Academic Policies and Procedures

Registration for Classes

Students will be permitted to attend classes only when the instructors have received evidence of proper registration. Registration dates and deadlines are listed in the academic calendar. Students may add courses, make section changes or drop courses only within the period specified in the calendar.

New students and returning students, with an enrollment lapse of one semester, who are under the age of 22, will not be permitted to register for classes without verification of proof of receiving the Bacterial Meningitis Immunization Vaccination. Please see Bacterial Meningitis Vaccination Requirement under the Health Policies and Regulations of this catalog.

Full-Time Student Status

During the fall, spring, and summer semesters, a full-time student is one who is enrolled for at least 12 semester credit hours of courses, including both credit and college prep courses. Full-time status may be required of some students, depending upon financial aid or scholarship status. Some students are also required to be full-time if covered under parental health insurance.

Maximum Course Loads

Every college course is assumed to involve a significant amount of non-contact hour time for out-of-class student learning and reflection. In accordance with Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Title 19, Part 1, Chapter 4 and to assure the quality of student learning, LSCO students are not allowed to carry more courses in any term (that is, regular or shortened semester), than would allow them to earn more than one semester credit hour per week over the course of the term. For example, in a five and one-half week summer term, students should not generally be allowed to enroll for more than six semester credit hours.

The normal maximum course load in a long semester should be 15 semester hours. Course loads in excess of 18 semester hours shall require approval by the Provost/Executive Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs.

Course Numbering

Lamar State College Orange uses the state approved Texas Common Course Numbering System for all academic courses. Each academic course has a letter code and/or numerical code. The letters are an abbreviation for the subject. For example, ENGL indicates an English course. Most courses meet three hours each week and have a credit value of three semester hours. Each number contains three or more figures:

• The first number indicates the rank of the course: 1, freshman level; 2, sophomore level.
• The second number indicates the number of semester hours of credit.
• The last number(s) indicates the order in which the course normally is taken.

Applied music courses are numbered so the second number indicates both semester hours of credit and number of private lessons each week.

Semester Hours

The unit of measure for credit purposes is the semester hour. Two or more hours of laboratory work are counted equivalent to one classroom hour. For laboratory work that requires reports to be written outside of class, two clock hours are usually counted as one semester hour.

New Courses

In order to meet changing educational requirements, the College reserves the right to add any needed courses at any time without regard to the listing of such courses in the catalog.

Minimum Class Enrollment

The College reserves the right not to offer any courses listed in the class schedule if fewer than 10 students register for the course.

Distance Education

The College offers a variety of hybrid and fully online courses. Blackboard is the school’s learning management system and provides the foundation for the distance education program. The distance education program is managed by the Office of Learning Technology. Student training on Blackboard is offered each semester; videos are also available on the LSCO website. A Blackboard Student Orientation is available to all students.

Classification of Students

Students are classified as freshmen, sophomores and post-baccalaureate. For the purpose of determining eligibility to hold certain offices and for other reasons, officially enrolled students are classified as follows:

Freshman: has met all entrance requirements but has completed fewer than 30 semester hours;
Sophomore: has completed a minimum of 30 semester hours with 60 grade points;
Post-baccalaureate: holds a bachelor’s degree but is not pursuing a degree program.

Changing Schedules

Once classes have started, all section changes, adds, and drops must be approved by either the advisor, the division dean, Advising and Counseling Center personnel, or the Registrar. All such changes are initiated by the completion of the proper form. A course may not be added after the first week of a long semester or the first two days of an eight-week or summer session.

Change of Major

Students wishing to change their majors must complete a change of major form. The approval must be in writing on the Change of Major form. These forms are available in the Advising and Counseling Center and the Office of Admission and Records. All such changes are initiated by the completion of the proper form. Prior to changing their major, students should meet with an academic advisor.

Class Attendance

Students must attend classes regularly and punctually to achieve their educational objectives. Therefore, instructors shall formulate and state in course syllabi attendance policies that best support student success. The College would prefer that faculty keep an accurate attendance record throughout the course.

