California State University, Los Angeles
Records Office, records@calstatela.edu
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PETITION TO WITHDRAW
NOTICE ON CAL STATE LA’S UNDERGRADUATE WITHDRAWAL LIMIT:
Effective Fall 2009, all undergraduate students may withdraw from a maximum of 18 semester units over
the course of their entire undergraduate career (including special sessions, enrollment by extension, and
re-enrolling after separation from the University for any reason). Exceptions include courses taken prior to
Fall 2009, courses dropped before the drop deadline, courses in which the student received a grade of
WE (Withdrawal for Extenuating Circumstances), and courses taken at other institutions.
Prior to withdrawing from classes, the student should consider the consequences of withdrawal after the
drop deadline. Withdrawing generally will impact progress towards degree, future course enrollment,
financial aid eligibility and will be subject to the undergraduate withdrawal limit listed above.
Be aware that after the drop deadline, class withdrawals are permissible only for serious and compelling
reasons and, for undergraduate students, the class units will be applied towards the Undergraduate
Withdrawal Limit of 18 units. The definition of serious and compelling reasons as applied by faculty and
administrators will be defined more narrowly as the semester progresses. Please be advised that poor
academic performance or poor time management is not justification for withdrawing from classes.
If the student has a documented serious medical condition that requires withdrawal from all classes, the
student must complete the Withdrawal Petition and submit appropriate medical documentation or a
statement from their physician confirming the student’s illness or injury. If the petition is approved, the
administrative grade of WE is assigned and the units assigned to the class will not be subject to the
Undergraduate Withdrawal Limit. Students who have any questions regarding their decision to withdraw
from a class should consult with their advisor as soon as possible.
Withdrawal After the Drop Deadline up Until the Regular Withdrawal Deadline
Withdrawals during this period are subject to CSU’s Undergraduate Withdrawal Limit and are permissible
only for a serious and compelling reason. Class Withdrawals require approval from the
instructor and department chair of the class. The definition of "serious and compelling reasons" as applied
by faculty and administrators will be defined more narrowly as the semester progresses. Students must
complete the Petition to Withdraw form and submit to the Records Office as soon as possible but no later
than the established deadline for that term. If the petition is approved, a grade of W will be assigned and
the class units will be applied toward the Undergraduate Withdrawal Limit.
Withdrawal After the Regular Withdrawal Deadline
Withdrawals shall not be permitted during or after the last week of instruction except where the cause of
withdrawal is due to circumstances clearly beyond the student's control (e.g. serious illness, accident, job
transfer, military deployment, etc.) and the assignment of an incomplete is not practicable. Withdrawals
of this sort may involve total withdrawal from the University or may involve only one course, except that
course grade and credit or an incomplete may be assigned for courses in which sufficient work has been
completed to permit an evaluation to be made. Requests for permission to withdraw under these
circumstances shall be handled and filed as indicated in the preceding paragraph, except that such
requests must also be approved by the appropriate college dean. Such withdrawals shall not count
against the 18 semester-unit maximum.
The department/division chair or school director may approve a withdrawal for a student without first
obtaining the instructor's signature when the student and the chair and/or director have been unable to