8. Academic Student Support Programs

1. Services for Students with Disabilities

The Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (SFSWD) offers a variety of services designed to assure students with disabilities equal access to the university’s activities, programs and services. Some of the services provided include academic accommodations, assistive equipment, communication access service providers, note-takers, physical access and priority registration. Documentation of a disability from a professional in the field is required to receive services.

Students with disabilities should notify the director of SFSWD prior to registration in any university program. The director will arrange a meeting with the student to determine reasonable academic adjustments/accommodations. The Office of Services for Students with Disabilities is located in 105 Communication Building. Students may write to P.O. Box 10087, Beaumont, Texas 77710, call 409.880.8347, fax 409.880.2225 or e-mail SFSWD@lamar.edu. Additional information is available at the SFSWD web site, http://dept.lamar.edu/sfswd.

2. Lamar Language Institute

The Lamar Language Institute (LLI) is a non-academic English training program, offering full-time study of English as a Second Language during fall, spring and summer sessions. LLI intensive courses provide English training for international, college-bound students as well as non-native speakers of English living and working in the community. Permanent residents may study part-time or full-time in a program that includes intensive work in all language skill areas: writing, grammar, reading, vocabulary, listening comprehension, conversation and pronunciation. The full-time course provides over 18 hours of ESL instruction per week within the fall and spring semesters. A summer session is also available. Additionally, LLI provides ESL college readiness writing and reading courses for nonnative speakers of English who have yet to satisfy Lamar University admission requirements. LLI also offers customized corporate training plans, which include on-site instruction in English as a Second Language and English for Special Purposes. Additional information is available by calling 400.880.8012, emailing Lisa Moseley at lisa.moseley@lamar.edu or writing Lamar Language Institute, P.O. Box 10130, Beaumont, Texas 77710.

LLI also administers the English language courses for the Academic Bridge Program. This program exists for special applicants admitted to the university although their TOEFL scores are slightly below the minimum. By enrolling in half English language study and half academic study, Bridge students learn English and make progress toward their academic degree (please see Bridge Program for details).

3. Military Education

Veteran’s Affairs, 101 Wimberly

The office of Veterans’ Affairs and Active Duty Military Affairs aids veterans and active duty military personnel in obtaining their educational benefits. It also provides academic assistance and counseling for veterans. Veterans and servicepeople are encouraged to complete admissions and testing requirements 90 to 120 days prior to the period for which they wish to enroll. Information concerning the Hazlewood Exemption is located in section 3.2 on Financial Aid.

Active Duty Military Advising

An Active Duty Military Advisor  in the distance education division assists students with information about active duty benefits and courses. Further information for veterans and active duty servicemen is available at http://dept.lamar.edu/cde/cdepages/index.html or by calling 409.880.2138 or 866.585.1738.

4. University Writing Center

An academic support program of the Department of English and Modern Languages, the University Writing Center provides free writing assistance to students. Graduate and undergraduate students serve as peer tutors and guide students through writing assignments in all academic disciplines and through all stages of the writing process. The Writing Center provides tutoring in the following areas: understanding the assignment, brainstorming, organizing ideas, revising, editing, and interpreting the graded paper. Each personalized writing conference aspires to more than just the short-term goal of improving a particular paper. Rather, the conferences actively engage students in identifying and addressing their writing needs so that students improve their composition practices and skills and learn to apply them to various writing tasks and purposes. To achieve this, peer tutors use facilitative strategies that produce authentic learning and complement classroom instruction. Although student learning is our goal, the assistance we provide is not meant to replace classroom instruction. In the interest of academic integrity, tutors do not edit and proofread students' papers for them. Students may seek assistance with non-academic writing as well, such as graduate school application and scholarship letters. Our tutoring service is useful to students of all writing abilities, as strong writers can also benefit from the collaborative activity of a peer writing conference. The Writing Center also serves faculty by providing writing and documentation resources and a personal introduction of our services to their classes.

The Writing Center is equipped with six computers for student use, restricted to academic research and writing assignments. Magic and JAWS are installed on each computer.

