Some University of Houston undergraduate residents may face a tuition increase due to a little known Texas law, but UH administrators are working hard to help those students avoid paying additional fees.

The Texas Education Code 54.068 applies to Texas resident undergraduate students who enrolled for the first time in any state public institution of higher education in fall 1999 or later. It restricts the number of hours undergraduate Texas residents may attempt while paying in-state tuition. This means that resident students will pay out-of-state tuition if they enroll in too many hours. Students who enroll for the first time prior to fall 2006 and who attempt 45 or more semester credit hours beyond the hours required to complete their degree will be charged out-of-state tuition rates for excess hours. Students who enroll for the first time in fall 2006 or after, the enrollment cap is reduced to 30 hours.

“At the University of Houston, we believe in being proactive in working with our students to prepare them for changes that may affect them,” said Donald Foss, UH senior vice president of academic affairs and provost. “Although there is still a year’s time before this law will be enforced, we would like students to see their advisers and map out a degree plan accordingly, so this change in tuition will not affect them.’’

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board will calculate all hours in which a student was enrolled at any Texas public institution of higher education, community college or four-year public institution, whether the hours are accepted for transfer credit at UH. Attempted hours are calculated for courses in which a student is enrolled at the end of the 12th class day in fall and spring semesters or the fourth class day during the summer semester.

If students drop a course after the official reporting day, the hours they attempted but did not complete will be counted toward the limit. This semester, the official reporting day is Tuesday, Sept. 6.

UH administrators are working with advisers, deans and chairs to inform students about the law. To view a letter by Foss to students that provides more details, visit http://www.uh.edu/provost/stu/stu_enrollcap.html.

Francine Parker
fparker@central.uh.edu