General Information

Purpose of the Catalog

This catalog is the official bulletin of Texas A&M University-Kingsville for the 2023-2024 academic year. It includes descriptions of academic programs and courses as well as regulations, fees, and policies in effect. Fees and policies (except standards and requirements for degrees) are, however, subject to change.

The courses of instruction announced herein are those that are available for offering during the sessions of 2023-2024. Courses to be offered during any one semester or summer term are announced in the Blue and Gold Connection (Web for Students/Faculty) prior to registration for a particular semester or term. To meet evolving needs, the university does reserve the right to make changes in courses and to offer only those for which a sufficient number of students register.

All the policies included in this catalog pertain to students regardless of the location where they attend classes or if they are online students.

The provisions of this catalog do not constitute a contract, express or implied, between any applicant, student, faculty or staff member of Texas A&M University-Kingsville or The Texas A&M University System. This catalog is for informational purposes only. The university reserves the right to change or alter any statement herein without prior notice. This catalog should not be interpreted to allow a student that begins his or her education under the catalog to continue the program under the provisions in the catalog.

Student Responsibility

Each student is responsible for knowing the academic regulations in the Catalog. Unfamiliarity with these regulations does not constitute a valid reason for failure to fulfill them.

Equal Opportunity Policy

Texas A&M University-Kingsville is a federal contractor subject to the provisions of Executive Order 11246, as amended. Implementing regulations from the U.S. Department of Labor require that each federal contractor issue an equal opportunity statement demonstrating its commitment to affirmative action and nondiscrimination in recruitment, hiring, training, and promotions in all job titles.

Accordingly, Texas A&M University-Kingsville does not discriminate or permit harassment against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetics, status as a disabled veteran or protected veteran, or any other legally prohibited basis, in admissions, educational programs, or employment of faculty or staff. This includes the prohibition of harassment, intimidation, threats, coercion, discrimination, or retaliation against current students, applicants for enrollment, employees, and applicants for employment, for having filed a complaint, assisted in an investigation, or otherwise exercised their rights under the executive order.

Texas A&M University-Kingsville is committed to providing an educational and work environment that is conducive to the personal and professional development of each individual student and employee. The Chief Executive Officers of the A&M System universities and agencies are responsible for achieving an equal employment opportunity environment, and each System employee is accountable for creating an atmosphere that values and nurtures community, respect, and accessibility.

Texas A&M University-Kingsville is committed to serving students and community members through education, leadership development, research and service. We will meet these goals through a dynamic workforce that effectively responds to our constituents. It is my firm commitment to ensure that equal employment opportunity and access will be provided throughout the university to all current and prospective students and employees. Please join me in this commitment.

If you have any questions or concerns related to equal employment opportunity, equal access, affirmative action or requests for disability accommodations, please direct them to the following individual who has been designated as the university's acting Section 504 and Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator.

Derek Gonzales, Interim Associate Director of Human Resources
College Hall, Suite 210
955 N. University Blvd.
Kingsville, Texas 78363
derek.gonzales@tamuk.edu
(361) 593-3705

Office of Employee Services Mailing Address:
700 University Blvd, MSC 107
Kingsville, Texas 78363

Students may contact the Disability Resource Center located at Student Health and Wellness to request accommodations:

Disability Resource Center
1210 N. Retama St.
Kingsville, TX 78363
(361) 593-3024
drc.center@tamuk.edu

Complaints alleging discrimination based on a protected class (race, color, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status or genetic information) can be filed with the following individual who has been designated as the university’s Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer:

Joe Henderson, Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer
Lewis Hall, Suite 130
700 University Blvd. MSC 221
Kingsville, Texas 78363
joe.henderson@tamuk.edu
(361) 593-4758

Office of Compliance Mailing Address:
700 University Blvd., MSC 221
Kingsville, Texas 78363

The following individual is designated as the university’s Coordinator for Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, responsible for inquiries and complaints alleging discrimination in educational programming and access based on sex:

Tasha Clark, Title IX Coordinator
Lewis Hall, Suite 130
855 N. University Blvd.
Kingsville, Texas 78363
tasha.clark@tamuk.edu
(361) 593-4761

Anonymous Reporting available through EthicsPoint:
1-888-501-3850
https://secure.ethicspoint.com/domain/media/en/gui/19681/report.html

Questions concerning Title IX may also be directed to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, D.C., 20202-1100, 1-800-421-3481, ocr@ed.gov.

