General Academic Information - Undergraduate Programs

Definition of Full-Time, Degree-Seeking Student

To be classified as full-time, a student enrolled in classes on the Plainview campus must be enrolled for the semester hours indicated below:

To be classified as full-time, a student attending classes at an external campus must be enrolled for nine (9) semester hours each long term.

Student Course Load

A normal class load for a Plainview student is 15-18 hours per term. Students on academic probation on the Plainview campus are restricted to 13 semester hours. An enrollment of more than 18 semester hours must be approved by the vice president of academic affairs. A student who works more than 20 hours per week should carry less than the normal academic load. A fully employed student is encouraged to take no more than six hours per semester. A maximum of four semester hours may be earned in a three-week microterm.

A normal class load for a student on an external campus is 9 hours per term. Students on academic probation on an external campus are restricted to no more than 9 semester hours. An enrollment of more than 15 semester hours in a term 11 weeks or less must be approved by the respective school dean or the external campus executive director/dean.

Auditing a Course

Students may attend classes for a course without receiving credit if they complete an application for admission, submit a registration form requesting audit at the time of registration, and have the permission of both the instructor of the course and the dean of the school in which the course is offered. The cost is one-third tuition in addition to all course fees. No credit is awarded and no record of the student’s attendance is maintained. Students will not be given permission to audit a course until the first day of classes. Audits are on a space-available basis and no refund will be given if the course is dropped. A credit may only be changed from credit to audit before the census date of the term. Under no circumstance may an audit be converted to credit.

Plainview Undergraduates Enrolled in Wayland Internet Courses

Plainview students are allowed to register for online courses in the last week of WBUonline registration.

Undergraduates Enrolled in Graduate Courses

A Wayland student classified as a senior in the last regular or summer session term of undergraduate work may enroll in up to six semester hours of graduate work, provided that the student has completed an application to the Graduate Program, has a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, and has obtained written approval from the dean of the school in which the work is offered. With approval from the academic advisor, the student may apply credit for graduate course work to either the undergraduate degree or graduate degree during the semester taken; however, in no instance may credit for course work be applied to both degrees with the exception of specific requirements stated toward an accelerated program. On external campuses, the advisor must notify the correct administrative office in writing as to the area for which credit is to be applied.

If the graduate course work is to satisfy undergraduate degree requirements, the student shall be governed by the existing catalog of record. If the graduate course work is to be applied to Wayland graduate degree requirements, the student shall be governed by the current catalog at the time of initial enrollment in graduate course work. Students will not be allowed to enroll in any more graduate classes until admitted to the university as a graduate student and the baccalaureate degree has been posted. Courses taken to be used toward a graduate program may have financial aid implications. For clarification of financial aid, contact the campus financial aid representative.

Schedule Changes

A course may be added to or dropped from a student’s schedule during the time specified in the official university calendar. For Plainview students, schedule changes must be approved by the university registrar or the vice president of academic affairs, the student’s advisor, coach if applicable, and the instructor concerned. For students at external campuses, schedule changes must be approved by the external campus executive director/dean. Other regulations related to adding or dropping a course follow:

Adding a Course

To add a course at the Plainview campus, a student must obtain an ADD/DROP form from the university registrar’s office. This form must be signed by the student’s advisor, coach if applicable, and the course’s instructor. Students at external campuses must obtain an ADD/DROP form from the external campus executive director/dean. This change must be approved by the executive director/campus dean. If these are not available, the form may be signed by the vice president of academic affairs. There is no charge for adding a course. Under no circumstance may a course be added after the date indicated in the official calendar for adding a course.

Dropping a Course

To drop a course at the Plainview campus, a student must obtain an ADD/DROP form from the university registrar’s office. This form must be signed by the student’s advisor, coach if applicable, and the course’s instructor. Students at external campuses must obtain an ADD/DROP form from the external executive director/campus dean. This change must be approved by the executive director/campus dean. If these are not available, the form may be signed by the vice president of academic affairs. There is no charge for courses dropped as a result of changes in the university’s course schedule, the request of the student’s advisor, or during the official registration period. Otherwise, a fee of $10 will be charged for each course dropped. A student may drop a course without record through the date in the official calendar indicated as the census date for Withdrawal Without a Letter Grade. For courses dropped after the last day to receive a W, the student will receive either WP or WF indicating withdrawal passing or withdrawal failing.Students may not drop courses or withdraw from the University after the last day for WP and WF as indicated in the university calendar; students will receive the grade earned in the class. Students placed in Academic Achievement courses may not drop these courses without consent of the director of academic achievement. A student is officially dropped from a course only after the ADD/DROP form has been received and dated in the university registrar’s office. Failure to file the ADD/DROP form can result in grades of F in courses affected. Dropping a course can affect financial aid. Students should contact the campus financial aid representative for award details. Any student who drops a course according to the procedures stipulated will be allowed a grace period of two working days to rescind the drop.