When an instructor intends to use class participation as a grading criterion in a course, it shall be so stated in his/her course syllabus in objective measures. While attendance may be reflected in the instructor’s evaluation of a student’s class participation or affect a student’s performance on other graded material or skills, attendance (or lack of attendance) in class should not be used as a sole criterion in determining a student’s grade in a course.

The Office of Student Services maintains a list of college-sponsored extra-curricular activities. Instructors may or may not approve college-sponsored student absences. Instructor-approved absences entitle students to make up exams and written assignments without penalty.

Students with absences approved by the instructor for LSCO-sponsored activities should present properly completed college-sponsored absence forms to their instructors prior to the absence, if possible. If this is not possible, students should present the forms as soon as they return to class.

Students may request the Office of Student Services to notify faculty members prior to or during an extended absence due to personal or family illness, accident, hospitalization, etc. This notification does not require the instructor to regard the absence as excused; however, it does explain to instructors why a student is absent and when he/she will return to class.

Observance of Religious Holy Days

A student who misses an examination, work assignment or other project because of the observance of a religious holy day will be given the opportunity to complete the work missed within a reasonable time after the absence. The student may not be penalized for these excused absences unless the student fails to complete satisfactorily the missed assignment or examination within a reasonable time after the excused absence. The student notifies the instructor of each class scheduled on the date that the student would be absent for a religious holy day. Arrangements must be made with the instructor in advance. This policy does not apply to any student absence which may interfere with patient care.

A “religious holy day” means a holy day observed by a religion whose places of worship are exempt from property taxation under Section 11.20 of the Tax Code.

Academic Honesty

The College does not tolerate cheating or plagiarism. Cheating involves either giving assistance to another student or receiving assistance from another student during a quiz, test, examination or other individual assignment unless the instructor has explicitly permitted such assistance.

Plagiarism means “to take and use as one’s own the writings or ideas of another” (American Heritage Dictionary). Before submitting any paper for any course at the college, the student must acknowledge each source used consciously, whether published or unpublished. Even an idea presented in the student’s own words but consciously taken from a source must be acknowledged. In addition, quotation marks (or indenting) must set off phrases or longer passages copied verbatim. Each instructor will explain any special means required to avoid plagiarism in his or her own field.

The assignment of grades is the responsibility of the instructor. Thus, if the instructor determines that a student’s work has been intellectually dishonest, the instructor may award the student an “F” for the course or for the specific task determined to have been dishonestly accomplished. Such action will be preceded by a meeting with the student to provide an occasion for refutation, explanation or mitigation. In cases where the faculty member and student cannot reach agreement, and after consultation with the division dean, the student may make a written appeal to the Executive Vice President/Provost for Academic and Student Affairs within five school days of the meeting with the faculty member.

The faculty member’s charge must include an academic penalty, the most severe being removal from the course with a grade of “F.” Additionally, LSCO may propose an institutional sanction in repeated or blatant cases of academic dishonesty. A student involved in an appeal of an intellectual dishonesty case has the right to remain in class until a decision is made.

Grading System

The grade of “Q” or “W” is given if the drop or withdrawal is made before the due date.

Incomplete

The grade of “I” may be given when any requirement of the course, including the final examination, is not completed. Students seeking an incomplete should have completed 75% of the course requirements and be passing the course at the time of the request. Arrangements to complete deficiencies in a course should be made with the instructor. The instructor will obtain the incomplete form from his/her division dean and facilitate the process. Incomplete work must be finished during the next long semester. If not, the Office of Admission and Records must change the “I” grade to the grade of “F.” The course must then be repeated if credit is desired.

An “I” grade also automatically becomes an “F” if the student registers for the course prior to removing the deficiencies and receiving a grade change. The instructor may record the grade of “F” for a student who is absent from the final examination and is not passing the course.

