Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if I have an extended absence due to illness or a personal emergency?
Students should notify their instructors as soon as they know they will not make it to class, and refer to the course syllabus for policies on absences, late work, and make-up exams. If an incident occurs that is beyond the student's control that prevents them from completing the course successfully, the student can petition for a non-academic withdrawal through the Office of Undergraduate Advising. The petition process allows the student to state his or her circumstances and provide supporting documentation to the Non-Academic Drop Committee. If the committee rules to approve the petition, the student will be withdrawn from the course and receive a 'W' for the semester grade. If the committee denies the petition, the student will receive the grade earned in the course.
How do I get a tuition rebate?
If you were a freshman who entered a Texas public college or university for the first time in the fall of 1997 or later, you may qualify for a $1,000 tuition rebate after you graduate. You must have been a resident of Texas, taken all your course work at a Texas public institution of higher education, and been entitled to pay in-state tuition at all times while you were pursuing your degree. The law provides for the rebate if you graduate within three or fewer attempted hours of the number of hours required for your degree. For example, if your degree requires that you have 120 hours to graduate and you ultimately graduate with 123 attempted hours or fewer, you can qualify for the rebate. Attempted hours include every course you have been registered for, as of Census Day, for every semester, to include: developmental courses, courses you repeat, courses from which you withdraw, and credit you may receive by examination. Students must apply for the rebate in the Office of the Registrar at the beginning of the semester in which they apply for graduation.
By law, refunds for students with outstanding student loans will be sent directly to the lender.
What is the credit hour limit for state resident tuition?
Section 54.014, Texas Education Code, establishes a maximum number of semester credit hours that an undergraduate Texas resident may attempt while paying tuition at the rate provided for Texas residents. Attempted hours include all hours taken at a Texas state institution of higher education for which a student was registered as of Census Day, including but not limited to, courses that have been repeated, failed, and courses from which the student withdrew. A student who exceeds the maximum hours may be charged tuition at a rate higher than the rate charged to other resident undergraduate students, but the rate may not exceed the rate charged to nonresident undergraduate students and applies only to the excess hours.
Students already holding one baccalaureate degree are exempt when enrolled in a second baccalaureate degree program.
For undergraduate resident students enrolling for the first time in fall 1999 through summer 2006, the maximum is 45 hours above the minimum number of hours required for completion of the degree program in which the student is enrolled, or 120 hours for a student who is not enrolled in a degree program.
For undergraduate resident students enrolling for the first time in fall 2006, the maximum is 30 hours above the minimum number of hours required for completion of the degree program in which the student is enrolled, or 120 hours for a student who is not enrolled in a degree program.
this page last updated November 12, 2008
