Is this a valid reason to withdraw from course?

NJSue
Tue, 07 Jul 2020 13:19:07 +0000

Normally course withdrawals by the scheduled deadline do not require any special approvals. That you need approval from the instructor and the dean to withdraw indicates to me that this is a late or emergency retroactive withdrawal request. Also, are you applying to withdraw from all your classes, or just the one? At many institutions late withdrawals must be for all classes a student is currently registered in (i.e. you can’t pick and choose the one that you happen not to be doing well in).

In my experience as a college administrator, only illness (the student’s), bereavement (death of immediate family member), or taking family leave to care for a sick child or parent would qualify as appropriate circumstances for retroactive withdrawal. Without more information, I don’t think a sibling going through a divorce would qualify as a reason. Most people do have to deal with the suffering of those close to them, but they also still have to perform at work or in school. That’s life. However, it doesn’t hurt to lay out reasons why this situation is unusually hard for you and ask for consideration. Just don’t get your hopes up.