2016-2017 lamar state college port arthur catalog

8/18/2019 2016-2017 Lamar State College Port Arthur Catalog

1/131

Lamar State College-Port Arthur

Catalog

2016

2017

MEMBER TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION INSTITUTION

WWW.LAMARPA.EDU

April 20, 2016


2/131

Page 1 of 130

Lamar State College-Port Arthur

Volume 39, Number 1Published 4.20.16

2016-2017 Catalog

Street Address 1500 Procter Street

Port Arthur, Texas 77641

Mailing Address P.O. Box 310

Port Arthur, Texas 77641

Phone Numbers(409) 983-4921 or (800) 477-5872

Web site www.lamarpa.edu

Thirty-ninth annual college catalog with announcements for 2016-2017.

The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute a contract, expressed or implied, between Lamar State CollegePort Arthur and any applicant, student or faculty member. The College reserves the right to make changes in thepolicies, regulations, and modify courses scheduled.

Lamar State College Port Arthur is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commissionon Colleges (SACSCOC) to award degrees at the associate level. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call (404) 679-4500, at http://www.sacs.org for questions aboutthe accreditation of Lamar State College Port Arthur.

Lamar State College Port Arthur is an equal opportunity/affirmative action educational institution and employer.Students, faculty and staff members are selected without regard to their race, color, creed, handicap, age, sex ornational origin, consistent with the Assurance of Compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964;Executive Order 11246 as issued and amended; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended; andSection 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

http://www.lamarpa.edu/http://www.lamarpa.edu/http://www.lamarpa.edu/


3/131

Lamar State College Port Arthur

2016-2017 Catalog

Page 2 of 130

Contents Academic Calendar ............. ............. ............. .......... 5

Admissions ............ ............. ............. ............. ........ 11

Tuition and Fees................................................... 26

Financial Aid ............. ............. .............. ............. ... 33 Students with Disabilities ........................ ............ 37

Academic Policies ............. ............. ............. .......... 37

Graduation ............ ............. ............. ............. ........ 43

Student Center ............ ............. .............. ............. . 46

Academic Advising ............. ............. ............. ........ 47

Bookstore.............................................................. 47

Job Placement & Career Guidance ............. .......... 47

Disability Services ............ ............. ............. .......... 47

Student Housing................................................... 48

Student Organizations ................ ............. ............ 48

Parking................................................................. 57

Campus Security ........... .............. ............. ............ 58 Counseling Services................ ............. .............. ... 58

Fitness Center ............. ............. .............. ............. . 58

Intercollegiate Athletics .............. ............. ............ 59

Technology Services ................. .............. ............. . 59

Academic and Technical Programs ............. .......... 59

Academic Programs ............ ............. ............. ........ 60

Core Curriculum ............ ............. ............. ...... 60

Transfer Programs .......... ............. .............. ... 61

Technical Education Programs ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... . 61 General Education Requirements for Associateof Applied Science Degrees ................ ............ 62

Core Curriculum ............ ............. ............. ...... 62 Department of Allied Health ...................... .......... 63

Admission to Selective Programs ............. ...... 63

Drug and Alcohol Abuse CounselingProgram ............ ............. ............. ............. ...... 64

Nurse Aide Certificate ............ ............. .......... 74

Surgical Technology Program ....................... . 65

Upward Mobility Nursing Program ............ ... 66

Vocational Nursing Program ............. ............ 68

Department of Business and Technology............. . 70

Emphasis in Business Administration ....... ... 71

Accounting Program ............. ............. ............ 71

Automotive Technology ............ ............. ........ 72 Computer Information Systems (CIS) . .......... 73

Software Developer ............. ............. ............. 73

Computer Programmer ...................... ........... 73

Graphic Design Program ............ ............. ...... 74

Cosmetology Programs ............ .............. ........ 75 Instrumentation Technology ....................... .. 77

Office Administration ............ .............. .......... 78

Office Administration Program ............. ........ 79

Medical Office Administration ................ ...... 80

Medical Coding Program ............ ............. ...... 81

Paralegal Program ............ ............. ............. .. 82

Process Technology Program ............ ............. 82

Department of Commercial Music ....................... 84

Emphasis in EC-12 Music ............ ............. .... 84

Audiovisual Production Program ............ ...... 85

Commercial Music–Performance Program .... 85

Commercial Music–Sound EngineerProgram ........................................................ 86

Live Sound Design and Technology ............. .. 87

Department of Developmental Education ............ 88

Student Success Center (SSC) ............. .......... 88

Department of Health, Fitness & Sports.............. 88

Emphasis in Kinesiology ............ ............. ...... 89

Emphasis in Physical Education ............. ...... 89

Department of Liberal Arts ............. ............. ........ 90

Emphasis in Academic Studies ............. ........ 90

Emphasis in Drama ....................... ............. .. 90

Emphasis in EC-12 Art ............ ............. ........ 91

Emphasis in Studio Art ............ ............. ........ 91 Emphasis in EC-12 Theater Arts .................. 91

Department of Mathematics & Science ............ .... 92

Emphasis in Criminal Justice ............. .......... 92

Workforce Training & Continuing Education ...... 93

Courses ................................................................ 94

Faculty ............................................................... 121

Internet Links ............. ............. ............. ............. 127

Phone Numbers ................................................. 127

Enrollment Counselors ............ ............. ............. 127

Campus Map ............. ............. ............. ............. .. 130


4/131


2016-2017 Catalog

Page 3 of 130

Calendars

Holiday Calendar

September 20165 Labor Day. No classes, offices closed.

November 2016

23 Thanksgiving Holiday begins. Offices closeat 5 p.m.; no evening classes.

24-25 Thanksgiving Holidays. No classes, officesclosed.

January 2017

2 New Year’s Day Holiday. No classes, officesclosed.

16 MLK Day. No classes, offices closed.

March 2017

13-17 Spring Break. No classes, offices open.

April 2017

14 Good Friday. No classes, offices open.

May 2017

29 Memorial Day. No classes, offices closed.

July 2017

4 Independence Day. No classes, offices closed.

Advising/Graduation Calendar

August 2016

4 New Student Orientation.

September 2016

1 Application for December 2016 Graduationbegins.

30 Distribution of Spring Class Schedule.

November 2016

2 Last day to apply for fall graduation and payfor diploma, cap, and gown.

7 Registration for Spring Semester begins.

December 2016

9 Graduation Ceremony, 6:30 p.m.

January 2017

23 Application for the May 2017 graduationbegins.

March 2017

20 Distribution of Summer and Fall SemesterClass Schedule.

April 2017

6 Last day to apply for spring graduation andpay for diploma, cap, and gown.

3 Registration for Summer and FallSemesters begins.

May 2017

12 Commencement at 6:30 pm.

June 2017

13 New student orientation

July 2017


August 2017


Academic Calendar

Fall 2016 Semester

August 2016

12 Deadline to receive bacterial meningitisimmunization.

15 Students dropped from classes for non-payment.

22 First class day.

September 2016

7 Census date.


20 First Installment Loan payment due

28 Last day to drop a course or withdrawwithout academic penalty.

October 2016 25 Semester is 60% complete. Critical date for

financial aid students.

25 Short Term Loan payment due.

25 Second Installment Loan payment due.

25 Book Loan payment due.

November 2016


5/131


2016-2017 Catalog

Page 4 of 130

2 Last day to drop a course or withdraw with penalty.

30 Last class day.

December 2016

1-7 Final exams.

Fall I Semester 2016 (8 wks)

August 2016


22 First class day.

29 Census date.

September 2016


21 Semester is 60% complete. Critical date for

financial aid students.7 Last day to drop a course or withdraw

without academic penalty.

October 2016


12 Last class day.

12 Final Exams.

Fall II Semester 2016 (8 wks)

October 2015


17 First class day.

20 Last day for tuition payment.

24 Census date.

November 2016



16 Semester is 60% complete. Critical date forfinancial aid students.

30 Last day to drop a course or withdraw with academic penalty.

December 2016

7 Last class day.

7 Final exams.

Spring 2017 Semester (16 wks)

January 2017

7 Deadline to receive bacterial meningitisimmunization for Spring Semester.


17 First class day.

February 2017

13 Census day.


21 First Installment Loan payment due.

March 2017



28 Second Installment Loan Payment due.

28 Short Term Loan due.

28 Book Loan Payment due.

April 2017

19 Last day to drop with academic penalty.

May 2017

3 Last Class Day.

4-10 Final Exams.

