Medical Withdrawal

A medical withdrawal allows a student to take time away from ABAC to treat a mental or physical health condition that impairs their ability to successfully and safely function as part of the ABAC community. Please note that a medical withdrawal does not appear differently on the transcript (e.g., grades of "W").

Before the withdrawal deadline (mid-term), medical withdrawals are the same as any other official withdrawal from the College. Students will receive a "W" in all classes. However, students are encouraged to complete the medical withdrawal process. After the withdrawal deadline, students seeking a medical withdrawal must submit the appropriate supporting documentation as described below.

Request a Medical Withdrawal

Students are encouraged to contact Academic Support before requesting a Medical Withdrawal. The steps are as follows:

Submit the Complete Withdrawal Form to Academic Support (asc@abac.edu or Carlton 314)
- Students living on-campus will need to have the Housing Office sign the form
- Students who receive financial aid (Pell, HOPE, Student Loans) requires the Financial Aid department to sign the form
Communicate with the Director of Academic Support to explain the condition and its impact on the ability to perform academically
Documentation from an impartial, licensed healthcare provider consisting of a letter on letterhead and include the provider's full name, credentials, and signature. Discharge papers from a medical facility are also acceptable. Documentation should consist of the following:
- Onset of illness, injury, or condition
- Nature of student's condition and its impact on the student
- Dates the student was or will be under professional care/receiving treatment

Students are given a grade of "W" in each course if they had passing grades in the class at the time of withdrawal. If students were not passing at the time of withdrawal, the grade of "WF" is assigned. In all cases, students should make every effort to keep instructors informed of any situation which affects class attendance. A medical withdrawal is for the student's illness or medical issue only, and a medical withdrawal is from all classes for that semester. The deadline for submitting complete appropriate medical documentation is by the close of the College on the last day of classes for the semester.

Medical Withdrawals for Prior Semesters

Medical withdrawals for prior semesters will be considered if a student can provide adequate documentation that the medical condition for which they withdrew was such that the student or family members could not contact the College before the semester ended. In addition to the steps outlined above, the student will need to provide a personal statement explaining the medical condition, its impact on their performance, and why the medical withdrawal could not be submitted by the last day of class.