Retroactive Withdrawal Form
This article walks students through submitting a Retroactive Withdrawal Form, including Medical and Non-Medical withdrawals.
Which type of Retroactive Withdrawal are you submitting?
1. Access the Medical Retroactive Withdrawal information on the Registrar's website.
2. Click on the Medical Retroactive Withdrawal Form button.
Please be sure to read the Requirements and Fee Charge on this screen carefully so you submit the correct documentation.
3. First, select Medical Withdrawal.
4. The Student Information tab will automatically populate with your information. Click on the Important Information tab.
5. Review the information on this tab carefully and then click on the Initials checkbox next to the time period option that applies to you.
- Standard Period: you are submitting this petition for retroactive withdrawal by the 4th week of the semester that follows the semester when you took the course that you want to withdraw from (e.g., you are submitting the petition in Fall 2025 for a class you took in Spring 2025).
- Extension Period: you are submitting this petition for retroactive withdrawal within 5 years of the semester when you took the course that you want to withdraw from AND you have not yet graduated from CSUF.
- Students who have already graduated from CSUF are not eligible to submit this petition: if you have graduated from CSUF, you are not able to petition for a retroactive withdrawal.
6. Click on the Class Being Petitioned tab. Select a Semester/Year from the drop-down menu. Then place a checkmark next to each course you want to petition for retroactive withdrawal and type or select the date you stopped attending/participating for each course you are petitioning.
- Click on the Class Being Petitioned tab.
- Select a Semester/Year from the drop-down menu to show all of the courses you were enrolled in during that semester.
- Place a checkmark next to each course you want to petition for retroactive withdrawal.
- Type or select the date you stopped attending/participating for each course you are petitioning.
- Note that Medical Retroactive Withdrawals can be submitted for any grade EXCEPT a W grade.
7. Click on the Petition Statement tab. Enter responses for all statements on the tab.
- Click on the Petition Statement tab.
- Enter the serious and compelling circumstances that occurred during the semester you are petitioning retroactive withdrawal.
- Make a note of the information on the required documentation for this petition that you will provide on the Supporting Documents tab.
- Enter the reason(s) you did not withdraw from the class(es) by following the standard withdrawal procedures at the time.
- Select whether or not you received letter grades for other classes.
- If you answered Yes to statement 4, enter why you were able to complete the requirements for other classes but not the class(es) you are petitioning.
- Select whether or not the class(es) you are petitioning currently show as I (Incomplete).
- If you answered Yes to statement 5, enter why you are not working to complete the requirements for the class(es).
8. Click on the Supporting Documents tab. Review the information and hyperlinks about acceptable documentation for a Medical Retroactive Withdrawal. Click Attach to attach a document.
Attachment restrictions:
- Must be a PDF file
- File name cannot include special characters / \ : * ? & { } ; [ ]
- You must attach at least one PDF
- Click on the Supporting Documents tab.
- Click on the Retroactive Medical/Mental Health Provider Form link to download a form for you and your healthcare provider to fill out. NOTE: This information can be provided by the healthcare provider in a medical letter instead.
- Click on the Criteria for Acceptable Medical Documentation link to download detailed information on what types of documentation are acceptable for a Medical Retroactive Withdrawal.
- Click on the Sample Medical Letter link to view a sample of an acceptable medical letter.
- Review additional details about the required medical documentation.
- Click Attach to attach a document.
8.1. Navigate to the location on your computer where the file is saved. Then double click on the file to attach it.
- Navigate to the location on your computer where the file is saved.
- Then double click on the file to attach it.
8.2. The file now shows as attached. Click Attach to add additional supporting documents as needed.
9. Click on the Signature and Acknowledgment tab. Place a checkmark next to the statement about documentation and next to the statement about lacking required information. Then click Submit at the bottom of the screen.
The Student Signature and other information on this tab will automatically populate after you place a checkmark next to both statements at the top of the tab.
- Click on the Signature and Acknowledgment tab.
- Place a checkmark next to I have provided documentation for the circumstances petition.
