Each course has an alphanumeric code (e.g., ENGL 1301). The alpha portion is an abbreviation of the subject area, while the numeric portion provides specific information about the course. The first digit of the numeric portion indicates the level of the course (1=freshman level, 2=sophomore level, 3=junior level, 4=senior level, and 5 and 6=graduate level). The second digit indicates the number of semester credit hours earned by satisfactorily completing the course. The third digit is a sequencing number, or, if it is a 7, the third digit indicates the course is not in the Texas Common Course Numbering System. The fourth digit is a sequencing number.
2. Course RotationsThis catalog indicates when undergraduate courses are normally offered using the following notations: FL=fall, SP=spring, SU=summer, AN=as needed. Students should consult the detailed class schedule for each semester and contact advisors for exact information.
3. New CoursesTo meet changing educational requirements, the university reserves the right to add, delete or change courses or degree requirements.
4. Semester HoursThe unit of measure for credit purposes is the semester hour. One hour of class meeting (or equivalent in laboratory work) each week usually is equal to one semester credit hour. For each classroom hour, at least two hours of study are expected. Two or more hours of laboratory work are counted as the equivalent of one lecture hour.
5. Registration for ClassesStudents will be permitted to attend class only when the instructor has received evidence of proper registration. Registration dates and deadlines are listed in the academic
calendar found in this catalog and online at . Students may add courses, make section changes or drop courses only within the periods specified in the calendar. The Records Office prepares and publishes a schedule of classes in advance of each semester.
6. Minimum Class EnrollmentThe University reserves the right not to offer any undergraduate course if fewer than 10 students register and pay tuition and fees.
7. Course Auditing by Senior CitizensSenior citizens, 65 years of age or older, may register for and audit courses without the payment of tuition or fees on a space-available basis. For further information, call the Registrar at (409) 880-2113.
8. Class AttendanceRegular class attendance is important to the attainment of educational objectives. Instructors will formulate an attendance policy consistent with departmental policies and suited to the needs of the particular course. The instructor’s policy will be explained in detail to the class at the beginning of the semester and will appear in the course syllabus.
9. Student Absences on Religious Holy DaysUnder Texas Education Code, Section 51.911, Â鶹ÊÓƵ shall excuse a student from attending classes or other required activities, including examinations, for the observance of a religious holy day, including travel for that purpose. A student whose absence is excused under this subsection may not be penalized for that absence and shall be allowed to take an exam or complete an assignment from which the student is excused within a reasonable period of time after the absence. Texas Education Code, Section 51.911, defines a religious holy day. If a student and an instructor disagree about the nature of the absence being for the observance of a religious holy day as defined therein, or if there is similar disagreement about whether the student has been given a reasonable time to complete any missed assignments or examinations, either the student or the instructor may request a ruling from the Provost. The student and the instructor shall abide by the decision of the Provost.
10. Dropping CoursesStudents may drop a course and receive a grade of “Q” during the penalty-free period of the semester or session. For drops after this penalty-free period, grades are recorded as “Q” or “F” indicating the student was passing or failing at the time of the drop. A grade of “Q” may not be assigned unless an official drop has been processed through the Records Office. Students may drop a course online or by properly completing a drop form from their major department. Students may not drop a course within 15 class days of the beginning of final examinations or five class days before the end of the summer term. Students should check the academic calendar for specific dates.
11. Instructor Initiated DropWhen unexcused absences seriously interfere with a student’s performance, the instructor may recommend to the department chair that the student be dropped from the course. If this action is taken after penalty-free period of the semester or session, a grade of “F” may be recorded for the course. The student’s major department will be notified that the student was dropped for excessive unexcused absences. Students remain responsible for initiating drop procedures if they find that they cannot attend classes.
12. Reinstatement to ClassA student dropped from a course may be reinstated upon written approval by the chair of the major department, the instructor, and the instructor’s department chair.
