Academic Policies

Academic Action

Dean’s List

The Dean’s List is compiled each semester by the colleges. To qualify for this recognition, undergraduate students must earn a 3.50 minimum grade point average (the grade of S is not counted) on nine or more semester hours completed during the semester. The Cullen College of Engineering requires a 3.50 or better on a minimum of 12 semester hours. Students who earn a grade of I (except in a senior honors thesis course), D, F, or U during the semester are excluded from consideration for the Dean’s List. Some colleges have additional requirements. For additional information, consult the catalog for the college of major or contact the office of the Dean.

Academic Notice, Academic Probation, and Suspension

The standards below apply to all undergraduate and postbaccalaureate students enrolled. Students who entered under a previous catalog will be held to these standards.

FTIC students who earn less than a 2.00 grade point average in the first long semester (i.e., Fall or Spring) of enrollment at the University of Houston shall be placed on academic notice and should seek advising by their major departments.

Second semester FTIC students who have completed their first long semester and all other students whose cumulative grade point average falls below 2.00 shall be placed on academic probation. They are urged to seek advising in their major departments.

Students on academic probation whose semester or summer session grade point average is below 2.00 are placed on academic suspension.

The first academic suspension is for a period of at least one long semester (fall or spring).

Students placed on academic suspension for the first time at the end of a fall semester may apply for readmission for the following fall at the earliest.

Students placed on academic suspension for the first time at the end of a spring semester may apply for readmission for the following spring at the earliest.

Students placed on academic suspension for the first time at the end of a summer semester may apply for readmission for the following spring at the earliest.

The second academic suspension is for a period of at least 12 months.

After the third academic suspension, students will not be eligible to re-enroll at the University of Houston.

Students on academic probation whose cumulative grade point average is below 2.00 but whose semester or summer session grade point average is 2.00 or higher will remain on academic probation.

Students on academic probation will be removed from that status when their semester grade point average is 2.00 or higher and their cumulative grade point average is at or above 2.00.

Summer visiting students are not subject to academic probation or suspension while in that status. If, however, they are later admitted as regular students, the grades that they earned in their summer visiting status will be included in all subsequent calculations of their cumulative grade point average at the university.

Without regard to these regulations, the dean of a college may place any majors in that college whose academic records are deficient on academic probation, retain on probation, or suspension.

Readmission from Academic Probation and Suspension

This applies to students on academic probation who have interrupted their enrollment for 13 months or longer and all students on academic suspension.

Only the dean of the college in which students are seeking readmission may readmit students on academic suspension from UH. Students who have not declared a major should seek readmission through the Exploratory Studies program.

Readmission from academic suspension is neither automatic nor guaranteed. Students seeking readmission must reapply to the university using the Apply Texas Application (ATA) and must pay the required application fee.

Students must also appeal to the dean of the college in which they wish to earn their degrees in accordance with the college’s policies and procedures pertaining to readmission from academic suspension. Colleges may have different appeal processes; therefore, students seeking readmission should consult the appropriate college section in this catalog or request information from the office of the academic dean for specific college requirements.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

The University of Houston is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for eligible students who have temporary or permanent health impairments, learning disabilities, psychological disorders, and/or other disabilities.

Students who have disabilities are encouraged to register with the Justin Dart, Jr. Center for Students with DisABILITIES (CSD) as early as possible in their academic careers. Specific documentation from qualified health care providers is required. Documentation requirements may be obtained through CSD or by visiting their web page at www.uh.edu/csd. A link to the Student Academic Adjustments/Auxiliary Aids Policy is also available through the CSD web page.

Students who have disabilities that may require accommodations, including exam accommodations, interpreters, note-taking assistance, etc., should contact CSD and discuss the process of obtaining such accommodations. Accommodations are recommended on an individual basis through a team approach involving the student, CSD, the Academic Accommodations Evaluation Committee, and instructors or officials.

The University of Houston strives to maintain an accessible campus via ramps, curb cuts, inner-campus accessible parking, Braille signs, TTY’s, etc. Attendant Care Services are available through the Student Health Center at 713-748-8603 for students who have physical disabilities and require this type of assistance. Participating students reside at Cambridge Oaks Apartments.

Students who identify accessibility barriers should contact the Section 504/ADA Coordinator at the Office of Equal Opportunity Services at 713-743-8835 and/or CSD.

Attendance

Properly enrolled students are required to attend the first day of class. Failure to attend may result in the student being dropped from the class.

