Dropping a Course Before the Drop Deadline Date
Once enrolled in a course, students will remain enrolled unless they officially request to drop the course. The Drop Deadline Date is the official date by which a student must withdraw without academic penalty; otherwise, a failing mark will appear on the academic record, unless a petition is made for a late withdrawal. To drop a course without academic penalty, no more than 50% of the course contact hours may be completed.
Underlying Assumptions
The underlying assumption is that graduate students will have had an opportunity to assess their situation by the 50% mark of a course. In deciding whether to drop a course, students should consider the following factors:
- Performance in the course(s) up to that point;
- Interest in the subject;
- Course load;
- Personal circumstances;
- Work and/or extracurricular activities; and
- Health issues, if any.
After the official drop date has passed, students are responsible for their decision.
Core Courses
As core courses are required components for degree completion, dropping such courses may only be considered under exceptional circumstances and must be approved by the program’s Academic Director. For Full-Time MBA students, this includes electives taken during Term 4. Please consult with your Assistant/Associate Director before 50% of the course contact hours have taken place to initiate a formal request.
MBA Elective Courses
Rotman Add/Drop period dates are posted under Key Dates. Students may add/drop courses during this period without any approval needed – instructions regarding the Add/Drop process can be found here.
Requests to drop an elective course after the Rotman Add/Drop period closes, but before the course begins, require the Registrar’s Office approval. Requests to drop an elective course after the course begins, but before more than 50% of the course contact hours have taken place, require both the instructor’s and the Registrar’s Office approval. Please consult the MBA Electives Schedule for specific dates to drop elective courses (i.e. the 50% mark of each elective course). In both cases, students must submit the (SGS) Add/Drop Form to the Registrar’s Office.
See below for details on dropping a course after 50% of the course contact hours have taken place.
Dropping a Course After the Drop Deadline Date
After the Drop Deadline Date, students may request a late withdrawal without academic penalty (WDR).
Withdrawal from Course(s) Without Academic Penalty (WDR)
If a student is struggling in a course or is experiencing extenuating circumstances beyond their control, they can petition to withdraw from the course without academic penalty (WDR) during the term after the Drop Deadline Date. This is also referred to as a late withdrawal.
Deadline to Submit a Course Withdrawal Without Academic Penalty Petition
The deadline to submit a petition for a withdrawal without academic penalty (WDR) is before the course ends.
SGS Approval
WDR requests are reviewed by the Rotman Registrar’s Office, however, the final decision rests with the School of Graduate Studies (SGS). Students are expected to continue attending classes until a decision is made by SGS.
The School of Graduate Studies (SGS) will only consider WDR requests that are unforeseeable and unexpected, such as circumstances beyond the student’s control that occurred after the drop date and prevented them from completing the course.
Examples include:
- Medical issues: illness or existing medical situation which grew worse over the course of the term.
- A serious personal situation or trauma, which was unforeseeable.
It is important to note that something must have happened that prevented the student from staying in the course. If this is the case, please contact the Assistant/Associate Director for assistance.
Requesting a Late Withdrawal
- Contact your Assistant/Associate Director for your section/program.
- Provide a personal statement that includes a detailed timeline that led you to seek a late withdrawal. See next section for details.
- Complete the (SGS) Add/Drop Form and select the WDR option in Section 1.b.
- If group work is involved, ensure that the team is aware of your request to drop the course.
- Submit the personal statement, Add/Drop Form, and applicable supporting documentation (i.e.: VOI) to the Registrar’s Office.
- Continue attending class until SGS’ final decision.
Personal Statement & Supporting Documentation for a Withdrawal Without Academic Penalty
You must submit a personal statement that includes a detailed timeline that led you to seek a late withdrawal. Highlight any challenges you faced and the decisions you made to address these challenges.
NOTE: This petition is normally not granted if a student submitted the final assignment or wrote the final exam, and thus completed the course. If you choose to finish the course, it is assumed you have decided to accept the outcome despite the problems you experienced.
Answer the following questions in your personal statement:
- Were there extenuating circumstances?
- Did you seek help with these circumstances?
- Did you stop engaging in the course — for example, going to classes, submitting assignments, writing tests/exams, etc.?
- Did you seek special consideration from your instructor(s)? for example, requesting make-up tests or extensions during the course?
- If not, why? If so, what happened?
WDR Outcome
The Registrar’s Office will communicate with students who have requested a late withdrawal once the School of Graduate Studies confirms their decision.
Possible outcomes:
- Approved petitions for a late withdrawal from a course carry no academic penalty. The course(s) will still appear on the student’s transcript, but a WDR (withdrawal) will be entered next to the course in lieu of a mark. This designation does not affect a student’s GPA (Grade Point Average).
- Denied petitions will be assigned whatever marks the student has earned for completed work and zero for incomplete work.
Students should keep in mind that a late withdrawal is a last-resort remedy. Timing is always important; students should seek advice from their Assistant/Associate Director on issues that may jeopardize their ability to successfully complete a course, sooner rather than later.