Course Add, Drop, & Withdrawal Policy

Adding a Course

Prior to the start of the academic term, students may self-enroll in courses through the Self-Service registration system. Beginning the first day of the term, all course adds are processed by the Registrar’s Office and students must receive instructor permission in order to add a course. The last day to add a course for each term is identified in the academic calendar and generally aligns with the following schedule:

Dropping or Withdrawing From a Course

Drop and withdrawal deadlines for each term are published in the academic calendar. Standard terms include: Fall Semester, Spring Semester, Fall Quarter I & II, Spring Quarter I & II, Summer Long Session, and Summer Sessions I, II, & III. For courses offered in non-conforming terms, drop and withdrawal deadlines will be included in the course syllabus.

The following guidelines are used when determining drop and withdrawal dates for all standard terms (except May term):

• The deadline for students to drop a course without a notation included on the transcript shall be set after approximately 20-25% of the term has been completed
• The deadline for students to drop a course and receive a non-punitive grade of “W” on the transcript shall be set after approximately 65-70% of the course has been completed
• Students who drop a course after the withdrawal deadline (during the final 30-35% of the term) will receive a punitive final grade of “F” for the dropped course

Actual dates vary by term and will be published in the academic calendar.

May Term

• The last day to drop a May term course without a notation included on the transcript is 4:30 pm on the first Friday of the term. The last day to drop a May term course and receive a “W” (withdrawn) grade is 4:30 p.m. on the second Friday of the term. Anyone dropping a May term course after the second Friday will receive a grade of “F” (fail).
• The deadline to drop a course for the May term and incur no financial penalty depends on the fee associated with the course. There will be no refunds issued after the first day of the May term. Specific information on the fees, refund table, and policies associated with May term are available at: https://www.loras.edu/academics/#may-term. Please consult with the Coordinator of Study Abroad, who is located in the Center for Experiential Learning, for details.

Non-Conforming terms

• A non-conforming term includes any term with a start or end date that does not align with the start and end date for an existing standard term.  Drop and withdrawal dates in the non-conforming term are determined based on the same guidelines used for standard term courses.  Non-standard term drop and withdrawal dates are NOT included in the academic calendar and will be published on individual course syllabi.

Students wishing to drop a course may do so in person in the Office of the Registrar or by sending an email to the Office of the Registrar (registrar@loras.edu) by 4:30 p.m. on the deadline for the term.