5. Student Affairs
Vice President for Student Affairs
The vice president for student affairs administers the Division of Student Affairs, which encompasses the Counseling and Mental Health Center; the Career Exploration Center; the Office of the Dean of Students; Student Financial Services; University Health Services; the Division of Housing and Food Service; the UT Learning Center; the Division of Recreational Sports; the Office of the Registrar; Texas Student Media; and the Texas Union. The vice president serves as liaison between the president of the University and the directors of these units, and provides leadership in the development of programs that supplement the classroom experience and enrich the quality of campus life.
Office of the Dean of Students
The Office of the Dean of Students is an inclusive environment that fosters individual growth and social responsibility through student-centered programs and services.
Greek Life and Education coordinates leadership programs for sororities and fraternities and serves as liaison to the Interfraternity, National Pan-Hellenic, Panhellenic, Texas Asian Pan-Hellenic, and United Greek Councils and affiliated organizations, as well as liaison to international organizations. New Student Services administers the presemester and summer orientation sessions for new students, Start Fresh events at the beginning of the fall semester, and various programs, activities, and services for students in their first year on campus. Student Activities and Leadership Development registers student organizations; provides facilities, information, leadership training, banking services, and other administrative services for student organizations and activities on the campus; and manages the Student Organization Center in the Student Services Building. Student Judicial Services implements and interprets University regulations related to student behavior and works with faculty members regarding scholastic dishonesty. Student Emergency Services provides immediate professional assistance to students who are faced with emergencies. Emergencies include, but are not limited to, interpersonal or sexual violence, missing students, student death or serious injury, weather-related disasters, and loss of residence due to fire.
The Office of the Dean of Students also advises and supports Student Government and the Senate of College Councils.
Recreational Sports
The Division of Recreational Sports develops and conducts programs through which students, faculty members, and staff members may participate in recreational activities. Intramural tournaments and events are scheduled throughout the year for individual, dual, and team participation. The tournaments and events are organized to provide separate competition among coeducational teams, teams for men, and teams for women. Sport clubs provide an opportunity to participate in a single sport on a continuing basis. Approximately forty clubs, ranging from aikido to lacrosse to sailing, are active each semester. Outdoor Recreation provides equipment rental and supervised trips in a variety of activities such as backpacking, camping, canoeing, riding, kayaking, nature hiking, and rock climbing. Fitness and Wellness opportunities include group fitness and mind/body classes, personal training, and massage services. The Instructional Program provides safety education and aquatics classes.
In addition to structured sports programs, the division promotes the concept of informal recreational use of athletic facilities through the Informal Recreation Program. A reservation service is available for most activity areas, and facilities are supervised to enhance the enjoyment of participants.
Programs, activities, and facilities are open to all currently registered students as well as faculty members, staff members, and the spouses and children of students, faculty members, and staff members who purchase membership in Recreational Sports. Facilities are available to children at designated times only.
Participants may check out sports equipment at the Recreational Sports Center and Gregory Gymnasium. The Gregory Gym store sells sports equipment, clothing, personal hygiene items, and snacks. Gregory Gymnasium provides an additional service to participants by renting outdoor equipment at the Outdoor Center.
Division of Housing and Food Service
Students at the University may choose to live on or off campus. The University does not extend approved housing status to any residential unit except those that are owned and operated by the University. The Division of Housing and Food Service will not be a party to the enforcement of any contract between students, parents, and landlords of privately owned student housing; however, Legal Services for Students may provide assistance with tenant-landlord disputes.
Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to live in University-owned housing. Freshmen are encouraged to consider living in University residence halls. The experience of many students indicates that adjustment to University life is often easier for those who live on campus. Research has shown that students who live in residence halls are more fully involved in academic and extracurricular activities, earn higher grade point averages, more frequently exceed predicted levels of learning and personal development, and more frequently complete their college education within four years than students who live off campus.
A brief description of University housing follows. More information about housing is available online and from The University of Texas at Austin, Division of Housing and Food Service, P O Box 7666, Austin TX 78713-7666. Institutional rules on University-owned residences are given in Appendix C.
Application dates for housing in University residence halls. There are no deadlines for applying for housing in University residence halls. Applications are accepted beginning at 6:00 am on September 1 for the next long session (fall and spring semesters), June 1 for the next spring semester, and February 1 for the next summer session. Applications submitted by incoming freshmen who are admitted to the University and have paid the enrollment deposit receive priority when contracts are offered.
University-owned residence hall for men. The University residence hall for men is Simkins Hall, which can accommodate about 200 students.
