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Class Attendance

The student is expected to attend all classes and laboratory sessions. It is the responsibility of the student to inform each instructor of extended absences. When in the judgment of the instructor, a student has been absent to such a degree as to impair his or her status relative to credit for the course, the instructor may drop the student from the class with a grade of “W” before the course drop deadline and with a grade of “F” after the course drop deadline.

Excused Absences for Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é-Recognized Activities

Students who will be absent while representing the Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é in officially recognized Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é activities (sports, band, professional conferences, etc.) must notify the Dean of Students not less than ten days prior to the absence. The Dean of Students will provide the student with a letter of excuse for the professors. It is the student’s responsibility to give the letter to the professors prior to the official recognized activity. Students following these procedures will be permitted to make up both assignments and examinations in consultation with faculty.

Absence for Religious Holy Days

"Religious holy day" means a holy day observed by a religion whose places of worship are exempt from property taxation under Section 11.20, Tax Code. Section 51.925 of the Texas Education Code related to absences by students for observance of religious holy days states that the institution shall excuse a student from attending classes or other required activities, including examinations, for the observance of a religious holy day, including travel for that purpose. A student whose absence is excused under this subsection may not be penalized for that absence and shall be allowed to take an examination or complete an assignment from which the student is excused within a reasonable time after the absence. The student must provide written notice to the instructor of each course that he/she will be absent for a religious holy day not less than 10 days prior to the absence. If a student and an instructor disagree about the nature of the absence being for the observance of a religious holy day as defined therein, or if there is similar disagreement about whether the student has been given a reasonable time to complete any missed assignments or examinations, either the student or the instructor may request a ruling from the Provost or his or her designee. The student and instructor shall abide by the decision of the Provost or his/her designee.

Military Leave

Section 51.9111, Texas Education Code, provides that students be excused from scheduled classes or other required activities if the student is called to and participates in active military service for a reasonably brief period and that the student shall be allowed to complete an assignment or exam within a reasonable time after the absence.

Students called to active military service must provide a copy of their military orders to the instructor of each course.

Absence from Examinations

A student absent from a test during the semester is graded zero unless another policy is set by the instructor.

Dead Day

This specific day will be scheduled one day after the last day of classes only during the fall and spring semesters. The Following policy will be observed:

• No classes will be held on this day, except classes which meet once a week on that day.
• Make-up exams should be left to the discretion of each individual instructor;
• All student work (i.e., research papers, lab reports, term paper, etc.) should be due prior to this day.
• If a comprehensive final is given, no new material, quizzes, or exams should be given two calendar days prior to Dead Day, and attention should be given to reviewing of semester material. Implementation of this recommendation is to be left to the discretion of the individual instructor.

Academic Integrity

The Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é of Texas at El Paso prides itself on its standards of academic excellence. In all matters of intellectual pursuit, UTEP faculty and students must strive to achieve excellence based on the quality of work produced by the individual. In the classroom and in all other academic activities, students are expected to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity. Any form of scholastic dishonesty is an affront to the pursuit of knowledge and jeopardizes the quality of the degree awarded to all graduates of UTEP. It is imperative, therefore, that the members of this academic community understand the regulations pertaining to academic integrity and that all faculty insist on adherence to these standards.

Any student who commits an act of scholastic dishonesty is subject to discipline. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, and any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts. Proven violations of the detailed regulations, as printed in the  (HOP) (available through the ) may result in sanctions ranging from disciplinary probation, to failing a grade on the work in question, to a failing grade in the course, to suspension or dismissal, among others.

Grades and Grade Point Averages

Graduate students must maintain a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA in both their major field and in any and all upper-division undergraduate and graduate-level work. Credit is given in the Graduate School for the grades “A,” “B,” and “C” only.

In some courses, the standard grading system is not practical; such grades are not used to compute the GPA. These grades include “I” (incomplete), “P” (in progress), “W” (withdrawal), and “S” or “U” (pass/fail).

