Student Resources
Withdrawals after Semester Midpoint
Contact: Teresa Raetz, PhD
Location: 153
Telephone: 678-985-6767
Email: sagwin@uga.edu
A hardship withdrawal is a withdrawal approved by the Office of Student Affairs as a documented event or serious illness that is beyond the student’s control and prevents the student from continuing or performing successfully in the semester. With a hardship withdrawal, students are expected to withdraw from all courses for the semester.
Process
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 WP 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.
Important Considerations
Students withdrawing from any or all of their classes should be aware that a reduction in their course load may affect other aspects of their academic life, and they should contact these offices to discuss any potential impact.
· Student Financial Aid (Student Financial Aid/706-542-6147)
· Satisfactory Academic Progress – SAP (Student Financial Aid/706-542-6147)
· Athletic eligibility (Ted White/706-542-7246)
· Health insurance (contact your personal health care provider)
· University housing (University Housing/706-542-1421)
· Use of university resources and access to university facilities
· Immigration status for International students (International Education/706-542-7903)
· Veterans Educational Benefits (Veterans Benefits/Registrar’s Office/706-542-8772)
The impact on Student Financial Aid may include, but not be limited to, mandatory repayment of already disbursed funds. Students should contact Student Financial Aid or other appropriate offices (Athletic Department, etc.) if there are any questions concerning the possible impact of withdrawing. Withdrawals during any session of the summer semester – Maymester, Extended Session, Thru Session, and both Short Sessions – can impact a student’s eligibility to enroll in other summer sessions of that same semester. Students returning from academic dismissal should consult their academic advisor prior to withdrawing. Veterans and dependents of veterans who are receiving educational benefits must notify the Office of Veterans Educational Benefits of any course load reduction (Office of the Registrar 706-542-8772).
Students who withdraw from any or all of their classes or who are withdrawn by the instructor PRIOR to the withdrawal deadline of the grading period are assigned a grade of ‘WP’ (Withdraw Passing) or ‘WF’ (Withdraw Failing) by the instructor. Students may not withdraw after the withdrawal deadline except when the student is doing satisfactory work and the Office of Student Affairs approves a University hardship withdrawal, in which case a grade of ‘WP’ MAY be assigned at the instructor’s discretion; however, an APPROVED UNIVERSITY HARDSHIP WITHDRAWAL DOES NOT GUARANTEE A GRADE OF ‘WP’.
No refund is allowed for a reduction in hours except when the class is DROPPED during the Drop period or when a student withdraws from ALL classes within the designated time period for that semester. A University Withdrawal allows for a prorated refund based on the day the withdrawal is processed as outlined in the current University Bulletin. Please access the University Bulletin at www.bulletin.uga.edu for more complete information concerning individual class withdrawals, University Withdrawals, and refunds. More information about refunds can be found here.