To schedule an appointment, students should call 409.880.8571, email UWC@lamar.edu, or visit the Writing Center on the first floor of the Mary and John Gray library. Drop-in tutoring is also available. Faculty and staff can e-mail the director or call 409.880.8587.

5. Center for Academic Success (CAS)

Location: COMM 109, 409.880.7548. The Center for Academic Success is a multiﾭservice unit whose mission is to provide professional, personalized, academic advising and counseling to help students identify and clarify educational, career, and personal goals; enhance individual academic performance, retention, and persistence until graduation; and maximize students’ satisfaction with their university experience. Our vision is to serve as the University’s primary location for academic and personal support resources and referrals. CAS is a welcoming advising and resource center where students work side by side with professional staff and peers to maximize their potential for academic success.

McNair Scholars Program

Location: COMM 106, 409.880.7582, http://dept.lamar.edu/mcnair/. The McNair Scholars Program is federally funded by the Department of Education to motivate and prepare first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students for the rigors of graduate school through involvement in undergraduate research, funded travel to professional conferences, academic workshops, and faculty mentoring. The goal of the program is ultimately to prepare students for success at the doctoral level and increase the number of PhDs from underrepresented groups.

Student Advising and Retention Services (STARS)

Location: COMM 109, 409.880.7201, http://dept.lamar.edu/stars/. STARS creates a friendly atmosphere where staff partners with students to help them achieve academic, personal, and professional endeavors through on-going conversations, proactive advising, and comprehensive academic support services. This relationship provides students sustained support, information, and resources to achieve their educational and lifelong goals. STARS provides supplemental instruction, early alert, academic enhancement workshops, learning communities, and mentoring programs to all Lamar University undergraduates. STARS offers individual, group, and walk-in tutoring for all subjects on the first floor of the Mary and John Gray Library and provides extensive advising services to all students on academic probation with the goal of achieving good academic standing. Tutoring services are also offered on a limited basis in the university residence halls. Contact the STARS office at STARS@lamar.edu for more information.

Student Support Services (SSS)

Location: SSC 241, Phone 409.880.7920, http://dept.lamar.edu/studentsupport/. Student Support Services is federally funded by the Department of Education to provide support and resources to students from first-generation and/or low-income backgrounds and students with disabilities. To be selected as a participant, students must meet at least one of three eligibility criteria and demonstrate academic need. Participants receive a wide array of free services specifically designed to facilitate their path toward a college degree. SSS provides academic tutoring, career and major exploration, and assistance completing financial aid paperwork and scholarship searches. The SSS staff consists of caring professionals motivated to help students grow personally and academically.

6. Advising

All Lamar University students are encouraged to seek advising. Advising sessions assure that students pursue a prescribed program of study which will allow steady progress toward a degree. Advising can help students meet course requirements efficiently and graduate sooner. Advising can also assist students in selecting appropriate concentrations within a major based on their interests and goals.

Advising is mandatory for the following students: 1) freshmen (29 or fewer earned semester credit hours), 2) new transfer students, 3) TSI-restricted/Individual Approval students, 4) General Studies majors, 5) students on academic probation or returning from academic suspension, and 6) students changing majors. Some majors also require advising. All other students may choose not to receive formal advising, but students are then solely responsible for their scheduling and registration decisions.

Students who have not declared a major field of study are advised in the Center for General Studies, (Suite 107, Communication Building, 409.880.7570, LUAPBGS@lamar.edu). Such students are assisted with course selection and the completion of core curriculum requirements. In addition, students are offered the opportunity to explore various majors and careers.

An active duty military advisor in the distance education division assists students with information about active duty benefits and courses. Call 409.880.2138 physical therapy. It is the responsibility of the student to schedule regular appointments with the advisor. Appointments and other advising/counseling services may be facilitated through the college advising centers.

