Withdrawing from classes has become easier this semester for Ball State University students.
Students will have only one 45-day period to withdraw, starting Tuesday. Although students no longer need an instructor's signature to withdraw, the university encourages students to discuss the decision with their instructors. Students do not have to be passing the class to withdraw.
Asher Lisec, Student Government Association president, said she thinks the policy will be a positive change because students will no longer have to track down professors in order to withdraw.
In the original policy, students had to withdraw earlier in the semester, so they didn't have enough time to complete a substantial amount of classwork, said Cindi Marini, assistant director of Academic Advising. The new policy will allow students nine weeks to try and improve their grades before they withdraw from a class.
"The change was made because there has always been some confusion with the old policy and some grading issues," Marini said. "This policy will make the withdrawal process simpler for students, faculty and staff."
Students are also guaranteed a "W" for the course after withdrawing, Marini said. In the past, she said there had been some confusion on when a student would receive a "W" versus an "F."
Jill Harrison, a sophomore majoring in social work, said she thinks this policy will be a good change. After trying to withdraw from a course in the past, Harrison said she was given an "F" for the course. Her overall GPA dropped because it appeared that she had failed the course. She spoke to her instructor, however, and the "F" was changed to a "W," she said.
Marini said the policy should help prevent these grading issues, and a student withdrawing from a class will receive a "W" right away.
To withdraw from a course, students will need to get a form from the Registrar's Office located in the basement of Lucina Hall and then return the form there after filling it out.
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