Why would I need to drop or add a class after the ninth-week deadline (four and a half weeks for half terms)?
Petitions for an exception to the late drop deadline are rarely approved. Only the most serious circumstances warrant dropping a class after the ninth week of the term. This means some non-academic, extraordinary event (like a serious illness or severe personal disruption) would have occurred after the ninth week drop deadline of the term (four and a half weeks of a half term) AND would make completion of the course very difficult or impossible. All circumstances must be fully documented including such items as a physician's statement and instructor's statement for the petition to be considered. Students have 18 months from the last date of the term they are requesting the retroactive withdrawl from, to submit their petition. Any petitions received after this deadline will not be considered.

How will this appear on my transcript?
Any course dropped after the ninth-week deadline (four and a half weeks for half terms) will appear as a "W" on your academic record.

How do I drop all of my courses for the term?
You may withdraw until the last day of classes. If you must drop all courses in the current term and it is prior to the first day of classes, you may withdraw using Wolverine Access. Otherwise, you must complete a withdrawal form (available in 1401 LEC). If you withdraw after the ninth week of the current term, you cannot attend the next full term (not including Spring/Summer). Please contact the Scholastic Standing Committee at sscresponse@umich.edu for more information

What is the process for petitioning?

You must petition the Scholastic Standing Committee to drop a class after the ninth week of a term (four and a half weeks for half terms).

1. Download a Petition for Late Drop (Word or PDF)
2. Complete the Petition (obtaining signatures from your program advisor and instructor) and submit it
3. Wait for a response
4. Two members of the Scholastic Standing Committee will review your petition and make a decision. This generally occurs within two weeks of submittal, except in the Spring and Summer terms, when response time is determined by faculty availability. Committee Staff will notify you of the outcome via email.

   If your petition is approved, your academic record should reflect the decision within three weeks.

If you wish to add a class after this deadline (or change credits, swap sections or change the cross listing), have your advisor and instructor sign a drop/add slip indicating the change and bring the slip to 1401 LEC. You do not have to petition to perform these actions. See the Bulletin for more information.

Keep in mind:

• Petitions to late drop for performance reasons will not be approved.
• Documentation is important! If you can't document extenuating circumstances (illness, family death, problems with Wolverine Access, etc.), it is unlikely that your petition will be approved.
• If you cannot obtain the signature of your instructor or program advisor in person (he/she may be off campus), you may supply an email indicating his/her support of your petition.
• An 18 month deadline will apply to all petitions regarding retroactive course withdrawl from previous terms and these are rarely approved.