Dear OnRamps Statistics Parent:
Your student is enrolled in a new and innovative dual-credit program coordinated by The University of
Texas at Austin. The program, called OnRamps, is designed to help your student be more successful in
college by exposing him or her to a rigorous, high-quality, college-level course. Each OnRamps course
matches an existing course taught at UT Austin and is designed to prepare students for the kinds of
work and ways of thinking expected in college. Students have the opportunity to earn credit from The
University of Texas at Austin through University Extension based on their academic performance.
What can my student and I expect from the OnRamps Course?
 A yearlong experience that will challenge your student to master UT Austin developed content,
assignments, and assessments.
 A high school teacher who has participated in extensive training by and who receives on-going
support from UT Austin faculty and staff.
 Multiple homework assignments per week that are completed online.
 Access to and regular use of the educational technology that students use at UT Austin.
 The opportunity to earn three hours of college credit from UT Austin that count toward the
university’s required Core Curriculum and transfer widely to other colleges within Texas and
beyond.
How can my student earn college credit for this course?
This fall, your student is enrolled in a yearlong course taught by a high school teacher for high school
credit, as they would be ordinarily. In this class, the high school teacher uses OnRamps course
materials developed at UT Austin.
 During the fall semester: If your student successfully completes a series of required
assignments* with a grade of 75% or better, they will be eligible to enroll in an undergraduate
course for the opportunity to earn college credit in the spring semester.
 During the spring semester: If your student successfully completes a series of additional
required assignments*, your student will be awarded college credit and receive an official UT
Austin transcript.
You should know that the grade for the high school course may differ from that for the college course,
as the assignments that will determine each grade may be slightly different.
*See the attached table for the required college assignments.
What if my student does not meet the eligibility requirements for the opportunity to earn college
credit?
If your student does not meet the eligibility requirements to enroll in the spring college course, or
enrolls and then chooses to drop the college course, s/he can remain enrolled in the high school course
during the spring semester for the opportunity to earn high school credit. Even though s/he will not
have the opportunity to earn college credit, s/he will have the advantage of experiencing the rigor of
and developing the academic habits expected in a UT Austin level course while still in high school.
If my student is eligible to earn college credit, what are the different options for how my student
might receive a grade for the college course?
Your student may either elect to enroll in the spring college course for a letter grade or they may take
the course pass/fail.

If your student takes the course for a letter grade, the letter grade they earn for the course will
appear on their transcript.
 If your student takes the class pass/fail, the transcript will not show a letter grade but only that
the student passed or failed the class. A letter grade of a D+ or better is considered passing.
Your student must elect his or her grade preference at the end of the fall semester when eligibility to
enroll in the spring college course is determined. For help making this choice, please see the
Frequently Asked Questions section on the OnRamps website (www.onramps.org), and follow up with
your student’s teacher if you have additional questions.
What if my student enrolls to earn college credit but then performs poorly on college assignments?
If your student is enrolled in the spring college course, s/he may drop the course at any time without
penalty if s/he is dissatisfied with his/her performance. In fact, we encourage students who will earn
less than a B, or who are not on track to earn the pass, to drop the course so that their performance
will not adversely impact their college transcript in future years.
Is there a cost for OnRamps?
During 2014-2015, OnRamps Statistics course is being piloted at select schools. OnRamps offers the
course for no cost during the pilot year. Students do not have to pay for materials, technology, tuition,
or the opportunity to earn credit. The only fee associated with OnRamps that we ask you to pay will be
to order a copy of the student’s UT Austin transcript if needed for college applications or other
purposes. The UT Registrar charges $10 for this service.
How will information about my student’s academic performance be communicated?
Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), parents have the right to review their
student’s high school records, but students have primary control over access to postsecondary/college
records. You may communicate with your student’s high school teacher about your student’s high
school grade as you currently do. However, the UT Austin faculty member is not allowed to
communicate with you regarding your student’s college grade. OnRamps encourages you to respect
your student's ownership of his/her education record at the college level by seeking information and
updates on your student’s experience and performance through conversations with your student. The
UT Austin faculty member will regularly attempt to communicate with and through your student, as
managing this relationship with a college faculty member is an important maturation point for
students.
Please visit the OnRamps website (www.onramps.org) to get more information about the program. If
you have additional questions or concerns, please contact sarah.swallow@manorisd.net.
Thank you, and we’re looking forward to a great year!
Sincerely,
Dr. Julie Schell
Director of OnRamps and Strategic Initiatives
Center for Teaching and Learning
University of Texas at Austin
Sarah Swallow
Teacher: OnRamps Statistics
Manor High School x8306
sarah.swallow@manorisd.net
How are eligibility and grades for Spring 2014 college course determined?
a. For high school credit: Although using OnRamps as the instructional materials for the course, each
OnRamps Instructor is solely responsible for grading student work and assigning a high school
grade.
b. For college credit: Each course has a set number of assessments associated with Spring 2015
college course. The chart below shows the required assignments and assessment, and when grades
need to be submitted in UT’s learning management system, Canvas, for students to qualify for the
Spring 2015 college course in the fall semester and for the college grade to be determined in the
spring semester.
Course
Qualifying (1st Semester)
Assessment
Submission
of Grades
College Credit (2nd Semester)
Assessment
Submission
of Grades
Statistics
Reading Quizzes: 8
Pre Lab: 4
Lab: 4
Problem Set: 4
Readiness
Assessment Quiz: 1
Lab Exam: 1
Exam: 1
(Covers Units 1-4)
Reading Quizzes: 12
Pre Lab: 6
Lab: 6
Problem Set: 6
Readiness
Assessment Quiz: 3
Lab Exam: 2
Exam: 2
Final Exam: 1
(Covers Units 5-10)
MidFebruary,
2014
May 15,
2015