Utah Valley University
Policies and Procedures

Title Add/Drop/Withdrawals Number 503
Section Student Affairs Approval Date Jun 16,2011
Subsection Admissions, Enrollment, Tuition, and Commencement Effective Date Jun 16,2011
I. Purpose

1.1 In order to fulfill the mission of the university to provide quality educational experiences, this policy provides guidelines for students and university personnel regarding class registration and withdrawals.

II. References

2.1 UVU Policy #505 Payment and Non-Payment of Tuition and Fees

 

2.2 UVU Policy #507 Tuition Refunds

 

2.3 UVU Policy #541 Student Rights and Responsibilities

 

2.4 UVU Policy #601 Classroom Management

 

2.5 Procedures for active duty and death of a student as found in the course catalog.

 

III. Terms

3.1 Adding a class: Registering for a class before or on the last day to add deadline. 

 

3.2 Attendance: A meeting with the instructor and other students at the scheduled time and place for the class.

 

3.3 Audit: Registering and paying tuition for class(es) as a class participant without receiving academic credit.

 

3.4 Class: Specific section of a university course taken by a student for credit or audited during a term whether day, evening, weekend, off campus, or through distance education.

 

3.5 Continuing student: A student who has completed a minimum of one semester and attends for consecutive terms.

 

3.6 Deadline: A published date in the Student Time Table by which registration and changes in registration can be started or must be completed.  The following specific deadlines are referenced in this document:

 

3.6.1 Last day to register without an Add request

 

3.6.2 Tuition/fee payment deadline

 

3.6.3 Last day to add/audit class(es) deadline

 

3.6.4 Last day to drop class(es)

 

3.6.5 Last day to withdraw from class(es)

 

3.7 Documentation: Official/legal forms or a written statement signed by a qualified individual verifying the extenuating circumstances of the petitioning student.

 

3.8 Dropping a class: Canceling registration for a class before drop deadline.  No record of the class registration will appear on students’ transcripts.

 

3.9 Extenuating circumstances: (1) An incapacitating health condition, illness, or injury which prevents a student from attending classes (usually more than five consecutive class days); (2) a death in the immediate family; (3) change in work schedule as required by employer; or (4) other emergencies beyond the control of the student.

 

3.10 Holds: Restrictions on a student’s registration that must be cleared by contacting the appropriate administrative office.

 

3.11 Proof of attendance: A written statement or signature, or the appropriate form, signed by the class instructor or other designated department official, verifying a student’s attendance for a class.

 

3.12 Qualified individual: An employer, physician, licensed medical practitioner, licensed health care provider, licensed mental health care provider, or person qualified and possessing personal knowledge of extenuating circumstances of the student.

 

3.13 Student transcript: A document created from the academic record that is used to review the academic performance of the student.

 

3.14 Student Timetable: Dates and deadlines for registration and changes in registration published on the university’s web pages.

 

3.15 Withdrawals: Canceling registration for a class or all classes after the last day to drop deadline.  Types of withdrawals include administrative withdrawals, official withdrawals, and unofficial withdrawals. Withdrawals may or may not appear on transcripts.

 

3.15.1 Administrative withdrawal: Cancellation of a student’s registration for a class or classes by the university for lack of attendance during the first three class periods of a term, lack of satisfying prerequisites, and other official administrative reasons.

 

3.15.2 Official withdrawal: Students reduce class load by canceling registration from a class, multiple classes, or all classes.  A grade of “W” will appear on students’ transcripts.

 

3.15.3 Unofficial withdrawal: The university assigns this grade when students cease to attend a class for which they are registered but do not follow procedures for officially withdrawing; may result in a “UW,” or “E” grade on students’ transcripts.

 

3.16 Withdrawal Forms: Official forms used to appropriately complete registration changes. Types of withdrawal forms are Official Withdrawal Form and Withdrawal Exception Form.

 

3.16.1 Official Withdrawal Form: Used to drop or withdraw from all classes according to the deadlines noted in the Student Time Table.

 

3.16.2 Withdrawal Exception Form: Used to withdraw from individual classes or all classes after the last day to withdraw deadline noted in the Student Time Table.

