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Withdrawal and Drop Policy
Students have many considerations and options when choosing to withdraw or drop a class. Dropping or withdrawing from courses can have serious financial and academic implications, possibly affecting billing, financial aid, VA benefits, housing on campus, eligibility to participate in athletic events and, for international students, immigration status. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with their academic advisor and financial aid counselor before dropping or withdrawing from classes.
Dropping Classes
Dropping a class prior to the last day for 100% refund according to the University’s Refund Policy and as noted on the Academic Calendar means the student no longer wishes to attend the class and wishes to receive a full refund. Dropped classes do not appear on the official university transcript, and no grade is issued for dropped courses. Should a student wish to adjust their schedule prior to the start of the semester or during the published schedule adjustment period, students may drop from one to all of their classes for a full refund through their Webster account up until the Last Day for 100% Refund as noted on the Academic Calendar.
Withdrawing from Classes
Withdrawing from a class means the student no longer wishes to attend the class and will receive either a partial refund, or no refund, depending on the date of the withdrawal and according to the published University’s Refund Policy. A student may officially withdraw from one to all of their classes in Webster after the refund adjustment period (that is, after the last date for 100% refund) up until the Last Day to Drop as noted on the Academic Calendar.
Withdrawing from a class will result in a “W” grade on the official university transcript. A “W” grade is not considered when calculating the grade-point average, but may impact a student’s satisfactory academic progress as it relates to financial aid, therefore it is highly recommended students contact the Office of Financial Aid prior to withdrawing from classes.
Typically there are no exceptions to the refund adjustment or withdrawal deadlines. However, students can request exceptions due to extenuating circumstances such as military service or unforeseen serious illness with appropriate documentation as discussed later in this policy.
Please Be Aware
Types of Withdrawal
If a student begins to attend class, but then ceases attendance without dropping or withdrawing from all classes, the federal government considers this to be an “unofficial withdrawal”. This unofficial withdrawal includes students who earn failing grades in all classes, if it is determined the student ceased attending classes prior to the end of the payment period or term. The withdrawal date for students who unofficially withdraw is the last date of attendance reported by the student’s instructor(s). A student who discontinues attending class without dropping classes or requesting an official withdrawal will receive a failing grade in all courses concerned. Prior to the Last Day for 100% Refund as noted on the Academic Calendar, students receiving federal Title IV aid should officially notify the Financial Aid Office of intent to withdraw from the semester. For information regarding the impact of withdrawing on Title IV, please see AUM’s policy regarding the Return to Title IV Funds.
Students who wish to “officially withdraw” from the university during a semester after the refund adjustment period must do so by withdrawing from all of their classes through their Webster account up until the Last Day to Drop as posted in the Academic Calendar. However students receiving federal Title IV funds should notify the Financial Aid Office of intent to withdraw. Withdrawal from all classes after the term start date will result in tuition charges according to the published University’s Refund Policy and as noted on the Academic Calendar. Withdrawal from the University is generally only permitted before the Last Day to Drop as noted on the Academic Calendar. The date the last class is dropped will be considered the official withdrawal date used for Title IV refund calculations and processing refunds. A student who officially withdraws from the University after the last day for 100% refund, will have grades of “W” recorded for all withdrawn classes.
Any student wishing to officially withdraw who has a hold on their record that prevents self-withdrawing can submit a withdrawal form to the Registrar’s Office. Students having Cashier’s Holds on their accounts should contact the Office of Student Accounts to make arrangements for payment of the outstanding balance prior to submitting the withdrawal form. The withdrawal date will be considered the date the form is received by the Registrar’s Office or other university official.
A medical withdrawal can be requested when a student is suffering from a medical condition that prevents the completion of the semester. Medical withdrawals are processed by the Office of the Provost rather than the Registrar’s Office. Medical withdrawals are for all courses the student is taking for the semester and should be filed within one year of the end of the semester involved. Only illness or injuries of extended duration are normally considered for a medical withdrawal. Consideration will be given only when an illness or injury makes it impossible to complete a term. Medical withdrawals will generally not be approved if the difficulty resulting from an injury or illness was present when the student enrolled for the semester. Students requesting a medical withdrawal must submit a letter of request and supporting documentation to either the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies or the Associate Provost for Graduate Studies, as appropriate. For purposes of Title IV refund calculations, medical withdrawals are processed in the same manner as other official withdrawals. Please see AUM’s policy regarding the Return to Title IV Funds.
Military withdrawals are available for students who serve in the U.S. armed forces and have been called to duty with little notice for: active duty deployment, specialized training or disaster relief efforts. The following options are available: withdraw from all classes; request incomplete grades, withdraw from some courses but remain in others. To be approved for a military withdrawal, a student must submit a copy of their military orders to the Registrar’s Office along with a letter of request. A full waiver/refund of tuition may be granted for approved students. Contact the Registrar’s Office for additional information. For purposes of Title IV refund calculations, military withdrawals are processed in the same manner as other official withdrawals. Please see AUM’s policy regarding the Return to Title IV Funds.
A retroactive withdrawal may be granted in an extraordinary circumstance, with appropriate documentation, if the student is unable to complete classes or contact the university to initiate a withdrawal. A student who suffers a hardship should carefully consider whether withdrawing from the university is an appropriate option as detailed in this policy. Students who complete the semester after suffering a hardship will generally not be granted a retroactive withdrawal. Furthermore, students will not be considered for a retroactive withdrawal if they have received a grade of Incomplete for the appealed semester as part of an agreement with the faculty member to complete the required work, as such an agreement is an appropriate means for providing flexibility in case of hardship. For purposes of Title IV refund calculations, retroactive withdrawals are processed in the same manner as other official withdrawals. Please see AUM’s policy regarding the Return to Title IV Funds.
