Departments or programs may set minimum and maximum enrollment limits for any course or any section of a course. Enrollment limits are subject to review by the dean.
Each campus and college must maintain and publish a policy regarding the cancellation of low-enrollment classes or sections. These policies may differ across colleges and may allow variations by department. Any such policy must, at a minimum, take into account:
the impact to student academic progress, student finances, and graduation,
the need for a course to contribute to appropriate program breadth and curriculum, and
commitments made to instructors that a course would be offered.
Cancellation of low enrollment classes.
Classes may not be cancelled due to low enrollment following the Friday prior to semester start.
Departments must assist students with finding replacement courses or other accommodations where cancellations negatively impact students’ degree progress and/or financial aid.
Exclusions
This policy is not applicable to the Duluth campus.
Reason for Policy
Maximum efficiency and optimal learning occurs within an enrollment range: it is not feasible or educationally sound to teach certain courses if enrollments are either too small or too large. Departments must be able to cancel a class if enrollment is too low to warrant offering it. Students need adequate time to select a replacement class if a class is cancelled in order to meet degree requirements, make timely degree progress, and maintain financial aid eligibility or meet other student status requirements.
Procedures
There are no procedures associated with this policy.
Forms/Instructions
There are no forms associated with this policy.
Appendices
There are no appendices associated with this policy.
Associate Director, Continuity & Compliance - Academic Support Resources
Toni Abts
Definitions
Enrollment limits (maximum or minimum)
The minimum or maximum number of students allowed in a course; the minimum informs when a course may be cancelled and the maximum informs when a course is considered closed to additional enrollments.
Responsibilities
Departments
Establish minimum and maximum course limits.
Proactively monitor course enrollments so as to cancel courses as early as possible, and no later than the Friday prior to semester start, so students can still register for additional course(s) without needed permission to do so.
Promptly notify students of course cancellations and identify alternate options when feasible.
If class enrollment falls below the college’s cancellation threshold after the first day of class, consult with your department scheduler and the Office of the Registrar (Crookston, Morris, Rochester) or Office of Classroom Management (Twin Cities) to review options.
Collegiate Units
Maintain college policy on course enrollment limits and ensure it is published.
Related Information
There is no related information associated with this policy.
History
Amended:
June 2025 - Comprehensive Review.
Minor updates to FAQ and policy for consistency and clarity.
Amended:
April 2020 - Comprehensive Review.
Reduces the deadline for cancelling classes due to low enrollment from the 5th day of classes to the 1st day of classes.
Incorporates new responsibilities for the maintenance and publishing of college-level policies for cancellations.
Administrative Policy