Policies & Procedures
Entrance requirements are the same for correspondence courses as for any other college course. Students must be eligible for admission to resident work before they are eligible to enroll in a correspondence course. However, enrollment in a correspondence course does not grant nor imply regular admission to the University. Enrollment may be completed in person, or by mail.
Enrollment Procedures
In order to enroll in a correspondence course at Sam Houston State University, each individual must submit the following items:- A Registration for Correspondence Course Enrollment form that has been completely filled out and signed.
- If you are a non-SHSU student you may submit your application through ApplyTexas.org and there will be an undergraduate application fee of $45.00 or the application fee waiver request.
- The registration fee of $543.00 and $30.00 non-refundable Administrative Fee (total $573.00) per 3 SCH course; $181.00 and $30.00 non-refundable Administrative Fee (total $211.00) per 1 SCH course.
- You must present your THEA scores or evidence of your THEA exemption. (Refer to TSI update.)
- International students registering for a correspondence course for the first time must also submit evidence of a TOEFL Score of at least 550 or 213 (computer-based test ).
(Note: Present and former Sam Houston State University students are not required to present a transcript.)
"Closed" and "In Revision" Courses
When the required text for a course becomes obsolete, a more current edition must be used and the course must be revised. Sometimes courses need to be closed temporarily for a minor revision. Enrollment registrations for a "Closed" or "In Revision" courses will be returned to the student; the enrollment registration may be used to request another course of the student's choice.
Submitting Your Lessons For Print-based Courses
Lessons are the heart of the course. Before you submit your completed lesson, we recommend that you make and keep a copy of each lesson so that you retain a record of your work. Occasionally, lessons are lost or damaged before they reach us. Your best protection against delays and extra work is to take this safeguard. Develop a reasonable schedule of work so that you do not find yourself in a time crunch.
Mail Submission
To submit your lessons by mail, use the preaddressed mailing labels we send to you or address your lessons to: Correspondence Course Division; Sam Houston State University; Box 2536; Huntsville, TX 77341-2536. Overnight Mailing Address: 1733 Avenue J, Smith Kirkley Suite 144C; Huntsville, Tx. 77340.
Communication with Course Graders
Most communication with your course graders will be through the mail or e-mail. Even though you probably will not meet your course grader personally, he or she will develop a relationship with you during your course study. You can submit questions or comments with your lesson assignments, or you can contact the Correspondence Course Division Coordinator who will help you make arrangements to communicate more directly with your course grader. To contact the Coordinator, please call (936) 294-1003 or email cor_gmw@shsu.edu.
University-Related Comunications
It is every student's responsibility to check his/her official SHSU email account for Univeristy-related communications often - at least once per day is best.
Enrollment Period
A student has a maximum of 12 months (one year) from the date of enrollment to complete a correspondence course. A correspondence course may not be completed in less than 60 days from the date of enrollment.
Course Materials For Print-based Courses
As soon as your enrollment is processed, we provide you with the following materials:
- your enrollment fee receipt
- your correspondence course lesson packet
- your bar code labels for Lesson Cover Sheets, Final Examination Application, etc.
- your labels for your Lesson Cover Sheets (your name, address, etc.) and mailing labels for submitting lessons by mail.(NOTE: Address on labels is the only address allowed; otherwise, change of address is required.)
(NOTE: The address on the labels is the only address allowed; otherwise, change of address is required.)
For Online Courses
- since everything is online there will not be any course materials that will be mailed
Students with Disabilities
The Correspondence Course Division strives to assist students with disabilities achieve their educational goals. To that end, we make every effort to provide reasonable accommodations in coursework and test taking. Students requesting disability accommodations for correspondence coursework must first register with the SHSU Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD), located in the Counseling Center (Lee Drain North Annex). In registering with SSD, students are required to submit documentation of their impairment from a qualified professional and complete the disability intake process. Students approved by SSD for accommodations will receive accommodation forms indicating the specific adjustments to which they are entitled. Students are responsible for submitting these forms to the Correspondence Course Division and providing timely notice of their need for testing and other accommodations, if approved by SSD. Additional information regarding the SSD documentation guidelines and procedures for requesting services may be obtained from the SSD webpage at http://www.shsu.edu/~counsel/sswd.html or by contacting the Counseling Center at 936-294-3512 (TDD: 936-294-3786).
Scheduling Your Final Examination For Your Correspondence Course
Final Exam Testing Sessions at SHSU
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday
8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
The deadline to enroll in a correspondence course and receive a grade on your transcript at SHSU is:
Spring 2012- Enroll by February 15, 2012, all lessons must be submitted by April 16, 2012, and the final exam application submitted by April 18, 2012 to take the final exam during the week of April 23-27, 2012; grades due May 14, 2012. SHSU commencement is May 11 and 12, 2012. (tenative)
Summer 2012- Enroll by May 14, 2012; all lessons must be submitted by July 6, 2012; the final exam application must be submitted by July 13, 2012 to take the final exam during the week of July 23-27, 2012; grades due August 6, 2012. SHSU commencement is August 4, 2012. (tenative)
Fall 2012 - Enroll by September 21, 2012; all lessons must be submitted by November 19, 2012; and the final exam application submitted by November 21, 2012 to take the final exam on the week of December 3-7, 2012; grades due December 17, 2012. SHSU commencement is December 14 and 15, 2012. (tenative)
Spring 2013- Enroll by February 18, 2013, all lessons must be submitted by April 8, 2013, and the final exam application submitted by April 12, 2013 to take the final exam during the week of April 22-26, 2013; grades due May 13, 2013. SHSU commencement is May 10 and 11, 2013. (tenative)
Summer 2013- Enroll by May 15, 2013; all lessons must be submitted by July 8, 2013; the final exam application must be submitted by July 16, 2013 to take the final exam during the week of July 22-26, 2013; grades due August 5, 2013. SHSU commencement is August 3, 2013. (tenative)
These are deadlines; however, we encourage you to submit your lessons at any time prior to these deadlines.
Note: When scheduling your exam please keep in mind our office hours and the university-observed holidays. Please see below for our holiday schedule.
Assignments For Print-Based
Once the student enrollment in a correspondence course is completed, the student receives the course packet which contains all the needed materials in order to purchase the textbook(s) and other specified materials and start working on the course.
Each course consists of a series of assignments (lessons) that are to be completed and submitted to the Correspondence Course Division for computer entry processing and forwarding to the grader. Graded lessons are returned to this office for processing and then are returned to the student.
All lessons for a course must be received by this office before a student is allowed to take the final exam. Students should retain a copy of each lesson assignment to avoid additional work and delay if a lesson assignment is lost in the mail. The Correspondence Course Division Office is not responsible for lost mail.
A correspondence course student should not submit more than two lessons a week.
Best results are obtained when lessons are completed and submitted at regular intervals. Correspondence course graders will grade each lesson as soon as possible. Students who are certain of their progress need not wait until a lesson has been graded before submitting the next lesson.
Textbooks
Textbooks for correspondence courses must be purchased or acquired by the student.
Barnes & Noble University Bookstore
1805 Ave J - Box 2086
Huntsville, Texas 77341
(936) 294-1862
FAX (936) 294-3697
