Change in Course Add Policy Beginning With Spring 2016 Semester Registration

A student pays attention in class during a lecture.
Beginning with spring 2016 registration, Kent State
University will institute a new policy that only allows
students to self-add into classes during the first week
of classes.

Kent State students now have only the first week of semester to self-add into classes

Beginning with spring 2016 registration, Kent State University will institute a new policy that only allows students to self-add into classes during the first week of classes (or the prorated equivalent for summer or flexibly scheduled classes). This means that students will now only be able to add a class or change sections without faculty approval during the first week of classes.

Previously, students had two weeks at the beginning of the semester to self-add into classes. Now they will only have one week. Beginning spring 2016, the last day to self-add or change a section is the last day of the first week of classes.

This change in policy follows institutional research that indicates that students who add courses during the second week tend to perform poorly in these classes.

“We want our students to be successful, and adding into courses during the second week of the semester has proven to hinder student success,” says Melody Tankersley, Kent State’s senior associate provost. “Our response, then, is to not allow students to self-add into courses during the second week of the semester. We want students to register right — by selecting the correct courses and sections —before classes begin. We want students sitting in the right class from day one. But if they need to add another class or switch sections, students can only self-add during that first week so that they do not get behind.”

“Register Right” messages communicating this new policy will be shared with students. Faculty members and student advisors are encouraged to advise their students as well to “Register Right.”

For more information, contact Tankersley at mtankers@kent.edu.