It is the responsibility of the individual professor to set attendance guidelines for a course. Most, but not all, professors will drop students from the class roll if the student has an excessive number of absences. Non-attendance may also result in a grade of F. Unavoidable absences should be reported to the instructor immediately after, if not before, the absence occurs.

Academic Level

Undergraduate

Academic levels are based on the total number of semester hours earned at the University of Houston and those accepted in transfer from other colleges and universities. Credit awarded by examination and hours earned with a grade of S are counted in determining classification, but they are not counted in determining grade point average.

Law, Optometry and Pharmacy

Special law, optometry and pharmacy classifications are used for students majoring in these professional areas.

Postbaccalaureate

The postbaccalaureate classification describes students who have completed their undergraduate degrees, but are not enrolled in a formal graduate degree program. Postbaccalaureate students may also be pursuing a second undergraduate degree. Unless granted by the appropriate college or department, all courses taken as postbaccalaureate will receive undergraduate credit.

Graduate Students

Graduate and professional students should consult with the specific colleges and departments or the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies for current policies regarding graduate programs, as well as consult the appropriate college section in the graduate catalog for further information www.uh.edu/grad_catalog/garr/index.html. Not all policies and procedures may be the same for all academic programs.

Change of Major

A change of major is a formal procedure requiring official approval and documentation. Students must submit a General Petition form requesting a change of major. This form is filed by the student in the department in which he or she wishes to major. Approval from both the department chair and the college Dean is required. Students should consult with an advisor in the department of their intended major for help with the change of major process. Students changing majors within the university shall meet the same requirements as students seeking admission to an academic unit (department, school, or college) from outside the university who have completed the same number of semester credit hours.

The university offers vocational and academic counseling and planning assistance to students having difficulty choosing a major. Counseling and Psychological Services and University Career Services offices provide resources and support to students seeking career goals. For assistance with academic plans, students may meet with academic advisors in the various departments and colleges and the UScholars.

Forms are available at the registrar’s Website and may be completed and forwarded as indicated in the Website information at http://www.uh.edu/academics/forms/.

Course Load

The course load (academic load) refers to the number of credit hours in which a student is enrolled for a given semester. All undergraduate students registered for at least 12 credit hours during a fall or spring semester, eight credit hours during a Summer II or III summer session, or four credit hours during a Summer I or IV summer session are classified as full-time students. Summer classification status is defined differently for financial aid purposes. The maximum number of credit hours for which a student can register is determined by the college of his or her major. Consult the Undergraduate Studies catalog or Class Schedule Catalog for information regarding maximum course load.

International students should contact International Student and Scholar Services for additional information about course load requirements.

Degree Plan

Once a student has completed 60 credit hours, he or she should see an advisor in his or her college to file a degree plan, a blueprint of the courses required for graduation. Students are responsible for all of the requirements of the catalog under which they are graduating. It is wise to meet with an academic advisor at least once a semester. Regular consultations help students enroll in courses applicable toward their degree. Before certification for graduation can be made, copies of the degree plan must be on file in the college Dean’s office and in the Office of the University Registrar, 128 Welcome Center.

Degree Revocation

Academic integrity rests with all members of the university community, and academic decisions are based upon trust between faculty and students. The university’s award of academic credit and degrees is its certification of student achievement. If students acquire their academic credentials by deceit, fraud or misrepresentation, they deceive not only the university but also those who may eventually rely upon the knowledge and integrity of the university’s graduates. Such misconduct may not be discovered until the student has left the university or received a degree. In such instances, the university reserves the right to revoke degrees, decertify credit and rescind any University of Houston certification that warrants that the student successfully completed course work or requirements for a degree. Decisions to take such actions will be made only after careful consideration of all the available evidence.

