Registration
FGSBS students are required to register for the appropriate courses in every semester in which they expect to receive assistance, use university facilities, or take comprehensive examinations. FGSBS students are required to enroll in 9 credit hours per semester. An admitted student who has not been registered for two consecutive semesters will be dismissed unless a leave of absence has been approved.
Dropping a Course
Any student who wishes to drop a course must initiate such action with the FGSBS office.
- Students should follow the academic calendar for deadlines associated with dropping classes.
- It is the responsibility of students receiving financial aid and/or a FGSBS scholarship to be aware of refund policies and to understand the impact on the aid released, continued financial aid, and scholarship eligibility.
- Students dropping a course to the point of zero hours of enrollment are considered to be withdrawing from the institution and those receiving federal financial aid should consult the Office of Student Financial Aid for information related to return of Title IV funds requirements.
- Visit the TTUHSC El Paso Student Business Services Office for specific details regarding refund policies.
Withdrawal from All Classes (Dropping to Zero Hours)
The FGSBS office is committed to support and help students complete their education. The FGSBS understands that there are many valid reasons why students choose to withdraw from their classes for the semester. The FGSBS encourages students to visit its offices before making a final decision to determine if there is something to do to help students remain enrolled.
- Withdrawing for the term may impact program completion time, financial aid status or eligibility, or even result in owing funds back to the institution or federal government.
- Students should follow the academic calendar for deadlines associated with dropping classes.
Leave of Absence
Leave of absence and its length is granted by the dean upon recommendation of the FGSBS graduate council. Leave of absence may be granted only in cases of serious medical conditions or other exceptional reasons. It is the responsibility of the students to contact the FGSBS office to initiate the process and submit the required documents in a timely manner.
- Leaves of absence should not exceed one year.
- Leaves of absence do not extend the maximum time allowed for completion of the degree.
- If leave of absence is taken without proper approval or is not medically necessary, the student will be dismiss from the program.
- The student is responsible for providing ample time to the FGSBS office to process the paperwork in a timely manner.
Leave of absence within a semester.
- The student is responsible for working with the FGSBS office to complete the Leave of Absence Form.
- The Leave of Absence Form must be submitted to the FGSBS graduate council for approval.
- The FGSBS graduate council reserves the right to approve, reject, or suggest modifications to the leave of absence request.
- The Leave of Absence Form must be fully approved by the required parties in order to be considered official.
- It is the responsibility of the student to ensure the Leave of Absence Form is submitted in a timely manner and approved before the requested leave date.
- If approved, the student is responsible for contacting professors regarding the material covered, exams, assignments due, or any other requirements needed to successfully complete the semester.
Leave of absence (consecutive semesters - 12 months)
- The student is responsible for working with the FGSBS office to complete the Leave of Absence Form.
- The Leave of Absence Form must be submitted to the FGSBS graduate council for approval. The FGSBS graduate council reserves the right to approve, reject, or suggest modifications to the leave of absence request.
- The Leave of Absence Form must be fully approved by the required parties in order to be considered official.
- It is the responsibility of the student to ensure the Leave of Absence Form is submitted in a timely manner and approved before the requested leave date.
- If approved, the FGSBS office will notify the Registrar’s office and submit the required documents.
Full-Time Study
FGSBS semesters are 16 weeks-long ( fall and spring), 15 weeks of instruction plus one week for final examinations. Full-time enrollment status requires 9 credit hours per semester. Students receiving (a) scholarship(s) must meet full-time enrollment status each semester.
Mandatory Class Attendance
Class attendance is mandatory. In case the student is absent, it is the responsibility of the student to inform the course director or the FGSBS office right away of the absence. More than three (3) unjustified absences may lead to disciplinary action or dismissal.
- The FGSBS considers tardiness as disruptive and will be monitored.
- Habitual tardiness may lead to disciplinary action or dismissal.
- The FGSBS course directors provide the students with explicit written information within the course syllabus regarding the penalty incurred for each absence and the means, if any, to compensate for the absence.
- It should be recognized that there may be certain situations where the student may not be permitted to make up the absence(s).
- Excused absences are determined by the course director.
Extracurricular Activities
Graduate students may participate in extracurricular activities within the guidelines TTUHSC El Paso policies.
Students’ Responsibilities
All FGSBS students are responsible to become thoroughly familiar with the TTUHSC El Paso Institutional Student Handbook: Code of Professional and Academic Conduct, the L. Frederick Francis Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Student Handbook, and the L. Frederick Francis Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Student Catalog.
- Failure to follow the regulations and requirements almost inevitably results in complications for which the FGSBS cannot assume responsibility.
Scholarships
The FGSBS seeks to continually recruit and retain the best quality students. In support of that goal, the FGSBS offers scholarships to all master’s students who maintain good academic standing throughout the course of their studies.
- In order to maintain the FGSBS scholarship, master students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 or better per semester.
Transfer Credit
Work completed at another graduate school is not transferred to the FGSBS programs. Graduate credit is not granted for courses taken by correspondence.
Waiving Academic Requirements
There is no automatic waiving of academic requirements at the FGSBS.
Student Advising
- Faculty members serve as student advisors and mentors. Graduate students are paired with a faculty mentor for all their laboratory research activities.
- Group and one-on-one advice is available for all FGSBS students.
- It is the responsibility of the student to contact the course director or faculty when tutoring and/ or advising is needed.
- Some group tutoring is also available and conducted by course directors or organized through the Graduate Student Association (GSA).
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