Have you stopped attending a class? Are you considering dropping a class? If you are, then you need to know that the last day to withdraw from a  semester-length course is Friday, March 17th.

It is your responsibility to officially withdraw from a course either online or in person at Admissions & Records by the deadline to prevent earning an evaluative grade (A+-F) or Pass/No Pass.

If you're considering withdrawing from a course, you may first want to consult with your instructor, an academic counselor or Financial Aid to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of making this decision.
In sum, withdrawing from a class is a very important decision that you must make.
Here are some considerations in deciding whether or not to withdraw from a course:
  • The UC and CSU systems are not concerned about a few W's on your transcript and W's will not effect your competitiveness to these institutions.
  • If you are receiving financial aid, then withdrawing from a class or earning a substandard grade may effect your financial aid status. Consult with the Financial Aid Office.
  • "D" and "F" grades are substandard grades and negatively effect your GPA. You are able to repeat a course to repair a substandard grade. In general, the UC and CSU systems will only use the grade in your last attempt to calculate your transferable GPA. The good news is you can repair an original "F" grade with an "A" grade and be back on track! Independent and out-of-state colleges and universities have varying policies on calculating grades for repeated courses.
  • A student is permitted 3 attempts to pass a class successfully including "W"s and substandard grades. A petition to request additional attempts is available for students with extenuating circumstances.
  • You cannot repeat a course in which you earned a grade of "C" or better or "Pass" to improve your GPA.
  • If you receive a "W" in a course, you do not have to retake it unless you need to or want to.
  • "W"s are not calculated into your GPA.
  • Some private institutions, such as USC, do not like to see more than one "W" on your transcript.
  • Excessive "W"s shall be used as a factor in progress probation and progress dismissal.
  • Withdrawing from a class may slow down your progress toward your educational goal(s).
  • You are not eligible for a refund
  • It is your responsibility to withdraw from a course. Don't expect the instructor to drop you from the course even if you have not been attending class. You may withdraw online through pipeline or in person at Admissions and Records.
If you believe the best decision is to stay enrolled in the class...
...reach out to your instructor for guidance and follow your instructor's recommendations. Also utilize campus services. Here are the links to ongoing student success resources:
  • The Learning Skills Workshop Series at CAI Lab 2 in the LRC on most Thursdays from 1:00-1:50 include building skills in test taking, managing stress and math confidence.
  • The Writing Center workshops help you develop skills and strategies that can be applied to writing in other classes such as editing, researching and citation.

Stay "In The Know"
The Academic Counseling Team
If you have any questions regarding this email, or other academic counseling questions, 
This is an un-monitored email account, so please do not reply. 
Location:  Room 120 Student Services Building
Phone:   (805) 730-4085
Hours:
Monday and Thursday 8:00 am - 4:15 pm
Tuesday & Wednesday 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am - 1:00 pm