Office of the University Registrar

Former Quarter Drop

The University of Washington understands that, as a student, you may face a variety of challenges and obstacles while attending the University. The Former Quarter Drop (FQD) process was designed to help you address the impact these challenges and obstacles may have on your ability to achieve academic success. The following information outlines how you can use the FQD process to request to drop a class or classes completed in a quarter that has already ended.

Please review the policy and eligibility requirements to determine if this is the right process for you. You may also consider speaking to an adviser to support you through this process if you have questions or need guidance with completing the FQD process. Professional school students should check with their program registrar to verify if they are eligible for this process.

Please review the list of suggested supplemental materials below prior to submitting a petition and include any and all materials you believe would best support your personal statement for why you are requesting a Former Quarter Drop. It is highly recommended that you meet with an adviser prior to submitting a Former Quarter Drop petition, as there is no appeal process if your Former Quarter Drop petition is not able to be approved. Students who consult with an adviser or UW school official regarding what to include in your personal statement and supporting materials before submitting their Former Quarter Drop petition tend to have a higher rate of approval than those who do not ask for assistance ahead of time.

Former Quarter Drop Policy

The Former Quarter Drop process provides students with a method to petition for a grade earned in a former quarter to be changed to a Registrar Drop (RD). A grade of RD does not impact your cumulative GPA or academic standing.

A Former Quarter Drop (FQD) may be granted by your campus registration team if you were unable to complete or withdraw from your course(s) because of extenuating circumstances beyond your control. Not being able to drop or withdraw from courses due to registration requirements for maintaining full-time status for scholarships, student visas or athletic eligibility may not be considered as reasons why a Former Quarter Drop should be granted.

If you are looking to drop a course or courses, or do not wish to complete course(s) for a quarter which is currently in progress, please use the Current Quarter Drop (CQD) process. Failure to formally withdraw by the posted University deadlines dates on the Academic Calendar does not warrant a Former Quarter Drop.

Tuition Refund

A Former Quarter Drop is not a petition for a tuition refund; by default, all tuition forfeiture policies will apply to a Former Quarter Drop. Students wishing to submit a Tuition Forfeiture Petition must contact Student Fiscal Services.

Former Quarter Drop Eligibility

  • Student was unable to drop their courses during the quarter or complete their course(s) because of an extenuating circumstance beyond their control.
  • The FQD Petition is submitted within one year of the quarter being petitioned. If a student wishes to submit an FQD Petition beyond the one-year deadline, it must be supported by a UW school professional explaining why the petition should be considered past the one-year deadline.
    • Petitions outside the one-year deadline will be considered only for a complete withdrawal of courses taken during the last quarter of enrollment prior to a break of at least two quarters before returning to the University.
    • Petitions will not be considered outside of the one-year deadline for students in continuous enrollment.
  • Former Quarter Drop Petitions cannot be processed once a degree has been conferred.

Former Quarter Drop Resources for Non-Seattle Students

  • University of Washington Bothell: Former Quarter Drop Process
  • University of Washington Tacoma: Former Quarter Drop Process
  • University of Washington Continuum College/Professional & Continuing Education (UWPCE): Non-matriculated students and students registered in fee-based degree programs through Continuum College should follow the instructions to submit a Former Quarter Drop petition-making sure to select “Continuum College” as their campus. The Former Quarter Drop process does not apply to students enrolled in non-credit courses or certificate programs offered through UWPCE.

Former Quarter Drop Review Dates

  • Students seeking to submit an FQD Petition for the quarter currently in progress should be aware that the Former Quarter Drop Review Committee cannot change academic history for approved petitions until grades have been posted. Grades are not posted until after the quarterly grade submission deadline.
  • Most FQD petitions will be reviewed by your campus registration team within 2-3 weeks of the petition’s initial submission date. Petitions referred to the Former Quarter Drop Review Committee requiring additional review may take up to 60 days from the date that the Committee receives your petition to be completed. An email regarding your petition’s decision will be sent to your uw.edu email address.
Quarter/Year Petition Review Dates
Winter 2024 Petition review begins March 20, 2024
Spring 2024 Petition review begins June 12, 2024
Summer 2024 Petition review begins August 21, 2024
Autumn 2024 Petition review begins December 18, 2024

Former Quarter Drop Request Process

Prior to Submitting the Petition

  • Students are responsible for reviewing all the information on this page before completing and submitting the Former Quarter Drop Petition.
  • Separate FQD Petitions with supporting materials must be submitted for each quarter being petitioned.
  • FQDs will not be granted for coursework that has already been applied to a completed degree.
  • Submission of an FQD Petition does not guarantee it will be approved.
  • Students with F-1 Visa status should meet with an International Student Services (ISS) adviser to be apprised of any Visa status changes due to FQD approval.
  • Students submitting an FQD Petition within two weeks of the end of the quarter should first consider requesting an “I” (Incomplete) grade from instructors.
  • An active UWNetID is required to access and submit an FQD Petition.

