Course Withdrawal Policy

During the fall and spring semesters, graduate students may withdraw from a graduate course during the first two-thirds of the semester without prejudice and with the grade of “W” by using URSA.

Students withdrawing from courses may find their financial aid for that particular semester affected. Prior to withdrawing from courses, students are encouraged to check with the Office of Student Billing and/or the Office of Financial Aid to learn if/how this action may impact them.

Following the close of the established withdrawal period, the student will need to petition the dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research for approval of a request for an exceptional withdrawal. The request must first be endorsed by the course instructor and the student’s department chair or graduate studies coordinator, in that order. Requests for course withdrawal after the published date will be considered only in cases that are unexpected and reflect exceptional circumstances. Students may be required to provide documentation of the catastrophic circumstances preventing them from completing the semester.

Note: (Unofficial Withdrawal) Federal Title IV student aid recipients who earn a 0.00 QPA at the end of a semester in which they receive federal student aid will be reviewed to determine whether or not they actually completed the semester. Students with a 0.00 that is attributed to “F”, “I”, or “*” grades will be required to provide documentation to the Financial Aid Office regarding their last date of academically related activity. Based on that date, federal student aid may need to be adjusted.