University-owned residence halls for women. The University owns and operates two residence halls that accommodate 896 women: Kinsolving and Littlefield. Freshman women who apply for housing with Littlefield as their first building choice are given priority consideration for assignment to Littlefield.
University-owned residence halls for men and women. Jester Center, Whitis Court, San Jacinto Hall, Almetris Duren Hall, Brackenridge Hall, Prather Hall, Moore-Hill Dormitory, and Roberts Hall accommodate 5,372 students. Andrews, Blanton, and Carothers honors residence halls accommodate about 530 students.
University-owned apartments. The University Apartments, located in off-campus areas that have shuttle bus service, are open to families, single parents with children, single graduate students, and single undergraduates who have completed at least thirty semester hours of coursework. Gateway Apartments and Colorado Apartments have a total of about four hundred air-conditioned, unfurnished units; Brackenridge Apartments have about three hundred one-, two-, and three-bedroom, air-conditioned, unfurnished units. Rates for Colorado Apartments include gas and water. Rates for all other units include only water. Residents pay for electricity in all units. Apartment contracts may be signed up to six months before move-in. More information about University apartments is available online and from The University of Texas at Austin, University Apartments, 3501 Lake Austin Boulevard, Austin TX 78703-5533.
Privately owned housing. A wide range of privately owned housing is available for men, women, and families in the University community. Arrangements for living in these residence halls, rooming and boarding houses, cooperative houses, apartments, and private homes are made directly with the management of each residence. The Division of Housing and Food Service maintains a list of Web sites that list available residences. The list is available through the link "Related Sites" at the Housing and Food Service Web site.
The University accepts no responsibility for the terms of rental or the accommodations offered and will not be a party to the enforcement of contracts between students, parents, and landlords for privately owned housing.
Student Financial Services
The Office of Student Financial Services offers financial assistance to students who might otherwise be unable to attend the University. Financial aid awarded through the office may be gift aid, which includes grants and scholarships, or self-help aid, which includes student employment programs and long-term loans. Most financial aid is based on documented financial need. Financial need is the difference between the cost of attending the University and the financial resources available to the student.
To apply for financial assistance, a student must complete a need analysis form each year. The office requires the student to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be evaluated for financial need. The need analysis assists the office in assessing available family resources and determining eligibility for specific aid programs.
Students who attend the University only in the summer session are not eligible for financial aid through the Office of Student Financial Services.
Estimated costs. The following are estimated typical costs for tuition, fees, room, board, and books for a new single student living in University-owned housing for the long session (fall and spring semesters) 2007–2008. The tuition and fee amounts included in these figures are based on an average course load of fourteen semester hours for undergraduates and nine semester hours for graduate students.
| Texas residents | Nonresidents | |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | $17,046 | $33,920 |
| Graduate | $15,516 | $21,286 |
Expenses for clothing, travel, recreation, and personal and miscellaneous items vary based on individual lifestyle. The Office of Student Financial Services estimates that reasonable expense for these items is approximately $3,240 for undergraduate students and $3,740 for graduate students. Summer costs are estimated to be about one-third of those for a long-session semester.
Application dates. Although there are no deadlines for submitting financial aid applications, priority is given to students who apply by the dates given below.
| Priority dates | |
|---|---|
| Summer session | February 15 |
| Fall semester | March 31 |
| Spring semester | September 30 |
A student may apply for financial aid before being officially admitted to the University, but the awarding of aid is contingent upon admission. Disbursement of funds cannot be made until the student is officially enrolled.
Course load requirements. Most financial aid programs are based on a minimum full-time enrollment of twelve hours for undergraduate students and nine to fifteen hours for graduate students, depending on the student's academic program. Students may receive financial aid for less than full-time enrollment with the approval of their financial aid counselor. Some aid programs require that assistance be reduced proportionately for less than full-time enrollment. To receive financial assistance for the summer session, students must enroll for classes in a six-week term, the nine-week term, or the twelve-week term.
Changes in financial circumstances. Students are responsible for reporting to the Office of Student Financial Services any change in their financial situation that occurs after the initial application for aid is submitted. A documented decrease in resources may provide for an increase in financial aid if funds are available; an increase in resources may result in a reduction or cancellation of financial aid funds or a requirement to repay awards already released to the student.
Satisfactory progress. To be eligible for financial assistance, a student must maintain a satisfactory academic record. A satisfactory academic record is measured by quality, progress, and quantity. The quality measurement requires undergraduates to maintain a grade point average of 2.00 and graduate students to maintain a grade point average of 3.00. Progress means completing the appropriate number of hours for the semester, as determined by the Office of Student Financial Services; for example, an undergraduate must usually enroll in and complete twelve hours a semester. The quantity measurement allows a maximum of 150 hours for an undergraduate degree (175 hours for majors in pharmacy and architecture) and between 40 and 160 hours for a graduate degree, depending on the program.
