Withdrawals

Hardship Withdrawals within the current semester

Withdrawals from courses are not permitted after the withdrawal deadline, except in cases of hardship as determined by Student Care and Outreach. Such hardship withdrawals are processed through Student Care and Outreach, 325 Tate Student Center, (706) 542-7774. The deadline for final approval of a hardship withdrawal by the Student Care and Outreach is the last day of classes for the semester. 

Retroactive Hardship Withdrawals

Requirements:

 

If a hardship withdrawal petition with the Student Care and Outreach is not complete by the last day of classes, a student can continue to appeal for a hardship withdrawal from Student Care and Outreach through the University Withdrawal Deadline of the following semester. Please visit their website for more information. If the hardship withdrawal process is not complete by the withdrawal deadline of the following semester, a student must appeal for a retroactive hardship withdrawal from the Educational Affairs Committee. Click here for more information on the University's Withdrawal Policy.

We recognize that college is a challenging time and that some students either come to UGA with health issues or encounter unusually stressful situations that prevent timely withdrawal from courses. The most common justification for the withdrawal is a medical condition (either a physical ailment or injury, or psychological difficulties such as depression or addiction). Another common justification is the death or hospitalization of an immediate family member.

IMPORTANT:  Semester course withdrawals (even retroactive hardship withdrawals) may affect a student's financial aid eligibility and Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. The result may include mandatory repayment of aid previously disbursed. Therefore, the student's letter of appeal must include the last date of attendance for the semester in which the withdraw is requested.  Students are strongly urged to speak to staff in Student Account Services and the Office of Student Financial Aid prior to submitting an appeal for a retroactive hardship withdrawal. Hardships based largely on financial difficulties or on unusually poor academic performance are routinely denied.

The diagnosis of a medical condition on its own is not justification for a retroactive hardship withdrawal. The university makes a number of accommodations for students with documented disabilities, including psychological ailments. Students should contact the Disability Resource Center, 114 Clark Howell Hall, (706) 542-8719, for assistance.

The Subcommittee looks for an explicit connection between the hardship and the student’s ability to meet academic standards during the semester(s) covered by the petition. The Subcommittee tries to determine why a student merits a hardship in that semester as opposed to any other semester, particularly for chronic conditions. An appeal for a retroactive university withdrawal must include substantive supporting documentation of the hardship.

The Subcommittee also routinely looks for evidence that the academic performance in the semester(s) covered by the petition is markedly worse compared to prior semesters at the University of Georgia. 

Retroactive hardship withdrawals are rarely granted if it has been more than two years since the last day of class for which the withdrawal is sought.

IMPORTANT: Our policy states that requests for partial hardship withdrawals (selected courses within the semester a hardship occurred) are rarely granted without extraordinary justification. If the Subcommittee members agree that a hardship existed, the student will most likely be required to withdraw from all classes in that semester.