Family Members & Support People
How to help your Bear
We love how much you love and support your student. And, your student has another layer of support to guide them through their journey as a UNC Bear. Your student is growing, learning, and developing their own decision-making processes. We curated some ways you can help your student during their time as a Bear!
Understand the value of academic advising: customized support from the first semester to graduation
All incoming first-year students are required to schedule and attend a New Student Registration session. To register and view available sessions, log into the Admissions portal. Your new Bear should also participate in a New Student Orientation to learn more about their new community of support.
At New Student Registration, your Bear will meet the professional and faculty advisors from their college to discuss their major and general 4-Year Plan. The advisors and student support staff help every Bear register for their first semester through MyUNC, your student’s homepage for their UNC records and information.
After the initial New Student Registration session, each Bear is assigned an advisor to guide them through their degree plan.
When your Bear reaches their final semester, they will complete a Graduation Application. Our graduation specialists in the Registrar’s Office review every application to ensure all the requirements have been met. If there are any issues with your student’s application, they will be contacted by Bear Central with instructions on what to do next.
Your Bear might check in with their advisor at a few points in the semester. Some Bears receive more outreach and support based on their academic standing.
Early Progress Reports and Classroom Support
Professional advisors at UNC work with faculty to identify and support students who may need additional assistance early in the semester. The Progress Report system allows faculty to communicate with advisors and success coaches about missing assignments, low grades and other concerns.
Your Bear may receive emails from their college advising or success center inviting them to connect for support.
Next-Semester and Long-Term Course Planning
Advisors begin scheduling appointments for next-semester planning nearly two months before registration opens. Your Bear can meet with their advisor — and potentially connect with a new advisor if they are considering a major change — with plenty of time to plan their schedule.
Your Bear will continue receiving emails about advising and registration until they connect with an advisor.
When Registration Opens
UNC follows a tiered registration schedule that gives students who are closer to graduation greater access to the classes they need to complete their degree.
If your Bear has not registered yet, they may receive an email from an advisor checking in on their plans and reminding them that classes are filling quickly.
Ending the Semester Strong
Advisors may follow up with students at the end of the semester to help them prepare for finals and reflect on how the semester went. If adjustments need to be made — such as repeating a class or considering a different academic path — your Bear will have the opportunity to discuss options with a support professional.
If your Bear is navigating academic probation, their advisor will help guide them through the next steps based on their semester grades and academic standing.