- Place a checkmark next to I understand that if my petition lacks any of the information required for submission, the petition may be denied.
- Review the number of W units used and W units left information.
- Then click Submit at the bottom of the screen.
10. You will see a confirmation that your Petition for Retroactive Withdrawal form has been submitted. You'll also receive an email confirmation of your submission within a few minutes.
1. Access the Retroactive Withdrawal information on the Registrar's website.
2. Click on the Retroactive Withdrawal Form button.
Please be sure to read the Requirements and Fee Charge on this screen carefully.
3. First, select Non-Medical Withdrawal.
4. The Student Information tab will automatically populate with your information. Click on the Important Information tab.
5. Review the information on this tab carefully and then click on the Initials checkbox next to the time period option that applies to you.
- Standard Period: you are submitting this petition for retroactive withdrawal by the 4th week of the semester that follows the semester when you took the course that you want to withdraw from (e.g., you are submitting the petition in Fall 2025 for a class you took in Spring 2025).
- Extension Period: you are submitting this petition for retroactive withdrawal within 5 years of the semester when you took the course that you want to withdraw from AND you have not yet graduated from CSUF.
- Students who have already graduated from CSUF are not eligible to submit this petition: if you have graduated from CSUF, you are not able to petition for a retroactive withdrawal.
6. Click on the Class Being Petitioned tab. Select a Semester/Year from the drop-down menu. Then place a checkmark next to each course you want to petition for retroactive withdrawal and type or select the date you stopped attending/participating for each course you are petitioning.
- Click on the Class Being Petitioned tab.
- Select a Semester/Year from the drop-down menu to show all of the courses you were enrolled in during that semester.
- Place a checkmark next to each course you want to petition for retroactive withdrawal.
- Type or select the date you stopped attending/participating for each course you are petitioning.
- Note that Non-Medical Retroactive Withdrawals can be submitted for only these grades: WU, I, IC, NC, and RP.
7. Click on the Petition Statement tab. Enter responses for all statements on the tab.
- Click on the Petition Statement tab.
- Enter the serious and compelling circumstances that occurred during the semester you are petitioning retroactive withdrawal.
- Make a note of the information on the required documentation for this petition that you will provide on the Supporting Documents tab.
- Enter the reason(s) you did not withdraw from the class(es) by following the standard withdrawal procedures at the time.
- Select whether or not you received letter grades for other classes.
- If you answered Yes to statement 4, enter why you were able to complete the requirements for other classes but not the class(es) you are petitioning.
- Select whether or not the class(es) you are petitioning currently show as I (Incomplete).
- If you answered Yes to statement 5, enter why you are not working to complete the requirements for the class(es).
8. Click on the Supporting Documents tab. Click Attach to attach a document.
Attachment restrictions:
- Must be a PDF file
- File name cannot include special characters / \ : * ? & { } ; [ ]
- You must attach at least one PDF
- Click on the Supporting Documents tab.
- Click Attach to attach a document.
8.1. Navigate to the location on your computer where the file is saved. Then double click on the file to attach it.
- Navigate to the location on your computer where the file is saved.
- Then double click on the file to attach it.
8.2. The file now shows as attached. Click Attach to add additional supporting documents as needed.
9. Click on the Signature and Acknowledgment tab. Place a checkmark next to the statement about documentation and next to the statement about lacking required information. Then click Submit at the bottom of the screen.
The Student Signature and other information on this tab will automatically populate after you place a checkmark next to both statements at the top of the tab.
- Click on the Signature and Acknowledgment tab.
- Place a checkmark next to I have provided documentation for the circumstances petition.
- Place a checkmark next to I understand that if my petition lacks any of the information required for submission, the petition may be denied.
- Review the number of W units used and W units left information.
- Then click Submit at the bottom of the screen.
10. You will see a confirmation that your Petition for Retroactive Withdrawal form has been submitted. You'll also receive an email confirmation of your submission within a few minutes.
Need More Help?
For questions about withdrawing from class(es)
Contact the Office of the Registrar Help Desk.
For technical issues with the Retroactive Withdrawal Form
Contact the IT Help Desk.