Course Registration
Continuous Enrollment
Once admitted to a graduate program, each student has the obligation to continue a course of study and must register every semester in the academic year (fall and spring semesters) unless on an approved leave of absence. Failure to comply with the requirement to register every semester will be taken as evidence that the student has terminated their program and admission status in the Graduate School.
Changing a Schedule or Course Registration(s)
Students must register for coursework each term (except summer and winter) to maintain eligibility for a degree. Adjustments to course registrations should only be made before the start of the semester and should be undertaken in consultation with the students’ instructors and/or advisors. After the start of the term, changes may be made only in accordance with stated timetables. Further, students must file the necessary form(s) for registration changes with the appropriate University officials’ signature(s) of approval before changes are complete or official.
Add
Week 1: Fall, spring, or summer term – Students may add course(s) through the end of Week 1 only. (Winter term — Students may add a course through the end of Day 2 only.) Complete an Add/Drop form.
*Drop
Week 1: Complete an Add/Drop form with the instructor and advisor or program director approval. No transcript notation.
Weeks 2-8: Fall and spring sixteen-week semester course (through end of Day 18 in the summer, Fall A, Fall B, Spring A or Spring B) – Students may withdraw from a course(s) through the end of Week 8 with instructor and advisor or program director approval. A notation of WD will appear on the grade history transcript. Complete an Add/Drop form with the instructor and advisor or program director. Course(s) dropped counts as an attempt. Courses may be attempted twice.
Beginning the ninth week of the fall and spring sixteen-week semester course (or beginning Day 19 of the summer term Fall A, Fall B, Spring A or Spring B, or from Day 3 to the end of the winter term), students are not permitted to withdraw from a course. The student must complete the course, request an Incomplete, or request the instructor to grant a Withdraw Pass or Withdraw Fail (WP/WF – use the Course Withdraw Form).
Students enrolled in affiliated nursing program including nondegree/CWO, PhD, MS, and DNP students — are expected to abide by the registration change (add/drop) timelines, rules, and guidelines established by the School of Nursing.
*Please note that the drop/withdraw period relates to course transcription only. Student billing adheres to a different schedule found here: Withdrawing and Refunds - Office of the Registrar
Withdrawing From a Course Withdraw Pass/Withdraw Fail
If a student withdraws from a course after the first eight weeks of a fall or spring semester sixteen week course or the first two weeks of a summer or eight-week (Fall A/B or Spring A/B) course, and the Course Withdrawal Request form is appropriately completed and filed with signature approvals, the student will receive a withdrawal mark of a Withdraw Pass (WP) or Withdraw Fail (WF) for each course attempted. A withdrawal mark of WP means that the student was passing the course at the time of withdrawal (C or better); a withdrawal mark of WF means the student was failing at the time of withdrawal. Each WP and WF mark will appear on the official transcript. WP/WF marks are not included in the calculation of semester, term, or cumulative grade-point averages. However, WF marks are included as course failures when determinations of academic probation or academic failure are made. A student must repeat any course in which they received a WP or WF. A student may not graduate with a WF on their record.
Cancellation of Registration
Registered students compelled to leave the University before the start of a term must file an official notice of cancellation of registration with the Graduate School. Failure to file this notice and obtain approval by the Graduate School will incur financial implications.
Once the semester begins, students are subject to the other schedule adjustment guidelines, policies, and procedures (add/drop, withdrawing, etc.) cited herein.
Summer Term Registration
In general, degree students are not required to be registered during the summer term as part of the Graduate School’s Continuous Enrollment policy. And, with the exception of first-term international students, there is no full-time enrollment requirement in the summer term. Full-time enrollment in the summer is defined as at least 9 credit hours of course registration. Summer term registration, however, is expected for certain student groups, such as 12-month graduate assistants and students attempting to qualify for need-based federal financial assistance.