UIC Graduate College - University of Illinois at Chicago
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Withdrawing From All Courses

Withdrawal from the University is governed by specific regulations that students should observe to protect their academic standing. Failure to withdraw officially from the University before the last day of instruction results in a grade of E (failure) appearing on the record for each course in which the student is registered. Students dropping the only course for which they are enrolled should follow university withdrawal procedures.

Students who withdraw by the tenth day of the semester (fifth day in summer) are not considered to have been registered for that term, and the withdrawn courses will not appear on the student’s transcript. Students who withdraw after the tenth day (fifth in summer) are considered “in residence” for that term, and are eligible to register for the next term. The withdrawn courses will appear on their transcript with a "W" grade.

Graduate students who wish to withdraw may secure copies of the withdrawal form from their director of graduate studies or the Graduate College. Graduate students in a degree program should initiate official withdrawal by consulting their director of graduate studies for approval. non-degree students who were not admitted to a specific department should initiate withdrawal from the Graduate College.

Graduate students who fail to register for two terms in a row (excluding summer) without taking an approved leave of absence forfeit their admission to the Graduate College. Like students who have officially withdrawn from the university before the tenth day of the semester (fifth day in summer), they must reapply for admission to the Graduate College. Readmission is not guaranteed.

Withdrawal to Enter Military Service:

A graduate student who must leave the university in order to enter into active service with the armed forces in a national or state emergency (including being called up for the Active Reserve Forces and the National Guard) during the first twelve weeks of the semester (first six weeks in summer session) will be withdrawn from courses with a full refund of tuition and fees. If called to active duty after that time, and before the end of the term, the student may withdraw from all courses with a full refund of tuition and fees, or, the student may ask the instructor(s) for permission to receive an Incomplete (IN) or Deferred (DFR) grade(s). An instructor may assign an IN or DFR if deemed academically appropriate and feasible. Alternatively, an instructor may assign a letter grade, if requested by the student, if the instructor deems it to be academically justified. Deadlines for incomplete grades under these circumstances may be waived upon the discretion of the instructor and the Graduate College. A student who chooses to withdraw from all courses will not receive a "W." It is the student's responsibility to present proof of active service status for these actions to occur. (See Financial Obligations and Refunds for additional information.)