After the eighth week of classes, the Scholastic Standing Committee may permit cancellations for the current semester but only upon petition. Any petition requires the signature of the course instructor and the student's adviser. Instructors can choose not to sign the petition if in their opinion the student's reason for withdrawing is not appropriate. Petitions for late withdrawals are rarely approved unless the student can document that circumstances beyond their control interfered with the course completion. Such circumstances might include illness and/or hospitalization, a death in the family, or military service for reservists or National Guard members.

One Time Drop Policy allows any student enrolled at the University of Minnesota to drop a class "no questions asked" once during their academic career at the University. The drop must be requested by the last day of classroom instruction for the semester. Once a student has requested a one-time drop, a tracking flag is placed on the student record so that the student may not exercise this option again.

Retroactive Withdrawal

Occasionally, students will petition the Scholastic Affairs Committee for retroactive cancellation of a course or courses well after the semester in question has ended. Before such petitions are acted upon, the course instructor(s) will be asked to verify whether the student completed the courses in question. No cancellation will be allowed if you have completed the course(s).

Retroactive cancellations require documented evidence by an uninterested third party that verifies that you were not able to complete your coursework because of illness, family emergency or some other unanticipated event. Your are held responsible for all courses not officially canceled.