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Retoactive Withdrawals

Petition Information

Previous Semester
Petition to withdraw retroactively from a previous semester for medical reasons

A Sub-Committee of the University Petitions Committee is available to consider petitions to withdraw retroactively from all classes from a previous semester for medical reasons only. If your retroactive withdrawal/drop is for selected classes or for non-medical reasons, please visit the University Registrar. Medical withdrawals include physical as well as psychological/emotional reasons, pertaining to the student or their immediate family, which includes mother, father, brother, sister. Immediate family may
also include a spouse or child of the student.

The procedure for petitioning to withdraw past the published deadline because of medical reasons includes the following:

  1. Obtain a packet of petition materials from Jeannie Malphurs at the Dean of Students Office, 202 Peabody Hall.
  2. Fill out the Senate Petition Summary and Action Form and the Request for Senate Petition, and return paperwork to Ms. Malphurs at the Dean of Students Office.
  3. Have the instructor complete the Instructor Recommendation Form for each of the courses for which you were registered during the term in question. If the instructor is no longer at UF, the department chair can sign off on the Instructor Form. The completed forms can be given to students directly, or the instructor may mail the forms through campus mail c/o Ms. Jeannie Malphurs, Program Assistant, at P.O. Box 114075, Gainesville, FL 32611. Forms may also be faxed to 352-392-5566.
  4. Obtain medical documentation from a physician, psychologist, or counselor. The documentation should be a letter on the physician/psychologist/counselor’s letterhead. The documentation should include the nature and duration of the student’s illness/personal problems during the term in question as well as an indication whether the student’s illness/personal problems interfered significantly with the student’s ability to perform academically. Also include dates services were provided by the treating specialist, and a recommendation or support of student’s petition to withdraw. Documentation should not be from a family member.
  5. Have a personal interview or phone interview with a committee member at the Dean of Students Office in 202 Peabody Hall. The Dean of Students Office number is 352-392-1261. Call Ms. Jeannie Malphurs, at Ext. 213 to schedule your appointment. The interview can not take place until all the above paperwork is completed and turned in to Ms. Malphurs.
  6. After completing all of the above steps, the petition committee will meet on said petition. The Sub- Committee meets weekly on Tuesday mornings. Students can obtain information about the Sub- Committee’s decision by calling Jeannie Malphurs, 392-1261, extension 213, the next day. Students also will receive a copy in their mail of the decision action indicated by the Sub-Committee.If the Sub- Committee denies the student’s petition, the University Senate Petition Committee located within the Office of the University Registrar (222 Criser Hall, phone 352-392-1374) will automatically hear it as part of the appeal process.

Download the Petition Packet to Withdraw Retroactively for Medical Reasons (35KB, PDF)