Dropping and Withdrawing

The difference between dropping a class and withdrawing from a class is based on the timing of your decision to stop participating in a class and when you take action on that decision. Dropping occurs when you take appropriate action to remove the class(es) from your academic record before the end of the second week of instruction (or proportionate for winter or summer terms).

Dropped courses no longer count toward your attempted units for a given term and do not count toward the Undergraduate Withdrawal Limit.Dropping may affect your status as a full-time student, your tuition calculation, and your financial aid eligibility.

To drop a class:

1. Use self-service registration on MyCSULB Student Center before the end of the second week of instruction.
2. Courses dropped before the deadline to drop without a W will not appear on your transcript. 

Withdrawing occurs when you remove yourself from class after the second week of instruction (or proportionate for winter or summer terms). Before withdrawing, you should consider the consequences of such an action and consult with your academic advisor since it will generally impact your progress towards your degree, future course enrollment, and financial aid eligibility. 

If your withdrawal request is approved, you will receive a W on your transcript for the class. The W indicates that you attempted the class but eventually withdrew before completing it for a letter grade. Withdrawn classes are included in the tuition calculation.

Withdrawals are subject to CSULB's Undergraduate Withdrawal Limit and are permissible only for a serious and compelling reason. Withdrawing requires approval from the instructor and chairperson of the department offering the class.

To request a withdrawal, you will need to:

1. Complete the online withdrawal request to withdraw from one or more classes. (See “Request to Withdraw.”)
2. Provide a serious and compelling reason on your request form.
3. Continue attending class until your request is approved.
4. If your request is approved, you will receive a W on your transcript. W grades are not included in your GPA. W grades may negatively affect your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and your financial aid eligibility.

During the final three weeks of class (or proportionate for winter or summer terms), withdrawals are only granted when students are unable to complete classes due to serious and extenuating circumstances beyond their control. See the information below about Catastrophic Withdrawals.

Withdrawal during the final three weeks of instruction (or proportionate for winter and summer terms) is not permitted unless there are serious and extenuating circumstances beyond your control that prevent you from continuing in your classes and Incompletes are not possible. Such withdrawals are considered Catastrophic Withdrawals and require approval from the instructor, the chairperson of the department offering the class, and the associate dean of the college in which the class is taught. Final approval can only be granted by the Withdrawal Appeals Committee.

Poor academic performance, lack of attendance, and desire to avoid a low grade are not considered compelling reasons for withdrawal. In most cases, catastrophic withdrawals involve withdrawal from all classes for the term and are not intended to be made more than once during your CSULB undergraduate career.

To request a Catastrophic Withdrawal, you will need to:

1. Complete the online withdrawal request to withdraw from all classes. (See “Request to Withdraw.”)
2. Upload thorough and credible documentation as attachments to your request form.
3. If approved, a symbol of WE will be assigned for every class in the term in most cases. WE grades are not included in your GPA. The withdrawn units will not apply toward CSULB’s Undergraduate Withdrawal Limit.
4. If your request to withdraw is approved but does not meet the definition of a Catastrophic Withdrawal, a symbol of W will be assigned for every class and the units will count towards CSULB’s Undergraduate Withdrawal Limit. W grades may negatively affect your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and your financial aid eligibility.
5. 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).

You may request to withdraw for medical reasons when a serious medical condition—such as an illness, accident, or mental health condition—prevents you from continuing in your classes and Incompletes are not possible. In most cases, medical withdrawals involve withdrawal from all classes for the term.

Medical withdrawals require that your physician or health care provider submit documentation that includes the date of onset for your medical condition, dates of medical care, and information about how the condition prevented completion of classes.

To request a medical withdrawal, you will need to:

1. Complete the Catastrophic Withdraw – Medical form (PDF), which will require documentation from your physician or health care provider.
2. If approved, a symbol of WE will be assigned for every class in the term in most cases. WE grades are not included in your GPA. The withdrawn units will not apply toward CSULB’s Undergraduate Withdrawal Limit.
3. If your request to withdraw is approved but does not meet the definition of a Catastrophic Withdrawal, a symbol of W will be assigned for every class and the units will count towards CSULB’s Undergraduate Withdrawal Limit. W grades may negatively affect your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and your financial aid eligibility.
4. 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).

Please be aware that you may be required to obtain clearance from an appropriate medical professional before enrolling in a subsequent term.

Military leave is granted to students to serve in the armed forces of the United States if the absence is due to serving in the armed formes for more than 30 days and the cumulative length of all absences for service does not exceed five years.

To withdraw from classes for military leave:

1. If you are requesting your leave before the end of the second week of class, drop your classes using MyCSULB Student Center.
2. If you are requesting your leave after the second week of class, complete the online withdrawal request to withdraw from all classes. (See “Request to Withdraw.”)
3. Submit your Application for Military Leave in MyCSULB Student Center (refer to instructions on Educational Leave webpage).

You may withdraw from a maximum of 18 units throughout your entire CSULB undergraduate career, including special sessions, College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPaCE) enrollment, and re-enrolling after separation from the university. Once the limit is reached, you can no longer withdraw and must remain enrolled. Your instructor(s) will assign the appropriate grade(s).

You may review your courses and number of units applied to the Undergraduate Withdrawal Limit by accessing your MyCSULB Student Center and selecting Withdrawal/Repeats from the pull-down menu in the Academics section.

Exceptions to CSULB's Undergraduate Withdrawal Limit include:

• Dropping a class during the first two weeks
• Courses you withdrew from before Fall 2009
• Courses in which you received a symbol of WE

If you have reached the 18-unit withdrawal limit and request a withdrawal, the Office of Enrollment Services will be unable to process your request. See the information about appeals below.

If you have reached the 18-unit withdrawal limit and request a withdrawal, the Office of Enrollment Services will be unable to process your request. You must complete the class or initiate the Incomplete process, when appropriate. If you simply cease attending class, you may be assigned a WU or F (a WU is treated as an F for GPA calculation).

Exceptions to the withdrawal limit will be considered only in rare cases of extraordinary need and documented circumstances and must be requested in an appeal. See Academic Standing and Appeals for more information.

Withdrawal due to circumstances beyond your control in which a serious personal life situation, illness, or accident prevents you from continuing in your classes and Incompletes or other arrangements with instructors are not possible may qualify as a Catastrophic Withdrawal. See the information above about Catastrophic Withdrawals for more information.