Under section 51.907 of the Texas Education Code, “an institution of higher education may not permit a student to drop more than six courses, including any course a transfer student has dropped at another institution of higher education.” This statute applies to students who enroll in a public institution of higher education as first-time freshmen in fall 2007 or later. Any course that a student drops is counted toward the six-course limit if: “(1) the student was able to drop the course without receiving a grade or incurring an academic penalty; (2) the student’s transcript indicates or will indicate that the student was enrolled in the course; and (3) the student is not dropping the course in order to withdraw from the institution.” Some exemptions for good cause could allow a student to drop a course without having it counted toward this limit, but it is the responsibility of the student to establish that good cause.

Exemptions include:

  1. Severe illness or debilitating condition preventing completion of course
  2. Responsible for caring for a sick, injured or needy person
  3. Death of close family member
  4. Active duty service in US Armed Forces or National Guard, or that of an immediate family member
  5. Change in student’s work schedule beyond control of student
  6. Other good cause determined by the institution