Registration and Grading Policies

Intro Lab Waitlist Policy

All intro labs (141, 151, 161, 241, 251, 261) are open to the maximum number of people that we can support in each section. The room capacities are set by the fire marshal for the City of Ann Arbor and we are unable to over enroll the sections as doing so would be a violation of the fire code. If spots open up, the system will automatically issue permissions in waitlist order. We encourage waitlisted students to regularly check their email as those permissions do expire. 

General Waitlist Policy

Wolverine Access is set up to issue permissions automatically in waitlist order if spots become available. They do not automatically enroll you in the course. We encourage waitlisted students to regularly check their email as the permissions do expire. Once a permission is issued, you are automatically removed from the waitlist. If the permission goes unused a new permission will be automatically issued to the next person on the waitlist and you will need to add yourself to the bottom of the waitlist. 

Sometimes, a student may wish to take a class that they cannot register for on their own. Some examples include if you do not meet the enforced pre-requisites, but believe you have the appropriate knowledge to succeed in the class; or if the course is full, but you are hoping the instructor might be willing to enroll an extra student.

To request an override into a Physics class, please fill out the form throught the Override Tool, linked below. You will have the option to include comments, such as why you believe you are qualified for the course. Your request will be sent directly to the instructor for review. Once approved or denied, you will receive an email with their decision. If approved, the Physics Student Services Office will send you an override via email. Typically overrides are sent within a few business days, but if it is requested prior to the registration period, it may not be sent until registration is underway. Overrides are valid for 2-3 days, so be sure to check your email often and enroll before your override expires. If denied, the decision is final and there is no option to appeal. If you do not hear back at all, it is usually a sign that the instructor is not planning to approve your request. DO NOT email the instructor directly. 

Additionally, please do not contact Physics Student Services regarding your request status. We are not able to process any override requests until we receive approvals and you will receive an email when an instructor makes a decision.

If a course is full, your first step is to add yourself to the waitlist before attempting to request an override from the instructor. Overrides into full courses are rarely granted due to limited space in the classroom, instructional capacity, or other reasons. 

This form CANNOT be used to request overrides into Physics 140, 141, 150, 151, 160, 161, 240, 241, 250, 251, 260 or 261. There are no enforced enrollment restrictions on these courses. If there are open seats, you are able to enroll. If the course is full, add yourself to the waitlist.

Do not use this form to request enrollment in independent study courses (Physics 415, 495, 496 or 497). Instead, follow the instructions on the Research and Independent Studies page to apply. 

Additionally, the classes below are managed by other departments and overrides cannot be granted through this form. Please contact Biophysics (biophys-sso@umich.edu) for inquiries regarding the following classes:

• Physics/Biophys 290 - Physics of the Body and Mind
• Physics/Biophys/Chem 370 - Physical and Chemical Principles Behind Biology and Medicine
• Physics/Biophys/Chem 417 - Dynamical Processes in BiophysicsPhysics/Biophys 430 - Medical Physics
• Physics/Biophys 433 - Biocomplexity
• Physics/Biophys 450 - Laboratory Techniques in Biophysics

Please contact Complex Systems (cscs@umich.edu) for inquiries regarding the following courses:

• Physics 413/Cmplxsys 541 - Introduction to Nonlinear Dynamics and the Physics of Complexity
• Physics/Biophys/Cmplxsys/Math 445 - Entropy and Information: Concepts and Applications

Physics 121 - Physics of Architecture and Design is reserved for students in the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. Students in this program will be given overrides directly and should not complete this form. After Architecture students have registered, the remaining seats will be open to all students.

PHYSICS OVERRIDE TOOL - REQUEST OVERRIDES HERE

If you receive the error indicating that instructor consent is required to enroll in a class, you can request an override into the class by following the process described above. Note that often, instructors close their classes before the add/drop deadline to prevent students from enrolling when they may not be able to catch up on the work that they've missed up to that point. 

The Department of Physics follows the LSA Grade Grievance policy. If you have questions regarding this policy, please contact physics.gradegrievance@umich.edu.

PHYSICS 415: Independent Study: This course emphasizes experimental or theoretical research under the supervision of a faculty member. Generally a small facet of a large research undertaking is investigated in detail. More information and a link to the PHYSICS 415 form can be found on our Research Opportunities page.

PHYSICS 496/497: Senior Thesis I/II: Students get introductory experience and research work with faculty, the results of which could provide the basis for a senior thesis project. Students who do not complete their thesis research in PHYSICS 496, may continue to PHYSICS 497. Please complete the Proposal for Honors Research, which can be found on our Honors Physics page.

Registraton can be a confusing time for everyone and we hope to help answer some of the most commoly asked questions in our Registration FAQ document. Please note that many of these answers are specific to our department and may not be applicable to other departments' policies and procedures. If you have questions about non-physics classes we would encourage you to reach out to those departments. Our Registration FAQ document can be found here.