A student can officially withdraw up until the withdrawal deadline in the tenth week of the semester. Consult the academic calendar for the deadline each term. Additionally, as of Fall 2021, an unofficial withdrawal (WU) grade will not have punitive impact on a student’s GPA. The information in this section pertains to inquiries one might have regarding courses with WU grades from semesters prior to Fall 2021 only.

 

I could not withdraw officially from my course(s) in a given semester prior to Fall 2021. Can I withdraw without penalty?

If you were forced to stop attending classes due to unforeseen circumstances and can provide documented proof of the reason behind your unofficial withdrawal, consult an Academic Advisor about an appeal for a late or retroactive withdrawal. Appeals after the withdrawal deadline are not usually granted unless there are documented reasons such as: change of employment schedule, hospitalization, or leaving the country for an urgent matter.

These appeal types will only be considered if every course in the applicable semester shows a WU grade.

Your appeal should include a written statement on official stationery from your instructor(s) with regard to your attendance and grade earned to date. If relevant, you may also include documents that prove the extenuating circumstances behind your late withdrawal.

If you do not file an appeal for retroactive withdrawal or if your appeal is denied, please refer to appeals for Substitution Under the CUNY F Policy.

 

Can I withdraw from my course(s) this semester?

If you want to withdraw from a class without academic penalty, you may do so before the withdrawal deadline, which appears each term in the Undergraduate term calendar published by the Office of the Registrar, without appealing, but make sure you check with Financial Aid as to the financial repercussions that this action may have on your tuition responsibility. Consult an Academic Advisor about how withdrawing might impact your degree progress and academic standing. If you require assistance in the withdrawal process, please refer to the Office of the Registrar.

 

If you must withdraw after the deadline, you may submit an appeal to the Office of Academic Standards via SM Apply, explaining the reasons why you did not do so in time. The Committee will wait until final grades are submitted before a decision is rendered.

Your appeal should include a written statement on official stationery from your instructor(s) with regard to your attendance and grade earned to date. If relevant, you may also include documents that prove the extenuating circumstances behind your late withdrawal.

Appeals after the withdrawal deadline are not usually granted unless there are documented reasons such as: change of employment schedule, hospitalization, or leaving the country for an urgent matter.

If I want to withdraw due to medical reasons, what do I do?

If you withdraw before the withdrawal deadline, you can do so yourself without penalty. If you withdrew after the deadline, you must file an appeal for a late withdrawal and attach all relevant official documentation for consideration.

 

I am filing an appeal for Withdrawal after the Deadline. What documentation do I need to provide with my appeal?

Here are some examples of required documentation for the most common reasons for an appeal to Withdraw after the Deadline: 

  • In the case of a personal medical emergency, provide official documentation verifying dates of hospitalization and/or statement from the physician as to projected leave from school. 
  • In the case of a work schedule change, provide an official letter from your employer verifying the time conflict and the start date of that change. 
  • In the case of having to leave the country due to an urgent matter, provide a copy of your boarding pass, a copy of official stamps on your passport, and a copy of a death certificate (if appropriate). 

 

If I have earned a grade I do not wish to have on my transcript, can I appeal for a retroactive withdrawal? 

No, you may not appeal. An earned academic grade cannot be reversed to a withdrawal. 

 

I withdrew officially from a course, but I stayed in the class and the professor is willing to give me a grade. Can I have the withdrawal changed to a grade?

No, a withdrawal is a personal decision; it stands on the record and may not be changed to a grade.