University of Washington Policy Directory

Print This Page
*Formerly part of the University Handbook
Student Governance and Policies

Scholastic Regulations

Chapter 113



Withdrawals




1.  Withdrawal from the University

  A. Voluntary Severance

Withdrawal from the University is voluntary severance by the student of the student's connection with the University for a specified quarter.

  B. Official Notice

Withdrawal from the University is official when notice is submitted of the withdrawal to the Registrar or the student withdraws from all classes using the Current Quarter Drop withdrawal process.

  C. Transcript Entry

University withdrawals received prior to the quarter will result in no entry on the transcript for that quarter.

  D. Withdrawal During the First 14 Days

University withdrawals during the first 14 calendar days of the quarter will result in the student's transcript showing only the date of withdrawal. No courses will be listed.

  E. Withdrawal After the First 14 Days

After the first 14 calendar days of the quarter, an official withdrawal will be entered on the student's record with a grade of RD for each course held at the time of withdrawal and the date of the withdrawal.

  F. Last Day to Withdraw

The last day to withdraw from the University will be the last day of instruction in each quarter. No withdrawals can be made once the final examination period has begun.

  G. Summer Quarter

A proportional withdrawal schedule will be printed in the Time Schedule for Summer Quarter a and b terms.

  H. Unofficial Withdrawals

Withdrawals accomplished by any other method are not official and result in the entry of the grade 0.0 in each course for which the student is registered that quarter.

S-B 103, March 1968 with Presidential approval; BR, December 7, 1972 [see also WAC 478-160-290]; S-B 124, May 19, 1975; S-B 150, April 9, 1990: both with Presidential approval; RC, December 3, 2013; S-B 199, January 29, 2021: with Presidential approval.

2.  Withdrawal from the University for Military Service

If a student is conscripted into the Armed Forces, or is called to active military duty, the student may take advantage of military withdrawal from the University under the conditions listed below. Students who voluntarily enlist are subject to the regular withdrawal procedures specified in Section 1 above.

  A. Credit and Refunds for Courses Begun

A student who withdraws may receive credit for courses and refund of fees, under the following schedule:

    1) Withdrawal through the seventh week of the academic quarter: No credit. Full refund.

    2) Withdrawal after the seventh week of the academic quarter: University withdrawal with full refund of fees, or credit with grades reported by instructors as either credit (CR), no credit (NC), or numeric grades (1.7-4.0). Students may elect to have passing numeric grades recorded as reported or to have them recorded as a CR. NC grades will be recorded as withdrawals.

  B. Last Quarter Before Obtaining a Degree

If a student is in the student's last quarter before obtaining a degree from the University, the student will be granted the degree PROVIDED: that at the beginning of the quarter the student's cumulative grade-point average is high enough for graduation; that the student's degree has been approved by the student's department chair and dean; and that the student's grades for the completed portion of the quarter are 1.7 or greater in each course necessary for graduation. The third proviso may be waived if the withdrawal occurs so soon after the beginning of the quarter that determination of a grade is impossible.

  C. Report Date

The student will be expected to attend classes and withdraw no more than 15 calendar days before the student's date to report for duty.

  D. Duty Requirement

The privilege of military withdrawal will be granted only to students whose induction or enlistment is for extended active duty, not for short-term National guard or Reserve duty or annual active-duty requirement.

  E. UW Continuum College Courses

The provisions of military withdrawal apply to students enrolled in UW Continuum College classes as well as those in day school.

  F. Authority of Dean or Chair in a Professional College or School

Should the foregoing provisions conflict with standards imposed upon a professional college or school by accrediting or licensing agencies, the dean or chair of the college or school shall approve the conditions of military withdrawal.

AI, March 1966; AI, January 1991; RC, December 3, 2013; RC, October 27, 2017; S-B 199, January 29, 2021: approved by the President.

3.  Dropping a Course

  A. Officially Dropping a Course

A drop from a course is voluntary severance by the student of their connection with the course. To be official it must be made under the following conditions:

    1) Before the 14th Calendar Day

Courses may be dropped for any reason through the 14th calendar day after the start of the quarter. In some cases, departmental approval will be required. There will be no transcript entry for courses dropped by the 14th calendar day of the quarter.

    2) Current Quarter Drop

Students may drop courses during the current quarter after the Unrestricted Drop Period has ended through the Current Quarter Drop process. An annotation of RD (Registrar Drop) will appear on the student academic record.

    3) Former Quarter Drop

Students may petition to drop courses for a former quarter using the Former Quarter Drop process. The Registrar will grant such a petition if in the Registrar's judgment the student was unable to complete the course in question. Approved drops will be entered on the transcript with an annotation of RD (Registrar Drop).

    4) Withdrawal Through Last Day of Class

A student may drop all courses through the last day of classes by withdrawing from the University for that quarter.

  B. Unofficially Dropped Courses

Drops from a course not officially transacted with the Registrar are not official and result in a grade of 0.0 (E) for the course.

  C. Summer Quarter

Proportional drop schedules will be publicized in the Time Schedule for Summer Quarter a and b terms.

  D. Off-Calendar Courses

For DL courses and other courses that do not follow the quarter schedule, the drop deadline is two weeks prior to the end of the maximum term for completion of the course, as specified at the time of registration. All other provisions of Subsections 3.A3.C apply.

S-B 124, May 1975; S-B 150, April 9, 1990; S-B 164, April 1997; S-B 167, November 26, 2001; S-B 173, April 6, 2007: all with Presidential approval; RC, December 3, 2013; S-B 180, February 27, 2014; S-B 194, May 29, 2020; S-B 199, January 29, 2021: all with Presidential approval.