Frequently Asked Questions for the Extension Program

1. What is the extension program?
   


2. Where are the extension programs offered?
   


3. Who can I contact at the community colleges for more information about the extension programs?
   


4. How does one apply for admission to the UNCW Extension Program?
   


5. How will advising take place for registration in the first semester of classes?
   


6. Where is information about financial aid?
   


7. Who qualifies for in-state tuition and fee rates?
   


8. How many transfer credit hours can be used toward completing the UNCW program?
   


9. What is an academic concentration?
   


10. What are the basic studies requirements?
    


11. What are the requirements for admission to the Watson School of Education?
    


12. What is SOCMAR?
    


13. What is the SMART form?
    


14. What resources are available to help me study for the Praxis 1 tests?
    

1. What is the extension program?

The extension program allows students to take online and in-person courses at locations other than the UNCW main campus in Wilmington.

2 Where are the extension programs offered?

Extension courses and programs are offered in collaboration with three local community colleges. Coastal Carolina Community College offers the full extension program, including a degree in Elementary Education. More extension programs are being developed at the following locations: Brunswick Community College and Southeastern Community College.

3. Whom can I contact at the community colleges for more information about the extension programs?

Lisa Kennan
UNCW Academic Advisor located at Coastal Community College
(910) 455-8034
keenanl@uncw.edu

Terri Merritt
UNCW Academic Advisor located at Brunswick Community College
UNCW Academic Advisor located at Southeastern Community College
(910) 962-4142
merrittt@uncw.edu

4. How does one apply for admission to the UNCW Extension Program?

One can apply on-line at http://www.uncw.edu/admissions. Be sure to check the “extension” box on the application form.

The applications are reviewed in an ongoing process in the order that they are received. Therefore, you should apply as far in advance of your first semester as possible.

5. How will advising take place for registration in the first semester of classes?

Orientation sessions that take place on the Coastal Carolina Community College campus are scheduled for newly admitted students. They are held a couple of weeks prior to the beginning of each semester (fall, spring, summer session I).

6. Where is information about financial aid?

Go to the financial aid and veteran’s services webpage at http://www.uncw.edu/finaid. One of the categories is Students.

The subcategories that contain appropriate information for extension students include:

• New Admits
• Transfer
• Extension
• Veterans

Each category has specific directions about the initial steps that need to be taken to apply for financial aid. It is important to contact the financial aid office to ask questions and be assigned a financial aid counselor.

The category on the webpage that is titled About Financial Aid provides extensive information and links to many subcategories.

There is also a category that is titled Forms which provides all of the forms that one needs to complete.

Extension students may be taking some courses at institutions other than UNCW such as Coastal Carolina Community College. It is very important that a transient study form is completed for each course in order to be eligible for financial aid to cover those expenses.

7. Who qualifies for in-state tuition and fee rates?

If you are a military family member (dependent), you qualify for in-state rates. The procedure for applying for this is:

• Get a form from Terri Merritt, room 26, administration building at Coastal Carolina Community College.
  


• Secure a letter from a military officer with “by direction” signing authority stating your status as a military dependent.
  


• This form must be submitted annually.
  


• Your spouse must be assigned to a military establishment within the state of North Carolina for you to qualify.
  


• People who have established North Carolina residency and have lived here for one year are also eligible for in-state tuition and fees. Residency can be verified by car registration, voter registration, purchase of property, utility payments records and other documents that indicate when one began living in North Carolina.

8. How many transfer credit hours can be used toward completing the UNCW program?

Up to 64 credit hours can be transferred from two year institutions.

Up to 93 credit hours can be transferred from four year institutions.

9. What is an academic concentration?

The elementary and middle grades education programs require that a student declare an academic concentration. One is required to take 24 credit hours of coursework in the declared academic field. Academic concentration courses in English, history and psychology are offered at Brunswick, Coastal Carolina, and Southeastern Community College extension sites.

10. What are the basic studies requirements?

The list of basic studies requirements can be found at:
http://www.uncw.edu/catalogue/acad_pro.htm#BASIC%20STUDIES%20REQUIREMENTS

An articulation agreement exists between UNCW and Coastal Carolina Community College, Brunswick Community College, and Southeastern Community College, which states that if one earns an Associate of Arts degree from Coastal with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, one has met the basic studies requirements of UNCW. One must also have taken at least one foreign language course. However, one is still responsible for meeting all pre-requisite and graduation requirements. Check your degree audit carefully to be sure that you are meeting all of the requirements.

11. What are the requirements for admission to the Watson School of Education?

The specific requirements for admission to the Watson School of Education are described at: http://www.uncw.edu/ed/studentinfo/wserequire.html.

Admission to the Watson School of Education is required in order to take education courses that are numbered higher than EDN 303. One must submit a completed application form, and the applications are reviewed at the end of the fall, spring, or summer II semesters when grades have been posted.

12. What is SOCMAR?

We are a Serviceman’s Opportunity College. If you have completed 25% of your studies at UNCW, you meet the requirements under SOCMAR to earn a degree at UNCW. You will be able to complete the remainder of your studies at another institution and transfer the credits back to UNCW. Communication and coordination between the two institutions is needed.

13. What is the SMART form?

The SMART form is the form that lists your military training. It is evaluated to see if any of the training is comparable to coursework. Please submit your SMART form with your application for admission to UNCW.

14. What resources are available to help me study for the Praxis 1 tests?

At community colleges surrounding Wilmington, there is a study program for Praxis 1 that is called Plato. Contact the Learning Resource Center at the community college to arrange to use it.