Students, with the exception of first-year undergraduates in Experimental and Foundation Studies, may add or drop courses without penalty through the end of Add/Drop period. Refer to the Academic Calendar for applicable deadlines. Students should check their schedules each semester/term prior to the end of the Add/Drop period to ensure that their schedule is correct.

First-year undergraduates in Experimental and Foundation Studies may not change their class schedules without special permission from the Dean of Experimental & Foundation Studies, except during Wintersession.

Once classes begin, students may no longer add courses through Workday. Requests to add a course must be submitted using the electronic Add Form available in Etrieve and require the approval of the course instructor.

Elective and Liberal Arts courses may be dropped through Workday during the Add/Drop period; the permission of the instructor is not needed to drop a course. Students should not drop pre-registered courses without first consulting with their department, as doing so may affect degree progress and jeopardize graduation within the expected timeframe. Students are strongly advised to consult with their advisor about the consequences of dropping a course.

All registration transactions (adds or drops) must be finalized by the end of the Add/Drop period. It is the responsibility of each student to maintain an accurate course schedule and to ensure that courses they are not attending are officially dropped. Students should not rely on instructors to officially remove them from a course. Failure to drop a course will result in an F grade. Unofficial adds, in which a student attends a course without being registered, will not be graded or credited on the academic record. Requests to retroactively add a course after the semester has ended will not be considered.

Note: International Students on an F-1 Visa may not drop below 12 credits of enrollment at any time. In certain situations, international students may enroll in fewer than 12 credits in their final semester by completing a ‘Request for Exception to Academic Policy’ form. International students should always check with International Student & Scholar Affairs (ISSA) prior to making any changes to their RISD program. Any changes in program must be updated on the Form I-20 immigration document at all times.