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Undergraduate Catalog: Fall 2009 - Summer 2010 with Spring 2010 course updates

Undergraduate Catalog - with Spring '10 course updates

Enrollment

Academic Advising

Academic advising is designed to help students make decisions about their educational and career goals. Faculty and staff in various colleges and departments are available to assist students who have chosen a major. Students who have not yet made a commitment to a major field will be assisted by the staff at Undergraduate Scholars at UH. Advising is viewed as an ongoing activity and not just as a schedule planning function. Students should schedule an appointment with an academic advisor before each semester to review their progress and to make plans for the future. Students are expected to become familiar with their program requirements so that they may exercise personal judgment and have a knowledge base for discussing concerns with an advisor.

Students who have been admitted to a particular college or department should seek advising from that college or department. Others should go to the Undergraduate Scholars at UH Academic Advising Center, 832-842-2100, 56 University Libraries, via the back entrance to M.D. Anderson Library, across from the University Center.

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Student Classifications

Undergraduate

Undergraduate students' classifications are based on the total number of semester hours earned at the University of Houston and accepted in transfer from other colleges and universities regardless of whether or not the courses involved are applicable to the major or degree plan. Credit awarded by examination and hours earned with a grade of Sare counted in determining classification, but not in determining the grade point average.

Undergraduate Classifications
ClassificationNumber of Semester Credit HoursMinimum Cumulative Grade Point Average
Freshman 0-29 semester hours 2.00
Sophomore 30-59 semester hours 2.00
Junior 60-89 semester hours 2.00
Senior and postbaccalaureate 90 or more semester hours 2.00

Law, Optometry, Pharmacy

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

Postbaccalaureate

The postbaccalaureate classification describes students who have degrees but are not enrolled in a formal graduate degree program. (See Graduate and Professional Studies catalog for details.)

Credit for graduate level courses taken by postbaccalaureate students is awarded as undergraduate credit. The grade point average and minimum cumulative grade point average is calculated according to the above listing.

There are restrictions and limitations on the application of postbaccalaureate hours toward a graduate degree. All such hours must be approved by the degree-granting college and department.

Graduate

The university classifies a student as a graduate student when an admission application and the required credentials have been approved and the student has enrolled (registered) for classes as a graduate student at the University of Houston. All graduate students must go through the formal application process in order to obtain the graduate student classification.

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Course Load

Undergraduate Full-time Status

All undergraduate students who are enrolled (registered) for at least 12 semester hours during a fall or spring semester, 8 semester hours during 9 Week-First Session or 12 Week-Regular Session (Summer II or III), and 4 semester hours during 6 Week-First Session or 6 Week-Second Session (Summer I or IV) are classified as carrying a full-time course load. Some agencies outside the university may set different guidelines for full-time status and satisfactory academic progress. Students should comply with such guidelines to the extent that they do not contradict university purposes and regulations. Selected colleges and departments may have more restrictive or more permissive policies than the university policies listed below.

Recommended Course Load

An undergraduate student should recognize that course work in college will require a significant amount of work outside the classroom--traditionally recommended at 2-3 hours for every hour in class. That ratio will vary with subject, but the underlying principle will not: being in college is a time-consuming activity. Any other commitments while enrolled in college courses should be balanced against the time required to attend to one's college classes and assignments.

Taking a recommended 3:1 ratio for the sake of illustration, a student carrying a 12 semester-hour course load should plan to devote an additional 36 hours per week to course-related work. That would represent a total recommended time commitment of 48 hours; 15 semester-hours would obligate one to perhaps 60 hours of work a week for satisfactory performance during the fall and spring semesters. These course demands need to be kept in mind when deciding whether to live on-campus or off-campus. Students living off-campus need to allow time in their schedule for commuting. Working students need to consider how many hours remain in the 168 hours of the week after deducting time for eating, sleeping, recreation, and other extracurricular activities.

Students who work while going to school should balance their work-related activities against the hours needed to study. Starting with a 15 semester-hour load, it is recommended that the total enrollment load in a fall or spring semester be reduced by one course (3 semester-hours) for every 12 hours of work.

First-time-in-college freshmen are encouraged to enroll in no more than 15 semester hours.

