4. Academic Policies and Procedures
--continued
Classification of Students
Undergraduate students are classified as freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors based, on the number of semester credit hours accumulated and accepted by the University, whether or not the hours are applicable toward a degree. Semester hours used to determine classification include coursework completed in residence, transferred credit, and credit by examination, extension, and correspondence. A student is a freshman until thirty hours have been accepted, then a sophomore until sixty hours have been accepted, then a junior until ninety hours have been accepted, then a senior until graduation. Freshmen and sophomores are referred to as lower-division students; juniors and seniors, as upper-division students.
Texas Academic Skills Program
The Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP) is a statewide program authorized by section 5.1036 of the Texas Education Code. In May, 2003, the Legislature approved amendments to section 51.306 that replace TASP with a new program called Success Initiative. Current information about the new program is published by the University's TASP Office.
The two components of TASP are the TASP Test, to assess basic skills in reading, mathematics, and writing; and developmental instruction, to strengthen those academic skills needing improvement.
All students entering Texas public colleges and universities are required to take the TASP Test or show proof of exemption prior to enrollment. Transfer students must submit official documentation to the TASP Office that shows compliance with TASP regulations before they register at the University. Transient students who are pursuing degrees at private or out-of-state institutions are not required to take the TASP Test. Also exempt are reciprocal exchange students, nondegree students who are fifty-five years of age or older, and nondegree students who are not United States citizens.
Nonexempt students who score less than 230 on the reading or mathematics subtests or less than 220 on the writing subtest (including omitted subtests and canceled scores) are required to enroll in developmental studies each semester until their skills reach the state standard in all three areas. Students who have below passing scores may not enroll in upper-division courses if such enrollment would give them a total of sixty or more semester hours of credit, including transfer credit.
Students who qualify for exemption from TASP requirements must provide documentation of any one of the following criteria to claim the exemption:
The student earned an exempting score on the ACT, SAT I, or TAAS in a single administration. An exemption may not be based on SAT or ACT scores earned more than five years ago or TAAS scores earned more than three years ago. Exemption standards are
SAT I: Total score of 1070, with a minimum of 500 on both the verbal and the mathematics test.
ACT: Composite score of 23, with a minimum of 19 on both the English and the mathematics test.
TAAS: Scaled score of at least 1770 on the writing test and a Texas Learning Index (TLI) of 86 on the mathematics test and 89 on the reading test.
The student earned a grade of B or A in certain courses designated by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for students transferring from private or out-of-state institutions. More information is available from the UT Austin TASP Office.
The student earned three semester hours of college-level credit, including credit by examination, prior to September, 1989.
The student has a bachelor's degree or the equivalent of a United States bachelor's degree.
The student is a blind or deaf person who earned three semester hours of college-level credit, including credit by examination, prior to September, 1995.
The student earned a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale in the recommended or advanced Texas high school curriculum. More information is available from the UT Austin TASP Office.
The student is active military personnel, stationed in Texas, and enrolled in a Texas public institution.
Students seeking Texas teacher certification should contact their certifying agency regarding the TASP requirement. Nonexempt blind students are required to take the TASP Test with appropriate accommodations; nonexempt deaf students are required to take the Stanford Achievement Test.
The TASP Test is offered six times a year at test centers throughout Texas, including the University. Alternative tests prescribed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board are available on campus prior to registration.
Information and registration materials for the statewide administrations are given in the TASP Test Registration Bulletin, available from most Texas public high schools and colleges, and at the National Evaluation Systems Web site.
Registration materials are available on campus from the TASP Office, Flawn Academic Center, Room 33; the Measurement and Evaluation Center, 2616 Wichita Street; the General Information and Referral Service, Main Building, ground floor; and the Office of the Dean, College of Education, George I. Sanchez Building 216. Information is published on-line by the TASP Office, and inquires may be directed to The University of Texas at Austin, TASP Office, P O Box 7636, Austin TX 78713-7636, (512) 471-8277, fax (512) 471-4990, e-mail tasp@www.utexas.edu.
General Information
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 - The University
Chapter 2 - Admission
Chapter 3 - Registration, Fees, and Deposits
Chapter 4 - Academic Policies and Procedures
Chapter 5 - Student Affairs
Chapter 6 - Libraries and Other Academic Resources
Chapter 7 - The Texas Exes
Appendix A - Residency Regulations
Appendix B - Official Extracurricular Student Activities
Appendix C - Institutional Rules on Student Services and Activities
Appendix D - Policy on Sex Discrimination and Sexual Harassment
Appendix E - Policy on Sexual Misconduct
Appendix F - Prohibition of Hazing
Appendix G - Policy on AIDS and HIV Infection
Appendix H - Prohibition of Sexual Assault
Appendix I - Nondiscrimination Policy
Appendix J - Prohibition of Campus Violence
Appendix K - Student Travel Policy for University-Organized or Sponsored Events
Appendix L - Student Travel Policy for Registered Student Organizations
Statistical Summaries
Related Information
Catalogs
Course Schedules
Academic Calendars
Office of Admissions
Office of the Registrar
University of Texas at Austin
12 August 2003. Office of the Registrar
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