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Withdrawal or Late Schedule Adjustments

Students who find it necessary to cancel their registration or to withdraw from all classes after enrolling for any academic term are required to initiate action formally through the Office of the Registrar and follow the university's official withdrawal procedures. Failure to do so may result in academic penalties and financial obligations.

Newly admitted students who would like to cancel their admission or applicants who no longer want to be considered for admission, visit the Cancel Admission web page to learn about your next steps. New students who withdraw before the University Census date must reapply and be readmitted for future semesters. Important dates are available in the Academic Calendars.

Withdrawing from the University

Submit the Request for Withdrawal Prior to Schedule Adjustment form in my.SDSU. Dropping all classes does not count as an official withdrawal. A withdrawal prior to the schedule adjustment deadline will remove all courses from a student's academic transcript for the semester.

Changes to a student's schedule, including adding additional courses, changing grading basis, or withdrawal from one or more courses, are only permitted for serious, documented circumstances beyond the student's control.

Submit a Petition for Late Schedule Adjustment in my.SDSU and include:

  • A written statement explaining the serious and compelling reason for the exception and how it prevented withdrawal before the deadline.
  • Third-party documentation to support the written statement. Examples of supporting documentation are hospital records, a letter from a doctor or counselor, or copy of an obituary/memorial notice.
  • Instructor notification with grade-to-date (not required for full-term withdrawal requests made by undergraduate students)
  • Petitions submitted without the required documentation will not be accepted.
  • Late Schedule Adjustments are approved by the Assistant Dean in the college of the student's primary major. Allow 4-6 weeks for approval.

The last day to submit a petition for late schedule adjustment is the last day of classes in the semester for which the student is petitioning.

An approved withdrawal requested prior to the university census date will remove the course from the academic record. An approved withdrawal requested after the university census date will result in a grade of "W" for the course(s) on the academic transcript. The university census date can be located in the academic calendars.

Approved petitions are subject to a $20 Late Schedule Adjustment Fee.

Under the SDSU Senate Policy, students may request to withdraw from either individual courses or the full semester's work after the semester has ended.

No requests for retroactive withdrawal will be accepted after a student's degree has been posted to their record.

Requests for retroactive withdrawal may be granted only in verified cases where the cause for substandard performance was beyond the student's control, such as accident or serious illness. Requests are reviewed only through the Request for Retroactive Withdrawal Form in my.SDSU with the following required documents:

  • A written statement explaining the serious and compelling reason for the exception and how it prevented withdrawal before the deadline. If requesting a retroactive withdrawal from only some courses in a prior semester, the statement must include why only those courses were affected.
  • Third-party documentation to support the written statement. Examples of supporting documentation are hospital records, a letter from a doctor or counselor, or copy of an obituary/memorial notice.
  • Petitions submitted without the required documentation will not be accepted.
Additional Information for Graduate Students
  • The request requires an email from each course instructor acknowledging that they are aware the student is requesting withdrawal.
  • Retroactive withdrawal from all courses in a prior term may be approved when the cause was beyond the student's control. Withdrawal from only some classes is an unusual exception that may be approved only with additional course-specific justification.
  • Grade of W (withdrawal) is recorded on the transcript and does not have an impact on GPA.
  • Retroactive withdrawal must be filed within two years after grades are posted. Approval beyond that time may be granted by the Graduate Dean or designee only in highly unusual circumstances.

Form Submission Process

To request a Withdrawal Prior to the Schedule Adjustment Deadline, Late Schedule Adjustment, or Retroactive Withdrawal, the student must:

  1. Log into my.SDSU and select the Academic Records tile.
  2. In the left-hand menu, select Student Records Forms.
  3. Select the form that applies to the request.
    • Withdrawal Prior to Schedule Adjustment
    • Petition for Late Schedule Adjustment
    • Retroactive Withdrawal
  4. Complete the form, ensuring all required information and supporting documentation are included.
  5. Submit form. A confirmation email will be sent to the student once the form is received by the Office of the Registrar.
  6. Processing times vary by form. Students will be notified by email as the form is routed for review.
  7. Students will be notified via their SDSU email once the request has been processed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Petition Requirements for Adding and Dropping Courses
A separate petition is required for each requested action. Students who wish to add a course must submit a petition that includes instructor approval and third-party documentation. Students who wish to drop a course in which they are currently enrolled must also submit a separate petition with instructor approval and third-party documentation.
Instructor Approval Requirement
When requesting to withdraw, students are encouraged to contact the instructor before submitting a late schedule adjustment. This allows an opportunity to discuss challenges with the course and explore possible alternatives, such as receiving an incomplete grade.
When requesting to late add a class, contacting the instructor beforehand ensures the instructor is aware of the enrollment request, confirms that space is available, and determines whether the student has missed assignments that could impact their final grade.
Examples of Supporting Documentation
  • Medical Issues: A letter from a medical provider, counselor, therapist, or psychiatrist.
  • Legal Issues / Divorce: Court order, police report, eviction notice.
  • Accident / Natural Disaster: Insurance claim or official report.
  • Military Duty: Official orders or letter from a Commanding Officer.
  • Caregiver Responsibilities: Healthcare provider letter, legal document, or birth certificate.
All petitions and supporting documents are confidential and protected by federal privacy laws from improper disclosure.
Status Updates on Late Schedule Adjustment Petitions
Petitions for late schedule adjustments may take 4 to 6 weeks for a determination. Once an action is taken, students will be notified via email. Any questions or concerns regarding a petition should be directed to the Assistant Dean for the student's major.
Class Attendance After Submitting a Withdrawal Petition
Students are required to continue attending class until a decision is made regarding a withdrawal petition, as approval is not guaranteed.
Withdrawing from the University with an SDSU Housing Assignment
Students who request to withdraw from the term or university and have an SDSU housing assignment must submit a contract release request immediately if they do not plan to attend SDSU. Additional information regarding cancellations is available on the license agreement web page.
COVID-19 Academic Policy Updates
Information about past updates to academic policies, requirements, and processes implemented in response to COVID-19 can be found on the Enrollment Services COVID-19 Updates web page.