Academic Policies and Practices
Add, Drop, Withdrawal Announcement
To help students manage challenges with workload, stress management and work-life balance, we devised a new set of deadlines that align with most of our peer institutions.
The Task Force would like to thank all governing bodies for their help in this process. We will continue to assess these changes over time.
Add, Drop, Withdrawal changes (effective fall 2018)
- Add deadline: 10th day of class
- Drop deadline: six weeks
- Withdraw deadline: 10 weeks
Add, Drop, Withdrawal addendum – Overload Voucher
Registration for more than 12 units above your department's normal load requires advisor approval. We are also providing students with more course information earlier, to better prepare them for their workload each semester. We believe these changes as a whole will contribute to overall stress management and continued academic success for students by helping students: a) make earlier, more informed decisions, b) experience broader opportunity for involvement outside the classroom, and c) have an improved academic experience.
Additional Resources
Course Profiles
Course profiles have been designed in partnership with student government to provide students with more information about the courses at the point of registration. These expanded course descriptions will provide students with information regarding key topics, course outcomes, assessment structure and other useful course materials like sample syllabi or assignments. Course profiles were piloted in April 2017 in time for fall 2018 registration.
Overload Policy
Beginning in fall 2017, students must consult with and receive approval from their academic advisor to register for more than 12 units beyond the program's normal load. (The normal load is the total number of units required for the degree divided by the expected number of semesters to complete the degree.) When considering an overload, students and their advisors should discuss the specific courses to be taken, extracurricular activities, job or internship searches, etc. in an effort to fully recognize all time requirements the student will face.
Syllabi Availability
To provide students with more detailed information on current and past semesters' courses, we have created a Syllabus Registry. This registry is an institution-wide Canvas site that anyone with an Andrew ID can access. It stores all registered syllabi, organized by department and semester. The goal is for course syllabi to be made available by the first day of class for each semester. For courses in which you are enrolled as a student, please be sure to reference the most up-to-date syllabus provided to you directly from your instructor. If you have any questions about the syllabus registry, please email the Canvas help desk.
Policy Language
Students at Carnegie Mellon may drop a course by accessing online registration on or before the drop deadline as published in the official university calendar. The deadline to drop a full-semester class is the last day of the sixth week of the semester. The deadline to drop a mini-semester course is the last day of the fourth week of the mini-semester course. When a course is dropped by these deadlines, the course is removed and does not appear on the academic record. After the deadline to drop, students may withdraw from a course by accessing online registration on or before the last class day, prior to the beginning of final examinations. After the deadline to drop, a W (withdrawal) grade is assigned and appears on the student's academic record. Policies for graduate students vary and students should be advised to check with their individual colleges/departments/programs for details.
FAQ
If I take a course in another college that has a stricter drop deadline than my own college, which deadline must I adhere to?
The drop deadline is connected to the course. So, for example, if you take a graduate level course at Tepper or Heinz, you will need to drop the course within 10 days of the start of the semester (for a full semester course) no matter what program you are enrolled in.
I understand the overload policy has changed. Can I take an overload?
The new policy does not prohibit a student from taking an overload. It requires students to have a conversation with, and receive approval from, their advisors to be sure that overloading in a given semester makes sense and meets the student’s learning objectives. The student and advisor will consider all activities and courses in which the student will be involved to determine whether that semester is a good one for taking on extra academic work. The objective is to help students make decisions that allow for a balance of academics and other experiences, to not assume that heavier loads are better loads, and to recognize, and take advantage of the fact that the CMU experience goes beyond the walls of the classroom.
Can a master's degree student take a Ph.D. level course?
Yes. However, you will need to follow the deadlines of the department offering the course. Be sure you are aware of the deadlines for all courses in which you enroll.
What is the proposed voucher system and how does it work?
Each undergraduate student receives three vouchers for their time at CMU. Each master's student receives one voucher for each 12-month year of the program. The voucher allows a student to drop a course up until the last day of classes. After submitting the voucher, the course will not appear on the student’s transcript. The student can use only one voucher in any semester.
Voucher Instructions:
1. A student wishing to drop a course after the deadline must first consult with their academic advisor. It is important to note that vouchers are not intended to be used for exceptional or extenuating circumstances.
2. After consultation, the academic advisor will initiate a drop voucher request in S3.
3. After the request is initiated by the advisor, the student will receive an automated email requesting that they confirm the voucher information is correct within SIO (by selecting 'Official Schedule' under the 'Registration' tab, and clicking 'Confirm Drop'). The student will have 24 hours to confirm the drop; otherwise, the course will remain on their record.
Students do not need to use the vouchers. They are there as a safety net to ensure students can still explore and challenge themselves and not be penalized for taking academic and intellectual risks. Please note that students who face family, health or other personal crises will be considered on an individual basis as they are today and will not be required to use a voucher for such emergencies.
Were students asked for feedback on these changes?
Yes. These policies were developed over 18 months, in consultation with major governing bodies on campus that included deans, associate deans, Faculty Senate, Student Government, Student Senate, the Graduate Student Assembly, the University Education Council and in town halls. In fact, the feedback from student groups helped shape the voucher program and set the drop deadlines. Both the working group and the student groups felt that their work was a good example of the deliberative process that occurs on our campus where the opinions of all involved are accounted for and considered in the final plans.
What happens if a student uses a voucher for a required course?
Students must complete all program requirements so the student will need to retake and successfully complete the course in a succeeding semester.
What happens if a student uses a voucher when enrolled in a team-based class?
We hope that with the changes to overloading and more information on courses, students will not drop out of courses as frequently as they have in the past. Late drops from a course certainly create an impact in team-based courses, which faculty are charged to work directly with students to minimize the disruption appropriate to the learning objectives of the course. We expect this policy will mean fewer disruptions will occur, but when they do, faculty will continue to address the situation as they do today.