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Withdrawals after Semester Midpoint

Contact: Teresa Raetz, PhD
Location: 153
Telephone: 678-985-6767
Email: traetz@uga.edu

Board of Regents Policy (USG: Academic Affairs Handbook: 2.05) states that students who withdraw from any or all of their classes after the midpoint of the semester must receive a WF unless they have experienced a hardship. A hardship situation is defined as all of the following:

1. beyond the student's ability to control (e.g., illness, physical injury, family difficulties, etc.); AND
2. directly affects the student's ability to perform or continue in the classes; AND
3. can be verified by a credible third party (e.g., doctor, attorney, therapist or counselor, minister, etc.).

Students who wish to withdraw from the university after the semester midpoint should begin by speaking with their professors about their situation to see if alternative arrangements can be made for completing coursework. If the student then wishes to pursue a withdrawal, she/he must contact the Director of Student Affairs. The Director will request a specific, written timeline and explanatory details of the hardship, along with written documentation of the hardship from a credible third party who is unrelated to the student. The specific documentation required will be determined by the Director after speaking with the student.

If the Director believes a hardship is warranted, she will notify the students' professors and the student. The student must then complete the withdrawal process via OASIS. Please note that the Director does not assign grades. Faculty members always retain the prerogative of assigning a W or WF depending on the student's class performance before the hardship occurred. Therefore, it is highly recommended that students begin by speaking with their professors about any problems they are experiencing. Students should never simply stop attending class without informing professors and advisors about the situation.

Hardship withdrawals must be complete before 5 pm on the last day of class. Students cannot withdraw once regular class meetings have ended. While the Office of Student Affairs makes every attempt to accommodate students and others, the documentation process typically takes several days, so students should plan accordingly. It is expected that a request for a hardship be for a complete withdrawal. Any requests for less than a complete withdrawal must include specific documentation that documents why the hardship did not affect all courses.

Examples of hardships include, but are not limited to:

• Severe accident, illness, or surgery with prolonged recovery;
• Severe illness requiring ongoing close medical monitoring;
• Severe complications resulting from a chronic medical condition;
• Documented multiple medical conditions resulting in extended missed coursework;
• Complications related to a pregnancy;
• Infectious disease requiring specific isolation;
• Documented complications from sexual or other violent assault; and
• Other serious medical or mental health situations not included above.
• A traumatic event beyond the student's ability to control that affected the student's ability to perform or continue in classes.

Students who withdraw from any or all of their classes should be aware that a reduction in course load may affect the following:

• Student financial aid 
• Athletic eligibility (questions call Athletic Dept. 706-542-1847)
• Health insurance (contact your personal health care insurance provider)