Policy on Withdrawal from College

For Personal Reasons

Withdrawal from college for personal reasons (not including medical or military activation) during a semester may be granted to a matriculated student if the request is received prior to the last ten calendar days of the semester. Undergraduate students should work with the academic advising office and complete the Undergraduate College Withdrawal form (authentication required); graduate students should work with the graduate admissions office and complete the Graduate Studies College Withdrawal form.

If withdrawing from the current semester, once the request is processed, a WC (withdrawal from college) grade notation is recorded on the student’s academic record for each course not yet completed. Grades earned in courses completed prior to the effective date of the college withdrawal are noted on the student’s record and count toward semester and cumulative GPAs. Such grades may subject a student to an academic progress review at the end of a semester. As a result, students with cumulative GPAs below 2.0 are subject to academic dismissal from the college as the Academic Progress Standards supersede college withdrawals.

It is not possible to process a college withdrawal for non-medical reasons during the last ten days of the semester. Personal reasons generally include financial difficulties, family concerns, career exploration and personal adjustment matters. Waivers to this policy because of extenuating circumstances may be granted through the Office of the Provost of the college.

Undergraduate students who plan to leave the college for a period of time and return in the future may request a withdrawal from college in advance of the semester(s) they plan to be absent. The authorized withdrawal and its duration are noted on the transcript, and the student in good academic standing is given priority for readmission.

All students who have processed an official college withdrawal or who have withdrawn from all courses through the course withdrawal process relinquish the right to use all college services and privileges, and “withdrawn” is noted on the academic transcript. Undergraduate students must apply for readmission: students who are in good academic standing at the time of their withdrawal do not jeopardize readmission.

Graduate students who wish to withdraw from college permanently or for a short time should complete the Graduate Studies College Withdrawal form. Students should be aware of the time limitations for completing a degree and retaining credits for master’s degrees and certificates of advanced study. Graduate students need not apply for readmission providing the time limitations for degree completion and application of transfer credits or credits acquired in non-matriculated status have not expired; they must file an Intent to Return form with the graduate admissions office, however, to reactivate their access to Banner.

Medical Leave of Absence

A medical leave of absence for medical or mental health reasons for the current semester and/or future semester may be granted by a Student Health and Counseling Center designee.

Criteria for Leave of Absence

A leave of absence for the current semester must be initiated by the last day of the current semester.
An assessment by the Student Health and Counseling Center and/or written documentation provided by the treating health care professional that indicates serious medical or mental health problems, significantly affecting the student’s academic studies.
Leave of absence documentation for a future semester should be submitted to the Student Health and Counseling Center no later than week 1 of that semester.
A medical leave of absence applies only to matriculated students.

Students who have been granted a medical leave of absence relinquish the right to use all college services and privileges, and their status as a leave of absence (LOA), with effective dates, is noted on the transcript. Once the request is processed, a WC (withdrawal from college) grade is recorded on the student’s academic record for each course not yet completed. Grades earned in part-of-term courses completed prior to the effective date of the leave of absence are noted on the student’s record and count toward semester and cumulative GPAs. Such grades may subject a student to the university’s academic progress review at the end of a semester. As a result, students with cumulative GPAs below 2.0 are subject to academic dismissal from the university because academic progress standards override college withdrawal requests. A medical leave of absence is taken into consideration as a factor in readmission decisions for students who were academically dismissed.

For readmission to the university after a medical leave of absence, students are required to submit documentation from their treating health care professional to the Student Health and Counseling Center. The documentation must include the following information on letterhead:

The health care professional’s contact information and license number.
Diagnosis, summary of treatment and recommendation to return to academic studies and participation in campus life.

If the student took the leave for mental health reasons, the treating health care professional should also include the following:

Does the student currently have suicidal and/or homicidal ideation, plan and/or intent? If yes, please include the current safety plan.
The treatment plan going forward. Note that psychiatry services and weekly counseling services may not be available at the center; consult the Student Health and Counseling Center webpage for resources in the Plattsburgh community.

Once the readmission documentation is submitted and approved, undergraduate students must also process a readmission application through the admissions office, and graduate students must submit an Intent to Return form to the graduate admissions office. Readmission applications from students who are in good academic standing at the time of their medical leave of absence will be accepted. Time limits for completion of degree requirements for graduate programs, however, continue to apply.

For Military Service

A military withdrawal will be granted to any matriculated student who is called to active duty. A copy of the military orders must be submitted to the Office of Academic Advising (for undergraduate students) or the graduate degree program chair/coordinator (for graduate students) to process a military withdrawal. Students returning to the college within three years of the date of discharge from active service or within three years of recovery from an illness or injury incurred during service may be reinstated by contacting the registrar’s office (provided the absence from school for active duty does not exceed five years and separation from the service was not dishonorable). Failure to register at SUNY Plattsburgh within these time limits will require undergraduate students on a military withdrawal to apply for readmission through the admissions office and graduate students to file an Intent to Return form with the graduate admissions office. The student veterans support coordinator is also available to assist those called to active duty when they need to process a military withdrawal. Please contact the coordinator at 518-564-4425 for further assistance.

Withdrawal/Leave of Absences with Code of Conduct Charges Pending

A withdrawal with unresolved code of conduct charges will be noted on the transcript, as “Withdrew with Code of Conduct Charges Pending.” If a student withdraws with code of conduct charges pending, that student must complete the judicial review process prior to readmission.