Undergraduate Catalog
2001-2003

Tuition

The Texas Educational Code requires the university to collect tuition or registration fees at the rates listed.

Changes

The University of Houston reserves the right to change the provisions of this catalog, including, but not limited to, degree requirements, course offerings, tuition, fees, and listings in the calendar as necessitated by university or legislative action.

Tuition and Fees

At the time of printing of this publication, tuition rates had not been finalized by the state legislature. The most current tuition and fee rates are available on the Student Financial Services web site (www.uh.edu/sfs/). Schedules of charges reflect tuition as determined by residence status, curriculum of choice, and number of hours taken. Students should be aware that miscellaneous fees, such as laboratory fees, parking decals, etc., are not included on the schedule of charges. The university reserves the right to change tuition and other charges without notice as necessitated by university or legislative action.

Nonresidents and International Students

Nonresident tuition and tuition for students who are citizens of any country other than the United States has been set at $253 per semester credit hour for undergraduate courses for 2001-2002 plus additional fees.

Fees

Laboratory Courses

The University of Houston System Board of Regents has authorized laboratory fees associated with specific courses. Students should check the class schedule to determine specific laboratory charges associated with course offerings.

Student Services

Student service fees, as authorized by state law, are charged to all students on the basis of the number of semester credit hours enrolled. The Fall 2001 and Spring/Summer 2002 fees range as follows:

Semester/Sessions	Amount
Fall or spring	$62 to $142
Summer I and IV	$62 to $ 99
Summer II and III	$62 to $142

Tuition Designated Fees

Compulsory Tuition Designated fees are collected from all students based upon the number of semester credit hours for which they are enrolled. The fee is $30 per credit hour for every semester or summer session.

Parking

Students who park a motor vehicle on campus are required to pay a parking fee either annually or each semester or summer session.

Any vehicle not properly displaying a current university decal or temporary permit will be ticketed. Visitors may use parking meters or the hotel garage. Vehicles illegally parked on campus will receive tickets and may also be subject to towing.

A service fee will be charged for replacement decals. Refer to the University of Houston parking and traffic regulations for fee schedule and regulations. The Office of Parking and Transportation Services is in Room 1, Ezekiel W. Cullen Building.

Health and Physical Education

Students registering for health and physical education courses in which one semester hour credit is received, regardless of whether these are special courses for majors or required activity courses, will pay $20 each semester. The university provides students with a clean towel and gym uniform, excluding shoes, for each class meeting.

Language and Culture Center

International students registering for any of the following noncredit English language courses at the Language and Culture Center will pay the corresponding fees listed:

LCC 1031	TOEFL Preparation	$150
LCC 1032	English Pronunciation for Nonnative Speakers	$220
LCC 1033	GRE Verbal Preparation	$150
LCC 1034	Cross-Cultural Communication	$429
LCC 6034	English for International Teaching Assistants and Faculty	$360

These fees are subject to change. Refunds for these course fees will be given only when students drop these courses prior to the end of the first week of class.

Houstonian

The university's yearbook, The Houstonian, may be ordered during registration for either the fall or spring semester, at a cost of $35 per copy. It is published each August, and distribution plans are available at that time. A purchased book will be held for the buyer for one calendar year only from the date of purchase.

Room and Board

The campus has various housing facilities for single graduate and undergraduate students. Married students and those with children can reside on campus in the Cambridge Oaks Apartments (contact Cambridge Oaks directly at 713-748-2606). New housing will open in 2001 at the Cullen Oaks Apartments (713-743-6017). Housing assignments for new residents are made on a first-come, first-served basis. Room contracts are offered in the late spring with reservations being made upon receipt of the signed contract and the initial room payment.

For further information call or write:

University of Houston
Residential Housing
4161 Wheeler Room 105
Houston, Texas 77004
Attention: Room Assignments
713-743-6000 or
1-800-247-7184

Course Auditing

Approval to audit, or visit, a course is sometimes granted to qualified students by the dean of the college in which the course is offered. Such approval conveys only the privilege of observing and does not include submitting papers, taking tests, or participating in laboratories or field work.

Students auditing courses will pay the regular tuition and fees. Students 65 years of age or older may audit any course offered by the university without payment of a fee if space is available. These students should contact the Bursar's Office, 1 Ezekiel W. Cullen Building, for a fee waiver application.

