Adding and Dropping Courses
Students may change their course schedules during the drop/add period through the fifth day of classes with no record of the change reflected on their transcript.
Attendance Policy
It is the university’s policy that when a student has accumulated more absences than weekly class meetings in any particular course during the semester, the faculty member may warn the student in writing of the consequences of additional absences. When a total absence accumulation has reached the equivalent of two weeks’ class meetings (one week’s class meetings for a seven-week course), the faculty member may award a grade of F, which automatically withdraws the student from the course. As with any grade, an appeal may be made through normal channels if gross unfairness or illegal discrimination is alleged.
Each faculty member may choose to establish more stringent or less stringent attendance requirements than those set by the university or to abide by the university’s policy. In either case, for each course the attendance policy must be clearly stated in the syllabus and distributed on the first day of classes.
Participation in university-sponsored events does not constitute an automatic excused absence from classes. The instructor may require student attendance if, in the context of the course, this appears to be in the student’s best interest. In any case, the student is responsible for informing the instructor of an intended absence as early as possible and at least by the class period preceding that absence. If circumstances make such notification impossible, the student must see the instructor on the first day of returning to class.
Course Withdrawals
After the drop/add period, students may withdraw from a course and receive a non-punitive grade of W until the end of the tenth week of classes in full-semester courses or the end of the fifth week of classes in seven-week courses.
After these dates, students may withdraw from a course only for extraordinary circumstances, such as a family or personal crisis, if approved by the Senior Director of the Center for Academic Success. In these cases, the student will receive a non-punitive grade of W.
While at SU, students may withdraw from a maximum of sixteen hours of credits after the withdrawal deadline due to extraordinary circumstances. Students whose circumstances necessitate withdrawal from more than sixteen hours of credit may appeal to the Provost.
Failure to attend class does not in itself constitute withdrawal. Students who stop attending a class without obtaining an approval to withdraw from a class will receive a final grade for the course, with zeros being factored in for all missing coursework.
Dropping a course can delay graduation and may affect a student’s eligibility for financial assistance, for insurance or for some academic honors.
All students are responsible for their own enrollment. Failure to add, drop or withdraw from a course properly may result in no credits awarded and/or a failing grade.
Medical Withdrawals and Medical Course Load Reductions
Susquehanna University is fully committed to supporting students in achieving success. Sometimes a medical or psychological condition can impact a student’s ability to function so severely that either reducing the course load or withdrawing temporarily from the university may be worth considering.
Medical Leave of Absence: Voluntary withdrawal from the university in order to improve mental or physical health, which has been supported by a medical or mental health provider.
Medical course Load Reduction: Voluntary course load reduction after withdrawal deadline, which is granted in order to improve mental or physical health.
Students should contact the Center for Academic Success (su-cas@susqu.edu) for additional information about this process. If requests for a Medical Leave of Absence or a Medical Course Load Reduction are approved, students will receive a non-punitive grade of W. Approved medical withdrawals are not included in the limit of sixteen hours of credit described in the “Course Withdrawals” section.
Leave of Absence
Students may take leaves of absence for personal, medical or financial reasons, or for study at other institutions with which Susquehanna has no formal cooperative program. Any interested student may arrange a leave of absence by filing the appropriate form with the Center for Academic Success (CAS). Students in good academic standing may re-enter the university after their leave by writing to the CAS. Students on academic warning or academic probation who take a leave of absence must be formally reinstated by the Academic Standing Committee before they may return to Susquehanna. The procedures for such reinstatement are identical to the procedures for readmission after academic suspension.
Withdrawal from the University
To be eligible for any refunds under the schedule established by Student Financial Services at www.susqu.edu/admission/financial-aid/loans-financing/withdrawal-tuition-adjustment/, students must complete the formal withdrawal form available from the Center for Academic Success (CAS). Simple departure from campus does not constitute official withdrawal. Students who do not immediately notify the CAS of their intention to withdraw will lose all fees and deposits. Degree candidates who withdraw or take a leave of absence from the university for more than one year are subject to any changes made in their academic program requirements during that time. Students who have left the university for one year or less may fulfill either their original major and distributional requirements or the revised requirements.