I spoke with Kari Stone-Sewalish to discuss MSU’s updated withdrawal policy and why this matters for MSU students and educators.
EL: Can you tell us your name, your position at MSU, and how long you’ve been in this role?
Kari Stone-Sewalish, Assistant Director, Office of Accreditation, Assessment, Curriculum, and Compliance (AACC). I have been in this role for just over one year. I have worked at MSU for five years, having previously served as an Assistant Director in the Office of Student Support & Accountability (OSSA).
You’ve been presenting MSU’s updated withdrawal policy all over campus. To start us off, what is a withdrawal from the university?
A withdrawal from the university occurs when a student drops all their courses within a semester. This is different from a student dropping one course; students don’t withdraw from a course but from their whole semester of courses. A shorthand to consider is “withdrawal means all.”
Why does MSU need a withdrawal policy, and why does this policy matter to students?
No student starts the semester thinking they will have to leave; sometimes life just happens. Ensuring the withdrawal policy is easy to find and understand was a core goal of the redevelopment process. From a compliance standpoint, all colleges and universities that receive Title IV funds (federal financial aid) are required to have a withdrawal policy. From a student-centered perspective, MSU has a withdrawal policy to inform students of the process by which they may drop all enrollment during and after a term of instruction.
Why did you focus on improving the withdrawal process students have to follow? Why do clear processes matter to students?
We sought to improve the process to provide greater consistency of experience to students and to eventually bring the process to a student-facing platform. Clear processes matter to students because if we expect they will manage their own affairs at the university, we need to give them the best tools to do so. Withdrawing from college can be a difficult decision, likely informed by a difficult life circumstance. Making this process smoother just makes sense.
What are the key differences to know in the new withdrawal policy?
The new withdrawal policy allows students to withdraw themselves up until the Class Ends date for any reason. Additionally, students who withdraw after the Last Day to Drop with No Grade Reported will receive all “W” grades. These changes are significant and foster increased consistency of policy application across the university, as well as increased ability for students to return to MSU after a withdrawal.
Where can students find the new policy? The process?
The new policy is live in the Academic Programs Catalog and updates were made to the Office of the Registrar’s webpage about withdrawal. These updates are intended to help students gather more information about the impacts of withdrawal, prior to starting the process.
How can course instructors and other MSU educators support students thinking about a withdrawal? Who else should they contact to discuss their options?
Course instructors can refer undergraduate students to their academic advisor and graduate students to their program chair/major advisor to discuss the option to withdraw. The Office of the Registrar’s webpage about withdrawal includes additional topics that many students will want to consider before initiating a withdrawal.
What factors will students need to consider as they think about withdrawal?
Withdrawal can have differing impacts on students, depending upon several factors. It’s a big decision and we want students to be fully informed before initiating a withdrawal to avoid surprises. Withdrawal can have impacts on financial aid, immigration status, on-campus housing, student employment at MSU, and more.
How will course instructors interact with this policy?
When a student drops their course, the instructor of record may be asked to provide information about a student’s attendance in a timely manner. Course instructors play a pivotal role in MSU’s compliance with Title IV (of the Higher Education Act of 1965). When a student withdraws from MSU, the Office of Financial Aid completes a calculation to determine the amount of unearned aid that must be returned. The aid must be returned to the Department of Education within a short timeframe and instructors are essential for MSU to meet this requirement and to minimize any negative financial consequences for the student. More information on MSU’s responsibilities under Title IV can be found in the Academic Programs Catalog: Financial Aid Refund Policy.
What should course instructors tell students to do if they have more questions about withdrawals at MSU?
The best place to refer students to start the conversation about withdrawal is to their academic advisor. Academic staff and advising offices are well-positioned to support students through the withdrawal process, including discussion of returning to MSU when ready. We know that not every student who withdraws will return, but ensuring a positive “off-boarding” experience lays a strong foundation for future communication and potential reenrollment at MSU.
Thanks for agreeing to be interviewed about withdrawal! If educators have any more questions about withdrawal, what should we do?
Instructors and other campus partners with additional questions can contact Becky Marx Keogh, Senior Associate Registrar, at roreview@msu.edu.
Photo by Alexandre Debiève on Unsplash