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 URSA, 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 and academic success 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
The professional advisors at UNC work with faculty to identify and reach out to students who need a boost of support early in the semester. Our Progress Report system allows faculty to communicate with advisors and success coaches about missing assignments, low grades, and other concerns.
Your Bear might receive emails from their college advising or success center inviting them in for help.
Next Semester and Beyond Course Planning
Advisors begin scheduling appointments for the next semester planning nearly 2 months before registration opens. Your Bear has the opportunity to meet with their person–and potentially meet with a new advisor if they are considering a major change–with plenty of time to decide on a schedule.
Your Bear will receive emails about advising and registration until they connect with their advisors.
When Registration Opens
UNC follows a tiered registration schedule that allows students closer to graduation more opportunity to get the classes they need for their degree.
If your Bear hasn’t registered yet, they might receive an email from their advisor to check in on their plans and remind them that those classes are filling up.
Ending Coursework Strong
Advisors might follow up with students at the end of the semester to help them prepare for finals and see how things went. If adjustments need to be made, such as repeating a class or considering a new path, your Bear has the chance to talk it out with their support person.
If your Bear is working through Academic Probation (it happens, and we are here to help them get back on track), their advisor will help them through the next steps of the process based on their semester grades.