Grade Replacement

Students may replace a course grade by repeating the same course. If a student repeats a course, the official grade is the higher one, although all grades remain on the student’s transcript. A grade, once earned and entered on a student’s transcript, cannot be removed. The grade for repeating a course at another institution cannot be transferred to replace a grade for a Lamar State College Orange course. Eligibility for all College honors will be determined on the basis of a cumulative GPA that includes all grades earned at Lamar State College Orange, including those that were replaced. Any student who wishes to repeat a course must do so before completing a more advanced course in the same subject. The division dean of the department offering the course will determine what constitutes a more advanced course. This policy does not apply to classes repeated before the fall of 2011. Once a degree has been conferred, a student may not use the Grade Replacement for any courses used to award a degree or calculate the cumulated grade point average.

Grade Changes

A grade may not be corrected or changed without the written authorization of the instructor giving the grade; or, in the event that an instructor is no longer employed by Lamar State College Orange, the Executive Vice President/Provost for Academic and Student Affairs may authorize a grade change after reviewing grade records. The grade change should include a statement explaining the reason for the change and must be provided to the program director/department head (if applicable) and dean. The instructor will follow the grade change online form process located in Blackboard. The student, instructor, program director/department head (if applicable), and dean will receive a confirmation email. The Office of Admissions and Records will receive the grade change information via email for processing.

Grade Point Average Computation

The grade point average is a measure of the student’s overall academic performance and is used in the determination of academic standing, rank in class, eligibility for graduation, etc. To compute a grade point average, grade points are assigned to a letter as follows: “A,” 4 points; “B,” 3 points; “C,” 2 points; “D,” 1 point; and “F,” “I,” “S,” “NG,” “Q,” “U,” and “W,” 0 points. The number of grade points earned in a course is obtained by multiplying the number of semester hours of credit by the number of points assigned to the letter grade made in the course.

The grade point average is calculated by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total number of semester hours attempted in courses for which the grades “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” “F,” and “I” are assigned. Thus, for grades “S,” “U,” “NG,” “W,” and “Q,” neither semester hours nor grade points are used in the computation of the grade point average. Hours attempted reflect all work taken, whether passed, failed or repeated.

Beginning spring 2010 with the implementation of a new student system LSCO modified the academic transcript. Undergraduate academic and undergraduate technical careers are combined into one undergraduate level on one undergraduate transcript. Students with questions regarding their grade point average computation should be directed to the Office of Admission and Records.

Final Grades

Final grades are available at all times by logging into Gator Self-Service via www.lsco.edu, and by logging on to Blackboard with username and password. Instructions on how to access grades via Gator Self-Service are available in the Lamar State College Orange Registration Guide that can be accessed online at www.lsco.edu.

Grade Appeals and Academic Grievances

A student may appeal a final grade by first contacting the instructor concerning the grounds for appeal within five days. If the dispute is not resolved at this level, the student must follow the procedures outlined in the Student Handbook. Other grievances of an academic nature are subject to the same appeals process.

Dean’s List

At the end of each fall and spring semester, the Office of Admission and Records prepares a list of all full-time (those who completed 12 or more semester hours) students who have earned a grade point average of 3.4 or above for that semester. Students will receive a letter and notation on their transcript.

President’s List

At the end of each fall and spring semester, the Office of Admission and Records prepares a list of all full-time (those who complete 12 or more semester hours) students who have earned a grade point average of 4.0 for that semester. Students will receive a letter and notation on their transcript.

Dropping Courses

From first class day to census day, a student wishing to make a schedule change or drop a class will meet with an academic advisor. After the census date, students will meet with, email or call their instructor to discuss their progress in the class. After coaching and discussing student progress, if the student wishes to drop the course the instructor will complete the online drop form located in Blackboard. Dual Credit (DUHS) and Early College High School (ECHS) students wishing to drop a class must refer to their high school counselors for advising.

Prior to dropping a course students should meet with their advisors. (See also Six Drop Rule) It is the student’s responsibility to initiate dropping a course by the drop deadline published in the Academic Calendar.

For refund purposes the effective drop date is the date indicated on the online drop form, which should be the date the student contacted the instructor. The student, instructor, cashier, and admissions will receive a confirmation email.

Six Drop Rule

Limitations on the Number of Courses that may be Dropped by Undergraduate Students: Legislation passed by the Texas Senate (SB 1231) in late spring 2007 could seriously impact your college career.

