Withdrawal Policy M.S.ED

This policy will assist students who feel the need to completely withdraw from the university after a semester has begun but before its conclusion. A student is considered to be withdrawn from a credit hour program if the student does not complete all of the days in the payment period that the student was scheduled to complete; the days in the payment period would include all the days in both terms in a semester made up of modules if the student is registered for both at the time of withdrawal.

In addition to withdrawing from a course(s), a student also has the opportunity to drop a course.  It is possible to drop a course in which there has been no academic activity.  It is possible for a student to drop a course(s) or for staff to drop a student through validation.  There will no charges for a dropped course.  However, if a student in a modular program drops all hours in a term after having completed a prior term (all in the same semester), a Return to Title IV calculation will be required and all days in the semester will be used in the Return to calculation.  If a student drops all hours in a subsequent term in a semester during the current term and completes that current term, this is not considered a withdrawal and no Return to Title IV calculation will be required.

If, on the same day, a student withdraws from all courses in the first term of a modular semester and drops all courses in a subsequent term in the same semester, all of the days in the semester will be used in the Return to Title IV calculation.

If a student who is registered for both terms in a modular semester withdraws from the first term, we will request documentation of the student's intent to return for the second term.  If the student fails to indicate their intent or indicates they will not return for the second term in that semester, the student will be considered to have withdrawn from the semester as of the withdrawal date and a return of funds calculation will be performed.  If the student indicates that they will return for the second term, the student will not be considered to have withdrawn.  A return of federal aid calculation will only be required if the student later does not return as indicated.

For a student who officially withdraws, the withdrawal date will be the earlier of the following (unless a later date can be documented):

  • The date the student begins the official process mentioned below, or
  • The date the student officially notifies the institution of intent to withdraw

If a student triggers both definitions above of official withdrawal on different dates, the university will use the earlier date, unless a later academically related activity can be documented. An academically related activity is defined as one that has been confirmed by an employee of BVU, such as taking an exam, actively logging into the coursework, turning in a class assignment, attending a study group, etc.

Official notification can come in written form, via telephone, in person, or through e-mail. If a graduate student finds the need to completely withdraw within a semester, the withdrawal process should be initiated with the Office of Graduate Studies.  This process must also be followed for withdrawal from online courses.

If a student begins but does not complete coursework for a term/semester, but does not officially withdraw as described above, they will be considered to have unofficially withdrawn.  The withdrawal date for a federal aid recipient who unofficially withdraws will be the midpoint of the payment period unless a later last day of academic related activity can be documented; this date will be used in determining how much federal aid must be returned.  No refund of federal aid will be required for a withdrawal that occurs after sixty percent of the payment period (which could be based on one term or two, depending on enrollment at the time of withdrawal).  The withdrawal date will be communicated to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).  This date will be used to determine loan repayment when necessary.  If an unofficial withdrawal is calculated using the 50% point of a term/semester, the date associated with the 50% point will be communicated to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).

If a student unofficially withdraws, he/she will be fully charged for tuition, regardless of any aid that is returned. If a student left without notification because of circumstances beyond the student’s control, such as those mentioned below, BVU might determine a withdrawal date related to those circumstances. In addition, a withdrawal date determination can be appealed for extenuating circumstances such as:

  • Illness.
  • Accident.
  • Grievous personal loss.
  • Or other circumstances beyond the student’s control.

The appeal request should be made through, and will be approved by the Office of Graduate Studies. The student or an interested party can initiate this process.

A student can rescind a withdrawal by providing a written request to the Office of Graduate Studies.

The withdrawal date for a student that withdraws (officially or unofficially) from both modules in a modular semester will be calculated using the actual days of attendance in each term.  The withdrawal date communicated the the NSLDS will be the last withdrawal date/last documented day of academic related activity in the semester.

Students who cease to be academically engaged may also be administratively withdrawn. Administrative withdrawals will be treated as an unofficial withdrawal. The full administrative withdrawal policy can be found under the academic program policies & particulars section of the catalog.

If a student wishes to request a leave of absence instead of withdrawing, he/she should contact the Office of Graduate Studies to begin that process. Under this policy, a leave of absence will be treated as an official withdrawal.

If disciplinary action results in the loss of any college or college-contracted service for the student, there will be no refund of charges.  Federal aid may be returned based on the Return of Title IV Funds Policy. 

The Office of Financial Assistance can be contacted with questions concerning the withdrawal process or the refund calculation.