2010-2011 HBU Catalog - Houston Baptist University

Dean’s List
In order to encourage excellence in undergraduate scholarship and give recognition to superior achievement, a
Dean‘s List is released each semester. Full-time undergraduate students registered for a minimum of twelve (12)
semester hours of alpha grade credit and maintaining a GPA at a level which, if continued, would make them
eligible to graduate with honors (3.5 and above), are included on the Dean‘s List.
Degree Plan
Before an undergraduate student with 64 semester hours of credit can register, the student must have an approved
degree plan on file. A transfer student who transfers more than fifty (50) semester hours must file a degree plan
before the first day of the second semester in residence. A transfer student who expects to receive Veteran‘s
Administration benefits must file a degree plan before the initial registration. The degree plan is based on the
HBU Catalog in effect at the time of filing of the degree plan and will be valid for a period not to exceed seven
(7) years from the date of filing. Students maintaining continuous enrollment (two consecutive semesters) may
graduate according to the requirements of the HBU Catalog in effect at the time of initial enrollment. Students
who do not meet the minimum enrollment standards stated above must meet the requirements of the HBU
Catalog at the time they are readmitted to the University.
Degrees with Distinction
Honors at graduation are awarded to undergraduate baccalaureate students who have completed a minimum of 64
semester alpha-grade hours in residence at HBU and have earned an appropriate number of grade points to be
eligible for the honors indicated. An average standing of 3.50 or higher entitles the student to graduate cum
laude; 3.70 or higher magna cum laude; 3.90 or higher summa cum laude.
Dropping a Class
A student who ceases to attend class must follow the prescribed withdrawal procedure to protect his status and
leave himself in the best possible position with respect to future registration at this or another university. Failure
to do so will result in course failure(s), lower scholastic standing, and financial loss. Students contemplating
dropping a class must see their advisor to complete the proper steps; the drop process is not complete until the
forms are filed by the student and processed in the Office of the Registrar. A student may not drop a class after
the published last day to drop.
Once a student registers for a class, the student will receive a grade for the class unless the drop process is
completed through the Registrar’s Office. This includes students who may have never actually attended
class or who may never have completed payment of tuition and fees.
Family Education Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)
HBU is subject to the provisions of a federal law known as the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (also
referred to as FERPA or the Buckley Amendment). This law affords students enrolled at HBU certain rights with
respect to their education records.
These rights include:
• The right to inspect and review their education records within 45 days of the day the University receives a
request for access. Students should submit to the HBU Registrar written requests that identify the record(s)
they wish to inspect. The Registrar will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and
place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the Registrar, he or she shall
advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
• The right to request the amendment of the student‘s education records that the student believes is inaccurate.
Students may ask the University to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate. They should write the HBU
official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it
is inaccurate. If the University decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the University will
notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request
for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when
notified of the right to a hearing.
• The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student‘s education
records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate
educational interests. A school official is a person employed by HBU in an administrative, supervisory,
2010-2011 HBU Catalog www.hbu.edu/catalog Page 54