RESIGNATIONS

To resign (officially withdraw) from the University, a student must report to the Registrar's Office (White Hall) and process a Resignation Request. The Resignation Request must be in writing and becomes effective on the date received by the Registrar's Office. The effective date of the Resignation Request, as received by the Registrar's Office, is the date which is used for determining any refund. The student is responsible for clearing all debts owed to the University.

Students who resign after the first nine weeks of a regular semester or after the first two weeks of a summer session receive a mark of WP (withdrew passing) or WF (withdrew failing) for each course for which they are enrolled. Students who resign from the University while enrolled in a course whose duration is less than a normal term will receive a mark of WP or WF if they resign after one-half of that course time has been completed. The mark of WP or WF is the responsibility of the student's instructors.

TRANSCRIPTS

ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY FOR MASTER'S LEVEL

Students should recognize that admission to graduate work does not imply admission to candidacy for an advanced degree. The procedure for requesting admission to candidacy is as follows:

Thesis Committee. A thesis committee will be appointed immediately following admission to candidacy. The thesis committee is composed of at least three members: two graduate faculty members from the major field and one from the minor field, provided a minor is elected. The thesis director will be selected by the student and, with guidance from the thesis director, the student will select the other two committee members. The thesis committee must then be approved by the chair of the major department and the appropriate academic dean. Any change in the composition of the thesis committee will be approved in the same manner.

Prospectus. The candidate, in consultation with the director of the thesis committee, will select a subject of investigation and determine the availability of the required sources, facilities, materials, and equipment for the research and the writing of the thesis. The student will prepare a thesis prospectus which will specify the thesis topic, detail the purpose of the proposed investigation, describe the proposed method(s) of investigation, indicate the relationship of study to relevant research and findings of scholars in the student's area of concentration, and provide a commentary on source materials and/or facilities available for the successful completion of the research.

The prospectus shall be submitted to the thesis committee during the semester following admission to candidacy. After the committee has approved and signed the prospectus, it is submitted to the appropriate academic dean for final approval. Any subsequent changes in topic or the proposed method of investigation must be approved in writing by the thesis committee and submitted for approval to the appropriate academic dean.

Thesis Preparation. In order to facilitate the preparation of the thesis, the candidate should procure a copy of the Directions on Form, Preparation, and Submission of The Final Copies of Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations. These guidelines are available from the appropriate academic dean's office, and from the University's Office of Graduate Studies.

Thesis Procedure. The candidate must submit the completed thesis to his/her committee for final approval at least three weeks prior to the date on which he/she expects to graduate. The following steps are the order of procedure:

All candidates for the master's degree must pass a comprehensive examination based on all their graduate course work. The major department will establish whether the comprehensive examination is written, oral, or a combination of the two. In the College of Business Administration, a minimum grade of B in the capstone course, Management 567, is required to satisfy the comprehensive examination requirement. In the College of Criminal Justice, all students in the M.A. program are required to complete a thesis and all students in the M.S. program are required to complete a capstone course with a grade of B or better.

The department chair of the major field will organize a committee of at least one graduate faculty representative from each area of concentration for the administration of the examination. The grade "high pass," "pass," or "fail," must be filed by the department chair in the office of the appropriate dean. A re-examination shall be permitted on any part(s) of the examination which the candidate fails. A third examination may be permitted upon approval of the appropriate academic dean and the committee.

Written Examination. The written examination usually will cover three areas of concentration: two areas in the major department and one area in the minor department. If all course work for the degree is within one department, the comprehensive examination will be determined by that department only.

Oral Examination. The oral examination is scheduled by the major department with committee members representing the major department and the minor department, if applicable.

Four grades are given in graduate courses at the University: A denotes academic excellence; B denotes acceptable performance; C denotes insufficiency in achievement, although it is a passing grade; and the grade F denotes failure.

The mark IP denotes "in progress" and is given in theses and other courses which cannot be completed within one semester. The mark CR denotes "credit" and is given in one-hour workshops and may be given on transferred courses. The mark WP denotes "withdrew passing" and the mark WF denotes "withdrew failing." The mark X denotes an incomplete course. If the student meets the prescribed requirements of the course before the end of the next academic semester after the X is given, the student will receive the grade earned; otherwise, the mark X will be automatically changed to an F. The mark of Q will be given students who drop courses from the thirteenth class day, for a semester, or from the fifth class day, for a summer session, until the last day for dropping courses without grade of F as stated in the Academic Calendar. Courses with the mark of Q will not be counted as courses attempted, and will not be included in determining grade point averages.

A minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B average on a 4.0 maximum) is required in all course work. All grades earned in courses listed for graduate credit on the student's official Degree Plan will be utilized in computing the grade point average.

A student who earns a total of two grades of C in any combination of courses will have his/her graduate status reviewed by a committee of the department or college Graduate Faculty. The committee will consider the advisability of his/her continued enrollment in a graduate program. A student who earns three grades of C or one grade of F will be terminated from graduate studies. Any appeal for a review of the termination of graduate status should be directed in writing to the appropriate academic dean.

