General Engineering Advising Newsletter
From the February #4 Newsletter
Last Day to Drop a Spring 2025 Course Without Grade Penalty
Dropping a course means you will discontinue participation and enrollment, you will not receive a final grade, and the course will no longer be listed on your transcript. Canvas course page changes will occur within 24-48 hours of dropping a course. The last day to drop a course without grade penalty is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, March 3rd.
You may consider dropping a course if you are concerned about a grade in a particular course, or if you feel your overall course load is just too heavy. A grade of D- or higher is considered passing in the A-F grade system while a D or higher is passing in the P/F grade system but some courses have a higher grade requirement due to prerequisite or degree requirements. Contact your assigned General Engineering advisor with any questions.
You cannot repeat a course to improve your grade average. If you need to retake a course to meet a minimum grade requirement, review the repeated course information. Also, per the repeat course policy, you are only allowed to attempt a course three times.
Academic advisor approval is not needed to drop a course, however, you should connect with your assigned advisor if you have any questions, including the necessary minimum grade or how dropping a course impacts your progress towards a degree. Please contact your advisor if you plan to drop MATH 1214 or an engineering change of major requirement course. Include the subject and course number (e.g., MATH 1226), as well as why you want to drop if you choose to email your advisor.
If dropping a course will cause your status to change to part-time (11 enrolled hours or less) and you are:
receiving financial aid (loans, grants, scholarships), contact University Scholarships and Financial Aid.
on a SAP contract which states you cannot drop a course, contact University Scholarships and Financial Aid.
a GI Bill recipient, contact the Office of Veterans Affairs.
attending Virginia Tech on a student visa and you are physically located in the United States, contact Cranwell International Center before dropping the course. Full-time status is typically required for your immigration record.
living on-campus, please go to StarRez > Online Forms > Part-Time Status Form. Complete the form after dropping the course.
Watch 1:38 - 1:51 of our class registration video for instructions on how to drop a course. Confirm the drop is complete and the course is no longer on your schedule by going to Hokie Spa > Course Registration and Schedule Menu > Classic Student Schedule.
Have you tried to drop a course using Google Chrome, but the registration system just spins? Open an incognito window to access the registration system!
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Previous newsletters
Last Day to Drop a Spring 2025 Course Without Grade Penalty
Dropping a course means you will discontinue participation and enrollment, you will not receive a final grade, and the course will no longer be listed on your transcript. Canvas course page changes will occur within 24-48 hours of dropping a course. The last day to drop a course without grade penalty is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, March 3rd.
You may consider dropping a course if you are concerned about a grade in a particular course, or if you feel your overall course load is just too heavy. A grade of D- or higher is considered passing in the A-F grade system while a D or higher is passing in the P/F grade system but some courses have a higher grade requirement due to prerequisite or degree requirements. Contact your assigned General Engineering advisor with any questions.
You cannot repeat a course to improve your grade average. If you need to retake a course to meet a minimum grade requirement, review the repeated course information. Also, per the repeat course policy, you are only allowed to attempt a course three times.
Academic advisor approval is not needed to drop a course, however, you should connect with your assigned advisor if you have any questions, including the necessary minimum grade or how dropping a course impacts your progress towards a degree. Please contact your advisor if you plan to drop MATH 1214 or an engineering change of major requirement course. Include the subject and course number (e.g., MATH 1226), as well as why you want to drop if you choose to email your advisor.
If dropping a course will cause your status to change to part-time (11 enrolled hours or less) and you are:
- receiving financial aid (loans, grants, scholarships), contact University Scholarships and Financial Aid.
- on a SAP contract which states you cannot drop a course, contact University Scholarships and Financial Aid.
- a GI Bill recipient, contact the Office of Veterans Affairs.
- attending Virginia Tech on a student visa and you are physically located in the United States, contact Cranwell International Center before dropping the course. Full-time status is typically required for your immigration record.
- living on-campus, please go to StarRez > Online Forms > Part-Time Status Form. Complete the form after dropping the course.
Watch 1:38 - 1:51 of our class registration video for instructions on how to drop a course. Confirm the drop is complete and the course is no longer on your schedule by going to Hokie Spa > Course Registration and Schedule Menu > Classic Student Schedule.
