Withdrawal Information

Can I drop a course or all of my courses?

• If you drop a course or all of your courses during general registration or Add/Drop Period, the dropped courses will not appear on your transcript. You can find general registration and Add/Drop Period dates on the Student Success Central Academic Calendar.
• If you want to drop a course or all of your courses during the withdrawal period, Ws will appear for those courses on your transcript. You are limited to 18 units of Ws on your transcript. The grade of W does not affect your grade point average (GPA). You can find withdrawal period dates on the Student Success Central Academic Calendar.
• You have the right to petition to receive a WX when withdrawing from a course. A WX is granted when you have demonstrated that your withdrawal is due to serious and compelling reasons beyond your control. A WX does not count toward your 18 units of Ws.

What can I do after the withdrawal period ends? 

• After the withdrawal period ends, withdrawals will only be permitted for serious and compelling reasons, such as accident or serious illness, where the cause of withdrawal is due to circumstances clearly beyond your control and the assignment of an Incomplete is not practicable. 
• You will need to fill out the Petition to Withdraw for Serious and Compelling Reasons if you wish to drop a course or all of your courses.
• All students will be required to submit documentation when submitting a Petition to Withdraw for Serious and Compelling Reasons, regardless of whether they are requesting a W or a WX.
  • The documentation must be related to the reason why you are petitioning to withdraw. 
  • If you are providing medical documentation, it must be on official letterhead and include your name and doctor's contact information. The documentation does not need to disclose a diagnosis. 
  • If you are providing photos as documentation, do not submit photos of deceased people or body parts. 

What are the steps for submitting a Request for Class Withdrawal for Serious and Compelling Reasons?

• The petition is available above or on the Registrar’s Office website. It must be signed electronically by the Department Chair, College Dean, and Associate Provost. 
• If your request is granted, you will receive Ws or WXs depending on your request and the decisions of the appropriate reviewers. 

What happens if I don’t fill out the request but stop attending class(es)?

• If you stop attending class(es) (unofficially withdrawal) and do not follow this procedure, you may receive a grade of F or WU (Withdrawal Unauthorized). F and WU grades are equivalent for the purposes of GPA and grade points.
• The symbol WU indicates that you did not withdraw from the course and also failed to complete course requirements. It is used when, in the opinion of the instructor, you completed assignments or course activities or both were insufficient to make normal evaluation of academic performance possible.
• WU is also assigned if you do not drop a course properly, such as when a student withdraws from a course without authorization (e.g. no approved Request for Class Withdrawal for Serious and Compelling Reasons Form is on file).
• If the appropriate withdrawal form is on file, this WU will be replaced by a W in the Registrar's Office and a W will appear on the final grade sheet returned to the instructor and on your grade report.

Ws, WXs and WUs