“Withdrawal from the University” refers to the official process in which the student withdraws from ALL classes, from the residence hall (if applicable), and from any current student relationship with the University. This process is separate and distinct from a Student Leave of Absence. (See the Student Leave of Absence protocol.) The Registrar uses the date the student communicates in writing as his or her intent to withdraw and begins the University’s withdrawal process, as the official withdrawal date. The student initiates this process by filling out the Undergrad/Graduate Withdrawal Form and submitting it to the Registrar’s Office.
The student must obtain the required signatures: Admissions (for international students or a recipient of veteran’s benefits), appropriate School Dean, Dean of Students, Student Accounts, Financial Aid, and the Registrar.
The student must also return his/her student identification card, meal card (if applicable) and parking sticker to the Office of Student Services when withdrawing from the University. Further, any withdrawing student who has received a student loan must have an exit interview with a Financial Aid Counselor.
Courses for which the student is registered will appear on the transcript with a notation of “WD.” The official date of WD will appear with courses. The notation of WD does not calculate in the GPA but does calculate in student completion rate.
Withdrawal from the University does not affect the cumulative GPA of the student if processed by the close of “last day to drop without ‘F’,” as announced in the Undergraduate Academic Calendar 2024-2025.
The financial aid status of the student is affected by withdrawal from the University in the following ways:
- Refunds for tuition and fees are credited to the student’s account according to the refund schedule.
- Housing, meal, and Book Bundle fees are credited to the student’s account according to the refund schedule.
- Financial Aid will be prorated to the student according to the Federal Return of Title IV Funds Policy. Withdrawal after the refund period means the student will have used an entire semester’s eligibility of aid.
- The balance of the student’s account with the Student Accounts Office will be credited or billed to the student as appropriate.
- Once the student has completed registration, i.e., turned in the registration form to the Student Accounts Office, the student is liable for all registration fees even though classes have not been attended, unless the student completed an official withdrawal form.
- Students who are suspended or ineligible to continue in an academic program because of grade deficiencies and who are registered in advance for the subsequent semester, may be required to complete an official withdrawal form.
Any completed student withdrawal will be reviewed for the official withdrawal date, set forth by the Registrar (Academic Calendar). The Registrar uses the date the student communicates in writing, to the Registrar’s Office, as their intent to withdraw and begins the University’s withdrawal process, as the official withdrawal date. If this date falls after the first day of classes, there can be a Return of Title IV (R2T4) calculation to determine financial aid earned. If a withdrawal is completed prior to the Financial Aid disbursement date, and there is aid earned, the aid would be seen as a post-withdrawal disbursement and LMU would obtain permission from the student/parent prior to disbursing earned aid. If a withdrawal is completed on or after the FA disbursement date, the aid is adjusted based on the pro rata of the R2T4 calculation by the FAA Access Return to Title IV Worksheet provided by the Department of Education (DOEd). Adjustments are made and refunds sent back to the appropriate program(s) with the DOEd at the time the withdrawal form is processed. If the student is present at the time the withdrawal form is processed, Financial Aid staff conducts a counseling session to explain how the calculation is determined and how it affects the student’s responsibility to repay, if applicable. If the student is not present at the time the withdrawal form is processed, the Financial Aid Office notifies the students of the adjustment made and any responsibilities the student has, at that time. It is stated and understood that after the 60% point of the term a student has earned 100% of aid, and in most cases there will not be pending aid at this point; however, an R2T4 calculation is made to determine a post-withdrawal disbursement, if pending aid is present and all conditions are met.
Unofficial Withdrawals
Any student who ceases attending classes before the end of the semester, mini-term, or summer term without completing the official withdrawal process from the University, automatically receives the grade “F” for such course(s), so noted on the student’s academic transcript. Unofficial Withdrawals are reviewed after grades post for each term. Any student earning all F’s is considered an Unofficial Withdrawal. Financial Aid confirms attendance past the 60% point of the term and a timeline in which to provide that documentation. Adequate attendance documentation can be an email statement directly from the instructors stating the student attended past the 60% date, hard copy print outs of online coursework submitted after the 60% date, or hard copy tests submitted after the 60% point. If attendance is not confirmed, LMU will make an R2T4 calculation, through FAA Access, using the 50% point of the term as the withdrawal date. Adjustments are made and refunds returned to the appropriate program(s) with the DOEd at the time of processing the Unofficial Withdrawal student record. Financial Aid then notifies the student of the adjustments made via the results of the R2T4 calculation, why the calculation had to be made, and what financial responsibilities the student has.
Administrative Withdrawals
Students who have not attended courses by the ninth class meeting of the semester (or equivalent for summer terms) will be reported to the Registrar’s Office, Financial Aid, and the Tagge Center. Students may be administratively withdrawn with a WD recorded on the transcript for each course. Students who cease attending classes prior to the end of the semester, mini-term, or summer term without completing the official withdrawal from the University may also be administratively withdrawn, with an F recorded on the transcript for each course. (See “Unofficial Withdrawal.”) Students who do not pay their account in full or make all their contracted payments may be administratively withdrawn from the University.
Medical Withdrawal
The didactic portions of concentration classes provide the theoretical basis for evidence based nursing practices applied in a practice setting. The practice application of academic theory in a practice setting reinforces the theoretical knowledge base needed to make evidence based practice decisions. In order to master the academic theory and the practice competencies that are the learning outcomes in concentration classes, students must take practice and didactic courses simultaneously.
If at any time during the term a student is unable to perform all of the Student Essential Function listed in the LMU/CSON handbook for a period exceeding two weeks, the appropriate course of action is to medically withdraw from the class. As an alternative to withdrawal, within two weeks of becoming unable to perform the essential student functions, a student must provide documentation from a medical provider that the student is able to perform all of the Student Essential Functions listed in the LMU/CSON handbook.