Limits on Dropped Courses
An Undergraduate student enrolled at Tarleton State University is permitted a total of 6 dropped courses, including any transfer courses dropped at any other Texas public institution of higher education. Any course dropped before the census day does not count in this total. A student who drops a class receives a grade of Q on their record. A student who withdraws from the university receives a grade of W or WF for each class. W’s and WF’s will not be counted as dropped courses.
After a student has accumulated 6 dropped courses, he or she will not be permitted to drop any class unless unusual circumstances exist, as determined by the Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management or Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Please view the academic calendar for the official census date (last day to drop with no record) for the term in question.
6 Drop Warning Codes
Warning codes notifying students of their drop limit status in myGateway. The grade which will count toward the state drops accumulated is “Q”. Warning codes are for informational purposes only. However, once a student has reached the drop limit according to the 6 Drop Policy, the student will be required to submit the Undergraduate 6 Drop Limit Appeal Form in order to drop additional courses. Warning codes are defined as follows:
- D0- No drops remaining
- D1- 1 drop remaining (info only) – Warning!
- D2- 2 drops remaining (info only)
- D3- 3 drops remaining (info only)
- D4- 4 drops remaining (info only)
- D5- 5 drops remaining (info only)
- D6- 6 drops remaining (info only)
If a student does not have one of these holds codes, the 6 Drop Policy is not applicable.
Students may also email the Office of the Registrar or call us at 254-968-9419 to check how many drops they have accumulated.
6 Drop Policy Exceptions
Courses dropped under the following documented circumstances are considered acceptable exceptions to this regulation and will not be counted towards the limit of six drops:
- While attending an out-of-state institution
- While attending a private college or university
- Severe illness or other debilitating conditions
- Caring for a sick, injured, or otherwise needy person if the provision of that care affects the student’s ability to satisfactorily complete the course
- Courses dropped because of the death of a person who is considered to be a member of the student’s family or who is otherwise considered to have a sufficiently close relationship to the student
- Courses dropped because of the student’s active duty service as a member of the Texas National Guard or any branch of the armed forces of the United States
- Courses dropped because of the active duty services as a member of the Texas National Guard or any branch of the United States of any member of the student’s family who is considered to have a sufficiently close relationship to the student that the person’s active military service is considered to be a showing of good cause
- Courses dropped because of a change in the student’s off-campus work schedule that is beyond the control of the student
- Courses dropped for other well-documented good cause and approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs
Appeals
A student who wishes to file an appeal for exceeding the 6 Drop Limit must fill out the Undergraduate 6 Drop Appeal Form and return it to the Office of the Registrar located in the Tarleton Center room 101 or fax the appeal to 254-968-9389. An appeal will have to be filed each time the student wishes to drop a course and has exceeded the 6 drop limit.
A student who is not satisfied with the decision of the Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management may file a written request for an administrative review by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. This administrative review will be limited to verification that the student has had the opportunity to present appropriate documentation and that the provided materials and statements were considered in making the decision.
Additional Information
Contact your Academic Advisor or email the Office of the Registrar or call us at 254-968-9419 for more information. Please review the Tarleton State University Catalog for additional information.