Depending on time and circumstances, students may be eligible to withdraw from some or all of their courses in a given semester. Policies and deadlines regulate students' ability to withdraw from courses. Official withdrawal policies can be found in the Academic Catalog.
Students may withdraw from individual courses during the first eight weeks of the regular semester. Drops that are processed in the first four weeks of the semester leave no record on the academic transcript. However, drops in the fifth through eighth week require instructor permission and result in a 'W' (withdraw) notation on the transcript. The Registration Dates and Deadlines Calendar provides the exact dates for withdrawal in a given semester. Deadlines for dropping summer and winter courses occur much earlier in the term, and are listed through the Office of Summer and Winter Session.
Before dropping a class, students should consider whether the decrease in units will cause problems with financial aid, scholarships, insurance, or on-campus housing. When dropping a required course, students should also consider how this might impact prerequisite sequences and graduation timeline. Students are highly encouraged to speak with an advisor prior to dropping courses in order to explore options and avoid potential problems.
Students are able to withdraw from their entire semester schedule (Complete Withdrawal) through the last day of the semester. Complete Withdrawal is managed through the Dean of Students Office. Because Complete Withdrawal is a drastic measure that could have a great impact on academic progress and financial opportunities, students are highly encouraged to speak with their academic advisors prior to pursuing this option. There are many things students need to consider (PDF, 82.48 KB) before performing a complete withdrawal.
Students are also able to withdraw from future semesters at the UA by filing a Leave of Absence (LOA). LOA allows qualified students to take up to two semesters away from the UA without having to reapply upon their return. Students must have a GPA of at least 2.0 and have been enrolled in courses during the semester prior to the LOA in order to qualify for the leave.