Procedure

1. Upon receipt of a charge that a degree recipient improperly entered the program or improperly completed or failed to complete the course work or requirements for a degree at the University of Houston, the Dean of the college in which the degree was awarded shall appoint an investigatory panel consisting of at least three faculty members. The panel shall determine if there is reasonable cause to believe the charges against the degree recipient.
   1. The degree recipient shall be notified of the investigation.
   2. The degree recipient shall be afforded 60 days from notification of the investigation to supply any material appropriate to the charge and such material shall be provided to the panel.
   3. The panel may obtain any material deemed relevant to the investigation. All university departments and offices shall cooperate with the panel.
   4. The investigation shall be conducted in a confidential manner.
   5. The panel shall file a report and recommendation to the Dean.
2. If the Dean, after reviewing the report of the investigatory panel, finds that there is reasonable cause to believe that the degree recipient improperly entered the program or improperly completed or failed to complete the course work or requirements for a degree, the Dean shall notify the office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost and request that a hearing be conducted.
   1. Upon receipt of such notification from the Dean, the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs shall convene an ad hoc hearing panel to consider the case. The panel shall be composed of seven tenured faculty members, none of whom shall be from the college from which the degree recipient received a degree. Tenured faculty who hold administrative appointments shall not be members of the panel.
   2. The panel shall be charged by the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs to hear the case and determine whether the degree recipient improperly entered the program or improperly completed or failed to complete the course work or requirements for a degree.
   3. The panel members will select a hearing officer who shall correspond with the degree recipient and direct the proceedings hearing. The panel will also entertain written requests to excuse panel members at this time.
   4. The panel will set a hearing date, providing at least 60 days notice of the hearing to the degree recipient. At this time the university will also provide the degree recipient with the names of the panel members. Both the degree recipient and university shall exchange copies of all information to be introduced at the hearing as well as a list of anticipated witnesses to be utilized at the hearing at least 30 days prior to the hearing. The panel will also entertain written requests to excuse panel members at this time.
   5. The degree recipient shall have the right to have an advisor present, who may be an attorney, to participate in the hearing. In the event that the degree recipient is represented by an advisor, the university may also be represented by counsel who may also participate in the hearing.
   6. The formal rules of evidence shall not apply to the proceedings. Any participant who becomes disruptive or engages in harassment may be asked to leave the hearing.
   7. The panel, at its discretion, may conduct a pre-hearing conference with the degree recipient. The degree recipient may be accompanied by an advisor.
   8. The Dean of the college in which the degree was awarded shall present the charge at the hearing, including the material considered by the investigatory panel.
   9. The degree recipient shall be afforded an opportunity to present any and all relevant evidence, including the cross-examination of any witnesses presented by the Dean. The panel members may question the witnesses. Opening and closing statements by the Dean, the university’s attorney and the degree recipient and/or the advisor will be allowed.
   10. The panel will provide for the hearing to be recorded by tape recorder or stenographer. A copy of the recording shall be provided to the degree recipient or the advisor at their own cost upon request.
   11. After hearing the case, the panel shall render a decision regarding the allegation. If the panel finds by the greater weight of the evidence that the degree recipient engaged in misconduct concerning the degree, certification or course work, the panel shall recommend an appropriate sanction to the senior vice president for academic affairs.
   12. Sanctions may include revocation of the degree, decertification of credit and/or rescission of certification.
3. If the panel finds against the degree recipient, the degree recipient may file an appeal to the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost within 15 days of the panel’s decision.
   1. Appeals must be in writing. The Dean of the college in which the degree was awarded will be afforded an opportunity to respond to the appeal in writing. A copy of the Dean’s response will be made available to the degree recipient.
   2. The only grounds for appeal are procedural error, findings of fact not supported by the greater weight of the evidence, or discovery of substantial new facts not available at the time of the hearing.
   3. The Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost shall consider the appeal prior to acting upon the recommendation of the hearing panel. If no appeal is made or if the appeal is denied, the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs shall then act upon the panel’s findings and recommendation.
   4. In reaching a decision, the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost may review all or any part of the proceedings and shall then make a recommendation to the President for appropriate action.
4. If the President determines that degree revocation or any other sanction provided herein is warranted, the degree recipient’s official transcript will be corrected to reflect the sanction. A corrected transcript will be forwarded to all individuals and entities who were sent an official transcript after the degree was initially posted to the transcript.
5. If at any time during the proceedings the responsible body or person finds in favor of the degree recipient, the charges will be dropped and no further record shall be made. All documents collected in reference to the charges will be placed in a sealed file in the office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost.

Dropping a Course

Office of the University Registrar

128 Welcome Center
https://my.uh.edu
713-743-1010

As the semester progresses, a student may decide to lighten his or her academic load by dropping a course. Please see the online academic calendar for the exact date for deadlines to drop a course without receiving a grade. www.uh.edu/calendars.html. The last day to drop a course or withdraw with a grade of W, is published in the academic calendar at www.uh.edu/academics/catalog. The actual procedure for dropping courses is outlined in the Undergraduate and Graduate catalogs. Certain colleges require students to process all schedule changes in the college after certain dates. Before dropping courses, international students must see an international student counselor, financial aid recipients speak with a financial aid officer, and student-athletes must see their athletics counselor to discuss eligibility implications of withdrawing. Students are responsible for verifying whether they have been dropped from a course.

