Involuntary Withdrawal

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Policy Number:

UW-2005

Responsible Office:

Office of Student Assistance and Support

University Policy

Rationale/​Purpose:

The University of Wisconsin-Madison strives to maintain a safe and productive campus environment for all members of the UW-Madison community. The university is committed to the success of all students and will take the appropriate steps in a caring manner to achieve this goal. The university will seek to intervene where a student’s behavior:

• Presents a significant risk of harm to the health, safety, well-being and/or property rights of others.
• Presents significant risk to the health or safety of themselves.

This policy details the steps when the university initiates an involuntary withdrawal. 

Definitions:

Behavior Intervention Team (BIT)

An interdisciplinary group that supports student success and well-being by assessing and responding to concerning, distressed, or disruptive student behaviors. The team provides guidance, recommends interventions, and makes referrals for students who may be at risk or creating a disruptive environment.

Threat Team

A team composed of university officials that assesses and coordinates a response to threatening situations at UW–Madison. The team is chaired by the UW-Madison Police Department Director of Threat Intervention Services. The team develops strategies to assess, intervene, interrupt, and mitigate threats posed by students, faculty, staff, visitors, and others who are unaffiliated with the campus.

Policy:

1. Standard of Involuntary Withdrawal

   1. The dean of students, after a recommendation from the Behavior Intervention Team (BIT), Threat Team, or associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs/executive director of University Health Services may involuntarily withdraw a student from the university where the student’s behavior renders them unable to effectively function in the university without significant risk of substantial harm to themselves or others.
   2. A significant risk is one that is based upon an individualized assessment and constitutes a high probability of substantial harm which cannot be mitigated by other reasonable means. An individual assessment must include but is not limited to:
      1. Reasonable medical judgment relying on the most current medical knowledge, or the best available objective evidence (e.g., the student's conduct, actions, or statements);
      2. The nature, duration, and severity of the risk;
      3. The probability that the substantial harm or disruption will occur; and whether there are reasonable alternatives to sufficiently mitigate the risk (e.g., modifications of policies, practices, or procedures).

2. Process

   1. BIT, Threat Team, or associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs/executive director of University Health Services are responsible for making recommendations for involuntary withdrawal to the dean of students.
   2. Prior to recommending an involuntary withdrawal of a student, the BIT, Threat Team, or associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs/executive director of University Health Services will attempt to address the student’s behavior by conducting an individualized assessment and creating an intervention plan. Development of the plan should include contacting critical campus stakeholders. This plan will be designed to identify:
      1. The nature, severity, and duration of the concern.
      2. Whether or not reasonable modifications of policies, practices or procedures will sufficiently mitigate the concern.
      3. Reasonable behavior standards based on best practice models and current medical and mental health knowledge.
      4. The ability of the student to meet the responsibilities of being a student. An inability to meet student responsibilities includes:
         1. Behaviors that pose a risk to the health or safety of themselves or others;
         2. Failure to follow written directives;
         3. Class and/or campus disruptions;
         4. Challenges with maintaining personal hygiene;
         5. Not attending classes; and
         6. An unwillingness or inability to follow university policies, practices and procedures.
   3. After establishing an individualized intervention plan, the BIT, Threat Team, or associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs/executive director of University Health Services may recommend a course of action in response to the behavior with an understanding that multiple options may be used and that not all options need to be tried or exhausted prior to an involuntary withdrawal. Options include, but are not limited to, the following:
      1. Consult with faculty and staff about the student’s behavior
      2. Direct engagements with the student by the team or designee to discuss student needs, student well-being, and campus expectations
      3. Voluntary referral for mental health services/assessment
      4. Self-care/behavioral contract
      5. Notification of family members or other emergency contacts
      6. Disciplinary action based on the established administrative code
      7. Mandated psychological risk, forensic, or neuropsychological assessment
      8. Request that the student voluntarily withdraw
      9. Contact with UW-Madison Police Department or City of Madison Police Department to conduct a welfare check or other police response (e.g., transport for emergency psychiatric assessment)
   4. If the BIT, Threat Team, or associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs/executive director of University Health Services determines that the appropriate response is involuntary withdrawal , they will then present documentation of informational reports about the student and their efforts in responding to the behavior, along with a written request for involuntary withdrawal to the dean of students, or designee, and a recommended time frame for review.
   5. The dean of students must notify the student within 48 hours of their decision to pursue an involuntary withdrawal. The notification should also specifically include any recommended conditions for readmission as determined by the BIT, Threat Team, or associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs/executive director of University Health Service.
   6. This contact must be documented either by electronic mail or postal service (with delivery confirmation) or by obtaining a student signature on a notice or recommendation for involuntary withdrawal. If the student lacks the capacity to confirm receipt of notice, or is unwilling to confirm receipt of notice, then the attempt to obtain confirmation must be documented in the student’s case file.
   7. The dean of students will review the documentation and recommendation provided by the BIT, Threat Team, or associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs/executive director of University Health Services  within a reasonable window of time to be determined by the severity and type of risk.
   8. The dean of students will review the BIT, Threat Team, or associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs/Executive Director of University Health Services recommendation with the appropriate academic dean. The review should include outlining the academic impact of an involuntary withdrawal. The academic dean will be notified about the decision by the dean of students.
   9. The student will be notified by letter (sent either electronically or via postal service with delivery confirmation) within three (3) business days after the decision has been made. This notification will originate from the dean of students, and all records regarding the decision and notifications will be maintained by the dean of students or designee.

