Withdrawing from Semester/Term

Withdrawing from Semester/Term

Withdrawing from UW-Madison?

Students consider withdrawing from the colleges and universities in Wisconsin and around the US on a regular basis. Though the reasons for withdrawing may vary, some common themes are:

• Academic Difficulty

• Financial Problems

• Illness/Medical-related Issues

• Loss of interest in college

• Loneliness/homesickness

• Personal Problems

Whatever a student’s reasons for withdrawing, there are a number of issues that a student should take into consideration when deciding whether or not withdrawing for a particular semester or term is the best option. It is very important that a student meet with his/her academic advisor before making any final decisions. For more detailed information about the withdrawal process, see what does it mean if I withdraw from the university.

In addition to speaking with one’s academic advisor, a student who is planning to withdraw should also:

• Speak with the Office of Student Financial Aid. Students receiving financial aid should speak with their financial aid counselor since the official date of one’s withdrawal will likely have a major impact on a student’s financial aid package.

• Speak with University Housing. Students living in university residence halls will need to let the University Housing office know about their decision to withdraw.

A student who wishes to withdraw should be mindful that his/her NetID will be deactivated. More information about the deactivation process and forwarding one’s UW-Madison wiscmail account at NetID Account Turnoff Procedure FAQ. General information about forwarding a Wiscmail account can be found at WiscMail/WiscMail Plus- Forwarding Email. UW-Madison Wiscmail accounts that are deactivated will be forwarded for six (6) months.

If a student wishes to drop all of their classes for a particular semester or term after the first day of classes, a student needs to formally withdraw or cancel enrollment for the term. This is done by the official withdrawal deadline (see Dates and Deadlines) in the fall/spring term or the summer session(s). Please note that all students who wish to withdraw are required to submit a withdrawal request through their Student Center. For more information about the withdrawal process, please refer to withdrawing from UW-Madison. Official deadlines for the fall, spring, and summer terms can be found at enrollment deadline pages on the Registrar’s website.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison does not use the term “to withdraw” to signify dropping one or more classes if a student intends to remain enrolled in at least one course for the semester/term. See “What does it mean to drop a course?” for more information about dropping a class.

Please refer to medical withdrawal for more detailed information.

• Many students simply stop attending class and mistakenly believe this is enough to withdraw them from the University. This is not the case! If you do not submit a withdrawal request through your Student Center, you are still officially registered in all of your classes and could end up with grades of F on your transcript.

• Complete the official withdrawal process through your Student Center. More detailed information about the withdrawal process can be found at withdraw or cancel enrollment for a term.

• Students will be able to drop their last class via their Student Center if:

• • the student is attempting to withdraw from a future term;
  • the student is attempting to withdraw from the current term and it is before their earliest session start date;
  • the student is attempting to withdraw from the current term and at least one of their classes has been graded.

• Students will not be able to submit a withdrawal request via their Student Center and will be directed to withdraw through their academic deans’ office (101 Ingraham Hall for L&S undergraduate students) if:
  • a student attempts to withdraw from a previous term/semester;
  • a student attempts to withdraw from the current term and it is after the withdrawal deadline for the fall/spring semester or summer term;
  • a student attempts to withdraw from the current term and at least one of their classes has been graduated but it is after the drop deadline for their remaining classes; or
  • a student attempts to withdraw from the current term and they have a hold on their record preventing enrollment activity.

For more information on how to cancel one’s enrollment/withdraw from a term at UW-Madison, please see how to: withdraw from the current term.

Refunds/Fees

Tuition refunds are determined by the effective date that a student officially withdraws from a particular semester or term. The official deadlines are based on a deadline schedule listed in according to the deadline schedule listed on the Office of the Registrar’s Enrollment Deadline Pages. Information about refunds can be found at Tuition & Fee Account – Refund Checks & Credit Backs.

Students are strongly encouraged to find out before they leave campus if they have any outstanding fees. To do so, students should contact the Bursar’s Office.

Office Locations:
333 East Campus Mall #10501
MADISON WI 53715-1383
Office hours, 7:45 am – 4:30 pm, M – F

Phone Numbers:
Student Loans – (608) 262-1791; stuloans@bussvc.wisc.edu
Student Accounts and Cashiering – (608) 262-3611; tuition@bussvc.wisc.edu
How to apply for a student loan

Tuition Questions: All tuition questions should be directed to tuition@bussvc.wisc.edu.

University Services & Facilities
Withdrawing from the University will limit or eliminate a student’s access to most campus services and facilities, including: housing, libraries, SERF & Natatorium, University Health Services, email and computer services, etc.

For more information, students should speak with their academic advisor(s).

Repaying Award Money
If a student withdraws from the University, s/he may be required to repay any cash funds (loans, grants, or scholarships) s/he has received for the semester/term . Students who plan to withdraw from the semester/term and are receiving financial aid through UW-Madison should contact the Office of Student Financial Aid as soon as possible. Students can find more detailed information about how withdrawing can have an impact on financial aid by going to withdrawals: refunds and repayment.

