Definitions
- A “course drop” is the removal of a course or credits from a student’s schedule without a transcript notation.
- A “course withdrawal” is the removal of a course or credits from a student’s schedule with a transcript notation of Withdraw (“W”).
Withdrawal Deadlines
The ability to add, drop, or withdraw from courses with or without transcript notations is based on the time at which a student seeks to do so, as follows:
| Semester | Length of Course | Deadline to Add a Course with a Classroom Component | Deadline to Add a Course without a Classroom Component | Deadline to Drop without a Transcript Notation | Deadline to Withdraw from a Course with a Transcript Notation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall or Spring | Whole semester | End of Add/Drop Period | One week after the end of Add/Drop period | End of Add/Drop Period | 5:00 p.m. Friday of the 10th week of the semester |
| Fall or Spring | Compressed | No later than the end of 7% of the scheduled course length | Not Applicable | No later than the end of 7% of the scheduled course length | No later than the end of 60% of the scheduled course length |
| Summer | Whole Semester | End of Add/Drop Period | One week after the end of Add/Drop period | End of Add/Drop Period | No later than the end of the 6th week of the semester |
| Summer | Compressed | No later than the end of 7% of the scheduled course length | Not Applicable | No later than the end of 7% of the scheduled course length | No later than the end of 60% of the scheduled course length |
Course drops and course withdrawals are subject to the financial policies delineated in the law school’s
Dropping a Course
Unless a course requires special permission to drop, a student may drop a course without instructor permission before the end of the add/drop period through the University’s online registration portal. Courses that require instructor permission to drop may be dropped only through submitting a Request for Registration Action form to the Office of the Registrar showing permission from the instructor, or, in extenuating circumstances, the Dean of Students.
Transcript notations will not be added to courses that are dropped before the deadline to drop a class without transcript notation. Students are advised to seek academic and/or financial aid advising before dropping courses, as doing so may affect a student’s ability to complete academic requirements and/or receive financial aid.
Withdrawal from a course
Students seeking to withdraw from a course after the add/drop period may do so by submitting a Request for Registration Action form to the Office of the Registrar.
For all course withdrawals after the end of the add/drop period, students will receive a notation of withdraw (“W”) on their transcript and will be subject to the financial policies delineated in the law school’s . The date that the Request for Registration Action form is received by the Office of the Registrar will be the effective date of the withdrawal.
Students who have been charged with or are under investigation for a violation of the may not withdraw from a course that is implicated in the charge. Additional restrictions on course withdrawals may apply to particular academic programs and students in the United States on a visa.
Subject to the provisions of Section VI below, in no situation may a student withdraw from any class after the applicable deadline to withdraw from a course with a transcript notation. The student will receive no reimbursement and will receive a failing grade for any course that is not successfully completed. Discontinuation of attendance at a class or notification to the instructor does not constitute an official drop or withdrawal from a course.
Students are advised to seek academic and/or financial aid advising before withdrawing from courses, as doing so may affect a student’s ability to complete academic requirements and/or receive financial aid.
Withdrawal from all courses
Students who seek to withdraw from all courses simultaneously must work with the Office of Student Affairs and the Office of the Registrar to file a Withdraw from All Classes form. The date that the Withdraw from All Classes form is received by the Office of the Registrar will be the effective date of the withdrawal.
For all course withdrawals after the end of the add/drop period, students will receive a notation of withdraw (“W”) on their transcript and will be subject to the financial policies delineated in the law school’s .
Students who have been charged with or are under investigation for a violation of the may not withdraw from a course that is implicated in the charge. Additional restrictions on course withdrawals may apply to particular academic programs and students in the United States on a visa.
Subject to the provisions of Section VI below, in no situation may a student withdraw from any class after the applicable deadline to withdraw from a course with a transcript notation. The student will receive no reimbursement and will receive a failing grade for any course that is not successfully completed. Discontinuation of attendance at a class or notification to the instructor does not constitute an official drop or withdrawal from a course.
Late Withdrawal or Reduction of Course Load Due to Extenuating Circumstances
In the event of an emergency after the applicable deadline to withdraw from a course with a transcript notation, if a student wishes to seek special permission to withdraw from all courses or secure a reduced course load, the student must meet with the Office of Student Affairs to provide any required documentation.
After meeting with the Dean of Students, the student must meet with the Office of the Registrar to file a petition requesting withdrawal from all courses or reduction of course load and all affected instructors must be consulted during the routing of the petition. The Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs will make the final decision for such late withdrawals. The student should provide medical documentation only to the Office of Student Affairs.