What To Include In Your Petition

Student personal statements:

  • A statement explaining how extenuating circumstances that arose during a prior quarter affected your ability to complete coursework for the course(s) being petitioned is required and must be brief and to-the-point
    • It is helpful to know when you are asking to drop just one course, as opposed to all courses, and why this is the case. For example, you were unable to complete DANCE 105 because of a broken foot.
  • How did these circumstances affect your ability to complete the Current Quarter Drop process (drop the course(s) being petitioned or withdraw from all enrolled courses for the quarter) by the University’s posted drop deadlines?
    • If you are asking for a former quarter drop for fewer than all of your enrolled courses for the quarter, you must provide support for why you were unable to drop your course(s) using the Current Quarter Drop process prior to the last day of instruction for that quarter.
    • Keep in mind that needing to maintain a credit enrollment for financial aid or scholarship reasons does not qualify for the Former Quarter Drop decision process.
  • Academic issues you may have faced as the result of other primary circumstances can be identified in your personal statement, but should not be academic issues such as frustrations with course instruction or with your instructor’s grading of your coursework, as these are not circumstances that justify a Former Quarter Drop. (For addressing these types of academic issues, please review the Grade Appeal Procedure).

Please note: While we understand that when requesting a Former Quarter Drop, you are seeking the grade for that course to be changed to a Registrar Drop (RD), the Former Quarter Drop process is not intended for grade renewal on individual courses or for grade forgiveness purposes. Your petition must reflect that you were unable to complete or withdraw from your course(s) because of extenuating circumstances beyond your control. Requests made to improve GPA and/or improve opportunity for internal UW admissions application will be denied.

Upload your supporting materials

Supporting materials help to provide evidence that backs up your personal statement. The following are examples of why an FQD may be requested, as well as suggested supporting materials that may be submitted with the FQD Petition. You may also upload a statement of support from a UW school official such as an adviser or instructor.

  • You will be asked to upload supporting materials when submitting the FQD Petition. This upload tool requires that you upload at least one file in order to submit your petition.
  • All supporting materials must be in English or be translated by an accredited translator, a third-party professional, or a UW school official; the translator’s contact information must be included. If there is a barrier to obtaining a translation, you may choose an alternate supporting material from the following list.

If you choose to have a healthcare provider complete the UW Healthcare Provider form you have three options for submitting it.

  1. Your healthcare provider gives it to you and you upload it with your petition.
  2. Your provider can email it directly to the appropriate campus email address. Please submit a document with your petition statement indicating what healthcare provider office will be sending this to petition@uw.edu so we can be sure to match it to your petition.
  3. If you receive the completed form after submitting your FQD petition, email it to the appropriate campus registration team email address and we will match it up with your petition:

UW Seattle: petition@uw.edu
UW Tacoma: uwtpetitions@uw.edu
UW Bothell: uwbreg@uw.edu
Continuum College (Fee-Based Degrees): c2reg@uw.edu

