Welcome Letter

* QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, PROBLEMS:
For non-academic concerns, contact a counselor in the CNS Dean's office, WCH 1.106, 512-471-4536, as soon as possible. DO NOT WAIT until the end of the semester. If you make this contact after the deadline date for Q/F drops, the CNS counselors will be specifically reviewing for emergency concerns happening after the drop deadline. *

For academic questions contact your assigned advisor. Advisor assignments are in process and should be completed soon. You may verify your advisor assignment by going to the CNS student services web site: https://utdirect.utexas.edu/ns/  . If you cannot find an advisor assignment, contact the CNS Dean's Office, WCH 1.106, 512-471-4536.

Concurrent enrollment at another educational institituion, through UT correspondence, or UT Extension, MUST BE PRE-APPROVED using the on-line petition at https://utdirect.utexas.edu/ns/
To receive approval:
(1) discuss your educational plan with your academic advisor;
(2) during the fall/spring semesters: you must be enrolled full-time (at least 12  hours) in residence at UT;
(3) you may NOT take science and math courses required by the major (except in summer sessions, and this is not recommended).

GPA/SCHOLASTIC PROBATION:
If you have less than a 2.0 GPA, you have been placed on scholastic probation by The University.  With the exception of the summer session, you must do a CNS Grade Contract every semester that you have less than a 2.0 GPA and are enrolled in the College of Natural Sciences. CNS Grade Contracts are to be submitted no later than the fifth class day at https://utdirect.utexas.edu/ns/

REPEAT OF COURSES:
No student may enroll in any course offered in the College of Natural Sciences more than twice, even if it is needed to meet degree requirements, without first obtaining written consent of her/his major advisor and from the department offering the course.  A symbol of Q counts as an enrollment unless the Q was approved by the CNS Appeals Committee in the Dean's office for non-academic reasons. Some departments in the College of Natural Sciences may have additional requirements for students who repeat courses.

PASS/FAIL:
A minimum of 30 hours of completed college work is required to take a class on a pass/fail basis.  A class taken pass/fail will be used ONLY as an elective.  It may NOT be used for any specific requirement or option for your major or degree unless that course is only offered on a pass/fail basis. If you pass, a grade of CR will be on your record. If you fail, an F will be on your record.

DROP DEADLINES:
It is your responsibility to be aware of these deadlines.
     Q - indicates that a course is dropped without academic penalty. (A grade of Q will be on the transcript)
     Q/F - instructor assigns Q or F based on grade in class
     Nonacademic Q drops or withdrawals - through the CNS Dean's Office. Examples are documented
           illness or death in the family.

ADVISING CENTERS:
Each major has an academic advisor available through the Advising Centers.  If you have an advising bar, you may be required to see an Advisor.

LOCAL ADDRESS & PHONE NUMBER, EMAIL:
Get and use a UT e-mail address; it is free to UT students. E-mail is an official means for The University of Texas to communicate with students. To claim your e-mail address go to:
    http://www.utexas.edu/its/umbs/answers/steps.html
It is your responsibility to regulary read e-mails sent to you by The University, the College, and your academic advisor.  If you use a different e-mail server, the UT e-mails may be treated as spam.

CNS Alerts will be sent to the email address on file with the Registrar; check regularly.  Keep your information updated at http://www.utexas.edu/student/registrar/rose/

Go to https://utdirect.utexas.edu/ns/ to review and complete your CNS Advising Worksheet; this needs to be done prior to pre-registration or before seeing your advisor for an advising bar.

Go to https://utdirect.utexas.edu for your own UT homepage!

We hope that you have a wonderful experience in our College and in all your educational endeavors.  Contact us if we can be of assistance in any way.

The College of Natural Sciences