Dear OWU Families, as we move further into the semester, we want to highlight an important date on the academic calendar: Tuesday, March 31, 2026, is the final day for students to withdraw from a full-semester course. While we always aim for success in the classroom, we recognize that sometimes a course doesn’t go as planned. If your student is struggling, a withdrawal might be the right strategic move, but it is a decision that requires careful thought beforehand. Steps to Take Before Withdrawing Before your student makes a final decision, please encourage them to take these three steps:
- Talk to the Professor: A quick visit to office hours can clarify if passing is still feasible or if there’s a path to getting back on track.
- Visit the Sagan Academic Resource Center: OWU offers free tutoring and academic coaching. Sometimes a few targeted sessions are all it takes to turn a grade around.
- Consult their Faculty Advisor: It’s vital to see how dropping a course might shift their graduation timeline.
What Does a “W” Mean? A withdrawal places a “W” on the transcript. While this does not affect their GPA, it’s important to note that the course will not count toward graduation units since it was not successfully completed. Bottom Line: If passing the course is no longer a realistic goal, a “W” is often a better alternative than a grade that significantly lowers their GPA, but this decision needs to be made and communicated no later than March 31st, 2026.
OWU Sponsoring Organization/Office: Office of the Registrar
Contact: Lee Richards at registrar@owu.edu