Policies, procedures and forms

Change request forms

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Change request forms

Declare/change your CBS major (CBS students only)

Current CBS students should use this form to declare their major within CBS or to replace their current major. Requests will generally be processed within two weeks.

Note: Non-CBS student are not allowed to declare or add a major through this form, as CBS does not permit non-CBS students to declare a major-only program.

Complete the form

Add/drop an additional CBS major or minor (CBS students only)

Current CBS students should use this form to add/drop an additional major within CBS or to add/drop a CBS minor. Requests will generally be processed within two weeks. See the request form for additional details about compatibility and eligibility of certain CBS majors/minors. 

Complete the form

Declare/drop a CBS minor (non-CBS students)

Non-CBS students may use this form to add/drop a CBS minor. Some minors within CBS require completed prerequisites before being eligible to declare the minor. For more information about CBS minors, visit: cbs.umn.edu/students/cbs-minors. For the most up to date requirements for CBS minors, check the undergraduate catalog at catalogs.umn.edu.

Complete the form

Change your academic advisor

CBS Student Services uses a team approach to advising. Although you are assigned a primary advisor, you can meet with anyone on the advising team. If you develop a positive relationship with another advisor and want to change your primary advisor, you can do so at any time. The University of Minnesota maintains a shared notes system called APLUS which allows advisors to better support you by accessing up-to-date information about your interactions with campus staff.

Complete the form

Academics

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Academics

Petitioning the CBS Scholastics Committee for special circumstances

There are a variety of reasons that a student may petition the CBS Scholastics Committee:

  • Make requirement substitutions within your CBS major/minor
  • Request exceptions to University policies
  • Make changes to your registration if the cancel/add deadlines for the semester have passed

Learn about the process

Academic probation and suspension

Chemistry for Life Science Sequence information

The University of Minnesota Department of Chemistry offers a three semester, 13-credit Chemistry for the Life Sciences sequence to provide a focused and accelerated chemistry sequence for the life sciences which ensures that the critical concepts in chemistry are included. In reducing content that is less central to the life sciences, the sequence allows students to progress through the chemistry content most critical to be successful in their domains, as well as engage in more advanced coursework.

Learn more

CBS dated credit policy

Occasionally, students leave the University and later decide to return to the College of Biological Sciences to complete their degree. In these situations, course content and requirements may have changed significantly, and previously completed courses may no longer represent the thinking and teaching in these areas of study. 

To ensure a solid understanding of current content in the life sciences, all returning students who have taken their foundational level biology (Foundations of Biology or equivalent) courses more than 10 years ago must have those courses evaluated by the director of undergraduate studies for their intended major.

Learn more

Adding a CBS degree/major as a non-CBS student

Generate an APAS report

Your APAS (Academic Progress Audit System) report lists your degree requirements, summarizes your progress, and explains what you will need to do to complete your undergraduate degree program.

Check your report

Grades and grading options (including incomplete grades)

You may choose one of two grading options for some of your courses: A-F or S-N. All courses in your major must be taken for a letter grade (A-F) unless the only option available is S-N (e.g. directed research).

Learn more

Registration

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Registration

Repeating a course

You may repeat a course once. When you repeat a course:

  • Both grades for the course appear on the official transcript.
  • The course credits will only be counted once towards degree and program requirements.
  • Only the last enrollment for the course will count in your grade point average.

Repeating a course

One-time late withdrawal

Undergraduate students have an opportunity to withdraw from a course without the need for college approval. This option, known as One-Time Late Withdrawal (OTLW), allows withdrawal after the 10th week of class until the last day of the semester, resulting in a "W" on their transcript. 

Learn more

Gaining acceptance to a closed course (including waitlists)

Course time conflict

Student status

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Student status

Continuous registration policy (inactive status/discontinuation)

Leave of absence

Readmission/reinstatement

Withdrawing from the U of M

Active military duty cancellation policy

Other policies and resources

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Other policies and resources

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for financial aid

Tuition refund appeal

Retroactive language credit

Undergraduate Policies Section of U of MN Catalog

One Stop Academic Calendar

Learn more about advising at UMN-TC

University Policy Library

Students are able to find and review the rules that govern our University activities using the University Policy Library. CBS academic advisors are available to help interpret policies.

Explore UMN policies