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.
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.
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 the CBS minors page. For the most up to date requirements for CBS minors, check the undergraduate catalog at catalogs.umn.edu.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
Gaining acceptance to a closed course (including waitlists)
Course time conflict
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
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.