Small Classes

Small Class

Only courses designated as lecture, laboratory, or seminar are reported in the small class report presented to the Coordinating Board.

The internal guidelines approved by the Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost establish minimum enrollment thresholds for small courses at Texas Woman’s University. Undergraduate courses with fewer than 12 registrants, 5000-level graduate courses with fewer than eight registrants, and 6000-level graduate courses with fewer than six registrants will be reviewed to assess their viability. Exceptions may be granted based on the codes specified by THECB and programmatic requirements, accreditation standards, and student progression needs.*

Any bracketed or cross-listed section having both undergraduate and graduate-level courses will be treated as if it were an undergraduate class and will be defined as a small class if there are fewer than 12 total registrants in the class. Any graduate-level section, whether bracketed, cross-listed, or individual, with less than eight graduate-level registrants for a 5000-level course or six graduate-level registrants for a 6000-level course will be considered a small class.

The Division of University Scheduling will begin sharing reports of small classes with the Deans six weeks prior to the start of each term (short terms inclusive). The week before each term, Deans will receive a daily report for that term only.

For the final report, by the 4^th class day (2^nd class day during the summer term), colleges must send justifications to the Vice Provost of Curriculum and Strategic Initiatives. Only the following THECB justifications will be accepted:

• Code 1: Required course for graduation (This course is not offered each semester or term, and if canceled, may affect date of graduation of those enrolled.)
• Code 2: Required course for majors in this field and should be completed this semester (or term) to keep proper sequences in courses
• Code 3: Course in newly established degree program, concentration, or support area
• Code 4: Bracketed and interdepartmental (cross-listed) courses taught as a single class by the same faculty at the same station, provided that the combined courses do not constitute a small class**  (Request to Offer Cross-listed or Bracketed Courses Form)
• Code 5: First time offering of the course
• Code 6: Class size limited by accreditation or state licensing standards
• Code 7: Class size limited by availability of laboratory or clinical facilities
• Code 8: Voluntarily offered by a faculty member in excess of the institutional  teaching load requirements and for which the faculty member receives no additional compensation (faculty is teaching course as an overload)
• Code 9: Unforeseen enrollment shift during registration.

*For THECB reporting requirements, organized small classes are undergraduate classes with fewer than 10 registrants or graduate-level classes with fewer than five graduate registrants. Small classes currently generate state-funded hours. 

**Bracketed courses require submission of a syllabus for both the undergraduate and graduate courses offered to comply with SACSCOC accreditation requirements.

Monitoring Small Classes

TWU is dedicated to increasing efficiency, maximizing resources, and improving accountability. CSI monitors enrollment to ensure that courses meet the required number of students in order to be taught. Classes with low enrollments must be justified and approved by the deans.

1. Small classes are defined as follows:  undergraduate courses with fewer than 12 registrants, 5000-level graduate courses with fewer than eight registrants, and 6000-level graduate courses with fewer than six registrants.
2. Deans must approve classes offered with low enrollment before the census dates each semester, by the close of the 4^th class day during the fall/spring term or 2^nd class day during the summer term. 
3. This form will be used to process requests for low enrolled classes: Request to Offer Low Enrollment Class Form. Justification codes are listed above.
4. When the Dean approves the low-enrolled class, the form should be emailed to the Office of Curriculum and Strategic Initiatives (csi@twu.edu) for collection and reporting. The Vice Provost for Curriculum and Strategic Initiatives prepares a report for the Provost.