Texas Success Initiative

The Texas Success Initiative plan was approved by the 78th Texas Legislature in June 2003 to be effective with the beginning date of September 1, 2003.  Under the TSI, an institution shall assess the academic skills of each entering undergraduate student prior to the enrollment of the student.  Board approved assessment instruments are ACCUPLACER, ASSET, COMPASS and THEA.  The University of Texas of the Permian has chosen to use the THEA (Texas Higher Education Assessment) [formerly TASP] as its approved instrument.  The THEA is offered during the regularly scheduled testing plan or is available as a quick version from the PASS Office.  Please call (432) 552-2630 for testing information.

Minimum Passing Standards

1. The following minimum passing standards shall be used by an institution to determine a student’s readiness to enroll in freshman-level academic coursework:
   1. ACCUPLACER: Reading Comprehension – 78; Elementary Algebra – 63; Sentence Structure – 80; and Written Essay – 6.
   2. ASSET: Reading Skills – 41; Elementary Algebra – 38; Writing Skills (objective) – 40; and Written Essay – 6.
   3. COMPASS: Reading Skills – 81; Algebra – 39; Writing Skills (objective) – 59; and Written Essay – 6.
   4. THEA: Reading – 230; Mathematics – 230; Writing – 220.
2. The minimum passing standard for the written essay portion of all tests is a score of 6.  However, an essay with a score of 5 will meet this standard if the student meets the objective writing test standard.
3. An institution may require higher passing standards.

Exemptions/Exceptions

The following students shall be exempt from the requirements of this title:

1. For a period of five (5) years from the date of testing, a student who is tested and performs at or above the following standards:
   1. ACT: composite score of 23 with a minimum of 19 on both the English and the mathematics tests;
   2. SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test): a combined verbal and mathematics score of 1070 with a minimum of 500 on both the verbal and the mathematics tests; or
2. For a period of three (3) years from the date of testing, a student who is tested and performs on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) with a minimum scale score of 1770 on the writing test, a Texas Learning Index (TLI) of 86 on the mathematics test and 89 on the reading test.
3. A student who has graduated with an associate or baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher education.
4. A student who transfers to an institution from a private or independent institution of higher education or an accredited out-of-state institution of higher education and who has satisfactorily completed college-level coursework as determined by the receiving institution.
5. A student who has previously attended any institution and has been determined to have met readiness standards by that institution.
6. A student who is enrolled in a certificate program of one year or less (Level-One certificates, 42 or fewer semester credit hours or the equivalent) at a public junior college, a public technical institute, or a public state college.
7. A student who is serving on active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States, the Texas National Guard, or as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States and has been serving for at least three years preceding enrollment.
8. A student who on or after August 1, 1990, was honorably discharged, retired, or released from active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States or the Texas National Guard or service as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States.
9. An institution may exempt a non-degree-seeking or non-certificate-seeking student.

Unless exempt, a student who fails an approved TSI exam must register for the appropriate developmental course.

Placement Testing

1. Math placement testing is required for all students needing a math course (approximately 45 minutes to complete).  Students majoring in COMPUTER SCIENCE, MATH, or SCIENCE, must take the Calculus Test.  All other majors must take the Algebra Test.  Students without a major must take the Algebra Test.

   Scoring The Placement Test
   0-6 pts.	=	MATH 0398
   7-16 pts.	=	MATH 0399
   17 & up	=	MATH 1332 or MATH 1324

   For additional information contact the Math & Science Center at (432) 552-3350 or MB 4180A.
   
   
2. Writing placement testing is required for all students needing ENGLISH 1301 (approximately 1½ hours to complete).  Students who fail their test are placed in ENGLISH 0399 (remedial course).  For additional information contact the Writing Center at (432) 552-2302 or MB 2100.
   
   
3. Freshman are required to take the THEA test before they may register.  Students who pass the TASP are exempt from the Reading Placement test.  Students who fail the reading portion of the TASP test must register for Reading 0399 (remedial course).  For additional information contact the PASS Office at (432) 552-2630 or MB 1160.

Student Advisement

Students are encouraged to visit with faculty advisors for degree and class schedule planning.  At announced times, all currently enrolled undergraduate students and currently enrolled graduate students who have been admitted to a graduate program or are seeking teacher certification will be permitted to early register for courses in the subsequent term.  Students needing an academic advisor should contact their dean’s office.

Students may not register for conventionally taught partially self-paced courses after the last day of late registration.  Students must be officially enrolled at U. T. Permian Basin in the semester in which they graduate.

E-Advisor

E-Advisor is a service to facilitate the academic advising process.  Students who need to:

• Find out who their academic advisor is
• Make an appointment to meet their advisor
• Be advised through phone or email
• Or otherwise need help in getting academic advising

should e-mail E-Advisor@utpb.edu.  In the e-mail state the assistance needed, your major and your full name as it appears on your student records.  Someone will respond by e-mail within one working day.  Because advising by e-mail may require several e-mail exchanges, students should not plan to use e-mail as the sole method of getting academic advice during the last week before classes begin.

Noncredit course registration (Auditing Classes)

U. T. Permian Basin allows a person who does not desire a degree or who does not desire course credit to register for classes on a noncredit basis.  This is known as auditing a course.  Students auditing classes are permitted to attend classes and participate in the course discussions, studio and laboratory work and other class activities.  They are not required to complete work outside the classroom or sit for exams.

The fee for auditing a course is $100 per course plus any applicable lab fee.  This fee covers course participation, library use and computer use privileges similar to those of students.  It does not cover parking or provide access to student services covered by the student service fee or the medical services fee.

