Add/Drop

On this page:

Adding or dropping courses before the initial add/drop deadline
Dropping courses after the initial add/drop deadline (late drop)
Adding courses after the initial add/drop deadline (late add)
Adding or dropping courses after the late add/drop deadline (retroactive late add/drop)
Dropping all courses (term withdrawal)
Who to contact

Adding or dropping courses before the initial add/drop deadline

The initial add/drop period is the first three weeks of a full term and the first two weeks of a half term. See the LSA calendar for add/drop dates.
Students can adjust their schedule during the initial add/drop period in Wolverine Access.
Note: Some departments and instructors do not allow students to add a course after the semester has begun, even if it seems possible in Wolverine Access. Contact the instructor first.
Students are responsible for making up any coursework or exams that occurred from the start of the term to the time they added the course.

Dropping courses after the initial add/drop deadline (late drop)

Students can request to drop a course after the initial add/drop deadline.

The late drop deadline is about two-thirds of the way through the term. See the LSA Academic Calendar for exact dates.
In this case, their transcript will show a W for the course.
Fees and tuition will not be reduced, even if the student drops below 12 credits (or six for a half-term).

How to request a late drop:

Go to the Backpack/Registration page in Wolverine Access
Select the DROP tab at the top of the screen
Select the class to drop, click "Proceed to Step Two," then click "Finish Dropping"
Click the button "Request Late Drop" to the right of the red "X"
Answer the questions and click "Submit Request" at the bottom

Note: In this step, students acknowledge that they will research the potential impact that dropping the course will have on their academic progress. Students are encouraged to meet with an advisor before submitting if they have questions.
Click “OK” on the confirmation page. Students will receive a confirmation email.

For students in their first full term at U-M:

Ws from late drops in your first term will not appear on official transcripts, though they will remain on your unofficial transcript
Ws from late drops in all other terms will appear on official and unofficial transcripts

First term of enrollment	Term Ws are removed from:
Fall	Fall
Winter	Winter
Spring	Fall
Summer	Fall

Adding courses after the initial add/drop deadline (late add)

Students can request a late add for a course in Wolverine Access.

Required: Students need an override from the department for a late add.

How to request a late add:

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

Adding or dropping courses after the late add/drop deadline (retroactive add/drop)

In the LSA Academic Calendar, the late add/drop deadline is described as "Deadline to late drop/add and late pass/fail."

For retroactive late adds:

Retroactive late adds are typically only approved for research/independent study courses or if the student has been attending since the beginning of the term.

For retroactive late drops

A student with extenuating circumstances may petition to request a retroactive late drop. Retroactive add/drop petitions are rarely granted.

Specifically, the following conditions must be met for a retroactive late drop to be considered:

A serious, documented non-academic event or issue occurred AFTER the late drop deadline.
The non-academic event/issue prevented the student from completing the class.
The student was passing the class up to the point they stopped attending.
The student can explain why/how the non-academic event/issue impacted the class they are asking to drop but not their other classes.

If students believe their circumstances fit all four of the requirements, they can submit a petition on MyAdvising.

Note: Retroactive late add/drops must be submitted within one year of the end of the term of the course in question.

Dropping ALL courses (term withdrawal)

Students interested in dropping all of their classes at any point in the term would need to request a term withdrawal.

Who to contact

General advisor or major/minor advisor
The Office of the Registrar
LSA Student Records: lsa.student.records@umich.edu

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