Discover dates and deadlines for the Continuing Education ACCESS program.

ACCESS Academic Calendar

Fall 2024

These dates are only applicable for students taking main campus courses. If you are enrolled in a Continuing Education course (i.e., CE Online Credit, CE Evening Credit, and Applied Music), refer to the Dates and Deadlines pages for those course options. 

Date Milestone
August 19 ACCESS/Non-Degree Registration Begins
August 19 Faculty & Staff Registration Opens
August 26 Classes Begin
September 2 Labor Day – University Closed 
September 4 Last Day to Add Name to a Class Waitlist in Buff Portal or Class Search (11:59 p.m.)
September 4 Last Day to Add a Class in Buff Portal or Class Search (11:59 p.m.)
September 11 Drop a Course**, 100% Tuition Adjustment* (No Penalty)
September 11 Deadline to Request No-credit Status (11:59 p.m.)
September 25 Deadline to Withdraw***, 60% Tuition Adjustment*
October 5 Payment Due for New or Unpaid Charges
October 9 Deadline to Withdraw***, 40% Tuition Adjustment*
November 1 Deadline to Withdraw*** without Petitioning^, No Tuition Adjustment
November 1 Deadline to Request Pass/Fail or Grade Replacement
November 1 Deadline to Change Final Exam Schedule
November 25-29 Fall Break (No Classes; University Closed November 28 & 29)
December 9 Add a Course with Instructor Signature, Without Petitioning^
December 12 Last Day to Withdraw† from all ACCESS Classes
December 12 College Opportunity Fund Eligibility Deadline^^
December 12 Last Day to Apply for COF
December 12 Last Day of Classes
December 13 Reading Day
December 14-18 Final Exams
December 18 Last Day to Authorize COF in Buff Portal

Spring 2025

Date Milestone
January 6 ACCESS/Non-Degree Registration Begins
January 6 Faculty & Staff Registration Opens
January 13 Classes Begin
January 20 Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday – University Closed
January 22 Last Day to Add Name to a Class Waitlist in Buff Portal or Class Search (11:59 p.m.)
January 22 Last Day to Add a Class in Buff Portal or Class Search (11:59 p.m.)
January 29 Drop a Course**, 100% Tuition Adjustment* (No Penalty)
January 29 Deadline to Request No-credit Status (11:59 p.m.)
February 5 Payment Due for New or Unpaid Charges
February 12 Deadline to Withdraw***, 60% Tuition Adjustment*
February 26 Deadline to Withdraw***, 40% Tuition Adjustment*
March 21 Deadline to Withdraw*** without Petitioning^, No Tuition Adjustment
March 21 Deadline to Request Pass/Fail or Grade Replacement
March 21 Deadline to Change Final Exam Schedule
March 24-28 Spring Break (No Classes; University Closed March 28)
April 28 Add a Course with Instructor Signature, Without Petitioning^
May 1 Last Day to Withdraw† from all ACCESS Classes
TBD College Opportunity Fund Eligibility Deadline^^
May 1 Last Day to Apply for COF
May 1 Last Day of Classes
May 2 Reading Day
May 3-7 Final Exams
May 7 Last Day to Authorize COF in Buff Portal

All times are in Mountain Time.

* Students’ eligibility for a possible tuition adjustment or refund is dependent on residency status and number of credits. Non-resident students are not eligible for a tuition adjustment if they are enrolled in 6 or more credits after dropping or withdrawing from a course or courses.

** Drop by 11:59 p.m. online using Buff Portal.

*** Withdraw by 11:59 p.m. online using Buff Portal, submitting an online withdrawal form, or by email to ceregistration@colorado.edu. A grade of W will appear on your transcript.

† Withdraw by 11:59 p.m. by submitting an online withdrawal form or send an email to ceregistration@colorado.edu. A grade of W will appear on your transcript.

^ Petitioning is designed to provide students who experience unavoidable, extenuating circumstances, the opportunity to waive a University policy that, if enforced, would result in unsatisfactory academic progress or financial consequences. Non-degree students students must petition the Dean of Continuing Education. Degree students must petition the dean of the college in which they are enrolled and must have an instructor signature. If you’re dropping your courses due to extenuating circumstances, we encourage you to meet with a CE academic advisor.

^^ If a College Opportunity Fund (COF) eligible student adds a course after this date, according to Colorado Department of Higher Education policy, the student will pay full tuition for the course, including the amount normally paid by COF, and the course will not be credited to COF hours used.

Add, Drop and Withdrawal Info

Enrolled students must add or drop courses by the dates and deadlines listed in their program’s academic calendar. You may add, drop, or withdraw via Buff Portal or Class Search using the instructions outlined under Review Your Registration Actions. You may also submit an online withdrawal form or send an email to ceregistration@colorado.edu.

If you drop a class after the no-penalty deadline, a W (withdrew) grade will post to your transcript. If you fail to drop by the deadline you may receive a grade of F and you may be liable for any tuition and fees.

Administrative Drop Policy

Continuing Education allows faculty to administratively drop students who don't attend and/or participate in class during the first two weeks. This is done to allow as many engaged students as possible a spot in the class while also protecting students from paying for a course they forgot to drop. If your instructor uses this policy, it will be stated in their syllabus, but students are encouraged to reach out to their instructors with any questions.

Grade Replacement Policy

You may be eligible for grade replacement if you are a degree-seeking or non-degree student at CU Boulder who earned a C- or lower (undergrads), or a C+ or lower (grad students) in your most recent prior attempt of a course (W grades don’t count). Grade replacement is applied automatically at the end of each term for eligible courses and students. Law students are not eligible for grade replacement. Learn more about CU Boulder’s grade replacement policy.

If you have questions about the policy, contact our advisors at ceadvise@colorado.edu or schedule an appointment.

Continuing Education Important Dates

Fall 2024

Date Milestone
April 1 Continuing Education Fall Enrollment Begins
August 19 ACCESS/Nondegree Registration Begins
August 26 CE Online Flexible Enrollment Begins
September 2 Labor Day Holiday (University Closed)
September 3 CE Full Session/Session 1 Classes Begin
September 8 Non-Degree Student Fall Scholarship Deadline
September 27 Fall Fees Waiver Form Deadline
September 30 CE 10-week Session Classes Begin
October 18 Session 1 CE Online Credit Courses & Session 1 CE Evening Credit Courses End
October 21 Session 2 CE Online Credit Courses & Session 2 CE Evening Credit Courses Begin
November 25-29 Fall Break (No Classes)
December 12 CE Full Session/10-week Session and Session 2 Classes End

Spring 2025

Date Milestone
November 4 Continuing Education Spring Enrollment Begins
December 23 CE Online Flexible Enrollment Begins
January 6 ACCESS/Nondegree Registration Begins
January 21 CE Full Session/Session 1 Classes Begin
January 27 Non-Degree Student Spring Scholarship Deadline
February 17 CE 10-week Session Classes Begin
February 28 Spring Fees Waiver Form Deadline
March 7 Session 1 CE Online Credit Courses & Session 1 CE Evening Credit Courses End
March 10 Session 2 CE Online Credit Courses & Session 2 CE Evening Credit Courses Begin
May 1 CE Full Session/10-week Session and Session 2 Classes End