According to CSU and CSULB policy, withdrawal during the final three weeks of instruction is permitted only in cases such as accident or serious injury where the circumstances are beyond the student’s control and the assignment of an Incomplete is impractical.
In almost all cases, withdrawal in the last 3 weeks of classes will involve total withdrawal from all classes due to the serious nature of the illness or injury. And in most cases, withdrawal during this period is accomplished using the Medical Withdrawal Form available from the Office of Enrollment Services. The student’s physician must submit a statement confirming the serious illness or injury. If the request for total withdrawal is approved, the student will be withdrawn from all classes and the transcript will reflect a ‘W’ for each course. Please direct students to Enrollment Services in situations of serious illness or injury.
If the basis of a student’s request cannot be substantiated by medical documentation, the request should be made on the normal withdrawal form. Due to the unusual nature of these requests, approval for withdrawal from a course in the final three weeks not meeting the Medical Withdrawal criteria is required from the instructor, department chair, dean, and the Office of the Provost. Instructors, department chairs, and deans must consider the request carefully and approve withdrawal only for serious and compelling reasons beyond the student’s control. Should the request not be approved, the student must initiate the incomplete process where applicable or complete the class. Students who unofficially withdraw will have a symbol of “WU’ placed on each course. The “WU’ is treated as an F for GPA calculation.
The complete policy statement is available online.