Faculty of Arts & Science
Academic Advising

What if I have an emergency and cannot complete or continue in my course(s)?

In the event of a serious illness, accident, or other circumstances beyond your control that prevent you from completing your course(s), you may be eligible for a "Withdrawal With Cause." You must apply to your Faculty Advising Office for a Withdrawal With Cause. A Withdrawal With Cause will be denoted on your transcript with a 'WC' and will have no impact on your GPA.

If you have completed most of the course work in a course and encounter serious extenuating circumstances during or after the last two weeks of classes, you may also be eligible for an "Incomplete." You must apply to your Faculty Advising Office for an Incomplete. An Incomplete will give you additional time to complete your course requirement(s). Until you have completed your requirement(s) or the deadline for you to complete the requirement(s) passes, an 'I' will appear on your transcript. Once you complete your course the 'I' will be changed to the grade that you earned in the course. If you fail to complete the course requirement(s) before the deadline the 'I' will be changed to an 'F'.

If you find yourself in one of these situations, it is best to contact a student program advisor as soon as possible. Please note that Advising will require documentation supporting your need for an Incomplete and/or a Withdrawal With Cause.

What if the course I need is full?

If you are unable to register in a required course during your assigned registration window, you should see a student program advisor to submit a wait-list request during the wait-list period. Do not give up trying to register!

What if the course I really want is full or reserved?

If you cannot register in a course that you really want to take, you should register in another course as a back-up and keep trying for the one that you really want. Persistence is usually rewarded! See a student program advisor if you need help choosing a back-up course.

What if I'm not in the classes I want at the beginning of the semester, or I want to change my schedule?

Through the Add/Drop period, until the end of the first week of classes (Fall or Spring), you can add and/or drop courses, lab, and tutorials without penalty until you get the schedule that is right for you and your program.

You can add and/or drop courses using the Bridge in the same manner that you initially registered in your courses.

Check Important Dates and Deadlines page for the last day of Add/Drop.

What if I want to take a course in a different field, but am worried that I might not do as well as I would like?

If you are interested in taking a course but are worried that if you do poorly, your grade point average (GPA) will suffer, Credit/Non-Credit is for you. It was designed to help you expand your academic horizons while protecting your GPA.

When you designate a course as Credit/Non-Credit, you have essentially insured your GPA because you will not receive a letter grade in the course unless you earn a 'C' or better. If you earn a grade lower than a 'C' but still pass the course, a 'Cr' (Credit) will appear on your transcript. You retain credit from the course in your degree program but a 'Cr' does not affect your GPA. If you fail the course a 'NC' (No Credit) will appear on your transcrpt. This indicates that you did not receive credit for the course, but a 'NC' does not bring down your GPA.

The Credit/Non-Credit option is not available for every course you will take. Consult the Academic Regulations section of the University Calendar for more information on which courses are eligible for Credit/Non-Credit. There is also a specific window in which you can designate a course as Credit/Non-Credit. Check the Important Dates and Deadlines page for these dates.

What if I want to drop a class after the Add/Drop period has ended?

After the Add/Drop period you will need to withdraw from any courses you do not wish to complete. You can withdraw from individual courses until the last day of classes in each semester.

If you withdraw from a course, it will be noted with a 'W' on your transcript and will have no impact on your GPA.

To withdraw from a course, you need to fill out a Course Withdrawal Form at the Registrar's Office. You may be eligible for a partial tuition refund depending on when you withdraw from the course.