Missouri State University - West Plains

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Academic Affairs 

Adding and Dropping a class

Students are expected to complete the courses for which they register. Failure to properly drop or withdraw from classes will result in the assignment of F grades for those classes, as well as a possible financial obligation. Students who wish to withdraw from all courses for a given semester should review the withdrawal procedure described later in this section. Students who wish to add or drop selected regular semester courses must follow the procedures outlined below. Students who wish to add or drop intersession courses, short courses, and other courses that do not meet for a full semester or block should contact the Office of Registration and Records for information on policies, procedures, and deadlines. Also refer to the Fee Refund Schedule, the Academic Calendar, Instructor Drop, Auditing a Course, Enrollment Status, Overload Permission and related topics for additional information regarding drops and withdrawals.

Prior to the beginning of the semester and during the Change of Schedule Period (first five days of fall or spring semesters, first two days of summer session): Adds, drops, and section changes may be accomplished using the Grizzly Den web registration procedures, or by contacting the Office of Registration and Records via an MSU-West Plains e-mail account or in person. Students who owe additional fees as a result of adding a class are responsible for making arrangements to pay those fees immediately. Failure to do so may result in cancellation of current schedule of classes.

Also refer to the Free Refund Schedule, the Academic Calendar, Instrructor Drop, Auditing a course, Enrollment Status, Overload Permission and related topics for additional information regarding drops and withdrawals.

After the Change of Schedule Period: To drop a course:

On Campus:
  1. Students obtain a Change of Schedule form from the Office of Registration and Records and enter the information on the form.
  2. Students take the completed form to the Office of Registration and Records. No change of schedule is official until received and processed by the Office of Registration and Records.
  3. Students dropping all courses should see the Withdrawal Policy later on in this section.
Electronically:
  1. Using a university computer account, the student e-mails the Office of Registration and Records requesting that they be dropped from a course(s).
  2. The Office of Registration and Records posts the change of schedule to the students’ record.
  3. The Office of Registration and Records emails the instructor and student when the course(s) has been dropped.
  4. If you are dropping all courses, see the Withdrawal Policy later on in this section.
Web Drop:
  1. Students may drop courses via the Web by using the Grizzly Den.
  2. If you are dropping all courses, see the Withdrawal Policy later on in this section.

To add a course:

In general, only courses that have not yet begun (e.g., second block courses, short courses, independent study, etc.) may be added after the Change of Schedule Period for the regular term has ended. In cases of extenuating circumstances, to add a full semester-length class after the Change of Schedule Period for the regular term:

On campus:
  1. Obtain a Change of Schedule form (available in Registration and Records and online).
  2. Take the form to the instructor whose signature and date of signature indicate approval to add the course after the Change of Schedule period.
  3. Take the form to the Assistant Dean whose signature and date of signature indicates approval to add the course after the Change of Schedule period.
  4. Take the form to the Office of Registration and Records which will register the student if space is available. Students who owe additional fees as a result of adding a class are responsible to make arrangements to pay those fees immediately. Failure to do so may result in cancellation of current schedule of classes.
Electronically:
  1. Using a university computer account, the student e-mails the instructor and Assistant Dean (one e-mail to both) asking permission to add a class after the Change of Schedule period. Copy Registration and Records on the e-mail.
  2. The instructor makes a decision and forwards the decision to the Assistant Dean (copy of e-mail to student).
  3. The Assistant Dean makes a decision and replies to both the instructor and the student and copies Registration and Records.
  4. Registration and Records registers the student for the class if space is available. Students who owe additional fees as a result of adding a class are responsible to make arrangements to pay those fees immediately. Failure to do so may result in cancellation of current schedule of classes.
Special note concerning intersession courses:

Requests to add an intersession course after it has begun will be handled on a case-by-case basis by the Dean of the College or his/her designee.

No transaction is considered complete unless received, verified, and processed by Registration and Records.

Grading:

  1. Prior to the end of the Change of Schedule period:
    Dropped courses will not appear on the transcript.
  2. After the Change of Schedule period:
    Courses dropped through the No Penalty Drop/Withdrawal, Pass/Not Pass, Change to Audit deadline (see Academic Calendar for specific dates) for that course will have a grade of W.
  3. After the No Penalty Drop/Withdrawal, Pass/Not Pass, Change to Audit deadline:
    Courses dropped through the Last Day to Drop or Withdraw deadline (see Academic Calendar for specific dates) for that course will have either a Wor F grade assigned by the instructor on the final grade roster. AW indicates that the student was doing passing work at the time of the drop. An F indicates a failing grade for the course and is calculated in to the grade point average.
  4. No drops or withdrawals are allowed after the Last Day to Drop or Withdraw deadline for the course.

Students should use the drop procedure judiciously as numerous W grades on their transcripts may be construed by some to indicate an inability of the individual to persist when challenged. Dropping courses will generally result in extending the time required to complete a degree. In addition, dropping below a full-time or half-time enrollment status may jeopardize insurance, financial aid, scholarship, and athletic participation eligibility. Students who drop because of a concern regarding their grade in a course are encouraged to consult with the instructor prior to dropping a course. Students who are concerned about the impact of dropping a course on their progress toward graduation are encouraged to consult with their academic advisor prior to dropping.