Some students find that a personal or medical emergency during the semester can impact their ability to attend classes or complete missed work. In these cases, students may decide to withdraw from the University. The following information details the various options for withdrawing from a semester.

Personal Withdrawal

If a student is seeking a withdrawal for personal reasons (not medical, mental health, military, financial, or any category listed), a Personal Withdrawal should be indicated on the Withdrawal Form. Students can begin the Personal Withdrawal process by contacting the Dean of Students Office or connecting with their Academic Dean.

Medical Withdrawal

If a student is seeking a withdrawal for health reasons (physical and/or mental health), a Medical Withdrawal should be indicated on the Withdrawal Form. For medical withdrawals, students will need to include documentation from a health care provider. Additionally, students taking a medical withdrawal will need to provide medical documentation to the UHS Medical Director for re-enrollment. 

The medical withdrawal process is facilitated by University Health Services (UHS) Medical Director's Office. To start the process of a medical withdrawal, students should call 413-577-5271 or email medicaldirector@umass.edu. Additional information about the medical withdrawal process can be found here.
 

• Student Health Insurance: If the student has the UMass Amherst Student Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) through Student Benefit Consolidated Health Plans, they should contact UHS Patient Services at 413-577-5192 to notify them of their medical withdrawal from the University. If they would like to keep their school-sponsored health insurance while they are taking a medical withdrawal, they need to call Patient Services to discuss their options.

Financial Withdrawal

If a student is seeking a withdrawal for financial reasons, a Financial Withdrawal should be indicated on the Withdrawal Form. Financial withdrawals are often utilized when a student needs to take time away from campus to save on costs, pay overdue University bills, or research and secure options for additional financial aid/scholarships. If a student is seeking a withdrawal for financial reasons, students are advised to be familiar with the tuition refund schedule and housing fee refund schedule in order to prevent additional financial costs. Students can begin the Financial Withdrawal process by contacting the Dean of Students Office or connecting with their Academic Dean.
 

Academic Withdrawal

If a student is seeking a withdrawal for academic reasons, an Academic Withdrawal should be indicated on the Withdrawal Form. The student should contact their Academic Dean to discuss the academic impact of a withdrawal and a support plan for their return to classes in the future.
 

Military/Active Duty Withdrawal

If a student is seeking a withdrawal because they have documentation of military orders that indicate they cannot complete the semester, a Military Withdrawal should be indicated on the Withdrawal Form. Students are directed to contact the Dean of Students Office with appropriate documentation of their military orders. It is possible to qualify for additional fee waivers in addition to the standard tuition refunds. Students do not qualify for a military/active duty withdrawal unless their orders require them to serve during the semester. If a student receives orders to report during the following semester, a military/active duty withdrawal for the current semester is not possible.

Involuntary Withdrawal

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is committed to the safety, health, and well-being of the campus community. The University recognizes that students may experience situations that significantly impacts their ability to function in their role as a student. In rare circumstances, the University may require a student to take an involuntary withdrawal, pursuant to the standards and procedures articulated in the complete Involuntary Withdrawal Policy. In such circumstances, students will be given the option to take a voluntary withdrawal before a decision is made with respect to an involuntary withdrawal.