Spring I Semester 2017 (8 wks) January 2017

9 Students dropped from classes for non-

payment.17 First class day.

24 Census date.

February 2017




March 2017

8 Last class day.8 Final Exams.


Spring II Semester 2017 (8 wks)

March 2017



6/131


2016-2017 Catalog

Page 5 of 130

20 First class day.

27 Census date.

April 2017




May 2017


10 Last class day.

10 Final Exams.

Summer I Semester 2017

May 2017

26 Deadline to receive meningitisimmunization for Summer I Semester.


June 2017

5 First Class Day.

8 Census date.

14 First day to drop or withdraw without academic penalty.




July 2017


6 Last class day

6 Final Exams

Summer II Semester 2017

June 2017

30 Deadline to receive bacterial meningitisimmunization for Summer II Semester.

July 2017


10 First class day.

23 Census date.




August 2017



10 Final class day.

10 Final Exams.

Summer III Semester 2017 (8 wks)

May 2017


June 2017

26 Deadline to receive meningitisimmunization.

5 First class day.

14 Census date.


19 Last day to drop a course or withdraw

without academic penalty.

July 2017



26 Last class day.

26 Final Exams.

NOTE: The 60% date is important for financial aidstudents who withdraw during a semester. Itdetermines what reimbursements they may have tomake to grant or loan programs. For details, see the

“Financial Aid” section.


7/131


2016-2017 Catalog

Page 6 of 130

Texas State University System

Board of Regents

Charlie Amato (2016) San Antonio

Veronica Muzquiz Edwards (2021) San Antonio

Jaime Garza, Chairman (2016) San Antonio

David Montagne (2021) Beaumont

Vernon Reaser III (2019) Bellaire

Rossanna Salazar (2016) Austin

William Scott (2018) Nederland

Alan L. Tinsley (2021) Madisonville

Donna N. Williams (2016) Arlington

Spencer Copeland, Student Regent (2016) Huntsville

TSUS System Administration

Brian McCall, Ph.D. Chancellor

John Hayek, Ph.D. Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Fernando C. Gomez, J.D., Ph.D. Vice Chancellor and General Counsel

Sean Cunningham, J.D. Vice Chancellor for Governmental Relations andEducational Policy

Roland K. Smith, Ph.D. Vice Chancellor for Finance

Peter Graves, J.D. Vice Chancellor for Contract Administration

Rob Roy Parnell Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities

Diane Corley, J.D. Associate Vice Chancellor for Legislative and SystemOperations

Cletus Bianchi Executive Director of Texas State University SystemFoundation

Carole M. Fox, C.P.A. Director of Audits and Analysis

Mike Wintemute Director, Governmental Relations andCommunications

Kelly Wintemute System Compliance Specialist


Executive and Academic Administration

Dr. Betty Reynard President

Dr. Gary Stretcher Vice President for Academic Affairs

Mary Wickland, C.P.A. Vice President for Finance

Dr. Deborrah Hebert Dean of Student Services

Sheila Trahan Dean of Technical Programs

Peter Kaatrude Dean of Library Science

Dr. Ben Stafford Dean of WorkforceTraining and Continuing Education

J. Mark Knowles Director, Institutional EffectivenessSheila Guillot Chair, Department of Business and Technology

Dr. Percy Jordan Chair, Department of Math and Science

Sherry Steele Chair, Department of Developmental Education

Dr. Barbara Huval Chair, Department of Liberal Arts

John Freyermuth Chair, Department of Music Department


8/131


2016-2017 Catalog

Page 7 of 130

General Information Accreditation

Lamar State College Port Arthur is accredited by theSouthern Association of Colleges and SchoolsCommission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to awarddegrees at the associate level. Contact theCommission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane,Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call (404) 679-4500,at http://www.sacs.org for questions about theaccreditation of Lamar State College Port Arthur.

The College is approved by the Texas Education Agency for training veterans under allclassifications. The College is also a member of orapproved by the American Bar Association, theCommission on Accreditation of Allied HealthEducation Programs (CAAHEP), the Texas

Department of Aging and Disability Services, theTexas Certification Board of AddictionProfessionals, the Texas Department of Licensingand Regulation, the Texas Board of Nursing, the

Accreditation Review Council on Education inSurgical Technology and Surgical Assisting(ARC/STSA), the U.S. Department of Education andthe Veterans Administration.

Government A board of nine regents, appointed by the Governorand confirmed by the State Senate for terms of sixyears, governs the Texas State University System.The Board of Regents delegates the direction ofaffairs to the president, campus administrativeofficers, and faculty.

History John W. Gates of New York City, one of the foundersof Texaco, established Port Arthur Business Collegein 1909, to train people for the petrochemicalindustry, then in its infancy. The College becamePort Arthur Collegiate Institute in 1911, when theschool was presented to the Board of Education ofthe Methodist Episcopal Church North, a forerunnerof the present United Methodist Temple.

The church operated the growing campus until 1918,when it was turned over to a non-profit Texascorporation, which had no capital stock and wasoverseen by a self-perpetuating board of trustees.The name of the school was changed back to Port

Arthur Business College and finally, in 1932, to Port Arthur College.

Another milestone in the school’s history wasreached July 31, 1974, when W. Sam Monroe,President of Port Arthur College and a Lamar

University regent, presented a resolution to mergethe College into Lamar University. The 21 trustees

agreed that a merger would be in the best interestsof both institutions and their constituencies.

The 64th Texas Legislature authorized the mergerand appropriated $600,000 for creation of the LamarUniversity Center at Port Arthur. On Aug. 21, 1975,the trustees presented the deed for Port ArthurCollege to the Lamar University Board of Regents.Classes began on the Port Arthur campus on Aug.28, 1975.

In the years following the merger, enrollment

increased from 151 students to a peak of more than3,000 and the curriculum expanded to more than 50areas of study.

In 1977, the 65th Legislature approved House Bill1134 renaming the school Lamar University-Port

Arthur and dropping the “Extension Center”designation.

In 1983, the 68th Legislature passed three bills thatdirectly affected the College:

1. Senate Bill 409 deleted the restrictive languageof HB 130 (passed in 1971 by the 63rdLegislature), making Lamar University-Port

Arthur eligible, on an equal basis with otherstate institutions, for state funds to be used tobuy land and/or buildings.

2. Senate Bill 410 provided Lamar Universityregents with the authority to levy a fixedstudent fee and the authority to bond againstsaid fee for construction of a Student Center onthe Port Arthur campus. This legislation wasvalidated by a majority vote of the Lamar

John Gates


9/131


2016-2017 Catalog

Page 8 of 130

University-Port Arthur student body inNovember 1983.

3. Senate Bill 620 created the Lamar UniversitySystem. Lamar University-Port Arthur thusbecame a component institution of that systemon Aug. 29, 1983.

In 1985, two bills affected the school:

1. Senate Bill 578 in 1985 provided that LamarUniversity-Port Arthur be a beneficiaryinstitution and receive money from the HigherEducation Assistance Fund.

2. The General Appropriations Act of 1985directed that a formula be developed by theTexas Higher Education Coordinating Board toprovide operational funding to LamarUniversity-Port Arthur on the same basis asother state-supported institutions of highereducation.

Senate Bill 78 in 1989 removed restrictions imposedby earlier legislation on the acquisition of real estateand the construction of facilities on campus.

Senate Bill 843 in 1991 clarified the degree-grantingauthority by allowing Lamar University-Port

Arthur to issue associate degrees in its own name.

On Sept. 1, 1995, the Texas Legislature dissolvedthe Lamar University System, and LamarUniversity-Port Arthur and its three sisterinstitutions in Orange and Beaumont joined The

Texas State University System, which isheadquartered in Austin and also includes SamHouston State University, Texas State Universityand Sul Ross State University.

House Bill 1297, signed June 1999, changed thename of the school to Lamar State College-Port

Arthur.

Location

Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) is a two-year, state-supported institution located in Port

Arthur, an industrial and cultural center ofsoutheast Texas. The College offers freshman andsophomore level work in numerous academic andtechnical disciplines. The campus sits between the1000 and 1800 blocks of Procter Street andLakeshore Drive.

