Before withdrawing from a class and in order to make an informed decision, you should ask:

1. Is this class part of a degree requirement?
2. Is this class a pre-requisite or co-requisite for another class I need?
3. Is withdrawing from this class risking my ability to stay in a selective admissions program?
4. When will this class be offered again?
5. Is this class a requirement at the school or program to which I want to transfer?

If you are unsure, schedule an appointment with your assigned Academic Advisor   to help you answer these questions.

Withdrawing from a class could:

• Count as an attempt to complete the class in many academic programs    
• Negatively impact your academic standing due to non-completion of credits
• Delay the completion of your degree
• Result in a designation of “  W” on your college transcript for the withdrawn class

Student-Athletes must enroll for at least 12 credits in-season unless they receive an NJCAA-approved exception facilitated by the FCC Department of Athletics. All Student-Athletes are prevented from withdrawing from classes throughout the academic year and must receive approval from the Director of Athletics to withdraw from a course if during the season.  See the Student Athlete Handbook for more information.

The type of financial aid you receive as a student determines the impact of withdrawing from one or more classes.  Please see the categories below for more information.
If you are receiving Federal or Maryland State financial aid funds, withdrawing from a class can impact:

• The award amounts received for the course and
• Future eligibility for financial aid funds.

If you are receiving Federal financial aid which includes funds from the Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, or Federal Direct Loans, and you withdraw or stop attending all classes prior to the end of the term:

• The financial aid office is required to complete a Return of Title IV calculation which determines the percentage of financial aid funds you have earned as a student.

If you are receiving Federal Direct loans, and you drop below 6 credit hours:

• Award disbursements cannot be made for you, and
• The repayment period will start for any prior loans.

If you are on financial aid warning or on a satisfactory academic plan, withdrawing from a class will most likely result in:

• You not being eligible for Federal financial aid for future semesters.

If you are receiving the Maryland Promise Scholarship and do not complete the minimum requirement of 12 credits per semester and a 2.5 grade point average at the end of the academic year:

• You will not be eligible for the next semester, and
• You will lose your Maryland Promise Scholarship for that semester and must repay that amount back to the College.

If you are receiving a Maryland Higher Education Howard P. Rawlings award, and do not complete 30 credits in the second year:

• You will not be eligible for the full amount for the third year
• If you only complete a minimum of 24 credits, the award is prorated
• If you do not complete 24 credits, you are not eligible for funds the following year.

Withdrawing from a class or classes may impact your eligibility for your scholarship if you drop to below the credit requirement for your scholarship.  For more information go to FCC Foundation Scholarships.

Withdrawing from a class after the refund period will not stop future payments from being automatically deducted, per the terms and conditions of the payment plan. It is strongly advised to consider the financial impact of withdrawing from a class, as you will still be financially responsible.

If you are using VA education benefits and you withdraw from a class or classes, you may incur a debt with the VA and FCC, depending on the benefit you are using.

If you are an active-duty service member using military tuition assistance and you withdraw from a class or classes, you may incur a debt with FCC for tuition and fees.

If you cannot complete your course requirements due to a military transfer or active-duty deployment, contact Veteran and Military Services at [email protected] or 301-624-2836 to discuss the option of withdrawing and receiving a refund or requesting an Incomplete grade.

Military personnel, including members of the Reserves and National Guard, who withdraw from a course or courses because of a military transfer or active-duty deployment must submit the Student Appeal for Tuition Refund Form along with a signed copy of their orders to be eligible for a refund.

Military personnel, including members of the Reserves and National Guard, who withdraw from their courses or are temporarily unavailable because of a military transfer or active-duty deployment, will be able to continue their studies at Frederick Community College upon their return.

If you stop attending class and do not complete the procedure for dropping courses, you are still enrolled in the class, and you will still earn a grade for the course on your college transcript. The course grade will factor into your GPA. For some students, non-attendance results in a failing grade. Lack of attendance does not cancel your financial obligation to the College.

If you drop the course before the last day for 100% refund, the course does not appear on your transcript, so no grade is issued. If you drop after that date but before the last day to withdraw you will receive a "W" grade for the class. The "W" grade will be on your transcript but will not affect your GPA. For more information regarding impact to selective admissions programs consult with the Program Manager/Director.

If you drop the course before the first day, you will receive a 100% tuition refund. Lack of attendance does not result in a student getting a refund. Refunds are issued based on the academic dates listed in the course schedule.

Possibly. For more information, please contact a Financial Aid Counselor at 301-846-2620 or by email at [email protected] . The Financial Aid Office is located on the main campus, in the Financial Services Center of Jefferson Hall on the 3rd floor.

