Need to Know

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Drop/Add

Drop and Add Procedures

How to drop/add depends on when you drop/add. Use the links below for step-by-step directions for your situation.

  • Registration & Drop/Add: Before classes through the Friday of the first week of classes
    When:

    Before classes through the Friday of the first week of classes

    What to Expect:
    • You will be charged a drop/add access fee if you drop and/or add two or more business days after you first register. The fee is assessed each day you make changes, not per drop or add.
    • Classes dropped by Friday of the first week will not show on your transcript or grade reports. If you want to avoid a W, drop by the Friday of the first week. See late drop/add below for more information about the “W.”
    Steps for Registration & Drop/Add
    1. Before you first register for classes (Early Registration), discuss your plans with your advisor. Plan ahead. Your goal is to have a great class schedule well before the term begins.
    2. Last minute changes up through the Friday of the first week of the term can be tricky. Walk-in and phone-in advisors are available every weekday.
    3. Go to your Onestart, Services tab, Student Services on left, click on Student Center, and click on “Registration & Drop/Add.” Follow the steps to enroll for the semester and drop/add.
    4. Detailed drop/add instructions are on the Office of the Registrar website and in the Enrollment and Student Academic Information Bulletin. Contact the Office of the Registrar for help with the technical aspects of registration and drop/add.
  • Late Drop/Add: Second week of classes starting Monday (or Tuesday if Monday is a holiday) through Auto-W deadline
    When:

    Second week of classes starting Monday (or Tuesday if Monday is a holiday) through the Automatic Withdrawal (Auto-W) deadline. There are different deadlines for first eight-weeks, full-term, and second eight-weeks classes.

    What is Auto-W? The “W” means Withdrawn. When a student drops a class during the second week through the Auto-W deadline, a “W” will show on the student’s IU transcript next to the dropped class. The “W” is not a grade so it does not affect the GPA. The Auto-W deadline is the last day a student can drop a course and automatically receive a “W.” There are different Auto-W deadlines for first eight-week, full-term, and second eight-week classes. After this deadline, it is difficult to drop a class (it is not automatic).

    What to Expect:
    • A “W” (stands for “Withdrawn”) will be recorded on your Grade Report (but it is not a grade) and will be on your IU transcript for any class you drop by the Auto-W deadline.
    • Extra course fees, extra tuition, and/or penalties could be charged to your Bursar Account. At the very least you will be charged a Late Schedule Change fee for each course dropped. See drop/add cautions to learn about possible financial costs of late drop/add.
    • Late add requests for classes that have started must be approved by the instructor in addition to the department. Late drop requests up to the Auto-W deadline require departmental approval only. It might take a day or two before you learn if these requests are approved or not.
    Steps for Late Drop/Add
    1. Review the drop/add cautions. There are consequences to late drop/add and some are very costly. See an advisor if you have questions. You may need to consult with the Office of the Bursar or Office of Financial Aid.
    2. If you need to add, you might want to search for Second eight-week classes and other classes that have not yet started. Instructors may not approve your add if you have missed too much.
    3. Be aware of the Auto-W deadlines for dropping first eight weeks, full-term, and second eight weeks classes.
    4. Go to Onestart, Services tab, Student Services on left, and click on “Late Drop/Add classes” to open eDrop/eAdd (electronic Drop/Add). Follow the steps in the system to:
      • Drop/add together (If add is not approved, drop won’t be approved. It’s designed this way to make sure you stay in full-time status.)
      • Drop only
      • Add only
    5. It might take a day or more. You can track the progress of your drop and/or add requests using “Track My eDocs” found on the same screen in Onestart where you do eAdd/eDrop.
    6. Detailed drop/add instructions are on the Office of the Registrar website and in the Enrollment and Student Academic Information Bulletin. Contact the Office of the Registrar for help with the technical aspects of late drop/add.
  • Drop after the Auto-W Deadline: Auto-W Deadline depends on if the class is first eight weeks, full-term, second eight weeks
    When: 

    From the Auto-W Deadline through the Dean’s Deadline. There are different deadlines for first eight-weeks, full-term, and second eight-weeks classes.

    What to Expect:
    • To drop after the Auto-W Deadline, a student needs the approval of both the dean and the instructor. If the dean approves a late drop, the instructor still has the choice of giving the student a W or an F.
    • This petition process is intended for students who have faced “extended illness or other equivalent distress.” Please contact your instructors and advisor as soon as possible if something happens in your life that might keep you from doing well. Please ask for help.
    Steps to Drop After the Auto-W Deadline
    1. Contact your advisor and instructor(s) to discuss the circumstances that have lead you to consider asking for a late drop. It may be that a drop is not your best option or is just not possible. There are other options (see below).
    2. Complete and submit the Post-Auto-W Deadline Late Drop Petition form. You will need to input your IU username and IU passphrase to open the form.  Follow the guidelines below for writing your petition.
    3. If you are having technical issues and you cannot get the form to work, email the Director of UD Advising, Frank Reiter (reiterf@indiana.edu) with the details of the unique circumstances you believe warrant an exception to the deadline.

