Add or Drop a Class
Students may add or drop courses in Vergil Registration during the Change of Program Period. Online Wait Lists also remain available during this time.
If registration through a Wait List creates a schedule overlap, the student must resolve the conflict in Vergil by the close of the Change of Program Period or submit an appeal to their home school in accordance with school-specific policies. Similarly, students must resolve all course conflicts and point overages no later than the last day of the Change of Program Period.
Please note that informal actions such as notifying an instructor verbally or by email, or simply ceasing to attend a course, do not constitute an official drop. Students who stop attending without formally dropping or withdrawing will remain registered and will receive a grade from the instructor, even if no coursework has been completed.
By completing registration actions, students accept responsibility for the accuracy of their schedules and assume responsibility for any associated financial or academic consequences.
Registration Adjustment Period
After the Change of Program Period concludes, students in select schools may be eligible to request registration adjustments with approval through Vergil Registration. Policies and timelines vary by school and by course term session.
Students should check their courses in Vergil to determine if appeals are permitted. If available, one of the following buttons will appear below the class section: “Appeal,” “Request Add,” or “Request Drop.” If no button is displayed, registration adjustment appeals are not permitted for that course.
Once an appeal is submitted:
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The request will be routed for instructor and/or school-based approval.
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If approved, students will receive a confirmation email and must log in to Vergil to “accept” the approved adjustment in order for the change to be finalized.
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If denied, students will be notified by email.
Accepting course approvals may have tuition implications, as tuition and fees may be adjusted once appeal requests are processed. Students remain responsible for addressing any School registration requirements (e.g., credit load requirement(s) or schedule conflict(s)) before their designated Last Day to Add/Drop after the Change of Program Period. Advisors are available to support students with any questions or concerns regarding the Registration Adjustment period.
Note: Students in schools that do not participate in the Registration Adjustment Period should contact their school’s student affairs or academic affairs office for guidance after the Change of Program Period.
More information on the Registration Adjustment Workflow period can be found on our helpsite: https://sishelp.sis.columbia.edu/content/vergil-registration-adjustment-workflow-beginning-fall-2025
Selected School Policies on Registration Adjustment Workflow
Students should only request to add courses that they have been attending during the Change of Program Period. Students should continue to attend any courses they request to drop until their drop request has been officially approved. Read and understand Columbia Engineering’s registration policies and procedures in the online Bulletin. You are responsible, both academically and financially, for all registration transactions. Course changes made during this period may result in financial liability.
Given that you are financially and academically responsible for all completed registration transactions, you should become familiar with the School of the Arts registration policies and procedures. Students who make registration adjustments during this period will continue to be responsible for any course fees, where relevant.
Columbia College students cannot drop or add Core courses after the Change of Program Period, including Art Humanities, Contemporary Civilization, Frontiers of Science, Lit Hum, Music Hum, and University Writing.
Undergraduate Engineering students cannot drop University Writing or Art of Engineering without special approval.
Columbia College and Undergraduate Engineering students cannot drop below 12 credits.
Students should only request to add classes that they have been attending during the Change of Program Period. Given that you are financially and academically responsible for all completed registration actions, you should become familiar with Columbia College’s registration policies and procedures available in the online Bulletin. Students who make registration adjustments after the Change of Program period will continue to be responsible for any course fees where relevant.
Read and understand the registration policies and procedures for the School of General Studies. You are responsible, both academically and financially, for completed registration transactions. Course changes made during this period may result in financial liability. Full tuition charges are incurred for any courses added or dropped after the Change of Program period.
Read and understand the add/drop policies and procedures for the School of Professional Studies. You are responsible, both academically and financially, for completed registration transactions. Course changes made during this period may result in financial liability. Full tuition charges are incurred for any courses added or dropped after the Change of Program period.
Given that you are financially and academically responsible for all completed registration transactions, you should become familiar with the registration policies and procedures for the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences available in the Digital Student Handbook. Students who make registration adjustments during this period will continue to be responsible for any course fees, where relevant.
Given that you are financially and academically responsible for all completed registration transactions, you should become familiar with the registration policies and procedures for The Climate School. Students who make registration adjustments during this period will continue to be responsible for any course fees, where relevant.
Following the Change of Program period, CSSW only allows for students to drop courses, not add. Students should ensure they are familiar with CSSW's Course Withdrawal policies as they are responsible, both financially and academically, for any changes made during the post-add/drop period. Students should contact CSSW’s Financial Aid office to discuss how dropping a course can impact loans, scholarships, and financial aid eligibility.
GSAPP Students will be allowed to add/drop courses with a refund during the Change of Program period until the second week of classes. This means that all students should be below 19 pts by the Friday of the second week of term if they do not wish to incur additional tuition charges (this includes Session B courses). Following the Change of Program period, GSAPP only allows for students to drop 3 pt full semester courses by the published drop deadlines (https://www.arch.columbia.edu/academic-calendar) and add/drop session B classes by the second week of Session B. Students are responsible, both financially and academically, for any changes made during the post Change of Program period. Full-time students must be registered for a minimum of 12 pts. Only the GSAPP Student Affairs team can address registration issues for GSAPP students. Please contact us at [email protected].
Following the Change of Program period, Public Health students may make submit Registration Requests or Appeals up to the last day of the Registration Adjustment Period posted to the Academic Calendar for full-term, quarter 1, and quarter 2 classes. All Registration Requests and Appeals must be submitted prior to the posted date. Public Health students should become familiar with all available registration information posted on the Mailman School registration website and in the Mailman School Student Handbook. Public Health students can contact the Office of Student Affairs with any questions at [email protected].