Enrollment Patterns (D-Plans)

The following policies apply to the class of 2024 and later. Earlier class years should refer to the ORC/Catalog from their matriculation year.

First-Year Residence

All students must be on-campus in residence (R) during fall, winter, and spring of their first year.  Shortly after the start of the spring term every first-year student must submit their enrollment pattern (D-Plan) for the remaining nine terms.  The pattern must be within a period of four academic years (within fifteen terms after matriculation) and designed to meet degree requirements. After the first year, students may substitute an Off-Campus Program term (O) for one or more of the remaining nine terms.

Transfer students will have fewer terms to complete their requirements. They are subject to the number of terms to complete their degree as confirmed by the Registrar at the end of their first term. The number of terms in residence depends on the initial number of credits which transferred to Dartmouth.

After this initial enrollment, students may make subsequent changes in their enrollment pattern (D-Plan) online using DartHub.

Sophomore Summer Residence Requirement

All students are expected to be in residence during the summer term that immediately follows the sophomore year to take advantage of the presence of an entire class during that time. Dartmouth-sponsored off-campus summer programs or substitution of another summer residence term may be used in satisfaction of the sophomore summer residence requirement.

The Registrar may waive the requirement of a summer residence term with support from the appropriate Dartmouth official.  It will be granted only in truly exceptional circumstances when demonstrated that it will significantly enrich that student’s Dartmouth academic program. Other circumstances that may merit a waiver include cases of demonstrable serious financial hardship, a serious personal or health problem, or participation in varsity athletics in the fall, winter, and spring terms of every year. However, no more than eight percent of the class (including exemptions for three-term athletes) will be allowed for any college class.  Students who receive a delay for sophomore summer are expected to be in residence the following summer.

Senior Residence Requirement

Seniors are expected to be in residence at least two terms their senior year. The senior year is normally considered the fourth year after matriculation. For students who graduate earlier or later, the senior year is the final academic year the students are enrolled. Students should plan carefully prior to senior year to ensure they meet this requirement. At most students may have seven fall or spring residence (R) terms in total unless one or more of those terms is participation in an Off-Campus Program (O).

Students who had expected to graduate spring term of the fourth year after matriculation but are unable to do so for whatever reason may enroll an additional term to complete their degree.  The additional term may be during the subsequent summer or winter term (only). 

Petitions to the Registrar for exceptions

Students may submit an enrollment pattern (D-Plan) petition to the Registrar for requests that do not meet the requirements above. Petitions must be accompanied by a copy of the student's approved major plan and in many cases require support for the exception by the appropriate Dartmouth official.  Students submit all enrollment pattern (D-Plan) petitions to the Registrar each term no later than one week prior to the last day of the term.

Students who desire to file an enrollment pattern (D-Plan) distributing the thirty-five courses over a period of five academic years (sixteen to nineteen elapsed terms) or to change a previously approved pattern to a new one of this type, must petition the Registrar. Five-year patterns will not be reviewed until a student has progressed well into the sophomore year and has an approved major on their academic record.

In planning and modifying their enrollment pattern (D-Plan), students should be careful to accrue enough leave terms in the sophomore and junior years to avoid having a thirteen-term pattern when only twelve terms were required. Students who have or will have met all graduation requirements after twelve terms are not approved for additional terms. (The desire to add or complete a minor, additional major, or participate in an off-campus program does not qualify a student to enroll additional terms.)

Students may appeal the Registrar’s decision to a subcommittee of the Committee on Standards, as described in the Organization of the Faculty of Dartmouth College.

Additional notes

Students who wish to take more than four consecutive terms with an enrollment pattern (D-Plan) of only leave (L) or administrative withdrawal (A) terms must withdraw from the College after the fourth such term by contacting the Undergraduate Deans Office.

International students should consult with the Office of Visa and Immigration Services about implications for their visa status in SEVIS before initiating more than one leave (L) term within the United States or before initiating a withdrawal.

Students with a documented disability supported by Student Accessibility Services and those who have Veteran status may petition for a two-course load beyond the three-term maximum allowed.