Academic Standards

Credit Hour

The semester credit hour is a unit by which an institution measures its course work. The value of a semester credit hour can be determined by time, the educational experience, and outside preparation by the student.

The following constitutes the definition of a semester credit hour for various modes of instruction offered at UMHB:

1. At least fifteen (15) contact hours, as well as, a minimum of thirty (30) hours of student homework is required for each semester credit hour.
2. Laboratory courses, with little outside work, require a minimum of forty-five (45) contact hours. If moderate outside work is required, thirty (30) contact hours are required.
3. Art courses follow the recommendations for awarding credit as recommended by The National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the Texas Association of Schools of Art (TASA). In lecture courses, like art history, normally one semester hour of credit represents one 50-minute session each week of the term. For our studio classes, normally a ratio of one semester hour of credit equals two hours of contact time and one hour of outside work per week. For example, a three semester credit hour course would require six faculty contact hours per week. Note: Faculty contact must be sufficient to ensure the development of knowledge and skills required by each course. Normally, faculty contact is greater at the foundation or introductory level than at the advanced studio level.
4. Music courses follow the recommendations for awarding credit as required by The National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). Normally, a semester hour of credit represents at least three hours of work each week for a period of fifteen or sixteen weeks. In lecture classes, such as music history, normally one semester hour of credit is given for one 50-minute session plus two hours of homework each week of the term. For ensembles, like laboratory classes, normally one semester hour of credit is given for two to four 50-minute rehearsal sessions per week, depending on the ensemble. For applied lessons, normally one semester hour of credit is given for each three hours of practice, plus the necessary individual 30-minute lesson per week with the instructor. For example, a two semester credit hour applied lesson would meet for two 30-minute lessons per week.
5. Internships, clinical, and field experiences require a minimum of forty-five (45) clock hours for each semester credit hour.
6. For online, hybrid, and other nontraditional modes of delivery, credit hours are assigned based on learning outcomes that are equivalent to those in a traditional course setting, forty-five (45) hours of work by a typical student for each semester hour of credit.

Syllabi for every course will contain the appropriate definition of a credit hour from the list above.  Each course should then follow this definition.

Course Numbers

The first digit in the numbering system denotes the course level (1-Freshman, 2-Sophomore, 3-Junior, 4-Senior). The second digit denotes the number of semester credit hours the course carries. The third and fourth digits are departmental numbers. Junior- and senior-level courses are upper-level. (e.g. UMHB 1110 would be a freshman-level class of 1 semester credit hour).

Student Course Load

To be considered a full-time undergraduate student, one must be enrolled in twelve semester credit hours for the fall/spring semesters and six for the summer session. Fifteen to eighteen semester credit hours is considered a normal undergraduate load for a regular semester. Six or seven semester credit hours is considered a normal undergraduate load for a summer session and three to four semester credit hours is considered a normal undergraduate load for mini-mester. Nineteen semester credit hours may be permitted during a regular semester, if the student has earned a minimum grade point average of 3.00 for the preceding semester. Any student desiring to carry a load in excess of this amount must have an overall GPA of 3.00 and at least a 3.30 GPA for the preceding semester before such a request may be considered. A maximum of 8 semester credit hours for one summer session or 14 semester credit hours for the full summer term may be permitted if the student has earned a minimum grade point average of 3.00 for the preceding semester or full summer term. Graduating seniors may be permitted to earn 15 semester credit hours during the full summer term. All overloads must be approved by the student’s Dean.

Class Standing

The class standing of an undergraduate degree-seeking student is determined as follows:

Grading System

* Not counted in computing GPA

** Counted in computing GPA for the semester in which the course was taken AND for computing overall GPA.

Incomplete Grade

An “I” (Incomplete) indicates inability of a student to complete some vital requirement of a course (e.g. final exam, major report, term paper, etc.) due to conditions beyond the student’s control. It is not the intent of the “I” grade to give a student an unfair time advantage over other students who complete their work in a timely manner. As such, an “I” grade will be approved only when exceptional circumstances, clearly beyond the student’s control, are substantiated (e.g. protracted illness, injury, or other acute personal emergency). It is the responsibility of the student to contact his/her professor prior to the final exam to execute the Incomplete Grade Contract.

Once an “I” grade is assigned, it is the responsibility of the student to take the initiative to complete the work within thirty (30) calendar days after the start of the next semester (excluding full summer term). If more than thirty days are required, an extension request is to be submitted by the student through the instructor and department chairperson to the Dean. Approved extensions will be filed with the Registrar’s Office. An extension longer than the end of the next semester (excluding full summer term) will not be approved. The “I” will be automatically changed to an “F” if the course is not satisfactorily completed within this time frame. A $25 fee is charged to remove an “I” grade.

Grade Reports

All final grades are available on MyCampus at https://mycampus.umhb.edu/ics/.

Provost’s Honor Roll

At the end of the fall and spring semesters, a scholastic honor roll is compiled by the Provost. This honor roll includes all students completing 12 or more undergraduate hours during the semester who have earned a 3.85 grade point average or above on those hours. Courses taken at another institution during a semester do not count toward requirements for the Provost’s Honor Roll, nor do courses earned by examination such as Advanced Placement or CLEP.