13. WithdrawalsStudents wishing to withdraw from the university during a regular semester or summer session should fill out a Withdrawal Petition available in the Records Office. Students must clear all financial obligations and return all university property. If, however, the student is unable at the time of withdrawal to clear financial obligations to the university and files with the Records Office an affidavit of inability to pay, the student will be permitted to withdraw with the acknowledgment that transcripts will be withheld and re-entry to Â鶹ÊÓƵ will not be permitted until all financial obligations are cleared. Copies of the withdrawal form signed by the student and by the major department chair must be presented to the Records Office by the student. The student will receive a receipt. The Finance Office, on application before the end of the regular semester or summer session, will return such fees as are returnable according to the schedule shown under the “Fees” section of this catalog. If a withdrawal is made before the end of the penalty-free period or if the student is passing at the time of withdrawal during the penalty period, a grade of “W” will be issued for each course affected. A grade of “F” may be issued for all courses not being passed at the time of withdrawal after the penalty-free period. A student may not withdraw within 15 class days of the beginning of final examinations during a regular semester or five class days before the end of a summer term. A student who leaves without withdrawing officially will receive a grade of “F” in all courses and forfeit all returnable fees. Students should check the academic calendar for specific dates. Students wishing to withdraw after the official withdrawal date may submit a written petition to their Dean.
14. Enforced Withdrawal Due to Health ReasonsThe Director of the Health Center and the Vice President for Student Affairs, on the advice of competent medical personnel, may require withdrawal or deny admission of a student for health reasons (mental or physical).
15. Change of MajorStudents wishing to change majors must have the approval of the chair of thedepartment of their former major and approval of the chair of their new department. These approvals must be in writing on the form entitled “Change of Major.”
16. Change of Address or NameStudents are responsible for all communications addressed to them at the address on file in the Records Office. Any student who moves during a semester must immediately file a change of address form in the Records Office. Students who legally change their names or wish to correct errors in their name as currently recorded by the university should complete a name change card at the Records Office. All name changes must be accompanied by a copy of the legal document making the name change official. This document will be kept on file in the student’s official folder.
17. Simultaneous EnrollmentStudents who desire to enroll simultaneously at more than one institution of higher education must have the prior written approval of their Â鶹ÊÓƵ academic advisor and department chair for all classes to be taken outside Â鶹ÊÓƵ. Such approval will be granted only if all Â鶹ÊÓƵ academic policies are being followed. For example, academic load restrictions and probation restrictions apply to the total credit hours taken at all institutions. Departments retain such permissions in the student’s permanent file.
18. Student ResponsibilityStudents are responsible for knowing the academic regulations stated in this catalog. Unfamiliarity does not constitute a valid reason for failure to adhere to them.
19. Academic ProgressStudents are classified as freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, post-baccalaureate and graduate students. Officially enrolled students are classified as follows:
Freshman: all entrance requirements have been met, but fewer than 30 semester hours have been earned
Sophomore: has earned a minimum of 30 semester hours
Junior: has earned a minimum of 60 semester hours
Senior: has earned a minimum of 90 semester hours
Post baccalaureate: holds a bachelor’s degree, but is not enrolled in a degree program or has not been admitted to a graduate program.
Graduate: has been formally accepted by a graduate program and is pursuing a graduate degree (see Section VII.2).
A full-time student is an undergraduate student taking 12 or more semester hours in the fall or spring semester or four or more in a summer term. A full-time graduate student is one who takes nine or more semester hours in the fall or spring semester, or three or more in a summer term. Some sources of student aid reduce payments to students dropping below full-time status.
