Faculty Senate Resolution 2003-2004-14

Withdrawal Policy

 

Whereas the current policy at Southeastern permits students’ unlimited numbers of withdrawals from courses, and

 

Whereas many students abuse this policy by registering for more hours than they want, knowing they will withdraw from at least one course, and

 

Whereas the most recent statistics available, according to Dr. Michelle Hall in Institutional Research, show that, in the Fall 2002 Semester alone, there were over 4500 Ws, just for undergraduates, and

   

Whereas this behavior costs the University much money because these students do not pay more for schedules over 12 hours, but instead take spaces in classes away from other paying students, and

 

Whereas the administrative overhead cost in processing thousands of withdrawals each semester is substantial, and

 

Whereas many of these students do not realize the negative consequences of multiple withdrawals such as retarding progression towards the degree, potential employers’ and professional schools’ negative view of multiple Ws, and long-term strain on the student's financial resources, and

 

Whereas unnecessary withdrawals lower the University’s graduation rate and thus have an adverse effect on the University’s ranking and funding:

 

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT the Provost appoint a committee to study policy mechanisms for reducing withdrawals in general. This committee should look at policy options aimed at restricting and instituting penalties for course withdrawals, including, but not limited to:

·        instituting mandatory meetings with an advisor or academic counselor for students having excessive withdrawals,

·        applying a per-course withdrawal fee,

·        assigning later registration appointments as a disincentive for students who withdraw from classes,  

·        limiting the number of times a student may withdraw from a particular course, subject to an appeals process, and

·        limiting the number of withdrawals a student may accumulate over the course of the student’s career, also being subject to an appeals process.