September 6, 2017
Quinita Thomas
This Thursday, students will make their way to the Bursar to pay their tuition, go to the bookstore to make last-minute returns and drop classes that may not fit their schedule.
This is because Thursday, Sept. 7, is the census date.
When the census date takes place this week, students’ courses are locked-in the system for financial aid, which is adjusted to supplement the classes that a student is enrolled in, according to Office of First Year website.
Enrollment for the semester across degree plans and courses are also measured on this date.
Students should remember a few important items for the census date tomorrow.
Students can drop classes up until Sept. 7, but they will not receive a refund for their dropped courses after this date. Students can drop courses until Oct. 27, but the class will still show on the student’s transcripts as a withdraw.
After Oct. 27, students who wish to drop a course will need to pick up a form and have the signature of both the instructor and the dean of that college, and will result in a failing grade in the class.
But, according to Brett Fugate, director of Academic Advising, there are exceptions, including separate census dates for pre-term, which passed on Aug. 9, and weekend university courses, which begin this month.
“Students should know that the census date is the time to drop any courses they are not interested in paying tuition for,” said Fugate.
“The Census Date gives students the opportunity to drop classes they are not interested in. Academic Advising is also here to help if students are not sure what to do.”
Sean Cardona, a freshman anthropology major, thinks the census date should be least three weeks after classes have started.
“It’s comfortable knowing that there’s still time to get a feel for your classes,” he said.
Victor Closson, a junior pursuing women’s and ethnic studies major, agrees that more time to decide would be better.
“My freshman year I signed up for a payment plan, then when the second semester came around, I did not sign up for the payment plan because I thought everything was set up and finances would be taken care of,” he said.
“When the census date came out, I ended up having to pay extra money. Students should be aware that the census date is every semester. Keep a calendar and put important dates in it, especially the census date.”
A full list of census dates for weekend university courses can be found at uccs.edu/registrar/short-course-deadlines/fall-2017-short-course-deadlines.
For more information about the census date or questions about course scheduling, visit Academic Advising in Main Hall 208 or call 255-3260 to set up an appointment with an adviser.