1. College of Education
Undergraduate Academic Advising Syllabus
College of Education Undergraduate Advising Center Mission
The mission of the College of Education
Undergraduate Advising Center is to provide
quality academic advising to students regarding
curriculum requirements, the progression through
and completion of undergraduate degrees, and
teacher certification programs. These services
include, but are not limited to: exploration of
career and educational goals; information
regarding policies and procedures; and
navigation through the sequence of courses
required for a degree. We strive to develop a
guidance and support system to encourage
student self-reliance, responsibility, and success
in achieving academic goals.
Undergraduate Academic Advising Mission
Undergraduate academic advising at Texas State
University-San Marcos is a student-centered,
collaborative approach, which promotes the
academic success and growth of students, while
respecting individuals' diverse interests, abilities, and
goals.

2. Advising Expectations
What is expected of me? What can I expect of my advisor?
‣ Read your Texas State e-mail
‣ Take the initiative to contact an advisor ‣ To be available to meet with you each
for assistance with course planning semester
and questions regarding policies ‣ To offer advice on selecting courses and
‣ Ask questions if you feel you have assist you in developing an academic
received insufficient information or plan
are confused ‣ To provide information regarding policies
‣ Become familiar with your own academic and procedures
program, including all applicable ‣ To be a responsive listener and refer you to
requirements appropriate campus resources
‣ Give thoughtful consideration to your ‣ To help you explore your interests, abilities,
personal, educational, and career and goals as they relate to your
goals academic major
‣ Follow through on advice/instructions
given to you by an advisor
‣ Accept responsibility for your decisions
and choices
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3. Your first semester,
you should....
!Organize and keep all information given
!Get involved in student activities and
to you at your Orientation session.
organizations.
!Create your Texas State net ID, which is
Register early during the Registration
also your Texas State Email Address (ex.
period in order to get the best possible
AB1234). Make sure to have your student
schedule. Also check for pre-requisites
ID number with you.
before you register. Before registering for
courses at another college or university,
!Set up an initial appointment with an check the Transfer Equivalency Guides.
advisor. Call (512) 245-3050 to Upon completion of off-campus courses,
schedule. Bring all of your information send an official transcript to the
and a list of questions for the advisor Admissions Office so that your academic
with you. COME PREPARED TO YOUR records can be updated.
ADVISING SESSION!
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4. Policies
What does it mean to be on Academic Probation?
Academic probation is an emphatic warning that the quality of your work has not met
Texas State University's minimum academic standards and that the quality must
improve during the probationary semester in order for you to continue at Texas State.
You will be placed on academic probation at the end of the fall or spring semester in
which the Texas State GPA is less than 2.00. You will be removed from academic
probation at the end of any long term or summer term if the Texas State GPA is 2.00 or
higher. Students on academic probation are required to meet with an Academic Advisor.
Students with majors in the College of Education should call (512) 245-3050 to schedule
a probation advising appointment.
Why am I being charged more for a repeated course?
The Texas Legislature eliminated funding to higher education for courses that are attempted
three or more times. An attempted course is defined as any course in which a grade is earned
on the transcript, including repeated courses and courses dropped with a grade of “W”.
In order to compensate for this loss of state funding, students attempting a course for the third
or more time may be charged a fee in addition to the tuition charged for the course. This fee
will be assessed for courses attempted at Texas State as of the fall semester of 2002 or later.
This assessment does not include courses attempted at other colleges or universities.
Certain courses are exempt from this fee because they are designed to be repeated for
additional credit, such as thesis, dissertation, and independent study courses; various music,
physical education, physical fitness and wellness, studio art, and theatre courses;
developmental education courses; and topics courses.
How do I know if I have taken too many hours towards my degree?
Texas Education Code §54.014 specifies that resident undergraduate students may be
subject to a higher tuition rate for attempting excessive hours at any public institution of
higher education while classified as a resident student for tuition purposes. Texas State
students attempting hours in excess of their degree program requirements will be
charged at the non-resident tuition rate for those hours, and those students are
categorized as follows:
1. Students initially enrolled during or after the fall 2006 semester will be charged at the
non-resident rate if, prior to the start of the semester or session, the student has
previously attempted 30 or more hours over the minimum number of semester credit
hours required for completion of the degree program in which the student is enrolled.
