When to Drop or Withdraw

During the fourth through twelfth week of instruction, students may request to withdraw from courses for serious and compelling reasons, as specified by the student. Such withdrawals require approval from the instructor and the chairperson of the department offering the class. If your request is approved, you will receive a W on your transcript for the class, indicating that you attempted the class but withdrew before completing it for a letter grade. W grades are not included in your GPA.  

Undergraduates may withdraw from a maximum of 18 units throughout their entire SF State undergraduate career (see Grading Policy). Be aware that withdrawing from one or more classes may negatively affect your financial aid (your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and your financial aid eligibility). 

To request to withdraw, you will need to: 

1. Complete the online request to withdraw in your Student Center (instructions above) to withdraw from one or more classes. Undergraduates who have reached the maximum unit limit to withdraw will not be able to submit a request.
2. Provide a serious and compelling reason in the online request form.
3. Your request will be routed to the appropriate approvers. You can check the status by returning to your request in the Student Center. You will also receive an email notification with the final decision.
4. Continue participating in the class until your request is approved.
5. If your request is approved, you will receive a W on your transcript.
6. If your request to withdraw is not approved, you must initiate the Incomplete process, if applicable, or complete the class(es). If you cease attending class, you may be assigned a WU or F (a WU is treated as an F for GPA calculation). 

From the thirteenth week through the last week of instruction, students may only request to withdraw in cases, such as accident or serious illness, where the cause of withdrawal is due to circumstances clearly beyond the student's control and the assignment of an Incomplete is not practicable. Such requests require documentation, as well as approval from the instructor, the chairperson of the department offering the class, and the Dean of Undergraduate Education and Academic Planning.  

Requests to withdraw approved under this criterion during the final 3 weeks of the term will not count against the undergraduate withdrawal limit of 18 semester-units. 

To request to withdraw during the final 3 weeks, you will need to: 

1. Complete the online request to withdraw (instructions above)
2. Provide a serious and compelling reason in the online request form and upload thorough and credible documentation supporting circumstances clearly beyond your control such as accident or serious illness preventing completion of the course or the assignment of an Incomplete.
3. Your request will be routed to the appropriate approvers.  You can check the status by returning to your request in the Student Center.  You will also receive an email notification with the final decision.
4. Continue participating in class until your request is approved.
5. If approved, a symbol of WM will be assigned. WM grades are not included in your GPA and will not count toward the undergraduate repeat limit.  Your transcript will reflect a W as the WM is for internal purposes only. 
6. If your request to withdraw is not approved, you must work with your instructor to see if an Incomplete is appropriate or complete the class(es). If you cease attending class, you may be assigned a WU or F (a WU is treated as an F for GPA calculation).

If you no longer want to withdraw from a class, you can cancel a withdrawal request by returning to your withdrawal request and clicking the "Cancel Withdrawal Request" button. 

1. In the Academics section, click on the Enroll link.
2. Click on the "Withdraw" tab
3. Click on the "View Request" button next to the withdrawal request needing to be canceled
4. Confirm the details of the withdrawal request to ensure the correct request has been selected
5. Click on the "Cancel Withdraw Request" button
6. Read the acknowledgment. Select "Yes" to proceed with the withdrawal cancellation
7. You will see a confirmation that your cancellation request was submitted