All undergraduate students will be allowed a total of 6 Ws (withdrawals). Ws may be used at any time during your college career to drop a course up through the last day to drop a course or withdraw from all courses. When these 6 Ws have been used, the student must complete all subsequent courses. When a class which includes a lab (or recitation) is taken concurrently, the dropping of such a class and lab (or recitation) will count as one withdrawal if dropped simultaneously. See the Undergraduate catalog for more information on this policy at www.uh.edu/academics/catalog.

NOTE: Some state laws dealing with enrollment caps or maximum hours permitted are based on the number of hours in which a student is enrolled by the official reporting day for each term regardless of whether the student drops the course afterwards. Students are responsible for ensuring their enrollment records are correct. For the UH policy on enrollment caps see the academic policy section on Undergraduate Enrollment Limits in the Undergraduate Catalog and within this student handbook.

Grade Reports

Office of the University Registrar

128 Welcome Center
https://my.uh.edu
713-743-1010

The University of Houston does not mail grade reports at the end of the semester. Students may verify grades through myUH at https://my.uh.edu. If a student requires written confirmation of earned grades, an official transcript must be requested by logging into myUH.

Grading System

The grade point average (GPA) is a numerical representation of a student’s overall academic achievement. It is obtained by assigning point values to specific grades and multiplying these values by the number of semester hours received in that course. The total number of grade points earned for one semester or for all semesters at the University of Houston is divided by the total number of semester hours. Grades of S, U, I and W are not assigned grade point values and are not used in the computation of the grade point average. The grade point values are as follows:

Graduation

Office of the University Registrar
128 Welcome Center
https://my.uh.edu
713-743-1010, Option 4

Students must apply for graduation either the semester before or the semester they intend to graduate. Consult the Academic Calendar for graduation application deadlines. Students can apply for graduation online in their myUH accounts

Forms are available at the Registrar’s website and may be completed and forwarded as indicated in the website information at www.uh.edu/enroll/rar/graduation_information.html.

Incompletes (undergraduates)

The temporary grade of “I” (incomplete) is a conditional and temporary grade given when students (a) are currently passing a course or (b) still have a reasonable chance of passing in the judgment of the instructor, but for non-academic reasons beyond their control have not completed a relatively small part of all requirements.

Students are responsible for informing the instructor immediately of the reasons for not submitting an assignment on time or not taking an examination. Students should understand that the only way to have an “I” changed to a passing grade is to fulfill course requirements in accordance with the conditions specified by the instructor. Students must contact the instructor of the course in which they receive an “I” grade to make arrangements to complete the course requirements. Students must not re-register for the courses in which their grade is currently recorded as an “I.” Even when the conditions for fulfilling the course requirements include participation in all or part of the same course in another semester, the student must not re-register for the course. After the course work is completed, the instructor will submit a change of grade form to change the “I” grade to the grade earned. Both grades, the original “I” and the earned grade, will appear on the transcript.

The grade of “I” may not be changed to a grade of W, but may be changed only to another letter grade. As stated under Fulfillment of Grade Requirements for a Degree in the Undergraduate Catalog, all grades of “I” shall be computed as grades of F for purposes of calculating a student’s cumulative grade point average for graduation.

Should the student not complete the course in the time allotted a maximum of one year, a grade of F will be assigned and used for purposes of calculating a student’s cumulative grade point average for graduation and also for determining eligibility for graduation with honors (i.e. an “I” grade that becomes an F, even if associated with a course taken during the freshman or sophomore year, will be counted as part of the student’s last 66 hours). Students should understand that an incomplete may impact their financial aid eligibility, and they should discuss this option with a financial aid advisor.

Religious Holidays

The University of Houston respects the religious observances of students even though they may conflict with university class meetings, assignments, or examinations.

The University of Houston excuses a student from 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 policy shall be treated consistently with the instructor’s policies and procedures relating to other excused absences, except that no instructor’s policy may deny the opportunity for make-up work and examinations, as described below.

Students are encouraged to inform instructors about upcoming religious holy days early in the semester to enable better planning and coordination of work assignments (and examinations). Instructors are encouraged to announce reasonable time periods for make-up work (and examinations) in the course syllabus and to make clear the consequences of a student’s failure to meet such time requirements.