Maximum Course Load

The course load for undergraduate students is dependent on the curriculum for which they enroll. For those students who expect to complete the requirements for a bachelor's degree in about four years, the maximum undergraduate course load each fall or spring semester is as follows:

Maximum Course Load by College
College
Semester Hours
College of Architecture
21
Bauer College of Business
18
College of Education
18
Cullen College of Engineering
19
Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management
18
College of Liberal Arts, and Social Sciences

Freshman

16

Sophomore, Junior, Senior,
Postbaccalaureate

19

Student on Probation/
Academic Notice

12
Law Center
(see the Graduate and Professional Studies catalog)
16
College of Natural Sciences and
Mathematics
18

Student on Probation/
Academic Notice

13
College of Optometry
23
College of Pharmacy
19
Graduate College of Social Work
(see the Graduate and Professional Studies catalog)
18
College of Technology
18
Undergraduate Scholars at UH

Freshman

16

Sophomore, Junior, Senior,
Postbaccalaureate

18

Student on Probation/
Academic Notice

12

The maximum undergraduate course load for summer sessions, regardless of college or major, is as follows:

Maximum Summer Session Course Load
Session
Hours
6 Week-First (Summer I)
7
6 Week-Second (Summer IV)
7
6 Week-First and 6 Week-Second (Summer I and IV)
14

One-half of the hours in 9 Week-First Session or 12 Week-Regular Session (Summer II or III) should be added to any 6 Week-First Session or 6 Week-Second Session (Summer I or IV) hours to determine total course load for 6 Week-First Session or 6 Week-Second Session (Summer I or IV).

An undergraduate or postbaccalaureate student who is on Academic Probation or Academic Notice shall enroll in no more than 13 hours in a fall or spring semester for all majors except majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and Undergraduate Scholars at UH, both of which allow no more than 12 hours in a fall or spring semester. An undergraduate or postbaccalaureate student who is on Academic Probation or Academic Notice shall enroll in no more than 5 hours in 6 Week-First Session or 6 Week-Second Session (Summer I or IV), or 10 hours in 9 Week-First Session or 12 Week-Regular Session (Summer II or III).

These totals include all courses for which students may enroll. Permission to take course loads above these maximums must be obtained in advance of enrollment (registration) from the dean of the college of the student's major.

Overload

No student may enroll in a course load exceeding the college's suggested course load for a specific semester as listed in the Maximum Course Load Table without prior written permission of the dean of the college of the student's major. Students who enroll in an overload without this permission may be dropped from selected courses at the discretion of the dean and may not receive a tuition refund.

To be considered for a course overload, the student must submit a petition to the dean and should meet the following criteria:

  1. Have a 3.00 minimum grade point average in the preceding two summer sessions (minimum: 12 semester hours) or in the preceding fall or spring semester (minimum: 12 semester hours) at the university, or
  2. Be in good academic standing in the college if in the last semester before graduation.

Students should consult the appropriate college section of the catalog for any additional conditions that must be met to qualify for an approved petition for an overload. A student must file the petition for overload prior to enrollment (registration) or add/drop.

The maximum overload permitted in any college by an approved petition is a load totaling 22 hours for a fall or spring semester, 9 hours in a 6 Week-First Session or 6 Week-Second Session (Summer I or IV), and 15 hours for any combination of summer enrollments.

Refer to the Graduate and Professional Studies catalog for information on graduate course overloads.

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Grading System

Meaning of Letter Grades
Grade
Description
A
Excellent, superior achievement
A-

B+

B
Good, exceeding all requirements
B-

C+

C
Average, satisfactorily meeting all requirements
C-

D+

D
Poor, passing
D-

F
Failing or withdrawal while doing failing work
I
Incomplete
NR
Not reported
S
Satisfactory
U
Unsatisfactory
W
Withdrawal

In the case of Foundations courses (ENGL 1300, MATH 1300, READ 1300), and Senior Honors Theses, an "in progress" grade may be awarded. (See Grade Explanations below for information about "in progress" grades).

Grade Assignment

Grades are awarded in courses in which students are officially enrolled after the last day to drop or withdraw from a course without receiving a grade. This date is indicated in the academic calendar for each enrollment period. The academic calendar is available on the Web at www.uh.edu/calendars.html.

