OFFICIAL

Policy and Procedure Statement 2.02	Small Classes
Revised: February 15, 2005	(12 paragraphs)
Review Cycle: Nov. 1, ONY
Review Date: 11/01/07
Reviewer: Director of Curriculum Services

PURPOSE

1. Texas State University-San Marcos will make every effort to ensure that classes conform to the state standards for enrollment as published in the rules and regulations of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The purpose of this PPS is to establish the policy for controlling and reporting small classes. As a general rule "small classes" should be avoided. Program chairs/department chairs/school directors should plan class schedules for efficient use of faculty. When it becomes desirable or necessary to offer a small class it must be justified and monitored as described in this PPS.
2. This PPS conforms to the rules and regulations of the Board of Regents of the Texas State University System (BOR) and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).

DEFINITIONS

3. Although the THECB defines a "small class" as an organized class that enrolls fewer than ten undergraduate students or fewer than five graduate students, Texas State has adopted a more rigorous standard. For Texas State purposes, an undergraduate class section is called "small" if it has an enrollment of fewer than fourteen students; a graduate class section is called "small" if it has an enrollment of less than eight students.
4. Organized classes subject to these standards include all lectures, labs, and seminars. Independent study, thesis, practicum, clinical, internship, student teaching, and dissertation courses are exempt from small class standards.

JUSTIFICATION FOR SMALL CLASSES

5. The following explanations provided by THECB rules qualify as justifications for small classes. Only these justifications are acceptable.
1. A required course for graduation. The course is not offered each semester (or term), and if canceled, may affect the date of graduation of those enrolled.
2. A required course for majors in this field and should be completed this semester (or term) to keep proper sequence in courses.
3. A course in a newly established degree program, concentration or support area.
4. Interdepartmental (cross-listed) courses taught as a single class by the same faculty at the same station, provided that the combined courses do not constitute a small class.
5. The first time offering of the course.
6. Class size is limited by accreditation or state licensing standards.
7. Class size is limited by availability of laboratory or clinical facilities.
8. Course voluntarily offered by a faculty member in excess of the institutional teaching load requirement and for which the faculty member receives no additional compensation.

REPORTING SMALL CLASSES

6. Each semester and summer session, Texas State is required to submit a Small Class Report to BOR of all organized small classes. Using enrollment data as of the official census day, the Registrar's Office prepares and submits a listing of all small classes by college to the Director of Curriculum Services (Director) in the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Instructions and deadlines for the Report and the Registrar's list are sent from the Director to college deans.
7. In consultation with the faculty and the program chair/department chairs/school directors, each college dean will prepare a Report of all small classes in the college. The Report must include the course prefix and number, class section number, instructor of record, instruction type, number of students enrolled as of the official census date and justification from the list in paragraph 5.
8. Each college dean will submit the Small Class Report by college to the Director by the due date.
9. The Director will review each college Report for compliance with all necessary rules and regulations and prepare the final Small Class Report for Texas State for review with the Provost.
10. If necessary, the Director will work wit the college deans on corrections to the Report.
11. With the Provost's approval, the Director will submit the Report to the Vice President for Finance and Support Services for the BOR review.

CERTIFICATION STATEMENT

10. This PPS has been approved by the reviewer listed below and represents Texas State's Division of Academic Affairs policy and procedure from the date of this document until superceded.

Review Cycle: _____________________________		Review Date: _______________________
Reviewer: ________________________________		Date: _____________________________
Approved: ________________________________		Date: _____________________________
	Perry Moore
	Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Texas State University-San Marcos

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Last Updated: June 28, 2005

Send comments and questions to: sr27@txstate.edu