Late Withdraw Drop Policy for Students in TA Classes:

From thispoint forward, we have alimiteddrop policy. Ifa student requests to withdraw from your classAFTER thelast drop date, you should:

1. See your peer mentor to determine whether or not you think thereasoning is valid.

2.If so, take the drop slip to Dr. Smith, and she will discuss the situation with you and sign the slip if necessary. Keep in mind that late withdrawsare a rare exception.

3.If Dr. Smith signs, then you will take the slip to Dr. Therrien to be signed.

4. Then, you will sign!

It seems like a complicated process, butthis policy isa collaborative solution between Dr. Smith and Dr. Therrien that will allow you, in an extenuating circumstance, to let a student drop your class (which has not been allowed in the past).

To alleviate the problem of students asking to withdraw late...

--Give accurate midterm grades at least one week before the drop date.

--Conference with your students to give them an accurate face-to-face evaluation of their progress in the class (please do not TELL them to drop, but you may remind them of their current grade and the drop date).

--Remind your students of the drop date at every class meeting for at least two weeks before that date; let them know what they are agreeing to by staying in the course. (Give a refresher syllabus quiz, or restate your policies on attendance, late essays, etc.)

--Tell your students in advance that a hold on their account (i.e. parking tickets, late tuition payment, library fees) can keep them from being able to drop by that date.

Students should not beallowed to drop for reasons such as getting a bad essay grade, missing several classes withoutproof of an extenuating circumstance from Student Affairs, orjust feeling emotional (overwhelmed by their workload or become apathetic)after the drop date. This late withdrawpolicy is for students who have suffered a serious illness, a traumatic event, a family emergency, or something equally verifiable and significant.