Excused Withdrawal

In accordance with Title 5, section 55024(e), Excused Withdrawals shall be allowed to students in extenuating circumstances at any time, upon petition of the student or their representative.

“Extenuating circumstances” means cases of accidents, illnesses, or other circumstances beyond the control of the student. Colleges shall proactively engage with the student or their representative to identify available college support services that may mitigate the extenuating circumstances and prevent withdrawal. If mitigation efforts are unsuccessful, the student shall receive the excused withdrawal symbol (“EW”) on their transcript. Students shall not be denied an excused withdrawal due to a college's inability to respond to the petition or to provide sufficient assistance to mitigate the student's circumstances.
An excused withdrawal shall not be counted in progress probation and dismissal calculations, or toward the permitted number of withdrawals or enrollment attempts. In no case may an excused withdrawal result in a student being assigned an “FW” grade.
An excused withdrawal shall be assigned if a determination is made that the student withdrew from a course due to unlawful discrimination or retaliation.
An excused withdrawal shall be assigned if a student withdraws from a course due an extraordinary condition under section 58509.

Click here for the excused withdrawal (EW) drop option information and the form

Excused Withdrawal requests can be submitted to Admissions and Records at anytime during the current semester and no later than the last day of instruction. In accordance with title 5 § 55025, after a letter grade has been assigned, students must request a Grade Change (AP 4231).

The excused withdrawal will allow a student to withdraw from a class(es) without penalty any time during the current semester. However, the EW grade may affect your financial aid, athletic eligibility, and some scholarships and sponsorships the same way a No Record Shown (NRS) drop does; an EW grade will appear on your transcript but does not count in your GPA, academic standing or satisfactory progress standing.

If you are a student in a special population, such as EOPS, Veterans, Athletics, etc., it is highly recommended to contact your counselor to discuss what options are best for you. All students are encouraged to speak with a counselor to determine if an EW is appropriate for your circumstances. Please don't hesitate to speak with a Counselor , Financial Aid or Admissions and Records staff for more information and to further discuss your options.