A Board of Governors committee will vote on a proposal today that would limit the drop-add period for courses at UNC-system universities to 10 business days — a significant reduction compared to the eight-week drop period at UNC-CH.
If students withdraw after that course adjustment period, a “W” — for withdrawal — would be recorded on their transcript, and the course would count toward attempted hours.
Students would be given a limited number of withdrawals.
Samantha McAuliffe, assistant to the senior vice president for academic affairs for the UNC-system, said in an email that the new policy would open up initial course seats for students who previously were denied spots by late withdrawals.
She added that two weeks should be a sufficient time period for students to determine whether they want to stay in the course.
“Good advising, review by students of course syllabi before registration, and two weeks of class attendance and active class participation provides opportunity for a student to make a decision to remain in a course or not,” she said.
Currently, UNC-CH allows students to drop courses online during the first 10 business days after the start of the semester. Between the first 10 days and the end of the eighth week of class, students can still drop classes with their dean or academic adviser’s signature.
“I think the proposal’s a bad idea. The ‘W’ is a stigma on applications to graduate schools,” said Will Leimenstoll, UNC-CH student body president.
Leimenstoll will be talking with UNC-system Association of Student Governments President Cameron Carswell about potentially voicing student concerns at the meeting today, but ASG is still deciding how to respond to the proposal, said Alecia Page, senior vice president of the association.
