Registration

Registration

The Office of the Registrar website (www.colorado.edu/registrar) has specific dates and deadlines that apply to the registration process. Students should also consult individual college and school sections of this catalog and their dean’s office for additional information on special requirements and procedures. The following registration policies are intended to serve as general guidelines.

Students who require accommodations because of a disability should contact the Office of Disability Services, University of Colorado Boulder, 107 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309 or call 303-492-8671.

Confirmation Deposit

All new degree students pay a one-time $200 confirmation deposit when they first confirm their intent to enroll at CU-Boulder.

Students must pay the deposit when they first confirm their intent to enroll at CU-Boulder and are not permitted to register until the university receives it.

Confirmation deposits are refunded to students upon graduation or official withdrawal from CU-Boulder within established dates and guidelines. All refunds are reduced by any outstanding financial obligations. Interest earned from confirmation deposits is used for student financial aid.

Questions regarding the confirmation deposit policy should be directed to the Office of Admissions, Regent Administrative Center 125, 303-492-6301.

MyCUInfo

Student registration and other important information and services are available via the student portal, MyCUInfo.colorado.edu. Students access the MyCUInfo portal using a secure CU login name and IdentiKey password. More information and registration instructions are available on the Office of the Registrar site at www.colorado.edu/registrar/students/registration.

Registering for Classes

All CU-Boulder students register for classes via MyCUInfo. Students also use the MyCUInfo portal to check their assigned registration date and time, view any holds that may prevent registration (see “Holds”), see to-do lists and obtain advisor name and contact information.

New freshmen and transfer students receive their registration instructions and information during the New Student Welcome Experience. Continuing students are notified via email each semester of registration periods and requirements.

Registration instructions are also available on the Office of the Registrar website at www.colorado.edu/registrar/students/registration/enroll.

Drop/Add

Students can adjust their schedules by dropping and adding classes using the MyCUInfo portal or app. Specific drop and add deadlines for fall and spring semesters are listed on the Office of the Registrar website at www.colorado.edu/registrar/students/academic-calendar.

Summer deadlines appear on the Summer Session website at www.colorado.edu/summer/resources/calendars.

For more information, visit the Office of the Registrar website at www.colorado.edu/registrar/students/registration/enroll.

Add Deadlines

• Students add classes via MyCUInfo during designated registration and schedule adjustment periods each term without needing approval.  
• After this time period, students must contact the instructor or the instructor’s department to add a class. After the add deadline has passed, students may only enroll in a class with their dean's permission in addition to instructor permission.

Drop Deadlines

• No Record Drop: Students may drop individual classes via MyCUInfo with a refund and no record (no W grades) through the third Wednesday of the fall or spring semester (summer dates vary).
• Drop with Record: After the third Wednesday of the semester, students may continue to drop classes without instructor/advisor approval via MyCUInfo through Friday of the tenth week of the fall or spring semester (summer dates vary). However, tuition and fees are assessed and grades of W appear on the transcript.
• Late Drops: After the 10-week drop deadline, instructor and dean signatures are required to drop a class. Some colleges may require additional approval or processes, such as petitioning the dean (students should check with their school or college). Class drops are generally not approved after this date except in extraordinary circumstances. Tuition and fees are assessed and grades of W appear on the transcript.

Students dropping all of their classes should refer to “Withdrawal Procedures” for more information.

Credit/No Credit

Students who wish to take course work for no credit must indicate this at the time they register for classes or during the final drop/add period. Changes in credit registration are not permitted after the drop/add deadline in the summer or after the third Friday of the semester in the fall and spring. Tuition is the same whether or not credit is received in a course.

Pass/Fail (P/F)

Students should refer to the college and school sections of this catalog to determine the number of pass/fail credit hours that may be taken in a given semester or credited toward a bachelor’s degree. Exceptions to the pass/fail regulations are permitted for certain courses that are offered only on a pass/fail basis.

Students who wish to register for a class on a pass/fail basis should do so when registering for the class. The pass/fail option is only available for courses that allow a pass/fail option. Procedures for requesting pass/fail enrollment can be found on the Office of the Registrar's website or on the Summer Session website at www.colorado.edu/summer/resources/now-youve-enrolled/adddrop-information-deadlines. To change a class from graded to pass/fail, use the "EDIT class options" button in the student portal within the “Schedule” section within "Academics / Schedule." Changes to or from a pass/fail basis are not permitted after the third Friday of the semester in the fall and spring or after the drop/add deadline in the summer.

Grades of D- and above are considered passing grades. P grades do not affect student GPAs.

Variable Credit

Select courses, such as independent study courses, are offered as variable credit. Students should consult their academic advisor and designate the number of credit hours they wish to receive for the class at the time of registration. Consult the Courses section or the Summer Session website at www.colorado.edu/summer/courses for variable-credit hour ranges.

Withdrawal Procedures

Students may officially withdraw from the university by submitting the Office of the Registrar's online withdrawal form. 

In all terms, students are not permitted to withdraw after the last day of regular classes (excluding final exams).

Failure to withdraw properly may result in a failing grade being recorded for every class, and liablility for the full amount of tuition and fees for that term. For refund stipulations, see the withdrawal policy.

Rules for withdrawing may vary with each college and school. Students anticipating a withdrawal should consult their advisor and/or dean’s office, and read the withdrawal information on the Office of the Registrar website at www.colorado.edu/registrar/students/withdraw-cu.

Withdrawing students (including students applying for a graduate leave of absence) with Federal Perkins/NDSL loans must complete a loan exit interview and clear all outstanding financial balances before leaving the university. Failure to do so results in a hold on the student’s record. This hold prevents receipt of a diploma or an academic transcript of work at the university and registration for future terms. Students can complete a loan exit interview by contacting University Student Loans & Debt Management in the Bursar's Office at 303-492-5571, toll free at 800-925-9844 or TTY 303-492-3528.