No credit is earned through auditing the class and a student may not earn credit through examination for audited courses.  One may not audit contract study, self-paced, thesis, research or practicum courses.

Students applying only for the purposes of auditing a course are not required to meet all admission requirements.  However, students that have been denied admission are not eligible to enroll to audit.  For further information on admissions for auditing purposes, contact the Admissions Office.

Registration for auditing courses can occur only during the late registration period.  It is on a space available basis only and requires the instructor’s permission.  Students should contact the Registrar’s Office for audit enrollment forms and procedures.

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Self-paced Instruction

A number of courses are offered on a self-paced instruction basis.  With permission of the instructor and the Dean, students may enroll in a self-paced course any time up to three weeks prior to the last day of classes during the semester.  Please refer to the calendar in the class schedule for specific dates.

Registration for self-paced instruction courses alone does not involve a late registration fee, unless it is the student’s initial registration for that particular semester.  Students must finish the self-paced course within the given semester or re-register for the same course in a subsequent semester.  At the end of each semester, a grade is assigned.  If work for a self-paced course has not been completed but satisfactory progress is underway, the student usually is assigned a grade of Z.  The student must re-register for the course the next time it is offered to earn a letter grade and credit in the course.  The initial Z grade will remain on the record.

Concurrent Enrollment

U. T. Permian Basin normally limits concurrent enrollment to community colleges.  Students desiring credit for concurrent enrollment at another four-year institution or upper level institution must have the prior express permission in writing from the appropriate Dean before enrollment.

When a student registers at more than one public institution of higher education at the same time, charges shall be determined in the following manner:

Tuition credit is available if three hours or less are being taken at U. T. Permian Basin while concurrently enrolled at an area community college.  The student must first register at the area college and bring a receipt to U. T. Permian Basin.  U. T. Permian Basin’s tuition charge will be the difference between the student’s total tuition at each of the institutions, but never less than the hourly rate at U. T. Permian Basin.

In Absentia

A candidate for a degree who has completed all the courses and other requirements for graduation and who must register in the University for the purpose of having a degree conferred, must register in absentia.  This is the only purpose for which a student may register in absentia.  After registration for credit during a semester or summer session, a student wishing to change to in absentia status must have the request approved by the student’s academic Dean and processed through the add/drop procedure.  All fees, less the in absentia fee and computer use fee will be refunded if the change is made during the first 12 class days of the Spring or Fall semester and 4th class day of the Summer session.  After the 12th class day or 4th class day in summer, no refunds will be made and no additional charge will be assessed for the in absentia fee.  The University ID card and original paid fee receipt must be returned before a refund can be issued.  No refund is made for the cancellation of an in absentia registration.

If the student requests a change from in absentia status to regular registration for courses, in absentia fees paid will apply toward the tuition due.

The Class Day

The class day begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 10:00 p.m.  Unlike some universities in which courses offered after 5 p.m. are provided through an extension division, U. T. Permian Basin offers courses in the late afternoon and evening as part of the regular offerings.  Students enrolling in these courses register in the same manner as students who are taking only daytime courses.  Full-time students may have both day and evening classes.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232g, and the Texas Public Information Act, Texas Government Code Sec. 552.001 et seq., are respectively a federal and state law that provide for the review and disclosure of student educational records.  In accordance with these laws the University has adopted the following policy.

The University will not permit access to or the release of personally identifiable information contained in student education records without the written consent of the student to any party, except as follows:

• To appropriate University officials who require access to education records in order to perform their legitimate education duties;
  
  
• To Officials of other schools in which the student seeks or intends to enroll, upon request of these officials, and upon the condition that the student be notified and receive copy of the record if desired;
  
  
• To federal, state, or local officials or agencies authorized by law
  
  
• In connection with a student’s application for, or receipt of, financial aid;
  
  
• To accrediting organizations or organizations conducting educational studies, provided that these organizations do not release personally identifiable data and destroy such data when it is no longer needed for the purpose it was obtained;
  
  
• To the parents of a dependent student as defined in section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, provided a reasonable effort is made to notify the student in advance;
  
  
• In compliance with a judicial order or subpoena, provided a reasonable effort is made to notify the student in advance unless such subpoena specifically directs the institution not to disclose the existence of a subpoena;
  
  
• In an emergency situation if the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the students or other persons; or
  
  
• To an alleged victim of any crime of violence, the results of the alleged perpetrator’s disciplinary proceeding may be released.

The University may release directory information which includes student's name; local and permanent address; email address; telephone number; date and place of birth; field of study; dates of attendance; enrollment status; student classification; degrees, certificates and awards (including scholarships) received; photographs; participation in officially recognized activities and sports; weight and height of members of athletic teams; and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended.  Students may have any or all directory information withheld by notifying the Office of the Registrar in writing each semester during the first 12 days of class of a fall or spring semester or the first 4 class days of a summer semester.  Requests to withhold directory information will be honored by the University for only the current enrollment period; therefore, a request to withhold Directory Information must be filed each semester or term in the Office of the Registrar.

Upon written request, the University shall provide a student with access to his or her educational records.  Students may challenge the accuracy of their educational records.  Students who believe that their education records contain information that is inaccurate or misleading, or is otherwise in violation of their privacy may discuss their problems informally with the Registrar.  Afterwards the student may pursue a formal appeal to the Vice President for Student Services.

Details on the University’s policies and procedures on the access to student records can be found in the University’s Handbook of Operating Procedures, Part VI Section 15.  This can be found at the following internet address: www.utpb.edu.

Complaints regarding alleged failure to comply with the provision of the FERPA may be submitted in writing to the Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independent Avenue S.W., Washington, D.C.    20202-4605.

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