Students may obtain audit application forms from the office of the appropriate dean. The Bursar's Office will assess the fees. Students wishing to audit may register only after late registration. Credit is not given for an audited course, nor may a change to credit status be made after students have registered.

Install Payment Plans

The University of Houston offers two payment plans for students to pay their tuition and fees in the fall and spring semesters (summer sessions must be paid in full at the time of fee payment). These plans allow students to pay in either one or three installments. The plans allow for the installment payment of all current charges only. Students may select a plan by paying the minimum amount due on the bill. There is a $30 incidental fee charged for selecting the three-pay plan.

Students who pay off their installment plans early are due a prorated refund if their payments are posted prior to a regularly scheduled bill run for an installment bill. Installment payments are due according to the schedule below. The university cannot be responsible for the delivery of mail; therefore, students who have not received a bill by the due date should contact the Student Financial Services Office in 6 Ezekiel W. Cullen Building (713-743-1096) before the deadline in order to make arrangements to pay the correct amount.

After the initial fee payment, accounts not paid to a current status by the installment or bill due date will be assessed a $10 late fee and a financial stop will be placed if the account balance is $10 or greater.

Payment Schedule:

Plan I
Pay in full by initial fee payment due date.

Plan II
Pay one-half of all current semester charges, one-half of any housing charges, plus any outstanding balance at fee payment. The sum of one-fourth of the current charges plus one-fourth of any housing charges is due Friday prior to the sixth week of classes. The final account balance is due Friday prior to the 11th week of classes. A $30 administrative fee will be assessed for Plan II.

Loans

For information about loans, see the Scholarships and Financial Aid section of this catalog.

Tuition and Fees Exemptions and Residency Waivers

The University of Houston extends to students any waivers and exemptions for which they qualify. The university reserves the right to evaluate each individual waiver and exemption for compliance with existing regulations and will base any decision on the merit of such review.

Blind and Deaf Students

Blind or deaf students who are residents are entitled to exemption from tuition if they present:

1. Certification by the appropriate state vocational rehabilitation agency that they are handicapped in the respective manner
2. A high school diploma or its equivalent
3. Letters of recommendation by high school principals, clergymen, a public official, or other responsible individuals
4. Proof of admission to the university

Highest Ranking High School Graduates

The university issues scholarships each year to the highest ranking graduates of each accredited high school in Texas. These scholarships exempt students from paying tuition during both semesters of the first regular session immediately following graduation. The exemption may be granted for any one of the first four regular sessions following high school graduation.

Senior Citizens

Senior Citizen means a person 65 years of age or older. The university allows senior citizens to audit any course offered by the campus without payment of a fee, providing space is available. Refer to the section on course auditing.

Children of Disabled Firefighters and Peace Officers

Eligible parents include full-paid or volunteer firefighters, or full-paid municipal, county, or state peace officers, or custodial employees of the Texas Department of Corrections, or game wardens who have a child under 21 years of age.
     Disabled means the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determined physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or to be of long-continued and indefinite duration. Individuals are not considered disabled unless they furnish proof of disability.
     The university exempts students whose parents have suffered an injury resulting in death or disability sustained in the line of duty according to the regulations and criteria governing the department or agency that were in effect when the parent was employed.

Children of Prisoners of War or Persons Missing In Action

Upon presentation of satisfactory evidence, the university will exempt from the payment of tuition and fees the dependent child of any person who is a domiciliary of Texas on active duty as a member of the United States armed forces, and who at the time of registration is classified by the Department of Defense as a prisoner of war or missing in action.

Highest Ranking High School Graduates

The university issues scholarships each year to the highest ranking graduates of each accredited high school in Texas. These scholarships exempt students from paying tuition during both semesters of the first regular session immediately following graduation. The exemption may be granted for any one of the first four regular sessions following high school graduation.

Veterans and Dependents

The university exempts students from paying all tuition, fees, and charges, including fees for correspondence courses, but excluding property deposit fees, student services fees, and any fees or charges for lodging, board, or clothing, provided the students seeking exemption were citizens of Texas at the time they entered the services indicated and have resided in Texas for at least 12 months before the registration date. Exemptions include:

1. All nurses and honorably discharged members of the United States armed forces who served during the Spanish-American War or World War I

2. All nurses, members of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, members of the Women's Auxiliary Volunteer Emergency Service, and all honorably discharged United States armed forces members who served during World War II, with minor exceptions

3. All honorably discharged men and women of the United States armed forces who served during the national emergency that began on June 27, 1950, and is referred to as the Korean War

4. All persons who were honorably discharged from the armed forces of the United States after serving on active military duty, excluding training, for more than 180 days and who served a portion of their active duty during the Cold War, the Vietnam era, the Grenada and Lebanon era, the Panama era, the Persian Gulf War, or any future national emergency declared in accordance with federal law.

