Academic Information
TRANSFER OF CREDIT TO SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE
TRANSFER OF CREDIT FROM SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE
TRANSCRIPTS FROM OTHER INSTITUTIONS
TRANSFER DISPUTES
ORIENTATION 101
CHANGE OF SCHEDULE
WITHDRAWL FROM SEMESTER CREDIT COURSES
COURSE LOAD
BASIC SKILLS TEST
CREDIT BY EXAMINATION
TRANSFER OF CREDIT TO SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE
A student transferring from another accredited college or university is eligible for admission if the student is eligible for readmission to the institution previously attended. Students who are on academic or disciplinary suspension from the last institution attended will be admitted to the College on a probationary status for one term only and will be blocked from further registration until term grades illustrating positive scholastic progress are available. Transfer students must comply with the Standards of Scholastic Progress. Credits for courses in which a passing grade, "C" or better, has been earned may be transferred to South Texas College from any college accredited through one of the regional accrediting associations of the Association of Colleges and Schools. Developmental, or any other non-degree credit course, cannot be used in determining grade point average.
Coursework completed at a college outside the United States should be evaluated by an AACRAO approved evaluating service. A course-by-course evaluation of a transcript which has been translated to English will be completed by a program chair, or other appropriate personnel as needed for a degree plan or program planning in the enrollment process. Courses transferred will be posted to the student's South Texas College transcript as earned hours.
TRANSFER OF CREDIT FROM SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE
Lower-division courses included in the ACADEMIC COURSE GUIDE MANUAL and specified in the definition of "Lower-Division Course Credit" shall be freely transferable to and accepted as comparable degree credit by any Texas public institution of higher education where the equivalent course is available for fulfilling baccalaureate degree requirements. It is understood that each Texas institution of higher education may have limitations that invalidate courses after a specific length of time.
For Texas community colleges, these freely transferable courses are identified in the latest revised edition of the Coordinating Board Publication COMMUNITY COLLEGE GENERAL ACADEMIC COURSE GUIDE MANUAL - A MANUAL OF APPROVED ACADEMIC TRANSFER COURSES FOR INSTRUCTION AT TEXAS PUBLIC COMMUNITY COLLEGES (revised September 1996). Specifically excluded are courses designated as vocational, ESL, ESOL, technical, developmental or remedial, and courses listed as "basic skills."
For senior four-year institutions, lower division courses that have the same course content and CCNS codes as approved by the Coordinating Board shall bear equivalent credit. Specifically excluded are courses designated as ESL, ESOL, technical and developmental/remedial courses.
For information regarding transferability of courses to institutions outside of Texas, students should check with the institution receiving the credit.
TRANSCRIPTS FROM OTHER INSTITUTIONS
South Texas College does not issue copies of transcripts (high school or university) or other documents received from other institutions.
*************** Notice
As permitted under section 99.34 (a)(1)(ii) of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended, and upon the request of The University of Texas-Pan American (UT-Pan Am), South Texas College will forward educational records to UT-Pan Am for students who seek or intend to enroll there.
TRANSFER DISPUTES
If course credit earned by a student at another institution of higher education in Texas is not accepted by South Texas College, or if course credit earned by a student of South Texas College is not accepted by another institution of higher education in Texas, the student and the transferring institution will receive written notice that the transfer of the course is denied. Both STC and the other institution along with the student shall attempt to resolve the transfer of the course credit in accordance with Coordinating Board rules. If the transfer is not resolved to the satisfaction of the student or the institution at which the credit was earned within 45 days after the date the student received written notice of the denial, the institution denying transfer will notify the commissioner of higher education of its denial and the reason for denial. The commissioner of higher education or the commissioner's designee will make the final determination about a dispute concerning the transfer of course credit and will give written notice of the determination to the involved student and institutions.
ORIENTATION 101 (COLLEGE SUCCESS)
This course helps the student to determine a personal learning style, manage time and money, memorize information, read textbooks for maximum learning, take effective class notes, take tests, think critically, communicate, develop a career plan, write a resume, and dress and interview successfully for employment. This course is a requirement for all first-time developmental students who have not passed all sections of an alternative exam (THEA). This course is also required for all students (including transfer students) with grade point averages below 2.0. It is not required for students enrolled in a certificate program (42 or fewer semester credit hours or equivalent) or for students who are TSI exempt.