If a student and an instructor disagree about whether the absence is for the observance of a religious holy day, or if they disagree about whether the student has been given a reasonable time to complete any missed assignments or examinations, either the student or the instructor may appeal to the Office of Academic Program Management. All parties must abide by the decision of that office.

Eligible religions are those whose places of worship are exempt from property taxation. Copies of the state law are available in the offices of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean of Students, and the A.D. Bruce Religion Center.

Student Records: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

Notice of Student’s Rights

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights are as follows:

1. Students have the right to inspect and review their education records within 45 days of the day the university receives the request.
2. Students have the right to request amendment of their education records that they believe are inaccurate or misleading. If the university denies a student requested amendment, the student has the right to a hearing regarding the requested amendment to his/her education record.
3. Students have the right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information in their education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
4. Students have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the university to comply with the requirements of FERPA. Such complaints may be sent to the Family Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20202-4605.

Directory Information

At its discretion, the University of Houston may provide “directory information” to the general public without student consent. “Directory information” is defined by FERPA as follows:

• Name
• Address
• University assigned E-mail address
• Telephone listing
• Major field of study
• Date and place of birth
• Dates of attendance
• Degrees, awards, and honors received
• Most recent previous education institution attended
• Classification
• Participation in officially recognized sports and activities
• Height/weight (athletes only)
• Enrollment status (undergraduate or graduate, full-time or part-time)

If a student does not want “directory information” regarding him or her to be released, the student must login to myUH at https://my.uh.edu to set the appropriate privacy settings during the first week of class to ensure that information is not released by the university or published in the Student Directory. Students are responsible for requesting the release of their information once a request for withholding “directory information” has been placed on record.

Disclosure of Education Records

The University of Houston will not disclose information from a student’s education records without the written consent of the student, except in the following instances in which FERPA authorizes disclosure without prior student consent:

1. To school officials who have a legitimate educational or administrative interest in the records. A school official is defined as a person employed by the university in an administrative, supervisory, academic, or support staff position (including the university’s police department and health care staff); a person or company with whom the university has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Regents; or a person assisting another school official in performing his or her official duties. A school official has a legitimate education interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities.
2. To other schools in which the student seeks to enroll (or is enrolled) so long as the disclosure is related to enrollment or transfer.
3. To authorized representatives of the U. S. Secretary of Education, the U.S. Comptroller General, and state and local educational authorities, in connection with certain state or federally supported education programs; and the U.S. Attorney General for law enforcement purposes.
4. In connection with a student’s request for or receipt of financial aid, as necessary to determine the eligibility, amount or conditions of the financial aid, or to enforce the terms and conditions of the aid.
5. To state and local officials or authorities in accordance with state law.
6. To organizations conducting studies for or on behalf of the university to develop, validate, or administer predictive tests; administer student aid programs; or improve instruction.
7. To accrediting organizations to carry out their functions.
8. To parents of a “dependent” student as defined under the federal tax laws.
9. To comply with a judicial order or a lawfully issued subpoena.
10. To appropriate parties in connection with a health or safety emergency.
11. As it relates to “directory information,” unless the student restricts “directory information.”
12. To an alleged victim of any crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense regarding the final results of any disciplinary proceeding conducted against the alleged perpetrator of that crime or offense with respect to that crime or offense, regardless of whether the student was found to have committed the violation.
13. To the public regarding the final results of any disciplinary proceeding in which the student was alleged to have committed a crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense and pursuant to the disciplinary proceeding the student was found to have violated a university disciplinary rule or policy.
14. To parents of a student who is under the age of 21 regarding the student’s violation of federal, state, or local law, or any university rule or policy, governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance.
15. To the court where the student has initiated legal action against the university or the university has initiated legal action against the student.

Procedure to Inspect Education Records

A student has the right to inspect his or her educational records and to challenge the contents. To review records, a student must make a request in writing to the Custodian of those records. (See Custodian of Records) The written request must identify as precisely as possible the record or records he or she wishes to inspect.

Procedure to Amend Education Records

If a student believes the information in his or her education record contains information that is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the student’s rights of privacy, the student should submit a written request for amendment to the appropriate custodian of the record (See the list of Custodian of Records). The written request should clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed and specify why it is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the student’s rights of privacy. The university will notify the student within a reasonable time regarding whether or not the record will be amended. If the university denies the student’s request for amendment of his or her record, the student has the right to a hearing regarding the requested amendment.

