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Medical withdrawal

A page within Student Life

Starting the Medical Withdrawal Process

If you are wondering whether a medical withdraw is right for you, please schedule a meeting with the Student Life Office in Navigate. We understand that some medical concerns may make it difficult to attend an in-person meeting - we have virtual, phone, and in-person appointment availability. 

During this meeting you will:

  • Meet with Student Life Office staff to discuss your situation
  • Talk about the implications of taking a medical withdrawal
  • Ask questions about the medical withdrawal process
  • Understand what information you will need to provide to complete your medical withdrawal from UWL
  • Discuss other options you may have available to you

Once you have made the decision to pursue a medical withdrawal, you will begin the withdrawal paperwork in the Student Life Office. 

  • The withdrawal paperwork requires that you get signatures from the following offices (if applicable): 
    • Financial Aid
    • Parking Services
    • Textbook Rental
    • University Centers (Meal Plan)
    • Residence Hall Director 
    • International Education
    • Veteran & Military Connection

Once you have completed the withdrawal paperwork you will still need to provide documentation from your healthcare provider. Details regarding the documentation can be found below. 

We understand that some medical conditions may limit your ability to complete this task, please inform Student Life staff about any limitations. 

Once we receive this letter, we will review it to be sure that it meets all requirements for a medical withdrawal. If the letter is approved, we will notify:

  • Your college dean's office
  • Records and Registration
  • Cashier's Office
  • Financial Aid Office
  • Counseling and Testing
  • Student Health Center
  • Your instructors

Once the medical withdrawal is processed, you will be notified via email. 

Letter to Complete a Medical Withdrawal from UW-La Crosse

Letter to Complete Medical Withdrawal

To officially complete a medical withdrawal from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, your health care provider will need to submit a signed letter on official letterhead (prescription pad notes will not be accepted) covering the following areas: 

  1. How long has the health care provider been seeing you concerning this issue?
  2. What is the diagnosis? (Please do not include medical records.)
  3. Describe how the student is prevented from completing classes for the term in question.
  4. What is the suggested treatment and timeline?
  5. In the case of a pre-existing, recurring, or chronic health condition, documentation must show that the recurrence or worsening of the condition(s) began after initiation of the term for which the withdrawal is requested.
  6. Recommendation for a medical withdrawal from UW-La Crosse for the term in question.

Other Things to Note

  • Combined letters to medically withdraw and return from a medical withdrawal will not be accepted. These must be separate letters.
  • All letters must be signed and on official letterhead or they will not be accepted.

How to Send Letters:

  • Mailed to: Office of Student Life, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Rm 149 Graff Main Hall, 1725 State Street, La Crosse, WI 54601
  • Faxed to: 608-785-8933

Medical Withdrawal Policy

A medical withdrawal is granted in instances where a student is faced with a serious or unexpected condition that completely precludes the student from being able to function as a student and in which the regular university withdrawal process is not appropriate.

A request may be granted to students who experience a serious or unexpected physical or behavioral health condition; who may need to provide care to an immediate family member who is experiencing a serious or unexpected physical or behavioral health condition; or who have experienced the death of an immediate family member. In the case of pre-existing, recurring, or chronic health conditions, documentation must show that the recurrence or worsening of the condition(s) began after initiation of the term for which the withdrawal is requested. Approval will be granted on a case-by-case basis.

Whenever possible, requests for medical withdrawal should begin in the Student Life Office and occur during the term in which the medical condition arose. Students may apply for a retroactive medical withdrawal up to one year after the end of the term in question. The withdrawal request must be supported by a letter from a health care provider which describes the limitations on the student’s continued participation in courses. In the case of death of an immediate family member, an obituary or other official record of death may be requested as documentation. When appropriate, Student Life will consult with the Student Health Center, the appropriate Dean's Office, the Dean of Graduate Studies and Extended Learning, the appropriate graduate program director, and all of the student's instructors. When the withdrawal is completed, the Records and Registration Office will notify instructors if a grade is required.

For courses in which the student has withdrawn, the permanent academic record will show no credits were earned. The last date of class attendance shall be considered the official withdrawal date to be used by the Records and Registration Office for recording academic record class drops and term withdrawals. The status of the student’s grades at the time of the withdrawal will be posted. The record will show one of the following grades submitted by the instructor: "EP" (emergency withdrawal passing) or "EF" (emergency withdrawal failing). Such grades will not be included in the computation of the term or cumulative grade point average.

Any exception to the policies of the medical withdrawal must be appealed through the Student Life Office to the University’s Committee on Academic Policies and Standards(CAPS) or Graduate Council. A decision by CAPS or Graduate Council is final.

Returning from a Medical Withdrawal

Students returning to UWL from a medical withdrawal have several tasks they need to complete to return. These tasks are designed to provided continued support and care as students return. If you have any questions regarding the medical withdrawal process, please contact the Student Life Office at 608-785-8062 or at studentlife@uwlax.edu. 

Students returning for a medical withdrawal will need to complete the following steps:

As a student returns from medical withdrawal:

  • During the first week of classes
    • Schedule a meeting with Student Life staff
    • During this meeting Student Life staff and the student will discuss the following:
      • Reflection on time away from UWL
      • Transition plan back to UWL
      • Dates and deadlines important for students returning
      • Support the student needs moving forward
      • Referrals needed to support the student’s transition to UWL
      • Schedule follow-up meetings if necessary
Letter to Return to UW-La Crosse After Taking a Medical Withdrawal

Letter to Return to UW-La Crosse After Taking a Medical Withdrawal

To return to UWL as a student after taking a medical withdrawal, you will need to submit a signed letter on official letterhead (prescription pad notes will not be accepted) from your health care provider covering the following areas: 

  1. What is the prognosis? 
  2. Is there an ongoing treatment plan? If so, what does it include?
  3. Statement supporting the student's return to classes, including the recommended term to return. Be specific as to whether the student has a reasonable chance for success. If there are accommodations that could benefit the student, it will be important for them to connect with the UWL Disability Resource Center.

Other Things to Note

  • Combined letters to medically withdraw and return from a medical withdrawal will not be accepted. These must be separate letters.
  • All letters must be signed and on official letterhead or they will not be accepted.

How to Send Letters:

  • Mailed to: Office of Student Life, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Rm 149 Graff Main Hall, 1725 State St, La Crosse, WI 54601
  • Faxed to: 608-785-8933

Advocacy & Empowerment

Click here to schedule an appointment in Navigate to meet with the Student Life Office!

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