Grade Explanations

  1. Passing grades for which semester hours of credit are awarded are A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, and S. (Pharmacy students should refer to the College of Pharmacy section.)
  2. The grades of S (satisfactory) and U (unsatisfactory) may be awarded in certain specified courses.
  3. 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 reenroll (reregister) 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 reenroll (reregister) 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, 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 sixty-six hours).
  4. The grade of W is assigned to a course only after the last day to drop or withdraw without receiving a grade (four weeks after the first day of classes in a fall or spring semester), and before the final day to drop or withdraw (generally four weeks prior to the last day of classes in a fall or spring semester). 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 Ihave been met.
  5. An in progress designation in place of a grade indicates that the student is proceeding satisfactorily but must re-enroll to obtain a final grade.

Grade Point Average

Grade points are awarded as follows for each semester hour in which students receive a grade.

Grade Points Awarded for Each Grade
GradePoints
A 4.00
A- 3.67
B+ 3.33
B 3.00
B- 2.67
C+ 2.33
C 2.00
C- 1.67
D+ 1.33
D 1.00
D- 0.67
F 0.00

The grade point average is the quotient obtained by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the number of semester hours in which students receive a letter grade. 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.

A change in grade (other than I, incomplete) will affect the academic status of the semester in which the grade was earned and all subsequent semesters. A change of grade from I will affect only the cumulative grade point average effective the semester the I is completed (or changed to F or U).

Decimals beyond two places are truncated, not rounded, in computing the grade point average.

Cumulative Grade Point Average

The cumulative grade point average is based upon all work taken at the University of Houston, including courses that are repeated, for which grade point values are assigned.

A repeated course, including courses repeated during a summer session, is equivalent to a new course both in the determination of classification and in computing the cumulative grade point average.

Students may not enroll in any course more than three times, including W, F, and I grades, without permission from the college of their major. When a course is repeated, only the most recent attempt will count toward satisfying degree requirements. This does not mean that the later course grade replaces earlier grades. All attempts will remain on the student's official transcript. This policy does not apply to courses listed in the catalog as repeatable (e.g. Selected Topics courses).

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Fulfillment of Grade Requirements for a Degree

The cumulative grade point average shall be used to determine the fulfillment of grade requirements with the following differences:

  1. The grade of I shall be computed as F.
  2. Upon approval by the dean of the college of the student's major, a maximum of six semester hours, eight in the case of laboratory courses, taken during the first 30 semester hours of undergraduate course work at the university may be eliminated from the computation. The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics will not eliminate any semester hours of undergraduate course work from the computation of the graduation grade point average for a bachelor's degree.
    1. Neither these grades nor the courses for which they were awarded are removed from the student's official academic record.
    2. These eliminated courses shall not be used to fulfill any degree requirement.
    3. Grades may not be eliminated for courses subsequently repeated.
    4. These exceptions shall be used only to allow a student to achieve the minimum grade point average for graduation.

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Academic Fresh Start

Undergraduate students applying for admission to the University of Houston may elect to have all academic coursework completed at any institution of higher education 10 or more years prior to the time of application ignored for admission purposes. Once ignored, this coursework cannot be used to satisfy prerequisite or degree requirements at the University of Houston. The Academic Fresh Start Program is open to new, former and current students.1

Courses that are removed from consideration under provisions of the Academic Fresh Start Program will not be removed from the student's academic record, but the student's UH transcript shall be annotated to identify the courses that have been removed from consideration.

Any academic probations and suspensions that resulted from course work removed from consideration under this program will not be counted in any future determination as to whether the student is placed on academic notice, academic probation, or academic suspension.

There may be implications for financial aid and veterans benefits for students enrolled under Academic Fresh Start. Students should contact these offices for more information.

Students may elect to use the provisions of this Academic Fresh Start Program only once at the University of Houston. Certain benefits of the state law pertaining to Academic Fresh Start do not apply to UH students. See an advisor for details.

Former and current undergraduate students may obtain more information on this Academic Fresh Start Program by contacting the dean of the college of their major or Undergraduate Scholars at UH.

For more information on the Academic Fresh Start Program for undergraduate transfer students, refer to Academic Fresh Start For Undergraduate Transfer Students in the Admissions, Advising, Orientation, and Enrollment (Registration) section of this catalog.

