RISD’s add/drop period begins on the first day of the semester and extends for 7 days (add/drop is a period when students can add and drop courses without penalty). All registrations and schedules must be finalized by the end of the add/drop period. See the academic calendar for specific dates. Make sure to check your schedule in Workday before the end of the add/drop period to confirm you are registered correctly.
RISD’s add/drop policy is listed here.
As a reminder, students are expected to maintain full time status and are required to enroll in at least 12 credits for the Fall and Spring semesters, and 3 credits in Wintersession in order to remain in good academic standing. See the ‘Full Time Enrollment Requirement‘ policy for further details. There are academic and possibly financial consequences if you register for less than 12 credits for Fall and Spring or 3 credits in Wintersession (and F-1 students may jeopardize their visa status).
Add: Adds are completed using the Course Add Request form. This form is available only during Add/Drop (the first 7 days of the semester).
- Access instructions for Students HERE
- Search for a course in Workday.
- Contact the instructor and attend the first class meeting.
- Once you have connected with the instructor, fill out the Course Add Request form. The form will get routed automatically to the instructor for approval. Indicate on the form the reason why you want to add the course. If upon approval to add the course, you need to make a schedule change to drop a course (so that the add can be processed, either because there is a time conflict, or you have exceeded the semester credit limit), indicate as such in the space provided. Note, this will only be processed if the ‘Add’ is approved (otherwise you should be using the Drop form to drop courses you are no longer planning to take).
- You will receive a confirmation email indicating the outcome of the request.
- Access instructions for Faculty HERE
- Access the Course Add Request form HERE (will be available beginning on the first day of the semester. See the Academic Calendar for details.)
Drop: Drops are completed using the Course Drop form. This form is available only during Add/Drop (the first 7 days of the semester).
- Access instructions for Students HERE
- If you registered for the course yourself in Workday, you have access to drop the course directly in Workday.
- Otherwise, fill out the Course Drop form. Forms will be electronically routed to the department (if it is a major-required course) or to the Registrar’s office for all other courses.
- You will receive a confirmation email indicating the outcome of the request.
- Access instructions for Departments HERE
- Access the Course Drop form HERE (will be available beginning the first day of the semester. See the Academic Calendar for details.)
Office of the RISD Registrar 