We know that sometimes life circumstances mean that a break from the University of Michigan is the best course of action. Read below for the steps to take to withdraw from some or all of your classes, depending on where you are in the semester. And when you are ready to return, please see the University's Re-Admission website and contact us with any questions and to talk about reactivation. We want to do all that we can to help you complete your degree.
During the first three weeks of Fall or Winter term, you may drop a class for any reason. You can complete this process online through Wolverine Access and you will not receive a W. From the fourth week to the last day of class, you can still drop a class for any reason, but you will receive a W on your transcript. For additional information, including the deadlines for the Spring and Summer half-terms, see the College’s course drop policies. If you are dropping your only class for a term, please see the Term Withdrawal section below.
If you register for classes and later change your plans, you can disenroll by contacting the Registrar’s Office. You must do this before the first day of classes to avoid being charged any tuition or fees. If you are unsure when classes start, you can check the academic calendar.
If you wish to withdraw once classes have begun, follow the guidelines under this link.
After the last day of classes, you cannot withdraw except by successful petition to the Academic Standards Board. Retroactive withdrawals are rare exceptions and are only granted in extraordinary circumstances. To be eligible to petition, you must have documentation of non-academic factors that prevented you from finishing classes and prevented you from requesting the withdrawal before the end of the term. If you think you might have a case, please call 734.764.0332 to make an appointment with an Academic Standards Board member. You must have this appointment before you can submit a petition. Please note that there is a one-year time limit on these requests.
After the last day of classes, you cannot drop a class except by successful petition to the Academic Standards Board. Retroactive drops are rare exceptions and are only granted in extraordinary circumstances. To be eligible to petition, you must have documentation of non-academic factors that prevented you from finishing the class and prevented you from requesting the drop before the end of the term. You must also explain how the non-academic factors impacted this class and not the others. If you think you might have a case, please call 734.764.0332 to make an appointment with an Academic Standards Board member. You must have this appointment before you can submit a petition. Please note that there is a one-year time limit on these requests.
