Advance Notice: Policy Change Impacting Early Registration

Who will this pending new policy affect? 

This upcoming policy change will NOT affect: 

• Seniors graduating in Spring or Summer, 2027 
• Any student who has taken a total of 4 honor courses OR has taken at least one honors course per 30 credits posted at the University 

This upcoming policy change will affect: 

• Any student who has taken no honors courses AND wishes to continue to have early registration privilege 

What do I need to know now? 

The change with the most immediate implication is this: Any Honors student who wishes to register early for Fall 2027, must have taken at least one Honors course. This means that if you have not yet taken an Honors course at Texas State and you wish to continue to have early registration, you must register for an Honors course for Spring 2027. 

We are actively working with faculty to ensure you have the course and contract options you need. If you have questions or need help, let us know by completing this form. 

Will I have early registration available for the registration period that starts in October? 

Yes, all students who are in Honors good standing (which means they meet the GPA requirement) will retain early registration for their Spring 2027, classes. 

What do I need to know about upcoming policy changes?  

The Honors College is developing a policy that will define what it means to make reasonable progress on Honors requirements, as well as the implications of not making reasonable progress. In general, we expect students to complete 4 Honors courses by the end of their senior year. For that progress to be clear, students either need to take all 4 courses early in their college career, or take one each year they are in College.

Why are you making this change to Early Registration?  

Early registration is meant as a tool to assist students in creating a schedule that can accommodate the Honors College courses as well as their leadership and community engagement schedules. Students who have not taken any Honors courses are not making effective use of this tool. We need to preserve this privilege for students who need it.   

But I came in with many credits as a transfer student. What do I do?  

We know that some of you start as sophomores or juniors. We will work with you to help you meet the required milestones for coursework. But for now, ensure you have completed or have at least one Honors College course in progress during Spring 2027 to retain early registration for Fall 2027. 

Why are you creating a policy about reasonable progress?  

You were accepted to the Honors College because you told us that you wanted to follow an Honors College pathway so you could make the most of your education and graduate in Honors. The policy will help you see how to accomplish this, while also allowing the Honors College to better serve you and all students through appropriate access to early course registration as well as special travel and funding opportunities. 

If I don’t take an Honors course, will I lose my status as an Honors College student? 

For Fall 2027, no student will be removed from the Honors College or have their HONR attribute from their record because they have not taken an Honors course.  

I don’t know if I have taken an Honors course. What should I do? 

Please review your degree audit, which lists your courses. If you are having difficulty locating the information, please complete this form to ask for help. 

What should I do now?

If you don’t yet have an Honors College course, we recommend you register for at least one course, and complete it, to ensure that your early registration remains available to you going forward.

Taking a contract course will meet this expectation. To learn more, attend our information session on Honors contract courses and independent study on Tuesday, October 20. Click here for more information and to RSVP.   

How can I get help or provide feedback? 

If you have concerns about your Honors College status, please fill out this form. You may also may use the form provided to share your thoughts on what reasonable progress toward graduating in Honors means to you.

You also may attend one of the upcoming Honors advising sessions, including:

• Wednesday, October 7, 2:00-4:00PM, Coffee Hour Advising with Melanie, LAMP 407
• Wednesday, October 14, 5:30-7:30 pm, Pop Up Advising with Michelle, Ingram, 1st Floor