2. Students initially enrolled during the fall 1999 through summer 2006 semesters will be
charged at the non-resident rate if, prior to the start of the semester or session, the
student has previously attempted 45 or more hours over the minimum number of semester credit hours required for
completion of the degree program in which the student is enrolled.
Attempted courses include those courses attempted at Texas State or any Texas public institution of higher education.
How many courses can I drop?
In 2007, the Texas Legislature enacted Senate Bill 1231 which provides that, except for
several specific instances of good cause, undergraduate students entering as first time
freshmen at a Texas public institution of higher education in the fall of 2007 or later will
be limited to a total of six dropped courses during their undergraduate career.
GO CATS GO!
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5. How do I calculate my GPA?
Course Letter Grades X Course Credit Hours (Grade Points)
GPA = ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Credit Hours Attempted
Course Letter Grade = A=4 Course Credit Hours = How many hours
the course is worth (Second digit of course
B=3 code)
C=2
D=1 EXAMPLE: ENG 1310
F OR LOWER=0 3 Course Credit Hours
Credit Hours Attempted= Total number of
course credit hours of the classes attempted
For Example:
Semester #1 Course Letter Grade Course Credit Hour Grade Points
History 1310 (B) 3 X 3 = 9
English 2320 (C) 2 X 3 = 6
Math 1315 (C) 2 X 3 = 6
Physics 1310 (B) 3 X 3 = 9
Physics 1110 (A) 4 X 1 = 4
US 1100 (A) 4 X 1 = 4
----- ----
14 38
Semester #2 Course Letter Grade Course Credit Hour Grade Points
History 1320 (B) 3 X 3 = 9
Theatre 2313 (B) 3 X 3 = 9
Philosophy 1305 (C) 2 X 3 = 6
Physics 1320 (B) 3 X 3 = 9
Geography 1310 (B) 3 X 3 = 9
PFW ACT (A) 4 X 1 = 4
----- ----
16 46
Total Grade Points (38 + 46 = 84)
---------------------------------------------------- = 2.8
Total Hours Attempted (14 + 16 = 30)
NOTE: The first time a student repeats a course, the new grade replaces the older grade in your GPA calculations, but the total hours
attempted will remain the same.
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6. Advising FAQ
Q: How do I see an advisor?
A: Call (512) 245-3050 to schedule an appointment.
Q: When should I see my advisor?
A: Students should see an advisor every semester at least 2-3 weeks
before Registration begins. Also, students should see an advisor
before making any decisions as to dropping/withdrawing from
classes, signing up for Study Abroad, Correspondence, or Extension
coursework, and at the first sign of any academic problems; do not
expect problems to be resolved without doing anything.
Q: What should I bring to my appointment with an advisor?
A: A list of questions and other relevant materials, including your
Degree Audit Report, advising worksheet, catalog, and schedule of
classes.
Q: When is the Office of Academic Advising open?
A: We are open during normal University business hours, 8:00AM to
5:00PM, Monday through Friday.
Q: Can I see an advisor in the summer?
A: Yes. Our office is open throughout the year.
Q: Where is the Office of Academic Advising located?
A: We are located in room 2143 of the Education Building. We are situated across the breezeway from the
Dean’s office.
Q: Can an advisor put me into a closed class?
A: Advisors cannot put students into closed classes. Each academic department determines their own procedures
for closed classes. The Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation uses Closed Class Forms, which
are available during late registration periods at the department office in Jowers A116. The Department of
Curriculum and Instruction uses Appeal Forms, which can be accessed online at www.education.txstate.edu/ci.
Your Academic Advisors
Contact your Academic
Advisors: Arlene Harborth
ah19@txstate.edu
Office location:
Room 2143 Education Building Matthew Haynes Marissa Saenz
mh76@txstate.edu ms68@txstate.edu
Telephone: Katie Palmer Marcos Canales
(512) 245-3050 rp52@txstate.edu mc81@txstate.edu
Fax:
(512) 245-8225 Joan Pasquali Mary Sampson
jp24@txstate.edu ms87@txstate.edu
Website: Sheresa Edgington
www.education.txstate.edu/advising (RRHEC)
se14@txstate.edu
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