What does it mean to withdraw from a class and why might you want to do that?
Sometimes life happens and you worry that you may not get a passing grade in a class. You may wish to take advantage of a W-drop or the P/F option. The W-Drop Date is Thursday, April 3, 2025. This is the last day you can withdraw from a class or select pass/fail grading for a class in SPIRE. If you withdraw from the class by this date, your transcript will show that you enrolled in the class and dropped it (which is fine!). (See below for considerations before dropping a class.) If you elect Pass/Fail, your transcript with show a P or an F as the grade (see below for why this may or may not be a good idea to do this). After the W-Drop date, if you have not made either of these changes, your grade will appear on your transcript.
Pass/Fail explained:
Students can elect P/F grading for one course each semester. Courses elected as P/F won’t count toward requirements, i.e. if you were using a particular class to fulfill a GenEd or major requirement and change it to pass fail grading, it will only count as elective credits toward graduation. Perhaps the most important thing to know about P/F grading is this: if you FAIL the class, you will earn an F and it will factor into your GPA as a zero. As long as you pass the class, there will be no impact at all on your GPA. It is possible to revoke a P and retain the grade you earned. Wait until grades come out to do this.
Some things to consider before you withdraw from a class:
Before you choose to withdraw, you should consider having a conversation with your professor or an academic advisor to find out if there are options for improving your performance.
For some students, withdrawing from a class will mean dropping from full-time to part-time status. This may negatively affect financial aid or international student visa status. Be sure to check in with an academic advisor, academic dean, or the financial aid office if you have questions or concerns.
Beyond the W-Drop Date:
If, after the W-Drop Date, you find that you are experiencing difficulties (illness, family struggles, other kinds of extenuating circumstances) you may petition to withdraw from a class. In this process, you will meet with an academic dean to discuss the situation. Late withdrawals are typically only granted when there are documented extenuating circumstances. Poor academic performance alone does not qualify as an extenuating circumstance.
For more information about withdrawing from a class, see the UMass Academic Regulations. For more information about P/F grading, read section VIII, Pass/Fail Option.
Deadline
Thursday, April 3rd at 11:59 pm