How to change a class schedule
There are different periods when students can drop their classes. The Office of the Registrar employs a $12 fee for students to drop a class in an attempt to deter them from dropping and inform them that they should make their schedules for what they know is going to work.
August 17, 2015
Adding and dropping classes can be a confusing process for new students, so here are some tips on how to add and drop classes.
Students have a limit to how many classes they are able to drop during their ISU career, so it is important to drop wisely. All students who go to Iowa State as a freshman are given five drops as an undergraduate.
Freshmen students get a pass with courses dropped in the first term of a semester.
Exceptions to the drop limit are possible, but the exception must be out of the student’s control, and it has to approved by the dean.
Students can find out how many drops they have left by viewing their grade report on AccessPlus.
Students must take a minimum of 12 credits and a maximum of 18 credits to be considered a full-time student. Students who want to take more credits than the limit must talk to an adviser.
Advisers recommend taking 15 or 16 credits.
Iowa State has three different periods when students can add or drop a class. Deadlines are key in adding and dropping classes.
Students can add or drop classes for free without an adviser’s signature on AccessPlus during the first five days of classes. These drops do not count toward a student’s drop limit.
The second period ends the Friday of week 10. During this time frame, any schedule changes require adviser and instructor signatures. Students can get a schedule change form from their adviser and pay a fee to drop a class. A drop during this time will subtract from the student’s drop limit.
Schedule changes made after week 10 are only permitted through extenuating circumstances.
Special deadlines exist for adding and dropping half-semester classes. These dates can be found on the academic and university calendar. These calendars can be great tools to keep track of all the deadlines related to adding and dropping classes.
Students should be aware that after they have completed 40 or more credit hours, they can elect to take graded coursework on a pass or no-pass basis, as long as they are not applying that course toward their major or minor, or as a general.
If students only use the course as an elective, they can turn in a schedule change form with their adviser’s signature. The student must have a D- or better in order to do this. Students should always talk to their adviser before making a schedule change.