This legislation applies to all students entering into any Texas public institution of higher education as a first time freshman beginning fall 2007 and subsequent terms.

• Under Section 51.907 of the Texas Education Code, “an institution of higher education may not permit a student to drop more than six courses, including any course a transfer student has dropped at another institution of higher education.” This statute was enacted by the State of Texas and applies to students who enroll in a public institution of higher education as first-time freshman in fall 2007 or later. Any course that a student drops is counted toward the six-course limit if “(1) the student was able to drop the course without receiving a grade (A,B,C,D,F,S,U or Q) or incurring an academic penalty; (2) the student’s transcript indicates or will indicate that the student was enrolled in the course [signified by a ‘QL’ grade at Lamar State College Orange (LSCO)]; and (3) the student is not dropping the course in order to withdraw from the institution.” Some exemptions for good cause could allow a student to drop a course without having it counted toward this limit, but it is the responsibility of the student to establish that good cause. Contact the Office of the Registrar, (409) 882-3318, for more information before you drop a course.
• This statute applies to all Texas public colleges and universities. Therefore, a LSCO student affected by this statute that has attended or plans to attend another institution of higher education should become familiar with that institution’s policies on dropping courses.
• Any course dropped at LSCO prior to the 12th class day for a fall and spring semester, 4th class day for a summer term and 1st class day for a mini-session will not count toward the six-course drop limit.

Reinstatement to Class

A student may be reinstated to class upon written approval by the major instructor of the course and the instructor’s division director or the Executive Vice President/Provost for Academic and Student Affairs. The official form must be processed in the Office of Admission and Records.

Instructor Initiated Drop

When absences, other than approved absences, interfere with the student’s performance, the instructor may recommend to the division dean that the student be dropped from the course. In the case of an instructor initiated drop, the advising office will be notified. In the event the student has accumulated six drops and the drop is not eligible for an exemption to the rule, the instructor will not be able to drop the student. In this instance the student will have to receive the grade they have earned.

Academic Probation

Students are expected to make satisfactory academic progress toward their degree objectives. A “C” is the minimum satisfactory grade and a “C” average (2.0 GPA) constitutes satisfactory performance. The cumulative grade point average is based only on course work at Lamar State College-Orange for which the student earns the grade of A, B, C, D or F. The marks of Q, W, NG, XC or U are not counted as hours attempted in figuring the cumulative grade point average.

A student is placed on probation after the first long semester in which a student’s institutional cumulative GPA falls below 2.0. Students on academic probation whose institutional term GPA is a 2.0 or higher will be allowed to continue on probation until the institutional cumulative GPA reaches 2.0 or higher. Students on academic probation must see an academic advisor to be advised and registered for classes each semester until they are off probation. If, after one semester on probation, a student fails to raise their cumulative GPA above 2.0, the student will be limited to enrolling in 7 credit hours during subsequent semesters until the cumulative GPA reaches 2.0 or higher.

Academic probation is assessed at the end of the Fall and Spring semesters.

Suspension and Reinstatement

A student who has been on academic probation for two consecutive semesters will be placed on academic suspension if the student fails to maintain a 2.0 institutional term GPA. A student who has been suspended may return to LSCO after sitting out one long semester.

Veterans’ Satisfactory Academic Progress

The Veterans’ Administration must be notified of unsatisfactory progress the second semester a student has not completed classes with a 2.0 grade point average. Veterans should contact the Veterans’ Affairs Office, (409) 882-3317, for additional information.

Academic Forgiveness

After an enrollment lapse of four or more years from Lamar State College Orange and after completing successfully (2.2 average) 24 semester hours of coursework, a student may petition to disregard a maximum of two entire successive semesters of work taken previously at Lamar State College Orange. The petition shall be filed with the Registrar and approved by the Dean of Student Services.

When approved by the Dean of Student Services, disregarded coursework shall not count in determining the student’s grade point average for academic progress or for graduation; however, the work shall remain on the transcript with an appropriate notation and shall be used in determining honors. Once a degree has been conferred, a student may not use the academic forgiveness for any courses used to award the degree or to calculate the cumulative grade point average.

