Bill Tracker: HB 116 - Dropping College Classes

This bill prevents college students from dropping more than three classes at any one particular college. The section of the Education Code applies if the student was able to drop the course without receiving a grade or incurring an academic penalty and the student's transcript indicates or will indicate that the student was enrolled in the course. The only two exceptions to the rule are for severe illness of the student or if the student is taking care of a sick person.

"Schools lose out on revenue when they issue refunds, so it will save the schools money," says Mike McEwen, a spokesman for Representative Fred Brown, about the bill's origin. "It will also allow students to graduate in a more timely fashion — it encourages them not to drop and to take the necessary steps to get their grades up and pass the class, as opposed to using a drop and retaking it. It will also make more seats in classes available to students that want to take the class and pass it."

Do we really need to micromanage people's lives this much? Why three classes, why not one? What am I missing that is good about this bill? Why can't students who are paying for their college degrees decide to not take a course at any given time?

I talk to college kids every day. Almost every student has dropped at least three classes and changed majors at least once. What is a student supposed to do if he or she doesn't get financial aid one semester, or their parents stop support, or the student loses a job? What is the penalty for dropping more than three classes: expulsion?

This bill was heard in committee already. The fiscal notes say that the bill will have no fiscal impact on the state. State universities are not going to save any money by limiting course drops to three. Seriously, which registrar's office is so totally finished with college kids changing classes?