Types of Financial Aid
A student who submits a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is considered for all federal, state, and institutional funds available at the University that are administered by the Office of Student Financial Services. A student's award package usually is a combination of gift aid and self-help aid. The composition of the aid package depends on the characteristics of the student, including program eligibility and degree of financial need, as well as on the availability of funds.
Gift Aid
Students who apply for financial help by the priority deadline are considered for all gift aid awards administered through the Office of Student Financial Services. To be considered for a Federal Pell Grant, a student must be an undergraduate and must not have received a bachelor's degree. Most scholarships and grants awarded through the FAFSA process are based on financial need. The office also administers some programs based on merit.
In addition to specific qualifications for competitive undergraduate scholarships and fellowships awarded by the University, the committee or agency responsible for selecting recipients for a given scholarship or fellowship may consider such factors as the following in designating recipients:
- Standardized test scores
- Class rank
- Grade point average
- Leadership and extracurricular activities
- Status in national academic competitions
- Academic performance within a major and other performance criteria
- Financial need
- Socioeconomic background
- Educational level
Self-Help Aid
Long-Term Loans
Federal loan programs are available to assist students who show financial need. These programs have interest rates that may be adjusted annually and do not require repayment of principle or interest until the student has graduated or is no longer enrolled at least half-time. In addition, the loans offer a grace period between the time the student leaves school and the time repayment begins. Deferment or cancellation of repayment is available for situations such as military service, periods of unemployment, or teaching service in designated schools.
Federal and state loans are also available both to students and to the parents of students who do not show financial need. Interest rates on these loans are variable and are adjusted annually. Under certain conditions, repayment of these loans may be deferred while the student is enrolled in school.
Employment
The student employment program provides jobs for students who show financial need and want to earn part of their educational expenses while attending school. The majority of federal work-study jobs are on campus, though some may be with off-campus nonprofit agencies. Depending on their education and experience, students may choose from a variety of employment opportunities. Most jobs require fifteen or fewer hours of work a week.
Special Services for Financial Aid Recipients
For aid recipients who show a high degree of financial need, services are available in the following areas: (1) orientation fee waivers, and (2) tutorial assistance programs. Information is available from the Office of Student Financial Services.
Other Services Not Based on Financial Need
Short-term loans are available to students for emergency expenses related to educational costs. In addition, the office helps students find part-time, temporary, or full-time employment. Employment is usually off-campus, and there is no charge to the student or the employer. Information about these services is available at the Office of Student Financial Services.
Requirements for Student Borrowers
Mandatory counseling sessions. Prior to receiving the first disbursement of a Federal Subsidized or Unsubsidized Stafford Loan or Federal Perkins Loan, student borrowers must complete a loan counseling session, in which they receive information about their obligations, rights, and privileges as borrowers. In addition, before withdrawal or graduation from the University, student loan recipients under these programs must complete an exit interview to receive additional information about their repayment obligations and about the consequences of failure to repay.
Identification and release of official transcript. Records of students who have received loans under the Federal Family Education Loan Programs are identified to the Office of the Registrar. Students in default on loans from these programs may not obtain official academic transcripts.
Tuition Refunds and Repayment of Financial Aid
Students who are awarded financial assistance for a specific semester but withdraw prior to the beginning of classes are required to repay the University all funds released. Students who withdraw after the beginning of classes may be required to repay at least some portion of the funds received. The amount to be repaid is calculated according to a repayment policy determined by the Office of Student Financial Services and varies depending on the amount and type of funds received and when the student withdraws. Any refund of tuition and fees due to a student may be used to meet the aid repayment requirement.
Students who received financial assistance may have all or part of the calculated refund credited to the student aid programs from which the student was paid. The remaining refund, if any, will be disbursed to the student.
Federal regulations require that refunds due the student aid programs be credited in the following order: (1) Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan; (2) Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan; (3) Federal Perkins Loan; (4) Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS); (5) Federal Pell Grant; (6) Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant; (7) other Title IV programs; (8) non–Title IV programs.
Non–Title IV programs are refunded in the following order: (1) state grants; (2) institution grants; (3) state loans; (4) scholarships, if specified by donor.
