Withdraw from a Class: How-to Guide

The course withdrawal process is dependent upon the date you are trying to withdraw from a class.

  • During the Add/Drop period, you can drop classes on your own in SPIRE with no record remaining on your transcript.
    • Many students need to maintain full-time enrollment, carrying at least 12 credits. Be careful to check your total credit count before dropping and/or connect with an academic advisor if you have questions. International students, athletes, students on financial aid, and students with scholarships need to be particularly careful.
    • Adding a class near the end of this period should be done with caution. Check in with the instructor to be sure you can be successful.
  • After Add/Drop, but before the Last Day to Drop with a “W” (also known as the Midsemester Date): You can drop in SPIRE with a “W.”
  • After the Last Day to Drop with a “W” (Midsemester Date), this becomes an exception to University policy and you must petition for a late withdrawal by conferring with an Academic Dean in your College.
  • In SBS, Dean Jackie Brousseau-Pereira and Dean Vanessa Blais review late withdrawal petitions. You must follow this process to have your petition reviewed.
    • Read the SBS Petition for Late Course Withdrawal form below to understand acceptable grounds for a later withdrawal.
    • Complete the SBS Petition for Late Course Withdrawal form below.
    • The form below will be automatically sent to the SBS Pathways Center where the Academic Deans are located.
    • Call our office (413-577-1057) to schedule an appointment to discuss your petition with one of the SBS Academic Deans. If no one picked up, please be sure to leave a message that includes your name, phone number, and Spire ID number along with the reason you are calling.
    • If you have supporting documentation for your petition, you can send it to sbsadvising@sbs.umass.edu with the subject line “Documentation for late withdrawal.”

**The UMass Amherst Academic Calendar show dates for Add/Drop, the Last Day to Drop with a “W” (or Midsemester Date), and other important academic dates and deadlines.

** Dropping below full-time status (12 credits in Fall/Sping) could result in a reduction in your financial aid.  Students on an international VISA or students with NCAA status must remain full-time.

** If you want to withdrawal from all your class, please visit the Dean of Students Office for information on the University Withdrawal process.

 


 

SBS Petition for Late Course Withdrawal

Process for petitioning for a late withdrawal (W-drop)
1. Complete and submit the online form below.
2. Email any supporting documentation to sbsadvising@sbs.umass.edu. In the subject line, please write “Documentation for late withdrawal.”
3. Call our office (413-577-1057) to schedule an appointment to discuss your petition with one of the SBS Academic Deans. If no one picks up, please be sure to leave a message that includes your name, phone number, and SPIRE ID number along with the reason you are calling.

Please note the following:
*Poor academic performance does not constitute grounds for a late course withdrawal, regardless of whether a course is a requirement or an elective; for this reason, the University has a repeat course policy.
*Instructors cannot grant permission for late withdrawals.
*Students can drop a class with a "W" in SPIRE until the W-Drop date, which is set by University Regulations and can be found on the UMass Academic Calendar. The late withdrawal petition here is for students who are dealing with extenuating circumstances and would like to petition for a late withdrawal after that date. These are granted sparingly.
*Academic Deans rarely review petitions for late withdrawals for classes that were taken more than a year ago.
*It is rare that a request will be approved that would mean a loss of earned academic credits.

If you have any questions about what information, details, and/or documentation to provide, please call the SBS Pathways Center 413.577.1057, or email your question to sbsadvising@sbs.umass.edu.

Student Information

Name(Required)
MM slash DD slash YYYY
You are required to meet with one of our Academic Deans in most cases to discuss this petition. Please indicate a few days/times that you will be available for an appointment. You will receive a confirmation of your appointment once your petition is received. Please reach out immediately if the appointment you are provided does not work for you and an alternate will be found.

Course Information

Reason for Withdrawal(Required)
The following may be acceptable grounds for a late course withdrawal; documentation is required. Check all that apply:
Please let us know what documentation you plan to provide (e.g., doctor's note, obituary, emergency travel documentation, etc.).
Please provide an explanation for requesting a late course withdrawal.