Repetition of a Course

If a Wayland course is repeated, the initial grade received in the course will remain on the transcript, but only the last grade will be used to calculate the Wayland cumulative GPA. All repeated grades are indicated as such on the official record. When a course has been taken more than twice at Wayland, all grades will remain on the transcript, and the last grade will be used to calculate the Wayland cumulative GPA. For courses repeated at other universities to replace a failing grade received at Wayland, the WBU GPA will not reflect the repeated grade.

Once students have been awarded a degree by the university, they may not repeat a course as a part of that degree for the purpose of changing the grade or GPA on the official transcript. However, courses may be repeated in order to qualify for post-baccalaureate programs or to enter graduate school.

A course may be repeated for multiple credits toward graduation only when so designated in the catalog course description and approved by the faculty advisor. In cases where this regulation is violated, only the last effort will be calculated into the GPA and all other attempts will be recorded as “no credit” or the equivalent.

Withdrawal from the University

Withdrawing from the university is defined as “dropping all courses in which the student is currently enrolled.” Failure to file an official request may result in grades of F for courses in progress. A student who withdraws from the university according to the procedures stipulated will be allowed a grace period of two working days to rescind the withdrawal. Any state requirements for more stringent refund policies will take precedence over Wayland policy and will be honored. The university calendar notes last dates to withdraw. Final examination days and days thereafter are specifically excluded. Any state requirements for a longer grace periods will take precedence over university policy and will be honored.

Students enrolled at the Plainview campus must file a Withdrawal Card with the university registrar’s office by the last day to withdraw as indicated in the university calendar. The Withdrawal Card must be approved by the director of admissions, dean of students, dorm counselor/housing director, librarian, university store, financial aid, coordinator of student financial accounts, vice president of academic affairs, vice president for enrollment management, and the university registrar.

Students enrolled at the external campuses must file an ADD/DROP Request form which must be signed by the external campus executive director/dean.

Withdrawal Cards and/or ADD/DROP Request forms, duly signed, must be submitted to the university registrar. To receive a transcript, all accounts in the Business Office must be paid.

Administrative Withdrawal from the University

Any student who has not attended class according to university records by the census date for any given term is considered a “no show” and will be administratively withdrawn from the class or university without record. The student is advised that this action may have adverse effects on financial aid.

Academic Probation and Suspension

Students are placed on academic restriction when their cumulative GPA falls below a designated level. Restriction is based on terms 10 weeks or longer in length. A student may have restrictions moved based on performance during shorter terms. Any term with mixed beginning and ending dates may be exempt from academic restriction. Types of academic restrictions and the conditions attached to each follow:

Academic Probation

This academic restriction applies to those students who:

1. Have attempted from 30 to 59 semester hours with a GPA lower than 1.60; or
2. Have attempted 60 or more semester hours with a GPA lower than 2.0, or
3. Are enrolled on a part-time basis and fail to complete enrolled hours during a regular term.

Students on academic probation on the Plainview campus are restricted to 13 semester hours. Students on academic probation on an external campus are restricted to no more than 9 semester hours.

Academic Suspension

This academic restriction applies to those students who:

1. Have attempted from 30 to 59 semester hours and who have a GPA lower than 1.60 after one semester on Academic Probation; or
2. Have attempted 60 or more semester hours and who have a GPA lower than 2.0 after one semester on Academic Probation; or
3. Are enrolled on a part-time basis and failed to complete enrolled hours after one semester on Academic Probation; or 
4. Full-time students must pass at least three hours to remain in good standing. Students who pass fewer than the required number of semester hours will be placed on Academic Suspension. Students do not have to be on a previous Academic Probation to be suspended under this criteria.

Students placed on academic suspension are suspended immediately. This suspension continues through the next regular semester for first-time suspensions, and for a full calendar year for any subsequent suspensions. Following the suspension, students are required to reapply for admission. Any student who has been on suspension and has re-applied for admission, must be accepted and permitted to the university prior to enrolling in classes. Students reinstated to the university will be on academic probation and while on probation must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 to remain in the university.