Medical Withdrawal

A medical withdrawal is granted in rare instances where a student is faced with a serious and unexpected condition that completely precludes them from being able to function as a student and in which the regular university withdrawal process is not appropriate. The deadline for the regular university withdrawal is very liberal, and students are encouraged to utilize the regular university withdrawal process to ensure withdrawal deadlines are met. Instructions on how to withdraw from a term can be found here. Students may subsequently apply for a medical withdrawal for financial consideration.

Whenever possible, requests for a medical withdrawal should occur during the term in which the medical condition arose. Students may apply for a retroactive medical withdrawal up to one year after the end of the term in question. For applications submitted after the end of the term, transcript adjustments are the primary remedy; tuition adjustments may not be possible.

Steps to Request a Medical Withdrawal

1. Medical Withdrawal Request Form
   1. Complete the Medical Withdrawal Request Form, which can be obtained in the Dean of Students Office(Andersen Library Suite 2130) or found online. The form must be completed in full and must be accompanied by both a personal written statement and the supporting documentation cited below.
2. Personal Written Statement
   1. Attach a personal written statement that thoroughly addresses each of the following points:
      1. Describe the medical condition/circumstances that required you to withdraw from the university.
      2. Explain in detail how/why the medical condition/circumstances prevented you from completing the academic term.
      3. Detail the dates of the onset of your medical condition/circumstances, along with the dates of any treatment you received, if applicable.
      4. If you stopped attending classes, explain why and when. (Please note: nonattendance does not exempt you from academic and financial responsibilities.)
      5. If you stopped attending classes, explain what other campus services you continued to utilize(such as purple points, meal plan, University Health & Counseling Services, attendance at student events). Make sure that your written statement thoroughly addresses every point (i-v) above. If it does not, your application will not be considered complete.
3. Supporting Documentation
   1. You must include a letter from your healthcare provider(s) or other pertinent sources. The documentation should be on clinic letterhead, and your healthcare provider must address each of the following areas:
      1. Describe the diagnosed medical or psychological condition or circumstances, and indicate when treatment commenced.
      2. Explain how the condition impacts this student. Does it completely preclude the student from attending classes and completing the semester? If so, please describe how and why.
   2. In the case of pre-existing, recurring, or chronic health conditions, documentation must show that the recurrence or worsening of the condition(s) began after initiation of the term for which the withdrawal is requested.
   3. If requesting a medical withdrawal due to the death of a family member, please submit an obituary or death certificate instead of a provider letter.
4. Last Date(s) of Class Attendance
   1. You must provide written confirmation from each of your instructors of your last date of class attendance. The best way to do this is to ask them to send an email with the information to deanofstudents@uww.edu.
   2. If you are requesting a medical withdrawal after the term in question, last dates of attendance are not needed.
5. Submit all materials to the Dean of Students Office
   1. Drop off at the Dean of Students Office in Andersen Library Suite 2130 or email deanofstudents@uww.edu.
   2. Only medical withdrawal applications that are complete and contain all of the above materials will be reviewed.

Important Notes and Steps

• International students, student athletes, students with a disability, and students who are receiving financial aid, veteran’s, and/or other benefits and who are considering withdrawing from the University are encouraged to meet with the appropriate official (e.g., International Student Advisor, Director of Athletics, Disability Services Coordinator from the Center for Students with Disabilities, Financial Aid Administrator, or Veterans Benefits Coordinator) before withdrawing since there may be legal, certification, and/or repayment consequences associated with doing so.
• Usually, consideration is for a complete withdrawal from all courses. If UW-Whitewater allows the late drop of one or more courses for medical reasons under this policy while the student remains enrolled in other courses, the rationale must be especially well-documented to explain the selective nature of the academic impact.
  • Students, if you are not requesting a full withdrawal from all courses, please document in your written statement that you are requesting to withdraw from some but not all courses in the semester. Please list which courses you are requesting to withdraw from.
• The Medical Withdrawal Review Committee’s decision may result in a full, partial, or no tuition adjustment. Students are encouraged to monitor their student account for remaining charges and are responsible for paying their balance in full. University adjustments should be completed within two weeks of the Committee’s decision.

If withdrawing from UW-Whitewater, please complete the following steps:

• Return your books to UW-Whitewater Textbook Services located in the UW-Whitewater Bookstore.
• Make arrangements with your Resident Assistant and Complex Director to check out of your room, if living in the residence hall. You will be charged until you have removed all of your items and have formally checked out.
• Fill out the UW-Whitewater Parking Permit Refund Request form located on Parking Services’ “Student Parking” webpage linked under “Refunds;” refunds are prorated. Do not fill this out if you are returning during a future semester in that academic year. Contact Visitor & Parking Services at 262-472-1011.
• Cancel Meal Plan and/or Purple Points Account at the HawkCard Office (UC 250; 262-472-1437).
• Notify the Veterans Benefits Coordinator, if receiving Veterans Benefits, at the Registrar’s Office in Roseman 2032; 262-472-1570.
• Return any borrowed materials from the Andersen Library.
• Pay/fulfill all outstanding bills and University obligations.

All questions, correspondence, and documentation should be addressed to: Dean of Students Office | 800 West Main Street | Andersen Suite 2130 | Whitewater, WI 53190
Phone: (262) 472-1533 Fax: (262) 472-1275 Email:deanofstudents@uww.edu