Registration

This is an archived copy of the 2020-2021 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.shsu.edu.

Registration Requirements

Information concerning registration may be obtained from the Academic Calendar provided in this publication, the Student Advising Center (SAM Center), or from the Registrar’s Office.

Academic Advisement for Registration

Sam Houston State University offers advisement throughout the year at the Student Advising Center (SAM Center).

Students are placed under a degree and major based on the selection at the time of application to Sam Houston.  A student has the option of meeting the academic requirements for any degree as outlined in the catalog at the time of admission. In addition, a later catalog may be selected provided the requirements are met no later than six years from the effective date of that catalog. The student is responsible for knowledge of the detailed requirements of the degree program including any special requirements of the major and/or minor department. Students must speak to their advisor in order to make a change to their major.  Some academic departments may require approval of the change of major.

See the SAM Center to determine if advisement is required.

Core Mathematics Enrollment Requirement

Current research on best practices in higher education indicates that students perform better at challenging subjects when they are immersed in the learning of the material, without interruption.  In order to ensure students are more successful in the general education mathematics courses — and remain on track to graduate in four years — SH requires students to continuously enroll in mathematics classes until they have successfully completed their mathematics requirement in Component Area II of the Core Curriculum.

Consequently, at the time of registration for classes in a given semester, any student who is not core complete in mathematics will be required to be registered for a core mathematics course before being allowed to add any other courses to their schedule for that semester.  

By requiring students to take their core mathematics course during their first semester, students are not only making adequate progress towards earning a degree in a timely manner, the quantitative skills obtained will better prepare them for advanced courses later in their degree plan.

Registration

Once accepted and advised at SH, students may register for classes during the scheduled registration periods. Registration procedures apply to all SH courses taken on campus, off campus, and online.

During scheduled periods of registration, students may register online. See the Registrar's website for instructions regarding registration.

There is an additional fee charged for courses taken at SH -The Woodlands Center.

Effective September 1, 2018 - Registration for courses through correspondence is no longer offered.

Class Schedule Changes

What should students consider when adding or dropping courses?

  • Adding or dropping courses can impact financial aid. Students receiving financial aid and/or scholarships are encouraged to visit with a financial aid representative prior to adding or dropping courses.
  • Adding courses will result in tuition and fee charges to be paid by 4:00 pm on the date the course(s) are added.
  • A student is allowed no more than 6 Q-drops during their combined career at all Texas public colleges and universities.
  • A student, under specific conditions, may be charged a higher tuition rate for excessive undergraduate hours. Please reference Tuition for Excessive Undergraduate Hours from the Registrar's website.
  • International students must make changes through the Office of International Programs.

When can students change their schedules?

  • Students may add courses through the 6th class day for fall or spring terms and the 2nd class day for summer terms.
    For registration times, please refer to Registration Dates.

Resignations

A resignation is withdrawing from all classes within a term.  This does not mean the student is discontinuing his/her academic career.  The student will have one full academic year from last enrollment term to return to SHSU without reapplying, granted he/she did not leave on Academic Suspension.

To resign (officially withdraw) from the term, a student must notify the Registrar’s Office and process a Resignation Request. The Resignation Request becomes effective on the date received by the Registrar’s Office. The resignation effective date is used for determining any refund as authorized in the State Refund Policy (see Tuition and Fees Refund Policy). The student is responsible for clearing all debts owed to the University. International students must be advised by the International Student Advisor before resigning. Students who fail to officially resign from the term prior to the resignation deadline and discontinue class attendance will receive the grade of F or the grade earned for each course in which they are enrolled.

Students who resign after the twelfth class day of a fall/spring term receive a mark of W (withdrew) for each course for which they were enrolled.  Students registered in courses meeting less than 15 weeks please refer to the resignation refund schedule. If a student has received a grade in any course for that term, he/she is ineligible to resign.

Courses at SH - The Woodlands Center

Courses completed at this location will incur additional fee and carry residence credit. For more information visit the SH - The Woodlands Center website. 

Name Change

Appropriate documentation substantiating a legal name change for a student must be submitted to the Registrar's Office prior to the student’s next registration. All transcripts are issued under the student’s legal name as recorded on the student academic record. The Request for Change of Name form can be found on the Registrar’s website under forms.

Correct Addresses

It is necessary to have on file with the University a correct residency address. Students who change addresses after completing registration should immediately update their address by logging on to My Sam . (Campus Resources -> Banner Self-Service-> Personal Information -> Update Addresses and Phones)

Official University e-mail correspondence will be sent to the assigned SHSU e-mail address. The University assumes no obligation for failure of a student to receive communications.

International students must contact the International Programs Office. 

Classification of Students

  • Freshman: 1-29 hours completed
  • Sophomore: 30-59 hours completed
  • Junior: 60-89 hours completed
  • Senior: 90 hours or more completed.

Hours earned at Sam Houston State University and hours accepted in transfer from other institutions will count toward the student’s classification.

Credit awarded by examination and hours earned with the grade of CR are counted in determining classification, but are not included in determining grade point average.

Hours earned in developmental courses are not counted toward the student’s classification.

Auditing a Course

A student auditing a course may attend lectures and other class meetings, take part in class discussions, and receive written confirmation of attendance. The student will not receive evaluations of participation and will not be allowed to submit assignments or take examinations and tests, except by special and express permission of the instructor.

An individual must receive prior approval from the appropriate department chair or the instructor involved in order to audit a course. Neither the instructor nor the University assumes responsibility for the academic progress of any person auditing a course. The audit fee for each course is $50; students 65 years of age or older may be exempt from paying the audit fee with an approved Senior Citizen waiver.