 

IV. Policy

4.1 Admitted students without holds on their student record may register for classes according to the dates noted in the Student Time Table.

 

4.2 Students may add or drop classes without penalty before the add/drop deadlines published in the Student Time Table.

 

4.3 Students may withdraw from a class after the drop deadline and up to the last day to withdraw deadline published in the Student Time Table. Students may not withdraw from class after the last day to withdraw deadline except under extenuating circumstances as defined in section 3.9. Students who withdraw after the drop deadlines will receive a “W” grade on their transcript.

 

V. Procedures

5.1. Initial Registration for Semesters/Terms

 

5.1.1. Once admissions processing, orientation, assessment, and advisement are completed, new students and returning students without holds may register for classes according to the dates on the Student Time Table.

 

5.1.2 Continuing students without holds may register according to dates on the Student Time Table.

 

5.1.3 To audit a class, students register for the class, pay tuition, and submit an Audit Request by the audit deadline noted in the Student Time Table.  Classes taken as an audit may not be changed to credit status during the semester/term.

 

5.2 Changing Class Schedules before the Add/Drop Deadline

 

5.2.1 Adding Classes

           

5.2.1.1 When adding classes after the add/drop deadline, students must adhere to the deadline dates in the Student Time Table, submit an Add Request, and pay appropriate add fees. 

 

5.2.1.2 Changing sections or increasing credit on a variable credit class is a change in registration and is processed using an Add Request.

 

5.2.1.3 An add fee may be waived for changes requested by the department chair of the class.

 

5.2.2 Dropping Classes

           

5.2.2.1 Students may reduce their course load without a fee beginning and up to the drop deadline.

 

5.2.2.2 To drop ALL classes beginning the first day of the semester/term, students must use a Withdrawal Request.

 

5.2.2.3 Classes dropped prior to the drop deadline will not appear on transcripts.

 

5.3 Class Withdrawals Prior to the Last Day to Withdraw Deadline

 

5.3.1 After the drop deadline, students may withdraw from a class, multiple classes, or all classes up to the last day to withdraw deadline.

 

5.3.2 To withdraw from ALL classes beginning the first day of the semester/term, students must submit a Withdrawal Request.

 

5.3.3 When students withdraw from classes before the withdraw deadline, a “W” grade will appear on their transcripts.

 

5.4. Exceptions for Class Withdrawals after the Last Day to Withdraw Deadline

 

5.4.1 Withdrawing from a class or multiple classes, while remaining registered for at least one class, must be approved by the department chair of the course(s).

 

5.4.2 Withdrawing from ALL classes must be approved by the department chair of the student’s major course of study.

 

5.4.3 Students must submit a Withdrawal Exception and provide supporting documentation from a qualified individual as defined in section 3.12

 

5.4.4 Withdrawal process must be completed prior to the last day of the semester/term (last day of finals).

 

5.5 Administrative Drops and Withdrawals

 

5.5.1 Upon notification from the department chair to the Registrar’s Office, students may be dropped or withdrawn from classes administratively. Administrative drops and withdrawals may occur when there is a of lack of attendance during the first three class periods of a term, lack of satisfying prerequisites, and other official administrative reasons.

 

5.6 Unofficial Withdrawal

 

5.6.1 Students who stop attending a class without officially withdrawing may receive a “UW” or other grade at the instructor’s discretion.

 

5.7 Appeals to Add/Drop/Withdraw Policy

 

5.7.1 Contact the Office of the Registrar for the appeal procedure (see UVU Policy #541 Student Rights and Responsibilities).

 

5.7.2 Unusual exceptions to this policy and students seeking a tuition refund after the established deadline will be handled on an individual basis by the Office of the Registrar. (See UVU Policy #507 Tuition Refunds.)

 

5.7.3 Students who are called to active duty in the armed forces should contact the Office of the Registra; such cases are addressed on an individual basis.

 

5.7.4 Family of students who die during the semester should contact the Office of the Registrar; such cases are addressed on an individual basis.

 

Cara O'Sullivan, Policy Officer | mailto:cara.osullivan@uvu.edu | (801) 836-7355
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