6 Course Drop Frequently Asked Questions
- What students are affected by this legislation?
- What does first-time in college mean?
- Are any students exempt from this legislation?
- What is considered to be a course drop under this legislation?
- How can students prevent themselves from dropping so many classes?
- What happens if I completely withdraw from the institution?
- Are there any situations where a course drop would not apply to the limit?
- Are there any situations where a course drop can be exempt from the limit?
- How do I request an exemption for a course drop?
- Is there an appeals process if my request is denied?
- Why is there a hold on my record?
- What is the purpose of this legislation? Does the state lose money when students drop classes?
What students are affected by this legislation?
Students who enroll as entering freshmen or first-time in college students in undergraduate courses offered through an affected institution of higher education for the first time during the Fall 2007 semester or any subsequent semester are subject to the course drop limit restrictions.What does first-time in college mean?
Transfer students who first enrolled at a Texas public institution during the Fall 2007 semester or subsequent semester are considered first time in college and are affected by the six course drop limit.Are any students exempt from this legislation?
Students who enrolled at a Texas public institution before the Fall 2007 semester are exempt from this legislation. Students who elect to use the provisions of Academic Fresh Start who have coursework prior to the Fall 2007 semester are grandfathered and are not subject to TEC 51.907. Students who have completed a baccalaureate degree at any recognized public or private institution are not considered affected students whether or not taking additional undergraduate courses.What is considered to be a course drop under this legislation?
A course drop, which will be recorded on the transcript, is defined as an affected credit course not completed by an undergraduate student who:
-
1. is enrolled in the course at the official date of record*, and
2. will receive a non-punitive grade of W or QW.
| COURSE LENGTH | DATE OF RECORD |
|---|---|
| 3 week course | 2nd class day |
| 5 or 6 week course | 4th class day |
| 8 week course | 6th class day |
| 16 week course | 12th class day |
How can students prevent themselves from dropping so many classes?
When determining a class schedule for a term, students need to choose carefully the courses they plan to take. When determining the proper course load for a term, students should take into consideration outside factors which may affect their performance such as their work schedule and/or their extra-curricular activities.What happens if I completely withdraw from the institution?
Complete withdrawals are not subject to the six drop legislation and do not count toward the limit.Are there any situations where a course drop would not apply to the limit?
Yes, some courses are excluded from the legislation. For instance, courses which are developmental courses or those which are a required co-requisite are excluded.Are there any situations where a course drop can be exempt from the limit?
Some drops may be eligible for exemption for certain situations as severe illness, responsibility for the care of a sick family member, death of a family member, or a call to active duty military. See attached policy for more information.How do I request an exemption for a course drop?
You must complete the Request for Drop Exemption Form and provide appropriate documentation. See attached policy for more information.Is there an appeals process if my request is denied?
Yes, the student may appeal the decision by the Registrar’s Office to the Dean of his/her college. This appeal must be submitted in writing to the Dean’s Office within 30 days of the Registrar’s Office decision. The decision of the Dean is final.Why is there a hold on my record?
The Registrar’s Office has placed information on the holds screen in RamPort which identifies whether or not the student is subject to the six drop limit. Holds which identify the student as Exempt are informational only and will not block registration, transcripts, grades, or graduation.Students who are subject to the six drop limit have a hold placed on their record which identifies the total number of drops remaining. These holds are informational and will not block registration, transcripts, grades, or graduation until there are only two drops remaining. At this point, students will need to contact the Registrar’s Office for assistance.
What is the purpose of this legislation? Does the state lose money when students drop classes?
The state of Texas awards higher education institutions funding based on the total number of credit hours that students are taking at the institution. When a student drops a course from which the institution has already received funding, the state loses the investment it has made to the institution for that student in that course. In other words, the state will award funding again for the second attempt by the student for the same course. So in a sense, the state has lost money by having to award funding to the institution for the repeated attempt by the student.The state has partially addressed this loss in funding by restricting the funding awards to the institution for a course that a student has attempted three or more times. Although the state will not award funding, the state has allowed institutions to charge additional fees for students who attempt the same course three or more times.
By restricting the total number of drops a student can have in his/her academic career, the state will save funding dollars that would have otherwise been spent in multiple attempts of the same course.