School of Education & Human Development Retroactive Withdraw Process

This retroactive withdraw process is ONLY for School of Education & Human Development undergraduates admitted into the BA Education & Human Development or the BS Human Development & Family Relations OR for graduate students taking School of Education & Human Development courses.

A retroactive withdraw is defined as a withdraw request after the “Late Withdrawal Petition” deadline has passed per the Registrar’s Academic Calendar. The “Late Withdrawal Petition” deadline is typically the Tuesday before finals week, but please check the Academic Calendar to confirm the specific deadline each semester.

Students requesting a retroactive withdraw with the School of Education & Human Development will continue to use the “Late Withdrawal Petition Form” (found at the CU Denver Registrar website under “Student Services” and “Forms”) and include an additional written statement explaining the extenuating circumstances that prevented submission of the withdraw request by the “late withdrawal petition” deadline. Students have twelve months after the end of the semester in question to submit a retroactive withdraw.

Retroactive withdraw requests typically occur after a final grade has been posted on the official academic record. If a retroactive withdraw is approved, the grade on the official academic record will be changed to 'W' (withdraw.) Students are responsible for understanding the implications of a retroactive withdraw to one’s own financial or academic resources, including but not limited to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Financial Aid, International Student & Scholar Services, and academic probation policies/procedures. Students are responsible for communicating with other offices for more information.

Instructor signature is required on the “late withdraw petition” for a retroactive withdraw request. If you are unable to obtain an instructor signature, include a statement documenting your attempts to obtain instructor approval (who, when, and how.)

Approved retroactive withdraws are NOT automatically considered for tuition appeals. The tuition appeals process is a separate process that can be initiated after a retro withdraw is approved (if you are within the 6 month deadline to file a tuition appeal)

All communications regarding the status of a retroactive withdraw petition will be sent to your CU Denver student email account. Please be aware that the processing of your request can take several business days. The School of Education & Human Development may require additional documentation for approval of a retroactive withdraw request. Submission of a retro withdraw petition does not guarantee approval.

Requests for a full medical withdraw are instead completed through Case Management.

After reviewing the content of this document, SEHD students can request a “retroactive withdraw” by submitting the following to SEHDacademicservices@ucdenver.edu:

  • Completed Late Withdrawal Petition with instructor and student signatures
  • Personal statement (see late withdrawal petition for guidelines)
  • Additional written statement explaining the extenuating circumstances that prevented submission of the withdraw request by the “late withdrawal petition” deadline
CMS Login