Colgate University provides an extensive period of time for which students can make changes to their schedule.
Drop/Add
Students have the first week and a half of classes of the term to make any number of changes to their schedule during the Drop/Add Period, however, once this period passes students can only Withdraw from a course.
Any student wishing to drop/add a class after the drop/add period requires a petition to be filed with the Committee on Standards and Academic Standing (CSAS). Students should meet with their administrative adviser prior to making any such plans. In particular, requests for late drop/add are only approved due to circumstances beyond a student's ability to predict or control.
Withdrawals
After the drop/add period has ended, students may withdraw from a course until the date listed on the
Academic Calendar. Withdrawals are noted as a "W" on the transcript. However, there is no academic penalty for withdrawing from a course. The decision to withdraw from a class should be made in consultation with the professor and the student's administrative adviser.
Any withdrawals desired after the Withdrawal deadline require a petition to be filed with the Committee on Standards and Academic Standing (CSAS). Students should meet with their administrative adviser prior to making any such plans. In particular, late withdrawals are only approved due to circumstances beyond a student's ability to predict or control.
For additional information regarding either the drop/add period or course withdrawals, please consult the
Student Handbook or the
University Catalogue.