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Frequently Asked Questions

The following is a list of frequently asked questions from across the offices supporting Columbia College and Columbia Engineering collected here in one place for your convenience. You can browse by topic/department or search by keyword.

Question Tags

Classes, Berick Center for Student Advising

How do I audit a class? (For CC Seniors only)

The mark of "R" or registration credit is equivalent to auditing a course. Please note that no points/credits are earned. The "R" credit option is available only to Columbia College seniors who submit a completed petition found HERE.

"R" credit petitions will only be authorized if:

the courses are in excess of the 124 points required for the B.A. degree
the courses are not used to fulfill a requirement for the B.A. degree, and
the student has the permission of the course instructor.

For more information regarding the "R" Credit option, please see your Advising Dean.

How do I drop a class?

During the Change-of-Program period (also known as Add/Drop): You can use normal web registration procedures.

After the Change-of-Program period and before the drop deadline (also known as the Post-Change of Program Add/Drop Period): Students may request to add and drop certain courses*, subject to approval by their school and/or the instructor, through Vergil. For more information, please review the Post-Change of Program Period Student Quick Guide.

*Please note: The deadline to drop Columbia College Core Curriculum courses is the second week of the semester.

Find your school's academic deadlines here.

How do I go over points?

To take more than 18 (CC) or 21 (SEAS) credits during a single semester, submit the Petition to Register Above the Credit Limit form to your adviser in the CSA. Find the required forms and instructions here.

Students must complete at least one term at Columbia before petitioning to exceed the credit limit.

Where can I find a tutor or other extra academic help?

If you are struggling in a course, you should always first contact your professor or teaching assistant to discuss expectations, go over previous exams and papers, and clarify concepts and the material. It's also a good idea to contact your advising dean, who can help you review your study habits and create a plan.

For more assistance, you can look for a tutor or visit a help room. Help rooms are sponsored by the academic departments and are staffed by graduate students. They are open at various times for students to drop by and ask questions about homework and material. There are also a variety of tutors available, including a free tutoring service for introductory courses sponsored by the CSA.

Find more information about tutoring, help rooms, and other academic support resources here.

Can I take a class for a P instead of a letter grade?

Columbia College students

Please read the Columbia College P/D/F Grading Policy here. The deadlines for changing your grading option can be found on the Columbia College Academic Calendar.

Columbia Engineering students

Please see the "Transcript Notations" section under Academic Procedures and Standards in the Columbia Engineering Bulletin. Deadlines for changing your grading option are listed in the Registrar's Academic Calendar.

All students

After you have read the policies that apply to your school above, follow these instructions to change the grading option for a class in Vergil:

https://sishelp.sis.columbia.edu/content/setting-course-grading-options-pdf-pf-or-standard

How do I withdraw from a class? (CC only)

To withdraw from a class ("get a W"), submit a completed Acknowledgment of Course Withdrawal form to your advising dean.

The withdrawal option is available to CC students who cannot drop a class (e.g., because the drop deadline has passed, or because dropping would take them below 12 points). If you withdraw from a course, the course will stay on your transcript with a "grade" of W. You will not earn credit for the course.

More information about course withdrawal can be found in the Exams and Grades section of the CC Bulletin.

The course withdrawal deadline is listed in the CC Academic Calendar.

Can I take overlapping classes?

Students are only permitted to enroll in overlapping classes in rare circumstances when both classes must be taken in the semester in question in order for the student to graduate on time. If you believe you qualify for an exception, you may speak to your Advising Dean and submit a petition to the Committee on Academic Standing during the Change of Program period. Being admitted to overlapping classes in Vergil does not constitute permission to remain in these classes.

How do I add a class?

During the Change of Program period (the first two weeks of the semester), you may freely add and drop courses during your assigned registration times in Vergil. Click here for help using Vergil's course registration features.

After the Change of Program period, you will need instructor permission to add a course.

After your school's drop deadline, courses can no longer be added. Find academic deadlines for your school here.

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