Undergraduate students who withdraw and then wish to return to the university have two semesters (plus summer) from their last graded semester to return to the university without having to reapply for admission. Graduate students can apply for an approved leave of absence. Details are available on the Office of the Registrar website at www.colorado.edu/registrar/students/withdraw-cu.

For more information, contact the Office of the Registrar, Regent Administrative Center 101, 303-492-6970, or withdraw@colorado.edu. For information about tuition and fee obligations for withdrawing students, see Withdrawal Policy Regarding Tuition and Fees.

Retroactive Withdrawal

In certain situations, colleges, schools and programs accept petitions for retroactive withdrawals from one or more completed semesters. Students must clearly demonstrate that they experienced extenuating circumstances beyond their control that prevented them from withdrawing by the established deadline (e.g., serious cases of injury). Such petitions require specific and detailed documentation from appropriate licensed professionals in order to be considered. Students who believe they have encountered life events that may make them eligible for a retroactive withdrawal should meet with their academic advisor before taking any action.

Retroactive withdrawals are seldom granted, and the review process may take several months. For petitions that are approved, grades of W will be recorded for all courses taken in the semester, irrespective of the original grade. Students who must withdraw within a given term due to extenuating circumstances should review the withdrawal information on the Office of the Registrar website at www.colorado.edu/registrar/students/withdraw-cu/considerations. Withdrawing students who have received financial aid should review the Office of Financial Aid’s withdrawal policy.

Graduate Leave of Absence

Graduate students who wish to take a leave of absence from the university must submit an application and get approval from their department and school/college/program to avoid having to reapply.

Graduate students taking an approved leave of absence are allowed two inactive semesters (plus summer), and are guaranteed a place in their current college or school and in their current major when they return to the university. Students must not have any disciplinary holds and must be in good academic standing with the university. Students registered for the semester in which they plan to begin their leave of absence must formally withdraw. See the Withdrawal Procedures section above.

A nonrefundable $50 program fee is required at the time of application.

An application and more information are available on the Office of the Registrar website at www.colorado.edu/registrar/students/withdraw-cu/leave-of-absence.

Undergraduate Leave of Absence

Undergraduate students can take a leave of absence from the university for up to two consecutive semesters (plus summer) without having to reapply to CU-Boulder.

Eligible degree-seeking undergraduate students may maintain certain university benefits while taking leave from the university.

Some benefits (such as Recreation Center access and health insurance through Wardenburg Health Services) are only available for an additional fee. 

Signing up for these elective benefits requires submitting an application and a nonrefundable $50 administrative fee.

An application and more information are available on the Office of the Registrar website at www.colorado.edu/registrar/students/withdraw-cu/leave-of-absence.

Other Registrations

Concurrent Registration

CU-Boulder students may be allowed to register concurrently for up to two classes or 6 credit hours, whichever is greater, on another University of Colorado campus. Participating students must be enrolled for at least one class on the Boulder campus. 

Graduate students should check with the Graduate School for exceptions to the home-campus registration requirement and limitations on credit hours at the host campus. Classes taken at other CU campuses must be required for graduation or unavailable on the Boulder campus in a given term, or the classes must conflict with another required class in which the student is enrolled.

Boulder students exercising this option pay tuition for their total credit hours at Boulder-campus rates. Concurrent registration forms and instructions are available on the Office of the Registrar website at www.colorado.edu/registrar/students/registration/registration-programs.

Concurrent students will not be registered in classes at the host campus until the first day of classes at the host campus, and must adhere to the add/drop deadlines of that campus.

Boulder campus students who wish to take course work on another campus of the University of Colorado, but not through the concurrent registration program, may be able to register on that campus independent of Boulder-campus registration. However, they must apply for admission to and follow the registration procedures established by the other campus. Students should check with their dean’s office for approval and course applicability to their degree program.

Late Registration

Students in certain categories may be allowed to register late for a fall or spring semester if not registered in any classes as of the third Friday of the semester. Eligible students are assessed a $100 late registration fee, which should not be confused with charges assessed for late payments of the university bill.

Graduate students registering as candidates for degree or for thesis hours must register by the third Friday of classes in a fall or spring semester or be subject to the $100 late registration fee, if late registration is held for their category. More information is available on the Office of the Registrar website at www.colorado.edu/registrar/students/registration/enroll/drop-class

Registration for Faculty and Staff

Please see University Employees and Dependents.

Graduation and Commencement

Students must apply for graduation through MyCUInfo before they intend to graduate. Instructions for applying and important deadlines are available on the Office of the Registrar website at www.colorado.edu/registrar/students/graduation. Individual colleges and schools may require additional processes for students completing their degrees.

A general commencement ceremony is held in May and is open to the public. No tickets are required. Students receiving a degree in August or December should check with their dean’s office if they wish to attend the May ceremony. Many departments, colleges and schools have recognition ceremonies in fall and spring semesters. Details concerning the ceremony may be found online at colorado.edu/commencement. 

Only doctoral candidates receive their diplomas at commencement. Diplomas are mailed to all other students approximately two months after the ceremony. 

Graduating students with Federal Perkins/NDSL loans must complete a loan exit interview and clear all outstanding financial balances before leaving the university. Failure to do so results in a hold on the student’s record. This hold prevents receipt of a diploma or an academic transcript of work at the university and registration for future terms. Students can complete a loan exit interview by contacting University Student Loans & Debt Management in the Bursar’s Office at 303-492-5571, toll free at 800-925-9844 or TTY 303-492-3528.