Academics

Unless otherwise stated, all SCE classes are regular, credit-bearing Cornell classes.

Before selecting your course, be sure you meet any prerequisites listed. Also, if you wish to take more than one course in a session, check the credit limits.

All class times listed are in Eastern Time.

Selecting online courses

Online courses are offered synchronously and/or asynchronously. To determine which method will be utilized, find your course on the roster and look for “instruction mode.”

Definitions of online instruction modes

• OL/Online Learning (async+sync)
  This course will be delivered completely online. Required class components (such as lectures, labs, discussions, etc.) may be delivered in pre-recorded (asynchronous) and/or live (synchronous) modes. For example, an instructor may provide pre-recorded lecture materials that you view on your own schedule but require that you attend live discussions at scheduled times. You are expected to participate in live, prescheduled (synchronous) sessions.
• AD/Online — Asynchronous (async)
  This online course features well-designed, pre-recorded (asynchronous) content that you may access at any time, on your own schedule, however the class will have periodic assignment and/or exam deadlines which must be met. You will interact with other students and the instructor via the Canvas online learning system, which may include email, online discussion boards, interactive chat rooms, and/or video conferences. Many instructors also offer online office hours.
• SD/Online — Synchronous (sync)
  This online course features well-designed content, live interactions (synchronous), and required class components (such as lectures, labs, discussions, etc.) that you access at pre-scheduled times. For example, during a six-week summer class, your instructor might deliver lectures from 10:00–11:00 a.m. on Mondays–Fridays and hold discussions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00-2:15 p.m. These sessions will be delivered live via videoconferencing software (e.g., Zoom). You are expected to participate in live, prescheduled (synchronous) sessions.

View online course rosters by term

• Summer 2026 online courses
• Winter 2026 online courses
• Fall 2025 online courses
• Spring 2026 online courses

Time in class

For each hour of lecture, you should plan on two to three hours of homework.

If you are taking a summer or winter course, this timing reflects the fact that you’ll be completing an entire college semester in just a few weeks.

For example, if you take one three-credit, six-week class, you should plan to spend approximately 1.5 hours in class and up to three hours doing homework each day. If you take two three-credit, six-week classes, you should plan to spend approximately three hours in class and up to six hours doing homework each day.

We strongly encourage you not to miss a single class due to the large amount of material covered in each session. Missing any class time can put you in serious academic jeopardy.

Canvas

Shortly before the start of your course, your instructor will post important class information on Canvas.

This information generally includes your course syllabus (which usually lists your required textbooks and materials) as well as assignments, quizzes and exams, homework, discussions, grades, announcements, and office hours.

To learn more about Canvas, visit Canvas Student Resources.

Course expectations

Below are general class expectations. Your instructor may also share additional expectations on the syllabus.

• Attend class daily, including all required lectures, discussions, break-out sessions, labs, etc.
• Be prepared to actively participate in discussions and activities.
• Keep up with required reading.
• Regularly check the course website on Canvas (if used) for class announcements and assignments.
• Complete all assignments and exams in a timely manner.
• Abide by Cornell policies including the Code of Academic Integrity.

Course changes include

• Adding or dropping a course
• Changing the number of credits
• Changing from credit to auditor status or vice versa
• Changing the grade option

Make a course change

• Before the course change deadline
  • Current Cornell students and those in the Employee Degree Program can make course changes in your Student Center prior to the add/drop deadlines.
• After the course change deadline
  • After the add/drop/change deadlines have passed, current Cornell students and those in the Employee Degree Program must submit a petition form for requested changes. Visit the Petitions and Appeals page for instructions.

For questions about which forms to use, contact your College Registrar’s Office.

Course change deadlines

You must make course changes before the course change deadline for your session. See the Summer Session or Winter Session calendar for more information.

As noted above, a petition form is required for all course changes requested after the course change deadline. Visit the Petitions and Appeals page for instructions.

Note:

• If you stop attending class without officially dropping the class, you are liable for all tuition and fees, and you will receive a grade of F.
• If you drop a class after the drop deadline, a mark of “W” will appear on your transcript in place of a grade for that class.
• If you want to withdraw from an off-campus program, consult the program director.

See also refunds and withdrawals.

Credits

Before enrolling, consult the appropriate official in your school, college, or university to make sure that the credit you earn from your courses will count toward your degree.

Credit limits

• Summer Session
  • Up to four credits in a three-week period (effectively a 20-credit semester)Up to eight credits in a six-week period (a 20-credit semester)
  • Up to ten credits in an eight-week period (a 19-credit semester equivalent)
  • Up to fifteen credits during the entire summer period (May-August)
• Winter Session
  • One class or up to four credits
• Fall/Spring Study
  • Domestic students: Up to eleven credits per semester, unless you receive special permission to exceed that limit (see below)
  • International students: Up to fifteen credits per semester

May I exceed these credit limits?

Credit limits may be exceeded only in the most extraordinary of circumstances. In addition, requests to take more than fifteen credits will not be approved.

To request permission to exceed credit limits, you must

• Submit a petition that addresses your specific reasons for wanting to do this.
• You must also complete the appropriate registration process.
• Include in your request the endorsement of your academic advisor.

Grades & symbols

Grading basis

The grading basis for a class may be

• Letter (A+ to F)
• Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U)
• Student option (in which case you may select either “Letter” or “Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory” as the grading basis)

You may change the grading basis for “student option”, by making the change in Student Center.

Once the deadline has passed, all requests for grading basis changes must be done via petition.

Final grades

You can get your final grade(s) at the end of the semester by logging on to Student Center and clicking on “Grades” under Academic History. Your Cornell NetID and password are required.

Note:

• Grades cannot be given over the telephone, email, or fax.
• If you’re unable to access your grade(s), contact the IT Service Desk.
• If you withdraw from a course on or after the withdrawal deadline, the symbol “W” appears on your transcript for the dropped course.
• When you register as an auditor, the symbol “V” appears on your transcript.
  Note: Cornell undergraduates are not permitted to audit courses.

For more information, visit the University Catalog website.

Where will exams be held?

Exams for in-person, on-campus courses will be held in your course classroom unless changed by your instructor.

When will exams be held?

Exam schedules

• Summer Session exam dates: See the Summer Session academic calendar for exam periods. For class-specific exam dates, search the course roster for your class or contact your instructor.

  Note to instructors: Per university policy, in the event students have more than two exams in 24 hours, you are urged to grant requests for a make-up examination. In addition, you must provide accommodations to students who may not have reliable access to an online exam or who are in different time zones. Faculty who need to make accommodations for students or intend to move their exam should communicate with their students in advance to determine the number of conflicts that may be created.

• Winter Session exam date: January 16 or 17, 2026. Final exams will be held on the last day of class (1/16), at a time to be arranged by the instructor and announced the first week of classes. Due to a limited number of class days in Winter Session 2026, exams may be held on Saturday, January 17 if approved, by SCE, prior to start of classes.
• Fall/Spring exam dates

If you are unsure about when your final exam will be held, please contact your instructor or the School of Continuing Education.

When are final projects due?

If a course requires an end-of-class exercise (for example, a paper, project report, final critique, oral presentation, or conference) in lieu of or in addition to a final examination, the nature of the exercise must be made known at the beginning of the semester. If there is no final examination in a course, an announcement must be made to that effect.

A course that requires an end-of-class exercise and does not offer a final examination must allow students at least until the date appearing on the official examination schedule to complete submission of materials associated with the culminating exercise. (For example, a student making a presentation during the last week of classes or during study period will have at least until the scheduled final-exam date to submit a final write-up or equivalent.)