Office of the Registrar
The role of the Office of the Registrar is to create, maintain, certify, and protect the University's records of courses, degrees, and students. Among the office's core functions are to maintain the official course inventory; to publish catalogs, course schedules, final exam schedules, and the academic calendar; to coordinate the use of classrooms; to register students for classes and to manage the add/drop process; to ensure the accuracy and privacy of student academic records; to collect grades and determine students' scholastic status; to issue diplomas, transcripts, and certifications of enrollment status; to determine and certify students' academic progress; and to identify, adopt, develop, and deploy technological services related to the core functions of the office, the student service needs of the University, and the higher education community in the United States.
A detailed description of the items included in the academic record and on the transcript is given in chapter 9 of the Institutional Rules on Student Services and Activities. More information about the registrar's office, including contact information for each section, is given on the registrar's office Web site. The Web site also provides easy access to the Course Schedule, online catalogs, and academic calendars, and to secure sites where students may register for classes, update their personal information, request and view degree audits, and order transcripts.
University Health Services
University Health Services, located in the Student Services Building, is a fully accredited ambulatory health care facility. It provides medical and health promotion services for currently enrolled students and some nonstudents who are officially enrolled in certain University programs.
The medical staff includes physicians in general medicine as well as those who are board certified in internal medicine, adolescent pediatrics, and family practice. University Health Services has its own pharmacy, laboratory, x-ray, and physical therapy facilities. Students are encouraged to choose a member of the medical services staff as their primary care provider to ensure continuity of care while at the University.
The facilities are open from 8:00 am until 8:00 pm Monday through Friday and from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday during the long session. Operating hours for summer, holidays, and between semesters are posted on the University Health Services Web site, http://healthyhorns.utexas.edu/.
For nonurgent situations, students are required to make appointments, available Monday through Friday from 8:30 am until 5:00 pm. Appointments can be made by calling (512) 471-4955. Students who need immediate medical attention for non–life-threatening illnesses or injuries, as determined by the University Health Services clinical staff, may be seen in the Urgent Care Clinic during all hours of operation. Students with medical emergencies should go directly to an emergency facility or call Emergency Medical Services at 911.
The Nurse Advice Line, (512) 475-NURS (471-6877), is available twenty-four hours a day to offer advice about illness or injury. Medical treatment during the hours University Health Services is closed must be obtained from a community health care service and must be paid for by the student.
Health promotion services are designed to encourage healthy lifestyles and contribute to optimal lifelong well-being. Programs cover a variety of health-related topics, including alcohol and drug education and counseling, sexual health, methods of contraception, nutrition education, smoking cessation, travel health education, stress management, and general health information. Audiovisual and printed materials on a variety of health issues are available through the Health Promotion Resource Center, (512) 475-8252.
There are no office visit charges to see a University Health Services health care provider except for the following: annual well-woman exams; routine physicals; initial Travel Health Nurse visits; and visits to the University Health Services Urgent Care Clinic after 5:00 pm on weekdays, on weekends, and on official University holidays. Students who miss an appointment must cancel at least two hours in advance to avoid a no-show charge. There are charges for most other services, including but not limited to prescription drugs, laboratory tests, x-rays, physical therapy, orthopedic supplies, and immunizations. These charges are generally lower than the cost of comparable services in the community. More information about policies and services is given in Appendix C, Chapter 4, University Health Services, and at the University Health Services Web site.
Students sometimes are affected by medical conditions beyond the scope of services offered by University Health Services. Payment for services at other medical and/or psychiatric facilities is the sole responsibility of the student; therefore, every student is advised to purchase student health insurance or to have sufficient insurance coverage under an existing policy. Additional information about the student health insurance plan is given in chapter 3.
University Health Services files insurance claims only for students covered by the student health insurance plan or UT Select, the faculty and staff insurance provider. Students with other insurance coverage may request the documentation needed to file a claim directly with their carriers. It is the decision of the student's insurance carrier alone whether to reimburse the student for charges incurred at University Health Services. The University Health Services Pharmacy accepts most major prescription drug insurance plans.
University Health Services clinicians do not provide written excuses for patients who miss classes or assignment deadlines due to illness. Any accommodations for absences or missed deadlines are strictly between the student and the instructor. However, a student with special medical circumstances may petition the associate director for clinical services for a letter to the appropriate authority on the student's behalf to request a course load reduction, medical withdrawal, or other accommodation.
Counseling and Mental Health Center
The Counseling and Mental Health Center assists students in coping effectively with aspects of their personal, social, and psychological growth so they may realize the full academic benefit of their college experience. Services include individual counseling; group counseling; walk-in and telephone crisis counseling; psychiatric evaluation and medication, if indicated; and programs designed to assist students in personal growth and development. The Integrated Health Program offers a self-paced MindBody Lab for stress reduction and biofeedback, and various classes on stress management and mindfulness. The Voices Against Violence Program works with issues of relationship and sexual violence and stalking. It provides counseling and advocacy services, as well as outreach and training.
