Withdrawing from a class and P/D/F deadlines this Thursday

March 20, 2018 

Don't forget to remind your advisees of two important deadlines coming up this week: withdrawing from a class and electing a Pass/D/Fail option.  

Here are some FAQs that explains the processes:

Withdrawing from a Class.  Deadline: Thursday, March 22, 4:30 p.m.

*What is a withdrawal vs. a drop?  A withdrawal results in a W on the students' transcripts (with a drop, the course disappears entirely).  The W is largely an internal indicator that students were enrolled in the course for more than half the semester. 

*Will W grades on the students' transcripts reflect negatively on them in the future?   NO. Other schools, employers, etc. are familiar with the idea that students can withdraw from a class with no penalty.  The W signifies that the student followed the proper procedure to do so. 

*Will the W grade hurt their GPA?  NO.  It's what we call "non-punitive" grades, which means the credits no longer count in their GPA.

*Do students still get credit for the course?  NO.  Before deciding to withdraw from a course, students should think about how this affects their progress toward graduation.  It could also impact their eligibility for some types of financial aid.  

*I have students who withdrew from courses following the proper procedures, but they are still on their schedule and timeline in Student Planning.  Don't worry!  Students will not see the W (which is a final grade) until grades are in for this semester.  

*If a student decides to withdraw, how do they do it?  Come to the registrar's office to pick up a withdrawal form.  The student will need their adviser's signature.  Remember that all students are expected to complete at least 12 credits per semester. Only in very rare cases, and with special permission, are students allowed to take fewer than 12 credits.

*I have a student who tried to withdraw from a class by clicking "drop" on Student Planning, but nothing happened!  See directions above -- the student must meet with an adviser and submit an actual paper form to the Registrar's office.

PASS/D/FAIL Grade Option.  Deadline: Thursday, March 22, 11:30 p.m.

*Can students use a P/D/F class to satisfy a gen ed (9 Ways or Foundations) requirement?  YES

*Can students use a P/D/F class to satisfy a major or minor requirement?  NO

*Will the students' instructors know that they've elected P/D/F in their class?  NO

*I have a student who tried to click on P/D/F Option online as directed, but nothing happened!  This is most likely because they are using Safari as their web browser.  Try Chrome or Firefox or another browser.  If the problem persists, have the student contact Student Computing.

*Can students uncover their P/D/F grade?  YES, until the deadline.  For spring 2018 classes, the uncover deadline is Friday, Sept. 14, 2018.  Keep in mind, that an uncovered P/D/F grade still counts towards the maximum of 23 credits (22 for transfers) that students can P/D/F during their time at Barnard.  [Exception: Graduating seniors cannot uncover grades in their final semester.]

*If students uncover their grades, can they then use them to satisfy a major or minor requirement?  YES

*Can students uncover their P/D/F grade and then re-cover it?  NO, but they can view their grade and then decide whether to uncover.​

*Where do students go to select P/D/F?  In myBarnard, Academics tab, in the MyAcademicRecord channel.

Upcoming deadlines

Thursday, March 22, 4:30 p.m.
Last day to withdraw from a class with a W.  Adviser signature required.  Students may not drop below 12 credits.

Thursday, March 22, 11:30 p.m.
Last day to elect the Pass/D/Fail option. Unlike dropping or withdrawing from a class, P/D/F election is done online and does not require adviser approval, but we encourage students to consult you or their Dean if they are considering P/D/F.

Monday, April 2
Student Planning opens for students to begin planning their fall class schedules. 

Monday, April 2 - Friday, April 13
Meet with your Advisees and grant them “Permission to Register” in WebAdvisor. Need a refresher on how the “Permission to Register” process works? Visit:  "How to view your Advisees’ course selections and grant permission for their initial registration."

Monday, April 16 - Friday, April 20
Registration open for Fall Semester 2018