
Academic Policy: Withdrawals
 Regulations Related to Fostering
Undergraduate Student Success adopted by
President Ross on April 29, 2013
 UNC Charlotte Academic Policy: Withdrawals
passed by Faculty Council September 26,
2013 to ensure compliance of regulations

Withdrawals
 “Undergraduate students may receive a grade of W
for no more than 16 credit hours over their academic
careers.”
 Applies to entire undergraduate student body
beginning Fall 2014, but does not apply for W’s in
courses prior to Fall 2014
 Consolidates withdrawal deadlines to the 9th week
 All withdrawals will appear on transcript as W or WE
(extenuating circumstances)

April 29, 2013: Regulations adopted by
President Ross

September 26, 2013: Policy passed
Faculty Council

December 3, 2013: Communication
regarding policy change began

Fall Term 2014: Policy goes into effect

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September 27, 2013:
W Website Launch
December 3, 2013:
Faculty/Staff Communication
Launch
March 10, 2014:
Student and Campus-Wide
Communication Launch

Campus Communication
 Social Media: Facebook, Twitter
 Electronic: Email, Websites, TV screens,
Moodle, 49er Express, Inside UNC Charlotte
article
 Printed Material: Posters, table tents, fliers

Faculty and Advisor-Specific
Communication:
 Email from Faculty Council President/Provost
 Suggested Syllabi Language
 Best Practices for Instructors
 Faculty Handbook
 AAIT
 Academic Advisor Development Program

Student-Specific Communication
 Email announcing policy change to current
students
 Article in student newspaper and Student
Orgs newsletter
 Announcement to Student Orgs

Parent-Specific Communication
 SOAR materials
 Email to parent email address
 Article in parent newsletter and magazine
Three critical clauses:
Students who experience serious extenuating
circumstances (personal or medical crisis or
military deployment) may petition for a withdrawal
that does not count against their career W limit.
2. The student is expected to submit the petition
during the term the crisis begins. If approved, a
grade of WE will be recorded for each course
3. Courses marked WE do not count in GPA or
tuition surcharge calculations. (i.e. NOT a ‘Clean
Drop’)
1.
The Dean of Students Office is tasked by
the Policy Statement with developing and
communicating standards.
Website deploying on May 19
What is an Extenuating Circumstance?

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Personal Crisis
Medical Crisis
Military Deployment or Activation
Scope of authority

Must have 3rd party documentation
 Letterhead
 Signatures
 Dates
 Verifiable


Event occurred within the term of the request
No grades for the term posted
Must be beyond their control
Examples:



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Activation for national emergencies or events
(DNC)
Deployment of Reservist, National Guard, etc.
Traumatic injury
Death of a family member
Reoccurrence of preexisting condition
Mental well being
Pregnancy
Each is evaluated on a case-by-case basis
W Policy designed to:

Ensure that students enroll only in those
classes they intend to complete, thus
freeing up more seats for ALL students.

Encourage students to assign high priority
to completing what they start.

Renewed and Redoubled Focus on:

Academic Performance

Responsibility

Accountability
Top 5 Reasons Students Give for
Withdrawing
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
I was not happy with my grade.
I didn’t understand the material.
I didn’t like the course.
I didn’t like the professor.
The subject did not interest me.
Dunwoody and Frank (1995)
Withdrawing has typically been an “easy
out” for students.
‘ Sometimes “W” stands for “wisdom.” ‘
Liberal petitioning process (late Ws).
NO MORE….
SPREAD THE WORD ACCURATELY!

Reinforce Univ.-wide messaging

Distinguish “drop” vs. “withdraw”

Understand other areas impacted (FA, housing,
VA, visa students, etc.)

Emphasize enforcement

More imperative now to:

PROBE – Why has student chosen courses?

ENDORSE SENSIBLE CHOICES – school/life
balance

MONITOR – Refer to resources; use Early Alert

INFORM – Help student know options
POINTS TO STRESS:

Register as early as allowed

READ and UNDERSTAND syllabus

GO TO CLASS first week

If petitioning for extenuating circumstances,
must be done within SAME semester
Academic Policies and Procedures website
includes most current academic policies:
http://provost.uncc.edu/policies
Withdrawals website includes most up-to-date
implementation information regarding W policy
include FAQs:
http://provost.uncc.edu/withdrawals
Henrietta Thomas, Director, University Advising Center, hlthomas@uncc.edu
Dennis Wiese, Senior Associate Dean of Students, dwiese@uncc.edu
Leslie R. Zenk, Assistant Provost, lzenk@uncc.edu