After Graduation
Congratulations UTPA graduates — you have completed one of many major
accomplishments in your life. We are delighted to have you as University
alumni. On this page, UTPA wants to make sure your move from University life
to the real world goes well.
Here are a few links to help in the transition:
Obtain an Official Transcript or Order a New
Diploma
UTPA alumni may request a copy of their official transcript or order new
diplomas through the Office of the Registrar. Web site:
http://registrars.utpa.edu (then
click on "Forms"). There is a $20 charge for Diploma reorders.
Alumni Association
Keep yourself informed on your alma mater and stay in touch with former
classmates through the UTPA Alumni Association. Web site:
http://www.utpaalumni.com/
Office of Graduate Studies
Further your higher education experience by enrolling in graduate education
programs available at UTPA. Website:
http://www.utpa.edu/gradschool
Find a Job
Career Placement Services can assist those students within one year of
graduation, graduating seniors, graduate students and alumni. Web site:
http://careerservices.utpa.edu
Tuition Rebate Guidelines
The University of Texas-Pan American has a $1000 tuition rebate program
designed to provide a financial incentive for students to prepare for
university studies while completing their high school work, avail themselves
of academic counseling, make early career decisions, and complete their
baccalaureate studies with as few courses outside the degree plan as
possible.
Minimizing the number of courses taken by students results in
financial savings to students, parents, and the state.
Eligible Students
To be eligible for rebates under this program, students must meet all of the
following conditions:
- they must have enrolled for the first time in an institution of higher education in the Fall 1997 semester or later,
- they must be requesting a rebate for work related to a first baccalaureate degree received from a general academic teaching institution within the period prescribed by Section 56.462 (1) (A), or (B), as applicable, to qualify for forgiveness of a Texas B-On-time loan.
- they must have been a resident of Texas, must have attempted all coursework at a Texas public institution of higher education, and have been entitled to pay resident tuition at all times while pursuing the degree, and
- they must have attempted no more than three hours in excess of the minimum number of semester credit hours required to complete the degree, including: (A) transfer credits; and (B) course credit earned exclusively by examination, except that, for purposes of this subsection, only the number of semester credit hours earned exclusively by examination in excess of nine semester credit hours is treated as hours attempted under the catalog under which they were graduated. Courses dropped for reasons that are determined by the institution to be totally beyond the control of the student shall not be counted to include an otherwise eligible student to receive a rebate under this section if the student is not awarded a baccalaureate degree within the period required by Subsection (a) (1) solely as a result of a hardship or other good cause. The performance of active duty military service by a student shall be recognized as "good cause" for purposes of this section.
Amount of Tuition Rebates
- The amount of tuition to be rebated to a student under the program is $1,000, unless the total amount of undergraduate tuition paid by the student to the institution awarding the degree was less than $1,000, in which event the amount of tuition to be rebated is an amount equal to the amount of undergraduate tuition paid by the student to the institution.
- A student who paid the institution awarding the degree an amount of undergraduate tuition less than $1,000 may qualify for an increase in the amount of the rebate, not to exceed a total rebate of $1,000, for any amount of undergraduate tuition the student paid to other Texas public institutions of higher education by providing the institution awarding the degree with proof of the total amount of that tuition paid to other institutions.
- Tuition rebates shall be reduced by the amount of any outstanding student loan, including an emergency loan, owed to or guaranteed by this state, including the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation. If a student has more than one outstanding student loan, the institution shall apply the amount of the rebate to the loans as directed by the student. If the student fails to provide timely instructions on the application of the amount, the institution shall apply the amount of the rebate to retire the loans with the highest interest rates first.
Responsibilites of Institutions
Affected institutions have the following responsibilities associated with
this program:
- All Texas public institutions of higher education, including community and technical colleges, shall notify first-time freshman students of the tuition rebate program. A notice in the institution's official catalog is one acceptable form of notice.
- If requested by potentially eligible students, public institutions of higher education are required to provide these students opportunities to enroll during each Fall and Spring Semester in the equivalent of at least 12 semester credit hours that apply toward their degree. Institutions are not required to provide students with the opportunity to enroll in specific courses or specific sections. Community and technical colleges will comply to the extent that courses for the current semester are being offered that apply to the student's university degree program. The requirement may be met by allowing substitutions for required courses or by allowing concurrent enrollment in courses from another institution, so long as the courses are taught on the student's home campus, and the student incurs no financial penalty.
- Texas public universities are required to provide students with appropriate forms and instructions for requesting tuition reimbursement at the time that they apply for baccalaureate degrees.
- Institutions are required to provide tuition rebates to students who apply for them within 60 days after graduation or provide the student a statement explaining the reason the student is ineligible for the rebate.
- Institutions are required to provide a dispute resolution process to resolve disputes related to local administration of the program.
- Disputes related to lower division credit transfer should be resolved in accordance with Coordinating Board rules, Chapter 5, Section 5.393.
- Institutions may adopt rules and regulations for administering the program. For example, institutions may require students to declare their intent to qualify for a tuition rebate early in their careers or register prior to the beginning of the semester.
Responsibilities of Students
- Students desiring to qualify for tuition rebates are responsible for complying with all university rules and regulations related to administration of the program.
- Students desiring to qualify for tuition rebates are solely responsible for enrolling only in courses that will qualify them for the rebates.
- A student who has transferred from another institution of higher education shall provide the institution awarding the degree an official transcript from each institution attended by the student in order that the period during which the student has been enrolled in a general academic teaching institution and the total number of hours attempted by the student can be verified.
- Students must apply for rebates prior to receiving their baccalaureate degrees on forms provided by the institution and must keep the institution appraised of their addresses for at least 60 days after their graduation date.
Rebate Form
Students can obtain the Tuition Rebate form at the Office of the Registrar,
located in the Student Services Building, Room 1.150.
Copyright © 2005-2009 The University of Texas Pan-American
1201 W. University Drive Edinburg, TX 78539-2999
956/381-UTPA 1-866-441-UTPA
