Classification of Students
Students are classified according to the number of hours of college credit they have earned. Classifications are as follows:
| Freshmen |
0 - 29 earned hours |
| Sophomores |
30 - 59 earned hours |
| Juniors |
60 - 89 earned hours |
| Seniors |
90 or more earned hours |
| Special Students |
Undergraduate students who hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. |
| Graduate Students |
Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree and have been accepted to UT Pan American for graduate study. |
| Special Graduates |
Students who have earned a graduate degree and are continuing in another graduate program. |
| Doctoral Students |
Students who have been accepted to a doctoral program. |
Course Numbers
Courses are numbered to show both the collegiate level at which they are offered and the hour value of the course. The first digit shows the level, and the second digit shows the credit hours. The last two digits are departmental designations. For example, Spanish 1301 shows that the course is taught at the freshman level and carries three hours of credit per semester. All lower-division undergraduate courses ending in the numbers 87 and 88 are honors courses. See the UTPA Undergraduate or Graduate catalog for additional information.
| 1000 numbered courses |
Freshman level |
| 2000 numbered courses |
Sophomore level |
| 3000 numbered courses |
Junior level |
| 4000 numbered courses |
Senior level |
| All 5000-7000 numbered courses |
are masters-level courses. |
| All 8000-9000 numbered courses |
are doctoral-level courses. |
Grades
Students may obtain their grades using ASSIST, Web (assist.utpa.edu) and KIOSK services. Students requiring a paper copy of their grades may request a transcript from the Office of the Registrar. See the UTPA Undergraduate or Graduate catalog for additional information.
Grade Point Average (GPA) Calculation
The grade point average (GPA) is computed by dividing the total grade points earned by the total hours attempted. The Cumulative Grade Point Average is calculated using all coursework (excluding repeated courses) attempted. The current semester grade point average is calculated using only coursework attempted within a specific semester. See the UTPA Undergraduate or Graduate catalog for additional information.
Grading System
UTPA uses a 4.0 system. Effective Fall 2008 the following grades are used to designate achievement in coursework. Their corresponding grade values and points are indicated. See the UTPA Undergraduate or Graduate catalog for additional information.
| A Excellent |
4 grade points per hour |
| B Good |
3 grade points per hour |
| C Satisfactory |
2 grade points per hour |
| D Below Average |
1 grade point per hour - may not be assigned in graduate classes |
| F Failure |
0 grade points per hour |
| P Passing |
not considered in calculating grade points or attempted hours |
| NP No Pass |
not considered in calculating grade points or attempted hours |
| IP In Progress |
not considered in calculating grade points or attempted hours; for remedial courses only |
| I Incomplete |
not considered in calculating grade points or attempted hours |
| CR Credit |
not considered in calculating grade points or attempted hours; however, hours are counted in total earned hours |
| NC No Credit |
not considered in calculating grade points or attempted hours |
| DR Course Dropped |
not considered in calculating grade points or attempted hours |
| W Withdrawal from School |
not considered in calculating grade points or attempted hours |
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The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records whereby parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student's education records, and the right to request that a school correct records, and that schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student's education record. Read more about FERPA .
It is the policy of The University of Texas System to protect the confidential nature of social security numbers without creating unjustified obstacles to conduct business and provide services at The University of Texas Pan American. This policy will protect the confidentiality of social security numbers. The use of the social security number as an individual's primary identification number has been discontinued, unless applicable law requires such use. Therefore, all students have been assigned a new UTPA Student Identification Number (UTPA-SID) to be used internally when requesting any university services. The social security number may still be requested by limited offices as required by state/federal laws. However, the use will be restricted, and may continue to be stored as a confidential attribute associated with an individual. Read more about the SID.
For further specific information related to the laws and regulations which protect the individual's confidentiality of the social security number, please refer the following website.
http://www.utsystem.edu/bpm/66.htm or http://infosecurity.panam.edu
In September 2003 the Texas Legislature replaced the Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP) with the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) and replaced the TASP exam with the THEA (Texas Higher Education Assessment), ASSET, COMPASS & ACCUPLACER exams. Under the new legislation TSI requires all students to be assessed (tested) prior to enrolling in college level coursework in the areas of reading, math & writing, and for all students to prepare an academic plan for success with an advisor. Read more about the TSI.
