As fourth week and midterms begin, students say they anxiously
await their test results and begin to think about dropping a class.
But now there are increased consequences for waiting too long to
make a decision.
In an attempt to restrict the number of late drops, the UCLA
College1 has adopted a new drop policy this
year, which limits students to three late drops in weeks 8 to 10
during their college careers.
There are no changes to the drop policy for weeks 1 through 4,
but now dropping a class between weeks 5 and 7 has different
consequences than dropping a class between weeks 8 and 10.
In weeks 5 to 7, students can now drop classes on URSA and do
not need an instructors’ signature. There is still a $20 fee
and transcript notation.
Weeks 8 to 10 now have a “restrictive late drop,”
and students may only drop during this period three times in their
college careers.
“It is a bittersweet deal,” Maria Covarrubias, a
fourth-year English student, said. “It is bad for those who
need the opportunity (to drop), but it helps students focus on
classes more and save their drops for when they really need
it.”
The large number students dropping classes during 10th week
prompted the administration to enact the new drop policy, according
to Daily Bruin archives.
The old policy allowed students to drop unlimited classes during
weeks 5 to 10 with the instructor’s signature, a $20 fee and
a transcript notation.
Covarrubias said she has used the late drop policy before
because “things happen that you can’t
control.”
This year students start out with a clean slate, so dropped
classes in previous years do not count toward the maximum of
three.
Lauri Mattenson, a writing programs professor, said she is in
favor of the new policy because she believes the decision to stay
in a class should not be based on grades.
“Students often drop a class after receiving a grade they
don’t like. Their motivation to stay should be based on what
they might learn rather than just the grade,” she said.
“It’s better to drop right away; otherwise, students
should make a commitment to remain in the class.”
There is still a transcript notation and new $35 fee during
weeks 8 to 10.
Liz Franco, a second-year undeclared student, said she was
alarmed by the new procedure.
“It forces students to make quick decisions about classes,
which could harm them,” she said.
Franco dropped a class during first week, and immediately upon
hearing about the new drop policy, went online to see if she would
be charged for the drop.
“I feel like I am forced to drop a class really quick
because I don’t want to be charged for dropping a
class,” she said.
Jessica Patton, an Academic Advancement Program staff counselor,
said she had not dealt with the new policy yet because there are no
changes to the drop process until the fifth week.
“I think it’s probably a good policy,” she
said, “It’s a way to get students to make decisions
earlier.”
In order to not receive a transcript notation, students must
drop a class before Friday of fourth week. There is a $5 fee.
1CORRECTION: This sentence was changed to
clarify that the policy discussed is only for courses in the UCLA
College.