If a student's cumulative grade point average falls below the minimum of 3.0, the student is automatically on scholastic probation. The probation must be removed in one semester or the student will be subject to suspension.

Positions of Assistant Instructor are made available to a limited number of graduate students each year. The purposes of the Assistant Instructor Program are to aid in financing the graduate studies of superior students and to provide experiences in the instructional program through the assignment of duties designed to support and improve the total instructional program of the University.

To be eligible for appointment to a position of Assistant Instructor, the applicant must have met all requirements for Regular Admission to Graduate Studies.

Assistant Instructors are usually appointed for one academic year, i.e., two semesters, and may have the position renewed for a second year. In some circumstances a position of Assistant Instructor may be limited to a single semester. Only in the most unusual of circumstances will an Assistant Instructor be considered for appointment for a fifth semester. Retention of the position of Assistant Instructor is at all times conditional upon the continued good standing of the student in Graduate Studies and upon satisfactory performance of work assignments for which the stipend is provided.

A half-time assistant instructor normally is responsible for two courses, or four laboratories, or twenty clock hours of duty each week and is expected to be enrolled in six to nine semester hours of course work each semester. Such instructors generally may not hold other salaried positions from the University. Any exception to this rule may be made only upon written approval of the appropriate academic dean. A stipend is paid semi-monthly. All assistant instructors must pay tuition and fees as required of all resident students.

Applications for positions of Assistant Instructor may be obtained from the office of the appropriate academic dean.

Fourteen Southern states including Texas participate in the Academic Common Market, an interstate agreement for sharing uncommon academic programs. Residents of these states who are accepted for admission into selected out-of-state programs can enroll on an in-state tuition basis. There are only two requirements:

The Texas Legislature and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board have established guidelines for determining residence classification. Texas residency for tuition purposes is generally obtained by an individual's residing and being gainfully employed within the state for a period of 12 months prior to enrolling in an institution of higher education, by being a dependent of a Texas resident (individual who is claimed as a dependent for federal income tax purposes by the individual's parent or guardian at the time of registration and for the tax year preceding the year in which the individual registers), or by being classified as a Texas resident for the first five of the six years immediately preceding registration (not living out of the state for more than 12 months).

The following nonresidents may qualify for a waiver of the nonresident fees, regardless of their length of stay in the state:

By state law, the student has the responsibility for registering under the proper residence classification. If a student has knowledge of an error in his/her residence classification for tuition purposes, it is the student's responsibility to notify the Residence Classification Officer immediately.

REGISTRATION EXPENSES

ALL TUITION AND FEES ARE CORRECT AS OF THE DATE OF PRINTING BUT ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BY ACTION OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE OR BY THE BOARD OF REGENTS.

The University receives Instructional Funds from the State as follows. For the two long semesters, the total number of semester hours for which students have registered, as of the twelfth class day, is the number of hours on which the funds are based. For each summer session, funds are based on total registered hours as of the fourth class day of each session. Students who have not completed their registration by the above dates may not receive credit for work for the semester/session.

The Texas Legislature has authorized collection of tuition and fees during a Fall or Spring semester by one of two methods: payment in full or one-half payment of the tuition and fees at registration and separate one-quarter payments due prior to the sixth and eleventh class weeks. Parking permits, late registration fees, and yearbook fees are examples of charges which must be paid in full and are not eligible for installment payment. There is an additional processing fee for administration of the installment payment plans, $30 for Texas residents and $50 for nonresidents. Failure to make timely installment payments will cause accrual of late charges ($15 per installment) and reinstatement charges ($50).

Any financial aid, tuition waivers, grants or deferments will be used to reduce the amount owed by the student, with the remaining balance eligible for the installment payment plan. During a summer session, the tuition and fees are collectible in full. The Texas Legislature has reserved the right to discontinue the installment payment plan.

Students will not be admitted to classes by the instructors until their tuition and fees are paid.

PAYMENTS

Payments made for registration purposes may be made by cash, cashier's check, personal check, money order, or VISA or MasterCard credit card. All checks and money orders are accepted subject to final payment.

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Students are expected to meet financial obligations to the University within the designated time allowed. Registration fees are payable at registration, except for that portion of the registration fee that may be temporarily deferred, but payable later in scheduled payments as part of an installment payment agreement. Students are not entitled to enter classes or laboratories until their appropriate fees and deposits have been paid. Other charges are due at registration or within ten days after a bill is rendered by the University, or according to special payment instructions that may be printed on the bill or agreement.

Failure to pay the amount owed in full, including appropriate penalty and late fee charges, prior to registration for a future semester or prior to the last class day for the current semester or summer session can result in any or all of the following sanctions: 1) withholding of future registration privileges; 2) withholding award of degree; and 3) withholding of an official certified transcript. Any grades earned by the student during the semester or summer session an indebtedness to the University remains unpaid will not be posted to the student's academic transcript until the amount due the University is paid in full, including appropriate penalty and late fee charges.

