Academic Suspension for International Students

International students must comply with UTRGV’s good academic standing during their academic studies in order to avoid being placed on academic suspension. If a student is placed on academic suspension, the student can appeal the academic suspension. The appeal does not guarantees that the student’s appeal will be approved.

If the student fails to submit an appeal or the appeal is not approved regarding his/her academic suspension, the student will not be able to continue his/her studies at UTRGV. In order for F-1 students to maintain their immigration status, the student will need to transfer to another institution before the start of the next available term.

If a student is not allowed to register at UTRGV and cannot transfer to another institution due to timing constraints, the student will be considered to be out of status, and the SEVIS record would have to be terminated, with termination reason "Suspension."

Reduced Course Load for International Students

To maintain F-1 status, international students must be enrolled in a full course of study each fall and spring semester (summer enrollment is optional if it is not your first semester). For undergraduates full-time enrollment is considered to be 12 credits. For graduates full-time enrollment is considered to be 9 credits. Part-time undergraduate borders commuters must be enrolled for at least 6 hours and part-time graduate border commuters for at least 3 hrs.

There are only certain reasons which U.S. Immigration will accept for enrolling less than full-time. Some of the reasons include medical, academic, and last term of enrollment, please visit your international student advisor for more information. Please note that immigration regulations do not consider financial difficulties a valid reason for enrolling less than full time.

On-Site Classroom Component for International Student

Immigration regulations state: “For F-1 students enrolled in classes for credit or classroom hours, no more than the equivalent of one (1) class or three (3) credits per session, may be counted toward the full course of study requirement if the class is taken online or through distance education and does not require the student’s physical attendance for classes, examination or other purposes integral to completion of the class.” (8 C.F.R. § 214.2 (f)(6)(i)(G)) If student is enrolled in an online course which put them above and beyond their allowable limit, a blended or hybrid onsite class needs to be followed.

These are the requirements in order to qualify for an additional hybrid course:

1. The student must report in person to the professor of the specified online course no less than four times within that given semester.
2. The student must obtain signature from his/her professor after each meeting.
3. The student must obtain initial acknowledgement at the beginning of the semester and final approval at the end of the semester from an international student advisor at International Admissions and Student Services.

The instructor of the course has set up specific, recurring on-campus meetings required for international students enrolled in the course. This includes all examinations be taken on-site at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. In addition, the student must complete the On-Site Component Form in order to receive credit for the course to meet the full time enrollment requirement by US. Department of Homeland Security.