Step 1: Contact an Academic Advisor
The first step to completing a late withdrawal petition is to make an appointment with your Academic Advisor to discuss your need for a late withdrawal petition. Discussing the situation as honestly as possible allows for the best possible feedback on whether or not a late withdrawal is appropriate for your situation. Visit the Rebel Success Hub to connect with an Academic Advisor.
Step 2: Print a Petition Form
Locate the Petition form on the Faculty Senate website. You will only complete the top portion (Steps 1 through 7 on the form). Some important tips:
- For “College” select “Academic Success Center”
- For “Major” write “Exploring” or “Non-degree” depending on your status
- For “Step 2” select “Withdrawal”
Note: Students submitting petitions for late withdrawal are automatically considered for withdrawing from the entire semester indicated. For students who want to attempt a late withdrawal from one or some classes instead of all classes in a given semester, there must be a specific reason and strong documentation to support it.
Step 3: Gather Supporting Documentation
Petitions without documentation are rarely approved. The type of documentation needed will vary depending on the circumstance, so please communicate with an academic advisor in order to discuss options based on your individual situation. Useful documentation typically has visible names and dates that align with your justification statement.You will attach this along with your justification statement (step 4 below) to your petition.
Some examples of useful documentation include:
- death certificate, obituary, or funeral program
- medical bills or other healthcare paperwork
- police reports, court documents
- lease information, employment records
- transcripts from other institutions
- emails or other correspondence
In some situations, signed statements from individuals other than yourself can be accepted as documentation, though these will not be as strong as an official document.
Step 4: Prepare the Justification Statement
In the “Justification” section (Step 4 on the General Petition form), just write “See Attached Documents.”
You will then attach a separate justification statement that addresses the following:
- What happened during the semester that caused you to seek a late withdrawal?
- Note: Late withdrawals without some type of extenuating circumstance will likely not be approved. “I didn’t know when the drop date was” will not be accepted as it is the student’s responsibility to be aware of important campus dates.
- Why didn’t you drop the classes before the drop deadline?
- How does the attached documentation support your statement?
- Names and dates on the documentation should match your statement. If they do not, you must address why
- What is your plan of action going forward?
- This depends on the circumstances behind the petition.
- Some examples: “My medical condition has been resolved, as evidenced by the attached doctor’s note” or “I plan on utilizing UNLV’s tutoring services and meeting more regularly with my advisor” etc.
Step 5: Sign the Petition
Sign and date the petition form.
Do not attempt to gather the signatures needed on the bottom portion of the form, as the Petition Review Committee will review your petition and gather the necessary signatures for you.
Step 6: Submit the Petition
Email your petition and supporting documentation to the main email address at EXPLadvising@unlv.edu.
If you filled out a physical copy, you may drop it off at the front desk of the Academic Success Center with a note to deliver it to the Petition Review Committee.
The Petition Review Committee meets monthly during the academic year, and on an as-needed basis during the summer. Please check your email regularly after submitting your petition in case the committee needs to follow up with you. They will review your petition and make a recommendation to the Faculty Senate Academic Standards Committee. The Faculty Senate will notify you of their decision via email.
NOTES:
Late withdrawal from a semester can have serious financial aid implications. Please visit with an academic advisor as well as Financial Aid to ensure that late withdrawal is the best solution for you.
Typically, a Late Withdrawal petition is needed in order to submit a Tuition & Fee Appeal. You can find out more information on the Cashiering & Student Accounts website.
This handout was created to help students understand how to build a case for late withdrawal from courses taken during a previous semester. Following these guidelines does not guarantee that the petition will be approved. Approval will be based on the strength of the case relative to the documentation provided, and is ultimately based on the discretion of Faculty Senate. Please visit with an academic advisor to discuss additional options in the event that the petition is not approved.
*Students submitting petitions for late withdrawal are automatically considered for withdrawing from the entire semester and not one or two classes. For students who want to attempt a late withdrawal from just one class, there must be a specific reason and strong documentation to support it.
**Late withdrawal from a semester can have serious financial aid implications. Please visit with an academic advisor as well as Financial Aid to ensure that late withdrawal is the best solution for you.