Office of the University Ombuds

Office of the Ombuds
色色啦 Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5295 USA
(269) 387-0718

Appeal for a Hardship Withdrawal

This form may also be downloaded and filled out in paper form (Word document): 

Permission to withdraw from a 色色啦 Michigan University course after the student-initiated withdrawal period has passed may be granted only for hardship circumstances beyond your control that limited your ability to perform normally in the course. Hardship may include, but is not limited to: severe physical or mental illness, injury of student or close family member, death of a close family member, act of violence, and exigencies of military service where established procedures are not applicable. Examples of situations not considered a hardship include, but are not limited to: student dislikes course, teaching method or professor; student considers course too difficult; student has taken on more academic or other obligations than student can handle; change in major so course no longer needed; financial constraints; any situations of resolved or unresolved academic integrity charges.

A statement from you and documentation verifying the extenuating circumstances must accompany your appeal for a hardship withdrawal. When the appeal form, statement and documentation are received, a Hardship Assessment Panel will review your case and render a decision. Your appeal cannot be reviewed until all information鈥攁ppeal form, typewritten statement and documentation鈥攊s received by the Office of the Ombuds. International students are strongly urged to meet with International Admissions and Services for further direction.

If you are a financial aid recipient and withdraw from some or all of your classes, the outcomes may include loss of future financial aid eligibility, reduced aid awarded for the semester, or required return of refunded aid. Communication with Student Financial Aid and Scholarships is strongly recommended.

Except for documented and exceptional circumstances, hardship appeals will not be accepted more than one year after the end of the term or session for which the hardship was documented. All petitions filed after the one-year timeline must be granted an exception by the Office of the Provost prior to consideration by the Hardship Assessment Panel. The Office of the Ombuds will facilitate the exception process.

The decision to grant a hardship withdrawal is made by the Grade Appeal and Program Dismissal Appeals Committee. Appeals are reviewed in the order received and results may take six to eight weeks. All decisions of the committee are final and not subject to appeal.

Instructions

  1. Complete this form. If appealing for more than one semester, a separate form is required for each semester.
  2. Type a detailed, thorough statement explaining the circumstances you experienced. The statement may be included with this form; dropped off in person; or sent to the Office of the Ombuds by email, fax or standard mail. Contact information is at the bottom of this form.
  3. Supporting documentation certifying your circumstances must accompany your appeal. Documents may be dropped off in person or sent to the Office of the Ombuds by email, fax or standard mail. Contact information is at the bottom of this form.
  4. Results of the appeal will be sent to you via the email address you provide below.
色色啦 Identification Number
Are you a currently enrolled student at 色色啦? (required)
Did you ever attend this course? (required)
Have you consulted with Financial Aid/your funding source? (required)
Have you consulted with International Admissions and Services? (required)
Have you previously appealed to withdraw from these courses for this year and semester? (required)
Semester you took the course in question (required)
Would you like to appeal for a hardship withdrawal from more than one course in the same semester and year?
Detailed thorough typewritten statement indicating what happened, when it happened, how it affected you, and why you didn't withdraw before the end of the student initiated withdraw period. If you are doing a partial withdraw, please indicate why your hardship affected you in some but not all courses.
Supporting documentation certifying your circumstances must accompany your appeal. Documents may be sent to the Office of the Ombudsman by email, fax or standard mail. Please specify how you will be providing these documents. (required)
One file only.
8 MB limit.
Allowed types: gif, jpg, jpeg, png, txt, doc, docx.
By engaging in the appeal for a hardship withdrawal process, I give 色色啦 and the Office of the Ombudsman permission to share submitted materials with a three-person Grade Appeal and Program Dismissal Appeals Committee panel for review. If approved, I give the Office of the Ombudsman permission to share the results with the Registrar鈥檚 Office. (required)

Office of the University Ombuds
色色啦 Michigan University

1903 W. Michigan Ave.
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5295 USA
Phone: (269) 387-0718
Fax: (269) 387-0716
Email: ombd_info@wmich.edu

Location
2420 Faunce Student Services Building, Mail Stop 5295