Every semester, students must decide whether or not their class schedule is as realistic as they imagined it would be when registering for classes. If a student finds they are not able to maintain their schedule, they have the option to drop or withdraw from classes.

To drop a course does not affect a student’s GPA, transcript or completion rate. Students are not charged for dropped courses. The drop deadline for full fall/spring classes is the fifth day of classes.

Winona State has not always had a five-day drop deadline, according to Senior Associate Registrar, Tania Schmidt.

“Many years ago, the drop dates were staggered. The first three days of the term, 100 percent of tuition was refunded or taken off bill. The fourth day, 75 percent back, and fifth day 50 percent back,” Schmidt said.

Many universities in the Minnesota State system later instituted a policy that only refunded students who dropped courses before the semester began. Winona State, however, instituted a policy that allows students five full class days to drop courses for a full refund, which is still used today. The extended drop deadline has shown positive results for Winona State.

“That has resulted in one of the lowest drops for non-payment numbers in the state,” Schmidt said.

Students can withdraw from full fall/spring semester courses until 80 percent into the semester.

If a student withdraws from a course, the course remains on the transcript with a “W.” A “W” on a transcript affects completion rate and can affect financial aid but a “W” does not affect GPA. Unless they are withdrawing from all courses, students will not be refunded tuition for withdrawing.

According to the Warrior Success Center advisor Amy Meyer, students must maintain a completion rate of at least 67 percent. If found in violation of this rate, the student will be placed on academic warning.

Junior recreation, tourism, and therapeutic recreation major, Brienna Max, believes the process of withdrawing is easy enough, it’s deciding whether or not to withdraw that takes consideration. She recommends creating a pro/con list, as well as speaking to the course professor before withdrawing.

Although the Warrior Success Center claimed Winona State’s drop and withdrawal deadlines are liberal for the Minnesota State, the drop and withdrawal deadlines at Winona State are in line with most of the schools in the Minnesota State system, including Mankato, Bemidji and St. Cloud.

Minnesota State’s five day drop deadline is shorter than nearby University of Minnesota’s ten-day deadline. When asked about how she feels about Winona State’s deadline, Max said she has mixed feelings.

“The drop date isn’t super great; however, it could get abused if it were to be extended. If [a student] waits any longer than [five days] they could be like ‘I don’t like this class I’m going to drop it.’ That’s a waste of time for both [the student] and the professor,” Max said.

The deadline is not ideal for students, leaving room for improvement.

“If there was a way to change it so that students must have “X” number of class meetings before [the deadline] because a lot of times in that first week classes are canceled.” Max said.