Rules to keep in mind
Undergraduates may receive a maximum of 10 semesters of financial aid, with summer sessions as one-half semester. The semester in which a student receives aid and reduces his/her load or withdraws is counted toward the 10 semester rule. Students should contact the Office of Student Financial Aid for the most up-to-date information about financial aid for undergraduate students.

Each year undergraduates are expected to complete 2/3 of all credits for which they have registered with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0. A student’s degree credits earned during the summer, fall and spring semester will be evaluated at the end of the spring semester to determine eligibility for financial aid in the upcoming term/year. If a student is considering withdrawing and will earn less than the minimum number of credits, his/her eligibility for future aid may be affected. Please check with the Office of Student Financial Aid for more detailed about your particular situation.

University Housing

• A student’s decision to drop all of their classes and withdraw the fall/spring semester will have an impact on their housing accommodations. Students must consult with University Housing Assignment Office as soon as possible about the implications of withdrawing from the current semester/term.

• Any student wishing to withdraw must complete a Contract Release Form or written statement indicating his/her intention of withdrawing from the University. See your housing contract for more detailed information. If the Assignment Office releases a student from their housing contract, the student will receive a set of checkout instructions.

• A student’s checkout will not be complete until after s/he has received approval for a contract release and has turned in his/her keys and linens at the Residence Hall Desk.

• Warning: A student should not move out or leave without going through the procedure outlined above. A student may incur additional costs if they fail to follow the necessary checkout procedures.

For additional information, contact the University Housing Assignment Office in Slichter Hall, 625 Babcock Drive, (608) 262-2522.

Private Residence Hall or Apartment

• A student’s decision to withdraw from the University will not affect his/her ability to remain in a private residence hall or apartment. Neither facility is tied to a student’s enrollment at UW-Madison.
• If a student would like to move out of his/her current residence:
  • Contact your general manager or landlord about your intentions to leave and the necessary checkout procedures. Keep in mind that it is not always possible to break a lease or contract.
  • It is sometimes possible to sub-lease your room or apartment. To do so, begin by reviewing the rules and policies governing such arrangements in your contract/lease. For additional information, contact the general manager/landlord or the Tenant Resource Center, 1202 Williamson Street, Suite 102, Madison, WI 53703; Rental Rights (608) 257-0006, Email: asktrc@tenantresourcecenter.org
• Warning: Students should never move out of their residence without notifying the general manager or landlord. You will still be financially liable for the balance of your contract/lease.

Withdrawing from school will place an international student on an F1 or J1 visa “out of status” immediately (see below). US Citizenship and Immigration Services expects international students to leave the U.S. on the date of their withdrawal from school or shortly after that. Therefore, international students are strongly urged to make all arrangements for their departure from the U.S. before they complete the withdrawal process.

It is extremely important that international students consult with their academic advisor about all the steps needed to properly withdraw from UW-Madison as far as their academic standing is concerned. International students must also speak with an advisor in International Student Services (ISS) as soon as possible about visa options and staying in status.

An international student must meet all of the conditions listed below to be considered in valid visa status by the INS:

• Attend the school whose I-20 a student used to enter the U.S.

• Enroll full-time each semester (12 credits for undergraduate and 8 credits for graduate)

• US Citizenship and Immigration Services allows F-1 students to be less than full-time under certain conditions. International student must consult with an International Student Services (ISS) advisor before making any change that would reduce your course load below these limits.

• Maintain good academic standing.

• Maintain sufficient financial resources to avoid becoming a “public charge”.

• Work no more than 20 hours per week on campus while classes are in session.

• Work off campus only with specific written authorization from ISS or US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

• Complete the F-1 transfer procedure to change schools within the U.S.

• Complete the change-of-level procedure when changing from one educational level to another.

When an international student does not fulfill any of the conditions stated above, US Citizenship and Immigration Services will consider the student to be “out- of -status.” If an international student is “out-of-status,” s/he will lose the following privileges and benefits:

• Eligibility for employment, on and off campus.

• Automatic visa revalidation for trips to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean islands except Cuba (unless the international student is a citizen of one of those countries).

• Extension of program through notification procedure.

• Transfer to or from another university in the U.S. through the notification procedure.

• Change from one educational level to another through the notification procedure.

• Practical training

International Student Services is located at 217 Red Gym, 716 Langdon Street. Please call (608) 262-2044 to make an appointment, or email questions to International Student Services.

If you are considering withdrawing from UW-Madison, keep in mind that if you are absent for a semester or more, you must complete a re-entry application before you can resume classes if you dropped all of your classes prior to the beginning of the current term.

If a student withdraws on or after the first day of the current term (i.e., fall or spring term), the student will be considered a continuing student for the next semester/term. The student’s registration time and related information will be sent to his/her e-mail. Thus, students should make sure that their address/contact information is current in their MyUW. Students who withdraw after the first day of the current semester/ term will be able to register without completing a re-entry application.

If a student drops all of his/her classes before the first day of class in the current semester/term, s/he then must submit a re-entry application before s/he can register again at UW-Madison.