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Return to: Academic Regulations & Enrollment
Withdrawal Procedures
Students who find it necessary to cancel their registration or to withdraw from all classes after enrolling for any academic term are required to follow the university’s official withdrawal procedures. Failure to follow formal university procedures may result in an obligation to pay fees as well as the assignment of failing grades in all courses and the need to apply for readmission before being permitted to enroll in another academic term. Information on canceling registration and withdrawal procedures is available on the Withdrawal Process webpage.
Any students who are anticipating the need to withdraw from Humboldt State are encouraged to discuss this with their academic advisor or with the staff at the Office of the Registrar 707-826-4101 or the Academic & Career Advising Center 707-826-3341.
To start the withdrawal process, a student should go to the Office of the Registrar. A student who formally withdraws prior to the end of the second week of instruction will have only an appropriate date of withdrawal (no coursework) appear on the academic record for that term.
After the first two weeks of the semester, a request to withdraw with a documented serious and compelling reason must be approved. A date of withdrawal appears on the academic record and all coursework appears with a grade of “W” (withdrawal). A maximum of 18 units can be withdrawn throughout your career at Humboldt State University.
A student is not allowed to withdraw during the last five weeks of instruction or later except in cases where the cause of withdrawal is due to circumstances clearly beyond the student’s control and the assignment of an incomplete grade is not practicable. Requests for course withdrawals during the final five weeks of the semester are seldom granted. Such withdrawals will not count towards the total of 18 permitted semester units of withdrawn courses.
Notification
Students must notify all course instructors of withdrawal. An instructor has the right to override a “W” grade with a grade of “F” or “NC.” For information regarding deadlines for partial refund upon withdrawal consult the Calendar of Activities and Deadlines and Student Financial Services. Graduate students (master’s degree seeking) must also contact their graduate department coordinator regarding their withdrawal.
A student who does not plan to return to Humboldt State the next semester may need to request a leave of absence or reapply to the university upon return. For more information please see Educational Leave or contact the Office of the Registrar, 707-826-4101.
Financial Aid: Students who receive financial aid funds must consult with Financial Aid prior to withdrawing from the university regarding any required return or repayment of grant or loan assistance received for that academic term or payment period. Students who have received financial aid and withdraw from the institution during the academic term or payment period may need to return or repay some or all of the funds received, which may result in a debt owed to the institution.
Housing: Students who have paid for housing on campus should contact the Office of Housing & Residence Life, 707-826-3451 or housing@humboldt.edu concerning refunds.
Withdrawal Procedures for Students Mobilized for Active Duty
HSU students who are in the military reserves or the National Guard of the United States who are called to active duty after the beginning of a semester or summer session have two options they may consider in determining their enrollment status with the university. Normal withdrawal procedures should be followed whenever possible. However, if students are unable to complete the necessary paperwork by coming into the Office of the Registrar, SBS 133, or writing a letter of withdrawal, the university shall accept notification from the student or a family member. The Office of the Registrar will verify all notifications.
Students may also contact Veterans Enrollment & Transition Services, 707-826-6272, with questions or for assistance with required paperwork. Withdrawals as a result of a verified call to active duty do not count towards the 18-unit withdrawal limit.
Option 1 - Students may withdraw from all courses:
A student may choose to do a total withdrawal from all classes, and under a CSU policy, receive a full refund of tuition and fees. This option requires that the student withdraw from every course and receive no grade for any course taken during the semester.
To process this total semester withdrawal, undergraduate students must contact the Office of the Registrar, SBS 133, 707-826-4101, or email records@humboldt.edu to complete the necessary paperwork and to start the process for refunds. Graduate students should notify the Office of Academic Programs & Undergraduate/ Graduate Studies, Siemens Hall 217A, 707-826-4192.
A student who does not plan to return to HSU the next semester must request a leave of absence. This approved leave of absence will ensure that the student will retain their catalog rights and will allow the student to register for subsequent terms without reapplying for admission.
Option 2 - Students may take a grade of incomplete in courses.
If a substantial part of the semester has been completed by the time the student is called for active military duty, the student may meet with each instructor to determine if the assignment of an incomplete grade is practicable. The conditions for completing course work and receiving a final grade should be agreed to between the student and the instructor by completing an Authorized Incomplete form available from any academic department. If the assignment of an incomplete grade is not practicable, then students should be offered the option of withdrawing from the course.
A student who does not plan to return to HSU the next semester must request a leave of absence. This approved leave of absence will ensure that the student will retain their catalog rights and will allow the student to register for subsequent terms without reapplying for admission.
Definitions and Policies
Drop
Disenrollment from a course during the first two weeks of instruction. Not recorded on the student’s transcript.
Withdrawal (W)
Disenrollment from a course after the first two weeks of instruction but prior to the last 20 percent of instruction (the beginning of the 13th week of classes in the regular semester). Requires documentation of a “serious and compelling” reason for withdrawing, and must be approved by the faculty member teaching the course and the department chair. If granted, a grade of “W” appears on the student’s transcript. EO 1037 limits undergraduate students to a total of 18 units with a grade of “W,” effective Fall 2009.
Serious and Compelling
A serious and compelling reason for withdrawal: Examples include psychological problems, loss of care for dependents, inappropriate behavior of someone else in the classroom, and serious reversal in the student’s financial situation. Documentation must be provided. (Note: reasons such as doing poorly in a class, taking too many units, being too busy to do the work, not liking the class, not knowing how or when to drop are not considered to be “serious and compelling.”) In considering serious and compelling reasons, faculty and department chairs should give careful consideration to a student’s extenuating circumstances while also following this rigorous definition of “serious and compelling.”
Catastrophic Withdrawal (WC )
Disenrollment from a course or from the campus after first two weeks of instruction due to catastrophic events clearly beyond a student’s control, such as severe illness or injury, being called to military service, consequences of the death of a close family member. Formal documentation of the event must be provided, and requests must be approved by the faculty member teaching the course, the department chair, and the appropriate college Dean or designee. If granted, a grade of “WC” appears on the student’s transcript. Catastrophic Withdrawals do not count toward the 18-unit limit for withdrawals. This is the only category of disenrollment permitted during the last 20 percent of instruction (the beginning of the 13th week of classes in the regular semester).
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