A – Excellent
B – Good
Q – Course was dropped
C – Satisfactory
S – Credit
D – Passing
U – Unsatisfactory, no credit
F – Failure
NG – No grade
I – Incomplete
W – Withdrawn from University
The grade of “W” or “Q” is given if the withdrawal or drop is made during the penalty-free period (see part 10 above) or if the student is passing at the time of withdrawal or drop during the penalty period. The grade of “I” may be given when any requirement of the course, including the final examination, is not completed. Arrangements to complete deficiencies in a course should be made with the instructor. Incomplete work must be finished during the next long semester, or the Records Office will change the “I” grade to the grade of “F”. The course must then be repeated if credit is desired. The instructor may record the grade of “F” for a student who is absent from the final examinations and is not passing the course. Semester grades are filed with the Records Office. Except in very unusual situations, no grade may be corrected or changed without the written authorization of the instructor who assigned the grade. The grade change form requires the reason for the change and must be approved and signed by the instructor and department chair. All changes involving “Q” and “W” also require the approval and signature of the dean. If the requested change is for a grade assigned more than one year before the request, the dean also must approve and sign the form. If the requested change is for a grade assigned more than three years before the request, the Senior Associate Provost also must approve and sign the form. After a degree has been conferred, no transcripted grade may be changed except those assigned to graduating seniors in their final semester. Such changes require the approval of the Provost. Since faculty are required to retain academic records for only three years, students should make every effort to submit grade change requests as soon as possible. A student desiring to register for a course to receive a “NG” (signifying “No Grade”) must have the written approval from the major department chair, instructor, and instructor’s department chair. Student semester hours attempted will be reduced by the appropriate number of hours. Students are responsible for completing and filing the appropriate petition form with the Records Office. The deadline each semester for filing the petition for “No Grade” with the Records Office is the same as the deadline for dropping or withdrawing from a course without penalty. See the Academic Calendar published for specific dates. This deadline does not apply for thesis, dissertation or other courses specifically approved in advance for using “NG” to indicate that continued academic progress is being made by the student.
The grade point average is a measure of the student’s overall academic performance and is used in the determination of academic standing, rank in class, eligibility for graduation, program eligibility and honors. To compute grade point averages, grade points are assigned to letter grades as follows: to the grade “A,” 4 points; to “B,” 3 points; to “C,” 2 points; to “D,” 1 point, and to “F,” “I,” “S,” “U,” “NG,” “Q,” “W,” 0 points. The number of grade points earned in a course is obtained by multiplying the number of semester credit hours by the number of points assigned to the grade made in the course. The grade point average is calculated by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total number of semester hours attempted in courses for which the grades “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” and “F” are assigned. Thus, for grades, “I,” “S,” “U,” “NG,” “W,” and “Q,” neither semester hours nor grade points are used in the computation of the grade point average. Hours attempted include all work taken, whether passed, failed or repeated. Courses in which a grade of “S” or “U” is assigned are used in calculating a student’s semester hour load and to determine full-time/part-time status, but are not included in the grade point average.
Academic records are in the permanent custody of the Records Office. Transcriptsof academic records may be secured by an individual student personally, or will bereleased on the student’s written authorization. College transcripts on file from othercolleges will not be duplicated by Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s Records Office.Students who owe debts to the University or who have not met entrance requirementsmay have their official transcripts withheld until the debt is paid or credentialsare furnished.Chapter 675, Acts of the 61st Legislature, 1969 Regular Session, provides that “noperson may buy, sell, create, duplicate, alter, give or obtain a diploma, certificate, academicrecord, certificate of enrollment or other instrument which purports to signifymerit, or achievement conferred by an institution of education in this state with theintent to use fraudulently such document or to allow the fraudulent use of such document.”“A person who violates this Act or who aids another in violating this Act is guilty ofa misdemeanor and upon conviction, is punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000and/or confinement in the county jail for a period not to exceed one year.”
Grades are available at the end of each semester, summer term or mini-session. Students should report any alleged errors or discrepancies to the Records Office.