Port Arthur has modern public schools, churches,shopping districts and recreation areas serving a

community of approximately 70,000 persons.Principal industries in the area are oil refining,chemical production, shipping and shipbuilding.

The metropolitan area, known as the GoldenTriangle, includes Port Arthur and the cities ofBeaumont, Bridge City, Groves, Orange, PortNeches, Nederland and Vidor, all of which arelocated within 25 miles of Port Arthur and form theheart of the upper Texas Gulf Coast whereapproximately 385,000 people live.

Mission and Core Values

MissionLamar State College-Port Arthur, a member of TheTexas State University System, is an open-access,comprehensive public two-year college offeringquality and affordable instruction leading toassociate degrees and a variety of certificates. TheCollege embraces the premise that education is anongoing process that enhances career potential,broadens intellectual horizons, and enriches life.

Goals• Provide educational opportunities flexible in

scheduling, location, delivery method andcontent.

• Offer freshman and sophomore generaleducation/core curriculum courses, which will

transfer to traditional baccalaureate degreeprograms.

• Provide opportunities to acquire informationliteracy skills, common to all disciplines.

• Provide instruction and/or support services toimprove the potential for employment and/oroccupational advancement.

• Provide students with personal attention in abroad range of student service activities,

educational support services for instructionalprograms, and provide responsible oversight ofthe College’s physical and financial resources

• Enhance institutional advancement effortstargeted toward the needs of local communities,economic development and communitypartnerships, and provide cultural enrichmentopportunities, both on and off campus.


10/131


2016-2017 Catalog

Page 9 of 130

Core Values • Shared commitment by faculty, staff and

administration to a mission characterized bystudent learning, diversity, and communityinvolvement.

• General education/core curriculum thatdevelops the values and concepts that allow thestudent to make a meaningful contribution inthe workplace or community.

• Academic and technical programs designed tofulfill our commitment to accommodatestudents with diverse goals and backgrounds,using a variety of delivery methods, on and offcampus.

• Technical education programs that provide forthe acquisition of the knowledge, skills andbehavior necessary for initial and continuedemployment.

• Student achievement characterized byattainment of individual goals and measured by

successful accomplishments and completion ofcurriculum.

• Co-curricular opportunities that develop social,financial and civic acuity.

Principles

Lamar State College Port Arthur operates in thebelief that all individuals should be:

• Treated with dignity and respect;

• Afforded equal opportunity to acquire acomplete educational experience;

• Given an opportunity to discover and developtheir special aptitudes and insights; and,

• Provided an opportunity to equip themselves fora fulfilling life and responsible citizenship in aworld characterized by change.

Facilities

The Lamar State College Port Arthur campuscontains 28 buildings situated on approximately 40acres. Most of these facilities were donated for thecreation of the institution, including contributionsfrom Port Arthur College, the City of Port Arthur,the Port Arthur College Foundation, Southern

Union Gas, the First United Methodist Church ofPort Arthur and the Daughters of the AmericanRevolution.

Gates Memorial Library The Gates Memorial Library is one of the mostattractive academic library buildings in Texas. Thetwo-story Classical Revival building was enteredinto the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

After a major $2.1 million addition and renovationcompleted in 2004, the library now includes a 50-station open student computer lab, a quiet studycarrel area, group study areas, a periodical reading

room, extensive stack areas, individual audio-visualrooms, a multi-purpose conference room andexpanded reference and access services areas.Plenty of soft seating inside the library complementsan idyllic outside fountain garden surrounded byyear-around patio seating.

The online public access catalog is available 24hours a day on or off campus and is part of a systemthat automates the major library components.

The library is open five days per week for a total of58 hours during regular semesters.

Collections are developed in support of all of thecollege’s educational programs.

Materials are accessible in many formats, includingpaper, DVDs, CD-ROMs, videotapes and online.Through password authentication, students andfaculty have continuous access to the library’selectronic holdings, from anywhere on or off campus.

The total volume count numbers more than 55,000. An e-book collection provides an additional 29,000titles. The total periodical count numbers more than


11/131


2016-2017 Catalog

Page 10 of 130

38,000 subscriptions in both paper and electronicformats. Special areas feature a law collection, atextbook collection, a career collection, a children’scollection, a Texana collection, a rare book collectionand a best-seller collection.

The Gates Library is a member of AMIGOS

Bibliographic Council, which provides inter-libraryloan services to more than 400 libraries statewideand 20,000 libraries worldwide. Other affiliationsincluded the Consortium of Academic Libraries andLearning.

Resources and TexShare, which provides on-siteborrowing services for LSCPA students and facultyat most academic libraries statewide. Students alsomay use their student ID to check out materials atLamar University, Lamar Institute of Technology,Lamar State College-Orange and the Port ArthurPublic Library.

Student Success Center

The Student Success Center (SSC) provides help forstudents needing assistance with study skills orremediation in the areas of math, English andreading. Computer-aided tutorial programs andteacher certified tutors are available to students.The Student Success Center houses a testing centerand administers approved tests for TSI purposesand other diagnostic tests.

Small Business Development Center The Small Business Development Center supportseconomic development in Port Arthur, Groves,Nederland and Port Neches by providing counseling,training and technical assistance to owners andmanagers of new and existing small businesses.

The center offers confidential consulting on a varietyof topics, including business plan preparation,finance sources, marketing, personnel actions, taxes

and regulations. The center’s library providesadditional information about many business fields.

Since its inception, the SBDC has created 2,340 jobs,assisted in obtaining more than $81 million inloans/equity, helped start 307 new business, held505 business training classes and assisted 3,440

clients.The SBDC, 1401 Procter St., works in associationwith Lamar State College-Port Arthur, theUniversity of Houston and the U.S. Small Business

Administration.

The Museum of the Gulf CoastThe Museum of the Gulf Coast, 700 Procter St. inhistoric downtown Port Arthur, uses creativeapproaches and outstanding programs to tell thehistory of the Upper Gulf Coast and its rich culturalheritage. The museum, which opened July 2, 1994traces its origins to the chartering of the Port Arthur

Museum in 1964.The museum has grown into one of the mostsignificant educational and tourist attractions inSoutheast Texas and Southwest Louisiana.

Among its permanent exhibits are features on thegeology and prehistory of the region, its earliestinhabitants, the first European contacts and theestablishment of the oil industry.

The museum also features the Snell Gallery, whichis dedicated to the decorative arts. Popular cultureexhibits focus on figures such as Janis Joplin and theBig Bopper in the music world and Coach JimmyJohnson and Babe Zaharias in sports.

A replica of Janis Joplin’s car is a major attractionat the Museum of the Gulf Coast.


12/131


2016-2017 Catalog

Page 11 of 130

AdmissionsLamar State College Port Arthur welcomes studentsinterested in education and personal improvement.The Admission Office provides complete admissions

assistance for entering students. Professionallytrained personnel assist prospective students inassembling all admission credentials so that atransition into the college environment can be assmooth and problem free as possible.Correspondence pertaining to admissions should beaddressed to the Admissions Office, Lamar StateCollege Port Arthur, P.O. Box 310, Port Arthur, TX77641.

Lamar State College Port Arthur, a two-year collegein The Texas State University System, offerseducational opportunities through an openadmissions policy which admits students who canbenefit from post-secondary education. Lamar StateCollege Port Arthur admits students without regardto race, color, creed, gender, age, national origin ordisabilities. Lamar State College Port Arthur doesreserve the right to verify the citizenship andresidency of any prospective student.

A student may be admitted to Lamar State CollegePort Arthur based on one of the following criteria:

• High School Graduate• High School Graduate of Non-Accredited High

School• High School Completer• GED Certificate Holder• Dual Credit Student• Home School Graduate• Returning Student• Transfer Student• International Student• Early Admissions High School Student

All methods of admission listed above requirecompletion of an Application for Admission.

Applications can be found online atwww.lamarpa.edu or at the Admission Office.

Admission to Lamar State College Port Arthur doesnot guarantee admission to specific courses orprograms of study. Prerequisites and co-requisitesare required for some courses.

Bacterial MeningitisEffective January 1, 2012, students applying toLamar State College Port Arthur must have hada bacterial meningitis vaccine.

A student who has been admitted to an institutionof higher education or private or independent

institution of higher education, must show evidenceof receipt of an initial bacterial meningitisvaccination dose or booster during the five-year

period preceding and at least ten (10) days prior tothe first day of the first semester in which thestudent initially enrolls at an institution, orfollowing a break in enrollment of at least one fall orspring semester at the same or another institution.