Have you tried to drop a course using Google Chrome, but the registration system just spins? Open an incognito window to access the registration system!
Navigating Campus
The Blacksburg campus includes over 200 buildings and 2,600 acres! Be sure to allow at least 15 minutes of travel time between classes. Did you know the Hokie Express (HXP) line on Blacksburg Transit (BT bus system) makes a loop around campus?
Other helpful resources:
Finalizing your Spring 2025 Schedule
Monday, January 20 is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Most university offices are closed and classes are not in session. The spring 2025 semester begins on Tuesday, January 21.
The first phase of course registration, Course Request, ended at the beginning of November. Remember, you were not guaranteed to receive all the courses or specific CRNs you requested, so here’s what to do to if you need to finalize your schedule:
View your course request results. If you submitted a course request, your results are available now. Go to Hokie Spa > Course Registration and Schedule Menu > Course Request Results to see your enrolled courses.
Finalize your schedule during Add/Drop. If needed, make adjustments to the schedule you received through the request process. If you missed the request process, plan to add your courses in real time. Keep in mind Add/Drop is a marathon, not a race. Seat availability fluctuates so monitor the system persistently throughout the entire period (scheduled for December 2 at 7 a.m. - January 27 at 11:59 p.m). The Office of the University Registrar manages the registration system availability so confirm dates and times on this webpage.
The General Engineering Advising Team recommends utilizing the Registration (Add/Drop) and Schedule system. This registration system is the easiest to use when making adjustments to your schedule, and it is the best system to add any 0-credit labs you may need.
Watch our How to Complete Add/Drop video (4 minutes) for instructions.
Access the system on Hokie Spa > Course Registration and Schedule Menu > Registration (Add/Drop) and Schedule > Add/Drop - Register for Classes. Don't forget to click or tap the Submit button in the registration system every time you add or drop a course!
You may have heard of force-adding. Force-adds are typically not considered for professor preference or time convenience. A common reason to request a force add is due to unprocessed transfer credit for a pre-requisite course completed at another institution. Review our How to Force-Add video (2 minutes) and the force-add webpage for details.
Some engineering courses are major-restricted, which means General Engineering students are unable to take the course. Go to the timetable of classes > spring 2025 > search for the course > click on the CRN of interest to view course comments and restrictions. You may need to enable pop-ups on your browser.
Any General Engineering student who does not declare a degree-granting engineering major by the start of the semester will be dropped from major-restricted courses.
You must be currently enrolled in the pre-requisites at Virginia Tech or have credit for the pre-requisites showing on Hokie Spa to request or add a course.
If you are completing the pre-requisite at another institution, you cannot add the follow-on course on your own using the registration system until your transfer credit for the pre-requisite is showing on Hokie Spa > Grades Menu > Transfer and Other Additional Credit. The transfer credit will not show until you have the transfer institution send an official transcript to Virginia Tech showing a C or better in the approved course equivalent and that transcript is processed by the Virginia Tech Registrar’s Office.
While you are waiting for your official transcript to be sent to Virginia Tech and processed, you can submit a force-add request. Force-adding is an administrative process which allows the department offering the course to place students into courses they cannot add themselves. A common reason for a force-add is unprocessed transfer credit for pre-requisite courses taken at other institutions. Review our How to Force-Add video (2 minutes) and the force-add webpage for details.
Some courses (e.g., COMM 2004) have an hours restriction. If you do not meet the threshold, you will have to attempt to add the course once your grades post for the current semester. The academic calendar outlines when grades are viewable on Hokie Spa.
Switching sections of the same course? Use the Conditional Add/Drop feature outlined on slide 22 of the university’s registration tutorial. We also have a Using Conditional Add/Drop video (1.30 minutes).
Some courses require enrollment in a 0-hour lab in addition to the lecture such as PHYS 2305 and PHYS 2306. Please use the Add/Drop system to add any 0-hour labs you need. Watch our Adding Zero Credit Labs video (3 minutes) for instructions.
Canvas course page changes are not immediate. Removal of a page if you have dropped a course and addition of a page if you had added a course will occur with 24-48 hours with the reoccurring university system update.
