Drop/Add/Withdraw

Adding a class

Before the fall or spring semester starts and during the first five days of classes, continuing students can add a class themselves, without additional approvals, through the Student Center in My.Butler.edu. Need instructions? Go to Ask.Butler.edu.

After the fifth day of classes, students need approval from the class instructor, their primary advisor, and their college dean.

There is a NEW online workflow process in My.Butler.edu for adding after the fifth day of classes. Follow these steps:

  1. Attempt to add a class like you always would. You will receive a message asking if you want to send an approval request to the class instructor, your advisor, and your college dean. Click “OK.”
  2. Check the “Request Approval” checkbox.
  3. Provide an explanation of why you need to add the class after the deadline, and then click “Submit.”

View detailed instructions for adding a class after the fifth day of classes.

The request is electronically routed to the individuals who need to approve the request. You will NOT be enrolled in the class until final approval is received from the college dean. You will receive “status update” emails as the request moves through the approval process and you will receive a final email when the request is either approved or denied.

View Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for students regarding the new online workflow process.

Dropping a class

Before the fall or spring semester starts and during the first 10 days of classes of the term, you may drop a class, and it will not show on your transcript. Continuing students can drop a class themselves on My.Butler.edu, with no paperwork or approvals, until 11:59 PM on the last drop date. First year students, during their first semester on campus, along with non-degree seeking students, must meet with their advisor who will help them drop a class. For instructions on how to drop a class, visit Ask.Butler.edu.

Withdrawing from a class

After the 10th day of classes in the fall or spring semesters, you may still withdraw from a class up to the 10th week of classes during the fall and spring semesters. The class will still show on your transcript, with a grade of W. You will not get any credit for this class and it will not be counted in your GPA. Questions regarding Tuition refunds should be directed to the Office of Student Accounts.

You also need to ensure you understand the full consequences of withdrawing from a class, especially if enrollment for the term goes below 12 credit hours for undergraduate students or 6 credit hours for graduate students. Please seek guidance regarding how this action will affect the following:

  • Financial aid and scholarship awards
  • Full-time student status
  • Probationary status
  • Dean’s List eligibility
  • Housing eligibility
  • NCAA eligibility
  • Progress toward completion of degree requirements (e.g. prerequisites and appropriate sequencing of classes)

There is a NEW online workflow process in My.Butler.edu for withdrawing after the 10th day of classes. Follow these steps:

  1. Attempt to drop a class like you always would (select Enrollment: Drop from the other academics dropdown menu within your Student Center). You will receive a message reminding you that withdrawing from a class could have unintended consequences. Click “OK”.
  2. Check the “Request Approval” checkbox.
  3. Provide an explanation of why you need to withdraw from the class, and then click “Submit”.

View detailed instructions for withdrawing after the 10th day of classes.

The request is electronically routed to the individuals who need to approve the request. You will NOT be withdrawn from the class until all necessary approvals are received. You will receive “status update” emails as the request moves through the approval process and you will receive a final email when the request is either approved or denied.

Complete Withdrawal from a Term

If it becomes necessary to withdraw completely from Butler for reasons other than medical, a student should confer at once with the dean of his or her college who will initiate the complete withdrawal. The effective date of the withdrawal is the date the form is received by the Registration and Records Office. View a checklist of items that should be completed as a student prepares to leave Butler.

If a student seeks a withdrawal for medical reasons, the student should contact the office of the Dean of Students. As the University Health Officer designee, the Dean of Students will review the applicable documentation and offer a recommendation to the dean of the appropriate college who will initiate the complete withdrawal. Stipulations may be imposed for future re-enrollment. More details about this process can be found in the Medical Withdrawal Policy.

Instructors should be informed personally of the student’s withdrawal. In the case of suspension, expulsion, or other officially directed involuntary withdrawal past the deadline for withdrawals, instructors will report W or F, reflecting the student’s standing on the date of the directed withdrawal. Upon a complete withdrawal within the first four weeks of a fall or spring semester, a partial refund of tuition will be made in accordance with a sliding scale published by the Student Accounts Office.

Students who choose to withdraw from Butler are asked to complete an exit interview with someone in the office of the Dean of Students (311 Atherton, 317-940-9470) or the Center for Academic Success and Exploration (Jordan Hall 109, 317-940-9308). Students may call to arrange for a short exit interview.

Summer Sessions

  • Continuing students can add a class on My.Butler.edu.
  • Late add requests for summer courses should be submitted through the online late add process.
  • The add deadline is dependent on the length of the course:
    • One week: 1st calendar day
    • Two week: 1st calendar day
    • Three week: 1st calendar day
    • Four week: 3rd calendar day
    • Five week: 3rd calendar day
    • Six week: 3rd calendar day
    • Seven week: 3rd calendar day
    • Eight week: 3rd calendar day
    • Nine week: 5th calendar day
    • Ten week: 5th calendar day
    • Eleven week: 5th calendar day
    • Twelve week: 5th calendar day
    • Thirteen week: 5th calendar day
    • Fourteen week: 5th calendar day
  • Continuing students can drop a class on My.Butler.edu.
  • Withdraw requests for summer courses should be submitted through the online withdrawal process.
  • The drop deadline is dependent on the length of the course: Please note that the drop date to receive a waiver of 100% of the tuition is earlier than the drop date shown below. For the exact full refund date and other information regarding the Institutional Tuition Refund Schedule(s) for summer courses (typically available mid-April), please contact the Office of Student Accounts directly at studentaccounts@butler.edu or 317-940-9353.
    • One week: 1st calendar day
    • Two week: 2nd calendar day
    • Three week: 3rd calendar day
    • Four week: 4th calendar day
    • Five week: 5th calendar day
    • Six week: 6th calendar day
    • Seven week: 7th calendar day
    • Eight week: 8th calendar day
    • Nine week: 9th calendar day
    • Ten week: 10th calendar day
    • Eleven week: 11th calendar day
    • Twelve week: 12th calendar day
    • Thirteen week: 13th calendar day
    • Fourteen week: 14th calendar day