Catalog
Withdrawal From The College
Before the Withdrawal Deadline: Students may withdraw from the College before the course withdrawal deadline (normally the end of the tenth week of the semester) for any reason. A student who wants to withdraw voluntarily from the College before the course withdrawal deadline must complete a Withdrawal/Leave of Absence form available in the Provost's Office and obtain the required signatures from representatives of the Office of Financial Aid, the Office of Student Affairs, the Business Office, the Provost's Office, and the Registrar before he or she leaves campus. The Provost's Office will inform the faculty that the student has withdrawn.
A student who wants to withdraw from the College before the course withdrawal deadline but is not on campus at that time must contact the Provost's Office. The Provost's Office will help the student contact the Office of Financial Aid, the Office of Student Affairs, the Business Office, and the Registrar and complete the Withdrawal/Leave of Absence form. The Provost's Office will inform the faculty that the student has withdrawn.
After the Withdrawal Deadline: After the course withdrawal deadline, in order to withdraw from the College for any reason other than a documented medical condition, a student must submit a written request to withdraw to the Committee on Academic Standing and Advising, including evidence of an emergency or other extenuating circumstance that would prevent the student from completing course requirements. A withdrawal from the College after the course withdrawal deadline usually necessitates a withdrawal from all courses. If the request is granted, the Committee on Academic Standing and Advising will inform the Provost's Office of their decision. The Provost's Office will help the student contact the Office of Financial Aid, the Office of Student Affairs, the Business Office and the Registrar and complete the Withdrawal/Leave of Absence form. The Provost's Office will inform the faculty that the student has withdrawn.
A student who needs to take a medical withdrawal at any time must present to Health Services or Counseling Services evidence of a documented medical diagnosis that would prevent the student from completing course requirements. Health or Counseling Services will advise the Provost's Office and the Office of Student Affairs about whether the student qualifies for a medical withdrawal. A student may be required by the College to withdraw if his or her medical condition presents a risk to him or herself or others. In either case, Health or Counseling Services will advise the student, the Provost's Office, and the Office of Student Affairs, in writing, about what the student must do in order to return to the College after treatment of the medical condition. The Provost's Office will help the student contact the Office of Financial Aid, the Business Office, the Office of Student Affairs and the Registrar and complete the Withdrawal/Leave of Absence form. The Provost's Office will inform the faculty that the student has withdrawn.
Withdrawal from the College, regardless of circumstances, is indicated on the student's transcript by W grades as final grades for the courses in which the student was enrolled that semester.
Withdrawal from the College can have significant effects on a student's financial aid. If the student receives Federal Title IV student aid funds, the Office of Financial Aid is required to perform a Federal Title IV recalculation of the student's eligibility for these funds. Washington College merit-based scholarships will not be reissued to students who withdraw from the College and subsequently apply for Readmission.
Withdrawal from the College can affect a student's eligibility for private health insurance and other insurance coverage. The College will assist students with the process of withdrawal, as outlined above. But it is the student's responsibility to inform him or herself about the effects of a withdrawal.
Leave of Absence
Students may take a temporary leave of absence from the College when medical or other personal circumstances require that they be away from campus for more than a few days. In the case of a leave of absence for other than medical reasons, the student must contact the Provost's Office. The Provost's Office will inform Student Affairs and the faculty of the student's leave of absence and help the student contact faculty about keeping up with course work.
In the case of a medical leave of absence, a student must consult with Health Services or Counseling Services about the problem that necessitates the leave. Health or Counseling Services will advise the Provost's Office and the Office of Student Affairs about the student's request for a leave and, if the request is granted, will advise the student, the Provost's Office and the Office of Student Affairs about what he or she must do in order to be approved to return to classes. A student on medical leave of absence may not return to classes until approved by Health or Counseling Services to do so.
A leave of absence is usually granted for two weeks (14 calendar days). If at the end of two weeks, the student has not returned to classes or been approved by Health or Counseling Services to return to classes, the Provost's Office will review the student's situation, consulting with Health Services or Counseling Services when appropriate, to determine whether the student's leave should be extended. Students who are not able or approved to return to classes at the end of four weeks are generally advised to withdraw from the College. In these cases, the withdrawal is retroactive to the last day the student attended classes and is indicated on the student's transcript by grades of W in all courses in which the student was enrolled that semester.
A student who is not in good academic or social standing and who takes a leave of absence or a withdrawal for any reason does not thereby return to good standing. A student's reinstatement of enrollment or readmission may be conditional, pending the resolution of any alleged academic or social violations of the Honor Code.
Reinstatement of Enrollment and Readmission
A student who has voluntarily withdrawn from the College in good standing academically and socially and wishes to return, and who has not taken courses at another institution during the time away from Washington College, must contact the Provost's Office and request Reinstatement of Enrollment. He or she will then be reinstated. A student who has voluntarily withdrawn from the College and, while away, has taken courses at another institution without prior approval from the Provost's Office must apply to the Admissions Office for Readmission as a transfer student. A student who has been on a medical withdrawal and wishes to return to the College must demonstrate that he or she has complied with the recommendations made by Health or Counseling Services when the student withdrew and must have the approval of Health Services or Counseling Services to return. Health or Counseling Services will advise the Office of Student Affairs and the Provost's Office in writing that the student is eligible to return. The Provost's Office will then reinstate the student. Students who have been on a medical withdrawal do not have to apply for readmission.
Merit-based scholarships will not be reissued to students who withdraw from the College and subsequently apply for readmission. Students who withdraw and apply for readmission will be considered for all appropriate need-based aid programs if they meet the College's need-based aid application deadlines.
Students who receive merit-based scholarships and withdraw, but do not require readmission, will have their merit-based scholarships reissued provided their cumulative GPA was at least a 3.0 at the time of their withdrawal. However, students who receive merit-based scholarships and who have been approved for an official medical withdrawal and did not have a 3.0 cumulative GPA at the time of their withdrawal will be allowed the benefit of one additional semester of merit-based scholarship aid before any adjustment to the award will be determined.
Exit Interview
Students who plan to withdraw either temporarily or permanently for reasons of transfer, employment, or personal circumstances must complete a College Withdrawal/Leave of Absence form and schedule an exit interview with the Associate Provost for Academic Services. The purpose of this exit interview is to explore factors behind the withdrawal decision, to find out how the College can assist the student through his or her transition, and to gain feedback on the student's experiences at Washington College.
Refund Schedule
The College must make financial commitments to its faculty, staff, and service contractors on an annual basis and, thus, depends on tuition and other dollars to meet those commitments. If a student withdraws from the College during a semester, the student will be responsible for all non-refundable amounts. When the student withdrawal results from a disciplinary action, the College makes no refund of any kind. Tuition refunds or credits will be allowed according to the following schedule:
- Before classes begin : 100%
- During first two weeks of class : 75%
- During third week of class : 50%
- During fourth week of class : 25%
After the fourth week of class there will be no refund.
Fees are generally not refundable after the start date of the semester.
Places in residence halls are assigned for the full semester; therefore, no refunds or credits for rooms are given for a student withdrawing after classes begin.
Board refunds or credits will be determined on the same basis as the tuition refunds except for students who officially withdraw for medical reasons.
Parents wishing to insure against the financial losses associated with non-disciplinary withdrawals after the beginning of classes may purchase insurance, which is available through the College.