Schedule Changes

Most schedule changes can be made in your plus.hope.edu account beginning registration week and through the first week of classes.

After registration week, online registration closes for a short time while wait lists are reviewed by departments. Online registration reopens on the first official day of drop/add. At that time, you can drop courses or add open courses (without a wait list) yourself in plus.hope.edu. You do not need instructor or advisor permission to make these changes.

You won't be able to add yourself to a closed (full) class, or a class that shows open seats but has a wait list. There is no automatic wait listing, so the only way a student can add a waitlisted or closed class is by getting permission from the instructor.

Class availability generally shifts after the wait list period, so make sure you check the class schedule for classes that have opened up.

FALL 2023 REGISTRATION EVENT	DATES	HOW TO MAKE SCHEDULE CHANGES
REGISTRATION WEEK	April 3–6	Register in plus.hope.edu.
WAIT LIST WEEKS	April 11–23	Online registration closes at 7 a.m. on April 11 while wait lists are reviewed and courses are adjusted for demand; no schedule changes during this time. Students accepted to add from the wait lists will be contacted by the Registrar's Office at 5 p.m. on April 14 with instructions to accept their spot. Registrar's Office will make changes to the schedules of students who complete the google form, per instructions in the email.
DROP/ADD	April 24–September 1	The drop/add period begins and online registration reopens at 8 a.m. on April 24. Most schedule changes can be made in plus.hope.edu. See below for instructions on adding a closed, wait listed, or restricted classses. Online registration closes at 5 p.m. on Friday, September 1. After this time, schedule changes can only be made with instructor and advisor permission and by following the instructions below.
	September 6	Last day to drop/add full semester and first-half courses.
	October 26	Last day to drop/add last-half courses.

It is your responsibility to know drop/add deadlines. Once the deadline has passed, you will only be able to withdraw from the course for a W grade.

HOW TO ADD CLOSED, WAIT LISTED OR RESTRICTED CLASSES

Open Class with a Wait List or a closed (full) class

You will not be able to add yourself online to a closed class OR a class that has a wait list, even if it shows seats available.
Email the instructor asking for permission to add the course.
Once you have permission, fill out the Schedule Change Form. Upload screenshot(s) of your permission(s) to the form. Once we receive your request and all required permissions, we will process it and email you a confirmation.

Course Restrictions

You will not automatically be able to add classes for which you do not meet certain requirements (prerequisites, corequisites, major/minor declared, class standing, time conflict, and classes listed PERMISSION ONLY on the class schedule).
Contact the instructor or the department of the course and request a Course Override Form be submitted on your behalf. Once the Registrar's Office receives and processes the request, we will notify you. You will then be able to register yourself for the course in plus.hope.edu. Make sure you do so before online registration closes.
Time conflicts only: Make arrangements with the instructors on how you will work around the conflict. Register for all your other classes. Then email dropadd@hope.edu and we'll enter an override for you so that you can register. Instructors may also request time conflict overrides for students using the Course Override Form.
Repeat classes only: If you are repeating one part of a multi-section course (lecture/lab), email dropadd@hope.edu and we'll enter an override for you.

WITHDRAWING FROM A COURSE

Withdrawing from a course is different than dropping a course, and it is different than withdrawing completely from Hope. Withdrawing from a course means you no longer attend the course, but you made the decision after the drop/add deadline.

There are times when withdrawing from a course is an appropriate option. For example, sometimes when you’re doing poorly in a course or not able to keep up with the workload, withdrawing is your best option. This can prevent a low grade from affecting your academic record and can allow you to focus on your other courses.

IMPLICATIONS

ACADEMIC RECORD

Withdrawing from a course is different than dropping. When you withdraw, the course remains on your record with a W grade. This is a non-penalty grade; it does not affect your GPA. Even if you retake the course, the W remains for that semester. One or two W grades are not cause for alarm. However, repeatedly withdrawing from courses may affect graduate school and career opportunities. Talk to your academic advisor and/or potential graduate school.

TIME

You do not earn credit for the course from which you withdraw. This may extend the time and cost to finish your degree.

MONEY

You are still charged for the course from which you withdraw; there is no refund. Your attempted credits for the semester will remain the same, although your earned hours at the end of the semester will be reduced.

FINANCIAL REGULATIONS

Federal regulations require that students make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) towards the completion of their degree. Withdrawing will affect SAP and possibly jeopardize financial aid in future terms. Students who fall behind in their coursework, fail to achieve minimum GPA standards and/or fail the completion of classes risk losing their eligibility for federal and state financial aid. It may also affect external and Hope College scholarships, grants and/or loans. Talk to Financial Aid about how withdrawing from a course affects your personal financial aid package.

BEFORE FINALIZING YOUR DECISION

Check with your course instructor and/or advisor about alternatives to withdrawing.
Visit the Academic Success Center to learn about:
- Tutoring
- Academic advising and coaching
- Supplemental instruction
- General study skills
- Study skills tutoring
Check with Financial Aid about aid in future terms.
If you are an athlete, talk to Athletics about how withdrawing may affect your athletic eligibility.

HOW TO WITHDRAW FROM A COURSE

Get email permission to withdraw from the course from the instructor and your advisor.
Fill out the Schedule Change Form. Upload screenshots of your permissions to the form. Once we receive your request and all required permissions, we will process it and email you a confirmation.
Be aware of deadlines on the Academic Calendar.

PASS/FAIL OPTION

The grading policy page has more information about changing a course to pass/fail.