Frequently Asked Questions
With the university’s transition to online learning for the spring and summer terms, we want to provide as much information and support as possible to our Longhorn community. Please feel free to contact us by email if you have additional questions.
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What if my family’s circumstances have changed? (May 21)
If you or your family have experienced a recent reduction in income or financial resources and you have already completed the FAFSA, please complete the income reduction appeal for the appropriate academic year via DocuSign. The income reduction appeal (formerly known as the special circumstances appeal) allows the school to assess your financial aid and make any adjustments to your financial aid package given your current situation. You may request a PDF via email to onestop@utexas.edu, but please note that PDF processing times may be delayed.
How do I upgrade my EID? (May 21)
Obtaining a student ID card or upgrading your UT EID are done through the UT ID Center. Due to COVID-19, the ID Center has revised their processes. If you are a freshman, transfer, international, or graduate student admitted by May 15 (including students under 18), your EID will be automatically upgraded on May 16. If your admission is completed between May 16 and June 2, your EID will be upgraded the day after it is recorded. All automatic upgrades will be valid through September 26, 2020.
This will not impact your ability to register for classes during orientation.
Students may obtain their ID card when the campus resumes normal onsite operations. For information regarding EID upgrades after September 26, 2020 or student ID information, please visit: https://sites.utexas.edu/css/idcenter/.
What if I don’t have stable wifi? (May 13)
Students can visit the Keep Learning page for resource options or contact the ITS service desk directly.
What are the deadlines for changing a course to Pass/Fail (undergraduate) or Credit/No Credit (graduate), withdrawing from a course, or dropping a course (Q drop)? (May 11)
The university recognizes the many challenges that our Longhorn community is facing as a result of the transition to remote learning. With that in mind, UT Austin has approved the extension of Spring 2020 deadlines related to course drops, withdrawals and course grading. Please see below for specific information.
Deadlines: Students will be given until Friday, May 29, one week after final grades are submitted, to Q-drop a course, to withdraw with a W from the university, or to change a course to Pass/Fail (undergraduate courses) or Credit/No Credit (graduate courses), overriding existing deadlines for Spring 2020. You may change your grading basis or Q-drop as many times as you like.
Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit: For all courses* offered in Spring 2020, students will be given until after final grades are submitted, Friday, May 29, to change a course to Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit. Students may change to Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit as many times as needed this semester. For courses taken in Spring 2020, all UT policies requiring letter grades in undergraduate courses will be waived. This includes prerequisites, degree requirements, core, flags and internal transfers. In graduate-level courses, some policies will remain in effect because of historical differences from university standards. Our goal is that no student will be disadvantaged because of their choice of grading basis for courses taken in Spring 2020. Graduate students are encouraged to consult with their college or program.
Pass/Fail Grading Exception for Self-Paced Courses Completed in Spring 2020: For students completing their self-paced coursework in spring semester 2020, University Extension (UEX) has provided a special extension to the deadline to choose the Pass/Fail grading option up until the time a student requests or takes their final exam. A student must have requested the Spring 2020 exception to choose the Pass/Fail grading option prior to their final exam, and their exam must be taken on or before May 20. If the student completed the course and the final exam on or before May 20, 2020, and received a passing grade, then it will be labeled as spring semester correspondence credit on the student’s UT transcript.
Please note that for students intending to use their UEX self-paced course toward their UT Austin degree, a Pass grade for a course completed in spring term 2020 will apply towards prerequisites, degree requirements, core and flags.
Q-drops: Please note that all Q-drops for Spring 2020 will be treated as “substantive, non-academic course drops,” which means that they will not count against the maximum of six allowed Qs. The deadline to Q-drop is now Friday, May 29.
*One exception: A college may require courses to be taken for a grade if they are required to be taken for a grade for professional accreditation. Again, students must consult with an advisor prior to making changes.
Advising: Students are required to speak with their academic advisor before taking any action. These choices can have significant adverse effects on your enrollment status and can affect financial aid, scholarships, veteran and athlete status, and other important aspects of your life.
What is the CARES Act Emergency Assistance Fund? (May 7)
UT received funds under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide emergency grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19. These expenses include food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care. The university’s Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid is working closely with Student Emergency Services in the Office of the Dean of Students to coordinate these emergency grants to students who qualify. The university aims to assist as many students as possible in meeting their emergency financial needs during this challenging time. For more information about student eligibility and how to apply for emergency assistance, visit the CARES Act Emergency Assistance Fund FAQs.
If I did not accept the loans that were offered to me as part of my initial financial aid package, can I still apply for assistance? (May 7)
Yes, students who have not borrowed their full loan eligibility can still apply for funding. We encourage students to be aware of all funding opportunities available to them, including loans.
Is there a tuition discount for fall or spring semesters? (April 30)
No changes have been made to the fall and spring semester tuition rates. Tuition rates for fall and spring semesters are posted on the Texas One Stop website.
What is the summer semester tuition discount for non-Texas resident undergraduate students? (April 29)
The university has reduced summer online tuition in order to support continued learning and to help students remain on track toward their degrees. The new rate for undergraduate non-residents reflects a 25% reduction off of the fall/spring semester rates from the 2019-2020 academic year. The university is limited in the reduction amount since tuition is set by Texas Legislature, and varies by resident and non-resident. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under authority of the legislature sets the non-resident rate annually.
What is the summer semester tuition discount for graduate and professional students? (April 28)
Graduate and professional student summer online tuition will remain unchanged at 85% of fall and spring rates. For information about additional financial support at the graduate and professional level, students are encouraged to contact Texas One Stop (or their college or school directly).
What is the summer semester tuition discount for Texas resident undergraduate students? (April 28)
The university has reduced summer online tuition in order to support continued learning and to help students remain on track toward their degrees. The new rate for undergraduate Texas residents (and students with in-state tuition waivers) reflects a 50% reduction off of the fall/spring semester rates for the 2019-2020 academic year.
Do I need to have my test scores (Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, etc.) with me at my academic advising appointment? (April 22)
You should have any test scores sent to Testing Services, but it’s also helpful to gather all test scores and have them with you for your virtual advising appointment at orientation. If you don’t have all your scores, it’s not a problem. Your advisor can still work with you to plan out your course selections even if some of your scores are still pending. For additional information about online orientation and advising, please visit the Online Orientation FAQ.
Can students submit petitions directly to the Graduate School for in absentia registration? (April 15)
No. Petitions to register in absentia for summer 2020 must be submitted by students’ graduate advisers and thesis/dissertation supervisors to GradStudentSvcs@austin.utexas.edu. If you were on track to graduate in May, please contact them to request that they submit a petition to the Graduate School on your behalf.
What restrictions come with in absentia registration? (April 14)
Please be aware of restrictions that come with in absentia registration. Students registered in absentia are not technically enrolled and thus don’t have all the benefits of an enrolled student. Here are some of the relevant restrictions for students registered in absentia:
1.Their student IDs will be inactive, which may impact building access should campus reopen.
2.They will not be eligible for AI, TA, GRA employment. (These positions require enrollment and most come with tuition.)
3.They will not have access to UT libraries facilities and resources that require a UT ID.
4.International students will have to apply for OPT in the last semester they are enrolled (i.e. spring 2020, not summer 2020).
However, students registered in absentia may enroll in the AcademicBlue health insurance plan during summer 2020.