Can a student be penalized for taking courses that do not apply toward his/her intended degree or for taking too many courses?
Yes. Senate Bill 345, passed by the Texas Legislature in March 1999, says that students who first enrolled in a college or university in either fall 1999 or a later semester will be charged a higher tuition rate if the number of credit hours he/she has attempted exceed by 45 or more the number of credit hours required for their declared baccalaureate degree and the student has not yet earned a baccalaureate degree. This ruling applies to any grade, including a “W” (withdrawn) or “WF” (withdrawn failing), that is received from a Texas public institution of higher education. Semester hours earned at a private or out-of-state institution are not counted toward the limit. See Degree Requirements.
