fsu.edu | Withdrawal Office - Dean of Students

If you have experienced a severe medical and/or mental health problem that caused you to miss several classes and/or take a failing grade, you may qualify to receive a medical/mental health withdrawal. However, your health problems must meet certain criteria and be documented to be evaluated. Medical withdrawal (all courses dropped) will be approved only for severe illnesses or injuries of an acute emergency nature that incapacitates the student.

MHW will be approved for severe psychological conditions requiring hospitalization or intensive outpatient care for an extended period of time.

MHW will be considered for a traumatic event (e.g. death of a close friend or family member, acts of violence, etc.) that clearly impedes the student's ability to perform in the usual manner. Documentation of counseling sessions, whether at the University Counseling Center or another facility, must be submitted.

Specific conditions for which medical withdrawals will be considered with examples provided of previously approved condition(s) for those criteria:

Severe accident with prolonged recovery: Closed head injury, required hospitalization and rehabilitation.
Severe illness with prolonged recovery: Mononucleosis with possible enlarged spleen.
Severe illness requiring ongoing close medical monitoring: Severe diarrhea, which required IV's, and treatment with antibiotics.
Severe complications resulting from a chronic medical condition: HIV with complications including upper respiratory infection.
Documented multiple severe medical conditions resulting in extended missed course work: Mononucleosis with hepatitis and severe tonsillitis.
New diagnosis of life threatening cancer: Salivary gland tumor.
Surgery with prolonged recovery: Spinal surgery.
Premature labor or other complications of pregnancy requiring extended mandatory bed rest: Complications with high blood pressure (strict bed rest).
Infectious disease requiring specific isolation (as per Centers for Disease Control Guidelines): None applied for.
Documented medical complications from sexual or other violent assault: Severe depression or anxiety.

Specific medical documentation pertinent to the health problem (including office visit notes to show exam findings, diagnosis, plan of treatment, recommendations, lab or x-ray reports (not the x-rays themselves), and/or admission/discharge summary, etc.) MUST be included. Students should apply for a medical withdrawal within six (6) months of the illness or injury. Hospital or treatment bills will not be accepted as documentation. Incomplete documentation will not be processed.

Students with chronic disabling conditions should register with the Student Disability Resource Center
(850-644-9566).

Any evidence of fraudulence or misrepresentation in this process/application will result in automatic recommendation for denial and the information will be turned over to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities for appropriate action.

Thagard Student Health Center and the University Counseling Center do not automatically support medical justification for Withdrawal for ongoing chronic illnesses regardless of clinical documentation.

Thagard Student Health Center and the University Counseling Center strongly recommend that the student and their clinician jointly evaluate realistic abilities to determine an appropriate course load so as to avoid withdrawal actions.

When a student has been granted more than one medical or mental health withdrawal, the M/MHW Committee will send a memorandum to the readmissions office requesting that a "STOP" be placed on the student file. The student will not be readmitted to the university until s/he has had a medical/mental health professional statement for readmission form completed by his/her health professional and submitted to Thagard Student Health Center or the University Counseling Center and approved.

The M/MHW committee to confirm that the student was in treatment, including the dates of treatment, and to verify that the problem has been completely resolved will review the completed form. If not completely resolved, the health professional should suggest the number of hours the student is capable of handling. Once approved, the M/MHW committee will send a memorandum to the readmission's office requesting that the "STOP" be removed.

Medical/Mental Health Withdrawal (M/MHW)