Withdrawing from College

Withdrawing from a course: Full semester fall and spring courses after the fifth day of the semester are considered “withdrawals” and will appear on your record as a “W”. This means you are no longer in the course, but the course counts as attempted, and a grade of “W” is given. You can view individual course drop and withdrawal deadlines by viewing the course information in eServices (search for the course and then click on the title to view more information). 

Dropping a course: No entry will be made in a student’s record if a class is dropped within the first five class days of a semester (for full semester fall and spring courses). You can view individual course drop and withdrawal deadlines by viewing the course information in eServices (search for the course and then click on the title to view more information).

How to Withdraw:

You may withdraw from a full-session course via eServices. Check your schedule for each course’s official withdrawal deadline. To withdraw from a course:

• Log into eServices with your StarID and password
• On left hand menu click on "Courses & Registration" and then click on "View/Modify Schedule"
• Click on the "X" next to the course you want to withdraw from
• You will be prompted to enter your StarID password to confirm the course withdrawal

Please Note:

• No entry will be made in a student’s record if a class is dropped within the first five class days of a semester. Courses after the fifth day are considered “Withdrawals” and will appear on your record as a “W”.
• Only full term courses will have a common “last day to withdraw” date. Please check the semester calendar for this date.
• You are able to see the last day in which you have to withdraw by looking at your student schedule in eServices.
• Students may continue to drop classes after the fifth day of class, but will receive a 'W' on their academic record and will remain financially responsible for tuition and fees.
• Withdrawal deadlines vary for half term and full-term sessions. We advise checking the schedule in eServices for specific withdrawal deadlines for each course.

• You are still financially responsible for the course(s). Contact the Office of Scholarship and Financial Aid to determine whether you are required to repay any amount of financial aid you received (determined by your last date of attendance) and how withdrawing impacts pending financial aid disbursements.Withdrawing on or before the 22nd day of the semester may reduce Pell and SEOG payments made to eligible students.
• Withdrawing from a course does not impact your GPA, but it counts against your percent completion, which may result in implications related to academic standing and/or financial aid. For questions on academic standing please contact the Academic Success Center.

Withdrawing from the university is defined as cancelling all classes, completing other financial and administrative responsibilities and ending participation in the university community. You may have many reasons for withdrawing, including: transferring to another institution; taking a break from school; or addressing personal, medical or family issues.

The following steps must be taken to complete the process and ensure your withdrawal addresses academic and financial responsibilities with the university, and to provide the most flexibility for your future educational options.

Information, Assistance and Advising

• Meet with the Academic Success Center to discuss any alternatives to withdrawing and/or considerations before completely withdrawing from the university.
• The following are examples of things that may be discussed during the meeting:
  • Have you spoken with our instructor(s) regarding your situation? Is it possible to make up the work or take an Incomplete in the course?
  • Are you able to pass some of your courses? Could you withdraw from some rather than all of your courses?
  • Have you utilized campus resources such as tutoring to help improve your grade(s)?
  • There may be implications to your academic standing. Withdrawing from courses may result in an Academic Warning status or Academic Suspension.
• Staff with review how to withdraw on eServices.

Financial Aid

• Your last date of enrollment determines whether you are required to repay any amount of financial aid you received and impacts pending financial aid disbursements. Withdrawing on or before the 22nd day of the semester will reduce Pell and SEOG payments made to eligible students. When you withdraw from all semester courses, federal regulations mandate the calculation of the amount you are able to retain, made by Business Services, for the semester, if any, and any amount required to be repaid based on the number of days enrolled for the semester.
• Complete Direct Loan exit loan counseling at studentloans.gov and set up access to your loan servicer’s website (if you borrowed through the Federal Direct Loan program). Complete Perkins Loan exit loan counseling (if awarded). The website link will be mailed from ECSI/Heartland.
• Withdrawing may impact financial aid eligibility, if you fall below the standards required to maintain satisfactory academic progress.
• Review your student account in eServices approximately one month after leaving MSUM for any adjustments to previously disbursed financial aid due to withdrawing.
• Contact the Office of Scholarship and Financial Aid if you are returning in the future for instructions on restarting your financial aid.

