A withdrawal is defined as exiting a course after the drop deadline and before the withdrawal deadline.

Note: if you are a GGU Degrees+ student, the withdrawal process is slightly different. Please view this article to learn more.

What happens if I withdraw from a course?

Withdrawing from a course is different from dropping a course (which eliminates any history of your enrollment from your academic record); Students who withdraw from a course receive a "W" on their transcript from the University of Pittsburgh, but it does not affect your GPA.

You will still have access to the course's lectures and active learning, but your progress in the course will not be saved. You are also not eligible for a refund.

Withdrawal Eligibility

Any student enrolled in a for-credit* Outlier course can elect to withdraw from their course at any point after the Drop Deadline but before 11:59 pm on the Withdrawal Deadline.

Withdrawal Deadlines

• For 14 Week Standard Cohorts: 9 weeks after the start date
• For 39 Week Extended Cohorts: 27 weeks after the start date.
  • Please note: Dual Enrollment students need approval from their Partner Administrator or Facilitator in order to Withdraw.

Withdrawal Deadlines specific to your cohort can be viewed:

• Under Course Toolkit > Schedule
• On the Manage Course page (Account > Course Management > Manage Course)

*It is not necessary for students on the audit track to withdraw from a course because they do not have an academic record with the University of Pittsburgh

Is it for me?

As you consider whether or not withdrawing from your course is right for you? Here are a few questions you might ask yourself.

• Is it possible for me to catch up before my final exam? Check out your Course Toolkit to see the recommended pacing for your course. You know your own schedule best - is there too much to cover by the end of the course? You’ll want to complete all sections to receive a good grade on exams. 
• Can I realistically take quizzes from all previous chapters to improve my score? If you have the time, going back to each chapter to take quizzes again can increase your overall score (we only take the highest!) and help you study for the final. If you do not have the time to do this for each chapter before the final, you should consider withdrawing.
• Am I okay with a poor grade going on my permanent academic record? If you do not withdraw before your course’s deadline, the grade you receive - good or bad - will go on your transcript. If you have academic goals and are currently not happy with your scores in the course, you should consider withdrawing.

Withdrawing from a Course

Log into the Course Management page of your Outlier Account to manage your courses.

You can also access the menu by navigating to the top right of your screen and clicking the three horizontal lines next to your email address. Next, click Account.

On the left side of your Account page, click Course Management. Then, click 'Manage Course' next to the course you plan to exit from:

Here, you will find the option to withdraw from your course. Click the 'Withdraw' button to be taken to the Withdrawal Form.

Your withdrawal request is not complete until you have submitted the Withdrawal Form.

What can I do if the withdrawal deadline has passed?

After the withdrawal deadline, students will receive a letter grade for the course. If your deadline has passed, we are here to support you academically! We recommend:

• Reaching out to us to ask about completing a success plan
• Asking our facilitators in your course's discussion community for help with the material

   

Extenuating Circumstances

We understand that life is unpredictable, and things may happen that make it difficult to keep up with your studies. So if you have experienced extenuating circumstances and wish to appeal for a late withdrawal, please fill out the Exception Request Survey.

Fill out the survey by clicking on Tell Us More on the Manage Course page. The survey is available to students after the Withdrawal Deadline has passed but prior to the cohort’s end date. Your request will be submitted to the Student Success Team for review.

Does not apply to Florida Polytechnic University or other partner institutions. Please refer to your course syllabus for details.