Download the program requirements. If you started at Virginia Tech in spring 2024 or earlier, use the checksheet of your intended major. If you started at Virginia Tech in summer 2024 or later, use the roadmap of your intended major.
Mark off the courses you have credit for and those you are currently enrolled in. Go to Hokie Spa > Grades Menu > View Unofficial Transcript.
Identify and highlight the courses you plan to take. We recommend 15-17 credits.
Full-time status is important to avoid jeopardizing some types of financial aid, on-campus housing, NCAA eligibility, and visa status. Start the semester with more credits as a safeguard should you need to unexpectedly drop a course. Start with at least 16 hours, if your highest credit-level course is four (4). If your highest credit-level course is three (3) hours, start with at least 15 hours.
To maintain F-1 visa status, international students must enroll in at least 9 in-person/hybrid credits. Once minimum in-person/hybrid required credit hours are met, students may enroll in as many online/virtual credit hours as desired or needed. More information on maintaining F-1 status.
The College of Engineering change of major requirement courses for restricted majors are your first priority during course registration.
If you started at Virginia Tech in spring 2024 or earlier, use the checksheet of your intended major. If you started at Virginia Tech in summer 2024 or later, use the roadmap of your intended major.
Pathways to General Education is the current general education program. Requirements for Pathways concepts 1,4,5 and 6D are traditionally fulfilled through courses required for a restricted engineering degree. You must choose courses or use transfer credit to fulfill the requirements for Pathways concepts 2,3,6A, and 7, however, some restricted engineering majors have specific course requirements which will also fulfill one or both of your Pathways 3 requirements. Review Pathways information on your checksheet or program curriculum tab in the catalog. You can also review our Advising Minute video (2 minutes) on this topic.
If you earned an Associate of Science or Associate of Arts and Sciences degree from a Virginia Community College, your general education requirements are satisfied for Pathways 2, 3, 6A, and 7 unless your intended engineering major requires a specific course for the Pathways requirement. This does not apply if you earned an Applied Associate degree.
All students must complete the specific course requirements for Pathways 1, 4, 5, and 6D as they are all required to earn an engineering degree.
Finalizing your Spring 2025 Schedule
The spring 2025 semester began on Tuesday, January 21.
The first phase of course registration, Course Request, ended at the beginning of November. Remember, you were not guaranteed to receive all the courses or specific CRNs you requested, so here’s what to do to if you need to finalize your schedule:
View your course request results. If you submitted a course request, your results are available now. Go to Hokie Spa > Course Registration and Schedule Menu > Course Request Results to see your enrolled courses.
Finalize your schedule during Add/Drop. If needed, make adjustments to the schedule you received through the request process. If you missed the request process, plan to add your courses in real time. Keep in mind Add/Drop is a marathon, not a race. Seat availability fluctuates so monitor the system persistently throughout the entire period (scheduled for December 2 at 7 a.m. - January 27 at 11:59 p.m). The Office of the University Registrar manages the registration system availability so confirm dates and times on this webpage.
Canvas course page changes are not immediate. Removal of a page if you have dropped a course and addition of a page if you had added a course will occur within 24-48 hours with the reoccurring university system update.
The General Engineering Advising Team recommends utilizing the Registration (Add/Drop) and Schedule system. This registration system is the easiest to use when making adjustments to your schedule, and it is the best system to add any 0-credit labs you may need.
Watch our How to Complete Add/Drop video (4 minutes) for instructions.
Access the system on Hokie Spa > Course Registration and Schedule Menu > Registration (Add/Drop) and Schedule > Add/Drop - Register for Classes. Don't forget to click or tap the Submit button in the registration system every time you add or drop a course!
You may have heard of force-adding. Force-adds are typically not considered for professor preference or time convenience. A common reason to request a force add is due to unprocessed transfer credit for a pre-requisite course completed at another institution. Review our How to Force-Add video (2 minutes) and the force-add webpage for details.
Some engineering courses are major-restricted, which means General Engineering students are unable to take the course. Go to the timetable of classes > spring 2025 > search for the course > click on the CRN of interest to view course comments and restrictions. You may need to enable pop-ups on your browser.
