Dropping Courses

The deadline for L&S undergraduates to drop semester-long courses is the end of the 9th week of classes. Courses may not be dropped after the 9th week except in extremely unusual circumstances, and only then with approval of a dean.

Courses dropped after Wednesday of the second week of classes have a "DR" notation recorded on the transcript. Prior to Fall 1988, information for courses dropped after the fourth week of the semester was not deleted from the transcript and the notation "DR" was entered.

May I Drop a class after the 9-week deadline?

It is the College's policy to allow you to drop the course only when verifiable circumstances beyond your control either prevented you from dropping the course before the deadline (e.g., you were hospitalized and the deadline passed while you were there) or prevented you from completing the class (e.g., you broke a leg and won't be able to finish your swimming class).

A circumstance that DOES NOT qualify is "I did not know when the deadline was." The relevant dates are printed in the Timetable and each L&S student receives an e-mail reminder at the beginning of the 9th week (during Fall and Spring). "I forgot" or "I did not know how I was doing in the class" are also not compelling reasons to be granted a late drop.

We encourage you to assess your performance in each of your classes before the 9-week drop deadline so you are able to make an informed decision about dropping one or more classes. "I just got my mid-term (or second examination/quiz) back after the drop deadline" is not an acceptable or viable reason.

If you think you have circumstances beyond your control, schedule an appointment to meet with an academic dean in L&S Academic Deans' Services by calling 262-0617 and bring documentation supporting your claim to the appointment. Providing documentation is not a guarantee that your request to drop a class will be granted. A dean has the discretion to determine if the circumstances you claim were indeed beyond your control, merits approval and, in fact, prevented you from dropping the class in a timely manner. Each request is considered on a case-by-case basis.

Adding Courses - The Rules

You may add Fall and Spring classes (providing space is available) via the web through Friday of the second week of classes. These deadlines are prorated for modular and Summer Session classes, so check the Registrar's website and the Course Guide for specific dates. After the deadline, you will be required to obtain departmental approval.

Is it difficult to add classes late?

Departments (via faculty) decide whether it is appropriate for students to add classes after the second week of the semester. Problems with registration and financial aid can sometimes prevent a student from registering in a timely manner. Although there are late fees associated with late registration, if a student has been attending the class and keeping up with the work, there may not be a problem. Remember, late adds are at the discretion of the instructor.

After the ninth week of classes, students can only add a course late with the permission of the instructor, department administrator/adviser and anL&S Academic Dean (Room 110, Ingraham Hall). You will need to bring a completed course change form (with instructor's signature and departmental stamp) to the L&S Academic Deans' Services Office, Room 110, Ingrahm Hall.

Remember that adding a course late may incur additional fees. Tuition (fees) is assessed from the first day of the semester/session regardless of when you actually register for the course. If classes are dropped and added late after the 100% refund period, additional fees may be assessed if the total number of registered credits exceeds 18 at any given time.

It is a different situation if you are looking to add classes well into the semester. There are a few courses that do not start at the beginning of the semester.

Dropping Courses - The Rules

You can drop Fall/Spring semester classes via the web through Friday of the ninth week of classes. These deadlines are prorated for modular and Summer Session classes, so check the Timetable for specific dates. If you drop classes before the end of the day on the second Wednesday of classes (Fall/Spring only), the drop will not be recorded. If you drop a class after the second Wednesday of classes, a "DR" will be recorded on your transcript.

Why and when to drop a class so a "DR" will not show on your transcript?

We encourage students to drop classes before the "DR" on the transcript deadline as an incentive to allow other students an opportunity to add the class(es). When you intentionally "hold" a spot in a class, it prevents others from registering for it. The "DR" is not intended to be punitive. It simply accurately reflects your registration.

What is the impact of the "DR" appearing on your transcript?

A "DR" appearing on a transcript is not necessarily negative. A "DR" reflects that you enrolled in a class for awhile and then decided to drop it. It is an accurate reflection of what actually happened. Your transcript, an official document, should correctly state your registration. If your performance in a particular class is less than satisfactory prior to the 9-week deadline, it may be to your advantage to drop the course to prevent failing the course and adversely affecting your grade point average (GPA).

A "DR" says that you were enrolled in a particular course and you decided to drop it. It is not an indication of your success or failure. Most graduate school admission decisions are based on other qualitative factors such as overall GPA, your academic major, test scores, research interest and letters of recommendation. Your personal statement also factors in the admission decision. In your personal statement you can explain any factors that led to certain grades and/or patterns of dropped classes or withdrawals from school.

Most employers won't request a transcript. Employers are typically most concerned with your work experience and suitability for the position. In other words, a few dropped courses over a four- to five-year period are not significant.

What happens if I need to drop a class and go below 12 credits (full-time)?

If you are an INTERNATIONAL student, you will need the permission of the International Student Services Office. If you are a student ATHLETE, you will need the permission of the Department of Athletics. The main concerns for other students are housing, financial aid and insurance. All three usually have some allowances for dropping below full-time (12 credits), depending on HOW FAR below 12 credits you go.

You may have problems with scholarships and being covered by your parents' insurance policies. Some scholarships require that you maintain full-time status, as do some insurance policies, where others may allow some flexibility. Check into it before you drop below 12 credits. Special circumstances may be considered.

Withdrawal

Withdrawal means dropping all your classes and leaving school for the semester. You can withdraw up to the end of the 12th week of Fall/Spring classes (Summer Session and modular course deadlines vary; refer to the Timetable). Assuming you withdraw after the beginning of the semester, you will still get an invitation to enroll for the next semester. The form for withdrawal is online and instructions are included.

For general information about withdrawing, refer to What does it mean if I withdraw from the semester. Rather than "DR" showing up next to each class, your transcript will say that you withdrew from the semester and the date that you withdrew.