Business Services

• Pay any outstanding bills to the university either online or in Business Services.
• If you received financial aid, a calculation may be required to determine if your eligibility is affected and whether any aid you received needs to be paid back to you. Business Services will mail a letter stating the financial aid that was forfeited and the amount due back to Minnesota State University Moorhead.
• Withdrawal Charts

Housing

• Visit the Housing webpage to submit an Approved Release of Contract form.
• Moving Out Procedures

Miscellaneous

• Return library books.
• Return any academic materials belonging to the university, such as laboratory materials or technology equipment.
• Return rented textbooks to the Bookstore. You will be charged for rented textbooks that are not returned.
• If you are a student athlete, notify the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance & Student Service (218.477.2963).
• Return non-housing related campus keys to Public Safety
• If you are employed on campus, contact your supervisor and indicated you are no longer available for work because you have withdrawn from the university.
• International students must talk to International Student Services to maintain their immigration record. If not, you will be in violation of U.S. immigration regulations.
• If you are in a Learning Community, send an email to Learning Communities, notifying the office of your departure from MSUM. Also make an appointment with your Dragon Mentor to let them know when you’ll be leaving.
• If you have a parking pass, contact Public Safety to inquire if you are eligible for a refund.
• If you are withdrawing for military reasons, please contact Gail Schmidt, Registrar's Office.

Registrar's Office

• If you are transferring:
• Did you apply to the school to which you intend to transfer?
• Did you send an official transcript?
• If you enrolled in a First Year Experience (FYE) or a Learning Community course, the Registrar's Office will assist you in withdrawing from the course.
• Order an official transcript

Official Withdrawal

• After going through these steps, you may withdraw from your courses on eServices and complete with Withdrawal Survey.

Financial Aid

• Complete Direct Loan exit loan counseling at studentloans.gov and set up access to your loan servicer’s website (if you borrowed through the Federal Direct Loan program).
• Complete Perkins Loan exit loan counseling (if awarded). The website link will be mailed from ECSI/Heartland.
• No financial aid can be accepted or disbursed after your last date of attendance (or the end of the semester, except under limited conditions).
• Review your student account in eServices approximately one month after leaving MSUM for any adjustments to previously disbursed financial aid due to withdrawing. • Contact the Office of Scholarship and Financial Aid if you are returning in the future for instructions on restarting your financial aid.
• If you are transferring, be sure to transfer your financial aid to your new school.

Business Services

• Pay any outstanding bills to the university either online or in Business Services. You must clear all past due balances in order to avoid holds on your official transcript, grades, diploma, etc.

Housing

• Visit the Housing webpage to submit an Approved Release of Contract form (if leaving at the end of fall semester).
• View and follow the Moving Out Procedures.

Miscellaneous

• Return library books.
• Return any academic materials belonging to the university, such as laboratory materials or technology equipment.
• Return rented textbooks to the Bookstore. You will be charged for rented textbooks that are not returned.
• If you are a student athlete, notify the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance & Student Service (218.477.2963).
• Return non-housing related campus keys to Public Safety.
• If you are employed on campus, contact your supervisor and indicated you are no longer available for work because you have withdrawn from the university.
• International students must talk to International Student Services to maintain their immigration record. If not, you will be in violation of U.S. immigration regulations.
• If you are in a Learning Community, send an email to Learning Communities, notifying the office of your departure from MSUM. Also make an appointment with your Dragon Mentor to let them know when you’ll be leaving.
• If you have a parking pass, contact Public Safety to inquire if you are eligible for a refund (if leaving at the end of fall semester).
• If you are withdrawing for military reasons, please contact Gail Schmidt, Registrar's Office.

Registrar's Office

• If you are transferring:
• Did you apply to the school to which you intend to transfer?
• Did you send an official transcript?
• Order an official transcript.

Drop Classes

• If you are registered for future terms at MSUM you will need to drop your classes. If you do not drop your classes you will be billed for them. You may drop your courses on eServices.