Census Dates

When you register for a class at NOVA, you are making a commitment to attend the class regularly, either in person or online. Since the Commonwealth of Virginia contributes a significant portion of your educational costs, you must establish your attendance or participation early in the semester, rather than taking a seat that might have gone to another student. The census date is the last date to commit to taking a class or to drop it and receive a refund.

If you do not attend at least one class meeting or participate in an online class by the census date (last day to drop with a tuition refund), your class registration may be administratively deleted.

Administrative deletion means:

• there will be no record of the class or any letter grade on your transcript;
• the course credits will be deducted from your course load;
• the reduction of credits may affect your student status (full-time or part-time); and
• you will not receive a tuition refund.

Fall 2021 Census Dates

Census dates (in person classes only) are as follows:

• 15-Week Session: September 8
• First 7-Week Session: October 30
• 13-week Session: September 20
• Second 7-Week Session: October 27
• First 5-Week Session: August 28
• Second 5-Week Session: October 3
• Third 5-Week Session: November 9

See the Academic Calendar for NOVA Online start and census dates (last day to drop with a tuition refund). For variable duration (dynamic) classes, the census date is individually set. For these variable duration classes, in the Student Information System, click on the class. The date for Drop Without Penalty is the last date to drop with a refund.