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Medical Withdrawals

Students may wish to withdraw from their courses for a variety of reasons. The timing of the withdrawal, reason for withdrawal, and undergraduate or graduate student status will guide the required process. Please read through the full process before proceeding. We also highly encourage students to review potential consequences of withdrawing so they are aware of potential ramifications of their decision. 

Step 1: Determine if a Medical Withdrawal is the Right Process For You

Withdrawals before the deadline: (see Academic Calendar for dates)

Students withdraw themselves from courses via BengalWeb. We suggest that students consult with their advisor and/or academic program prior to withdrawing to see how this will impact their academic progress.

Withdrawals after the deadline: (see Academic Calendar for dates)

  • Graduate students must file a Graduate School Petition to request a withdrawal due to an exceptional, documented circumstance beyond their control.
  • Undergraduate students with an exceptional, documented circumstances beyond their control requesting a withdrawal must start their petition with their academic advisor.
  • Graduate and undergraduate students with a personal medical issue(s) (including mental health) which preclude their ability to be academically successful must petition through the Dean of Students Office (DOS) and should proceed to Step 2 below.
Step 2: Medical Withdrawal Step by Step Procedure

The following procedure applies to all students who are unable to continue and/or successfully complete classes for documented medical reasons. 

  1. Students should contact/meet with the following offices before proceeding:
    • Dean of Student Office to discuss the process and required appropriate documentation
    • Academic Advising/Advisor to discuss how to stay on track with their academic program and explore consequences of withdrawing
    • Financial Aid & Scholarships to discuss the financial aid and monetary implications of withdrawing
    • International Programs Office (for international students with an F1/J1 visa) to discuss the impact on immigration status
  2. Students must complete and submit the following:
    1. Medical Withdrawal Application
    2. Medical Withdrawal Treatment Provider Form return via fax to Dean of Students Office at (208) 282-3719. It is the student's responsibility for following up with their medical provider to ensure proper documentation is sent in a timely manner.  Withdrawals will not be considered without documentation.
  3. Once all forms and documentation have been received, the Dean of Students Office will make a final decision and communicate the decision to the student via their ISU email within 2 business weeks. If proper medical documentation is not received within 4 weeks of the Medical Withdrawal Application being received, we will notify the student that we are closing their case. If documentation comes in after the 4 week time frame, the Dean of Students Office can re-open the case.
  4. If a Medical Withdrawal Application is denied, the student may submit a Denied Withdrawal Appeal to the Vice President for Student Affairs. The appeal application must be received within 10 business days of receiving the official notification of the decision on their withdrawal.
Step 3: Final Steps After a Medical Withdrawal is Approved

When a Medical Withdrawal is officially approved by the Dean of Students Office, the final process includes:

Dean of Students Office will notify:

  • The Office of the Registrar
  • The Division of Finance and Business Affairs
  • The Financial Aid Office
  • The Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
  • The student's Academic College
  • The Graduate School (for graduate students only)

Students are responsible for:

  • Filling out the Tuition and Fee Refund Appeal.
  • Checking that their transcripts have a notation of a W (withdrawal) for each class. This may take a few days to process in the system. Withdrawals do not affect GPA or academic standing but may impact progress toward the degree.
  • Ensuring their student account is in good standing.

Consequences of Withdrawing

For some students the best option for their situation may be to pursue a medical withdrawal, but for others this might carry additional consequences.  In some cases the Dean of Students Office may be able to connect students to resources that will help them to stay enrolled while also accommodating their medical condition.  Students who determine that a medical withdrawal is right option for them should consider the following potential consequences.

Loss or Repayment of Financial Aid- Students can meet with the Financial Aid Department to find out how their specific situation might impact their financial aid. Additional information about repayment obligations can be found on the Financial Aid website.

Professional & Graduate School Applications- Students interested in pursuing a graduate or professional degree should be cautious about taking too may withdrawals, which show up as a 'W' on their transcript. While withdrawals will not be included in GPA calculations, some programs may look at too many W's as an indicator that rigorous curriculum might be too difficult for the student. 

Time to Graduation- Depending on the course(s) the withdrawal is for, students may find that this action will extend their time to graduation. If the class is a pre-requisite for their program, or if the class is only taught in specific semesters or years, this could push students back a semester or more. We highly recommend students meet with their academic advisor prior to withdrawing so they are fully informed on how their student status might be impacted. 

The longer it takes to earn a degree can increase the cost of the degree when accounting for tuition increases over time and potential loss of financial aid.