Students who pay fees with a returned check may suffer the above sanctions as well as those shown in the following section.

COLLECTIONS FOR NONPAYMENT

Nonpayment by the end of the semester will result in transfer of the student's account to a contracted collection agency and assessment of a collection fee of at least 25 percent of the outstanding balance. The University may also choose to litigate an account on advice of University legal counsel. Should an account be litigated, the student will be responsible for all litigation expenses including attorney's fees and court costs. Accounts that are referred to a contracted collection agency may also be reported to credit bureaus.

RETURNED CHECK POLICY

A returned check is defined as one returned to the University rightfully unpaid due to no fault of the bank or the University. The check may be written by the student or the check may be written on his/her behalf by a spouse, guardian, friend or sponsor.

The University reserves the right to refuse personal checks of any student who previously has had checks returned.

Each returned check is subject to a $25 check processing fee. Students have 10 days from the date on which notice is sent from the Business Office in which to pay the returned check and the returned check processing fee or inform the Business Office of their intent. Thereafter, the student may be resigned from the University. (The student should not assume that we are resigning him/her. If the student discontinues going to class without officially resigning from school, he/she will be subject to the grade of F.) Students who have been resigned are eligible for reinstatement upon redemption of such check or checks, plus the returned check processing fee and the payment of a reinstatement charge of $50. A student who fails to make payment prior to the first day of final exams will not receive credit for the work done that semester and will not be allowed to register for future semesters until the delinquent amount is paid. In addition, the checks will be referred to the District Attorney of Walker County for prosecution and collection. Past due accounts are referred to the District Attorney of Walker County for prosecution and collection. Past due accounts are referred to a national credit company.

Students will be given the opportunity to be heard regarding any special circumstances. Such circumstances will be given full and fair consideration, and exceptions to the returned check policy may be granted by the Director of the Business Office or a delegated employee, based on the evidence presented.

EXPLANATION OF FEES

Tuition: Resident students pay $38 per semester credit hour with a minimum tuition of $120 per semester or $60 per summer session during fiscal year 1999-2000; and $40 per semester credit hour with a minimum of $120 per semester and $60 per summer session during fiscal year 2000-2001. Nonresident students pay $254 per semester credit hour.

Student Service Fee: The student service fee for fiscal year 1999-2000 is $16 per semester credit hour (not exceeding $145 per semester and $72.50 per summer session) and, for fiscal year 2000-2001, $17 per semester credit hour (not exceeding $150 per semester and $75 per summer session). The fee covers services at the University Health Center, the Intramural Program, the Student Life Support Programs, and the Extramural Programs. The fee provides admission to athletic events at Sam Houston State under the auspices of the Department of Athletics.

General Use Fee: The general use fee is required at the rate of $21 per semester credit hour for fiscal year 1999-2000 and $24 per semester hour for fiscal year 2000-2001. It funds the bonded indebtedness incurred for the Lowman Student Center, the University Health Center, the University Mall, the Bowers Stadium, and the Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.

Student Center Fee: The student center fee is required at the rate of $20 per semester ($10 per summer session) and is used to fund the Lowman Student Center programs and activities.

Computer Use Fee: This fee will be charged at a rate of $7 per semester credit hour for fiscal year 1999-2000 and $8 per semester credit hour for fiscal year 2000-2001. It will be used for the training of students, faculty and staff, and for providing support services for operation, maintenance, and replacement of computer hardware and software.

Recreational Sports Fee: Legislative action authorizes a recreational sports fee not to exceed $36 per semester ($18 per summer session) for fiscal year 1999-2000. For fiscal year 2000-2001, the fee is $40 per semester ($20 per summer session). It may be used to purchase equipment for and/or to construct, operate, and/or maintain recreational sports facilities and programs.

International Education Fee: This fee of $1 will be charged each semester or summer session and will be used only to assist students participating in international student exchange or study programs.

Late Registration Fee: A late payment fee of $10 will be charged all students who register on or after the first class day of any semester or summer session.

Matriculation Fee: A matriculation fee of $15 is charged if a student resigns before the 1st class day of the semester or summer session.

Special Fees:

General Property Deposit. Each student is required to make a General Property Deposit of $10 which will remain with the University through his/her career here except as noted below. All charges for property losses, damages, and breakages in libraries or laboratories must be settled promptly. However, any unpaid current charges will be deducted from the deposit before a refund is made.

Refund of General Property Deposit. The General Property Deposit, less charges, will be returned to the student at the end of his/her career as a student. However, any General Property Deposit which remains without call for refund for a period of four years from the date of last attendance at this university shall be forfeited. The deposit will then become a part of, and operative to, the permanent use and purpose of the University Student Deposit Fund.