Welcome back to DU! The advisers in The Center hope that everyone is settled back in and ready to succeed. Below are some common advising questions we hear around this time each quarter.
Q. How do I meet with an Academic Adviser to ask advising questions?
Stop into The Center for Academic and Career Development located on the basement level of Driscoll South to schedule an appointment. Or call to schedule at 303-871-2455. You can also ask questions to academic advisers in The Center by emailing your questions to advising@du.edu
Q. I signed up for this course, but after going to the class I realized that I don’t want to take this class anymore. From the syllabus I can see that the professor is demanding too much work. How can I drop this class and add another class?
There is a technical answer to your question and an answer that encourages you to ask yourself some very big and some small questions. The technical answer is below, but we’ll start with the “encouraging” answer.
On some level, you knew that DU would be challenging and that you would be asked to grow in many areas of your life. The class that you are considering dropping could be your call to step up to a new level in your academics.
The question you just might ask yourself is, “Am I willing to prioritize my school work to the level demanded by the work in this class? Is this class demanding that I take my organizational and writing skills to a new level?”
Since you presumably registered for this class for a reason, you might want to consider again the following issues when thinking about dropping a class: Do I need this class to meet any requirements (degree, major, minor, upper-division)? Will this required class be offered again soon (not all classes are offered every quarter)? Is this class a pre-requisite for another required class? How will dropping this class affect my graduation plans?
If it is not possible for you to drop the class at this time, there are free resources available to help you succeed. Come to Academic Advising’s “Plan Your Quarter!” workshop in The Center on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 4p.m. or Thursday, Jan. 22 at noon to learn organization, time management and study tactics to help you get through those tough classes.
You may also find it helpful to go to the Writing Center to get assistance: www.du.edu/writing/wrc.htm.
Here is the more technical answer to your question about dropping that class.
Courses may be DROPPED from the first week to the sixth week of the quarter on MyWeb. Courses dropped through the first week of a quarter will be deleted from your record. If you drop after the first week you will receive a “W” grade on your transcript. A W will not affect your GPA. After the sixth week of the quarter, your instructor’s approval is required to drop a course.
After the first week, you cannot add classes online.
If you were unable to add a class during the first week due to extenuating circumstances, you can add from the second to the eighth week of the quarter by taking an Add Slip to the Office of the Registrar. You must have the signatures of your instructor and an academic advisor’s from the Center. Add slips are available in the Center and at the Registrar.
When adding or dropping classes you have to keep a few things in mind:
1) your tuition costs, financial aid package, housing and Visa status (for international students) are likely to be affected if you do not remain in 12 credits. Having 12 credits makes you a full-time student;
2) you will owe more tuition money if you register for over 18 credits;
3) you will not be allowed to register for more than 19 credits without going through a separate approval process.
Q. I just checked my APR and there’s something wrong with it that I need to change (major, minor, foundation credits, etc.). How can I get it fixed so that it has the right information?
To make APR changes for classes concerning a major or minor, see your major or minor department. To make APR changes for Foundation (University Requirements) classes see Academic Advising for a list of contact information.
Students who have changed their major or minor and transfer students should meet with an Academic Adviser in The Center to discuss how to make sure classes are counting for the correct requirements.
All students should check their APRs carefully to make sure all of the information is accurate. If you have any “I” grades, you need to contact your professor right away to complete the requirements of the course and have a new grade assigned. An Incomplete, or “I,” will change to an “F” if course requirements aren’t complete after one year.
You can explore the subjects that we tackle in these columns in greater detail in the University of Denver Bulletin: www.du.edu/Core/documents/Bulletin0709_000.pdf
