2010-2011 HBU Catalog - Houston Baptist University

ACADEMIC POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES
Academic Advising
Each newly enrolled student at HBU will be assigned an academic advisor from the department of the student‘s
declared major early in the first semester. The faculty advisor will discuss with this student (his or her advisee)
educational and career planning, academic success and failure, and the appropriate courses for successfully
completing a degree. All advisees are expected to avail themselves of these mentoring services in order to
graduate from HBU in a timely manner since the student is ultimately held responsible for fulfilling his or her
degree plan requirements. Failure to utilize these advising services may result in graduation delays, insufficient
progress toward completing a degree, and other possible complications.
Every HBU student MUST schedule a personal academic advising session each semester during his or her
advisor‘s office hours. The advisee will receive a PIN (Personal Identification Number) at the conclusion of this
visit, and once early registration for classes in the upcoming semester begins, the advisee will use this PIN to
sign up on-line for his for her desired courses. All students are strongly encouraged to make these course
schedule decisions with their assigned advisors in a judicious way. The PIN will allow ―advised‖ students to
change their course choices at any time during the open registration period without incurring any Add / Drop fees
(see Fee Schedule).
Academic Affairs Committee
The Academic Affairs Committee is responsible for a coordinated academic program that is in harmony with the
purpose of the University as well as assuring accreditation and a high standing in the academic world. The
Committee serves as the chief academic policy committee on curriculum and recommends matters involving the
curriculum and the instructional program for administrative and faculty action. All policies are subject to the
approval of the President. The membership of the committee consists of a faculty member elected by each
college, the Provost who is the presiding Chair, the Deans and Associate Deans of each College or School,
faculty representatives of each College or School, the Registrar, the SACS Liaison Officer, the Director of
Libraries, the Director of the Success and Advising Center, and chairs of academic subcommittees.
All curriculum recommendations originate with the individual faculty of the department or college or school in
which the program is housed or with the Provost‘s office. The Academic Affairs Committee considers no
recommendation that has not been developed and endorsed by the appropriate faculty and the Teacher Education
Committee as indicated, or by the Provost‘s office. Proposed changes are recommended by the Academic
Affairs Committee and sent back to the originating faculty until agreement is reached on matters of specificity.
Department chairs are routinely invited to join the respective College or School Dean to present curriculum
matters to the Committee.
Review of program and degree curricula is carried out on a regular basis in response to changing need,
requirement, or opportunity. Formal assessment and evaluation of curriculum is made annually by the
appropriate faculty or staff in response to data gathered from senior exit exams, entrance exams into programs,
student performance analysis in required courses, surveys of recent graduates and their employers, and
comparison with the requirements of similar programs at other institutions of higher learning.
2010-2011 HBU Catalog www.hbu.edu/catalog Page 43