The University of Washington understands that, as a student, you may face a variety of challenges and obstacles while attending the University. The Former Quarter Drop (FQD) process was designed to help you address the impact these challenges and obstacles may have on your ability to achieve academic success. The following information outlines how you can use the FQD process to request to drop a class or classes completed in a quarter that has already ended.
Review the policy and eligibility requirements to determine if this is the right process for you. You may consider speaking to an advisor to support you through this process if you have questions or need guidance.
If you are looking to drop a course or courses for a quarter which is still currently in progress, refer to the Current Quarter Drop (CQD) webpage.
Current Quarter Drop
Between week 3 and the last day of instruction (with the exception of summer quarter), you may submit a request to drop any or all remaining courses. An academic advisor will discuss the requests with you and forward the request to the Office of the Registrar to drop the courses.
Former Quarter Drop Policy
Former Quarter Drop (FQD) provides you with a method to petition for a grade earned in a former quarter to be changed to a Registrar Drop (RD). A grade of "RD" does not impact your cumulative GPA or academic standing. Petitions for quarters Winter 2020 and earlier will continue to have grades changed to Hardship Withdrawal (HW). Click here to learn about other letter grades.
A FQD may be granted if you are unable to complete or withdraw from your course(s) because of extenuating circumstances beyond your control. Petitions are reviewed and decided upon by a committee of representatives from the academic advising community, Office of Student Financial Aid, Disability Resources for Students, Veteran & Military Resource Center, and the Office of the Registrar. All dates and deadlines referenced are based on the UW Academic Calendar (re: Adding/Dropping Courses or Complete Withdrawal).
Tuition Refund
A Former Quarter Drop is not a petition for a tuition refund and only addresses your enrollment and grades as they appear on the transcript. By default, all tuition forfeiture policies will apply to a Former Quarter Drop. Students wishing to petition Tuition Forfeiture must do so via the Tuition Forfeiture Petition.
Eligibility
- The student is incapable of completing their course(s) because of an extenuating circumstance beyond their control.
- An extenuating circumstance prevented the student from dropping their course(s) by the published course drop deadline for the quarter.
- The FQD petition is submitted within one year of the quarter being petitioned. If a student wishes to submit an FQD Petition beyond the one-year deadline, materials must be presented showing inability to file within the guidelines.
- Former Quarter Drop petitions will not be processed once a degree has been conferred.
- The FQD petition is for circumstances outside of the classroom and should not be used to address grading or academic related issues. Review Grading Procedures for additional information.
- The FQD process is not intended for grade renewal on individual courses or for grade forgiveness purposes. Requests made to improve GPA and/or improve opportunity for internal UW admissions application will be denied.
Former Quarter Drop Request Process
- If you are requesting a complete withdrawal from all courses during the current quarter, it is recommended you withdraw using the Current Quarter Drop process. Review the Academic Calendar for timelines.
- Separate FQD petitions with supporting materials must be submitted for each quarter being petitioned.
- FQD petitions will not be granted for coursework that has already been applied to a completed degree.
- Submission of a FQD petition alone does not guarantee approval.
- If you submit a FQD petition within two weeks of the end of the quarter, you should first consider requesting an “I” (Incomplete) grade from your instructors.
- Other considerations:
- International students: Students with F-1 Visa status should meet with an International Student Services (ISS) advisor to be apprised of any Visa status changes due to FQD approval.
- Financial aid recipients: Students receiving financial aid funds should consider consulting with a financial aid counselor.
- Military/veteran benefit recipients: Students utilizing veteran benefits should consider consulting with a veteran benefit counselor.
By submitting the Former Quarter Drop Petition, you acknowledge that you have consulted with appropriate offices and are aware of the impacts of the FQD.
REMINDER: The FQD petition process is for extenuating circumstances outside of the classroom that impacted success in the course. The process should not be used to address academic related issues, grade disputes or for purposes of grade renewal/forgiveness. See Eligibility.
Instructions
- UW NetID is required to access the petition. Click the button above to get started.
- The personal statement should:
- Be concise and clearly outline the details of the extenuating circumstances which affected your ability to complete the coursework for the quarter being petitioned.
- Explain why the circumstances prevented you from dropping by the established deadlines.
- Explain the success in other courses, if they are not included in the petition.
- Supportive materials are not required, but are encouraged to strengthen a petition. See suggested materials below.
| Reason for Requesting Former Quarter Drop | Suggested Supporting Materials |
|---|---|
| Matters Related to Personal Health or Illness |
|
| Illness or Accident of Immediate Family or Family Member |
|
| Loss of Employment of Self, Immediate Family or Family Member |
|
| Required Out-of-Town Travel or Overtime Work | Statement from employer on company letterhead indicating that a work conflict such as out-of-town travel or overtime work negatively affected your academic success |
| Loss of Housing of Immediate Family or Family Member | Statement from landlord or bank/mortgage company indicating change to housing situation |
| Marriage or Divorce of Self, Immediate Family or Family Member | Copy of divorce papers |
| Natural Disaster |
|
| Military Duty | Copy of military orders showing dates of deployment, training or service |
| Required to Relocate | Statement from employer on company letterhead indicating date of relocation |
| Birth of Immediate Family or Family Member |
|
| Loss of Childcare of Immediate Family or Family Member | Letter from childcare provider indicate date of loss of childcare |
| Death of Immediate Family or Family Member |
|
| Other |
Supporting materials must clearly and explicitly describe the unexpected and involuntary change to your circumstances along with an explanation of how it prevented you from dropping or completing a course(s) during the quarter you are requesting the Former Quarter Drop. The supporting materials must also indicate how you have resolved these circumstances so that they will not continue to affect your academic progress in the future. |
| UW School Official Support Statements |
If you do not have supporting materials suggested on this list, you may have a University of Washington school official, such as an advisor, instructor, or other support person submit a statement on your behalf. Include this statement with your petition or they may send it to uwtpetitions@uw.edu. If you do not have supporting materials to upload, review the instructions section below on “No Support Materials Available” |
| No Supporting Materials Available | If you do not have supporting materials per the above list, your petition will be referred to the FQD Review Board directly. Please upload a second statement indicating that you do not have supporting materials to support your petition. |
- You will be notified through UW email of the petition committee’s decision. Please allow up to two weeks after submission for notification.
- If there are questions or concerns about submission materials, you will be notified via UW email.
- If the petition is approved, the transcript will show the petitioned course(s) with a grade of “RD” (Registrar Drop). The course will still appear on the transcript, but the “RD” will not be factored into the quarterly or cumulative GPA. Again, a grade of "RD" does not impact your cumulative GPA or academic standing.
- Grades cannot be restored once the Former Quarter Drop Petition has been granted.
- No details of the circumstances will be shared outside the petition committee.
If you wish to submit an FQD petition beyond the one-year deadline, you must email a personal petition statement and support from a UW school official to uwtpetitions@uw.edu. You will then be instructed to use the Former Quarter Drop submission form to submit your petition, along with your personal statement and supporting materials, by choosing any of the quarters listed in the pull-down menu and providing the actual quarter in the petition materials.
Campus Support Resources
Nothing is more important than a student’s health and well-being. Students who may be struggling with medical, emotional, or behavioral issues that are impacting their academic success are strongly encouraged to reach out to one of the following resources for support and to help create a plan to address any struggles being experienced. On the right are some key resources at the University of Washington Tacoma that can help support students in this regard.
