Hardship withdrawal

Understanding U of I’s hardship withdrawal process

At times, unexpected circumstances may prevent students from completing their academic work for the semester. If you're facing a hardship such as a medical emergency, the loss of a loved one or significant financial strain, you may be eligible to apply for a hardship withdrawal.

Hardships may include, but are not limited to, severe medical or health emergencies, the death or illness of a close family member, or financial difficulties that cannot be addressed by financial aid.

A hardship withdrawal only applies to a student's withdrawal from all courses for the semester. If you're looking to withdraw from individual courses, refer to the academic calendar for specific deadlines or contact the academic college of your major to learn more about the petition process.

Making the decision about withdrawing for the remainder of the semester is a difficult one and is a last resort decision. You should first consider options that will allow you to make forward academic progress. When deciding whether a hardship withdrawal is right for you, consider the following:

• Incomplete grades: Have you spoken to your instructors about taking an incomplete in your courses? If you’ve already completed most of the course work, this could give you more time to finish.
• Pass/fail grading: Have you asked about converting your courses to pass/fail? Consult with your academic advisor to determine if this option suits your needs.
• Partial course withdrawal: Are you able to drop just a few classes? If it’s within the first 10 days of the semester, you can withdraw without permission from anyone or any transcript notation. Read more about the general withdrawal process. A withdrawal after the first 10 days will result in a “W” on your transcript.

These options may allow you to continue making academic progress without the need for a complete semester withdrawal.  

Before applying for a hardship withdrawal, please consult with other campus offices to ensure you understand the impact a withdrawal could have:

• Financial aid: If you have received financial aid, consult with the Financial Aid Office at 208-885-6312 to understand how a withdrawal may affect your eligibility.
• Veteran benefits: Contact the Veteran Assistance Office at 208-885-7989 to understand the impact of withdrawal on your benefits.
• Athletic scholarships: If you receive an NCAA athletic scholarship, speak with Financial Aid at 208-885-6312 to discuss potential impacts.
• Housing: If you live on campus, contact Housing and Residence Life at 208-885-6571 to understand your housing contract obligations.
• International students: If you're on an F-1 or J-1 visa, consult the International Programs Office at 208-885-8984 to discuss visa-related concerns.
• Disability accommodations: If you receive accommodations, contact the Center for Disability Access at 208-885-6307.
• Student Health Insurance (SHIP): If you are enrolled in U of I’s Student Health Insurance Program (SHIP), please email health@uidaho.edu regarding your continued eligibility for coverage. The email should be sent from your official Vandal email and include your name and Vandal number.

The application deadline for a hardship withdrawal is 5 p.m. on the last day of classes before finals week. This is usually the Friday prior to finals, but please check the academic calendar for confirmation.

If you're unable to meet this deadline, consult your academic college about starting the academic petition process.

To apply for a semester hardship withdrawal, you must submit a hardship withdrawal application with the following documentation uploaded into the form or, in the case of the personal statement, answered within the form*:

• A personal statement that addresses the following:
  • Explain the hardship that occurred that prevented you from withdrawing by the academic withdrawal deadline. Provide specific dates when the events occurred and how the circumstances impacted your ability to meet your academic requirements.
  • Explain why you did not withdraw from the current semester before the deadline.
  • Describe the steps you took to address your extenuating circumstances as they began to affect your academics.
• Documentation that supports and verifies the circumstances and dates provided in your personal statement. Documentation should be on business letterhead of the certifying person (e.g. doctor, lawyer, counselor, employer, etc.).  Hospital bills, legal writs, obituaries and other related documentation of circumstances are also acceptable.
• If the hardship is related to a medical issue, the care provider must have a legitimate, health-based reason to support the request for a semester withdrawal. If they have not been providing treatment to the student, or only have limited information, they may not have enough knowledge of your concerns to provide documentation. Documentation from a care provider must contain the following:
  • Care provider’s name/office letterhead
  • A brief statement identifying you as the patient or client
  • The date of onset of illness
  • Dates of medical care
  • General nature of your medical condition
  • How your medical condition prevented you from completing course work
  • The last date you were able to attend class
• If the student doesn’t have a current care provider, consult with Student Health Service at 
  studentinsurance@uidaho.edu or 208-885-2210 for medical issues, and consult with Counseling and Mental Health Center at cmhc@uidaho.edu or 208-885-6716 for mental health issues.  

*Note: If any section isn’t answered in full, your application will not be approved.

While the university does not issue refunds after the standard deadline, financial credits may be applied to your account based on the date of your hardship withdrawal submission. These credits do not include housing, dining or other fees that may apply.

Review the hardship withdrawal refund schedule.

Once your hardship withdrawal application is submitted, it will be reviewed and either approved or denied. If denied, you will receive an email notification.

If approved:

• The Dean of Students will inform the relevant offices (Registrar, Financial Aid, Student Accounts, Student Health Insurance, Housing and Residence Life) on your behalf.
• Your transcript will show a "WU" grade for each withdrawn class, which indicates withdrawal without penalty to your GPA. "WU" grades do not affect your GPA or count toward withdrawal credits.
• Student Accounts will audit your account and bill for any outstanding fees. The audit typically takes 10 days to two weeks. If you have a balance or a credit, you will receive a statement and a refund, if eligible. Make sure your permanent address is updated to avoid financial holds or late payment charges.
• In some situations, students who receive financial aid may be responsible for repayment of a portion of their award. This is dependent upon the date of their withdrawal from the semester. Students should consult the Financial Aid Office with any questions.

After your hardship withdrawal is approved:

• If you are within the academic deadline to do so, you will need to withdraw from your courses. If the deadline has passed, the Office of the Registrar will process your withdrawal.
• If you live on campus, contact Housing and Residence Life to arrange to move out and return your keys.
• If you receive veteran’s benefits, notify Veteran’s Services to prevent disruption to your aid.
• If you are an international student, contact the International Programs Office to ensure compliance with visa requirements.
• If you are on an athletic scholarship, notify Athletics to avoid issues with your status.

*Note: We will not notify your parents or guardians unless you have signed a waiver permitting us to do so. If they contact us and a release is on file, we will share the information we have.