Although exact numbers are unavailable until the spring 2025 semester census, UCCS has had 164 complete withdrawals this semester to date, which is 52 fewer than the fall semester last year.
Wendi Clouse, the chief strategist for enrollment and the division of enrollment management and student affairs, is conducting student outreach focus groups across UCCS’ student population to learn the exact reasons for withdrawal.
The focus groups are part of a greater strategic enrollment planning process meant to identify and change outdated policies acting as barriers to students’ academic success. Clouse said these efforts are meant to modernize and create a student-centered approach at UCCS in hopes it will decrease withdrawal rates.
According to Clouse, students withdraw from classes for a host of reasons. Typically, students withdraw for personal reasons such as health issues, family obligations and work interference. Other students, usually freshmen, also may withdraw in the case that college does not meet their expectations.
Clouse said that reasons for withdrawal can vary depending on the student population. For example, transfer, military-affiliated, graduate and freshmen students may all have different reasons because they are dealing with different life circumstances.
Clouse said that withdrawal rates tend to fluctuate depending on the campus environment, course difficulty level and which semester it is. She said that there are usually fewer withdrawals during the fall semester than the spring semester, and students withdraw from classes with hard course loads at higher rates.
According to Clouse, the current withdrawal policy allows students to withdraw from classes without approval until typically 10 weeks into the semester. The specific date is emailed to all students at the beginning of each semester. Following the Feb. 16 double homicide, the withdrawal deadline for courses was pushed back to allow students time to grieve.
After 10 weeks have passed, students need instructor approval to withdraw from the course. In some cases, the instructor may involve the dean if they think the student may require further physical and/or mental health help.
In the case of complete withdrawal, students are allowed three semesters of inactivity — including the summer semester — before they are required to reapply to the university. Inactivity can include taking time off from school or taking courses at a community college, which Clouse referred to as “swirling.” She also noted that the application to re-enroll is shorter than the initial one.
Clouse urges students to contact her if they have questions regarding withdrawing from courses. “If people have questions, if there are students who want to express their experience … I’m happy to talk to them,” she said.
Clouse can be reached via email at [email protected].
Offices for enrollment management and student affairs are located in Main Hall. Photo by Anysia Hovel.