Dropping Courses

Dropping courses refers to reducing one’s course load for a single term or discontinuing enrollment in one or more courses while remaining registered in others courses for the same term.  For information on withdrawing from all courses, see Withdrawal from the University.

There are three distinct drop periods for each term.  Specific dates for each period are included in the Academic Calendar.

Dropping courses with no penalty.  A student may drop courses from his/her schedule with no penalty through the last day to drop without penalty as published in the academic calendar for each term or part of term (usually the fifth of classes in the fall/spring and the second day of classes in the summer). Students with an advisor hold must obtain approval from their academic advisor to drop a class; no additional approvals are required during the add period.  Courses dropped during this period do not receive a W grade, do not count in the student’s 5W count, do not count in the student’s attempted hours and do not appear on the academic transcript.  Students will not be charged tuition and fees for courses dropped during this period.   

Dropping courses with a W grade.  After the last day to drop a course with no penalty, but on or before the last day to drop a course with a W grade as published in the academic calendar for each term or part of term, students may drop courses by submitting an Add/Drop form to the Registrar’s Office.  Approval of the instructor and academic advisor (only if an advisor hold exists) are required.  Students will receive a W grade for courses dropped during this time period, and these courses will count in the student’s 5W count.  Courses dropped during this time will also count in the student’s attempted hours, which will affect the student’s financial aid and HOPE eligibility.  They will also appear on the academic transcript.  No refunds will be issued for courses dropped during this period.  Students may not drop courses during this period if they have previously been assigned a grade of F for excessive absences by their instructor.

Dropping courses with a WF.  After the last day to drop a course with a W grade, students may drop courses and receive a WF by submitting an Add/Drop form to the Registrar’s Office.   Approval of the instructor and academic advisor (only if an advisor hold exists) are required.  A student who drops a course after the last day to drop a course with a W will receive a grade of "WF" (Withdrew Failing) for the course.  A grade of WF counts the same as a grade of F in the student’s grade point average.  Courses dropped during this time will count in the student’s attempted hours, which will affect the student’s financial aid and HOPE eligibility.  They also appear on the academic transcript.  No refunds will be issued for courses dropped during this period.  Students may not drop courses during this period if they have previously been assigned a grade of F for excessive absences by their instructor.

Students attending classes that do not meet until after the published drop/add dates are allowed 24 hours following their first class meeting to adjust their course load.