**Note: This procedure does not govern grade appeals.

Procedures for a Hearing Under FERPA

1. To request a hearing pursuant to the university’s denial of a student’s request to amend information in his or her education record that the student believes is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the student’s rights of privacy, the student should submit a written request for a hearing that clearly identifies the part of the record the student wants changed and specifying why it is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the student’s rights of privacy to the custodian of the record that the student seeks to challenge.
2. The university will hold a hearing within a reasonable time after receiving the student’s written request for a hearing.
3. The university will give the student notice of the date, time, and place of the hearing, reasonably in advance of the hearing.
4. The hearing will be conducted by an individual who does not have a direct interest in the outcome of the hearing. The hearing official will be appointed by the vice president to whom the custodian of the records in question reports.
5. The student will be provided the opportunity to present evidence supporting his or her allegation that his or her education record contains information that is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the student’s rights of privacy. The student may, at his or her own expense, be assisted during the hearing by one individual, including legal counsel. The student must notify the hearing official no later than three (3) business days before the hearing that he or she will have legal counsel present at the hearing.
6. The custodian of the record in question and the author of that record (if appropriate) will also be provided an opportunity to respond to the student’s allegations.
7. Upon hearing all of the evidence, the hearing official will render a written determination within a reasonable time after the hearing. The written determination will include a summary of the evidence and the reasons for the hearing official’s determination.
8. Any information in the student’s education record that is determined to be inaccurate, misleading, or a violation of the student’s rights of privacy will be amended with the correct information and the student will be notified in writing of the change.
9. If it is determined that the student record is correct and does not merit amendment, the university will notify the student of his or her right to place a statement in the education record commenting on the information in the record, and/or presenting any reasons for disagreeing with the university’s decision.
10. Any statement placed by the student in his or her education record shall remain a part of the record for as long as the record is maintained by the university.

Custodians of Records

Office of the University Registrar
128 Welcome Center

Director of Scholarships and Financial Aid
120 Welcome Center

Director of Student Business Services
124 Welcome Center

Director of the Student Health Center
100 Health Center

Director of Learning and Assessment
210 Student Service Center

Director of University Career Services
106 Student Service Center

Dean of Students
252 University Center

Dean of the appropriate college

The Texas Success Initiative and the Texas Higher Education Assessment (formerly TASP)

All undergraduate students must have their Texas Success Initiative (TSI) status established by the Undergraduate Scholars@UH. The UScholars is the only UH office that can determine TSI status. New students will not be able to register for classes until TSI status has been set.

Transfer Credit

Office of the University Registrar
128 Welcome Center
713-743-1010, Option 2

Evaluations of transfer work are made in the Office of the University Registrar, usually after students are admitted and complete records are on file. The application of transfer credit toward a degree at the university cannot be determined until the transcript has been evaluated and a degree plan made. Financial aid is awarded based on the number of hours completed at the time of awarding. If transfer credit is applied after awarding occurs, the student should visit with a Financial Aid officer. For specific regulations for approving transfer of credit in the undergraduate programs, consult your Undergraduate catalog. For more information on applying your credits toward your degree, contact the college or department of your major.

Texas Success Initiative (TSI)

Section 51.3062 of the Texas Education Code establishes the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) program as a requirement at all Texas institutions of higher education. The purpose of the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) program is to ensure that students enrolled in public colleges and universities possess the academic skills needed to perform effectively in college level course work. TSI includes an examination designed to provide diagnostic information about the reading, mathematics, and writing skills of each student.

Students will demonstrate their college readiness in reading, writing, and mathematics either by taking the three respective TSI Assessments or by demonstrating an exemption for each area.

Please see the Undergraduate Catalog for information on requirements and exemptions.

Undergraduate Enrollment Limits

Enrollment Cap

The undergraduate enrollment limit applies to students who are Texas state residents and are enrolled for the first time in a Texas public higher education institution in the Fall semester of 1999 or thereafter. For students first enrolling Fall 1999 through Summer 2006, the enrollment cap is 45 hours; and for students first enrolling Fall 2006 or after, the enrollment cap is 30 hours.