Dean’s Honor Roll

At the end of the fall and spring semesters, a scholastic honor roll is compiled by the dean of each college. This honor roll includes all undergraduate students who had officially declared a major in a department within the college by the beginning of the semester and who had completed 12 or more undergraduate hours during the semester and earned a 3.50 grade point average or above on those hours. Courses taken at another institution during a semester do not count toward requirements for the Dean’s Honor Roll, nor do courses earned by examination such as Advanced Placement or CLEP.

Academic Probation

There are three categories of academic probation status recognized at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor: probation, continued probation, and probation by petition. Each of these is explained in appropriate areas of the following sections.

Academic probation: An undergraduate student failing to meet the following minimum standards during a Fall or a Spring semester is automatically placed on academic probation for the ensuing “long” semester:

A student who enters the University on academic probation or who is placed on academic probation is expected to conform to the following regulations:

(1) Reduce academic load to a maximum of 12 semester hours; (2) Adjust work program to better fit the academic needs of the student; (3) Attend all classes; and (4) Adhere to individualized academic action plan if deemed necessary by the student’s academic Dean.

To be removed from academic probation, a student must achieve all of the following.  Students wishing to be removed from academic probation by taking coursework in summer terms must obtain preapproval from their respective dean.

1. Earn a grade of “D” or higher in at least 12 hours of full-time coursework at UMHB in the ensuing “long” semester.
2. Achieve a term 2.0 GPA during the ensuing "long" semester.
3. Achieve the overall GPA level required for the student's classification. 
4. Fulfill individualized academic action plan if required by academic Dean.

Continued probation: If a student does not meet the requirements to be removed from probation shown above, he/she may be placed on continued probation if one of the following situations exists after completing the semester on academic probation:

1. The student completed fewer than 12 hours of coursework during the semester on probation and yet still earned a term GPA of 2.0 or better.     
2. The student successfully completed 12 hours of coursework and earned a term GPA of 2.0 or better but did not raise the cumulative GPA to the level required for the student’s classification. 

Students on continued probation will not be eligible to participate in any non-curricular activities until the academic probation is removed.

If the student did not achieve a term 2.0 GPA during the semester on probation, he/she is placed on academic suspension.  Note: In the rare instance where a student on probation or continued probation does not achieve a term 2.0 GPA but, nevertheless, achieves the cumulative GPA required for his or her classification, the student will be placed in good academic standing. 

Academic Suspension

A student who is placed on academic suspension will be suspended for a minimum of one “long” semester. For example: A student placed on academic suspension at the end of the fall semester will not be allowed to re-enroll until the start of the summer semester. A student placed on academic suspension at the end of the spring semester will not be authorized to register for classes until the start of the next spring semester (excluding full summer term). Courses taken at other institutions during a period of academic suspension from UMHB may not be transferred to UMHB. A student who has been suspended must apply to be readmitted (on probation) through the regular admission procedure at the completion of the suspension period. If readmission is granted, the student would be required to comply with the regulations listed in the Academic Probation section above. Falsifying transcripts will result in the permanent dismissal of a student from UMHB.

A student who appeals academic suspension and has the suspension waived by the student’s academic Dean will be continued on probation by petition. The student may be required to adhere to an individualized academic action plan as deemed necessary by the student’s academic Dean and will not be eligible to participate in any non-curricular activity or represent the University, under the following conditions:

1. No participant in any class for which he/she is registered shall be prohibited from taking field trips or from taking part in productions which are a part of that class.
2. A student who is on probation by petition usually may participate in tours and other such activities only if his/her credit for the course is dependent on participation in said activities and provided he/she receives prior approval from the Provost/Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.
3. A student who is on probation by petition ordinarily may not represent the University in activities other than those stated in 1 and 2 above. This probation includes, but is not limited to, such activities as intercollegiate contests, off-campus productions, pledging, or active membership in a club. (Official representation is defined as participation in any activity under the name of Mary Hardin-Baylor, under the direction, supervision, or sponsorship of any university area.)

Academic Appeal

Students may appeal any academic decision believed to be arbitrary, capricious, or unfair. Appeals must be initiated within 30 days of the date of the decision or action being appealed. The student should first appeal the decision in writing to the person who made it by stating the appropriate rationale for reconsideration, the requested remedy, and the student’s contact information. If the matter is not resolved, the student may then appeal that decision in writing to the next highest authority.

In matters related to academic coursework, the line of appeal is first, the faculty member; second, the department chair; third, the dean of the college; and finally, the Provost’s Office.

Each person to whom an appeal is made will normally respond to the student in writing within five (5) business days of receipt of the appeal. Extensions may be granted by the Provost in cases where the issue requires more extensive review and/or other extenuating circumstances. The student will have ten (10) calendar days from the date of that response to appeal to the next level.

The dean and/or Provost’s Office may request a meeting with the student and other parties involved. Appeals will be considered only if they are from students enrolled at UMHB upon initiation of the first appeal. Conversations and/or correspondence with anyone other than students and UMHB faculty/staff will not be considered in responses to appeals until and unless the issue has been appealed to the Provost’s Office.

Students should understand that mere dissatisfaction with a grade or decision is not grounds for an appeal. For an appeal to have merit, there must be some evidence that the student has been treated inappropriately with regard to the administration of the university’s policies and procedures.

NOTICE: Academic Policies for Particular Programs

With approval from the Provost, certain schools or programs within the University (e.g., Nursing) establish and publish their own policies regarding academic standards, academic sanctions, and academic appeals.  To the extent these specialized policies differ from the academic policies contained in this Catalog, the specialized policies will control.