3. Student's Rights

   1. Appeal
      1. The student may, within 10 business days from the delivery of the notice of decision, submit a written appeal of the decision to the vice chancellor for student affairs. Allowable grounds for appeal are limited to:
         1. Procedural error; or
         2. Claims regarding errors or omissions in the information available to support the decision.
      2. If an appeal is not received within the 10 business days outlined in this section, the decision of the dean of students will be considered final and conclusive.
      3. During the appeal process, the decision of the dean of students will remain in effect.
   2. Fees and Records
      1. A student who is withdrawn involuntarily will be entitled to all tuition fee refunds applicable under the current University of Wisconsin-Madison financial policies for student withdrawal. 
      2. An involuntary withdrawal will not have a different impact on a student’s right to recover tuition funds than if the student had withdrawn voluntarily.
      3. At the discretion of the dean of students, a compassionate tuition adjustment may be requested. For students receiving grants, fellowship funds, or other campus funding packages, refunds and financial obligations will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
      4. The appropriate university policies applicable to the records of students who voluntarily withdraw will apply to a student who has been withdrawn involuntarily, except for the policy of readmission as outlined in this policy.
      5. All student rights provided for in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and/or University of Wisconsin-Madison student record policies apply for students who have been involuntarily withdrawn.
      6. All documents related to the involuntary withdrawal process, including any documentation by BIT, Threat Team, associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs/executive director of University Health Services will remain with the dean of students or designee for a period of seven years.

   3. Relationship to the Disciplinary Process

      1. An involuntary withdrawal is not to be used when student conduct should be addressed through current disciplinary or other academic processes.
      2. A student may be subject to both disciplinary action and involuntary withdrawal as these processes are not mutually exclusive.
   4. Relationship to the Voluntary Withdrawal Process
      1. If an involuntary withdrawal action has been initiated, and the student chooses to pursue a voluntary withdrawal, all matters related to the involuntary withdrawal will be suspended and regular withdrawal procedure will then be followed.
      2. The student will be subject to the requirements for readmission outlined in this policy.
      3. If a student pursues a voluntary withdrawal and is the subject of pending disciplinary actions, the voluntary withdrawal will not nullify any disciplinary actions that may be applicable. Voluntary withdrawal cannot be used to avoid the issues being addressed by either disciplinary action or involuntary withdrawal.
   5. Readmission
      1. A student who has been involuntarily withdrawn from the University of Wisconsin-Madison may apply for readmission provided that the student meets all the academic requirements outlined within the current readmission policies of the university. Additionally, the university requires reasonable assurance that the student is able and ready to return to the university.
      2. The dean of students, upon consultation with the BIT, Threat Team, or associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs/executive director of University Health Services, will determine if readmission will be allowed. The BIT, Threat Team, or associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs/executive director of University Health Services can recommend to the dean of students conditions for the student’s readmission. Conditions for readmission may include, but are not limited to the following:
         1. Meeting with the dean of students or designee to discuss readmission.
         2. A request that the student provide a Release of Information from health care providers to University Health Services.
         3. A requirement for a written agreement of attendance and behavioral expectations for the student’s return to campus.
         4. A request for any information or documentation that the dean of students believes will be relevant to review for readmission.
      3. The student be notified of their readmission decision within five business days. Notification may occur via phone or in person. Written notification will be delivered via electronic means or by postal service.
         1. If approved for readmission, the notification will detail any conditions of the student upon readmission.
         2. If not approved for readmission, the dean of students is authorized to place a restriction on when the student may be permitted readmission.
      4. Readmission decisions by the dean of students cannot be appealed. 
   6. University Students Not in Residence on Campus
      1. A University of Wisconsin-Madison student who is participating in research, study abroad, or any other academically affiliated duties off campus will be subject to the processes contained within this policy and will also have the benefit of all student rights provided for in this policy. Reasonable modifications to the terms of this policy will be made as needed to implement this process when a student is off campus.
      2. If the student is studying at a host institution or third-party managed program, they may be subject to the withdrawal policies of that institution or program as well as those of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Policy Administration

Approval Authority:

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Policy Manager:

Dean of Students

Contact:

Associate Dean of Students and Director -- Kathy Kruse, kathy.kruse@wisc.edu, (608) 263-5700

Effective Date:

01-01-2019

Revised Dates:

01-22-2026

Reviewed Dates:

11-26-2025, 01-22-2026

Retrieved:

01-28-2026 21:12:44