Even when giving their best effort, students sometimes experience unexpected disruptions that upsets their momentum and forces them to consider dropping out. Withdrawing from college can often be a difficult decision to make. Moving too quickly can lead to missing the completion of important tasks, misunderstanding the impacts of withdrawing, or the absence of learning about alternate possibilities. Approaching the decision to withdraw the right way now can help prevent costly and confusing snags down the road.

When considering withdrawing it’s important to talk to the people who can offer the most help.

Talk to an instructor or the department head. It is strongly recommended that students talk face to face with their instructor or department head before withdrawing from any classes. They are the best ones to talk with about what impact withdrawal has on the students standing in the program or their eligibility to return.

Is taking a Leave of Absence a better option than withdrawing? Maybe withdrawing isn’t the best option under the circumstances. A Leave of Absence provides a temporary interruption of enrollment with a reasonable expectation of the student returning to school. For more information about taking a Leave of Absence see the Leave of Absence  page of the Student Guide.

Talk to the registrar. Filling out the appropriate paperwork and settling accounts receivable accounts are an important part of the withdrawal process. The registrar’s office in Student Services is a student’s best resource for making sure balances are paid, records are clear, and transcripts are appropriately maintained.

Students who withdraw from a course or program before completing it may be entitled to a refund of tuition and fees. Learn more about what determines a student has withdrawn, student withdrawal procedures, and the processing of refunds or making payments in college policy 606 Withdrawals, Refunds, and Returns – Tuition, Fees, and Other Charges.

For Continuing Education courses, see college policy 920 Registration and Refunds for College Foundations for more information about charges, payments, and refunds.

Talk to the Financial Aid Office. If the student is a recipient of any source of financial aid their withdrawal date can have a major impact on current finances and future financial aid eligibility. Depending on when the student withdraws can be the difference between earning aid received and having to return it.

See also policy 732 Withdrawal and the Return of Title IV Funds - Clock Hours, or policy 733 Withdrawal and the Return of Title IV Funds – Credit Hours.