CHANGE OF SCHEDULE
Students must use a drop/add form for all schedule changes once classes have begun. If the request originates with the student, the change must be completed within the time specified in the college calendar. A one-time fee of $25.00 will be charged. The College reserves the right to make changes in a student's schedule; when this occurs, no fee is charged.
Within the parameters of the calendar in effect, a student may drop a course. A grade of "W" (Withdrew) may be received. Refer to the academic calendar for information concerning withdrawal dates.
Students who are Texas Success Initiative (TSI) mandated to attend a developmental course(s) must remain in at least one developmental course unless they plan to withdraw from the College. Students who are required to enroll in two or three developmental courses may not drop developmental courses without approval of the Testing Office. Upon re-enrollment, the student must enroll in developmental courses as approved by the Testing Office.
All changes in schedule, including adding and dropping courses, must be arranged by the student in writing. Changes are not official until all steps in the process have been completed. Records of withdrawal and re-enrollment will be maintained.
WITHDRAWAL FROM SEMESTER CREDIT COURSES
Initiation of Withdrawal
Withdrawal from a course results in a grade of "W" and may be affected through action taken by the affected student, the course instructor, the instructor's immediate supervisor, or the appropriate administrator.
A student who decides to withdraw from a specific course(s) should initiate withdrawal procedures by securing a drop form from the Office of Admissions and Records or any Student Information Center . The form must be turned in to the Office of Admissions and Records or any Student Information Center prior to the published deadline for withdrawals. Students who are failing a course and have not withdrawn as of the established deadline will receive an 'F". A student who is not progressing satisfactorily toward completion of course objectives due to non-attendance may be withdrawn from the course by the instructor.
It is the student's responsibility to initiate the withdrawal process. The College is not responsible for any liabilities incurred as a result of the student's failure to officially withdraw from the College. Students whose circumstances require them to discontinue attending a course should promptly take steps through the Office of Admissions and Records to officially withdraw from it. Failure to withdraw properly will result in a grade of "F" in the course. Instructors are authorized, but not required, to withdraw students that in their opinion are not able to successfully complete a course. A student may appeal an instructor-initiated withdrawal.
Course withdrawals may occur at any time after the official reporting date of a semester and up to the established deadline for withdrawals in each semester. The established deadline will be approximately three weeks prior to the end of each semester. The specific deadline will be published in a timely manner in the appropriate College publications.
COURSE LOAD
A full-time student is defined to be a student enrolled in 12 or more semester hours. The normal course load during the regular semester is five courses equal to 15 to 17 semester hours. The normal course load for each Summer term is two courses totaling six to eight semester hours
BASIC SKILLS TEST
The Texas State Education Code requires that all students be tested for reading, writing, and mathematics skills. All full-time or part-time students enrolled in a degree program or certificate program that deviates from their certificate degree plan and students in high school enrolling in a college-level course MUST take an Alternative exam (ACCUPLACER, ASSET, COMPASS, THEA) before enrolling in any college-level credit coursework . For more information about placement testing and Alternative exam (THEA) , refer to the TSI section located in the Admissions Guidelines chapter of this catalog.
Students scoring below college level in their basic skills (reading, writing, mathematics) must be "continuously" enrolled in developmental coursework for any section of an Alternative exam not passed. Non-course based TSI developmental lab work is available for students who have successfully completed developmental coursework, but who have not yet passed all sections of an Alternative exam. Students who register for non-course based TSI developmental work must spend a minimum of 32 clock hours per semester in classroom instruction.
Students who require developmental coursework activity, but do not register for developmental coursework, will be required to drop academic courses in which they were enrolled.
CREDIT BY EXAMINATION
Credit given by examination may be earned in all technical divisions. Students who have been given grades other than a "W" in the course are eligible for credit examination unless the course is otherwise unavailable and is required for graduation. Grades for credit by examination are recorded as credit and are not considered in computing grade point averages. The minimum passing score for credit by examination is 80.
Credit earned by students not yet enrolled at STC are held in escrow until the student earns six traditional credit hours at STC. Students may earn no more than 15 credit hours by examination. Credit awarded for testing at South Texas College may or may not meet minimum requirements for credit at other institutions. It is the student's responsibility to check with the school they plan on attending to verify transfer requirements.