The First Steps Toward Academic Success

Academic Advising

All undergraduate students, including those in the Associate in Arts Program, are assigned an academic advisor based on their college or department. Beginning at the start of their first semester, Blue Hens can log into UDSIS, select “Degrees and Advisement” and “Advisors” from the list of options to find their designated representative. 

Academic advisors assist students in developing goals, mapping out a four-year plan, maintaining timely progress toward graduation, understanding policies and connecting with university-wide resources.

Blue Hens in the Associate in Arts Program also work with their assigned advisor to facilitate a seamless transition to the Newark campus after completing their associate degree. 

In order to be successful, advising must be approached as a partnership. 

Students are encouraged to schedule an appointment with their assigned advisor at least twice per semester. Most appointments can be made through the Blue Hen Success platform. Advisors who are not available in Blue Hen Success can be reached directly via email.

In advance of scheduled meetings, it is recommended that undergraduates log into UDSIS to access the following tools:

• The Degree Audit to review courses taken and identify satisfied/outstanding requirements for degree completion; and 

• The What If Report to see how a change of major or minor could affect progress toward graduation. 

In addition to students who have not yet declared a major, those who are in transition from one major to another, are welcome to consult with professionals from the University Studies Program for additional information and a referral to the appropriate office. Once the change of major is complete, students will officially be assigned to a new advisor familiar with the requirements in their new program of study. 

To learn more about academic advising at UD, visit https://www.advising.udel.edu/.

Finish in Four

Academic advisors may refer to Finish in Four, a university-wide effort to ensure that undergraduates are prepared with the knowledge needed to graduate in four years.

To achieve this goal, students must enroll in approximately 15 credits per semester and at least 30 credits every academic year. 

Full-time tuition in Fall and Spring covers 12 credits or more at a fixed rate, making it a cost-effective solution to add an additional class. Many also choose to utilize Summer & Winter sessions to stay on track. 

Register For Classes

Matriculated students register for classes based on the following schedule:

1. Registration periods for returning matriculated undergraduate students begin in April for fall semester; in November for winter session; in November for spring semester and in April for summer session. Prior to registration, students should consult their academic advisors regarding course selection.
2. Matriculated students are assigned appointment times to begin registration based on classification and/or earned units. Appointments are available via UDSIS approximately one week prior to registration.
3. Newly admitted undergraduate students register during New Student Orientation, which includes academic advisement. For more information, visit udel.edu/studentlife/nso.
4. Readmitted students are notified of applicable registration procedures and will be assigned an academic advisor to assist them in their course selection.
5. Students must meet prerequisite requirements prior to the start of any class that has a prerequisite. Students who have not met the prerequisite by the start of the semester are subject to being dropped from any course requiring a prerequisite.
6. If a student is dismissed from the University after registering, their registration will be canceled, and fees will be refunded. If a student is dismissed after the fall semester, their courses will be removed from the following spring semester. If a student is dismissed after the spring semester, their courses will be removed from the following fall semester. Students will not receive academic credit unless they are properly registered.

Change of Registration Policy

The University strongly encourages all students to finalize course selections before the first day of classes. Nevertheless, students may still drop or add a course, or specify audit or pass/fail status using UDSIS through the free drop/add period (the first 10 days of classes in the fall and spring semesters, or during the first four days of winter and summer session classes). Since the amount of course material missed within the first week can vary between classes, students are strongly encouraged to consult with the course instructor regarding the advisability of adding a course after the first week of instruction. Students should consult with their advisors before making any registration changes.

To add courses after free drop/add, students need approval from the instructor and the appropriate college assistant dean. Other registration changes are permitted until the end of the eleventh week of the semester or comparable period in winter and summer. Students will receive a grade of “W” unless they withdraw from a course during the free drop/ add period. The University offers no tuition refunds for registration changes made after the free add/drop period, and students who make late changes must pay a $25 registration change fee (the fee will only be charged once per semester a student makes changes after the free drop/add period).

In extraordinary cases, a college assistant dean may permit registration changes after the end of the eleventh week of the semester or comparable period in winter and summer and before the last day of classes. Students will not be permitted to drop courses simply to avoid a poor grade, even in circumstances resulting from a student change of major or due to a student registration error. A student may be allowed to withdraw from courses after the deadline at the discretion of the assistant dean only when:

1. The student officially withdraws or is withdrawn from the University or from all courses;
2. Medical reasons, substantiated by the University physician or University psychiatrist, warrant a reduction in the student’s course load; or
3. Unusual and extenuating personal problems warrant a reduction of the student’s course load.

Any requests for changes in academic records after the last day of class must be referred to the Committee on Undergraduate Records and Certification, through the office of the student’s Assistant Dean.

Students should refer to the academic calendar for the relevant dates in any term.

Required Forms and Training

All incoming students of every level and classification are required to file a medical history and immunization record with Student Health Services, as well as complete the training titled Haven: Understanding Sexual Assault. All newly admitted students under the age of 26 are additionally required to complete AlcoholEdu training through Student Wellness and Health Promotion.

Registration Holds and Class Attendance

The University of Delaware places a high value on the quality of instruction. In order to maintain quality, there may be prerequisites and other restrictions placed on specific course enrollment to ensure that the students enrolled in the course are qualified and capable of succeeding. In some courses, seats are reserved for particular populations (for example, Honors students or students who are majoring or minoring in particular fields). There may also be caps on the number of students who are allowed to enroll in a course or section of a course based on pedagogical considerations or room capacity limitations.

Under certain circumstances the University may impose a registration hold that prevents an individual student from registering for and participating in classes. Holds are listed on the student’s UDSIS Student Center page, in the Holds column. A registration hold may be imposed for any of the following reasons:

1. Students may be prevented from registering for classes if they have not met their financial responsibilities for a prior term. A student who is restricted from registering for financial reasons should be directed to Student Financial Services for further guidance. Once satisfactory arrangements are made the student will be permitted to register and attend class at that time contingent upon seat availability. Student Financial Services also has the authority to cancel a student’s current enrollment if satisfactory financial arrangements are not made by a specific deadline.
2. Student Health Services may prevent a student from registering for classes due to lack of medical and/or immunization history.
3. A disciplinary sanction imposed by the Office of Student Conduct may prevent a student from being enrolled in or attending classes.
4. Students who are placed on academic probation  are not permitted to register for classes until they have met with their academic advisor and had their probation hold removed. These students are then allowed to register only for a maximum of fourteen credit hours.
5. Student Wellness & Health Promotion may prevent a student from registering for classes if the student has failed to complete one or two (or both) mandatory online courses: AlcoholEdu and Haven: Understanding Sexual Assault.

WebReg is the official University system by which students enroll in courses. Students who need special permission to enroll in a course should use the Course Permit Form (Drop/Add) to do so (see form instructions). Students with registration holds are not eligible to use either of these registration processes or to attend classes.

Any student attending a class must be officially enrolled for the class, by no later than the end of the free drop/add period for that term. In the case of experiential courses such as internships, service learning, and undergraduate research, students must be participating in the experience at the time they are earning course credit for it.

During the free drop/add period of each term, non-enrolled individuals may attend one or more class meetings with the permission of the class instructor. Permission cannot be granted to attend class beyond the free add/drop period or for the entire term unless the student is officially registered for the course.

Prospective students may be allowed to sit in on a class while they are visiting campus.

A student should consult with the Registrar’s Office, their Assistant Dean, or their academic advisor for clarification of enrollment eligibility.