The Center for Advising Services and the Eastman Office of Academic Affairs share that Friday, September 5, is the overload petition deadline and the last day to add or drop a course without instructor permission by logging into the UR Student system.

Students must have instructor permission to add a course between September 6 and 22. To add coursework, you should complete a drop/add form and follow these instructions. Instructor permission should be submitted via email with the drop/add form to registrar@rochester.edu. Instructor permission is not required when a student drops a class.

Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences students need the approval of their undergraduate coordinator for all schedule changes. Students in the School of Arts & Sciences should communicate with their college advisor about any proposed changes to their schedule. Eastman School of Music students should submit the Eastman add/drop/withdraw form for any course changes after September 5 with appropriate documented permission from instructors, if needed.

All undergraduate students must remain enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits to retain their full-time status. Students may be allowed to register for additional credit hours (20–24 credits) when meeting the conditions outlined in the Course Overload Policy. The petition closes at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, September 5. Eastman students looking to petition for a credit overload must submit the Eastman add/drop/withdraw form to the Eastman Office of Academic Affairs. Students not registered by September 5 will be placed on an Administrative Leave of Absence.

The University’s Barnes & Noble bookstore continues to process UR Essentials course material orders as final submissions come in. The bookstore is actively working through these ongoing submissions to get all materials to students as quickly as possible, as new orders continue to come in due to late course adoptions, changes in course materials, and changes in student schedules.

All full-time, matriculated undergraduate students should have received emails from the bookstore confirming courses and the method of course material delivery. If you haven’t opened these emails yet, please do so now to access your materials. Physical books are bundled for easy pickup at the bookstore, and digital materials are available on Blackboard. Continue to monitor your email for updates from the bookstore; you may receive multiple emails as course changes and material additions are processed, so be sure to confirm each one.

The bookstore can help with inquiries. In-person visits work best, but you can also email textbooks@ur.rochester.edu. You can also reach out to your instructors about any missing materials, as this will help the bookstore identify and process new submissions.

Starting fall 2025, a new non-participation policy is in effect for the School of Arts & Sciences, the Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, and the Eastman School of Music. This policy can be found on the Office of the University Registrar’s website under Rights and Policies. This policy will replace the traditional use of N grades.

The fall semester test of AlertUR will be on Thursday, September 4, at 6 p.m. AlertUR is the emergency notification system for the University, including the Medical Center. In the event of an emergency, alerts are sent by voice, text, and email message. The purpose of the twice-a-year test is to activate the AlertUR system and check that you can be reached immediately. Students are automatically enrolled via their Rochester email, but are encouraged to add a cell phone number to receive emergency calls and texts. Before the test, be sure to review your contact information; sign in with your Active Directory username and password to verify the fastest method for reaching you. The September 4 test will not disrupt scheduled activities. Find more information on AlertUR here.

The deadline to enroll in optional dental and vision coverage for students through Aetna is September 15. The annual premium for dental coverage is $316, and the annual premium for vision coverage is $73. Students who wear glasses or contacts are especially encouraged to enroll in vision insurance. You may enroll in these plans even if you waive the Aetna student health medical coverage. This support is more comprehensive and predictable for dental or vision needs and emergencies than funding through other support resources, such as the Basic Needs Hub.