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Drop/Add

The first three weeks of a full term (first two weeks of a half-term) serve as the drop/add time period in which students finalize their academic schedules.  Please see the Registrar’s Calendar for drop/add deadline dates.

Students may drop courses in Wolverine Access up until the last day of the drop/add deadline. Courses dropped during that time period do not appear on the academic record. Note that half-term courses may have different drop deadlines. 

Students may add courses in Wolverine Access up until the drop/add deadline. Please note that some courses may require instructor or department approval after the semester has begun. Students are responsible for completing any assessments (papers, exams, quizzes, etc) in the course from its beginning, regardless of the date of registration, and should be given an opportunity to complete such work in a reasonable time frame. Therefore, it is important to talk with the course instructor about work assigned to date before adding a course after the term has begun. 

If a student is interested in dropping all classes during this time period, that would be considered a term withdrawal

Late Drop Period

After the drop/add deadline, students may late drop courses in Wolverine Access up until the last day of class as defined by the Registrar’s Office. W's are posted for courses dropped during this period, regardless of reason for the drop.

            For students in their first full semester (Fall or Winter term); however, W's are expunged                          from the official transcript after the term is complete. Ws will continue to appear on the                          unofficial transcript for first term students.  

To request a late drop a student must: 

  1. Go to their Backpack/Registration page in Wolverine Access
  2. Select the DROP tab at the top of the screen
  3. Select the class to drop, click "Proceed to Step Two," then click "Finish Dropping"
  4. Click the button "Request Late Drop" to the right  of the red "X"
  5. Answer the questions and click "Submit Request" at the bottom
  6. Click “OK” on the confirmation page. Students will receive a confirmation email.

When students answer the questions in Step 5, they are acknowledging their responsibility to research any and all potential impacts on progress with the referenced offices (applicable phone numbers provided). For academic progress questions, students are strongly encouraged to meet with an academic advisor to discuss the request before submitting. Fees are not reduced even if a student drops below 12 credits (six in a half-term).

If a student is interested in dropping all classes during this time period, that would be considered a term withdrawal.

Late Add Period

Students may submit a late add request through week 9 of a full term (week 5 of a half term).To request a late add a student must: 

  1. Go to their Backpack/Registration page in Wolverine Access
  2. Select the ADD tab at the top of the screen, and select the course to add 
  3. "Proceed to Step Two,” then click “Finish Registering."
  4. Click the button “Request Late Add" to the right of the red "X".
  5. Answer the questions and click “Submit Request” at the bottom.
  6. Click “OK” on the confirmation page. Students will also receive a confirmation email.

All requests to add courses must be accompanied by an electronic permission entered by the department. After week nine a student must submit a petition to request a late add to LSA Academic Policy (lsa.academic.policy@umich.edu).

After the last day of classes of a term (or half-term):

Students wanting to request a retroactive drop or add of a class from a previously completed term must petition. Petitions should be submitted to LSA Academic Policy (lsa.academic.policy@umich.edu). The student should document the reason for the request and include relevant documentation. Retroactive late drop requests are rarely granted and only in the case of exceptional circumstances.

Petitions for a retroactive drop or add may be submitted no later than one year past the end of the term of the course in question.