Academic Regulations
Catalog Designation. The catalog designation a student receives when entering SWT determines the curriculum and other academic policies that apply to the student. Catalog designations are made according to the following guidelines:
1. Students with no prior college work are assigned to the current catalog.
2. Students with prior college work:
a. Students with prior college work from Texas senior or out-of-state institutions are assigned to the current catalog.b. Students with college work during the last six years, solely from Texas junior colleges, are assigned to the SWT catalog which was in effect at the time of the student's initial junior college enrollment.
3. Former SWT students (those who leave for one or more long semesters and apply for readmission).
a. Former students whose initial SWT enrollment was more than six years ago are assigned to the current catalog.b. Former SWT students whose initial SWT enrollment was within the last six years and who have completed fewer than 30 hours of college work elsewhere during the interim retain their initial SWT catalog designation.
c. Former SWT students whose initial SWT enrollment was within the last six years and who have completed 30 or more hours of college work elsewhere during the interim are assigned to the current catalog.
4. An academic school dean may change the catalog designation.
Course Load. The following regulations govern the number of credit hours an undergraduate student may carry during a given term:
Fall or Spring Semester: Those enrolled for 12 or more credit hours are considered full-time students. An average load for a student with a 2.00 or higher GPA is 15-17 credit hours; however, if such a student is enrolled in only five courses, as many as 18 credit hours is also considered an average load. Graduating seniors or students with a 3.00 or higher GPA may carry 19 credit hours. Those with a 3.75 or higher GPA may carry up to 22.
Summer Terms: The usual summer load is 6 credit hours per term. Students in good standing may take eight hours during a summer term without needing their dean's approval. These limits do not include credit earned in the summer mini-term.
Only in exceptional circumstances, and only with the approval of the school dean, will students be allowed to exceed the stated course load limitations. In any regular semester or summer term during which a student is enrolled at SWT, the course load limitations apply to all work attempted, whether at SWT or elsewhere.
Class Attendance. The university expects students to attend every scheduled class meeting. General requirements for class attendance are as follows:
1. Faculty are encouraged to establish mandatory attendance requirements in each course.
2. Each faculty member will inform students of the course attendance policy at the initial class meeting.
3. Students are responsible for understanding the attendance policy for each course in which they enroll and for meeting the attendance requirements.
4. Failure to meet the attendance requirements in a course may lower a grade.
Dropping Classes/Withdrawing from the University. Dropping a class is an official action whereby students inform the University that they will cease attending a class in which they are enrolled while remaining enrolled in at least one other course. Withdrawing is an official action whereby a student informs the university that he/she will cease attending all classes.
The deadline for dropping classes or withdrawing from the university is two weeks preceding the beginning of final examinations during the fall and spring semesters, one week preceding final examinations during the summer sessions. Special deadline dates will be enforced for courses offered in a shortened format. When a student drops one or more classes or withdraws from the university, either a "W" grade (withdrawn passing) or an "F" grade (failing) will be assigned for each course as follows:
1. A "W" grade will be assigned automatically if a student officially withdraws from the university or officially drops one or more classes on/before the 12th class day during fall and spring semesters and 4th class day during summer sessions. This period shall be designated as the automatic "W" period.2. After the automatic "W" period, faculty assign grades to students who officially drop classes or withdraw from the university. Faculty assign the "W" grade only to those students who have a passing average at the time the drop/withdraw action is officially completed. Otherwise, faculty assign the "F" grade.
Grade Reports. Semester grades are based on the student's written or oral work in a given course. Attendance may also affect the grade. Final grade reports are issued by the Registrar via the CATS Telephone system at the end of each regular semester and summer session. Students may request a grade mailer at the time they call to hear their grades. Time periods for requesting grade mailers will be printed in the schedule of classes. Automatic grade mailers will be sent to the following groups: PAS, Conditional Admissions, International Students, Probation/ Suspension Students, and Athletes. Mid-term grade reports are issued in regular semesters if the student is enrolled in a freshman or sophomore course and is earning a grade of D or F.
