Withdrawal Procedures
Table of Contents
- Before Withdrawal Deadline
- After Withdrawal Deadline
- Medical Withdrawal Policy
- Medical Readmission
- Appeal of Denial of Readmission
- Mandatory Medical/Psychiatric Withdrawal
During the first 10 class days of each fall and spring semester (this is called the Registration Period), students may drop and add classes freely. No grades are recorded to reflect their presence in any classes dropped during this period.
After the Registration Period, students may withdraw either from a class or from the University. There are different deadlines for these withdrawals; check the Academic Calendar in the Class Schedule. There are also different procedures to follow before and after the withdrawal deadlines. The time in which withdrawals are allowed is called the Withdrawal Period. A grade of “W” is recorded on the student’s transcript for each course from which he or she withdraws.
Before Withdrawal Deadline (See Class Schedule for dates)
To initiate a withdrawal from a class prior to the deadline, a student may use the web or obtain a Schedule Change Card from the Office of Registration and Records, or see an advisor in the Supplemental Academic Advising Center (SAAC).
To withdraw from the University (withdraw from all classes) prior to the deadline, the student may use the web or obtain a Withdrawal Permit from the Office of Registration and Records. Students are encouraged to meet with an advisor before withdrawing completely.
After Withdrawal Deadline (See Class Schedule for dates)
After the deadline, all withdrawals are initially handled by petition to the Dean of the College in which the student is enrolled. (College of Technology students should contact the Student Services Office.) The dean will follow the same procedure used in the petitioning process for considering extraordinary curricular or admissions problems.
Students may withdraw from individual classes for hardship reasons only—this includes medical reasons.
Students wishing to withdraw completely (from all classes) after the established deadline but before the end of the semester must contact the Dean of their College to determine available options.
Students wishing to withdraw completely after the end of the semester must use the Undergraduate or Graduate Student Petition form available from the Registrar’s Office or the Dean of the College in which the student is enrolled (or Student Services for College of Technology students). The procedure is the same as the petitioning process for considering extraordinary curricular or admissions problems.
At the time of publication, the withdrawal policy was under review; it remains subject to change.
Medical Withdrawal Policy
Voluntary Medical Withdrawal (Student Initiated Medical Withdrawal)
A medical withdrawal request must involve the student being ill or disabled from an illness, not the effects of another person’s illness. It is initiated in the same manner as other withdrawals, as noted above. Only complete withdrawals from the University are eligible to be considered for a medical withdrawal designation on the student’s transcript.
To initiate a medical withdrawal before the complete withdrawal deadline (typically the Friday before Closed Week—consult the Class Schedule), a student first needs to completely withdraw from all classes through the Office of Registration and Records (via a paper form or on the web). When that is done the student may then apply for a medical withdrawal through the Student Health Center by completing a medical withdrawal application form. This form may be obtained from the Student Health Center, the Office of Registration and Records, the Counseling and Testing Center, Supplemental Academic Advising Services, the Student Service Office in the College of Technology, and the outreach offices of Idaho Falls, Twin Falls, and Boise. It is also available on ISU’s website. Completed forms should be submitted to the Student Health Center within two weeks (10 working days) of the date of complete withdrawal. The application must include a narrative summary written by the student requesting the medical withdrawal as well as medical documentation from a physician or counselor describing the problem. The Medical Withdrawal Committee then reviews the completed application and determines medical withdrawal eligibility. If a medical withdrawal is granted, the designation “Authorized Medical Withdrawal (date)” will be noted on the student’s transcript.
For refund information, see ISU’s Refund Policy and Refunds for Exceptional Circumstances Policy in the ISU Undergraduate Catalog.
If the complete withdrawal deadline (typically the Friday before Closed Week—consult Class Schedule) has passed, a student can still seek a medical withdrawal designation. First, the student fills out a petition for hardship withdrawal through the dean’s office of the college in which the student 7 is enrolled (Arts and Sciences for undecided students). If the dean (or designee) grants the student a hardship withdrawal, the student may then pursue a medical withdrawal designation as outlined in the above paragraph. The dean (or designee) may choose instead to sign a referral allowing the Student Health Center to examine the evidence (always medically related) and determine whether a withdrawal is warranted. Only if a hardship withdrawal is granted, or a referral is signed by the dean’s office, will the Medical Withdrawal Committee consider a request for a medical withdrawal designation.
NOTE: If you wish to initiate an appeal for refund of fees, please contact Financial Services at 282-2287.
Medical Readmission
Students who have withdrawn for medical reasons may be required to petition the University Medical Withdrawal Committee for readmission. The decision to require a petition for readmission is based on need for further documentation that the medical condition has been adequately treated and that any necessary accommodations have been prepared to enhance the future academic success of the student. The decision is made at the time that the medical withdrawal is granted. This decision will be included in the letter of notification to the student that the medical withdrawal has been granted.
Students may forward their written petition for readmission to the Medical Withdrawal Committee via the Student Health Center staff. The granting readmission decision is based upon consideration of (1) reports of treatment, (2) letters of recommendation and in some instances, (3) a personal interview with the medical director.
Appeal of Denial of Readmission
In the event of denial of readmission, the student may appeal to the Vice President for Student Affairs. A written appeal (a letter from the student explaining the circumstances) must be received in the Vice President for Student Affairs’ Office within two weeks (10 working days) of receipt of notification of denial of readmission. The Vice President’s (or designee’s) decision is final.
Mandatory Medical/Psychiatric Withdrawal
The Directors of the University Counseling and Testing Services and the Student Health Center are authorized to order a mandatory medical or psychiatric withdrawal in those situations where there is reason to believe that a student is a substantial threat to him/herself or interferes with the welfare of other members of the University or the education process of the institution. These directors may require immediate withdrawal if there appears to be a substantial imminent threat. Either director may request that the student be professionally evaluated by a physician, psychologist, or psychiatrist. The student shall be notified in writing of initiation of the withdrawal process.
If a psychological/psychiatric evaluation is required and the student does not comply within a reasonable time or refuses to comply, mandatory withdrawal may be ordered by either director. The responsible director shall submit a written report to the Medical Withdrawal Committee and the Vice President for Student Affairs summarizing the need for mandatory withdrawal and the reasons for the action. The student and the director will have the opportunity to present information to the Medical Withdrawal Committee. The Medical Withdrawal Committee shall convene at the earliest reasonable time for final determination of disposition. If the physician ordering the withdrawal is also on the Medical Withdrawal Committee, another physician from the Student Health Center or the Center Director will be appointed to sit on the committee for that case.
In the event that mandatory withdrawal is ordered, the student may appeal to the Vice President for Student Affairs. A request for an appeal must be filed in writing to the Vice President for Student Affairs within two weeks of receipt of notification of mandatory withdrawal.