A student is not required to submit evidence ofreceiving the vaccination against bacterialmeningitis if the student meets any of the followingcriteria:

1. The student is 22 years of age or older by thefirst day of the start of the semester or

2. The student is enrolled in a continuingeducation course or program that is less than360 contact hours, or continuing educationcorporate training; or

3. The student is enrolled in a dual credit coursewhich is taught at a public or private K-12facility not located on a higher educationinstitution campus; or

4. The student is incarcerated in a Texas prison.

5. An affidavit or certificate signed by a physicianwho is duly registered and licensed to practicemedicine in the United States, stating that inthe physician's opinion, the vaccination wouldbe injurious to the health and well-being of the

student; or6. An affidavit signed by the student stating that

the student declines the vaccination for reasonsof conscience, including a religious belief. Aconscientious exemption form from the TexasDepartment of State Health Services (DSHS)must be used, or

7. Confirmation that the student has completedthe Internet-based Department of State HealthServices to claim an exemption for reasons ofconscience (for entering students at public

junior colleges only).

The Campus SaVE Act: Campus SexualViolence Elimination ActThe Campus SaVE Act signifies a defining momentin our nation's handling of sexual assault, domesticviolence, dating violence, and stalking on collegecampuses. With the work of the White House TaskForce to Protect Students from Sexual Assault, thisissue has gained national attention signalingpositive change and action to improve the lives ofmany thousands of students.


13/131


2016-2017 Catalog

Page 12 of 130

Effective with the Fall 2014 semester, the CampusSexual Violence Elimination Act addresses many ofthe secondary issues surrounding sexual assault. Itdefines what terms such as ‘sexual assault’ and‘stalking’ mean within the bill, as well as outlinesthe rights that victims have when reporting crimesand seeking legal help. Educational programs

focused on prevention and raising awareness oncollege campuses are also provided for within thebill.

The bill requires that every college and universitynationwide to provide such training for all students,faculty and staff. Any questions regarding therequirements associated with the provisions of this

Act may be addressed by contacting the Dean ofStudent Services and or the Human ResourcesDepartment.

CommunicationLamar State College Port Arthur uses a student’scollege email address for official communicationswith students. In some instances, telephonemessages are broadcast to select student groups.Examples of information communicated to studentsinclude policy announcements, emergency notices,event notifications, financial aid information,schedule changes, course syllabi and requirements,correspondence between faculty and students, andother important information. Correspondence isemailed to the student's official LSCPA emailaddress.

In order for students to receive official email

communications and telephone communications,students must maintain a @lamarpa.edu emailaccount. It is strongly recommended that studentsmonitor their @lamarpa.edu email account on adaily basis.

Students must also report any changes in telephonenumbers and mailing address to the AdmissionsOffice. Students that need assistance with theiremail account should contact the Help DeskCoordinator (409-984-6150).

Emergency Communication

The College uses the Emergency Communications

System (eLERTS) to notify students, faculty andstaff about emergencies or dangerous situations thatare believed to be an immediate threat to health orsafety, including school closures related to weatheror other circumstances.

In the event of an emergency or need for the Collegeto make a mass notification, all students, faculty andstaff will be contacted electronically (emails and/orphones and/or text message). Phone numbers andemail addresses in the College system are

automatically enrolled in the eLERTS system. Whenactivated, the Emergency Notification System willsend email, text messages and automated phonecalls. If you want to modify contact information youmust do so through your My.Lamarpa.edu account.

Warnings also are released to area media by the

college Public Information Office, and are posted onthe front page of the college website

(www.lamarpa.edu).

My.Lamarpa.eduLamar State College Port Arthur uses yourMy.Lamarpa.edu email account as a primary pointof contact. It is important that you secure or getassistance with your password as soon as possible soyou are able to view important announcements andother communications.

Your My.Lamarpa.edu account can be checked onany computer with internet access including

computers on campus. Students are stronglyencouraged to log into their My.Lamarpa.eduaccount DAILY.

For assistance with email accounts, contact theMy.Lamarpa.edu, Help Desk Coordinator at 409-984-6150.

WiFiStudents have access to wireless internet service ineach building on campus.

For assistance with WiFi access, contact the HelpDesk Coordinator at 409-984-6150.

Mobile AppThe MyLamarPA Mobile app is a convenient set ofmobile-friendly resources for students, faculty,alumni, future students and visitors of LSCPA.Features include Social Media, Videos, Library,

Campus Security, AthleticNews, Appointments, AccountManagement, Class Schedule,Lookup Classes, Add/DropClasses, Holds, and FinalGrades.

The MyLamarPA Mobile appis FREE to all students,faculty, staff, alumni, andvisitors at LSCPA. The appcan be downloaded from the

Apple's App Store for iPhone,iPod, and iPad or from

Google's Android Marketplace for Android devices.The MyLamarPA Mobile app provides access topublic and private resources from the convenience ofyour phone.

http://www.lamarpa.edu/http://www.lamarpa.edu/http://www.lamarpa.edu/https://itunes.apple.com/bt/app/mylamarpa-mobile/id1062303831?mt=8https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kryptosmobile.LSChttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kryptosmobile.LSChttps://itunes.apple.com/bt/app/mylamarpa-mobile/id1062303831?mt=8http://www.lamarpa.edu/


14/131


2016-2017 Catalog

Page 13 of 130

Categories of Students

High School Graduate (First Time inCollege)High school graduates must apply and submit anofficial high school transcript. LSCPA recommendsthat students apply to LSCPA by submitting anapplication online at ApplyTexas.org . Students whoplan to complete a degree must also submit theresults of the Texas Success Initiative AssessmentTest (TSI Test).

High School Graduate of Non-

Accredited High School Applicants who did not graduate from an accreditedhigh school may be admitted if they 1) graduated inthe upper two-thirds of their class, 2) score 700 orabove on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and 3)have the recommended high school preparationcredits, or by individual approval provided the

admitting officer is convinced that the applicant’srecord indicates ability to carry the College workassigned.

High School CompleterStudents who do not have a high school diploma,have not passed the TAKS test nor received a GEDmay apply for admission to LSCPA throughindividual approval.

General Educational Development

Credential (GED) Holders

The General Educational Development credential,known as the GED, is not a degree but an alternativeto a high school diploma. It certifies that anindividual has demonstrated academic knowledgeand skills equivalent to a high school graduate.

A holder of a (GED) certificate must submit GEDscores with an LSCPA Application for Admission.

Dual Credit StudentsLamar State College Port Arthur has agreementswith several school districts to offer dual creditcourses for high school students.

High school students attending LSCPA are subjectto all requirements regarding assessment,

admissions, academic standards, and conduct.Interested students should contact an advisor tolearn more about dual credit and exemptions forqualifiying students.

Dual credit students must meet TSI Requirements.For academic courses, TAKS scores of 2200 in mathand/or 2200 in English / Language Arts with awriting sub score of 3 or STAAR scores of 4000.

For workforce education or technical courses, TAKSscores of 2100 in math and/or 2100 in English /Language Arts with a writing sub score of 3 orSTAAR scores of 4000.

Parental permission and permission from the highschool principal or designee is required.

To enroll in Dual Credit courses, students mustapply to LSCPA, complete the Texas ResidencyQuestionnaire, submit an official high schooltranscript, and a submit a copy of TAKS or STAARscores.

Early Admissions High School

StudentLamar State College Port Arthur allows andencourages high school students to enroll in collegecourses in order to get a “head start” on their collegecareers. This is particularly true for students whoare seeking admission into allied health programssoon after high school graduation and wish to satisfythe academic prerequisites for those programs.Early admissions also offers students theopportunity to enroll for courses that are not offeredthrough dual credit programs at their high schoolsbut will be required at the colleges or universitiesthey plan to attend.

The courses would normally be taken in the summerafter the 10th and 11th grades or during the 11th and12th grade years. The courses can be taken on thecollege campus or online. Students will demonstrate

college readiness in the subjects for which they wishto enroll, if college readiness is required.

Early admissions courses differ from dual credit inthat they will not be counted for high school creditor toward high school graduation. Students who areinterested in using these courses to satisfy highschool requirements should contact their highschools counselors for information. Any use ofearned LSCPA credit toward high school graduationis the decision of the high school and must be


15/131


2016-2017 Catalog

Page 14 of 130

approved by the high school prior to enrollment incollege courses.

