Temporary Absence During a Quarter
Students are expected to attend classes regularly. In most instances, attendance and participation in class are factors in determining the final grade. If an absence is unavoidable due to serious illness or personal emergency, each instructor should be notified. Regardless of the reasons for absence, however, students will be required to complete all coursework.
If an absence is late in the term and prolonged, making it impossible to complete the coursework on time, students may petition their instructors to assign an Incomplete (I) grade. To receive an "I" grade, a student must submit the approved petition to the Office of the Registrar by the last day of the quarter in which the "I" grade is to be assigned. A student who is unable to make this request in person may ask the Office of Student Life to notify each instructor of the circumstances of the absence and to circulate a petition on the student’s behalf. If the instructor agrees that an extension of time for completion of the course is justified and approves the petition, a grade of Incomplete will be assigned.
Withdrawal from a Course
Students can petition to drop a course after the schedule adjustment deadline. If the petition is approved, a "W" will indicate that the student withdrew from the course after the schedule adjustment period (20th day of instruction). If the request is not approved, the student will receive the grade assigned by the instructor of the course.
The late drop request process requires the submission of the completed Late/Retro Drop Petition, an explanation of why the student is making the request, and supporting documentation if appropriate. Students should continue attendance while the request is evaluated. Multiple requests to withdraw from the same course are rarely approved. Requests submitted after the last day of instruction require documentation of a significant hardship that impacted a student’s ability to complete the course/s. Requests to withdraw from a course after the last day of instruction are considered retroactive. Retroactive withdrawals require documentation of a severe hardship that prevented the student from completing the course. Retroactive requests to drop a course after completing the final exam or final assignment are only approved in truly extraordinary circumstances.
Students should speak with Letters and Science Academic Advising if they have questions about dropping a course.
Complete Withdrawal
Once fees have been paid or officially deferred or after a financial aid agreement has been signed for a particular quarter, students then wishing to withdraw for that term without completing the enrollment process must do so by petition to the Office of the Registrar. An enrolled student who wishes to withdraw from the university during a quarter without completing the quarter’s work must obtain a petition for complete withdrawal from the Office of the Registrar. If the petition requirements are met and the approval of the Dean of Undergraduate Education is secured and if the completed petition is submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the deadline for course withdrawal, the student’s registration will be cancelled without academic penalty. If the completed petition is submitted to the Office of the Registrar after the deadline for course withdrawal but no later than the last day of instruction for the term, the Dean of Undergraduate Education will direct the Office of the Registrar to enter the grade of "W" for each course in which the student was enrolled. A student who receives permission to withdraw completely during the early weeks of a quarter may be entitled to a partial refund of fees for that quarter as outlined on the Registrar's website. Students who have received Title IV federal aid will be required to return a portion of that aid if they withdraw before completing 60 percent of the quarter. Upon request, the Office of Student Life will process a petition for complete withdrawal no later than the last day of instruction for the term for a student who cannot do so in person. If the Dean of Undergraduate Education approves the petition, the student’s academic record will reflect the process described above.
Students who enroll and subsequently discontinue work during a quarter without an approved petition for withdrawal will receive "F" or "NP" grades as appropriate for all courses in which they are enrolled for that quarter. Such students are ineligible for any refund of fees, and their future registration privileges may be curtailed or revoked. Students are advised to seek counsel from faculty, departmental, or college advisors, Counseling Services, Career Services, and the Financial Aid Office if appropriate before withdrawing to consider the full implications of this action. After withdrawal and before future registration, undergraduates must apply for and receive permission to be readmitted.
Note: The deadline to submit a petition for complete withdrawal is the last day of instruction for the term.