University Policies Related to Academic Challenges

University Policies to Address Academic Challenges

If students have not performed at the level they need or want, there are some academic policies that can help to protect their GPA or to help improve their GPA. Which policies are relevant depend on the degree of challenge experienced (in a class or two as opposed to most classes within a term) and when experienced (during or after the term a course is taken).

**Altering your schedule, including using course forgiveness or withdrawal, may impact financial aid and/or having to pay back monies received. Make sure to discuss potential implications with the Student Financial Center Links to an external site. before taking action.

Policies that Apply During (Part of) a Term

Before the Add/Drop Deadline

Withdraw with Leave of Absence

Students can file a Request to Withdraw Links to an external site. from all classes prior to the add/drop deadline (be sure to read the FAQs too).
A Leave of Absence Links to an external site. must be filed if students are not enrolled in classes so they do not lose their status as a matriculated student. Leaves of absence are generally granted given students meet eligibility criteria Links to an external site.. Students should also check in with the financial aid office Links to an external site. to understand any implications for their aid.

Change Grading Basis to Cr/NC

Students can elect to take up to 15 units as Credit/No Credit Links to an external site. (courses offered only on a CR/NC basis do not count toward cap) prior to the add/drop deadline. However, students cannot use CR/NC to meet specific requirements: Golden Four, any Major courses, or UD minor courses.
See information on the limits of CR/NC Links to an external site. in the SDSU catalog under University Policies. Contact the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships Links to an external site. to learn any implications of taking CR/NC for financial aid.

After the Add/Drop Deadline

I. Late Schedule Adjustment - Withdrawal or Change to Cr/NC

Students can request to withdraw or change to Cr/NC through a late schedule adjustment petition Links to an external site. after the add/drop deadline but before the last day of classes. However, there must be serious and compelling reasons for this type of petition to be approved. A written statement and third-party documentation are required. If approved, a W is received (which has no effect on GPAs). Contact the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships Links to an external site. to learn any implications of taking CR/NC for financial aid.

If students stop going to class without withdrawing, they receive an WU (unauthorized withdrawal) or an F, either of which counts as a 0 in GPAs.

If you decide to pursue a late schedule adjustment, we encourage you to read through the late schedule adjustment petition instructions Links to an external site., which provides more detail on the steps you will need to take, what information to include in the written statement, and examples of supporting documentation.

II. Incomplete Agreements

If a serious illness, injury, etc. emerges near the end of a term, students can ask professors if an Incomplete Agreement Links to an external site. might be considered. Incomplete are not meant to 'save' a student from receiving a grade lower than they want. They are reserved for situations in which a project, exam, or similar cannot be completed by the end of the term. The professor and student complete a contract, which specifies exactly what a student needs to do to complete the coursework. If receiving an incomplete is approved, the student must complete the outstanding coursework within the timeframe agreed upon with the professor. If not completed in time, the student's grade will become an IC, which is treated like an F in GPAs.

Policies that Apply After a Term is Over

If students earn a C- or lower in a course, there are some policies that may help offset the impact of lower grades on GPAs.

I. Course Forgiveness Links to an external site.

Up to 16 units; only the new grade—whether it is higher or lower than the old grade—is calculated into GPA; students can only earn units once for a course.

A few caveats that come up commonly:

Forgiveness automatically applies the 2nd time a course is taken (if a course needs to taken a 3rd time, see Course Repeat Petition Links to an external site. info).
Second attempt grade is used in GPAs, even if lower than the first.
First attempt grade will remain on the transcript.
Units can only be earned once for a course. If received a D- or higher the 1st time, will receive 0 units the 2nd time.
Forgiveness cannot apply if a student retakes an equivalent course at another institution.
See FAQs Links to an external site. for a complete list of the limits of forgiveness, including cautions about financial aid.

II. Course Repeat Links to an external site.

Up to 12 units applied automatically if
- retake a course for 3rd time
- or if surpass 16 units of forgiveness.
Grades of both attempts under course repeat are averaged into GPA but students still only earn units once.
Repeat can apply if student retakes course at another institution.
Review the FAQs Links to an external site. for more information.

III. Course Repeat Petition Links to an external site.

If students (1) need to take a course for a 3rd time because they received a C- or lower the 2nd time or (2) are required to achieve a B or higher in a specific course for the Neuroscience or I/O Emphasis in Psychology, then a course repeat petition is required. Note: students must have already been declared into an emphasis for this to apply.

See the "Course Repeat Petition Steps" page for guidance on how to file a petition. The page also covers alternative options to help students determine whether this petition is the best course of action.

Note that Course Repeat Petition requests are not automatically approved. If a Course Repeat Petition is approved, the Office of the Registrar will notify the student. At that point, the student will be able to enroll him/herself in the class.

IV. Retroactive Withdrawal Links to an external site.

Sometimes students have significant events occur in a semester that result in poorer performance and a lowered GPA. Often students are unaware of their options to withdraw during the semester. In this type of situation, if students have serious and compelling reasons, it may be possible to retroactively withdraw provided the student is able to provide documentation of the situation (e.g., physical or mental health issue, family emergency, financial loss). Students have the option to withdraw from select courses or all courses in a semester.

If you decide to pursue a retroactive withdrawal petition, we encourage you to read through the retroactive withdrawal instructions Links to an external site., which provides more detail on the steps you will need to take, what information to include in the written statement, and examples of supporting documentation.