Extenuating Circumstances or Military Service
The University recognizes that there may be extenuating circumstances beyond a student’s control which impact his or her ability to meet the GPA requirements of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Therefore, the University will permit a student to withdraw from a course or courses with written approval from the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs only for extenuating circumstances that occurred during the semester or summer session immediately preceding the student’s request. Upon approval, the student shall be administratively withdrawn from the course or courses and receive a grade or grades of ‟WA" in accordance with this policy.
- Definition of Extenuating Circumstances: An "extenuating circumstance" is defined by the University as a situation which is beyond the student’s control and which could not have been prevented by the student. Such circumstances include the following:
- A car accident or other incident which causes injury to the student resulting in hospitalization and/or health challenges which prohibit the student from being able to meet academic requirements;
- A serious, life-threatening, or life-altering illness to the student or an immediate family member for whom the student must assume legal responsibility due to the condition;
- An official, documented military deployment;
- A natural disaster which negatively impacts the student’s well-being due to total destruction of home or other essential familiar provisions.
The University reserves the right to consider other situations in addition to those enumerated herein in determining whether or not the alleged extenuating circumstance(s) directly impacted the student’s ability to maintain the required GPA.
- Official Supporting Documentation
A student must have official written documentation which explicitly substantiates and corroborates the assertion of the extenuating circumstances. An extenuating circumstance shall be an exceptional, one-time occurrence and not one that is characterized by a repeated pattern of behavior which has compromised the student’s academic standing over time.