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Examinations

Within Semester Examinations

Examinations in undergraduate courses within the semester shall be given during the scheduled time and day of the class as designated in the class listings. Any exception to this policy must be approved by the dean of the college and the Provost. All classroom and laboratory examinations are subject to this campus policy.

When it is known prior to the beginning of the semester that there will be examinations scheduled at times other than the regularly scheduled time period for the class and for which written approval has been obtained, such examinations shall be footnoted in the class listings.

When examinations are to be scheduled at times other than the regularly scheduled time period for the class and where written approval has been obtained, and in recognition of students' needs and responsibilities within and outside the university, written notification (e.g., course syllabus) shall be provided to the students during the drop/add period for the semester.

Final Examinations

Final examinations, if given, shall be given during the time and date designated in the official university class schedule. Any exception to this policy must be approved in writing by the dean of the college in which the course is taught and announced by the instructor to the class no later than the last day to drop a course.

If during the summer a final examination is scheduled to conflict with a scheduled class, the final examination shall take precedence over the class and the instructor of the class shall not penalize any student who misses the class to take the final exam. The student who has the conflict shall notify both instructors of that conflict as soon as possible, but no later than the week before the scheduled exam. The student's absence from class shall be considered to be official, and the instructor shall allow the student to either make up missed work or be exempt without penalty from making it up.

An instructor shall not require previously unscheduled work in the form of tests, papers, or reports during the 14 calendar days prior to the examination period of each semester or five calendar days prior to the examination period of each summer session.

There shall be no required undergraduate class meetings, other than for final examination purposes, after the last day of classes. There shall be no final examinations during the reading period (see the Academic Calendar section of this catalog).

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Final Grade Reports

Grades are now available through myUH account at https://my.uh.edu. Service is available for students to request a paper copy which will be sent to the student's mailing address as reflected in university records or students can print out a copy at the Web site.

Following final exams, students can use the Web site to check if their grades have been posted for the semester. Upon submission by instructor,grades are posted on a nightly basis.

Students are encouraged to contact the instructor of record or submit written requests to the department chair whenever questions arise concerning a grade received in a course. Students have 90 days after the posting of a grade to appeal.

Undergraduate Academic 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 department and college offices, and at the Registrar's Office, 128 Welcome Center. 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 representative 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 for 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, and Financial Responsibility.

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Scholastic Requirements

Law, optometry, and pharmacy students should refer to the scholastic requirements specified in the appropriate college section of this catalog.

Undergraduate and postbaccalaureate students are expected to maintain a 2.00 (C) minimum cumulative grade point average, which is the minimum permitted for graduation. They are subject to scholastic action any semester or summer session in which one or more semester hours are attempted. The summer sessions are considered a unit equivalent to a semester.

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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.

  1. Freshman 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. All new students are encouraged to take 15 hours or less in their first semester at this university. Students on academic notice are not on academic probation and cannot be suspended. Students on academic notice must be advised by the Academic Advising Center of Undergraduate Scholars at UH and their major departments.
  2. Students are placed on academic probation if their cumulative grade point average falls below 2.00. Freshman and sophomore students on academic probation are urged to seek advising in their major departments. They may also consult the advisors in the Academic Advising Center of Undergraduate Scholars at UH.
  3. Students on academic probation whose semester or summer session grade point average is below 2.00 are placed on academic suspension at the close of that semester or summer session.

    1. The first academic suspension is for a period of at least one semester (fall or spring or summer).
      1. Students placed on academic suspension at the end of a fall semester are not eligible to re-enroll until the following summer.
      2. Students placed on academic suspension at the end of a spring semester are not eligible to re-enroll until the following fall.
      3. Students placed on academic suspension at the end of a summer session are not eligible to re-enroll until the following spring.
    2. The second academic suspension is for a period of at least 12 months.
    3. After their third academic suspension, students are ineligible to enroll at the University of Houston.
  4. 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.
  5. Students on academic probation will be removed from that status when their semester or summer session 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 on academic probation, retain on probation, or suspend any majors in that college whose academic records are deficient. The dean also may remove from academic probation or academic suspension any majors in the college whose academic progress warrants such action.