Any General Engineering student who does not declare a degree-granting engineering major by the start of the semester will be dropped from major-restricted courses.
You must be currently enrolled in the pre-requisites at Virginia Tech or have credit for the pre-requisites showing on Hokie Spa to request or add a course.
If you are completing the pre-requisite at another institution, you cannot add the follow-on course on your own using the registration system until your transfer credit for the pre-requisite is showing on Hokie Spa > Grades Menu > Transfer and Other Additional Credit. The transfer credit will not show until you have the transfer institution send an official transcript to Virginia Tech showing a C or better in the approved course equivalent and that transcript is processed by the Virginia Tech Registrar’s Office.
While you are waiting for your official transcript to be sent to Virginia Tech and processed, you can submit a force-add request. Force-adding is an administrative process which allows the department offering the course to place students into courses they cannot add themselves. A common reason for a force-add is unprocessed transfer credit for pre-requisite courses taken at other institutions. Review our How to Force-Add video (2 minutes) and the force-add webpage for details.
Some courses (e.g., COMM 2004) have an hours restriction. If you do not meet the threshold, you will have to attempt to add the course once your grades post for the current semester. The academic calendar outlines when grades are viewable on Hokie Spa.
Switching sections of the same course? Use the Conditional Add/Drop feature outlined on slide 22 of the university’s registration tutorial. We also have a Using Conditional Add/Drop video (1.30 minutes).
Some courses require enrollment in a 0-hour lab in addition to the lecture such as PHYS 2305 and PHYS 2306. Please use the Add/Drop system to add any 0-hour labs you need. Watch our Adding Zero Credit Labs video (3 minutes) for instructions.
Canvas course page changes are not immediate. Removal of a page if you have dropped a course and addition of a page if you had added a course will occur with 24-48 hours with the reoccurring university system update.
Download the program requirements. If you started at Virginia Tech in spring 2024 or earlier, use the checksheet of your intended major. If you started at Virginia Tech in summer 2024 or later, use the roadmap of your intended major.
Mark off the courses you have credit for and those you are currently enrolled in. Go to Hokie Spa > Grades Menu > View Unofficial Transcript.
Identify and highlight the courses you plan to take. We recommend 15-17 credits.
Full-time status is important to avoid jeopardizing some types of financial aid, on-campus housing, NCAA eligibility, and visa status. Start the semester with more credits as a safeguard should you need to unexpectedly drop a course. Start with at least 16 hours, if your highest credit-level course is four (4). If your highest credit-level course is three (3) hours, start with at least 15 hours.
To maintain F-1 visa status, international students must enroll in at least 9 in-person/hybrid credits. Once minimum in-person/hybrid required credit hours are met, students may enroll in as many online/virtual credit hours as desired or needed. More information on maintaining F-1 status.
The College of Engineering change of major requirement courses for restricted majors are your first priority during course registration.
If you started at Virginia Tech in spring 2024 or earlier, use the checksheet of your intended major. If you started at Virginia Tech in summer 2024 or later, use the roadmap of your intended major.
Pathways to General Education is the current general education program. Requirements for Pathways concepts 1,4,5 and 6D are traditionally fulfilled through courses required for a restricted engineering degree. You must choose courses or use transfer credit to fulfill the requirements for Pathways concepts 2,3,6A, and 7, however, some restricted engineering majors have specific course requirements which will also fulfill one or both of your Pathways 3 requirements. Review Pathways information on your checksheet or program curriculum tab in the catalog. You can also review our Advising Minute video (2 minutes) on this topic.
If you earned an Associate of Science or Associate of Arts and Sciences degree from a Virginia Community College, your general education requirements are satisfied for Pathways 2, 3, 6A, and 7 unless your intended engineering major requires a specific course for the Pathways requirement. This does not apply if you earned an Applied Associate degree.
All students must complete the specific course requirements for Pathways 1, 4, 5, and 6D as they are all required to earn an engineering degree.
Staying organized and having a solid time management plan is essential. Whether it is your first semester or you are a continuing Hokie, start the semester strong by completing these tasks.
Thoroughly review the Canvas page for each course
Most instructional faculty use Canvas, a course learning management site. Review each course page so you know what is expected of you in terms of required assignments, due dates, and course policies. Use of the calendar feature varies by course.
