What is deregistration?
If a student fails to attend class and fails to explain their absence, or lacks the required prerequisites for a class, their instructor is allowed to deregister that student.
Students can also be deregistered for failure to submit required immunization and health documentation.
Once a student is deregistered, they are no longer enrolled in that class. Students can check their enrollment status at any time on MyUAlbany.
Students are responsible for attending the classes they’ve enrolled in and are also responsible for ensuring they have the required prerequisite(s) before registering for a class.
There are several risks associated with deregistration, such as:
- You may still receive a W grade.
- You may still owe money for the course, depending on when you are deregistered. Please review Student Financial Services’ Tuition Liability Charts for detailed information.
- Your financial aid may be affected. Some aid programs require full-time status (at least 12 credits for undergraduate students), while others do not. Dropping credits may also affect your satisfactory academic progress. You should consult the Office of Financial Aid if you are deregistered from a class.
- You may not have time to add another class, depending on when you are deregistered. Check the Academic Calendar for Add deadlines.
Please review the information below for detailed guidance:
Failure to Attend Class — Undergraduate Students
The following is guidance for matriculated and non-matriculated undergraduate students.
Class attendance is a matter between the instructor and the student. Students are expected to attend all classes and all examinations and are expected to complete all course requirements on time.
Instructors may elect to develop guidelines under which attendance and/or participation is part of the grade. Instructors must announce and explain all course requirements, including attendance and/or participation guidelines, to their classes at the beginning of the semester.
Instructors may also elect to enforce the attendance and absence policy included in the Undergraduate Bulletin.
Beginning on the seventh day of classes, instructors may elect to deregister students who fail to attend a semester-length class and explain their absence — unless the student has made prior arrangements with the instructor.
The instructor is responsible for determining whether a student’s explanation for their absence is satisfactory. Similarly, the instructor is responsible for determining and agreeing to any prior arrangements.
For courses that meet only once a week, including laboratory classes, the instructor may elect to deregister students who do not attend the first scheduled class day. Note: A class day is defined by the University as any Monday through Friday when classes are in session.
This guidance applies to spring and fall semester 8 Week classes on a prorated basis, depending on the length of the class in question. Students are not deregistered for failing to attend class in the summer or winter terms.
If you fail to attend class, but your instructor does not deregister you from the class, you will receive a grade of “E” or “Z.” It is the student’s responsibility to drop courses they do not intend to attend.
Failure to Attend Class — Graduate Students
The following is guidance for degree and non-degree graduate students.
Graduate students are responsible for regularly attending their classes. Instructors may set their own attendance guidelines, which they must announce at the start of the semester or term.
Students must make up any work missed due to absence. However, how makeup work is handled is at the discretion of the instructor.
Visit the Graduate Bulletin’s section on attendance for more information.
The University reserves the right to exclude from a graduate program, course, or final examination students whose attendance in classes is unsatisfactory to their instructors or to the Dean of The Graduate School.
Visit the Graduate Bulletin’s section on enrollment for more information.
Lack of Prerequisite(s) — Undergraduate Students
The following is guidance for matriculated and non-matriculated undergraduate students.
Instructors may elect to deregister students who lack the required prerequisite(s) for the class at any time within the semester, term or session the class is being taught.
If a student is deregistered after the last day to drop without a W, as listed on the Academic Calendar, the Registrar will assign that student a W grade.
Lack of Prerequisite(s) — Graduate Students
The following is guidance for degree and non-degree graduate students.
Instructors may elect to deregister students who lack the required prerequisite(s) for the class but must do so no later than the first week of the semester or term.