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Readmission from Academic Suspension

  1. Only the dean of the college may readmit students on academic suspension from the University of Houston. Only the Director of Undergraduate Scholars at UH may readmit students who have not declared a major.
  2. Readmission from academic suspension is neither automatic nor guaranteed. Students seeking readmission must submit to the dean of the college in which they wish to earn their degrees:
    1. A written petition justifying their readiness to resume their studies at the university.
    2. Transcripts showing at least a 2.00 grade point average on all college work completed elsewhere while on academic suspension from the University of Houston.
    3. Transcripts of all other completed college work.
    4. Former Undergraduate Scholars (undeclared majors) must submit their petition and transcripts to the Director of Undergraduate Scholars at UH.
  3. Students seeking to change their majors from the college from which they were suspended to another college must submit a "change of major" request along with a petition for readmission from academic suspension to the college of the intended major.
  4. Colleges may have additional policies and procedures pertaining to readmission from academic suspension; 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.

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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 Colleges of Architecture, Engineering, Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences and Mathematics require 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 the Dean's List. For information, consult the catalog for the college of major or contact the office of the dean.

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Class 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.

The university has no specific policy regarding the number of excused absences, but expects students to attend class regularly. Students whose absences are determined by their instructors to be excessive may be dropped from the course. Unavoidable absences should be reported to the instructor as soon as possible.

Absences caused by participation in a campus-sponsored activity are considered official if the sponsor of the activity has received approval from the appropriate university administrator. Students must make up the work missed even though the absences are official.

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Maintaining a Learning Environment

In order to respect the learning process and the dignity and rights of all persons, students and instructors are expected to maintain a classroom environment conducive to academic excellence. Students should deactivate cell phones, pagers, and other electronic devices likely to interrupt a class. Students anticipating possible emergencies should make the instructor aware of the situation beforehand. Disruptive behavior of any kind compromises the academic process and will not be tolerated.

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Religious Holy Days

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, 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 exams) 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.

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Course Enrollment Restrictions

  1. Freshmen who have fewer than 24 semester hours may not take a course on the 2000-level except when the actual prerequisites for the courses have been fulfilled. Sophomores may take 3000-level courses and juniors may take 4000-level courses when the prerequisites for the courses have been fulfilled.
  2. Students are limited to a maximum of three enrollments in a specific 3000- or 4000-level course. An enrollment shall be defined as having occurred in any case in which a grade is awarded (including U, S, W, I,F, or any passing grade). This rule will not apply to courses that may be repeated for credit when topics vary.
  3. Courses numbered 6000 or higher are normally limited to graduate students. Seniors and postbaccalaureate students may request permission from their department or college to enroll in these classes.

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Adding Courses

The last day to add courses is the sixth class day of a fall or spring term or the second day of summer session. Please refer to the academic calendar for specific dates.

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Dropping Courses

Students are expected to commit themselves to courses as early as possible in order to succeed in their courses.

The last day to drop or withdraw from a course without receiving a grade is the Official Reporting Day (ORD). Please see the academic calendar for the exact date.

Before dropping courses:

  • Students receiving financial aid should see a financial aid advisor
  • All F-1 and J-1 international students must see an advisor in the International Student and Scholar Services Office
  • Business majors must secure permission from the Office of Undergraduate Business Programs in the Bauer College of Business
  • Athletes must see the Associate Director of Athletics for Student-Athlete Services

Beginning in Fall semester 2007, all students (current, transfer, and first time in college students) are permitted a total of six Ws (withdrawals), whether student or instructor initiated. Ws may be used at any time during their college career to drop a course up through the last day to drop a course or withdraw from all courses. When these six Ws have been used, the student must complete all subsequent courses. When enrollment in a course requires concurrent enrollment in another class (e.g., lecture/lab combination), the dropping of such a course combination whether for credit or not will count as one withdrawal if dropped within the same term. The academic department offering the course must verify the concurrent enrollment requirement.

The last day to drop a course with a W is near the end of a term. The specific term deadline is posted on the academic calendar.

Through the last day to drop a course with a grade of W, enrollment in a course may be terminated in any one of the ways listed below. Termination of enrollment does not entitle the student to receive a refund of tuition and fees if the drop date is after the refund date. Should an attempted drop result in exceeding the six W limit, the student will remain enrolled in the course and the instructor will assign the grade earned, which may be an F.

