Institutions of higher education across Texas have begun applying a new state law mandated in June 2007 that limits the number of courses that college students may drop.

According to Senate Bill 1231, a student at a general academic teaching institution or medical or dental unit will only be allowed six W’s, or withdrawals, during their entire undergraduate career.

The Senate decided to pass the bill because of last year’s high drop rate. The Fall 2006 semester started with 69,126 credit hours, which dropped to 56,209, a drop rate of more than 18 percent, by the end of the semester.

Yolanda Salinas, a Bilingual Elementary Teaching major, said, “It is not a good policy because sometimes students have a problem and the only chance to save their GPA is by dropping the class.”

A dropped course is when an undergraduate student at an institution of higher education does not complete the course.

The student’s transcript will indicate that the student was enrolled in the course past the census date deadline to add or drop.

A student may be withdrawn for course non-attendance (WN) by the instructor. This drop counts toward the six drop limit. He or she may withdraw himself or herself from the course with an exception (WX), which will not count towards the six drop limit. If the student makes no exception, the student will receive a W, which also counts toward the six drop limit.

Before dropping a course, a student must go to the instructor first. Alternative choices are considered. As a result, the student may return to class. If the student wishes to petition for a drop waiver, he or she will then be referred to Admissions and Records, or the chair will give the student a W.

For those students wishing to drop with an exception (WX), the Drop Petition Waiver is sent to Admissions and Records for processing followed by the Dean and Vice President, who consider the documentation and assign a W or a WX. If a student wishes to appeal, he or she is allowed one appeal within the year a W or WN was assigned.

The Bill only makes exceptions for students with a severe illness or another debilitating condition that affects the student’s ability to complete the course; or the student’s responsibility to take care of a sick, injured or needy person, if the care affects the student’s ability to complete the course.

Other exceptions include the death of a family member or otherwise regarded in an adequately close relationship to the student that the person’s death is considered to be showing grounds of inability to complete the course; or is a member of the National Guard or the United States Armed Forces, or those who are considered to be a member of the family; or the change of a student’s work schedule that is beyond the control of the student and affects the student’s ability to complete the course.

Linda Cooke, Assistant Director of Records, said, “It’s a way to keep students in control over the number of W’s a student has on record. [Although] at one point it might not be so helpful, because there are so many reasons for a student to withdraw.”

After a student drops a total of six courses without approved exceptions, any additional request to withdraw or drop a course will be denied. The student will remain in the class and will be given an “F,” if the instructor believes the student did not complete the course satisfactorily.

The legislation applies to first-time freshmen who began in the Fall 2007. Students who began attending college prior to this fall will be grandfathered. In other words, the new six drop limit does not apply to returning students. All freshmen will be informed of this new policy in Strategies for Succeeding in College, a mandatory course designed to inform new students about the college’s policies and procedures, as well as personal development.

Institutions are awarded state funding based on the amount of credit hours that students take. When a student drops a course, the funding received from the State of Texas remains the institution’s money. If the student signs up for the course again, the institution is awarded more funding. This legislation is an attempt to get institutions to monitor their students’ success.

Christopher Valdez, a 19-year-old Mechanical Engineering major, said, “There should really not be a reason for anyone to withdraw because you should finish what you started. If you withdraw, you still lose money.”

The state has also focused on this loss by limiting the institution’s funding for a course a student has tried two or more times. On their third attempt for the same course, the student must pay.

“This policy will limit the number of drops…Students will need to be more diligent in exercising the use of a W in their undergraduate years,” said Dr. Adolfo “Sonny” Barrera, Vice President of Student Affairs.

When deciding on your classes for spring, choose carefully the courses you plan to take. Consider the full load of the term, including your work schedule and/or extracurricular activities, that may affect your ability to satisfactorily complete all of your courses.