Instructions and a copy of the Audit Form can be found on the Registrar’s Website. Audit Forms are accepted the 2nd-12th class days during fall/spring/full summer (10wk) terms and the 2nd-4th class days during summer I & II terms. A request to audit a course will not be accepted if there are no seats available in the course at the time the form is processed in the Registrar’s Office. 

An individual auditing a course:

·         Is encouraged to attend all lectures and obtain the maximum educational benefit from the information presented.

·         Is not permitted to take tests or examinations in the course being audited.

·         Is authorized to receive a courtesy library card permitting use of the Newton Gresham Library for the duration of the course audit.

·         Is not authorized to be issued an SH Student Identification Card unless also enrolled as a regular student at SH.

·         Is not authorized to use SH medical, athletic, or recreational facilities unless also enrolled as a regular student at SH.

·         Will not receive record of course audit (i.e. the course will not appear on a transcript), and no record of the audit will be kept in the Registrar’s Office.

Transcripts

Options to order transcripts can be found on the Student Transcripts website. Official transcripts will not be released for students with financial indebtedness/outstanding balance(s) due to the University.

Texas Success Initiative

Students who are entering or enrolled in a Texas public institution of higher learning and are not exempt must take the TSI Assessment test and have scores on file before they will be allowed to attend any classes. Students who do not meet the minimum standards to be considered TSI college ready are required to take developmental courses. Students who do not meet the minimum standard must enroll in at least one developmental course each semester until the Texas Success Initiative requirements are satisfied.

Official placement test scores or valid exemption must be on file with the Registrar’s Office before students register for classes. Visit http://www.shsu.edu/tsi for additional information.

TSI Test Exemptions

  • An ACT composite score of 23 or higher, with a score of at least 19 on both the Math and English sections from the same test date. Scores are valid for five years from test date; or
  • On the SAT with a test date prior to March 5, 2016, a score of 1070 or higher with a minimum score of 500 on both the Math and Verbal sections from the same test date. Scores are valid for five years from test date; or
  • On the new SAT, a score of 530 will provide an exemption for math; or
  • On the new SAT, a score of 480 for Evidence Based Reading and Writing will provide an exemption for Reading and Writing; or
  • A score of at least 2200 on the ELA and Math sections of the TAKS Test with a writing essay score of 3 or higher. Scores are valid for five years from test date; or
  • An associate (AA or AS) or a baccalaureate (BA, BS, etc.) degree from an accredited Texas public institution of higher education; or
  • Students who transferred from outside Texas or from a private Texas college or university and successfully completed the appropriate reading, math, and writing related coursework. Please visit the SAM Center for more details; or
  • Students who previously attended any institution of higher education and have been determined to have met readiness standards by that institution; or
  • Students who are serving on active duty in the military, the Texas National Guard, or the reserves, or were honorably discharged, retired, or released from active duty in the military, the Texas National Guard, or the reserves after August 1, 1990.

Temporary TSI Test Exemptions

Students who are not seeking a degree or certificate may be exempt at the discretion of the institution.

It is the student’s responsibility to inform the institution of his/her exemption.

Students Who Have Not Passed All Parts of the TSI Assessment

  • Must continuously enroll in the appropriate developmental program until they have satisfied all TSI Requirements.
  • Must enroll and participate fully in each developmental course and:
    • attend class and any required tutorial session(s);
    • complete all assignments and take all exams;
    • demonstrate to the instructor of the course that the student is making a good faith effort to develop the appropriate skills and knowledge; and
    • remain in class unless granted permission to drop.

Students Not Meeting Minimum Standards for One or More Sections of the TSI Assessment

  • May satisfy TSI requirements by:
    • Earning a passing score on a retake of the TSI Assessment test;
    • Completing a developmental program in the appropriate area with a CR* grade;
    • Completing an approved college-level course(s) in the appropriate area with a grade of “C” or better; or
    • Using a score on an ACT, SAT, TAKS, or STAAR EOC test that meets the exemption standard in the appropriate area.

SHSU TSI Reading, Writing, and Mathematics Requirements and Placements

Reading Requirements

  • Students who score from 001 to 341 on the TSI Assessment test must pass INRW 0301 with a grade of CR*.
  • Students who score from 342 to 350 on the TSI Assessment test have the option to pass  INRW 0301 with a grade of CR*; or enroll in the co-requisite model INRW 0014​ and ENGL 1301.
  • Students with a passing score of 351 or higher on the TSI Assessment test have satisfied their TSI requirements and are not required to enroll in a developmental education course.

Writing Requirements

  • Students who score from 0 to 339 with a 1 - 4 Essay on the TSI Assessment test have the option to pass the INRW 0301 with a grade of CR*; or enroll in INRW 0014​ and ENGL 1301.
  • Students with a passing score of 340 with a 4 Essay on the TSI Assessment test have satisfied their TSI requirements and are not required to enroll in a developmental education course. Students who score a 5 on their Essay section with ABE score of 4 will automatically be TSI writing complete regardless of the score in the multiple-choice section.

Mathematics Requirements

  • Students who score from 0 - 339 on the TSI Assessment test must pass MATH 0333 with a grade of CR*.
  • Students who score from 340 to 349 on the TSI Assessment test have the option to pass the MATH 0333 with a grade of CR*; or enroll in a co-requisite model. (Contact tsi@shsu.edu for course options).
  • Students with a passing score of 350 or higher on the TSI Assessment test have satisfied their TSI requirements and are not required to enroll in a developmental education course.

For more information on the Texas Success Initiative at SHSU, please visit TSI website. To inquire about taking the TSI Assessment test, please contact Testing Center or by phone (936) 294-1025.