Withdrawal Policy

In order to drop the program students must contact the THISTLE office at 973-655-5197. Students must then follow university policy in withdrawing from all courses registered.

Students will be permitted to drop courses through WESS with a WD through the ninth week of the semester. Students must drop courses through the register's office or WESS. The THISTLE office cannot officially withdrawal a student from a course.

Students will be permitted to drop courses from the ninth week through the last day of classes earning either a WP (withdraw pass) or WF (withdraw fail). Students who wish to withdraw after the ninth week but before the last day of classes must inform their instructors of their intent. Instructors will give students who are earning a C- or better a WP and students who are earning a D+ or below a WF. The WP and the WF grades are intended to be exceptions or interventions for students who are experiencing hardships that legitimately prevent them from withdrawing before the deadline. The WP and WF are not calculated in the GP A so they do not impact academic standing. However, they do indicate that the student withdrew from the class and their status when they withdrew and they are indicated on the transcript. Therefore, students should be aware of the impact of these grades and how they may be viewed by graduate and professional schools. This option should be employed judiciously.

Exemptions may be made in extreme cases, i.e., sudden hospitalization, death in family, etc. The Dean of Students will consider these exceptions only when "unforeseeable and uncontrollable circumstances prevail." Only students who have received a D+ through an F in a class will be eligible for an exemption and students who receive these exemptions will always receive a WF. No exemptions will be made after one calendar year after the posting of the final grade.

1. From the new policy, “The WP and the WF grades are intended to be exceptions or interventions for students who are experiencing hardships that legitimately prevent them from withdrawing before the deadline.” The standard to be met for a student to qualify for a WP or WF is deliberately set high. These new grade options are not intended, for example, as a means by which a student who is earning an F can minimize the negative impact on her or his GPA.

2. The determination of a final grade that accurately reflects the achievement of a student in course is the prerogative and responsibility of the faculty instructor. If an instructor believes that a student who has requested to withdraw from her of his class after the ninth week of classes meets the standard noted above, she or he will issue a grade of WP or WF. If the faculty member believes that the standard has not been met, she or he should enter the grade that most accurately reflects the achievement of the student in the class.

[1] Please note that this paragraph does not apply during the semester in which the grades are being issued. It becomes effective at the end of the semester and remains in effect for one year after grades have been posted in a given semester.