Individual Course Withdrawal Policy
The Individual Course Withdrawal Policy provides students who are unable to complete a course with the option of withdrawing from that course. This option should be taken only after other options have been discussed with the instructor and/or the student’s advisor.
Individual Course Withdrawals may be processed by signing in to MyIUP (my.iup.edu) between the day after the conclusion of the drop/add period and the end of the first two-thirds of the course. After the two-thirds point of a course, students may no longer process Individual Course Withdrawals.
A student needing to withdraw from a course after the deadline must process a request through the office of the dean of the college of their primary major. Approval of the late withdrawal is contingent on documentation of catastrophic circumstances preventing the student from completing the course. If approved, the college office will arrange for recording the “W” designation.
Students should discuss their options with instructors, academic advisors, and the Office of Financial Aid before considering course withdrawals. Course withdrawals may impact financial aid eligibility (percent of completion and eligibility to move to the next class level), full-time status, athletic eligibility, and health insurance, etc. Students are also cautioned to consider the detrimental impact of “Ws” in a transcript review by a prospective employer or graduate school. RATIONALE: Upon five year review, minor clarifications were made to the policy.
Involuntary Withdrawal Policy
Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to provide a procedure for determining whether an identified student’s behavior poses a direct threat (as defined herein) and for responding to such behavior. Rarely does student behavior pose a direct threat. However, involuntary withdrawal may be appropriate when
- the student displays behavior that is not prohibited by and/or could not be adjudicated by the Student Behavior Regulations or the Academic Integrity Policy, but that nonetheless poses a direct threat; and
- the student demonstrates a risk of repeated display of such behavior.
Policy: In the absence of other reasonable means or university procedures available for addressing a student’s behavior that poses a direct threat, the university will conduct an individualized assessment of the student behavior and circumstances related to the observed behavior of concern and, if appropriate, implement the involuntary, total withdrawal of the identified student from the university.
The student may appeal an involuntary withdrawal decision or may seek re-enrollment to the university at a later time, in accordance with the guidelines and procedures articulated below. The decision regarding an appeal or re-enrollment request will be considered on the basis of whether the student continues to pose a direct threat.
The policy will be applied in a nondiscriminatory manner, and decisions will be based on consideration of the student’s conduct, actions, and statements, not on knowledge or belief that the student has a disability.
Definitions:
- Direct Threat: behavior that poses
- significant risk to the health or safety of others, or
- significant risk of damage to university property, or
- substantial disruption to the activities or education of other students
- Significant Risk: behavior that has a high probability (not just a slightly increased, speculative, or remote risk) of substantial harm to the university community, given information concerning the behavior that is available at the time of consideration
- Substantial Disruption: behavior that continually and considerably interferes with other students’ participation in academic, work, extra-curricular, housing/residence life, or other university-related activities
Procedures:
Review Process
1. When made aware of an identified student whose behavior could warrant involuntary withdrawal, the vice president for Student Affairs (or designee) will convene and oversee an Involuntary Withdrawal Review Team to conduct an individualized assessment of the student behavior and circumstances related to the observed behavior of concern and advise him/her whether a direct threat exists. Members of this team will include a representative from the Health Service, the Counseling Center, Disability Support Services, and the student’s academic dean (or designee). Depending on the nature of a particular case, and in accordance with FERPA and other relevant laws, other individuals who can assist in evaluating the potential risk posed by the student’s behavior, including professionals qualified to interpret the information available for consideration, may be identified to advise the vice president and review team.
The goal of the vice president and review team will be to ascertain whether the student’s behavior poses a direct threat. Factors to consider may include
- the nature, duration, and severity of the risk of harm;
- the likelihood that the potential harm will occur;
- if the student asserts to have a legally protected disability entitled to reasonable accommodation, whether reasonable modification of university policies, practices, and procedures would sufficiently mitigate the risk.
The vice president and review team may request to review educational records and/or to consult with various university community members or others who may be knowledgeable of the student and/ or the behavior of concern.
The vice president and review team may request that the student take part in a medical/psychological evaluation. In such a case, the vice president and review team will identify a qualified and licensed health professional who is independent from the university to conduct the evaluation. The university will be responsible for the fees associated with this evaluation.
