How long do I have to drop or add a class once the term starts?
During the Fall and Winter terms, you have until the end of the third week of class to drop or add a class. From the end of the third week to the end of the 9th week of class, you can drop or add a class with permission of the Newnan LSA Academic Advising Center. Courses dropped after the third week are marked on the transcript with a "W" simply to indicate that the drop was made later in the term. After that date, changes in your course elections are made only for truly unusual situations. Drop/add deadlines for the Spring and Summer half-terms are shorter; drops can be processed until the end of the second week of class and late drop/add changes with permission can be processed until the end of the fourth week. These deadlines are revised for the Spring and Summer half-terms. More...
I registered for a class by mistake. Can I drop it without getting a 'W', even though the deadline has passed?
No. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy of your schedule.
I missed the deadline because I didn't know there was such a thing, then I couldn't reach my professor for a signature. Can I drop my class?
No. It is your responsibility to know the rules and the calendar, and plan accordingly.
My professor didn't return the midterm exam until after the ninth week, and now I realize that I'm failing the class. Can I drop if I get the professor's approval?
No. After the Period II deadline has passed, a failing grade is not a sufficient reason to drop a course, and a professor does not have the authority to withdraw you. It is your responsibility to assess your performance in the class before the deadline passes, and decide then whether you want to complete the course.
How does a "W" look?
In general it looks just like what it is: you withdrew from a course. Since there are a variety of legitimate reasons for withdrawing from a course, a "W" is neutral. A pattern of W's, however, may suggest that you don't know your limits, have difficulty completing work, are unfocused or flakey-all potential negatives in the eyes of an admissions committee and future employers.
Does a 'W' on my transcript look really bad if I am applying to graduate schools?
One or even two W's probably won't make much of a difference. If you have a large number, however, your record does start to look troublesome. It is easy for graduate admissions officers to assume that you must have dropped because you were anticipating a bad grade, and judge accordingly. Graduate schools, like employers, also like to know that you can finish what you take on.
May I drop a course if I am on probation?
Yes, you may drop a class, but the College requires that you meet with an academic advisor to discuss your situation. The conversation is a good opportunity to assess your academic performance in this and your other courses and to plan for finishing the term successfully.
I'm taking a mini-course that only runs for half of the full term. Do the same deadlines apply?
No. Mini-courses have their own deadlines. Contact the Academic Advising Center for details.
Can I drop a mini-course that begins in the second half of the semester?
Yes, if the pro-rated deadline has not yet passed. Verify the deadline posted in the on-line Course Guide. If it is in the future, take your UMID to one of the Registrar's Student Service locations at 1207 LSA Building or B430LL N. Pierpont Commons where you can request the drop. If the deadline has passed you will need to complete a Request for a Late Drop.
Can I add a mini-course that begins in the second half of the semester?
Yes, if the course has open seats and the pro-rated registration deadline has not passed. After the third week add/drop deadline Wolverine Access no longer functions for add/drop transactions so you will need to go to one of the Registrar's Student Service locations at 1207 LSA Building or B430LL N. Pierpont Commons. If the course is closed or the deadline has passed you will need to get an electronic override and complete a Request for a Late Add.
May I change a pass/fail designation after the third week deadline?
An emphatic NO. Any changes to pass/fail modifications must be finalized before the deadline. Be sure to print a copy of your schedule that reflects the pass/fail as proof of your intention.
Does it matter if I drop below 12 credits?
It depends. In most cases, athletic eligibility, international student visa status, financial aid eligibility, and insurance coverage depend on being a full-time student with 12 or more credits. Note that the effective dates for calculating one's status may vary in different situations. Contact the appropriate resource to determine the impact of having fewer credits on your particular eligibility status.
Do I need the signature of the professor to complete the Request for a Late Drop?
Yes/No. You need either the signature of the GSI or faculty member on the form. The College requires that you talk with an instructor to assess your performance and potential for successfully completing the class so you can make an informed decision.
How can I verify that the drop was processed?
Students must process their own drop/adds at a Registrar Student Service site . Your Class Schedule will not reflect the withdrawal.
Do first-term LSA students get W's for drops?
Only LSA students in their first full term at UM will not receive a "W" for their drops.
I am a first-term LSA student who withdrew from a class after the third week deadline. Why does the W appear on my unofficial transcript?
In order to verify full-time enrollment, the W will continue to appear on the unofficial transcript (Academic Report) you can access in Wolverine Access. "W's" are expunged for LSA students who drop courses at the end of their first full term at UM.
I'm an Engineering Student taking an LS&A course. Do I follow LSA's Drop/Add dates and regulations, or Engineering's?
You are subject to the academic policies of the school in which you are enrolled, not the one in which the individual course may be listed. Since your drop/add request will be processed through Engineering, you must obey their guidelines, not LSA's.
Does my tuition change if I drop/add?
The University assesses tuition according to the number of registered credits at the end of the open drop/add period (3 weeks in a full term; 2 weeks in a half term).
Tuition assessment affected by drop/add activity after the open drop/add period:
| Adds at any time resulting in more than 18 credits (9 in half term) | Increase in tuition |
| Late drops after end of open drop/add (Period I) even if result is less than 12 credits | No tuition reduction |
| Both late drops and late adds during the term with credits added being equal to or greater than credits dropped | No tuition assessment for credits dropped |