  1. Undergraduate students who wish to drop a course must do so online by logging in to their myUH account at https://my.uh.edu.
  2. Through the last day to drop a course with a grade of W, an instructor may drop students for any of the reasons listed below. After the last day to drop a course and until the official closing date of the term, instructors may drop students for one of the reasons listed below only with the approval of the dean of the college offering the course. Instructors should notify students of this action.
    1. Lack of prerequisites or corequisites for the course listed in the current catalog. Students who enroll in a course for which they are not eligible and remain in the course knowingly misrepresent their academic records or achievements as they pertain to course prerequisites or corequisites and are in violation of the university's Academic Honesty Policy.
    2. Excessive absences
    3. Causes that tend to disrupt the academic process (except those actions involving academic honesty, which come under the jurisdiction of the academic honesty policy). Disruptive behavior includes the use of or the failure to deactivate cell phones, pagers, and other electronic devices likely to disrupt the classroom. Students may appeal such a decision in writing within 30 days through the office of the dean of the college in which the course is taught.
  3. After the last day for dropping courses, undergraduate students may be dropped from a course with a W, only for rare, urgent, substantiated, nonacademic reasons. Students wishing to initiate such actions must submit the request in writing to the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs (or designated representative) with accompanying documentation. Students have 90 days after the posting of a grade to initiate this action. Until a decision on this request has been made, the instructor should assign whatever grade is appropriate other than an Incomplete. The review procedure will be the same as that applied for consideration of medical and administrative withdrawals. The student and instructor will be notified in writing of the final decision.

The effective date recorded for termination of enrollment for all matters relating to University of Houston records will be the date the student drops the course through his/her myUH account at https://my.uh.edu or the date the properly approved enrollment change request form is processed by the Registrar's Office, at the Welcome Center.

Students are responsible for verifying that they have been dropped from a course by logging in to their myUH account at https://my.uh.edu or at the Registrar's Office in the Welcome Center.

Students may not receive a W for a course in which they have been found guilty of a violation of the Academic Honesty Policy. If a W is received prior to a guilty finding, the student will become liable for the Academic Honesty penalty, which may be a grade of F.

Term withdrawals (dropping to zero credit hours) do not count toward the limit of six Ws.

Texas Education Code §51.907 provides that, except for several specific instances of good cause, undergraduate students who enrolled for the first time in a Texas public institution of higher education in Fall 2007 or after will be limited to a total of six dropped courses during their entire undergraduate career. This statute applies to courses dropped at public institutions of higher education in Texas including community and technical colleges, health science centers that offer undergraduate programs, and universities. Courses dropped at independent/private institutions, or at colleges and universities outside of Texas, do not count against the student's six drop limit. Students may also refer to the Texas Administrative Code §4.10.

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Withdrawal

The term withdrawal applies to the dropping of all courses for which students are enrolled (registered) at the University of Houston, and it may be initiated by students.

General Withdrawal

In addition to following the procedure for dropping a course, students must return all library books and laboratory equipment and have their UH record clear in every respect. Students who wish to withdraw may do so through their myUH account at https://my.uh.edu up to the last day to drop or withdraw without a grade or they may come to the Registrar's Office in the Welcome Center, or write:

University of Houston
Registrar's Office
102 E Cullen Building
Houston, TX 77204-2027

The recorded date for withdrawal will be the date:

  1. the withdrawal is completed through the Web site or
  2. the completed form is submitted to the Registrar's Office, or
  3. the letter requesting withdrawal is received.

Students whose enrollment in a course is terminated on or before the last day to drop or withdraw without receiving a grade (a date listed in the academic calendar) will not have courses or grades appear on permanent records. When terminations are made after this date, permanent records will show grades of W for each withdrawn course and the date of withdrawal.

Students should note they are limited to six Ws during their college careers, see the section on Dropping Courses for more information.

Students are responsible for initiating action to drop or withdraw from classes on or before the last day to drop a course. 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 grades of F (or U in S/U graded courses) will be given unless mitigating circumstances warrant grades of I (incomplete).

University Withdrawal

In addition to suspension for academic or disciplinary causes, students may be withdrawn by the university for medical or financial reasons.

  1. Financial Withdrawal

Students who make payment on their account with checks which are returned to the university for insufficient funds or who fail to pay by designated deadlines will be withdrawn from the university without refund. Students who are financially withdrawn after the last day to drop or withdraw without a grade will receive "W" or "F" grades only for the semester.