Grade Symbols. Grades at SWT are indicated by the following symbols: A-excellent; B-good; C-average; D-passing; F-failing or withdrawn failing; CR-credit. A grade of PR which is temporary and non-punitive, may be assigned in selected courses where the required clock hours needed to complete requirements extend beyond the regular semester or summer session. The I grade may be assigned when due to unusual circumstances beyond the student's control a significant portion of a course, such as a term paper or final examination, has not been completed. If a student needs to repeat a course or a significant portion of a course, a "W" or "F" grade should be assigned according to regulations governing the assignments of such grades. A "W" grade cannot be assigned if the student has not officially dropped the course within the semester deadlines. An I grade from SWT will not count as hours attempted until another grade is assigned with the I. Twelve months after an SWT I grade is assigned, it will automatically change to an IF if the course work has not been completed. An I grade transferred from another institution will also convert to an IF after one calendar year. A grade of W is assigned if a student drops a course by the Automatic "W" Drop/Withdrawal Deadline (see Official University Calendar, page 5-6). After the Automatic "W" Drop/Withdrawal Deadline, an F or W will be assigned depending on whether the student is passing (W) or failing (F) the course at the time the drop/withdrawal action is officially completed.
Grade-Point Average (GPA). SWT utilizes the four-point system. The GPA is the total number of grade-points earned divided by the number of semester hours attempted. Semester grade symbols have the following values: A = 4 points; B = 3 points; C = 2 points; D = 1 point; F or I-F = 0 points. Neither hours nor grades are calculated for I, CR, P, or W. To maintain an average of C, grade-points divided by semester hours attempted must equal at least 2.00.
The SWT GPA for all work attempted at SWT is used to determine whether a student is meeting minimum academic standards. Beginning in the fall of 1991, this SWT GPA will be calculated by the procedures described in the section titled "Repeating Courses" (see below).
Transcripts. Effective fall 1991, SWT transcripts will separate transfer course work from SWT course work. Transfer work listed chronologically will be listed first and will show the number of hours transferred; no transfer GPA will be printed. SWT course work listed chronologically will follow any transfer course work. The transcript will show SWT hours attempted, SWT hours passed, SWT grade points and SWT GPA.
Courses taken at other schools will not be included in the grade-point average at SWT. SWT GPA will be the only GPA calculated.
Repeating Courses. Effective fall l991, a student may repeat a course, but cannot receive credit for the course more than once unless the course description in the catalog specifically provides that the course may be repeated for credit. When a course is repeated more than once, the second grade (first repeat) and all subsequent grades (repeats) are included in computing the SWT hours attempted, grade-points earned and GPA. "W" and "I" grades are excluded. A course taken at SWT must be repeated at SWT to be counted as a repeat. A course taken for transfer credit must be repeated as transfer credit to count as a repeat.
The first time that a course is repeated, Fall 1991 or after, it will be calculated as if it were the first repeat of the course. Any additional repetitions will be counted as second or greater repeats.
If the last grade in a repeated course is lower than an earlier grade, the last grade is used to determine whether the course fulfills university requirements.
Courses repeated prior to fall 1991 will follow the repeat policy enforced at the time the courses were taken. Prior to fall 1991, the last grade of a repeat counts, W and I grades excluded. If the last time a course is taken is from another school, that course will meet degree requirements, but the last grade at SWT counts towards the SWT GPA.
Change of Grade. An individual course grade may be changed when the involved faculty member certifies to the registrar that an error was made in computing the original grade. The grade change must be approved by the department chair and the appropriate school dean. Students who wish to protest a grade earned in a course should first discuss the grade with the instructor. If no resolution is reached, the student may appeal the grade to the department chair. If no satisfactory conclusion can be reached at this level, the student may appeal to the school dean whose decision is final.
Student Indebtedness. All university property in a student's possession must be returned and all debts to the university, including past due indebtedness to loan funds, must be satisfactorily adjusted before the student is eligible to receive a statement of good standing, an official transcript of credit, graduation, or re-admission to the university. Moreover, continued failure to adjust such debt may result in the student's losing the privilege of attending class.