Registration for Semesters/Sessions
Registration is the method of ensuring continuous matriculation in an academic program. Students register for courses each semester for a subsequent semester. That is, registration for fall takes place in April, registration for winter and spring sessions takes place in November, and registration for summer sessions usually takes place in February. A student’s course schedule is regarded as a contract and determines official enrollment. A full-time undergraduate student credit load for a regular semester is 12-18 credits. Special permission is needed for students registering for more than 18 credits. Additional tuition charges will apply.
Registration in non-classroom courses such as Individualized Instruction, Independent Study and Internships is initiated by the student by completing a Non-Classroom Card Request. Students should work with their academic department and college to secure approving signatures. Approved requests are added to the student’s schedule by the Registrar in the Student Enrollment Center.
Changes to Enrollment/Class Schedule
Courses may be added during the first eight calendar days for spring and fall semester through the student portal myESU.
Courses may be dropped (no record on academic transcript) during the first eight calendar days of the semester for spring and fall semesters through the student portal myESU.
Students who withdraw from a course beginning day nine through week 10 will receive a grade of “W” for that course on their permanent record. Instructor permission may be required to withdraw from a course.
After the 10th week the student may withdraw only if there are extraordinary circumstances (e.g. illness, death in the family, etc.). In this situation the student must also secure the appropriate dean’s signature and submit it to the Student Enrollment Center. A grade of “W” will be assigned if the student is passing; “Z” will be assigned if the student is failing.
Any student who discontinues attendance in a course without formally withdrawing will be assigned an “E” as a final grade. Through the class roster verification process, a student who has not attended a course during the first week (first five class days of the semester or first two days of summer session) may be dropped from the course by the instructor.
A student may withdraw (“W” or “Z”) from a maximum of 16 credits during the student’s stay at the university. Any course dropped during the first week of the semester, for which no grade is assigned, will not be counted toward this limit, nor will received for a total semester withdrawal from the university.
A student attending a course without proper registration and payment of all tuition and fees does not constitute de facto enrollment. The university will not permit retroactive enrollment in or payment for any class after the end of the term in which the course is offered.
| Type of Action |
Semester |
Quarter |
Summer Session 3 weeks |
Summer or Winter Session 6 weeks |
| No record on academic transcript |
Day 8 |
First 4 days |
1st day |
2 days |
| Grade of W |
Day 9 |
4th day through 5th week |
2nd day through 2nd week |
3rd day through 4th week |
| No withdrawal* |
11th through 15th week |
6th through 7 1/2 week |
3rd week |
5th through 6th week |
*Except for extraordinary circumstances as previously defined.
Auditing Courses
A student desiring to audit a course must submit an official request to the Student Enrollment Center after securing the approval of the professor of the course. A change of registration from credit to audit or from audit to credit may occur only during the first eight calendar days of the semester. Auditing students pay the same tuition and fees as students taking courses for credit.
Please note: Senior citizens registering for courses under the special student status will automatically be assigned an audit grade.
Undergraduate Students Taking Graduate Courses
ESU undergraduate students may take a maximum of six graduate credits during their senior year if the following criteria are met:
- Satisfaction of the grade point requirements for admission with full graduate standing, i.e. 3.000 GPA in the major and 2.5000 GPA overall (may be higher for some majors);
- Verification of senior class status (completion of 90 credits);
- Approval by the appropriate faculty member teaching the class;
- Approval of the dean of the Graduate College. This must be submitted to the Student Enrollment Center.
All appropriate signatures must be secured prior to registering. Graduate credit that is used to satisfy graduation requirements for the bachelor’s degree cannot be used to satisfy the requirements of a master’s degree at ESU.