Double check your settings for Canvas notifications to ensure you are receiving info in a timely manner. Questions on how to use Canvas? Check out these university resources.
Create weekly and semester schedules
Take time to create a weekly schedule as well as a semester schedule. These schedules will help you balance your academic and personal responsibilities. You can make copies of the linked files to get started or review written instructions by reading our time management modules.
Review important academic dates and deadlines
Bookmark the official dates and deadlines webpage which includes the academic calendar and Add/Drop and Course Request availability. Incorporate this information into your semester schedule.
Create a plan to manage your email
Email is an official communication method, which means your inbox may stay packed. Ignoring your email can lead to undesired consequences.
Need a better system to keep up? Only use your VT email for academic and career related matters, use a personal account for online shopping and other matters. The GE Advising Team has pulled together more email management tips.
By now you should be settling into a routine with your academic and personal obligations. Here are some additional strategies to help you manage the semester:
Go to class
Yes, it is simple, but every class you miss lowers your chances of achieving the best grades possible. If you need to miss class due to illness or an emergency, reach out to your professor as soon as you can.
While you are in class, put your phone down and pay attention. Take every step to eliminate distractions which means you may need to take notes with paper and pen or sit in the front of the classroom.
Submit all assignments
Non-submits = 0. Missed a due date? Contact your professor immediately, but keep in mind they may not accept late assignments.
Schedule study hours
In college the majority of learning occurs outside of your class lectures. For your STEM courses, follow the 3:1 study rule. The 1:1 or 2:1 study rule should work for your non-STEM courses. Incorporate your study hours into your weekly schedule. More on study hours.
Knowing how to study effectively is just as important as the number of study hours. Consider using the metacognitive problem solving technique and the frame routine!
Get help
A sign of strength is reaching out for help when you need it. You can always reach out to your assigned academic advisor for assistance.
Seeking tutoring and course support resources as well as meeting with your professor during office hours is common in college if you need help understanding the course material.
If you need help securing basic needs and services, improving your sleep, or obtaining mental health support, select the appropriate link for resources.
Summer Courses
Unless listed on the graduation requirements for your intended major, summer courses are optional. Students are responsible for completing registration as well as payment of additional tuition and fees. Questions? The General Engineering advising team will host a virtual session regarding summer courses on February 12. Check your email for more information.
Virginia Tech courses
Virginia Tech hosts three summer sessions - two six-week sessions and one 12-week session. Course registration for summer is completed in one phase, Add/Drop, which is tentatively scheduled to begin on March 18. The Office of the University Registrar manages the registration system availability so confirm dates and times on this webpage.
Online, in-person, and blended courses are offered. Once available, you can view the summer timetable of classes and the summer 2025 tuition and fee rates.
Transferring credit
You also have the option of completing courses at another institution and transferring the credit to Virginia Tech. You are responsible for paying the necessary fees and tuition, as well as completing all admissions, pre-requisite requirements, and course registration requirements. Review the transfer policies.
Transferring credit from the Virginia Community College System (VCCS)? Pre-approval is not required, but you must follow the steps to transfer in courses from the VCCS system.
If you are transferring credit from an institution not in the VCCS, pre-approval is required. Complete the transfer credit process for non VCCS institutions. There is also a transferring credits process for institutions outside of the United States.
If using transfer credit to meet an engineering change of major course requirement, you will need to submit proof of transfer credit by the applicable deadline if your credit is not showing on Hokie Spa > Grades Menu > Transfer and Other Additional Credit.
Resigning from All Spring 2025 Courses Without Grade Penalty
Resigning means you will discontinue participation and enrollment in all of your courses after the first day of the semester. You will not receive final grades in any of the courses. With a standard resignation, “Student Resigned" will appear on your transcript but no courses will be listed. The resignation process does not use any of your three W grades.
Advisor approval is not needed to resign, however, please reach out to your assigned advisor if you are considering or have already submitted a resignation.
The deadline to resign from the fall semester without grade penalty is April 1st at 11:59 p.m., however, your tuition refund is based on your official resignation date. Go to spring 2025 > Refund Rules and Amounts > Withdrawals & Resignations table for details.