These exemptions also apply to the benefit of the children of members of the armed forces of the United States who are or were killed in action, who die or died while in service, who are missing in action, or whose death is documented to be directly caused by illness or injury connected with such service, and to the benefit of orphans of members of the Texas National Guard and the Texas Air National Guard killed since January 1, 1946, while on active duty. However, to qualify for this exemption a person must be a citizen of Texas and must have resided in the state for at least 12 months immediately preceding the date of the person's registration. The exemption from fees in this section does not apply if the student is eligible for benefits under federal legislation in effect if such benefit is equal to or exceeds the value of the exemption. The exemptions obtained shall not exceed a cumulative total of 150 credit hours.

Military Personnel and Dependents

Officers, enlisted men and women, selectees, or draftees of the Army, Army Reserve, Army National Guard, Air National Guard, Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Navy, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard, or Coast Guard Reserve of the United States, who are assigned to duty in Texas, are entitled to register themselves, their spouses, and their children at the university by paying Texas resident tuition and fees. This tuition waiver is without regard to the length of time they have been assigned to duty or resided in the state.

As long as they reside continuously in Texas, spouses and children of United States armed forces members who have been assigned to duty elsewhere immediately following duty in Texas are eligible to pay resident tuition and fees.

Spouses and children of United States armed forces members who die or are killed are eligible for resident tuition if the spouse and children become Texas residents within 60 days after the death.

If United States armed forces members are stationed outside Texas and their spouses and children establish Texas residency by residing in Texas and by filing with the university a letter of intent to establish residency, they will be permitted to pay resident tuition and fees regardless of the time they have resided in Texas.

Student Employees

Teaching assistants and research assistants are entitled to register themselves, their spouses, and their children by paying the tuition and other fees charged to Texas residents. This residency waiver is without regard to the length of time they have resided in Texas, provided the students are employed at least one-half time in a teaching or research position relating to their degree program.

To receive a waiver for summer, students must be employed one-half time during the summer sessions. A waiver form must be presented to the Human Resources Office during the semester to which it applies. No retroactive waivers will be granted.

Faculty and Dependents

Teachers, professors, and researchers of state institutions of higher education are entitled to register themselves, their spouses, and their children by paying resident tuition and fees. This residency waiver is without regard to the length of time they have resided in Texas, provided the employees are employed at least one-half time.

Tuition and Fees Refunds

Dropped Courses

The university will refund tuition and fees collected for courses dropped by the students within the first 12 days of a fall or spring semester, or within the first four days of a summer session. Refunds are credited to students' accounts approximately one week after the twelfth class day. Students should inquire at the Bursarís Office at that time to receive their refund.

Withdrawal

The university will refund a percentage of the tuition and mandatory fees to students withdrawing from all classes at the institution during a fall or spring semester according to the following schedule:

Time of Withdrawal	Refund
Prior to the first day of class	100 percent
During the first five class days	80 percent
During the second five class days	70 percent
During the third five class days	50 percent
During the fourth five class days	25 percent
After the fourth five class days	None

The university will refund a percentage of the tuition and mandatory fees to students withdrawing from the institution during summer sessions according to the following schedule:

Time of Withdrawal	Refund
Prior to the first day of class	100 percent
During the first, second, or third class day	80 percent
During the fourth, fifth, or sixth class day	50 percent
Seventh class day and thereafter	None

Refunds will be processed following the last day to drop a course.

The university will refund tuition and fees paid by sponsors, donors, or scholarships to the source rather than to the students who have withdrawn if the funds were made available through the institution. The university will terminate students' services and privileges, such as health services, library privileges, facilities usage, and athletic and cultural entertainment tickets, when students withdraw.

The Bursar's Office processes refunds for tuition and mandatory fees. Optional fee refunds for such items as parking, yearbooks, etc., are processed in the respective offices or departments. Students who have paid optional fees may apply for refunds at the respective offices.

