your desired major OR submit a petition requesting "qualifying category" status. Acceptance into the Qualifying Category allows you to remain in University College while you complete the prerequisites for acceptance.

PLEASE NOTE:
Qualifying Category status is not granted automatically and provides a very limited amount of additional time in University College. In addition, you will be required to sign a contract agreeing to meet the conditions necessary for acceptance into your intended program. Many programs at UNM are highly competitive - It's always a good practice to have a "backup" major in mind.

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Do PE classes count for anything?

Yes, Physical Education (ie. Non-Professional or PE-NP classes) count as elective credits toward graduation within specific limits for each college. For example, Arts and Sciences will allow 4 PE-NP credits to count toward graduation. Please see your department for the exact number that you can use as electives for your degree.

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What are Freshman Learning Communities, Freshman Seminars and Freshman Interest Groups?

They are part of the new "Freshman Academic Choices" program developed to help new students make a successful transition to college life.

FRESHMAN LEARNING COMMUNITIES are two classes that are taught together around a central theme. One (THE SEMINAR) is a class based on a specific subject. The other (the LINKED class) is a UNM Core Curriculum class. The seminar class provides the content for the linked class and is generally more focused and interesting than you may find in a typical freshman "Intro to..." class. See your advisor or the Schedule of Classes for more information.

FRESHMAN INTEREST GROUPS In Freshman Interest Groups (or FIGs), you enroll in a one-credit theme-based seminar thats block scheduled with TWO Core Curriculum classes.

FRESHMAN LIVING AND LEARNING COMMUNITIES Living Learning Communities (LLCs) are a community of freshmen who share common academic interests, live in the same residence hall, and attend a weekly thematically-based seminar. This option requires coordination with your residence hall room assignment, so you should apply well before orientation; this year's deadline is July 8th. This year's LLCs include Engineering, Health Sciences, Fine Arts, and Language and Culture options!!

FRESHMAN INTRODUCTORY STUDIES COMMUNITIES Freshman Introductory Studies Communities (or FISCs) are communities of 25 freshmen who are required to take IS Reading and who are motivated to achieve. FISC students take a block that includes IS Reading, Sociology 101 (usually not available to students who need IS Reading), and a seminar.

For more information on all of these programs, go to: www.unm.edu/~freshman/

Read the 2007 FAC Booklet!

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How do I make the University College Dean's List or Honor Roll?

As a way to recognize outstanding academic effort, University College maintains both a Dean's List and an Honor Roll.

DEAN'S LIST:

To be placed on the Deans List in University College, you must achieve a GPA of 3.5 for the semester with a minimum of 6 attempted hours for grade (not CR/NC or audit). The dean of each college maintains specific standards for that college.

HONOR ROLL:

To be named on the University College Honor Roll, you must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 and have been in University College for a minimum of 2 semesters.

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What is a Pre-Major advisor?

Pre-Major advisor specializes in the programs/majors and admission requirements of a designated college. After your freshman year and once you have decided on a major, you will meet with your pre-major advisor when visiting UCAC.

Colleges and designated Pre-Major Advisors:

Anderson Schools of Management Missy Garoza
Arts and Sciences Nicole Brody
College of Education Jen Conn
College of Fine Arts Jen Conn
Health Sciences and Physical and Natural Sciences Nichelle Gilbert
Ethnic Center Chriselle Martinez

The general University College Advisors also have areas of specialty so be sure to let the front desk know what you are majoring in when you sign in to see an advisor.

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What is an Inter-Session course?

Inter-session courses are held during winter break. Class times and dates vary but are usually two to four weeks long. The same amount of material is covered in an inter-session course as in a regular 16 week course; expect an intense schedule and please note that attendance is crucial, you must attend every single day the course meets.

Students may choose to take an inter-session course to knock out a requirement and to help earn or maintain scholarships if you do not meet requirements during the Fall semester.