Home School GraduatesThe State of Texas considers successful completionof a nontraditional secondary education to be

equivalent to graduation from a public high school.Therefore, home school graduates that havecompleted a 'nontraditional secondary education'may register for classes at Lamar State College Port

Arthur. Graduates must complete an applicationand submit an official transcript. Graduates thatapply and register after August 22, 2013 mustcomplete the TSI Assessment Test.

Readmitting Former StudentsFormer LSCPA students or its predecessors who arenot currently enrolled or who were not enrolledduring the previous long semester, must submit anew application for admission.

Students with unsettled financial debts to anyprevious institutions or incomplete records will notbe allowed to register until the problems areresolved.

International StudentsInternational students are entitled to all studentservices and programs for which they are eligibleaccording to law and definition. The College reservesthe right to establish policies for selected groups ofstudents if the policies are in the students’ and theinstitution’s best interest. Applicants will becarefully screened for academic excellence, Englishproficiency, adequate health, and financial self-sufficiency.

International students are encouraged and expectedto participate in student activity and organizationalprograms so as to experience more fully the cultureand lifestyles of southeast Texas. It is the student’sresponsibility to integrate into the campusenvironment; however, the College provides anatmosphere conducive to acceptance ofinternationals and affords them every opportunityto succeed.

The College recognizes this responsibility by settingentrance and exit standards for its non-native

English speakers that take into account theminimum language skills necessary for success inacademic work as well as the minimum standardsthat a diploma from the College represents.

For international students to achieve theireducational objectives, certain academic services areessential. The College provides facilities and staff tomeet those needs. Moreover, the College recognizesthat English language proficiency, and not

citizenship or immigration status alone, is a keycriterion in determining and meeting the needs ofstudents for whom English is a second language.

Individual Approval A person who is eighteen (18) years of age or older

may be exempt from the admission requirementsand admitted on "individual approval," provided theadmitting officer is convinced that the applicant'srecord indicates ability to complete college levelcourses. Students admitted on this condition shall besubject to the same policies and regulations as allother students.

Ability to Benefit Students entering Lamar State College Port Arthurwithout passing the General EducationalDevelopment Test (GED), receiving a high schooldiploma, or a post-secondary degree must show theability to benefit from the course of study they are

pursuing.

These students must show the ability to benefit fromthe course of study they are pursuing by passing anindependently administered test approved by theSecretary of the Department of Education beforeenrollment.

The College administers tests approved by theDepartment of Education to students who have beenaccepted for admission but have not yet enrolled inclasses. The Texas Success Initiative Assessment(TSI) is administered by the Student Success Centerto determine placement in classes and the ability tobenefit from programs offered by the College.

Classification of Students

Students are classified as freshmen or sophomores.For the purpose of determining eligibility to holdcertain offices and for other reasons, officiallyenrolled students are classified as follows:

Freshman: completed less than thirty (30)semester credit hours.

Sophomore: completed a minimum of thirty(30) semester credit hours with a minimum2.0 GPA.

Early College High SchoolThe Early College High School is a partnershipbetween Lamar State College Port Arthur and thePort Arthur Independent School District.Participants in this program are chosen by theschool district. Students classified as high schoolfreshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors


16/131


2016-2017 Catalog

Page 15 of 130

enrolling in college level courses as part of thisprogram must meet the following requirements to beadmitted for concurrent enrollment.

1. Submit a Lamar State College Port Arthuradmission application.

2. Submit official TSI scores.

3. Meet the current academic standing rules ofLSCPA to continue enrollment in college levelcourses.

4. Submit proof of current bacterial meningitisvaccination.

The Early College High School will begin enrolling

students in the Fall 2016 Semester.

Admission CriteriaStudents enrolling in college for the first time who

fit one of these categories may apply for admission:1. Graduate of an accredited high school or earned

a GED certificate.

2. Those who are at least eighteen (18) years of ageand do not have a high school diploma or GEDmay be admitted upon individual approval if itcan be determined there is an ability to benefitin the course of study they propose to enter.

3. Those younger than eighteen (18) years of ageand do not have a diploma or GED may beadmitted upon the written recommendation ofthe principal or superintendent of their lasthigh school.

How to ApplyFuture students may apply for admission on line orby completing a printed application.

1. Schedule an appointment with an EnrollmentCounselor.

2. Complete an application. Apply online toLSCPA at www.ApplyTexas.org or completea paper application and deliver/mail it to the

Admission and Records Office, Lamar StateCollege-Port Arthur, P.O. Box 310, Port Arthur,Texas 77641-0310. To expedite applying,LSCPA recommends that students apply onlineat www.applytexas.org . Online applicationsare processed quicker than printed applications.

3. Apply for financial aid. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid as soon aspossible. Meet with a Financial Aid Advisor longbefore the semester begins.

4. Submit a high school transcripts. Request thatyour high school transcript be sent to the

Admission and Records Office immediately aftergraduation. Partial transcripts beforegraduation may be submitted, but finalcertification of graduation is necessary.

5.

Placement scores. Entering students mustcomplete the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Assessment.

6. Title IX Training. Complete Title IX Trainingonline before the first day of class.

7. Vaccines. Students must receive the bacterialmeningitis vaccine. See Bacterial Meningitis, (page 11) for additional information.

Orientation

Several orientation and registration programs are

scheduled during the summer. These small groupsessions are designed to acquaint new students withcampus facilities and services, and to give eachstudent an opportunity to confer with key advisingstaff and departmental faculty/mentors about anacademic or technical program.

Participation is optional, but is stronglyrecommended.

Registration for the fall semester is completed atthis time and tuition and fees may be paid. Booksmay be purchased or reserved.

Attendance at each session is limited, so advancereservations are strongly encouraged.

Details of the program, including available datesand reservation forms, are sent out followingissuance of acceptance notices. Reservations shouldbe requested early so a convenient date may beselected. Parents are invited to attend andparticipate.

Title IX, Education Amendments Act of 1972Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972(Title IX) prohibits sexual discrimination infederally funded educational programs oractivities. Sexual harassment, which includessexual violence, is a form of sexualdiscrimination. Lamar State College Port Arthur iscommitted to providing an environment that is freefrom all forms of discrimination, includingdiscrimination based on sex. In order to addressconcerns related to sex discrimination on campus,Lamar State College Port Arthur has appointed

Allison Wright as the Title IX Coordinator.

http://www.applytexas.org/http://www.applytexas.org/http://www.applytexas.org/http://www.applytexas.org/http://www.applytexas.org/http://www.applytexas.org/http://www.applytexas.org/http://www.applytexas.org/


17/131


2016-2017 Catalog

Page 16 of 130

Students can file a report for any category of sexualmisconduct including sexual assault, datingviolence, stalking, sexual harassment, domesticviolence, sexual exploitation, and sexualintimidation (cyber-stalking, indecent exposure,etc.).

Students can file a report for someone else, file areport anonymously, and file a report using apseudonym.

Allison Wright, Title IX CoordinatorBusiness Office, Office [email protected]

Title IX TrainingCongress passed legislation that requires newstudents at all colleges and universities to completetraining on sexual assault and violence preventionprior to attending classes. All new and transfer

LSCPA students must complete the online TitleIX/Clery Act Training Course before they register forclass.

Each new and transfer applicant will receive a linkto complete an online training course, ‘Think AboutIt’, from Campus Clarity. Failure to complete thetraining course will prevent potential students fromregistering for class.

‘Think About It’ takes about two to two-and-a-halfhours to complete. Students can work at their ownpace from any computer. The online course allowsthe student to leave and return to the course at anytime. When the student returs, the training will

begin at the point you left. LSCPA will be notifiedwhen you have successfully completed the courseand you can also print a Certificate of Completion.

Texas Success Initiative (TSI)

AssessmentOn August 22, 2013, the Texas Higher EducationCoordinating Board implemented new TexasSuccess Initiative (TSI) rules. The TSI Assessmentis a comprehensive computerized adaptive testingsystem that helps place students into appropriate

college credit courses or developmental courses.Placement and diagnostic exams are offered inmathematics, reading, and writing. Scores areavailable to students upon completion of the exam.