Send an email to [email protected] to ask about reenrollment in the class. List the course from which you withdrew and the date of withdrawal. The registration staff will review requests on a case-by-case basis and respond to your myFCC email account. Course policies vary regarding whether work may be made up from the period during which you were withdrawn. Faculty are not required to allow you to re-enroll in a class.

Request for Retroactive Withdrawal
Students may not drop a course after the 75% date. However, extenuating circumstances with proper documentation, such as medical documents from a healthcare professional, may be approved by the Academic Appeals Policy Committee (AAPC) to request a late or retroactive withdrawal by using the Request for Retroactive Withdrawal Form.

(See Student Withdrawal Policy for additional information)

Appeal for Tuition Refund
For extenuating circumstances where the student withdraws after the normal refund period, the College may grant a partial refund of tuition and fees after the student submits an appeal through the Student Appeal for Tuition Refund Form to the Tuition Refund Committee (TRC).

Your professor wants you to do well in the class and is invested in your success.  Please be sure to reach out to them. If you have concerns about reaching out to your professor directly, consult the staff and faculty directory for contact information of the Program Manager or Department Chair.
The learning centers and tutoring services offer drop-in tutoring for many courses and can assist with creating study plans and preparing for tests. Students in online classes can log into Blackboard to access online tutoring for some courses.   For more information and tutoring schedules, visit the Learning Commons webpage.

Our Behavioral Health and Wellness services can assist you in managing personal problems which may impact your ability to meet your academic and career goals. FCC provides short-term solution-focused counseling, crisis intervention, assessment and referrals to mental health resources. Counselors serve as a resource when you are in crisis; however, if you have ongoing, long-term, or therapeutic counseling needs, you will be referred to agencies in the community.
Some of the resources available include:

• Referrals to area programs that assist with food or housing insecurity, transportation, childcare costs, physical and mental health care, addiction resources
• Referrals to on-campus resources to help you achieve success in difficult circumstances, including:
  • The FCC food bank
  • Reporting sexual misconduct
  • Reporting bias
  • Complaint policy
  • Grade appeal process

For more information go to this webpage.

The Student Success Fund helps FCC students facing a financial emergency and in danger of dropping out of college. Emergency needs include food, shelter, educational expenses and other. To be eligible, you must be enrolled and currently attending FCC. To find out if you qualify, please complete and submit an application.

Targeted Support Services are offered through the Office of Adult Services (OAS), Multicultural Student Services (MSS), Veteran and Military Services (VMS), and the Disability Access Services (DAS-formerly known as Services for Students with Disabilities).

FCC’s Targeted Support concept is grounded in a belief in holistic, intersectional, collaborative practices to support and develop you as a student. These offices focus on helping you as a student to overcome hurdles to your success, empowering and enabling you to achieve your goals.

Office of Adult Services Webpage
Contact OAS

Adult Services is here to help if you are a single parent (any age) or an unemployed or underemployed adult (age 24 and over), you may be eligible for services through Project Forward Step.  Services include financial aid resources and referral, and referral to academic and non-academic resources.  For more information, visit https://www.frederick.edu/student-resources/adult-services/project-forward-step.aspx.

If you are currently a participant in Project Forward Step, please contact your counselor at [email protected] or [email protected], prior to withdrawing to discuss possible academic and financial implications, and resource referral to help you succeed.  

Disability Access Services Webpage
Contact DAS

Disabilities Access Services assists and supports eligible students with disabilities. Student services may include academic advising, individualized accommodation plans, transition coaching, as well as workshops and programs. Students will be empowered to become self-advocates to achieve individual success at FCC and beyond. DAS provides community outreach and collaborates with agencies and resources to meet the diverse needs of students with disabilities. To schedule an appointment, contact us at [email protected], prior to withdrawing to discuss possible academic and financial implications, and resource referral to help you succeed.

Multicultural Student Services Webpage
Contact MSS

Multicultural Student Services is here to help if you are experiencing academic challenges, having difficulty adjusting to the college environment, or just need a little extra support, experienced advisors are here to help you. Call 301.624.2894 or contact a Targeted Support Advisor at [email protected], prior to withdrawing to discuss possible academic and financial implications, and resource referral to help you succeed.  

Veteran and Military Services Webpage
Contact VMS

Veteran and Military Services help students distinguish and secure financial resources to pay for college, connects students with College and community services, provides academic advising, and more. We also help students adapt their service member training to the classroom. Additionally, the VMS team provides support to our students if they encounter obstacles or challenges as they are working towards their goals. Our goal is to help each veteran, active-duty military, National Guard member, Reservist, and their family members achieve success in civilian and college life. To schedule an appointment contact us at [email protected], prior to withdrawing to discuss possible academic and financial implications, and resource referral to help you succeed.