Course Drops & Withdrawals

University Health Services is the central location for processing Medical/Mental Health Course Drops & Withdrawals.

Documentation will be reviewed by the committee(s) and a determination will be made whether criteria has been met. The committee’s review and their findings will be forwarded to the Office of Withdrawal Services and/or your Dean

The committee does not make the final decision regarding your request. The final decision to Approve or Deny your request will be determined by your Dean.

What's the Difference

• Medical Course Drop: You stay enrolled but remove one or more classes.
• Medical Withdrawal: You remove all classes for the term and are no longer enrolled. It is important you understand the implications of a complete withdrawal. Your Dean will review these with you.

Committee Review

Your application will be reviewed by either the Medical or Mental Health Committee - not both at the same time. Choose the committee that best fits your situation. If needed, your application may be redirected to the other committee.

Forms & Guides

• Authorization for Release Form: Allows the committee to review your records.
• Medical Provider Instructions: Lists required medical documentation.
• Mental Health Provider Instructions: Lists required mental health documentation.

Before You Start

Make sure you:

1. Meet with your Academic Dean for approval.
2. Get the correct application:
   • Course Drop: Paper form from your Dean’s office.
   • Withdrawal: Online application process. Start with your Dean’s office .
3. Gather:
   • A copy of your class schedule for the semester you are making the request for.
   • Documentation from licensed providers for visits during the semester in which you are requesting a drop or withdrawal.
     1. Specific medical documentation pertinent to the health problem (including office visit notes to show exam, findings, diagnosis, plan of treatment, recommendations, lab or x-ray reports (not x-ray themselves), and/or admission/discharge summary etc.) MUST be included.
     2. Hospital and treatment bills will not be accepted as documentation.
     3. Incomplete documentation will not be accepted.
   • Completed Authorization for Release Form giving the review committee permission to review your medical records.

Please keep copies of your records, as our office cannot release or provide copies of your records back to you.

How to Apply

Medical or Mental Health Course Drop

• Fill out the paper application provided to you by your dean.
• Include documentation from all providers you saw during the semester.
• Complete Authorization for Release Form to authorize committee review of your records.
• Attach your class schedule.
• Submit the completed packet to University Health Services (see instructions below).

Applications that are not completely filled out and/or missing documentation will not be processed for review until complete.

Medical or Mental Health Withdrawal

• Meet with your Dean to start the online process.
• Complete the online application.
• Submit to University Health Services
  • Submit documentation from all providers in person, via email, or through NiFTy (see “How to Submit”).
  • Submit the Authorization for Release Form in person, via email, or through NiFTy.
  • Attach your class schedule.

Applications that are not completely filled out and/or missing documentation will not be processed for review until complete.

Students on the Student Health Insurance plan with United Student Healthcare Resources please note, the health insurance plan is NOT automatically cancelled when a student withdraws. Refer to the cancellation terms and conditions of your health plan at https://www.uhcsr.com/school-page . Please email UHS-HealthCompliance@fsu.edu with any questions.

Additional Resources regarding the Medical/Mental Health Withdrawal Process may be found at dsst.fsu.edu .

How to Submit

Medical Course Drop Applications can be submitted:

• In Person: University Health Services, 960 Learning Way, 1st Floor
• Email: uhs-coursedrop@fsu.edu
• NiFTy: https://nifty.fsu.edu/

Review Process

• Reviewed by the appropriate committee.
• Only acute, severe, or catastrophic conditions are considered. Examples may be found HERE.
• Chronic conditions are usually not approved.
• Final decision is made by your Academic Dean.

Check Your Application Status

You may check the status of your application within 5 business days after submission in the CDAW Portal at https://cdaw.uhs.fsu.edu

In the CDAW Portal you may:

• Check the status of your application
• View messages from the processing team regarding the need for any additional documentation

Timeline & Notifications

• Processing time varies. A completed application at the point of submission typically takes 14-21 days to receive the final determination from their Dean’s office.
• Incomplete applications will delay review. Monitor your application status at https://uhs.fsu.edu/forms-and-records/course-drops
• Your Dean’s Office will notify you of the decision.

Appeal Process

If the application does not meet the criteria, the student is allowed one appeal. To appeal a medical decision, the student must be able to furnish additional documentation from the medical or mental health professional that gives stronger support to the reasons for the withdrawal.

The student should submit additional documents to University Health Services

• In Person: University Health Services, 960 Learning Way, 1st Floor
• Email: uhs-coursedrop@fsu.edu
• NiFTy: https://nifty.fsu.edu/

The University Health Services office will then forward the additional information to the committee. Please write “APPEAL” on the first page of the new documentation provided c/o Course Drop Withdrawal Committee.

Frequently Asked Questions