Often student problems have a negative impact on their academic work, and they find it difficult to follow through on their academic responsibilities. They come to faculty with involved tales of interpersonal or family difficulties, which they hope will elicit sympathy and produce an incomplete/extension from the faculty member. A student may have approached you after missing a test or provided you with a letter from a counselor here at the Counseling Center explaining that the student has been experiencing difficulties which have affected the student's academics. To spare the faculty member the problems involved in separating a legitimate excuse ("beyond the student's control") from one that is more manipulative, the University Counseling Center will make a recommendation to you after meeting with the student.

Occassionally students will tell you they have a learning or psychological disability and request special academic accommodations. In these circumstances a referral to the Disability Services for Students (voice) 919.515.7653 / (TTY) 919.515.8830 would be appropriate. Disability Services for Students will make specific recommendations regarding "reasonable" academic accommodations.

Essentially the role Counselors play in Academic situations like this is to provide support for the student and to document the issue for faculty and staff. This is to allow the student to have privacy regarding their personal or medical concerns. It also allows the facutly or staff member to focus on the academic side of the student and allow the student to receive support from health professionals as needed. Please refer to the listing of Academic Counseling Services offered at the Counseling Center if you have any questions about the type of request the student is making. In sum, we will indicate to you whether there is enough evidence to warrant a deviation from the rules. Client confidentiality will be maintained; therefore, we may not be able to share with you any specific details about the student's situation.