Timetables and deadlines given below pertain to fall and spring semesters. Students should consult the Registrar’s website for summer session and J-term winter session deadlines.
Adding Courses
Dropping Courses
Withdrawing from Courses
Repeating Courses
Auditing Courses
Adding Courses
Students may add courses through the first week of the regular semester at their own discretion provided the course is still open for registration.
Dropping Courses
Students may drop courses through the second week of the regular semester at their own discretion. In such cases, the courses are deleted from the student’s record. After the second week of the semester, a withdrawal from the course is necessary and a ‘W’ is recorded on the transcript.
Course Withdrawals
Students may withdraw from courses and receive a grade of ‘W’ during the third through tenth weeks of the semester. The student’s academic advisor and financial aid counselor will be notified of class withdrawals by email.
After the end of the tenth week of the semester, students may withdraw from courses and receive a grade of ‘W’ only for validated reasons of physical or psychological incapacity. Validated reasons of physical or psychological incapacity serve as justification for a student to withdraw from courses with a grade of ‘W’ at any time beyond the add/drop period. After the tenth week of class, medical withdrawals must apply to all courses; withdrawing from individual courses for medical reasons requires exceptional circumstances. Reasons must be validated by the Dean of Students and approved by the academic dean of the college in which the student is enrolled.
Students are required to notify Student Financial Services when withdrawing from courses as these circumstances may impact financial aid eligibility.
Student-athletes are required to notify the Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance and Academic Support or the Director of Athletics prior to withdrawing from courses.
Students receiving veteran benefits must report such changes to the Registrar’s Office immediately.
Course withdrawal forms are available on myRider.
Withdrawal policies during special sessions (summer session, J-term) observe time limits proportional to the time limits of a regular semester.
Repeating Courses
Students can attempt a required course up to three times to receive a passing grade unless specific programs allow fewer attempts. Students must consult with their department to determine what impact course repeats may have on continuation in their program. It also applies to courses from which the student withdrew and received a grade of W.
Students may repeat F grades without permission within the allowed number of attempts determined by the university/department/program. If a student receives an F grade, the only way to replace it in their Rider GPA is by retaking the same class at Rider and earning a higher grade. Students are not required to retake a failed elective course, but they must earn enough credits for graduation.
Students must obtain permission to repeat a required course with a grade of C- or D for major, minor, or certificate from the department chair or program director. A course repeat would be necessary if the minimum grade requirement set by the department has not been achieved.
If a student wishes to retake a course not required for their major/minor/certificate, they need approval from their college associate or assistant dean.
When a student retakes a course that doesn't allow for additional credit, the most recent attempt will replace both the grade and any credit previously earned for the course, regardless of whether the most recent grade is higher or lower than the previous. All grades appear on the transcript, but only the most recent grade will be used to calculate the grade point average. Repeated classes will be marked on the transcript with a superscript E (excluded) and I (included).
Students should consult with Financial Aid before repeating a course already passed to determine the impact on their financial aid eligibility.
Appeal
A student can appeal to take a course after three attempts. The student is required to write a reflective essay (1-2 pages) explaining why they were unsuccessful in the course previously and to develop a plan for succeeding in the course. The student should reflect on which parts of the material have caused problems in the past, and outline how they will overcome these difficulties if given the opportunity to retake the course. The student is encouraged to consult with instructor(s) with whom the course has been taken for feedback. The student must submit the essay and Course Repeat Form to their major department chair and college associate/assistant dean for approval.
Auditing Courses
Students who want to attend classes without taking examinations or receiving grades may audit courses subject to space availability and the permission of the instructor. No credit is earned for an audited course. Transcripts will record an audit with the notation of 'AU.'
Performance-based courses cannot be audited (e.g., applied music lessons, acting courses, coaching, ensembles and productions, stagecraft, studio dance, and other related classes). For a complete list of performance-based classes, please contact the registrar's office.
The extent to which an auditor may take part in a course’s activities is determined by the student and the instructor. In addition to the audit fee, students auditing a course carrying separate fees must pay all such required fees.
Students should apply and register through their dean’s office and the Registrar.
Students who register on an audit basis may not change from audit to credit during a semester, except during the add period. Students originally registered for credit may change to audit status during the add/drop period. Students should refer to the academic calendar of each term (Spring, Summer, Fall, or JTerm) for specific add/drop dates. Students who have audited a course may take that same course for credit in a later semester at full tuition.