7. Center for College Readiness

To assist students in meeting the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Program, Lamar University offers courses at the college readiness or pre-collegiate level. Students who do not achieve required scores on one or more portions of the approved college readiness test(s) must be enrolled in at least one college readiness course or program. All TSI-restricted and Individual Approval students must receive approval from the Center for College Readiness to add or drop a course. Usually, a course may not be added after the first two days of the semester. For detailed information about courses and policies, contact the Center for College Readiness at 409.880.8954 or e-mail dsadvising@lamar.edu. For information about test scores necessary to enter Lamar University’s regular courses, go to http://dept.lamar.edu/developmentalstudies/TSIhome.html.

Pre-Collegiate Courses

To serve students whose performance on the college readiness test(s) indicates under-preparation, college readiness courses are offered in each of the skill areas. Students are placed into one of the three college readiness math courses based on the level of preparation indicated by the placement test.

CRRE 0371 – College Readiness Reading. Development of basic reading skills at the college level. The course is required of all students who have not achieved the required score on the reading portion of an approved placement test. This course does not satisfy the general degree requirements for any major. Prerequisite: None

CRMA 0370 – College Readiness Math -Pre-Algebra. Development of basic arithmetic skills. This course is a prerequisite for CRMA 0371 and is required for all students who have not achieved the required score on the math portion of an approved placement test. This course does not satisfy the general degree requirement for mathematics.

CRMA 0371 – College Readiness Math -Algebra I. Development of basic algebraic skills. This course is a prerequisite for CRMA 0372 and is required for all students who have not achieved the required score on the math portion of an approved placement test. This course does not satisfy the general degree requirement for mathematics. Prerequisite: CRMA 0370 or equivalent.

CRMA 0372 – College Readiness Math -Algebra II. Development of intermediate algebraic skills. This course is required for all students who have not achieved required scores on the math portion of an approved placement test. For these students, the course is a prerequisite for MATH 1314 or MATH 1324. This course does not satisfy the general degree requirements for mathematics. Prerequisite: CRMA 0371 or equivalent.

CRWT 0371 – College Readiness Writing. Development of basic composition and writing skills. This course is a prerequisite for all students who have not achieved the required score on the writing portion of an approved placement test. This course does not satisfy general degree requirements for freshman English.

8. Honors Program

The University Honors Program, directed by Dr. Kevin Dodson, is designed to bring out the best in Lamar’s academically talented students and to serve as a core of academic excellence within the University community. Located at 1060 East Virginia, the Honors Program exists to give bright, motivated students the opportunities and environment that will enable them to develop into creative and productive people. Incoming freshmen are expected to have an SAT score of 1200 or above or a ranking in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class. Students already enrolled at Lamar must have a University GPA of at least 3.5 on 12 or more academic credits to apply. Honors Program students must have a GPA of 3.25 to maintain eligibility. Applications are available in the Honors Program office and may be downloaded from the Lamar University web site. For more information call 409.212.9724.

The Honors Program offers enriched classes in most of the Core Curriculum courses, upper-level interdisciplinary classes, enhanced classes in many majors, and opportunities for Independent Study and the Honors Thesis, as detailed below. All Honors Program students, regardless of major, are encouraged to become Honors Program Graduates through accruing 23 Honors credit hours including the Honors Thesis, or 26 hours (of which 8 hours must be at the junior or senior level) without the thesis. Honors Program students are eligible for the McMaster Honors Scholarship and the Tom Jones Memorial Scholarship and are members of the Honors Student Association. Please contact the Director for further details.

The Honors Program also administers Lamar’s Scholars Development Program, which was initiated in 2003 to provide preparation and guidance to those Lamar students who indicate both a desire and the general capability for graduate work. It is expected that Lamar will select nominees for national scholarships and fellowships from among participants in the Scholars Development Program (although not exclusively, nor will all participants necessarily receive a nomination). Students may be nominated by their professors for the Scholars Development Program and will normally enroll in HNRS 2160 (Scholars Development Seminar) by their sophomore year.

Honors Core Curriculum Classes Equivalent

*See Section 14 Course Directory for detailed descriptions of these classes.