All other complaints may be filed with the Office of Employee Services (contact information can be found above) or the Office of the Dean of Students:

Office of the Dean of Students
Student Union Building, Room 306
1050 W. Santa Gertrudis Ave.
Kingsville, Texas 78363
kirsten.compary@tamuk.edu
(361) 593-3606

Office of the Dean of Students Mailing Address:
700 University Blvd., MSC 133
Kingsville, Texas 78363

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and Amendments Thereto

This act is designated to protect the privacy of education records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their education records and to provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearings. Students have the right to file complaints with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Office (FERPA) concerning alleged failures by the institution to comply with the act.

Texas A&M University-Kingsville accords all rights under the law to all students. No one outside the institution shall have access to nor will the institution disclose any information, other than directory information, from a student’s education records without the written consent of the student, except to personnel within the institution, to officials of other institutions in which the student seeks to enroll, to persons or organizations providing student financial aid, to accrediting agencies carrying out their accreditation function, to persons in compliance with judicial order and to persons in an emergency in order to protect the health or safety of students or other persons. All these exceptions are permitted under the Act.

In compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, information classified as "Directory Information" may be released to the general public without the consent of the student. The following is designated as directory information:

Student’s name, a local and home address, telephone number, major or minor, enrollment status (e.g., undergraduate or graduate, full-tie or part-time), classification, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees, honors, and awards received and most recent educational agencies or institutions attended.

Students reserve the right to suppress any information from being released without their consent. Any student wishing to withhold any or all of this information should notify the Office of the Registrar. The university assumes that failure on the part of any student to specifically request the withholding of directory information indicates individual approval for disclosure.

Standards of Campus Conduct

Members of the university community assume full responsibility for compliance with Texas laws and for proper self-conduct. In addition to behaving according to the ordinary conventions of adult society, members of the university community are bound by university rules and regulations conducive to creating a positive campus atmosphere and general academic well-being.

The code for student conduct is set forth in the Student Handbook. Specific attention is given there to rules addressing academic misconduct, hazing, sexual harassment and substance abuse, including alcohol abuse and the illicit use of drugs. Grievance procedures and guidelines for sanctions are outlined.

Standards of conduct for university employees are detailed in the Texas A&M University System Policies. The Texas A&M University-Kingsville Faculty Handbook sets forth rules and regulations governing academic freedom and responsibility, sexual harassment, substance abuse, conflict of interests, research policies and other professional issues. Grievance procedures are set forth there.

In order to create a healthy and pleasant atmosphere, a campus-wide smoking policy designates only certain areas for smoking.

Hazing

The Education Code defines hazing as “any intentional, knowing, or reckless act occurring on or off the campus of an educational institution, by one person or acting with others, directed against a student, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in an organization.” The statute contains a list of conduct which constitutes hazing.

Hazing is a criminal violation under Texas law. A person may be found guilty of criminal conduct for hazing, encouraging hazing, permitting hazing, or having knowledge of the planning of hazing incidents and failing to report in writing his/her knowledge to the Dean of Students.

Both failing to report hazing and hazing that does not result in serious bodily injury are Class B misdemeanors. Hazing that results in serious bodily injury is a Class A misdemeanor. Hazing resulting in a death is a state jail felony. An organization found guilty of hazing may be fined $5,000 to $10,000 or, for incidents causing personal injury or property damage, an amount double the loss or expenses incurred because of the hazing incident.

It is not a defense to prosecution that the person hazed consented to the hazing activity.

Any person reporting a specific hazing incident to the Dean of Students or other appropriate institutional official is immune from civil and criminal liability unless the report is in bad faith or malicious.

This state law does not limit or affect the right of an educational institution’s right to enforce its own penalties against hazing.

Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act, Public Law 101-542 and Amendments Thereto

This act is designed to provide prospective or entering students with information concerning:

campus security policies and procedures, security services available, campus crime statistics and alcohol and drug use policies;
completion or graduation rate of full-time certification-seeking or degree-seeking undergraduate students; and
graduation rate of student athletes who receive athletic scholarships.

This information is contained in an annual report available in the library.

University Assessment

Students enrolled at Texas A&M University-Kingsville are required to participate in university assessment activities for the evaluation and improvement of university programs and curricula.

Supplementary University Publications

Student Handbook (published by the Student Affairs Office)

Faculty Handbook (published by the Academic Affairs Office)