There is no fee for services at the Counseling and Mental Health Center. The center is staffed by counseling and clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and professional counselors. It is approved by the American Psychological Association for internship training and cooperates with the Departments of Psychology and Educational Psychology and the School of Social Work in training intern and practicum students.
The center is committed to the promotion and affirmation of diversity in its broadest sense. Its mission requires that people of every background be able to use its services with the expectation of respectful treatment. The center's Statement on Diversity is published online.
The center believes in the importance of students using their University experience to gain skills needed for effective functioning in a complex society. Programs focus on the motivational, social, and emotional development of students; provide support systems where necessary; address problems that can affect day-to-day living; and generally prepare the student to respond more effectively to the challenges of University living. The center also provides support to the University community following traumatic events affecting University students. Prevention and outreach services are extended to the University community through educational and consultative programs.
The Counseling and Mental Health Center, located on the fifth floor of the Student Services Building, 100-A West Dean Keeton Street, is open 8:00 am to 5:00 pm weekdays. The telephone number is (512) 471-3515. The Web site is http://www.utexas.edu/student/cmhc/.
The center provides a telephone counseling service that can be reached twenty-four hours a day every day, including holidays. Callers may remain anonymous. The telephone number is (512) 471-CALL (471-2255).
Career Exploration Center
The Career Exploration Center assists students in making decisions about their academic majors and career goals through self-assessment, standardized career tests, and professional career counseling. The center is staffed by professional counselors who specialize in career services. The center has a comprehensive library with thousands of resources for major and career exploration, internship preparation, and graduate or professional school planning.
Services are free to currently enrolled students, but there is a nominal fee for tests. Graduates of the University are eligible for services at the center for one year after graduation. Graduates are charged a small fee for services.
The Career Exploration Center and resource library, located in Jester Center A115A, is open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday and until 7:00 pm on Tuesday. Students can make an appointment to see a counselor. The telephone number is (512) 471-1217. The Web site is http://www.utexas.edu/student/cec/.
UT Learning Center
The UT Learning Center provides academic support services to all University students. It offers both group and individual programs designed to help students increase their efficiency in college-level reading, writing, mathematics, and science. In addition, the center conducts classes in speed reading, study strategies, and selected calculus topics; final exam reviews for specific mathematics courses; and preparation for graduate school admission tests.
An integral part of the center, Tutorial Services offers tutoring by appointment for many University courses; drop-in tutoring for selected natural sciences and mathematics courses; writing consultations to assist graduate students with their writing projects; and developmental studies in mathematics, reading, and writing. The program is internationally certified by the College Reading and Learning Association at the regular, advanced, and master tutor levels.
A walk-in counseling service is available for students who want to discuss academic concerns. Students may also make individual appointments to discuss special learning problems, such as test anxiety, learning disabilities, and attention disorders. The center's Peer Academic Coaching Program matches undergraduates with peer mentors for individual private coaching on how to achieve academic success.
The center's campus outreach services include overviews of the services provided and presentations on study skills for University classes, groups, and organizations. The Supplemental Instruction Program trains teaching assistants and undergraduates to lead discussion sections in which they integrate effective learning strategies with course content to assist students in historically difficult entry-level courses. Through workshops in learning skills and weekly meetings with teaching assistants and faculty members, the Teaching Teams Program trains student volunteers enrolled in large classes to function primarily as study group leaders.
Located in Jester Center A332A, the UT Learning Center is open Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The telephone number is (512) 471-3614. The Web site is http://www.utexas.edu/student/utlc/.
The Texas Union
The Texas Union acts as the community center for the University, offering activities, programs, services, and facilities that complement the academic mission and focus on student development. The Union offers a wide variety of food services and items in its stores, restaurants, and foodcarts located throughout the campus.
The Texas Union serves the University as a community center, providing facilities, services, and programs for students, faculty members, staff members, alumni, and friends of the University.
Programs are offered for intellectual, cultural, social, and recreational development. The Union coordinates beneficial co-curricular activities, promotes genuine democracy, helps cultivate responsible citizenship, and facilitates an intelligent interest in and deeper affection for the University. Through the many opportunities provided by the Texas Union, students have the opportunity to strengthen their leadership experience, self-expression, and management skills.
The Board of Directors recommends policy for the Texas Union. The voting membership of the board includes six students and three faculty members. The director of the Texas Union and the vice president for student affairs, or the vice president's delegate, serve as ex officio members without vote.