Adding, Dropping
and Repeating Courses for Undergraduate Degrees

Careful planning with your adviser should lead you to courses which are appropriate to your degree goal. Generally, you should not need to add or drop courses once classes start. You are expected to complete the course for which you register. When circumstances do not permit you to carry through your course plan, the following policy serves as UW-Stout's procedures for adding or dropping classes. Add and Drop dates are prorated for the Summer and WinTerm sessions.

First Two Weeks - Add/Drop Period for Semester Courses
First Week - Add/Drop Period for Quarter Courses 

If you wish to adjust your class schedule, you may add or drop classes during the first ten days of class or the "Add/Drop Period." The dates are listed in the Timetable each term.

To add a class:

• Complete the Program Card and obtain the instructor’s signature.
• Submit the card in person to the Registration and Records Office, 109 Bowman Hall.  The change is official once it is processed.

Drops made during the first two weeks of semester courses or first week of quarter courses will not appear on a student transcript. Laboratory fees will not be refunded for a drop after the first week. Non-attendance will not result in a refunded lab fee.

Third Week through Ninth Week- Drops Only

A drop processed in this time period will result in a course indicator of “WS” on your transcript. The “WS” does not affect grade point average calculation, but appropriate course fees are charged.

After your first two semesters (regardless of credit load) of enrollment at UW-Stout, you will be allowed a total of only four (4) WS or WU (i.e., drops) during the balance of your undergraduate career, including Summer and WinTerm sessions.

After reaching the four drop course limit, you will be permitted to drop a course only for unusual and extenuating circumstances via an appeal for an exception to policy through the Dean of Students office. If you stop attending a course that you are not permitted to drop, you will receive a grade of F for the course.

If you decide to reduce your course load after the normal two week Add/Drop Period, but prior to the Ninth Week drop date:

• Make certain you have not exceeded the course drop limit.
• Complete the Program Change Card and obtain the instructor’s signature.
• Submit the signed card in person to the Registration and Records Office, 109 Bowman Hall. The change is official once it is processed.

Official Ninth Week drop dates are published in the Timetable for each term of enrollment.

Tenth (10th) Week through Semester End - Drops Only

Course drops ARE NOT ALLOWED AFTER THE NINTH WEEK OF THE SEMESTER except in the case of extenuating circumstances.  After the official Ninth Week Drop Date, as indicated in the Timetable:

• Any course drop will require the consent of the instructor and must fall within the four (4) course drop limitation.

• Students who are permitted to drop a course after the midterm will receive a course indication of “WU” on your transcript.  The “WU” indication does not affect GPA calculation.
• If extenuating circumstances warrant other consideration, contact Dean of Students office.

If you register for a course but do not attend the class and fail to officially drop the course, you will be given a grade of "FN". If you register for a course and then stop attending without dropping the course according to policy guidelines, you will be given a grade of “FS”.  The “FN” and the “FS” grades will be displayed on your transcript and will calculate negatively into your GPA the same as an “F” grade.

You will be liable for all fees incurred for courses not dropped within the first ten days and for all lab fees for courses dropped after the first week.

Repeating Courses
Undergraduate Students You may repeat a course in which a grade of "D" or "F" is received. Repeating a course in which a grade of "C-" to "B+" range is received requires prior permission of your program director. You must inform the Registration and Records Office when you are repeating a course in which a "C-" or better was earned, by filing a course repeat card at the beginning of the term. This is the only notice the Registrar will receive.

Do not re-register for a course in which you received a grade of Incomplete.

The grade given when a course is repeated is used when computing the grade point average. However, the original grade remains on your transcript.

Graduate Students Graduate students, with the consent of the program director, may be permitted to repeat a course for credit, but the credit and grade originally earned will also be counted in the cumulative graduate grade point average. Both grades and credits remain on the student transcript.