Add/Drop and Withdrawal

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Add/Drop Policy

During the first seven days after classes begin in any semester or the first three days after classes begin in summerterm, a student may add or drop a course without a permanent record being made of the change. Students changing their schedules within the add/drop period must have approval of the instructor of each course being added (not required for dropping a course). Under exceptional circumstances, students may request from the Academic Petitions Committee a late add or drop; to submit an academic petition for consideration, the student must have instructor and advisor approval. If the petition is approved, a $50 late change fee will be levied.

Withdrawal Policy

Withdrawal from a Course

Twice before graduation, students are permitted to withdraw from a course after the first seven days and until the end of the 10th week of classes for fall and spring semester courses that meet over the entire semester. For courses that meet for half of a semester or during summerterm, students may withdraw after the first three days and until the end of the third week. The course remains on their transcript, and a “W” grade is entered by the registrar. If a withdrawal form, properly executed, is not submitted before the deadline, the student remains enrolled in the course, and is graded accordingly. Withdrawing from FYP or FYS is not permitted. Students should contact the Student Financial Services Office to determine if withdrawing from a course will jeopardize a NYS grant or scholarship. NCAA Division 1 athletes and international students may not withdraw or take a late drop or withdrawal if the change decreases their enrollment to less than 3.5 units. Students should consult with financial aid, student financial services, international student services, or athletics as needed. 

Medical Withdrawal

Medical Course Withdrawal: A request form and documentation from an appropriate medical, psychiatric or psychological professional must be provided to the vice president and dean of student life by the last day of classes. “E” grades remain eligible for “WM” until they expire.  International students in F-1 status are required to maintain ‘full course of study’ each semester of enrollment (3.5 units for undergraduate study). Exceptions to this requirement are limited; however, in certain cases a student may apply for a reduced course load.  All international students must obtain authorization from International Student Services prior to dropping below full-time enrollment.

Medical Withdrawal from the Semester

Students may apply to the Vice President for Student Life for a medical withdrawal from the entire semester. The student must complete the Withdrawal/Leave of Absence Form and provide appropriate supporting documentation from a medical or mental health professional to the Vice President for Student Life. If approved, the registrar enters a “WM” (medical withdrawal) grade for all courses. Students taking a full medical withdrawal must absent themselves from campus, unless the Vice President for Student Life expressly allows access. The deadline to request a medical withdrawal from the semester is the last day of the semester (the end of finals week). Students may petition for a retroactive medical withdrawal after the end of the semester in cases of extenuating circumstances. Students who are approved for a medical withdrawal from the semester and are enrolled in the Tuition Refund Plan may be eligible for a partial refund of costs incurred for the semester.

Drop vs. Withdrawal

Dropping a course

  1. Only available during the first 7 days of classes for fall/spring semester, or first 3 days of summerterm
  2. Does not require instructor or advisor permissi
  3. Course will not appear on the student's transcript
  4. No limit on the number of drops, and does not affect financial aid or other eligibilities as long as student continues to meet full-time status (≥ 3.5 units)
  5. A late drop (if approved, by academic petition) removes a course from the student's record, so NCAA Division 1 athletes and international students must make sure that they will still have at least 3.5 units remaining if a late drop is approved. Students should consult with financial aid, student financial services, international student services, or athletics as needed. 

Withdrawal from a course

  1. Available after the end of the add/drop period, until the end of the 10th week of classes for fall/spring semester or until the end of the 3rd week for summerterm
  2. Requires instructor acknowledgment and advisor approval
  3. Course will appear on transcript with “W” in place of a numerical grade
  4. Students may only withdraw 2 times during their academic career
  5. Counts for most purposes as part of a student's total enrollment for considering full-time status, but may impact future New York State TAP eligibility, other New York State aid awards, and other eligibilities. 
  6. For NCAA Division 1 athletes and international students, a withdrawn course does not count toward full-time status, so students must make sure that they will still have at least 3.5 units remaining if they withdraw from a course. Students should consult with financial aid, student financial services, international student services, or athletics as needed.