Office of Student Success, Equity and Innovation

Retroactive Withdrawal

Retroactive Withdrawal Deadlines

May 12 2023

For Grades Received in Spring 2022

Aug 04 2023

For Grades Received in Summer 2022

Dec 08 2023

For Grades Received in Fall 2022

May 10 2024

For Grades Received in Spring 2023

Aug 02 2024

For Grades Received in Summer 2023

About Retroactive Withdrawal 

Retroactive Withdrawal is a Cal Poly Pomona process that allows students to petition to withdraw from all classes in one or more terms after those terms have ended. Students must apply for retroactive withdrawal within one calendar year from the last day of the term they unofficially withdrew from their classes and provide a clear explanation of why they did not withdraw from the university by filing appropriate forms with the Registrar's Office during the term(s) in question.

FAQs about Retroactive Withdrawal

The Retroactive Withdrawal process allows students to petition to withdraw from all classes in one or more terms after those terms have ended. If permission is granted, the result is that all failing grades (F or WU) for those terms are changed to WX grades. Please see the chart below for a description of the WX grade.

Students who unofficially withdraw from one or more terms, receive WU grades in ALL coursework taken those terms, and have serious and compelling reasons for the unofficial withdrawal. See the chart below for a description of the WU grade. 

A student has up to one (1) calendar year from the last day of the term in question to apply for a Retroactive Withdrawal. A student does not need to be enrolled at the University at the time that the petition for Retroactive Withdrawal is submitted. The petition form and documentation should be submitted to the Office of Student Success. Deadlines can be found on the Student Success Central Academic Calendar.

All efforts are made to schedule the Retroactive Withdrawal Committee within a few weeks following the deadline. However, faculty availability determines the time that a meeting can be scheduled so that committee members can consider all Retroactive Withdrawal petitions submitted for that term. In addition, those petitions submitted during the summer term may not be reviewed until the fall term. Once decisions have been rendered, each student is notified in writing approximately one (1) week after the Committee’s decision.

The Cal Poly Pomona Retroactive Withdrawal Committee will give consideration to the following factors:

  • The student has provided a clear explanation of why the student did not withdraw from the university by filing the appropriate forms with the Registrar’s Office in a timely manner during the term(s) in question.
  • The student has serious and compelling reasons for the student’s unofficial withdrawal, e.g., serious illness or injury to student or family member, death in the family, etc.
  • The student has provided documentation of the serious and compelling reasons.
  • The student’s overall academic history.
  • If the student earned A-F grades during the term(s) in question, a clear explanation of why those grades were not WU grades.
  • In the rare case that exceptional circumstances prevent the student from filing the petition within one calendar year of the last day of the term(s) for which the student is requesting retroactive withdrawal, a clear explanation, supported by documentation, of these circumstances.
  • Supporting documentation from the student’s major department advisor or from the student’s advisor(s) in support programs such as the Maximizing Engineering Potential Program, the Educational Opportunity Program, and Disability Resource Center.

  • Access the Request for Retroactive Withdrawal e-form here. If you are unable to access it, contact the Office of Student Success at (909) 979-6975.
  • Review the guidelines on the form carefully. If you have questions about the process, contact the Office of Student Success at (909) 869-6975.
  • Complete, sign and date the form.
  • Provide a statement following the suggestions. Use business letter format and address your statement to the Retroactive Withdrawal Committee.
  • Provide documentation that supports your statement.
  • Before submitting your petition packet, review your packet with your college advisor.
  • Submit your completed petition packet by the deadlines posted on the Office of Student Success website.

The Request for Retroactive Withdrawal petition e-form, as well as general information and guidelines, is available here.

Ws, WXs and WUs

Table Explaining Ws, WXs, and WUs
Grade What does this grade mean? How do I receive this grade? Notes
W This grade means that you withdrew from the class after the Add/Drop Period.
Students can withdraw between the 11th and 20th day of class via BroncoDirect and receive a W.
Students with serious and compelling reasons to withdraw after the 20th day through the 12th week of instruction must complete the Withdrawal for Serious and Compelling Reasons form to earn a W.
  • Examples of why students may apply:
  • Work hours changed that conflict with class
  • Illness (student or close family)
  • Other circumstances that hinder (but do not prevent) attendance
Not acceptable reasons to apply:
  • Failing a class
  • Don’t need the class to graduate
  • Never attended class
Students are limited to 18 units of recorded course withdrawals (where the student received a “W”)
WX This grade means that you withdrew from a class after the Add/Drop Period, and the circumstances were serious and compelling, beyond your control. Students with serious and compelling reasons to withdraw after the 10th day through finals must complete the Withdrawal for Serious and Compelling Reasons form to earn a WX.

The Chair, Dean, and Associate Vice President for the Office of Student Success will evaluate the petition and documentation to determine if a WX is appropriate.

Examples of why students may apply:
  • Work conditions change preventing attendance
  • Serious illness (student or close family) preventing attendance
Students also receive this grade if they have an approved Retroactive Withdrawal. Retroactive Withdrawals are submitted after the term is over and withdraw the student for all classes for a term.
Students are limited to 18 units of recorded course withdrawals (where the student received a “W”)

If a student earns a WX for a course, those units will not count to their 18-unit limit.
WU This grade means that you did not withdraw from the course and failed to complete the course requirements.  Students who do not withdraw from their course and do not meet the course requirements will earn a WU. WUs are equivalent to Fs for the purposes of grade point averages.