Schedule Changes & Withdrawals

Attendance is critical to your success.  

Please note:  Students reported as never attending class by or on the official day of record for each session will be withdrawn/dropped.  Students who stop attending a class on or prior to the official day of record for that class session will be dropped as of the last date of attendance. Students should review their Course Syllabus for the Official Day of Record.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board rules are used to determine refunds for college credit class cancellations, drops or withdrawals. Refunds are mailed or credited back to your account from the Lone Star College System Office four to six weeks after the official day of record.

Class Cancellation - If the college cancels or discontinues a scheduled course, a 100 percent refund will be granted.

Add/Drop Procedures - It is recommended you consult with your class instructor before submitting a written withdrawal request.  A completed Schedule Change form can be submitted in person on campus or emailed from your My LoneStar e-mail account.  It is recommended that you speak with the Financial Aid or Veteran’s Affairs office if applicable before submitting your form. For e-mail, send the completed form to your campus Advising office.  Although you can drop classes until the official withdrawal date, refunds are only granted if a withdrawal request is submitted prior to dates included in the Refund Schedule.  It is advised that you keep a copy of all final paperwork showing the add or drop from your schedule.

Please note: You may not add a class, without instructional vice president approval, after the class has met one time.

Six Course Drop Limit

If you are considered a first-time in college student, a law went into effect in Fall 2007 that limits to six the number of courses you may drop (withdraw with a grade of "W") while enrolled at any Texas public institution of higher education. A first time in college student is a student not currently enrolled in high school and who has never taken a college or university course anywhere at any time.

Under section 51.907 of the Texas Education Code, "an institution of higher education may not permit a student to drop (withdraw with a grade of "W") more than six courses, including any course a transfer student has dropped at another Texas public institution of higher education."

This statute was enacted by the State of Texas in Spring 2007 and applies to students who enroll in a public institution of higher education as first-time freshmen in Fall 2007 or later.  Students enrolled prior to Fall 2007 are not subject to the law. Any course that a student drops is counted toward the six-course limit unless the student is completely withdrawing from the institution or meets one of the eligible criteria for a waiver.

Students should fully understand this new 6 course drop limit before they drop any course. Please visit your academic advisor or counselor at your college if you need additional information or assistance.

Exceptions for Drop & Add Procedures

You are not financially penalized if you drop and add classes and meet the following requirements:

1. The drop and add courses are within the same semester term.
2. Transactions are completed before the official day of record for each class. 
3. The drop and add transactions are best made simultaneously but must be completed the same calendar day.
4. If the credit hours dropped are greater than the credit hours added, the refund schedule will apply to the net charges dropped. If the credit hours added are greater than the credit hours dropped, you pay the net additional charges at the time of the exchange. If the credit hours dropped and added are equal, no refund or additional charges apply.

Refunds

Refunds are mailed from the Lone Star College System Office four to six weeks after the official day of record. Not all refunds are mailed; those paying with credit/debit cards have refunds credited back to the card account. Refunds for classes scheduled outside the sessions listed above will be made on a prorated basis in accordance with the refund policy.

Special refund policies apply if you received exemptions at registration or financial assistance for tuition and fees. See the refund policy for students receiving financial aid.

Questions regarding official day of record for non-semester length courses may be referred to your college Business Office.