Coming Fall 2026: Changes to Late Class Withdrawal Petitions

Linda Sprouse — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:41:41 +0000

Coming Fall 2026: Changes to Late Class Withdrawal Petitions Linda Sprouse Tue, 08/11/2026 - 10:41

What is a Late Class Withdrawal Petition?

If you previously had documented, extenuating circumstances and could no longer withdraw from a class in Buff Portal, you had to complete a paper late class withdrawal petition. For Fall 2026, this process is changing.

What’s New?

Beginning Fall 2026, a new university form has been created to support student success. This process update will not impact Law School or nondegree students.

Now after the 10-week deadline to withdraw with a W notation, if you have documented extenuating circumstances, you may submit the Late Class Withdrawal petition. Please see the Special Session calendar for special session dates and deadlines.

This petition will route automatically for approvals to ISSS, NCAA Eligibility and Veterans and Military Services, where applicable.

Upon acknowledgement of experiencing extenuating circumstances, all currently active undergraduate and graduate students (excluding Law) will have their first initial semester of late class withdrawal petition(s) systematically approved. If you experience extenuating circumstances in subsequent semesters, your late class withdrawal petition will go to a university committee for review. This process will not be applied retroactively for previous semesters or for students who graduated prior to Fall 2026.

Other changes:

A university committee will review petitions consistently and equitably.
Terminology will be updated to support the student experience.
Your withdrawal petition will notify your instructor and allow instructors to provide feedback. This will replace contacting your instructor for a letter of support.
If you cite certain reasons as the circumstances for withdrawing, your petition will be routed to campus support offices like Student Advocacy, Outreach and Support, Disability Services, Housing, etc. These offices may contact you to inform you of resources available to help support you during your academic career.

Learn More

We hope that our CU Buffs community finish each semester strong. We also know that unexpected circumstances can derail even the best laid plans. If you think you may need to drop a class with a W notation in Fall 2026 and the deadline to withdraw in Buff Portal has passed, consider contacting your advisor to discuss your options and when it may be best to use your initial semester to petition. You may also visit the Drop or Withdraw webpage for more information.

Beginning Fall 2026, a new university form has been created to support student success. This process update will not impact Law School or non-degree students.

Off

Traditional

White

Students

Coming Fall 2026: Changes to Late Class Withdrawal Petitions

Off