2008 Woodie Awards
Faculty recommends change in course withdrawal policy
Ashley Gruner
Senior Reporter
Issue date: 10/1/07 Section: News
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The University of South Alabama's Faculty Senate has recently proposed a change in the late course withdrawal policy. The proposal is at a very early stage and can be dismissed at any time.
"The proposed policy would require the students to get the signature of their instructor before a late withdrawal from a course," Dr. Eric Loomis said, associate professor of philosophy and chair of the Faculty Handbook and Policy Committee.
Loomis explained that several universities have similar policies in place, including the University of Tennessee, Mississippi State and the University of Texas.
"The proposal has a number of purposes, all of which are aimed at remedying defects with the current late course withdrawal policy at USA," Loomis said.
One disadvantage to USA's current policy is that instructors are not aware of the student's reason for withdrawing. If a student is having trouble in a class and quickly withdraws, the instructor has no way of helping the student.
"For example, maybe an instructor makes her first exam too hard, leading to a high withdrawal rate in the course," Loomis added. "If the instructor gets no feedback from the withdrawing students, she has no way of knowing what is happening." The proposed policy would allow instructors to receive feedback and make adequate changes to improve their courses.
Another disadvantage to the current policy is that students who are withdrawing may be underestimating their grade in the course and can withdraw on PAWS without talking to their instructor first. "This means that students withdraw even though they could have succeeded in the course," Loomis said. The proposed policy addresses these issues of misunderstanding.
Currently, the late course withdrawal policy allows any student to withdraw through PAWS on their own until the withdrawal deadline, and a resulting "WD" appears on their transcript.
When compared with other regional universities, USA's current policy was the most lenient. "Other regional universities have stricter late course withdrawal policies than we currently do - often much stricter," Loomis said.
"The proposed policy would require the students to get the signature of their instructor before a late withdrawal from a course," Dr. Eric Loomis said, associate professor of philosophy and chair of the Faculty Handbook and Policy Committee.
Loomis explained that several universities have similar policies in place, including the University of Tennessee, Mississippi State and the University of Texas.
"The proposal has a number of purposes, all of which are aimed at remedying defects with the current late course withdrawal policy at USA," Loomis said.
One disadvantage to USA's current policy is that instructors are not aware of the student's reason for withdrawing. If a student is having trouble in a class and quickly withdraws, the instructor has no way of helping the student.
"For example, maybe an instructor makes her first exam too hard, leading to a high withdrawal rate in the course," Loomis added. "If the instructor gets no feedback from the withdrawing students, she has no way of knowing what is happening." The proposed policy would allow instructors to receive feedback and make adequate changes to improve their courses.
Another disadvantage to the current policy is that students who are withdrawing may be underestimating their grade in the course and can withdraw on PAWS without talking to their instructor first. "This means that students withdraw even though they could have succeeded in the course," Loomis said. The proposed policy addresses these issues of misunderstanding.
Currently, the late course withdrawal policy allows any student to withdraw through PAWS on their own until the withdrawal deadline, and a resulting "WD" appears on their transcript.
When compared with other regional universities, USA's current policy was the most lenient. "Other regional universities have stricter late course withdrawal policies than we currently do - often much stricter," Loomis said.
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