Health Insurance
     100 Health Center (by 20th class day)

The Houstonian
     1 Ezekiel W. Cullen Building (by 20th class day)

Parking
     1 Ezekiel W. Cullen Building (by 20th class day)

Students must withdraw from school or drop classes at the office of Registration and Academic Records, 108 Ezekiel E. Cullen Building, for these transactions to be recognized as valid. Students who have received financial aid may also be required to repay to the university a portion of their aid upon withdrawal. Refer to the section on repayment of student aid.

Refunds Under Installment Payment Plans

Dropping courses or withdrawing from the university does not relieve a student of the responsibility for unmet financial obligations to the university. Students enrolled in installment payment plans must continue making payments until the nonrefundable portions of their accounts are paid in full.

Contact the Bursar's Office for more information.

Concurrent Enrollment

Tuition

Fees for students who register concurrently at two Texas public institutions of higher education are covered in Senate Bill No. 250, Acts of the Sixty-fifth Legislature, Regular Session, 1977, which provides for the following tuition procedure:

1. Students must register first at the institution with the lower minimum tuition and pay that tuition charge in full.
2. Generally, only the hourly rate is paid at the second institution. However, if the minimum amount is less at the first institution, students must pay the difference between the two minimums to the second institution, but not less than the hourly rate. Students must bring to the second institution proof of payment at the first institution.
3. If students are considered Texas residents by one institution at which they are registered, they will be considered Texas residents at each of the institutions at which they are concurrently registered.

Students Services and Tuition Designated Fees

Students who are concurrently enrolled at two or more campuses within the University of Houston System may be able to pay less in student service fees and tuition designated fess than each campus would separately require. Such students should consult the Bursar's Office at any UH System campus for further information.

Undergraduate Tuition Rebate

As a Texas public baccalaureate-granting general academic university, UH is required to offer rebates to eligible students. UH shall rebate up to $1,000.00, pursuant to the procedures described herein, to those eligible undergraduate students who meet the criteria established within Section 54.0065 of The Texas Education Code.

Eligible Students: To be eligible for rebates under this program, students must meet all of the following conditions:

A. they must have enrolled for the first time in an institution of higher education in the fall 1997 semester or later;

B. they must be requesting a rebate for work related to a first baccalaureate degree received from a Texas public university;

C. they must have been a resident of Texas, must have attempted all coursework at a Texas public institution of higher education, and must have been entitled to pay resident tuition at all times while pursuing the degree; and

D. they must have attempted no more than three hours in excess of the minimum number of semester credit hours required to complete the degree under the catalog under which they were graduated. Hours attempted include transfer credits; course credit earned exclusively by examination; courses that are dropped after the official census date; for-credit developmental courses; optional internship and ­cooperative education courses; and repeated courses. Courses dropped for reasons that are determined by the institution to be totally beyond the control of the student shall not be counted. If a student chooses to complete the requirements for a teaching certificate, the minimum number of credit hours required for the degree, for purposes of the $1,000.00 tuition rebate, should be the minimum number of credit hours in which it is possible to satisfy the requirements of both the baccalaureate degree and the teaching certificate.

Students must apply to their colleges for the rebates prior to receiving their baccalaureate degrees. Forms are available at the college of the student's major, Registration and Academic Records, Scholarship and Financial Aid, Academic Affairs, and the Dean of Students office. Students must keep the institution apprised of their addresses for at least 60 days after their graduation date.

Undergraduate Enrollment Limit

Texas Residents Only! Attention! An important change in the Texas State Education Code (54.068) applies only to undergraduate students who are Texas residents paying resident tuition and who enrolled for the first time in a Texas college or university in Fall semester 1999 or after. There is now a limit on the number of hours those students may attempt while paying in-state tuition.

Such students are allowed to attempt only the number of hours necessary to complete a degree in their approved major plus 45 hours. Students who have not chosen a major are considered, by state law, to have degree requirements of 120 hours. Attemptedhours are calculated for courses in which a student is enrolled one the twelfth class day (fourth class day in summer), not by the courses in which a student receives a grade (passing, failing, or W). When students to whom this law applies register for courses that exceed this limit, state law authorizes the university to charge additional fees up to a maximum of the out-of-state tuition rates.

If you stop attending a class with the intent to drop, be sure you drop on or before the twelfth (fourth) class day or these hours will count toward your in-state tuition limit. See your advisor if you have questions about this policy.