Dropping or Withdrawing from Courses

Students who wish to be released from a course after a term has begun have two options, depending on the timing of their request. Dropping is permitted during the first ten class days in a fall or spring semester. Withdrawing is permitted from the eleventh day through the end of the tenth week of the fall or spring semester. After the tenth week of a semester students may not drop or withdraw, and must complete a course. If they do not complete the course, students will receive whatever grade the instructor deems appropriate; grades of W will not be automatically granted for students not completing a course after the withdrawal date in any term. The time period in which to drop and/or withdrawal from Interterm and for the summer term are noted in the table above. Students taking an online course have five days to complete the first academic assignment or they may be administratively dropped from the course as a non-participant.

Students cannot withdraw from a course simply by informing an instructor of their plans or ceasing to attend class. Non-attendance will result in a failing grade for the course.

Exceptions to this policy will only be permitted in unusual circumstances such as prolonged illness or death in one’s immediate family. A student who wishes to be considered for an exceptional drop or withdrawal must complete a petition form available in the Records Office and receive approval from a chief academic officer.