Add/Drop Policy

Add/Drop is defined as adding and dropping any number of courses but maintaining active registration in at least one other course in the semester. For courses offered on campus students may add or drop a course by the following deadline:

• College of Food Innovation & Technology labs (that meet twice a week or consecutively):
  • Add/Drop Deadline: Thursday week 1 of the semester.
• All other courses:
  • Add/Drop Deadline: Thursday week 2 of the semester.

Add/Drop deadlines are outlined on the academic calendar.

While some classes including culinary or baking and pastry laboratory classes begin later than the first week of classes, the Add/Drop period at the beginning of the semester applies to all classes regardless of the start date of the lab or course. If a student does not drop a lab or course during the Add/Drop period, full tuition charges will be assessed.

For online and hybrid courses, students may add a course by the first Saturday of the course session or drop by the second Saturday of the course session. An official add or drop must be completed via jwuLink or with Student Academic Services.

Whenever students participate in add/drop, their financial aid and account charges may be adjusted. Financial aid cannot be used to pay for classes that do not count toward degree requirements (i.e., an "unused" course). In the event students remain registered for an unused course during the semester, their net tuition expense could be higher, resulting in a balance on their invoice. Students are encouraged to visit or consult Student Financial Services to review the potential impact, especially if their enrollment status changes to or from part time/full time.

When students drop a course during this time, the course is removed entirely from their schedule (there is no record of the course on the academic transcript), and if the course becomes closed it may not be added back to their schedule. Most importantly, students are strongly advised to stay on track and maintain their graduation date, especially to avoid incurring unnecessary financial debt. Learn more about repaying loans (start dates, repayment options, avoiding default) and review debt management resources on the U.S. Department of Education's federal student aid website.