Skip to main contentSkip to main navigationSkip to footer content

Compassionate Withdrawal

Policy

A student may request a Compassionate Withdrawal in extraordinary cases in which a serious and significant personal situation prevents them from continuing their classes and functioning as a student, and for which the regular university withdrawal process is not appropriate.

An extraordinary personal situation, not related to the student's own personal physical or mental health, must have prevented the student from meeting the academic and social demands of their course(s) in the current or most recently-concluded academic term, for more than two weeks. The situation must have begun or unexpectedly continued during this particular academic term.

Examples

  • Care of a seriously-ill child or spouse;
  • Becoming the primary care-giver for another family member with a serious health condition;
  • Death in the student's immediate family;
  • Being a victim of a serious crime (assault, domestic violence, etc.); or
  • Natural disaster, including house fire.

A Compassionate Withdrawal may allow a student to receive a potential grade-change(s) from a posted grade to a "W" for courses interrupted by an unexpected situation, however a granted compassionate withdrawal does not provide financial reimbursement or waiver of a balance due. All requests for withdrawal require thorough and credible documentation which is appropriate to the circumstances.

A committee of staff who provide direct service to students will determine the appropriateness of the Compassionate Withdrawal request, and whether an administrative hold on the student's account is indicated. Members of this committee will include representatives from Academic Affairs (to include the student's program, department, or School/College), the Center for Accessibility Resources, the Student Advising Center, the Center for Learning and Student Support, the Office of the Dean of Students, and the offices of Financial Aid, Student Accounts, and Records and Registration. Requests are reviewed on an as-needed basis.

Compassionate Withdrawal shall be granted for a minimum of one (1) semester and may be granted only after review and approval of the Compassionate Withdrawal Committee. Usually, consideration is for a complete withdrawal from all courses. Application for less-than-complete withdrawal (i.e., for only certain courses of a student's entire course load during one academic term) must be especially well-documented to justify the selective nature of a Compassionate Withdrawal request for only certain course(s).

The student's ability to resume academic responsibilities are central to determine whether the student may return from a Compassionate Withdrawal. A student is encouraged to take the needed time off before returning to coursework, as a second Compassionate Withdrawal will not be granted within any 12-month period.

Current, up-to-date documentation must accompany requests to return from a Compassionate Withdrawal. Because of the nature and individual circumstances of a Compassionate Withdrawal Request, its supporting documentation will also vary and must be appropriate to the situation. For example, a Compassionate Withdrawal Request made to care for a seriously-ill child or other family member may require documentation similar to that needed in support of a Medical Withdrawal Request (physician's letter, etc.). Other required, acceptable documentation may include police reports, obituaries, legal documents, restraining orders, airline ticket receipts, newspaper clippings, etc. This documentation may be required for review upon a student's application to return to class(es).

Removal of an administrative hold on a student's account must be authorized by a committee designee before the student can register for a future academic term or be readmitted to the university.

If a Compassionate Withdrawal request is approved, the student will be notified, and documentation will be forwarded to the appropriate offices (academic advisor, the Center for Accessibility Resources, the Student Advising Center, the Center for Learning and Student Support, the Office of Financial Aid, the Office of Records and Registration, etc.) as appropriate. University support services (counseling, etc.) may still be available to the student during their time away, as appropriate, and as approved by the Dean of Students.

Placement in Nursing clinicals, CSD clinical experiences, student teaching, or other field/practicum experiences upon return is not guaranteed.

Submitting this request does not guarantee a favorable outcome. A student who requests a Compassionate Withdrawal will receive notification if their request is denied. They should consult with their academic advisor, financial aid counselor, and/or the Office of Student Accounts to determine other options.

Procedure

To Request a Compassionate Withdrawal

A student should complete a Compassionate Withdrawal Request Form, and include the following information and documentation:

  1. Student's name and contact information;
  2. The student's personal statement, which explains in their own words, why/how they are unable to complete the course(s). The committee will have no background information to consider, so the student should fully explain the situation thoroughly.
  3. Sufficient supporting documentation that provides evidence for the need to withdraw. All requests require some form of corroborating documentation, and in some cases, more than one type of documentation may be required. Documentation should include a detailed explanation of the circumstances that require the student to withdraw from courses. This may include documentation similar to that needed in support of a Medical Withdrawal Request (physician's letter, etc.), or police reports, obituaries, legal documents, restraining orders, airline ticket receipts, newspaper clippings, etc. Documentation should specify the following:
    1. the general nature of the student's circumstances;
    2. the last date the student was able to attend class(es);
    3. why/how it prevented the student from completing coursework; and
    4. the date of the student's anticipated return to class(es).
  4. The course(s) title(s) from which the student will withdraw. Usually, consideration is for a complete withdrawal from all courses. Application for less-than-complete withdrawal (i.e., for only certain courses of a student's entire course load during one academic term) must be especially well-documented to justify the selective nature of a Compassionate Withdrawal request for only certain course(s).

All requests for a Compassionate Withdrawal for the current term must be submitted online no later than noon on the Wednesday of the last week of classes before Final Exam week. Requests received after this deadline will not be considered.

If a Compassionate Withdrawal request is approved, the student will be notified, and documentation will be forwarded to the appropriate offices (academic advisor, the Center for Accessibility Resources, the Student Advising Center, the Center for Learning and Student Support, the Office of Financial Aid, the Office Records and Registration, etc.) as appropriate.

Placement in Nursing clinicals, CSD clinical experiences, student teaching, or other field/practicum experiences upon return is not guaranteed.

Submitting this request does not guarantee a favorable outcome. A student who requests a Compassionate Withdrawal will receive notification if their request is denied. They should consult with their academic advisor and financial aid counselor to determine other options.