Medical Withdrawal

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Policy Number:
UW-1084
Responsible Office:
Office of the Provost

University Policy

Rationale/​Purpose:

This policy ensures compliance with UW System Administrative Policy 807, Medical Withdrawal Policy to provide medical withdrawals and refunds beyond the 100% refund date.

Definitions:
Student
Anyone who has ever been enrolled at UW-Madison. 
Medical withdrawal 
The process used after the 100% refund period to fully remove a student from the requested term where a student is faced with a serious or unexpected physical or mental health condition, a serious or unexpected physical or mental health condition of an immediate family member who requires student care, or a death of an immediate family member that completely precludes the student from being able to function as a student. 
Immediate family member
A parent, guardian, sibling, spouse, child or other member of the student’s household.
Tuition/Segregated fees
Includes both academic student fees and nonresident tuition. In the State of Wisconsin statutes, the term “academic student fees” generally applies to resident instructional fees paid by all students, and the term “tuition” applies to the additional amount paid by nonresidents (see UW System Administrative Policy 805, Tuition and Fee Policies for Credit Instruction).
Scope:

This policy applies to the medical withdrawal process, including tuition and fee refunds beyond the 100% refund date per UW System Administrative Policy 805, Tuition and Fee Policies for Credit Instruction. 

Policy:

 

  1. Medical withdrawals may be granted to students who experience a serious or unexpected physical or mental health condition, a serious or unexpected physical or mental health condition of an immediate family member who requires student care, or a death of an immediate family member that completely precludes a student from attending class and completing other academically-related activity.

    1. In the case of pre-existing, recurring, or chronic health conditions, documentation must show that the recurrence or worsening of the condition(s) began after initiation of the term for which the withdrawal is requested.

  2. Approval will be granted on a case-by-case basis.

  3. If a medical withdrawal is approved, tuition will be refunded based on the following schedules:

    Courses offered in the fall/spring regular (15 week) terms: 

    Withdrawal date (weeks into term)

    Refund Range

    0-2 weeks

    100%

    3-4 weeks

    90%

    5-8 weeks

    70%

    9-12 weeks

    50%

    13+ weeks

    30%

     

    Courses offered in summer/fall/spring shorter-term (less than 15-weeks) sessions: 

    Withdrawal date (weeks into session)

    Refund Range

    First week

    100%

    Second week

    70-90%

    3-4 weeks

    50-70%

    5+ weeks

    30-50%

     

    1. Students participating in UW-Madison sponsored study abroad programs will not be refunded according to the schedules in this policy and should work with their study abroad advisor if they are in need of a medical withdrawal.

  4. The withdrawal date used for purposes of determining the tuition refund schedule is one of the following:

    1. SIS withdrawal date: The date the student submits the online withdrawal request, unless otherwise determined by the school/college as the last date of academically related activity.

    2. Last date of academically related activity: Provided to the Registrar’s Office by the school/college and refers to the last date of academically related activity in any course.

      1. Academic related activity:

        1. Physically attending a class where there is an opportunity for direct interaction between the instructor and students;

        2. Submitting an academic assignment;

        3. Taking an exam, completing an interactive tutorial, or participating in computer-assisted instruction;

        4. Attending a study group that is assigned by the school;

        5. Participating in an online discussion about academic matters; and

        6. Initiating contact with a faculty member to ask a question about the academic subject studied in the course.

  5. Students may apply for a retroactive medical withdrawal up to one year after the end of the term in question. For applications submitted after the end of the term, transcript adjustments may be the only possible remedy; tuition adjustments may not be possible.

  6. Documentation is required for medical withdrawals requested after the 100% refund deadline.

  7. Documentation requirements:

    1. In the case of a physical or mental health condition: A supporting letter from a licensed healthcare provider or healthcare records that correlate with and substantiate the request for the term of medical withdrawal. A licensed health care provider may include a licensed medical (e.g., physician, nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant) or mental health care provider (e.g., psychologist, counselor, social worker).

    2. In the case of death of an immediate family member: An obituary or other official record of death may be requested as documentation.

Related UW–Madison Documents, Web Pages, or Other Resources:
External References:

Policy Administration

Approval Authority:
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Policy Manager:
Associate Vice Provost, Undergraduate Advising and Career Services
Contact:
Director for Academic Affairs -- Diana Maki, diana.maki@wisc.edu, (608) 890-4947
Effective Date:
10-26-2021
Date Issued:
10-26-2021
Retrieved:
04-26-2024 14:00:45