Required to Withdraw
Students will be required to withdraw in circumstances where their academic performance does not meet the University of Guelph's standards or if the student is found guilty of academic misconduct. Please read the following for details about each circumstance. Students should also refer to the Undergraduate Calendar for more detailed information.
Academic Performance
Students who do not meet the Continuation of Study requirements will be required to withdraw.
Academic Misconduct
Being required to withdraw may be one of the penalties a student experiences when found guilty of academic misconduct. Students may be suspended for a period of two to six semesters before they are eligible to re-apply to the University. The dean responsible for the case will determine the suspension length and date of effect. For more information please refer to the Academic Misconduct Policy in Section VIII of the Undergraduate Calendar.
What does "Required to Withdraw" mean?
Students who are required to withdraw will receive a minimum of a two-semester rustication period where they are not permitted to attend classes for credits towards their degree program. They will be withdrawn from any pre-registered courses and may not have access to certain services on campus. This does not include your Program Counsellor. Students are encouraged to discuss their situation with their Program Counsellor.
Appeals
Students who are required to withdraw may appeal to the Academic Review Sub-Committee. Students are not permitted to attend classes unless the appeal has been granted. Students whose academic performance was influenced by events related to medical, psychological or compassionate reasons are able to request Academic Consideration.
Students penalized with suspension for academic misconduct may appeal to the Senate Petitions Committee for reconsideration of the verdict or the length of their suspension.
Re-admission is not automatic
Students who are required to withdraw must apply for re-admission through Admission Services. Students are encouraged to discuss re-admission options and requirements with their Program Counsellor.
During the Rustication Period
Students have the option of taking Opening Learning classes during the rustication period. If a student is re-admitted to the University of Guelph after completing the rustication period, a maximum of 1.00 credits taken through Open Learning can be counted as degree credit.
› Course offerings through Open Learning
Deferred Privilege
Students who are granted a deferred privilege will not receive notice if they are required to withdraw until after their deferred privilege has been completed and processed. If a student has a deferred privilege for fall semester and does not meet the Continuation of Study standards, that student will be "Required to Withdraw". If the student is registered for classes for the winter semester, he or she will be placed on "Probationary Status" and will be required to meet the Continuation of Study standards in order to continue after the semester. If the required minimum semester average is not met during the winter semester, the student will be required to take a two-semester rustication period that will begin with the subsequent summer semester. In this instance, the student will be eligible to apply for re-admission for the following winter semester.
If the student is not enrolled in the winter semester after receiving deferred privileges for the fall, the two-semester rustication period will begin with the winter semester, allowing the student to be eligible to apply for re-admission into the following fall semester.
Probation 2 Status
Students who are on probation in the fall and who do not achieve the required 60% semester average will not be ‘Required to Withdraw.' Instead they will be placed on probation 2 for the winter semester. In the winter semester, students have two options: accept the withdrawal for two semesters (winter and summer) and apply for readmission to the following fall semester, or complete the winter semester with a minimum of 60% average in order to be able to continue on probation. Students who do not achieve a 60% semester average will be required to withdraw, effective as of the summer semester. Students will then be eligible to apply for re-admission for the following winter semester. Probation 2 is only granted when students fail to meet the continuation of studies after a fall semester.
