Different regulations will apply, depending on when add/drop occurs. Read the following instructions carefully to determine the rules that apply to your add or drop:
NOTE: The regulations listed below apply to courses that meet the full semester or summer session. Courses that do not meet the full term will have different deadlines. Contact Enrollment Services, room 230 Buchanan Hall, for more information
Period I. Free add and drop: Students may add during the first week of classes for Fall, Spring and Summer without approval of instructor. Students may add during the second week of classes for the Fall and Spring semester with approval of instructors. Students may drop without additional charges or grading penalties anytime up through the end of the second week of classes in Fall or Spring, or the first week of classes in Summer Session. No grades will be recorded for dropped courses.
Note on tuition charges for dropped courses: You will be required to pay tuition and fees for any course dropped after the second week of classes in Fall or Spring Semesters or after the first week of Summer Session, even if you add another course at the same time.
Period II. Third through sixth week of Fall and Spring; second or third week of Summer Session: Students may add classes only by permission of the instructor of the course and the Dean of the student’s College. Courses dropped during this time will be recorded with a grade of “W.” (University College requires their students to obtain approval of the Dean to drop a course after the second week of classes.)
Period III. Seventh through tenth week of Fall and Spring or fourth and fifth of Summer Session: The same restrictions on added courses apply as for Period II, above. For dropped courses, instructors may assign a grade of “W” or “F.” (University College requires their students to obtain approval of the Dean to drop a course after the second week of classes.)
Period IV. Eleventh week through end of classes in Fall and Spring, sixth week through end of classes for Summer Session. Permission of instructor and Dean is required for added classes. Students who wish to drop a course during this period must petition the Dean of their College. Instructors may assign a grade of “W” or “F.”
Whereas the institutional definition and the financial aid requirement for full-time undergraduate enrollment status is 12 hours per regular fall or spring semester, it is important to note that it is impossible to graduate in four years with this enrollment unless other measures are considered. Many students are capable of taking 15 to 16 hours per semester, and OU encourages you to consider that. Additionally, students who are not pacing their enrollments in such a manner should consider Intersession and/or Summer term enrollments. A student needs to average at least 31 hours of completed and applicable coursework each year to have any opportunity to graduate in four years.
Some may ask why it is important to graduate in four years. There are many reasons to consider. A timely graduation benefits students who are applying to graduate schools. Many graduate programs only accept students for the fall semester, so a one semester delay can result in a one year delay of entering and completing a graduate degree. A timely graduation also benefits students who are seeking employment. It enables students to enter the workforce and begin to experience enhanced earning power that a college degree usually provides. Furthermore, graduating in four years is much less expensive. Tuition and housing costs usually increase on an annual basis. Many students also do not realize that just housing and living expenses per semester often amount to $5,000 or more.
March 2008
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This page approved for access by individuals with disabilities. Maintained by Jean Ware - Admissions, Enrollment and Student Financial Services.