    In your email make sure to include:

    • Your first and last name
    • ID#
    • Course subject code, number and title of the course you wish to drop.
    • The reason for your petitions request explaining your “extended illness or equivalent distress” that made it impossible to meet the Auto-W Deadline or impeded your success in the class after the W deadline.
    1. Check your IU email account. UD will send you a message within three working days.
    2. If your petition is approved, you will be given a Late Drop/Add form. You will need to see your instructor and ask him/her to sign this form. The instructor has the choice to give you the W or an F on this form
    Guidelines for the Post-Auto-W Deadline Late Drop Petition Form
    • Describe the “extended illness or equivalent distress” that made it impossible to meet the Auto-W Deadline or impeded your success in the class after the deadline.
    • The request should be well written and clearly explain your reason for the request.
    • Justifications based solely on missing the deadline or to avoid a low grade cannot be approved.
    • Supporting documentation can be emailed to  Frank Reiter reiterf@indiana.edu or faxed to (812)855-7623 ATTENTION: Frank Reiter (Post-Auto-W Deadline Request), or delivered to Maxwell Hall 101.
    • The petition form may be followed by an email from the instructor to the director of University Division Academic Advising at reiterf@indiana.edu, verifying the instructor’s intent to give a W instead of an F.
    Other Options to Consider Before Petitioning for a Late Drop after the Auto-W Deadline
    • Review the syllabus for the class to determine what final grade is possible for you.
    • Meet with your instructor to learn how you might make the most of the remaining time in the term. Can you complete and turn in missing assignments and projects? Earn extra credit?
    • Manage your time to focus on the classes, assignments, and exams that will contribute most to your progress and success. Ask your instructors and advisor for help setting priorities.
    • Discuss the possibility of an Incomplete with your instructor.
    • Repeat the course, if necessary or if it’s a good idea, in a future term. If you repeat, consider applying for the X-Policy, which allows you to remove the first grade from your IU GPA.
    • Consider the option to drop all classes.
    • Please meet with your advisor to discuss your decision to petition for a late drop and the other options above.
  • Drop after the Dean's Deadline: the Dean's Deadline depends on if the class is first eight weeks, full-term, second eight weeks
    When:

    After the Dean’s Deadline to the last day of classes.

    What to expect:
    • Approval for a drop after the Dean’s Deadline is reserved for exceptional circumstances due to “extended illness or equivalent distress.” Please contact your instructors and advisor as soon as possible if something happens in your life that could keep you from successfully completing your courses late in the term.
    • To drop after the Dean’s Deadline, a student needs the approval of both the director of University Division and the instructor. If the director approves a late drop, the instructor still has the choice of giving the student a W or an F.
    Steps to Drop after the Dean's Deadline
    1. Contact your advisor and instructor(s) to discuss the circumstances that have led you to consider asking for a drop after the Dean’s Deadline. It may be that a drop is not your best option or is not possible. There are other options (see below).
    2. Complete and submit the Post-Dean’s Deadline Late Drop Petition form.  You will need input your IU username and IU Passphrase to open the form.  Follow the guidelines below for writing your petition.
    3. Check your IU email account. UD will send you a message within five working days.
    4. If your petition is approved, you will be given a Late Drop/Add form. You will need to see your instructor and ask him/her to sign this form. The instructor has the choice to give you the W or an F on this form.
    Guidelines for the Online Post-Dean's Deadline Late Drop Petition form
    • Describe the “extended illness or equivalent distress” that made it impossible to meet the Dean’s Deadline or impeded your success in the class after the deadline.
    • The request should be well written and clearly explain your reason for the request.
    • Justifications based solely on missing the deadline or to avoid a low grade cannot be approved.
    • Supporting  documentation can be  emailed to Frank Reiter reiterf@indiana.edu or faxed to (812) 855-7623 ATTENTION: Frank Reiter (Post-Dean’s Deadline Request), or delivered to Maxwell Hall 101.
    Other Options to Consider Before Petitioning for a Late Drop after the Dean's Deadline
    • Review the syllabus for the class to determine what final grade is possible for you.
    • Meet with your instructor to learn how you might make the most of the remaining time in the term. Can you complete and turn in missing assignments and projects? Earn extra credit?
    • Manage your time to focus on the classes and assignments and exams that will contribute most to your progress and success. Ask your instructors and advisor for help setting priorities.
    • Discuss the possibility of an Incomplete with your instructor. Be aware that an Incomplete is almost never possible if the student has taken the final exam.
    • Repeat the course, if necessary or if it’s a good idea, in a future term. If you repeat, consider applying for the X-Policy, which allows you to remove the first grade from your IU GPA.
    • Consider the option to drop all classes, which is possible through the last day of final exam week.
    • Please meet with your advisor to discuss your decision to petition for a late drop and the other options above.
  • Drop after the end of term

    After the end of the term (last day of final exam week), students should contact the Student Advocates Office to discuss if and how it might be possible to drop classes.