Withdrawals

Students wishing to withdraw from all classes must meet with, email, or call their program director/dean to discuss their desire and reason for withdrawing. After coaching and discussing if the student wishes to withdraw from the College, meaning they wish to drop all their courses, the program director/dean will complete the online withdrawal form located in Blackboard. After consulting with their program director/dean, Dual Credit (DUHS) and Early College High School (ECHS) students wishing to withdrawal from the College must refer to their high school counselors for advising. Students must clear all financial obligations and return all books, laboratory equipment, and other materials. For refund purposes the effective withdrawal date is the date listed on the online withdrawal form, which should reflect the date the student contacted the program director/dean.

The student, instructor/program director, cashier, financial aid, library, and admissions will receive a confirmation email. The cashier, financial aid, and library will communicate directly with the student via mylsco.edu email regarding any money due and holds placed on the account.

The Business Office will return such fees as are refundable according to the schedule shown under “Fees.”

A student may not withdraw after the published deadline. A student who leaves without officially withdrawing will receive a grade of “F” in all courses, will forfeit all refundable fees, and is not relieved of outstanding financial debts.

Prior to withdrawing from classes students should meet with an advisor.

Eligibility for Extracurricular Activities

An extracurricular activity is understood to be any non-class-related activity representing the student body, a student organization, a department or division organization or any such activity representing the College.

Any full-time student not on disciplinary or scholastic probation who is officially registered is eligible to become a candidate and/or to hold student office. In some cases part-time students are also eligible to hold office. Any full-time or part-time student not on disciplinary or scholastic probation is eligible to represent the College in any extracurricular activity provided the student has a grade point average of at least 2.0 for both the whole of college work completed at Lamar State College Orange and for the preceding semester.

For the purpose of establishing eligibility, two six-week summer terms may count as one semester.

Transfer students have the same eligibility as freshman students until completion of one semester at Lamar State College Orange.

Credit by Examination and Advanced Standing Examination

Advanced standing examinations are intended only for those students who have had the equivalent, in formal or informal training, of the work being presented in the course in question. These exams may be taken only once unless otherwise approved by the division dean or Executive Vice President/Provost for Academic and Student Affairs. Credit may be granted to those who pass departmental advanced standing examinations with a grade of “B” or better. Normally, departmental examinations will be given only if College Level Examinations Program (CLEP) subject examinations are not available.

To secure permission for such examination, a student must obtain the written permission of the division dean responsible for the course. A fee of $25 must be paid to the Cashier’s Office. Forms are available in the Testing Center.

A student who has previously and/or is currently enrolled in a course or has received a grade (passing or failing) in a course may not take an advanced standing examination in that course. Credit earned by examination is not granted or transcripted if the student does not complete at least one course at LSCO subsequent to earning credit by exam. A fee of $25 per credit hour must be paid to the Cashier’s Office for credit to be transcripted.

Advanced Placement

The first two optional testing programs listed below are offered to enable first-time college students to qualify for advanced standing and/or college credit. These tests must be taken before enrollment. Applicants also may qualify for credit through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP).

1. Advanced Placement Examinations (Optional)
   
   Applicants who wish to receive credit for college-level work completed in high school may do so by submitting scores from the College Entrance Examination Board’s Advanced Placement Examinations. Examinations are given each May by high schools. Arrangements are made through high school counselors. Subject matter areas and the basis for granting credits are as follows:

* State law requires three semester hours of classroom instruction in some phase of American history in addition to credit by examination.

2. ACT and SAT/SAT II Subject Tests
   
   Students with outstanding high school records or who have participated in accelerated programs are encouraged to take the College Entrance Examination Board’s Subject Tests in available academic areas.
   
   The results of those tests may allow the student to bypass introductory level courses. Students scoring at or above college standards on the SAT and/or ACT may be awarded credit. Contact the LSCO Testing Coordinator or Dean of Academic Studies for more information. ACT and SAT II Subject Tests are given on most of the regularly scheduled ACT and SAT test dates. Registration bulletins are available from area high schools.
   