In addition to the above Honors Core classes, Lamar offers either full Honors sections or opportunities to petition for Honors credit in American Government I and II (POLS 2301 and 2302), calculus-based Physics (PHYS 2425 and 2426) and several classes that fulfill the social science and fine arts options. Occasionally, Honors sections or opportunities to petition for Honors credit are offered for other classes in a student’s major degree plan. Honors credit entails course assignments in addition to (or different from) the standard course. Students should consult with individual professors or the Honors Director for details.

All Honors students take at least two Honors Seminars (HNRS 3161). These can be taken at any time after the freshman year. Topics vary and have included "Sociolinguistics," "Machine Intelligence," "Islam," and "Cultural Studies: History of Rock 'n' Roll." Junior-and senior-level honors credits can be earned in several ways: 1) Through upper-level Honors courses and seminars. 2) Through Honors Independent Study classes. 3) Through adding an Honors Contract to an upper-level class. 4) Through the Honors Thesis.

Upper-level Honors courses include SOCI 3360 – Honors Human Nature and the Human Condition and HNRS 4364 – Honors Topics. The latter course is offered by professors in any department who have a subject to teach that is not listed in the regular curriculum. Topics have included “Science Fiction and Fantasy,” “The American Presidency,” and “Literature of Redemption.” Honors Independent Study (HNRS 3360) provides the opportunity for students in any major to create a course of study that is not covered in the regular curriculum. Students often use this opportunity for independent research and creative endeavor. The Honors Contract may be used to individually enhance a course in the regular curriculum for Honors credit. Honors Thesis (HNRS 4360 and 4361) permits students aiming at post-baccalaureate degrees to demonstrate clearly the ability to complete a major research/creative project. For all students, it provides the opportunity to pursue in depth an area of study or research that is personally important or intriguing. Forms and guidelines for both of these options may be secured in the Honors Program offices or downloaded from the Honors website.

Honors Student Life

In addition to offering an enriched curriculum, the Honors Program encourages and supports student research and creative activity leading to presentations and publications. The program also has a residential component in Cardinal Village and, together with our Honors Student Association, encourages participation in the cultural life of the campus and community as well as volunteer service. Honors Peer Mentors assist freshmen in making the transition to college life. For more information about Honors Program activities, see http://dept.lamar.edu/honors/.

9. Air Force ROTC

This program is no longer offered. 

10. Center for General Studies/Bachelor of General Studies

Program Coordinator: Dr. Joe Nordgren, 203 Parker Building, Phone 409.880.8508

Director of Academic Advising: Ms. Frances Morris,107 Communication Building, Phone 409.880.7570, E-mail: LUAPBGS@lamar.edu

The Center for General Studies assists students who have not selected a major with enrollment and course selection and provides counseling on academic progress and academic options. Students without a major are restricted to 1000-and 2000-level courses and are free to enroll in other lower-level electives while taking general education subjects. Normally, a student should choose a major by the third semester of enrollment. Students without a major must abide by the Center’s probation and suspension policies.

Consult the specific discipline sections of this catalog to identify advisors and advising centers for specific majors.

The Bachelor of General Studies degree can provide opportunity for an individual to construct a personal curricular plan, i.e., to take courses in more than one area of interest, resulting in a broad-based program of study. Additionally, the Bachelor of General Studies program is designed for those students who have already established careers and who wish to earn credit toward a degree while learning for the pleasure of learning. The Bachelor of General Studies degree will be granted upon the completion of the General Degree requirements of the University. Course selection is subject to the approval of the academic advisor. A minimum of thirty upper-division hours with at least nine advanced hours in each of three disciplines is required. At least twelve hours of these upper-division courses will be at the 4000 level. An overall grade point average of

2.00 will be required on all upper-division courses used to meet the General Studies requirements.

Suggested Program of Study for BGS

First Year

Second Year

Third Year

Fourth Year

***Note: Electives hours—42 elective hours or more of courses as decided by the student and advisor. Advanced elective hours—30 semester hours or more of courses at the 3000 to 4000 levels in three disciplines and at least 12 semester hours must be at the 4000 level.