Incomplete or In-Progress Work

Assignment of the grade “I” (Incomplete) is made only in exceptional circumstances. The time span allowed for the work's completion cannot exceed one calendar year. In no case may repetition of the course be assigned as work to be completed. If the work has not been completed at the end of the specified time, the “I” will be changed to an “F.”

A student will not be cleared for graduation until all Incompletes, regardless of whether or not the courses are required for the degree, have been eliminated from the record. The student will be cleared for graduation at the end of the term that the Incomplete is removed from the academic record which may be different from the intended term of graduation as indicated on the Application for Graduate Degree.

The grade of “P” (in progress) is limited to specific courses in which re-enrollment is required. This includes all thesis/dissertation courses (5398-5399, 6320-6321, 6398-6399), graduate internships, and a few specified graduate courses. In appropriate courses, a standard grade may be assigned in graduate internship courses instead of a “P”.

Grade Changes

Graduate students must submit a written request for a grade change to the faculty of record as soon as possible after the receipt of the grade but not later than one year after the semester in which the course in question was taken. A graduating student must request a grade change within three months after the last day of final examinations of the last semester enrolled. After this time, all grades become part of the student’s official academic history and cannot be altered. A grade change must be approved by the faculty of record, the department Chair and the college Dean. Additional approval is required from the Graduate School for thesis/dissertation and project courses (5396-5397, 5398-5399, 6320-6321, 6398-6399). Students will receive notification of approved changes.

Grades may be changed as a result of (1) grade changes initiated by the instructor and approved by the appropriate department Chair and the college Dean, (2) grade change initiated by the department chair for cases where the instructor cannot be contacted and there exists clear and convincing evidence for a grade change, (3) grade change due to disciplinary action imposed by the Dean of Students or Hearing Officer for violation of Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é rules, or (4) action taken by the Student Welfare and Grievance Committee in grade appeal procedures.

Grades determined as a result of actions taken in items (3) or (4) above are final and not subject to change. No other grade change shall occur without the consent of the instructor. The Registrar shall notify the student and the instructor of any change of grade.

Academic Standing for Graduate Students

Students admitted into graduate programs must remove all admissions conditions within one semester. Failure to meet conditions within one semester may result in dismissal from the Graduate School.

Students admitted into a graduate program must maintain a 3.0 or better cumulative grade point average in all courses. This includes any undergraduate courses taken for leveling purposes.

Non-degree, Teacher and Professional certification and/or endorsement students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher.

Individual departments may impose more rigorous grading standards.

Academic Probation and Dismissal for Graduate Students

A student admitted into a graduate program whose cumulative grade point average drops below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. The student must return the cumulative grade point average to a 3.0 by the next nine hours of study. Failure to meet the 3.0 grade point average requirement during the probationary period will result in dismissal from the Graduate School.

A dismissed student will remain on suspension for one full semester before appealing for reinstatement. Appeals for reinstatement are submitted by the respective Graduate Studies Program Committee to the Dean of the Graduate School. Only the Dean of the Graduate School can approve reinstatement of dismissed students.

Appeals must include a plan of action describing intervention to ensure student success. If readmitted, the student must raise the cumulative grade point average to a 3.0 by the end of the first semester of reinstatement or face permanent dismissal from the Graduate School.

Non-degree, Teacher and Professional certification and/or endorsement students whose cumulative grade point averages drop below 2.5 will be placed on academic probation. The cumulative grade point averages must be raised to at least a 2.5 by the end of the next nine hours of study. Failure to meet the 2.5 grade point average requirement during the probationary period will result in dismissal from the Graduate School.

Dismissed non-degree, teacher and professional certification and/or endorsement students will remain on suspension for one full semester before appealing for reinstatement. Appeals for reinstatement are submitted by the respective college dean to the Dean of the Graduate School. Only the Dean of the Graduate School can approve reinstatement of dismissed students.