The vice president and review team will request a personal meeting(s) with the student. Although it is highly desirable that the student choose to attend such a meeting(s), the review process may proceed if he/she does not attend. Furthermore, the direct threat review process will proceed regardless of the student’s ongoing university status. At the meeting(s), the vice president and review team will present and discuss the information that is avail-able for consideration. The student may choose to have an advocate accompany and take part with him/her in the meeting(s).
Based on the review team’s assessment, including consultation with professionals qualified to interpret the information available for consideration, the vice president may conclude that a direct threat exists and, if so, will determine an appropriate next step, which may entail involuntary, total withdrawal of the student from the university but would not preclude other actions depending on the particular situation.
The review decision will be communicated by the vice president to the student and will provide the primary information that led to the decision. Any conditions for later re-enrollment will also be communicated at that time. The decision and related information will be communicated in writing to the student and may be additionally communicated in other forms if the situation permits.
At any time before conclusion of the review process, the student may withdraw voluntarily.
Appeal Process
- The decision of the vice president may be appealed in writing by the student to the IUP president.
- An appeal must be filed within 90 calendar days after the decision of the vice president is communicated in writing to the student.
- The president’s decision on the appeal will be final and conclusive.
- During the appeal process, the student will remain totally withdrawn from the university.
Re-enrollment Process
- A student for whom the vice president for Student Affairs concluded a direct threat exists may later request re-enrollment to the university. A request must be made to the vice president for Student Affairs. In his/her request, the student should provide evidence that he/she would no longer pose a direct threat and that any conditions for re-enrollment have been met. Such student is responsible for any fees associated with treatment, activities, and/or evaluations that he/she has taken part in or obtained in an attempt to demonstrate appropriateness for reenrollment.
- The vice president will convene and oversee the Involuntary Withdrawal Review Team regarding the re-enrollment of the student.
- The vice president and review team may request an updated, independent, university-obtained medical/psychological evaluation and/or request to meet with the student. The university will be responsible for the fees associated with this evaluation.
- The decision of the vice president will be based on a determination of whether the student can return safely to the university community and no longer pose a direct threat.
Emergency Situation
At any time before the initiation or conclusion of the review process, the vice president may implement an interim involuntary withdrawal of the student from the university, should immediate action appear war-ranted. A review process, as outlined above, will occur as soon as reasonably possible to consider the interim decision.
Recision: This policy will not be rescinded or modified except by action of the IUP president, following consultation with the University Senate, and in accordance with University Senate Bylaws and Constitution.
Publications Statement: The IUP Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs will publicize and transmit this policy to all members of the university community.
Total University Withdrawal Policy
The Total University Withdrawal Policy provides students who are unable to complete a term with the option of withdrawing from all classes, and thus from the university, for that term.
During the fall and spring semesters, Total University Withdrawals may be processed between the first day of classes and the end of the eleventh week of the term. During summer and winter terms, the deadline is the two-thirds point of each course for which the student is registered. Students voluntarily withdrawing from the university must withdraw from each of their courses. In addition, students must contact the School of Graduate Studies and Research.
Once the Total University Withdrawal has been processed, a withdraw designation (“W”) will be assigned to all registered courses in the semester from which the student is withdrawing and his or her student status will be changed to “inactive.”
For more details about total university withdraws, please vist the total semester withdraw page. Questions about the financial impact of withdrawal should be addressed to the Office of Student Billing and/or the Office of Financial Aid.
- Late Withdrawal: Any graduate student who needs to withdraw from the university after the deadline must process an Exceptions Request for Drop/Add/Withdraw Deadlines form through the School of Graduate Studies and Research. Approval of the Exceptions Request for Drop/Add/Withdraw form is contingent on documentation of catastrophic circumstances preventing the student from completing the term.
- Involuntary Withdrawal: Any graduate student involuntarily withdrawing from the university as a result of suspension or expulsion unrelated to violations of the Academic Integrity Policy will automatically have the designation of “W” assigned to each registered course as a result of such judicial action.
- Process: Graduate students voluntarily withdrawing from the university should confirm the financial impact of withdrawal by meeting with a representative from Financial Aid. Then they must process a Request for Withdraw Form with the School of Graduate Studies and Research.
Once the Request for Withdraw has been processed, a withdrawal designation (“W”) will be assigned to all registered courses from which the student is withdrawing. There are no financial leniencies for withdrawals caused by medical situations. IUP’s percentage of forfeiture rates follow state and federal dictates, which do not address medical situations.
With the exception of documented “Call to Active Duty” withdrawals, all withdrawals follow the deadline dates set for the semester
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