   Grades will not be assigned and hours will not be used in the computation of grade point averages for course credit granted through ACT and/or SAT/SAT II Subject Exams.
    
3. College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
   
   Lamar State College Orange awards credit on the basis of most of the subject examinations on the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). A complete list of required scores and respective course credit to be awarded is available from the Testing Center and on our website at www.lsco.edu/testing/clep. The essay sections of the English Composition and Literature examinations are required and the determination for the awarding of equivalent English credit is based upon the strength of the written essays.
   
   The amount of credit awarded to a student who attended college before taking the examination will depend upon which college courses the student completed. Credit will not be awarded if the student received prior credit for the same course or its equivalent. Grades will not be assigned and hours will not be used in the computation of grade point averages.
    
4. International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program
   
   Lamar State College Orange recognizes the IB Diploma Program. Students who receive an IB diploma and receive scores of “4” or above on Higher Level (HL) or Standard Level (SL) examinations will be awarded a minimum of 24 semester credit hours (see table). Students who have not received an IB diploma may be granted credit on an individual course-by-course basis as determined by participating academic departments. A copy of the official IB transcript must be submitted to the Office of Admissions and Records to receive transfer credit. All applicable Texas statutes and Lamar State College Orange policies must be complied with and are in effect for course transferability.

Transfer Credit for Correspondence Courses

The following regulations will apply to work completed through correspondence:

• Lamar State College Orange does not offer correspondence courses but will accept for transfer and application toward an associate degree or certificate up to nine (9) semester credit hours of correspondence courses which have been satisfactorily completed in a correspondence division of an accredited college or university.
• Students who desire to earn credit by correspondence and apply the credit toward a degree or certificate at LSCO must secure the approval of their major advisor and the division director. Forms for this purpose may be obtained in the Office of Admission and Records.
• All correspondence work in which a student is enrolled during a given semester will count as a part of the student’s maximum load permitted for that semester. A student will not be given permission to exceed the maximum load by enrolling in correspondence courses, and any correspondence work which is completed without approval will not be accepted for transfer to Lamar State College Orange.
• Correspondence work must be completed, and an official transcript showing the grades and credits earned must be filed in the Office of Admission and Records at LSCO no later than 14 days before the date of graduation. If credit is filed after this period, the student’s graduation may be deferred to the following semester or summer. It is the student’s responsibility to have an official transcript sent to the Office of Admission and Records at LSCO from the Registrar’s Office where the correspondence work was completed.
• Correspondence courses will not be approved for students who are ineligible to enroll at LSCO, for those students who may be on academic or disciplinary probation or suspension and/or for beginning freshmen prior to registration at LSCO.
• Also, correspondence courses may not be used to repeat courses.

A maximum of nine (9) semester credit hours may be earned through correspondence work and applied toward a degree or certificate at LSCO; the work normally should be in general education, minor or elective areas. Correspondence work cannot be used to satisfy major field requirements.

Transfer Credit Evaluation

Credit earned at other accredited institutions may be considered for credit by Lamar State College Orange according to the following policies:

• Official transcripts reflecting all completed coursework must be sent directly to Lamar State College Orange Office of Admission and Records from the issuing institution or in a sealed envelope from issuing institution.
• Transfer credit evaluation will not be processed until all official transcripts have been received.
• Courses will be transferred as credit only; however, a transfer credit GPA will be maintained and used in the case of honor graduates, where all courses attempted will be used in calculating the cumulative grade point average for the determination of honors.
• “D” grades earned at other institutions are transferable, but departments may refuse to count them toward degrees.
• Transfer credit evaluations can be viewed on the unofficial academic transcript by logging into Student Services via the website at www.lsco.edu or by logging on to Blackboard. This information will be available no later than the end of the first academic term in which they are enrolled.

Transfer of Military Credit

Credit may be granted for military experience. A Transfer Credit Evaluation Request form must be completed and turned into the Office of Admission and Records. Credit will be evaluated upon the evaluation recommendations outlined in the American Council on Education (ACE) Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services. Students must submit the following documents:

• Form DD214
• Military Transcript Summary sent directly from the American Council on Education