|
In 2007, the Texas Legislature passed a law (S.B. 1231) which prohibits students enrolling for the first time as a freshman during or after Fall 2007 from dropping more than a total of six (6) courses in their entire undergraduate career. This total includes any course a transfer student has dropped at another 2-year or 4-year Texas public college or university.
Courses that Count Towards the 6-Drop Limit
- The 6-drop limit applies only to students enrolling for the first time as a freshman during the fall 2007 academic term or any term thereafter at a public college or university in Texas, including UHV.
- Drops that count toward the limit are those for which a student receives a grade of W on his/her UHV transcript as well as any equivalent drops reported on that student’s transcript(s) from other Texas public colleges and universities.
- If a student started college fall 2007 or thereafter, and then transferred to UHV from an affected Texas public college or university with six drops that are equivalent of W, the student may not drop any additional courses at UHV after the census date for the term.
- If the student transfers with fewer than six drops, the student may drop the remainder of the allowed drops at UHV.
Courses that Do Not Count Towards the 6-Drop Limit
- Courses dropped prior to the census date (see “Academic Calendar”).
- Courses for which the student receives an administrative withdrawal.
- Courses dropped in which the student withdraws from the entire term.
- Courses dropped by a student while the student is enrolled in high school (e.g., dual credit, Early College High School Grants, etc.) and not yet graduated.
Awarding of Grades if the 6-Drop Limit has been Reached
Once UHV determines that a student has accrued a total of 6 drops on courses attempted at any Texas public college or university, including UHV, it will not allow that student to drop any additional course at UHV. Once enrolled in a course, these students with 6 drops can only be awarded an A, B, C, D, I or F grade by their instructor.
Exemptions to the 6-Drop Limit
Certain exceptions may be made to the limit if the student can show good cause for dropping more than that number, including but not limited to a showing of:
- A severe illness or other debilitating condition that affects the student’s ability to satisfactorily complete the course;
- The student’s responsibility for the care of a sick, injured or needy person if the provision of that care affects the student’s ability to satisfactorily complete the course;
- The death of a person who is considered a member of the student’s family or who is otherwise considered to have a sufficiently close relationship to the student that the person’s death is considered to be a showing of good cause;
- The active duty service as a member of the Texas National Guard or the armed forces of the United States of either the student or a person who is considered to be a member of the student’s family or who is otherwise considered to have a sufficiently close relationship to the student that the person’s active military service is considered to be a showing of good cause;
- The change of the student’s work schedule that is beyond the control of the student and that affects the student’s ability to satisfactorily complete the course; and
- Other reasons of good cause as determined by the institution.
Exemption Requests
Students requesting one or more of the above exemptions should submit an appeal form, along with supporting documentation of evidence of extenuating circumstances, to the Office of the Registrar and Student Records. Records Appeal forms are available online. Appeal forms received with no supporting documentation will be denied.
Office of the Registrar and Student Records
University of Houston-Victoria
3007 N. Ben Wilson
Victoria, TX 77901
Fax: (361) 580-5545
Denied Exemptions - Appeal Process
Any student who wants to appeal the initial decision to deny an exemption to the 6- Drop limit for dropping a course may appeal to UHV for further review. Such appeals must be submitted in writing before the final grades for the course(s) are posted by the instructor. Records Appeal forms are available online.
Students appealing the initial decision can only do so for one of the following reasons:
- To determine whether the process leading to the original decision was fair; and
- To determine whether the decision reached regarding the request was based on substantive evidence.
The decision of the review committee will be final.
|