Students registered after the first day of class in theFall 2013 Semester are required to take the TSI

Assessment Exam to determine their college

1 Title 19 TAC §4.54

readiness before enrolling in a college credit bearingcourse. Prior to graduation with an Associate of

Applied Science or Associate of Arts degree, studentsmust complete TSI requirements. Individualsshould consult the website at www.lamarpa.edu forthe most current information on TSI Assessment,testing, placement and exemptions. An assessment

test is required by Texas law to ensure that allgraduates of Texas public colleges possess theacademic skills necessary to perform effectively inthe workplace.

Before testing, students are required to complete theTSI Pre-Assessment Activity, found on the LSCPAwebsite.

Exemptions1

According to Title 19 TAC §4.54, the followingstudents shall be exempt from the requirements ofthe TSI, whereby exempt students shall not berequired to provide any additional demonstration of

college readiness and shall be allowed to enroll inany entry level freshman course.

1. ACT. Composite score of 23 or higher with atleast a 19 on both English and math sections

2. SAT. Combined verbal and math score of 1070with a minimum of 500 on both the verbal testand math test

3. TAKS. Minimum score of 2200 on both theEnglish and/or math sections with at least a 3on the writing component of the 11th gradeTAKS (for a period of 3 years from the date oftesting)

4. STAAR Scores for English. A minimum score ofLevel 2 on the English III STAAR end-of-course(EOC) for reading and writing.

5. STAAR Scores for Mathematics. A minimumscore of Level 2 on the Algebra II STAAR end-of-course (EOC) for mathematics.

6. Previous Degree. A student who has graduatedwith an associate or baccalaureate degree froman institution of higher education.

7. Transfer. Transfer from a private orindependent institution or an accredited out-of-state institution and has satisfactorily

completed college level coursework asdetermined by the receiving institution.

8. Certificate. Enroll in a certificate program ofone year or less (Level One certificates, 42 orfewer semester credit hours or the equivalent)at a public community college, a public technicalinstitute, or a public state college.

mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


18/131


2016-2017 Catalog

Page 17 of 130

9. Military. Veterans and active duty personnelserving for at least 3 years precedingenrollment.

10. Non-degree Seeker. An institution may exempta non-degree-seeking or non-certificate-seekingstudent.

11. ESOL Waiver. An institution may grant atemporary waiver from the assessment requiredunder this title for students with demonstratedlimited English proficiency in order to provideappropriate ESOL/ESL coursework andinterventions. The waiver must be removedprior to the student attempting 15 credit hoursof developmental ESOL coursework orattempting entry-level freshman coursework,whichever comes first, at which time the

student would be administered the TSI Assessment. Funding limits as defined in TexasEducation Code, §51.3062(l)(1) and (2) fordevelopmental education still apply.

Any student who has been determined to be exemptin mathematics, reading, and/or writing shall not be

required to enroll in developmental courseworkand/or interventions in the corresponding area ofexemption.

Placement Guidelines

The TSI Placement Guidelines below are effectivefor students who applied after August 21, 2013 foradmission to Lamar State College Port Arthur.

Texas Success Initiative (TSI)

Assessment Test Scores

(Effective Fall 2016 Semester)

Developmental Courses Academic Courses

Subject TSI Score 1

ST

Level 2

ND

Level 3

RD

Level

Mathematics


19/131


2016-2017 Catalog

Page 18 of 130

Transfer Students

Transfer applicants are considered for admission onthe basis of their previous college records.

Applicants must submit a completed “Application

for Admission” form and official transcripts from allcolleges previously attended. Transfer applicantsmust be in good standing with all institutionspreviously attended, regardless of the length of timein attendance and regardless of whether credit wasearned.

Students on scholastic or disciplinary suspensionfrom another institution must petition the Dean ofTechnical Programs or the Vice President for

Academic Affairs for individual approval.

Students transferring from a Texas public college oruniversity are subject to the same Texas SuccessInitiative requirements that apply to current

students. Therefore, transfer students from Texaspublic colleges and universities who began theircollege careers in the 1989 fall semester or latermust have TSI scores on file from an approved testfor placement purposes. Otherwise, enrollment willbe limited to remedial and/or other courses whichwill not count toward graduation.

Students transferring from a non-Texas publiccollege or university who began their college careerin the 1989 fall semester or later and have notattended college since then must take the TSIassessment test prior to enrollment at Lamar StateCollege Port Arthur.

Placement scores and developmental coursestransferred by students from other regionallyaccredited Texas public institutions of highereducation (IHE) will be honored for initialplacement.

Transfer of Credit

Credit earned at another accredited institution isacceptable for transfer and may be used to meetdegree requirements, provided the courses areapplicable to the program and curriculum in whichthe student enrolls. A transcript evaluator is

employed by the College and the instructional deansmay be consulted to make a final determination inorder to ensure the integrity of programs of study.

Transfer Students and TSITransfer students are subject to the Texas SuccessInitiative requirements (TSI). Students transferringto LSCPA from another Texas public institutionmust meet TSI requirements to enroll. Transferstudents from outside Texas or from a private Texas

college or university who have made a ‘C’ or betterin approved courses for all three skill areas areexempt from TSI. Contact a Student Services

Advisor for additional information.

Transferring CourseworkOfficial transcripts from all colleges or universitiesmust be submitted for evaluation of transfercoursework. Additional documents thatdemonstrate completion of learning from formalcourses sponsored by associations, business,government, industry, and unions will be evaluatedto determine transfer of credit. In some instances,students may be asked to supply additionalinformation to assist in the evaluation of transfercoursework. Failure to provide transcripts from allcolleges or universities attended and/or otherdocumentation of formal courses may result indenial of the awarding of credit.

Students will be notified of acceptance of transferwork. The period of evaluation may be completedprior to enrollment but may occur at the end of thefirst academic term in which the student is enrolled.

Transfer GuidelinesLamar State College Port Arthur accepts transfercoursework from regionally accredited colleges anduniversities, non-regionally accredited colleges anduniversities, military educational training facilities,foreign educational institutions, and limited non-collegiate training facilities.

1. Regionally accredited colleges and universities.

Students must submit all official transcripts fromall colleges attended.

2. Non-regionally accredited colleges anduniversities. Students must submit all officialtranscripts from all colleges attended. Officialtranscripts must be submitted. Additionaldocumentation may be required prior toacceptance of credit. Coursework will beevaluated in terms of level, content, quality,comparability, and degree program relevance.

3. Military educational training programs.Evaluation of military credit is based upon theevaluation recommendations outlined in the

American Council on Education (ACE) Guide toEvaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services manual. Students must submiteither a Form DD214 or Form DD256, and aMilitary Transcript Summary.

4. Foreign educational institutions. Studentswishing to transfer college level work to LamarState College Port Arthur from foreigneducational institutions must have their officialtranscripts evaluated by an evaluation service


20/131


2016-2017 Catalog

Page 19 of 130

approved by Lamar State College Port Arthur.Credit for courses taken at foreign institutionswill be awarded according to the policies outlinedfor transfer students.

5. Non-collegiate training facilities. Credit may beawarded for successful completion of learning

acquired from participation in formal coursessponsored by associations, business, government,industry, and unions to the extent that thematerial is applicable and official certificationand /or documentation of skills or competenciesachieved is provided. Transfer credit for workaccomplished in a non-collegiate setting may alsobe granted upon individual review only for theprograms listed and under the provisionsexpressed in the LSCPA Catalog. Many of therecommendations in the American Council onEducation (ACE) publication The ‘National Guideto Educational Credit for Training Programs’ and‘Transfer Credit Practices of DesignatedEducational Institutions” are used to determinethe award of credit.

The following guidelines may determine the extentof transfer courses, the impact of transfercoursework on grade point average, status atgraduation (honors), and transcripted grades.

1. Grades of ‘C’ or better will be accepted astransfer credit for a course within a degree plan.

2. Courses transferred and applied to a degreeplan will be used in the calculation of thecumulative grade point average.

3. Grades of ‘D’ will be accepted as transfer credit

for a course not within a major. Some programshave additional policies that will not allow agrade of ‘D’ to transfer. Students are advised tocontact individual program advisors for policiesabout the transfer of a grade of ‘D’.

4. Grades of ‘F’ will not transfer to LSCPA.

5. Courses transferred and applied to a degreeplan will be used to determine ‘honors’ upongraduation.

6. At least 25 percent of the semester credit hoursrequired for the degree must be earned atLamar State College Port Arthur.

7.

