A student intending to transfer or withdraw from Bladen Community College should report his/her intentions to a counselor and his/her faculty advisor. This will protect the student’s academic record, right to re-enroll, and right to transfer to another college.

Procedures for withdrawal are as follows:

1. Obtain a withdrawal form from the Office of Student Services.
2. Complete the withdrawal form.
3. Secure required signatures of instructor and academic advisor.
4. Present the finished instrument to Student Services for processing.

Student Initiated Withdrawal

During the Drop/Add Period: A student may withdraw from a course at Bladen Community College within the drop/add period, as specified by the academic calendar in the College Catalog, and not have a grade entered on his/her academic record, providing the student executes proper withdrawal procedures.

Through the Mid-Term: A student may withdraw from a course at Bladen Community College through the date of mid-term, as specified by the academic calendar in the College Catalog, and receive a grade of W on his/her academic record providing the student executes proper withdrawal procedures.

After the Mid-Term: A student may withdraw from a course at Bladen Community College after the end of the mid-term, as specified by the academic calendar in the College Catalog, and receive a grade of WF providing the student executes proper withdrawal procedures. The grade of WF will be calculated as a failing grade in determining the student’s GPA.

If the student presents written documentation of extenuating circumstances which make it impossible for the student to continue in the course after the mid-term, a grade of W may be awarded upon agreement of the instructor and the Vice President of Student Services. An extenuating circumstance is defined to be a condition that became existent after the mid-term which forced the student to withdraw from classes for reasons beyond his/her control. Documentation from a professional person, including dates and the exact condition, will be provided to the Office of Student Services within 10 calendar days after the last day of attendance. In such cases a student will receive a grade of W on his/her academic record. Unsatisfactory academic performance does not by itself meet the requirement of an extenuating circumstance.

Administrative Removal from Class:

A student who has not attended class by the published drop/add date will be dropped from that course with no grade entered on his/her academic record.

A student who after entering class fails to report to class for three consecutive weeks and who has not initiated withdrawal procedures will be dropped from the class roll with a grade of F.

A student must attend 80% of the scheduled contact hours for a course to receive credit for the course. Therefore, a student whose absences (combined with classes held before the student entered the class, if any) constitute more than 20% of all the contact hours scheduled for the course and who has not initiated withdrawal procedures will be dropped with a grade of F.

Effect of Withdrawal on Financial Aid:

Withdrawal from a class or from classes may adversely affect the student’s continued eligibility to receive financial aid.

Veterans withdrawing from a course with a grade of W will incur an overpayment from the Veterans Administration and will be held liable for repayments.

Return of Title IV Funds

The Higher Education Amendments of 1998, Public Law 105-244 require colleges to calculate the Return of Title IV Funds Policy when a recipient of Title IV aid (new or returning) completely withdraws from the college through the 60% point during a payment period. The institution must calculate the amount(s) of Title IV aid the student earned and return the unearned portion(s) of the Title IV fund(s) to the Title IV program(s). In some calculations, the institution and student will be required to return unearned Title IV funds to the Title IV programs.

Students officially begin the withdrawal process when they notify the Admissions/Records Office. Students are given an official withdrawal form to complete, sign and date. The Financial Aid Office will use the date the student signs the form as the official withdrawal date. Withdrawal dates are also determined when an instructor completes an Instructor Withdrawal Form. If the student does not officially begin the withdrawal process by notifying the Admissions and Records Office and the instructor does not complete an instructor withdrawal form, the Financial Aid Office can use the date the student otherwise provided official notice of intent to withdraw by contacting the institution.

At this point, the Financial Aid Office must determine if the student was a recipient of Title IV funds who withdrew prior to the 60% point and perform the Return of Title IV Funds calculation. If it is determined that the student received an overpayment, the Financial Aid Office is required to send written notification to the student informing the student of the amount owed and the Title IV program to repay. This notification must be sent to the student, no later than thirty calendar days after the date the Financial Aid Office is notified the student withdrew. The student has a 45-day period to take positive action by contacting the Financial Aid Office. By the 46th day, if the student has failed to take positive action, the student’s overpayment will be referred to the Department of Education for collections and the overpayment will immediately be reported to NSLDS (National Student Loan Data system). The student’s eligibility for Title IV funds ends.

Students that take positive action within the 45-day period are eligible to extend their Title IV eligibility by repaying the overpayment in full to the school or by signing a repayment agreement with the Business Office. If a student goes into repayment, they will have three months to repay the overpayment. The student will be required to repay 10% of the total overpayment (each payment) owed for the first two months with the balance to be paid in full by the third month. Any time the student fails to meet the terms of the repayment agreement, the student’s overpayment will be referred to the Department of Education for collections and immediately reported to NSLDS. The student’s eligibility for Title IV funds ends.

If the Return of Title IV Funds calculation is performed and it determines that the student received less Title IV funds than the amount earned, the institution must make a post-withdrawal disbursement to the student of the earned aid that was not received. In order to make a post-withdrawal disbursement for incurred educational costs, the school must have received the student’s valid Student Aid Report (SAR) or Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) with an official Expected Family Contribution (EFC). To be eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement, the student must meet all Federal Guidelines outlined by the Department of Education.