Exceptions to Course Drop and Withdrawal and Refund Policies

All students are subject to UMUC policies on course drop and withdrawal and refunds. On rare occasions, however, students may experience extenuating circumstances that warrant exceptions to the published policy.

Students may request university consideration for an exception by completing the Request for Exception Form. Requests for exceptions are reviewed by the Office of the Registrar.

Required Criteria

Students seeking an exception must meet the following criteria:

1. A direct cause-and-effect relationship can be demonstrated between the extenuating circumstances and the student’s ability to persist in his/her course(s).
2. Circumstances experienced and their resultant impact were not foreseeable and/or could not have been reasonably prevented during the time period in question.
3. Relevant documentation can be furnished from an appropriate authority to support the claim. (Documentation must be on official letterhead of the issuing authority and include the contact information for this authority. Examples of such documentation include a letter from a physician, commanding officer, employer, etc. Please note that all documentation submitted to the Office of the Registrar is kept confidential).

Exclusions

The following issues are not grounds for an exception: 

• Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) appeals
• Financial aid/loan issues
• Grade disputes
• Instructional/curriculum complaints

Please consult your advisor for assistance regarding the above issues.

Deadline to Request an Exception

All requests for exceptions to the UMUC drop and withdrawal and/or refund policies must be submitted within 90 days from the last day of the term during which the circumstance occurred.

Note: Submitting a request does not suspend billing or stop collections activity.

University Decision

The requesting student will be notified of the university's decision approximately four weeks from the time of submission of all documentation.