Acceptance to Lamar State College Port Arthurdoes not constitute acceptance to a particulardegree or certificate program.

Transfer DisputeThe following procedures shall be followed in theresolution of credit transfer disputes involvinglower-division courses:

1. If Lamar State College Port Arthur does notaccept course credit earned by a student atanother institution of higher education, LSCPAshall give written notice to the student and tothe sending institution that transfer of thecourse credit is denied. LSCPA shall providewritten notice of the reasons for denying credit

for a particular course or set of courses at therequest of the sending institution.

2. A student who receives notices as specified initem (1) of this section may dispute the denial ofcredit by contacting a designated official ateither the sending or the receiving institution.

3. The two institutions and the student shallattempt to resolve the transfer of the coursecredit in accordance with The Texas HigherEducation Coordinating Board rules andguidelines.

4. If the transfer dispute is not resolved to the

satisfaction of the student or the sendinginstitution within 45 days after the date thestudent received written notice of denial, theinstitution that denies the course credit fortransfer shall notify the Commissioner ofHigher Education of the student’s educationand its denial and the reasons for the denial.

Transfer Dispute Resolution

Guidelines The following guidelines and definitions areestablished to clarify and enhance paragraph (6) ofChapter 5, Subchapter S, Section 5.4 of the TexasHigher Education Coordinating Board rule

pertaining to Transfer Curricula and Resolution ofTransfer.

Disputes for Lower-Division Courses

All lower division academic courses shall be fullytransferable to public institutions and must counttoward the same degree at any public college oruniversity in Texas.

Requirements and Limitations

(a) Each institution of higher education shallidentify in its undergraduate catalog each lowerdivision course that is substantially equivalent to anacademic course listed in the current edition of the

“Community College General Academic CourseGuide Manual.”

(b) Each university must identify at least 45semester credit hours of academic courses that aresubstantially equivalent to courses listed in the“Community College General Academic CourseGuide Manual” including those that fulfill the lower-division portion of the institution’s Core Curriculum.


21/131


2016-2017 Catalog

Page 20 of 130

(c) All public colleges and universities mustaccept transfer of credit for successfully completedcourses identified in subsections (a) and (b) of thissection as applicable to an associate orbaccalaureate degree in the same manner as creditawarded to non-transfer students in that major.

(d) Each institution must accept in transfer intoa baccalaureate degree the number of lower divisionsemester credit hours in a major which are allowedfor non-transfer students in that major; however,

1. No institution is required to accept in transfermore semester credit hours in a major than thenumber set out in the applicable CoordinatingBoard-approved Transfer Curriculum for thatmajor, as prescribed by the current issue of theCoordinating Board’s guide to transfer curriculaand transfer of credit, Transfer of CreditPolicies and Curricula.

2. In any major for which there is no Coordinating

Board approved Transfer Curriculum, noinstitution is required to accept in transfer morelower division course credit in the majorapplicable to a baccalaureate degree than theinstitution allows their non-transfer students inthat major.

3. A university may deny the transfer of credit incourses with a grade of “D” as applicable to astudent’s field of study courses, core curriculumcourses, or major.

(e) All senior institutions of higher education inTexas must provide support services for transferstudents equivalent to those provided to non-

transfer students regularly enrolled at theinstitutions, including an orientation program fortransfer students equivalent to that provided forentering freshman enrollees.

(f) No university is required to accept in transferor toward a degree, more than 66 semester credithours of academic credits earned by communitycollege student. Universities, however, may chooseto accept additional semester credit hours.

Noncompliance with Transfer Rules If the Coordinating Board determines that aninstitution inappropriately or unnecessarilyrequired a student to retake a course that issubstantially equivalent to a course already taken atanother institution, in violation of the provisions ofSection 5.391 of the Texas Higher EducationCoordinating Board Rules and Regulations (relatingto Requirements and Limitations), formula fundingfor semester credit hours in the repeated course willbe deducted from the institution's appropriations.

Transfer Disputes for Lower-

Division Courses (a) The following procedures shall be followed byinstitutions of higher education in the resolution ofcredit transfer disputes involving lower-divisioncourses:

(1) If an institution of higher education does notaccept course credit earned by a student atanother institution of higher education, thereceiving institution shall give written notice tothe student and to the sending institution thattransfer of the course credit is denied, and shallinclude in that notice the reasons for denyingthe credit. Attached to the written notice shallbe the procedures for resolution of transferdisputes for lower-division courses as outlinedin this section, accompanied by clearinstructions outlining the procedure forappealing the decision to the Commissioner.

(2) A student who receives notice as specified inparagraph (1) of this subsection may dispute thedenial of credit by contacting a designatedofficial at either the sending or the receivinginstitution.

(3) The two institutions and the student shallattempt to resolve the transfer of the coursecredit in accordance with Board rules andguidelines.

(4) If the transfer dispute is not resolved to thesatisfaction of the student or the sendinginstitution within 45 days after the date thestudent received written notice of denial, the

sending institution may notify theCommissioner in writing of the request fortransfer dispute resolution, and the institutionthat denies the course credit for transfer shallnotify the Commissioner in writing of its denialand the reasons for the denial.

(b) The Commissioner or the Commissioner'sdesignee shall make the final determination about adispute concerning the transfer of course credit andgive written notice of the determination to theinvolved student and institutions.

(c) Each institution of higher education shall publishin its course catalogs the procedures specified in

subsections (a), (b), (d), and (e) of this section.(d) The Board shall collect data on the types oftransfer disputes that are reported and thedisposition of each case that is considered by theCommissioner or the Commissioner's designee.

(e) If a receiving institution has cause to believe thata course being presented by a student for transferfrom another school is not of an acceptable level ofquality, it should first contact the sending


22/131


2016-2017 Catalog

Page 21 of 130

institution and attempt to resolve the problem. Inthe event that the two institutions are unable tocome to a satisfactory resolution, the receivinginstitution may notify the Commissioner, who mayinvestigate the course. If its quality is found to beunacceptable, the Board may discontinue fundingfor the course.

“Disputes vs. Problems” Problems that occur during the transfer process willnot always be categorized as disputes, and will notfollow dispute procedures and guidelines. Problemsare clearly within the jurisdiction of the receivinginstitution.

Problems may include, but are not limited to thesesituations:

• A student may lose semester credit hours orhave to take additional, lower-level semestercredit hours when he or she changes majors.

• Students may not decide which upper-level/senior institution they will attend tocomplete their degree until after they havecompleted significant lower-level coursework.Courses taken may not apply or transfer to theinstitution selected.

• A student may take more than 66 lower-levelsemester credit hours.

• A student may have received unsatisfactorygrades in lower-level courses.

• The student may take vocational, technical,

developmental or remedial courses that are notdefined as general academic courses.

• Compliance with external accrediting agencies,newly enacted legislation, and changes in TexasEducation Agency or Coordinating Boardregulations may invalidate courses studentshave already completed.

• Students may take more semester credit hoursin a course category than will transfer.Examples include activity hours in physicaleducation, choir, band, etc.

• Institutions may not accept work that isconsidered too old.

• The student may repeat courses to raise gradepoint averages. Duplicate credit would not beaccepted.

Veterans as StudentsLamar State College Port Arthur holds a contract foreducating veterans under the VocationalRehabilitation Law, known as Public Law Number

16, and is an approved institution of highereducation for veterans under Public Law Number346 and Public Law Number 550.

Veterans who are interested in continuing theireducation should secure approval from the Office of

Veterans’ Affairs. The LSCPA Financial Aid Office

is available to assist veterans in obtaining theireducational benefits. The office also provides adviceon program and training opportunities, academicassistance, and advising.

Veterans that apply to LSCPA are not required tocomplete an Assessment test before enrolling inclasses. However, they are strongly encouraged totake the TSI assessment to help determine the most

successful course of action for their education.

Academic Record AppealsStudents that completed previous coursework at

LSCPA and have a lapse in attendance may appealto disregard previous coursework. Students mayappeal to 1) disregard two successive semesters ofcoursework or 2) academic credits or grades thatwere earned ten or more years prior to the semesterin which enrollment is sought.

Previous Coursework After an enrollment lapse of four or more years fromLamar State College Port Arthur, and aftercompleting successfully (2.2 GPA) twenty four (24)semester credit hours of work at the College, astudent may petition to disregard a maximum of two

entire successive semesters of work taken previouslyat the College. The written petition must be filedwith the Department Chair and follow regularchannels to the appropriate Dean for a finaldecision.

