During the registration period (before the end of the second week of classes) students may add or drop courses via the GWeb Information System. Students who drop courses within the first two weeks of class are asked to notify the course professor and etladmin@gwu.edu .
After the second week of classes, students who wish to add or drop a course must complete the following steps:
- Send an e-mail to the professor of record requesting permission to withdraw from the course.
- If the professor of record approves the withdrawal request, please notify your GSEHD Office of Student Services Advanced Degree Program Coordinator (educrep@gwu.edu) and the ETL Administrative Office (etladmin@gwu.edu).
The GSEHD Advanced Degree Program Coordinator (educrep@gwu.edu) will send the appropriate withdrawal forms along with instructions on how to complete the forms. The ETL Administrative Office (etladmin@gwu.edu) will receive a copy of the approval.
Academic and Financial Penalties
Because of the associated academic and financial penalties that might be incurred, it is very important for students to notify the professor of record immediately, should they stop participating in a course. See course drop/withdrawal refund schedule for associated tuition penalties. A course dropped during the first four weeks of classes will not appear on the student's transcript. A course dropped after the fourth week but before the end of the eighth week will be assigned a notation of W (Authorized Withdrawal). Failure to withdraw by these procedures can result in an extended financial obligation and the recording of a grade of F (Failure) or a notation of Z (Unauthorized Withdrawal).
The deadline for dropping a course without academic penalty is the end of the eighth week of classes in the fall and spring semesters. After the end of the eighth week of classes, dropping a course without academic penalty is only possible after the student presents a petition to the dean and receives written permission. Contact etladmin@gwu.edu with questions about the appeal process.