Go to https://www.registrar.vt.edu/Enrollment.html and read the info under Withdrawal/Resignation. Next, complete the Student Withdrawal Request form linked on the top right of the page.The form is processed by the Office of the University Registrar. Please allow up to 5 business days during peak times for processing. Once processed, you can confirm you are no longer enrolled in courses on Hokie Spa > Course Registration and Schedule Menu > Classic Student Schedule.
Students living on-campus will be required to move out and check out of their on-campus residence hall room. Please contact Housing and Residence Life for more information.
Last Day to Drop a Spring 2025 Course Without Grade Penalty
Dropping a course means you will discontinue participation and enrollment, you will not receive a final grade, and the course will no longer be listed on your transcript. Canvas course page changes will occur within 24-48 hours of dropping a course. The last day to drop a course without grade penalty is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, March 3rd.
You may consider dropping a course if you are concerned about a grade in a particular course, or if you feel your overall course load is just too heavy. A grade of D- or higher is considered passing in the A-F grade system while a D or higher is passing in the P/F grade system but some courses have a higher grade requirement due to prerequisite or degree requirements. Contact your assigned General Engineering advisor with any questions.
You cannot repeat a course to improve your grade average. If you need to retake a course to meet a minimum grade requirement, review the repeated course information. Also, per the repeat course policy, you are only allowed to attempt a course three times.
Academic advisor approval is not needed to drop a course, however, you should connect with your assigned advisor if you have any questions, including the necessary minimum grade or how dropping a course impacts your progress towards a degree. Please contact your advisor if you plan to drop MATH 1214 or an engineering change of major requirement course. Include the subject and course number (e.g., MATH 1226), as well as why you want to drop if you choose to email your advisor.
If dropping a course will cause your status to change to part-time (11 enrolled hours or less) and you are:
- receiving financial aid (loans, grants, scholarships), contact University Scholarships and Financial Aid.
- on a SAP contract which states you cannot drop a course, contact University Scholarships and Financial Aid.
- a GI Bill recipient, contact the Office of Veterans Affairs.
- attending Virginia Tech on a student visa and you are physically located in the United States, contact Cranwell International Center before dropping the course. Full-time status is typically required for your immigration record.
- living on-campus, please go to StarRez > Online Forms > Part-Time Status Form. Complete the form after dropping the course.
Watch 1:38 - 1:51 of our class registration video for instructions on how to drop a course. Confirm the drop is complete and the course is no longer on your schedule by going to Hokie Spa > Course Registration and Schedule Menu > Classic Student Schedule.
Have you tried to drop a course using Google Chrome, but the registration system just spins? Open an incognito window to access the registration system!
Transfer Credit
The Office of the University Registrar is responsible for awarding credit for prior learning. Take a moment to review Hokie Spa > Grades Menu > Transfer and Other Additional Credit to ensure all of your expected credit has been processed by the Registrar’s Office and is viewable on your record. If you are missing credit, follow the directions below based on the type of transfer credit.
AP, CLEP, IB, and Cambridge Scores
Send official score reports from the testing agency to the Office of the University Registrar using the Virginia Tech school code 5859. Virginia Tech will not accept transcripts from other institutions to award credit for these exams.
Dual Enrollment and Prior Institution Transcripts
If you completed dual enrollment, your high school transcript cannot be used to award transfer credit at Virginia Tech. You must have an official transcript sent from the institution who hosted the course(s).
If you completed courses at multiple colleges or universities, you must have official copies of the transcripts from each institution sent to Virginia Tech.
Official transcripts from dual enrollment or prior colleges and universities should be sent to the Office of the University Registrar electronically through Parchment or by mail. A grade of C or better is required to earn credit.
Office of the University Registrar
Student Services Building, Suite 250, Virginia Tech
800 Washington St, S.W.
Blacksburg, VA 24060-0134
Verify Processing of Your Credit
Patiently monitor Hokie Spa > Grades Menu > Transfer and Other Additional Credits for processing. Depending on the time of year, it may take up to 30 working days for your credit show on Hokie Spa.
Equivalency Charts, Guides, and Databases
The Office of the University Registrar maintains equivalency information to help you determine the credit you will receive.