Note: Students with two or more returned checks must make payment on their account by cash, cashier's check, money order, or credit card. No checks - personal or otherwise - will be accepted.

  1. Financial Responsibility

Students incur charges for a variety of services provided by the university. It is the expectation, as well as a condition of enrollment at the University of Houston, that students satisfy their financial responsibilities in a timely fashion. Individuals who fail to do so will incur the sanctions outlined in this section.

Students who illegally enroll at the University of Houston by (a) failing to pay past due balances at any other University of Houston campus, (b) providing the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid with false information for purposes of obtaining financial assistance, or (c) presenting a check for enrollment expenses that is returned by the university's bank, will have 10 calendar days to legitimize their enrollment. The 10 days will begin on the date the university mails notification to the student specifying what action the student must take to correct existing deficiencies. Failure of a student to respond within the 10-day period to a notice of a returned check for the initial fee payment will result in the student being financially disenrolled from the university.

Students who write or produce two bad checks (unless due to bank error) to the university for tuition and fees, or for any other university obligation, forfeit check-writing privileges for one year and must petition for future eligibility. This means that students must meet financial obligations by cash, cashier's check, money order, or credit card only. No personal checks from the student or anyone representing the student will be accepted.

In addition, a student who has tendered to the university a check returned unpaid by the bank will be assessed a $20 service charge. Any time payment is not made by the due date indicated, a late fee will be assessed, and a financial stop placed on any balance of $10 or greater.

Students who fail to make their first payment indicated on their initial fee bill will be canceled from their courses for non-payment and their records will reflect no enrollment. Students who make their initial payment then fail to make subsequent payment by the final payment deadline provided will be subject to the following sanctions: 

  •  
    • A $50 severance of service fee will be assessed on balances greater than $300.
    • Financial stops will be placed on balances of $10 or greater, preventing further enrollment until cleared by the Student Financial Services Office.
    • No degree will be conferred to a student or former student until financial obligations have been satisfied.
    • University housing may be denied.
    • Transcripts or statements regarding courses or prior credits will not be provided to or on behalf of a student who is in default on any payment to the university.
    • Non-payment by the end of the semester will result in transfer of the student's account to the Collections Office and assessment of a collection fee of at least 25 percent of the outstanding balance.
    • Continued delinquency will result in the placement of the account with an external collection agency.

Grade changes as a result of non-payment, dropping courses, or withdrawing from the university will not relieve the student of unmet financial obligations to the university.

Stopping payment on a check used to pay tuition and fees is not sufficient notice of withdrawal from the courses and will not release students from their financial obligation for those courses.

The University of Houston is a state of Texas institution of higher education, which means that payment of a specified portion of the student's account balance (determined by the payment plan a student chooses) is a condition of enrollment. Courses will be canceled for students who do not pay their minimum enrollment (registration) and tuition fees by the assigned time. Should courses be canceled, students may enroll (register) or reenroll during the next enrollment (registration) cycle if one exists.

  1. Undergraduate Medical Withdrawal

A student may request withdrawals from all courses in which the student is enrolled in cases where the student experiences a medical situation that impedes academic progress. The policy and procedures for requesting a medical withdrawal follow.

