4.7.1 Withdrawal from a Course

A graduate student who desires to withdraw from a course may do so, with the approval of the student's advisor or department head, during the period allowed for dropping a class. It is the student's responsibility to review the Graduate School 's deadlines for the specific date by which one may drop a course.

No notation of courses attempted will be made on the permanent record of a student who withdraws from the University during the first week of a regular semester or the first week of a summer session. After the first week of classes, the fact of withdrawal from a course will be noted on the student's permanent record. It is the student's responsibility to consult the semester's schedule of classes for the specific date by which one may withdraw without receiving a grade notation. From the end of that period until the end of the tenth week of a regular semester or the equivalent in a five-week summer session or three-week Interim session, a student may withdraw from a course, and a grade of "W" will be assigned. Normally, graduate students are not permitted to drop a course after the tenth week. In extraordinary circumstances beyond the student’s control a student may petition the graduate dean to drop a course after the tenth week of class. After the tenth week, the student's academic status at the time of the withdrawal will be noted on the record ("W" for courses passing, "F" for courses failing).

Withdrawal from a course may affect several elements linked to registration and class loads, including (but not limited to) graduate fellowships, assistantships, tuition awards, financial aid, withholding taxes, etc. For more information regarding withdrawing from a course, please contact the Graduate School.

4.7.2 Withdrawal from All Courses (Withdrawal from the University)

A graduate student may withdraw from the University (i.e., withdraw from all courses in the semester), either for non-medical or medical reasons, as long as this is done prior to the last day of classes. The first thing a student considering withdrawal should do is to consult with his or her academic advisor.  

It is the student’s responsibility to initiate a withdrawal and provide the information necessary to complete the withdrawal process. Withdrawal cannot be initiated through myBama, and academic bankruptcy (described in the Undergraduate Catalog) is not available to graduate students. 

Withdrawal from the University requires approval for withdrawal from the Office of Academic Records and University Registrar (206 Student Services Center), as well as approval of the dean of the division in which the student is enrolled.

After the first week of a semester, the fact and date of a withdrawal from the University will be noted on the student’s permanent record. After the tenth week, the student’s academic status at the time of withdrawal will be noted on the record with a “W” for courses passing and an “F” for courses failing. 

For a medical withdrawal, the student must contact University Health Service.  A medical withdrawal cannot be granted if the graduate student has taken any finals or their equivalent (final papers, final projects, or similar assignments) for the semester for which a withdrawal is being requested.  The procedures for a medical withdrawal are available by contacting University Health Service (348-6262).

The University’s withdrawal policies can be found on the Student Receivables site.

For the different types of withdrawal, the process to initiate each one, and its impact on academic records, go to the University main web pages regarding withdrawal.

For complete details about the financial implications of withdrawals on tuition and other expenses, refer to the University's Policies at the Student Receivables' website. 

Information about the impact of withdrawal on students receiving federal financial aid can be found on the Student Receivables' website. 

Details concerning the Impact of Withdrawal on Institutional and Non-Institutional (Non-Federal only) Loans and Scholarships if no Federal Aid is Involved are on the Student Receivables website. 

4.7.3 Leave of Absence

Under compelling circumstances beyond the student’s control, a graduate student may request that the department petition the Graduate School with the rationale for granting a leave of absence. If granted by the Graduate School, a leave of absence will cover one or more upcoming semesters rather than any prior semester(s). A leave is not a method of avoiding continuous registration requirements, and it does not lengthen the time limit. When a student returns from a leave of absence, the Graduate School must be notified and will work with the department and student to determine the number of semesters remaining on the time limit and the degree requirements that remain.

Military Leave

Students called for active military duty will receive an extension to time limits equal to the term of active duty, plus reasonable time to reacclimate to academia. A copy of pertinent military orders must be provided to the Graduate School in order to receive an extension.

THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA GRADUATE CATALOG

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Last Updated: July, 2009