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 one or more 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. Please also review the list of suggested supplemental materials prior to submitting a petition and include any and all materials you believe would best support your petition. 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 one or more courses for a quarter which is still currently in progress, refer to the Current Quarter Drop (CQD) page. Failure to formally withdraw by the posted University deadlines dates on the Academic Calendar does not warrant a Former Quarter Drop.

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.

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. 

A FQD may be granted if you are unable to complete or withdraw from your course(s) by the Current Quarter Drop deadline because of extenuating circumstances beyond your control. Not being able to drop or withdraw from courses due to registration requirements for maintaining full-time status for financial aid, scholarships, or student visa status may not be considered as reasons why a Former Quarter Drop should be granted. 

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. 

Former Quarter Drop Eligibility

  • An extenuating circumstance prevented the student from dropping their course(s) by the published Current Quarter Drop deadline for the quarter.
  • The FQD petition should be submitted within ONE YEAR of the affected quarter being petitioned. Review Beyond the One Year Timeline for petitions greater than 1 year old.
  • The FQD petition is submitted and processed before 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.

Former Quarter Drop Request Process

Prior to Submitting the Petition
  • If you are reviewing this site during the current quarter, it is recommended you first consider withdrawal using the Current Quarter Drop or Incomplete Grading processes. Review the Academic Calendar for timelines.
  • The FQD petition is to be submitted after the quarter has ended.
  • 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.
  • 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. 

Submitting the Petition

Former Quarter Drop Petition Form

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.

Dishonesty in any part of this request/application may result in a change in outcome or automatic denial.

Instructions

  1. UW NetID is required to access the petition. Click the button above to get started.

  2. Petition Questions - to understand why you may not have been able to use the option to drop classes during the quarter you were taking them, be prepared to answer the following questions in the petition. (Please keep responses to 500 words or less.)

  • Briefly explain what happened during the quarter that stopped you from using your Current Quarter Drop.

  • Please explain how the previously stated circumstance prevented you from dropping your courses during the quarter. Please note that needing to maintain your enrollment for financial aid, or scholarship, visa or athletic eligibility is not a reason for which we can approve a Former Quarter Drop petition.

  • If you are not requesting an FQD for all your classes, please explain why your circumstance impacted the class(es) you are requesting and not the others. (If you are requesting to drop all your classes, please type “N/A.”)

  • If you do not have supporting materials to support your Former Quarter Drop, you must provide a statement from a UW school official such as an advisor or instructor as supporting material.

  1. Supportive materials are required. These are used to help verify the circumstances of your personal statement. 

  • Supporting materials should be professional and from a third party. Items that are not acceptable: images of injuries, people, medications, text exchanges, transcripts, letter of support from family.

  • Healthcare providers may complete the Healthcare Provider PDF form when a student has requested it to support their FQD Petition. If you choose to have a healthcare provider complete the UW Healthcare Provider form you have three options for submitting it.

    • Your healthcare provider gives it to you and you upload it with your petition.

    • Your provider can email it directly to uwtpetitions@uw.edu. Please submit a document with your petition statement indicating what healthcare provider office will be sending this to uwtpetitions@uw.edu so we can be sure to match it to your petition.

    • If you receive the completed form after submitting your FQD petition, email it to uwtpetitions@uw.edu and we will match it up with your petition.

  • If you do not have supporting materials as indicated, you must provide a statement from a UW school official such as an advisor or instructor as supporting material. 

Event that could create an extenuating circumstance Potential Supporting Materials
Birth: Immediate family or family member
  • Copy of birth announcement.
  • Copy of birth certificate or adoption papers.
Death: Immediate family or family member

There must be a clear relationship between the student and the deceased.

  • Copy of obituary.
  • Copy of memorial service announcement or program.
  • Copy of death certificate
Illness: Issues related to personal health, illness, or accident
  • Completed Healthcare Provider Form.
  • Statement from a physician on letterhead including dates of service.
  • Copy of police report.
  • Copy of insurance statements.
Illness: Issues with illness or accident of immediate family or family member.
  • Detailed explanation of family member’s medical circumstances, including the name and relationship of the family member to you.
  • Copy of police report.
  • Copy of insurance statements.
Loss of childcare: Immediate family, or family member Letter from childcare provider indicating date of loss of childcare.
Loss of employment: Self, immediate family, or family member. Statement from former employer on company letterhead for yourself, immediate family, or family member indicating date of termination.
Loss of housing: Immediate family or family member. Statement from the landlord or bank/mortgage company indicating a change to housing situation.
Marriage or divorce: Self, immediate family, or family member. Copy of divorce papers.
Military duty Copy of military orders showing dates of deployment, training, or service.
Natural disaster Personal statement including the date(s) the natural disaster occurred and the address at which the disaster occurred.
Relocation requirement Statement from employer on company letterhead indicating date of relocation.
Travel: Required out-of-town travel or overtime work Statement from employer on company letterhead indicating the work conflict such as out-of-town travel or overtime work
Event not listed 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 adviser, instructor, or other support person submit a statement on your behalf. You may include this statement with your petition or they may send it on your behalf to uwtpetitions@uw.edu.

 

After Filing
  • You will be taken to a web page that states, "Your petition has been submitted. You should receive an e-mail in the next few minutes which confirms that we have received your application.” You will receive a confirmation email at your uw.edu email. If you do not receive this email, your form did not submit.
  • Please allow up to two to three (2-3) weeks after submission for notification. You will be notified through your UW email of the petition committee’s decision.
  • Approved petitions will result in your transcript reflecting a grade of RD (Registrar Drop) for the petitioned course(s).
  • 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.
  • The petition committee's decision is final - appeals will not be accepted.
Beyond the One Year Timeline

A Former Quarter Drop submitted beyond one year must follow the below for consideration:

  • Petitions will not be considered outside of the one-year deadline for students in continuous enrollment.
  • If you wish to submit a FQD petition beyond the one-year deadline, you must petition to drop ALL courses in that quarter AND have a break of at least two quarters (excluding summer) before returning to the University.
  • If you wish to submit an FQD petition beyond the one-year deadline, in addition to the supportive materials, it must be supported by a UW school professional explaining why the petition should be considered past the one-year deadline.
  • Submit your petition through the Former Quarter Drop webform. Select the quarter (not Year) that aligns with the quarter being petitioned.
  • Include in your personal statement, the QUARTER/YEAR being petitioned and the reason for delay in submission

Campus Support Resources

Nothing is more important than a student’s health and well-being. If you, as a student, are struggling with medical, emotional, or behavioral issues that are impacting your academic success, you 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 you in this regard.