  1. Policy: Undergraduate and Postbaccalaureate Students
    1. The senior vice president for academic affairs (or designated representative) may grant medical withdrawals at any time to students who must withdraw for medical reasons from all courses for which they are enrolled (registered) at the University of Houston. It is expected that the request will be filed as soon as possible, no later than 140 calendar days after the close of the term in which the coursework was taken.
    2. Students who receive medical withdrawals after the last day to withdraw without receiving a grade shall normally receive a W in each course for which they were enrolled (registered), although the instructor has the option of assigning an I or F.
    3. Students may not receive medical withdrawals for courses in which they have been found guilty of a violation of the Academic Honesty Policy. If a medical withdrawal is completed prior to a guilty finding, the student will become liable for the Academic Honesty penalty, including F grades.
    4. Students who receive medical withdrawals must obtain permission from the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs (or designated representative) to enroll again at the University of Houston.
  2. Procedures
    1. Students (or their appointed representatives if they are unable to act for themselves) who seek to withdraw for medical reasons from all courses for which they are enrolled (registered) at the
      university shall, as soon as possible, submit a medical withdrawal request to the senior vice president for academic affairs (or designated representative), submitting all appropriate documentation, including a statement from a physician or psychologist, with their written request.
    2. The senior vice president for academic affairs (or designated representative) shall
      1. review each request and its accompanying
        documentation,
      2. make inquiries and seek recommendations from instructors of record and others as appropriate,
      3. decide whether to approve or deny the request,
      4. inform both the student and the dean of the college of the student's major of the decision in writing, and
      5. if the request is approved, place a medical withdrawal enrollment "stop" on the student's record unless otherwise noted by physician, clinical psychologist or licensed clinical practitioner.
    3. If the medical withdrawal is requested with an effective date after the last day for a student to withdraw from classes without receiving a grade, the senior vice president for academic affairs (or designated representative) shall, in making inquiries and seeking recommendations from each instructor of record, notify each that if approved, the withdrawal will normally result in a grade of W.
    4. The senior vice president for academic affairs (or designated representative) shall determine the student's final grade when approving the request, and shall inform the student and each instructor's dean, the Registrar's Office (which will enter the assigned grades into the student's record), the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, and the Student Financial Services Department.
    5. Students who receive medical withdrawals and later seek to return to the university shall submit a written request, including a statement from a physician or psychologist, to the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs (or designated representative) justifying their readiness to resume their studies.
      1. review each request to resume study at the university,
      2. make inquiries and seek recommendations as appropriate,
      3. decide whether to approve or deny the request,
      4. inform both the student and the dean of the college of the student's major of the decision in writing, and
      5. if the request is approved, remove the medical withdrawal enrollment "stop" from the student's record. (This action does not remove any other "stops" that may have been placed on the student's record by other university officials.
  1. Undergraduate Administrative Withdrawal

A student may request withdrawals from all courses in which the student is enrolled in cases when the student experiences an extenuating personal or family situation, beyond the control of the student, that impedes academic progress. The policy and procedures for requesting an administrative withdrawal follow.
  1. Policy: Undergraduate and Postbaccalaureate Students
    1. The senior vice president for academic affairs (or designated representative) may grant administrative withdrawals at any time to a student who must withdraw from all courses for which he or she is enrolled (registered) at the University of Houston based on an extenuating circumstance beyond the control of the student. It is expected that the request will be filed as soon as possible, no later than 140 days after the close of the term in which the coursework was taken.
    2. Students who receive administrative withdrawals after the last day to withdraw without receiving a grade shall normally receive a W in each course for which they were enrolled (registered), although the instructor has the option of assigning an I or F.
    3. Students may not receive Administrative Withdrawals for courses in which they have been found guilty of a violation of the Academic Honesty Policy. If an Administrative Withdrawal is completed prior to a guilty finding, the student will become liable for the Academic Honesty penalty, including F grades.
  2. Procedures
    1. Students (or their appointed representatives if they are unable to act for themselves) who seek to withdraw for administrative reasons from all courses for which they are enrolled (registered) at the university shall, as soon as possible, submit an administrative withdrawal request to the senior vice president for academic affairs (or designated representative), submitting all appropriate documentation, including a statement from a physician, psychologist or legal advisor, with their written requests. In the event of death of an immediate family member (mother, father, grandparent, sister, brother, child, spouse) an official death certificate will be required.
    2. The senior vice president for academic affairs (or designated representative) shall
      1. review each request and its accompanying documentation,
      2. make inquiries and seek recommendations from instructors of record and others as appropriate,
      3. decide whether to approve or deny the request,
      4. inform both the student and the dean of the college of the student's major of the decision in writing, and
    3. If the administrative withdrawal is requested with an effective date after the last day for a student to withdraw from classes without receiving a grade, the senior vice president for academic affairs (or designated representative) shall, in making inquiries and seeking recommendations from each instructor of record, notify each that if approved, the withdrawal will normally result in a grade ofW.
    4. The senior vice president for academic affairs (or designated representative) shall determine the student's final grade when approving the request, and shall inform the student and each instructor's dean, the Registrar's Office (which will enter the assigned grades into the student's record), the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, and the Student Financial Services Department.

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Catalog Publish Date: May 4, 2010
This Page Last Updated: December 3, 2009