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Drop-Withdrawal

Dropping or withdrawing from classes can affect both your award amount and your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). We highly recommend that you read our SAP Policy before continuing with this article. Financial Aid is awarded based on a student’s eligibility as well as the number of credit hours for which the student is enrolled. Students are encouraged to pass and complete all classes without dropping, withdrawing or failing in order to maintain their eligibility; however, there may be unforeseen events that occur in a student’s life that may result in the student having to drop or withdraw from classes. If this occurs, it is important that the student understands both how their aid and eligibility are affected. It is also important that the student follows the proper steps for dropping or withdrawing from classes.

Terms Defined

The terms “Dropping” and “Withdrawing” are often used interchangeably; therefore, further explanation must be given before we can explain how Dropping or Withdrawing from classes affects your financial aid. The words themselves mean the same thing. Anytime a student decides they no longer wish to attend a class and files the proper paper-work, he/she is dropping/withdrawing from that class and it will be reflected on his/her transcript. *The key difference is the type of form filled-out by the student when he/she decides they no longer wish to attend a class or classes.*

  • The Drop Add Form is filled out by the student when he/she is signed-up for classes and although a change(s) is being made to his/her schedule, he/she will still be enrolled in at least one class once the change(s) is implemented.
  • The Withdrawal Form is completed when the student determines he/she can no longer attend any of the classes for which he/she is enrolled.

Dropping Classes

Students who are dropping a class(es), but will be remaining in at least one class will have to complete the “Drop/Add Form” and submit it to the Registrar’s Office. When a student drops a class(es) their aid may have to be adjusted for that term and the student's SAP can be affected.

Classes Dropped Prior to the Beginning or Within the First 3 Days of the Semester

Class dropped prior to the beginning of the semester or within the first three (3) days of the semester will not be counted as attempted hours. Therefore, the student’s SAP will not be negatively affected; however, any aid that was awarded for the term prior to the changes being made must be adjusted accordingly. Students are encouraged to check with the Financial Aid Office prior to dropping classes to determine what adjustments would need to be made and whether any funds would need to be paid out-of-pocket.

Classes Dropped Following the First 3 Days of the Semester

Classes dropped following the first three (3) days of the semester will be counted as attempted hours and have a negative effect on the student’s SAP. Federal funds (such as Pell) may have to be adjusted depending upon the timeframe in which the student drops classes.

Withdrawing From Classes

As defined at the beginning of this article, students who determine they cannot continue in any of the classes for which they are registered will fill out the Official Withdrawal Form and submit it to the Registrar’s Office. When a student withdraws from all of their classes, their aid may have to be adjusted for that term and the SAP can be affected.

Classes Withdrawn From Prior to the Beginning or Within the First 3 Days of the Semester

If all classes are dropped prior to the beginning of the term or within the first three (3) days of classes, the student’s SAP will not be negatively affected, but any aid awarded on his/her account must be removed. If the student has used any Pell funds in the GNTC Bookstore prior to withdrawing, he/she will need to pay those funds back to the Business Office.

Classes Withdrawn From Following the First 3 Days of the Semester

Classes dropped following the first three (3) days of the semester will be counted as attempted hours and have a negative effect on the student’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Federal funds (such as Pell) may have to be adjusted depending on the timeframe in which the student drops classes. Because charges incurred for tuition and fees remain the same following the first three (3) days of the semester, students may be required to pay for charges initially covered by federal funds.