Endorsements and/or recommendations shall berequired at each academic level.

When approved by the registrar, disregarded workshall not count in determining the student’s gradepoint average for academic progress or forgraduation; however, it shall remain on thetranscript with an appropriate notation, and it shallbe used in determining honors. Once a degree has

been conferred, a student may not use the academicappeals procedure for any courses used to award thedegree or calculate the cumulative grade pointaverage.

Academic “Fresh Start” Applicants seeking admission and who haveacademic credits or grades earned ten (10) or moreyears prior to the anticipated enrollment may elect


23/131


2016-2017 Catalog

Page 22 of 130

to seek entry under the terms of Academic FreshStart Policy, Texas Education Code §51.931.

Under the Academic Fresh Start Policy theapplicant who is a Texas resident may petitionLamar State College Port Arthur to not consider, inthe admission process, course credits or grades

earned ten (10) years or prior. Applicants seeking entry under this section 1) willnot receive any credit for courses taken at allinstitutions of higher education ten (10) or moreyears prior to enrollment, 2) are subject to allstandard admission and testing criteria applicableto persons seeking admission, 3) are subject tostandard admission and TSI criteria, and 4) whendeciding eligibility for financial aid, LSCPA muststill count all prior course credits earned.

Applicants seeking admission under the ‘AcademicFresh Start’ policy must deliver a written request tothe Admissions Office two (2) weeks prior to the

semester the applicant plans to enroll.

Credit by Examination

Lamar State College Port Arthur awards collegecredit for successful performance in theseexamination programs: College Board AdvancedPlacement (AP) Program, College LevelExamination Program (CLEP), ACT, and SAT Itests. Credit through any of the examinations listedin this section is awarded when the student hascompleted an enrollment term at Lamar StateCollege Port Arthur and has earned an amount ofresident credit equal to the hours earned byexamination. By law, students may receive onlythree semester credit hours of credit in U.S. historyand three semester credit hours credit ingovernment through credit by examination.

Applicants who wish to receive credit for collegelevel work completed in high school may do so bysubmitting their scores on the College Board’s

Advanced Placement Examinations. Testingarrangement are made by high school counselors.Subject matter areas and the basis for grantingcredits for Advanced Placement courses are asfollows:

Subject Area Required

Score

Credit Granted

Biology 3 BIOL 1406 & 1407

Calculus AB 3 MATH 2312 & 2413,or MATH 1324 and1325, or MATH 2312& 2313

2 Semester Credit Hours

Subject Area Required

Score

Credit Granted

Calculus BC 3 Math 2312, 2413, &2414

Chemistry 3 CHEM 1411

Chemistry 4 CHEM 1405 & 1407

Chemistry 5 CHEM 1411 & 1412Economics-Macro 3 ECON 2301

Economics-Micro 3 ECON 2302

English 3 ENGL 1301

English 4 ENGL 1301 & 1302

ForeignLanguage

3 6 hours of foreignlanguage

ForeignLiterature

4 12 hours of foreignlanguage

Government 3 GOVT 2305 or 2306

History (U.S.) 3 HIST 1301 or 1302

Music Theory 3 MUSI 1301

Credit is awarded for most CLEP subjectexaminations. A list of subjects for which credit canbe awarded and required minimum scores isavailable from the Admission and Records Office orthe Vice President for Academic Affairs. Credit willnot be awarded for the CLEP General Examinations.Credit will be granted in composition, government,history and mathematics for students presenting thefollowing minimum ACT Standard Scores:

ACT Standard Score

LSCPA

Course

SCH

2

English 28 ENGL

1301

3

Usage/Mech 14

Rhet Skills 14

English 30 ENGL1301 &1302

6

Usabe/Mefh 15

Rhet Skills 15

Mathematics 26 MATH1332

3

Pre-algebra 14

Algebra/Geometry 13Geometry /Trigonometry

13

Mathematics 28 MATH1332 &1314

6

Pre-algebra 15 or


24/131


2016-2017 Catalog

Page 23 of 130

ACT Standard Score

LSCPA

Course

SCH

2

Algebra /Geometry

14 MATH1332 &1324

Geometry /

Trigonometry

14

Reading 28-29 HIST1301 or1302

3

Social Studies 15

Reading HIST1301 or1302 and

6

Social Studies 16 GOVT2305 or2306

Reading 30 ENGL

2326 or2331

Arts/Literature 16

Reading 32 HIST1301 or1302 and

9

Social Science 16 GOVT2305 or2306 and

Arts/Literature 16 ENGL2326 or2331

Credit earned through the ACT Test will be recordedon the transcript after a student earns an equalamount of credit at Lamar State College Port

Arthur. The student must petition the Registrar for ACT credit. ACT Test scores are valid for credit-by-exam for five years.

Credit will be granted in English and Mathematicsfor student with the following minimum score on theSAT I Reasoning Test:

SAT Scores LSCPA Course SCH

Critical Reading: 590 ENGL 1301 3

SAT Scores LSCPA Course SCH

Critical Reading: 640 ENGL 1301 &1302

6

Math: 600 MATH 1332 3

Math: 630 or MATH 1332 &1314

6

MATH 1332 &1324

6

Credit earned for the SAT will be granted incomposition and mathematics after a student earnsan equal amount of credit at LSCPA. The studentmust petition the Registrar for SAT credit. SATscores are valid for Credit by Exam for five (5) years.

Credit for Military Experience Lamar State College Port Arthur follows, withlimitation, the recommendations of the AmericanCouncil on Education as published in the Guide to

the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Forces in granting credit for military serviceschools. For consideration of credit for militaryservice schools, applicants may submit the followingrecords to the Admission and Records Office:

1. Certified original of the DD form 295, or2. Copy of the DD form 214, or3. Course completion certificates.

Surgical Technology

Students seeking Associate Degree in SurgicalTechnology who are currently certified through theNational Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical

Assisting (NBSTSA) may be awarded credit forcertain Surgical Technology courses. A studentwishing to receive credit must submit an applicationto the Allied Health Department after completing 18semester credit hours of college level work at LamarState College Port Arthur that applies to the AASdegree in Surgical Technology.

If granted, credit will be awarded for SRGT 1301,SRGT 1405, SRGT 1409 and SRGT 1360. Thestudent must be in good standing and TSI-compliantat the time the credit is posted to the transcript.

Developmental Education Lamar State College Port Arthur is dedicated toproviding “compensatory education programsdesigned to fulfill our commitment to accommodatestudents with diverse goals and backgrounds.

The College makes the following definitions:

1. Developmental Education is remedialinstruction that prepares students tosuccessfully pursue college programs ofeducation or training.


25/131


2016-2017 Catalog

Page 24 of 130

2. Developmental Education courses deal withknowledge and skills normally acquired at thesecondary level.

The Developmental Education Department isresponsible for developmental courses as well asactivities in the Student Success Center.

Lamar State College Port Arthur offersdevelopmental courses to assist students with basicskills in reading, writing, and mathematics.Developmental courses cannot be used to satisfydegree requirements.

Developmental Education Courses The courses listed below are DevelopmentalEducation Courses:

1. MATH 0311 Developmental Mathematics

2. MATH 0313 Introductory Algebra

3. MATH 0332 Intermediate Algebra

4. ENGL 0301 Basic Reading Skills5. ENGL 0310 Developmental Writing I

6. ENGL 0327 Integrated Reading/Writing (IRW)

7. SSC 101 Individual Instruction IntegratedReading/Writing (IRW)

8. SSC 102 Individualized InstructionMathematics

AttendanceStudents enrolled in developmental courses areexpected to follow the attendance requirementsoutlined in the course syllabus and complete allassignments and testing. Instructors may drop astudent with a grade of “FD” for failure to follow theattendance policy, failure to complete assigned workand/or failure to complete all required testing

Requirements 1. A student completes a “required developmental

education program” by complying with one ofthe following provisions:

a. Passing the relevant section or sections ofan approved test for TSI purposes.

b. Passing an approved developmental courseor courses with a grade of “CD” or better.

Students who earn a grade of “CD” or betterwill advance to the next level. Students whoearn a “DD” or “FD” must repeat thatcourse subject to all attendant conditions.

2. Students testing into a

2016-2017 lamar state college port arthur catalog

Documents