Any student whose cumulative grade point average (GPA) falls below satisfactory academic progress (2.00 or higher cumulative grade point average) will be placed on academic probation. This designation indicates the student is not making satisfactory academic progress toward the completion of an associate or baccalaureate degree. Academic advisement is mandatory for any student on probation, and registration efforts will be blocked by the university until permission is granted by the college, general studies, or development studies. The student on probation must contact his or her academic college/general studies/developmental studies advisor or dean for an advisement session before attempting to register for classes. During this session, an academic action plan will be developed. This plan serves as an academic contract between the student and the college or other academic supervision unit for the next semester/term. The student may be required to receive academic counseling and/or support services (e.g. tutoring) as a condition of the contract. A student on probation who demonstrates academic improvement (i.e., a 2.00 or higher semester/term GPA) and complies with all other conditions of the academic action plan during the next semester/term of enrollment, but whose cumulative grade point average does not return to satisfactory academic progress (2.00 cumulative GPA) will remain on probation. A student on probation who does NOT demonstrate academic improvement (i.e., lower than a 2.00 semester/term GPA) and/or fails to comply with any other condition of the action plan during the next semester/term of enrollment will be academically suspended from Â鶹ÊÓƵ or, with approval from the academic dean, be placed on continued probation and subject to a new academic action plan. A student subject to his or her first academic suspension must serve a long semester (fall or spring) or entire summer (summer mini, summer sessions I-IV) suspension before returning to Â鶹ÊÓƵ. Upon return, the student will be placed on probation and will be subject to a new academic action plan. A second suspension will result in a two-semester suspension, and a third suspension will result in expulsion from Â鶹ÊÓƵ. Any courses completed at other colleges or universities — including the Lamar two-year institutions—during periods of suspension will not be accepted by Â鶹ÊÓƵ as transfer credit. For advisement or additional information, a student on pro bation or suspension should call the telephone number at the bottom of the grade report or contact his/her academic advisor or dean.
The graduation process consists of the following steps, which must be completed before graduation by the student. The student must:
The student is responsible for securing official advisement about study plans for the last two semesters, for making application to graduate, and for checking compliance with all degree requirements.
A student is entitled to graduate under the degree provisions of the catalog in effect at the time of the student’s first completed semester of enrollment with these exceptions: a. A catalog more than seven years old shall not be used. b. The program of the student who interrupts enrollment (for reasons other than involuntary military service) for one calendar year or more shall be governed by the catalog in effect at the time of the student’s re-entrance to the University. The student who interrupts enrollment for involuntary military service must re-enroll within one year from the date of separation from military service in order for this provision to apply. For these purposes, enrollment shall be defined as registration for and successful completion of at least one course during an academic term. A student forced to withdraw for adequate cause before completion of a course may petition for a waiver of this provision at the time of withdrawal. The degree program of the student who declares a major or who changes majors shall be the departmental degree requirements in effect at the time the new major becomes effective. General degree requirements shall be those in effect at the time of the student’s first completed semester of enrollment, provided neither condition “a” nor “b” prevails. Any student transferring from a two-year college to Â鶹ÊÓƵ can qualify to graduate under the general degree requirements of the catalog in effect when the student entered the two-year college. However, students who interrupt their studies for one calendar year or more before transferring to Â鶹ÊÓƵ are subject to the general degree requirements of the catalog in effect when they enroll at Â鶹ÊÓƵ. At the discretion of the appropriate dean, students can be required to comply with all changes in the curriculum made subsequent to the year in which they were initially enrolled. Deletions and additions of courses will be of approximately equal credit so no student will have an overall appreciable increase of total credits required for graduation.
To be designated an honor graduate, a member of the graduating class must: (1) have completed at least 60 semester hours at Â鶹ÊÓƵ for a four-year degree or 30 semester hours for a two-year degree, and (2) have a grade point average of at least 3.50 for all undergraduate course work (and all graduate course work applied to a baccalaureate degree) attempted at Â鶹ÊÓƵ. Only course work attempted at Â鶹ÊÓƵ will be included in the grade point average (GPA) calculation for honors. Transfer course work will not be included in the calculation of GPAs for honors. A GPA of 3.50 to 3.64 qualifies for ‘cum laude’ (honors), 3.65 to 3.79 for ‘magna cum laude’ (high honors), and 3.80 to 4.00 for ‘summa cum laude’ (highest honors). Grades made the semester of graduation are included in the calculation of GPAs for honors. Honor graduates will be recognized during graduation ceremonies.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ expects students to maintain high standards of academic integrity in all university work. University policy on academic dishonesty, including plagiarism, cheating, and collusion may be found in the Student Handbook published online at .
Although every effort is made to provide complete and accurate information in this catalog, changes may occur at any time, without notice, in academic policies and regulations.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights are:
The following items are considered Directory Information by the University, and the University may disclose any of these items without prior written consent, unless the student notifies the Registrar in writing to the contrary by September 1 of each fiscal year.