Academic Guidelines

Course Loads

A full-time student is defined as a student who registers for:

• 12 or more credit hours in any combination of terms within a 16-week semester
• 12 credit hours within the 11-week or nine-week summer sessions
• Six credit hours in one 5.5-week summer session or six college-credit hours in each 5.5-week summer session

A student must obtain written permission from the campus dean of student services or a designee before registering for:

• More than 18 hours in any combination of terms within a 16-week semester
• More than 12 hours in any combination of terms within the 11-week summer semester
• More than six college-credit hours in a 5.5-week summer session

Dropping/Withdrawing From Courses

Each semester or term includes dates students may either “drop” or “withdraw” from a course. The college places no limits on the number of courses a student may drop. However, state law limits the number of course withdrawals, with some exemptions and exceptions

Note: Dropping or withdrawing from a course may affect financial aid, veterans’ benefits, international student status, or academic standing. Students are urged to consult with their instructor or an advisor or counselor before making schedule changes.

Drops vs. Withdrawals

Students who officially exit a course during either the schedule change period or before the official college reporting date are considered to have “dropped” the course. They do so by submitting the official request to Admissions and Records. Dropped courses are not considered withdrawals and are not posted on the student transcript.

Withdrawals from a course occur after the official reporting date and result in a mark of W on the student transcript.

It is the student’s responsibility to initiate a withdrawal request to Admissions and Records before the withdrawal deadline. Discontinuance of class attendance or notice to the instructor does not constitute authorized withdrawal. In cases of instructor-initiated withdrawals, the withdrawal counts toward students’ maximum withdrawal limits. (See Attendance)

Six-Withdrawals Limit

State law permits students to withdraw from no more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career at Texas public colleges or universities. All course withdrawals automatically count toward the limit unless:

• The student withdraws from all courses;
• The student or course is exempt from the rule; or
• The student receives an exception authorized by college
  officials.

Students who reach their withdrawal limit must remain on the class roll unless they request and receive approval for a withdrawal exception.

Exemptions
The following are exempt from the withdrawal limit:

• Students who entered college before fall 2007
• Co-enrolled high school students (Early College Start)
• Credit by examination or other method that does not require registration in a course
• Developmental Education

• Continuing Education
• Courses taken at private or out-of-state colleges
• Courses ineligible for state funding
• Those in which a punitive, non-completion grade is received (WF)
• Those resulting from documented college error

Exceptions
Students may request an ACC course not count toward their withdrawal limit. Students have three months following the end of the semester or session to officially request an exception to the withdrawal limit. They should meet with a campus-based counselor before submitting a Withdrawal Exception Request.

The college allows the following exceptions:

• Severe illness/debilitating condition of student or close family member
• Death of close family member
• Care of sick, injured, or needy
• Active military duty
• Change in work schedule beyond student’s control
• Complete withdrawal from all courses
• Incorrect course placement based on assessment error
• Instructor or classmate incompatibility
• Challenging circumstances, including language barriers and disabilities
• Other circumstances not covered by legislated exceptions
• Other “good cause,” as determined by the college

A committee composed of faculty, administrators, and a student peer will review requests that do not fit circumstances specifically listed here.