Withdrawal

The student submits a withdrawal request or simply ceases participation. The institution records the date. If Title IV aid was disbursed, the financial-aid office calculates the percentage of the payment period the student completed and returns the unearned portion of aid. The student’s transcript shows a W or equivalent grade, and the credits remain in the attempted total for SAP.

Example: a student receiving a Pell Grant withdraws from all courses at the 40 percent point of the term. The institution returns 60 percent of the aid attributable to institutional charges. The withdrawn credits count as attempted for the pace component of satisfactory academic progress.

Stop-out is a temporary interruption with an expectation of return. Drop usually refers to removal from a single course early in the term, often without a transcript notation. Graduation or completion is successful finish, not withdrawal.

Failing to establish a last date of attendance for online students who stop participating. Treating an unofficial withdrawal as if no return-of-funds calculation is required. Excluding withdrawn courses from the SAP attempted-credit count.