Reason for Requesting FQD Suggested Supporting Materials
Birth: Immediate family or family member
  • Copy of birth announcement
  • Copy of birth certificate or adoption papers
Death: Immediate family or family member
  • Copy of obituary
  • Copy of memorial service announcement or program
  • Copy of death certificate
Illness: Issues related to personal health or illness
  • Statement from a physician on letterhead including dates of service
  • Copy of police report
Illness: Issues with illness or accident of immediate family or family member
  • Detailed explanation of family member’s medical circumstances, including the name and relationship of the family member to you
  • Copy of police report
Loss of childcare: Immediate family or family member Letter from childcare provider indicating date of loss of childcare
Loss of employment: Self, immediate family, or family member
  • Statement from former employer on company letterhead for yourself, or
  • immediate family or family member indicating date of termination
Loss of housing: Immediate family or family member Statement from the landlord or bank/mortgage company indicating a change to housing situation
Marriage or divorce: Self, immediate family or family member Copy of divorce papers
Military duty Copy of military orders showing dates of deployment, training, or service
Natural disaster Personal statement including the date(s) the natural disaster occurred and the address at which the disaster occurred
Relocation requirement Statement from employer on company letterhead indicating date of relocation
Travel: Required out-of-town travel or overtime work Statement from employer on company letterhead indicating that a work conflict such as out-of-town travel or overtime work
UW School Official Support Statements If you do not have supporting materials suggested on this list, you may have a University of Washington school official, such as an adviser, instructor, or other support person submit a statement on your behalf. You may include this statement with your petition or they may send it on your behalf to petition@uw.edu.
No Supporting Materials Available Be advised that petitions submitted without supporting materials may not be able to be approved by the Former Quarter Drop Review Committee.

Information for Healthcare Providers

Healthcare providers may complete the Healthcare Provider PDF form when a student has requested supporting materials to support their FQD Petition. The completed form can be provided to the student or emailed to the appropriate campus registration team at the corresponding email address:

University of Washington in Seattle: petition@uw.edu
UW Tacoma: uwtpetitions@uw.edu
UW Bothell: uwbreg@uw.edu
Continuum College (Fee-Based Degrees): c2reg@uw.edu
Healthcare Provider Form [PDF]

Submit the Petition

A UWNetID is required to access the Former Quarter Drop Petition.

Reminder: The Former Quarter Drop process is not intended for grade renewal on individual courses or for grade forgiveness purposes. Requests made to improve GPA and/or improve opportunity for internal UW admissions application will be denied.

Former Quarter Drop Petition Form

After Submitting the Petition

  • A decision regarding your FQD petition will be sent to your uw.edu email address only. Please make sure you check any spam or clutter folders for this decision email, as these emails cannot be sent to a non-UW email address.
  • If additional information is required for your petition’s review, your petition will be referred to the FQD Review Committee and a member of the Committee will contact you. Please review the Former Quarter Drop FAQs for information.
  • Approved petitions will result in a grade of RD (Registrar Drop) reflected on your transcript for the petitioned course(s).
  • Grades cannot be restored once an FQD Petition has been granted.
  • No details of your petition will be shared with anyone outside of University officials directly involved in the FQD process.
  • There is no appeal process for petitions that are not able to be approved.

Beyond the One-Year Deadline

Students who wish to submit an FQD Petition beyond the one-year deadline must first email their personal petition statement and support from a UW school official to:
University of Washington in Seattle: petition@uw.edu
UW Tacoma: uwtpetitions@uw.edu
UW Bothell: uwbreg@uw.edu
Continuum College (Fee-Based Degrees): c2reg@uw.edu

Be advised that petitions will be considered only for a complete withdrawal of courses taken during the last quarter of enrollment prior to a break of at least two quarters before returning to the University.

Petitions will not be considered outside of the one-year deadline for students in continuous enrollment.

These materials will be reviewed by their Campus Registration Team and students will then be provided additional instructions on how to submit their Former Quarter Drop outside the one-year filing timeline. Do not use the Former Quarter Drop petition form to submit a petition for a quarter that is not listed on the drop-down menu, unless advised to do so by your campus registration team. 

Campus Support Resources

Nothing is more important than a student’s health and well-being. Students who may be struggling with medical, emotional, or behavioral issues that are impacting their academic success are strongly encouraged to reach out to one of the following resources for support and to help create a plan to address any struggles being experienced. Following are some key resources at the University of Washington that can help support students in this regard.

Student Life

A comprehensive website of wellness and health-related services.
Husky Health & Well-Being

Undergraduate Academic Affairs (UAA)

Advising and academic planning services.
UAA Advising

Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity (OMAD)

Advising and assistance for students from low-income families, students who are first in their family to graduate from a four-year college, and underrepresented minority students.
Academic Counseling

UW Police (UWPD)

Confidential advocacy and support for victims of crime.
Victim Advocacy

The Former Quarter Drop policy is governed by the University’s Scholastic Regulations Chapter 113. The University of Washington faculty recently approved amendments to the regulations to create the Current Quarter Drop and Former Quarter Drop (FQD) withdrawal policies.