Such students are entitled to pay the Texas resident tuition rate for only the number of hours required to complete a degree in their approved major plus the cap allowance (45 hours or 30 hours). Students who have not chosen a major are considered, under Texas law, to have degree requirements of 120 hours. Courses attempted at any public Texas institution count toward the limit for each student. Attempted hours are calculated for courses in which a student is enrolled on the Official Reporting Day (ORD) (typically twelfth class day or 4th class day in summer), not by the courses in which a student receives a grade (passing, failing, or W). When students to whom this law applies register for courses that exceed this limit, they will be charged a premium rate of $100 per credit hour additional to their in-state rate.

If you stop attending a class with the intent to drop, be sure you drop on or before the Official Reporting Day (ORD) or these hours will count toward your in-state-tuition limit. Please see your academic advisor for more information or if you have any questions about this policy.

For more information, please visit http://www.uh.edu/provost/student-success/policy-updates/enrollment-cap/

Course Cap

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Rules (under Chapter 13) authorizes institutions to charge out-of-state tuition for students who enroll in a course for the third or more time,

Students may be charged for semester credit hours or contact hours attempted in any course, other than a non-degree-credit developmental course, containing the same content for a third or more times at their institutions since Fall Semester 2002. Attempted hours are calculated for courses in which a student is enrolled on the twelfth day (fourth class day in summer), not by the courses in which a student receives a grade (passing, failing, or W),

Semester credit hours or contact hours attempted by students for the following types of course work are exempt from the provisions of this section:

1. thesis and dissertation courses.
2. courses that may be repeated for credit because they involve different or more advanced content each time they are taken, including but not limited to, individual music lessons, Workforce Education Course Manual Special Topics courses (when the topic changes), theater practicum, music performance, ensembles, certain physical education and kinesiology courses, and studio art.
3. independent study courses,
4. special topics and seminar courses.

If you stop attending a class with the intent to drop, be sure you drop on or before the twelfth class day (fourth in summer) or these courses will count toward your two attempts. For more information, please visit http://www.uh.edu/provost/student-success/policy-updates/three-peat/

Undergraduate Grievances

Issues of grievance regarding grades, course requirements and classroom procedures can occur. The first and best source for resolving the problem is with the professor. The university expects most issues to be resolved amicably and informally with the professor. In the event that an informal resolution is not possible, students may file a written grievance on a General Petition form, available in departmental and college offices, and online at www.uh.edu/academics/forms. These forms must be filed with the professor within 90 calendar days of the posting of the final grades for the course. Appeals may be considered at the following levels, as necessary: professor, departmental chair, college dean, senior vice president for academic affairs (or designated representatives at all levels). Faculty are required to retain all evaluated student material not previously returned for a six-month period after the end of the last class of the semester evaluated.

Because assigning a grade or evaluating a student’s work performance involves the faculty’s professional judgment and is an integral part of the faculty’s teaching responsibilities, disagreement with an instructor concerning a grade or evaluation is not a justifiable grievance to be considered under this policy unless a violation of university, college, or department academic policies or procedures can be shown to have affected that grade or evaluation.

Please note that appeals for decisions in the following areas are guided by separate appeal or grievance policies and procedures: Affirmative Action, Academic Honesty, Student Life, Financial Responsibility.

The Graduate Grievance Policy appears in the Graduate Catalog at http://catalog.uh.edu/content.php?catoid=1&navoid=117.

Undergraduates Withdrawals

The grade of W is assigned to a course only after the last day to drop or withdraw without receiving a grade and before the final day to drop or withdraw. Students are responsible for initiating action to drop or withdraw from classes. Students who fail to do so will be retained on the class rolls even though they may be absent for the remainder of the semester. In such instances a grade of F (or U in S/U graded courses) will be awarded unless the conditions for a grade of I have been met. Please see the “Dropping a Course” section for limitation on withdrawals from courses.

If you need to drop all your classes, you must officially withdraw from the university. Your record with the university must be clear-that is, no overdue library books, no unpaid parking tickets, tuition and fees paid in full, etc. The procedure for medical and administrative withdrawals are outlined in the Undergraduate catalog (www.uh.edu/academics/catalog).

Graduate and Professional Students should refer to the most recent Graduate Catalog (www.uh.edu/grad_catalog) for the complete policy.

Students who receive financial aid funds should discuss the implications of withdrawing with a financial aid officer. All financial aid recipients who withdraw, unofficially or officially, are subject to a Return of Title IV Funds recalculation according to Federal Regulations, which may result in the student owing funds back to the university. Please visit www.uh.edu/finaid for more information. International students should first meet with an international student counselor.