It is recognized that dropping courses is necessary in order to avoid academic standing issues but please note that if you are receiving student aid, dropping courses could have financial implications. Before dropping a course or courses, please ensure that you understand how it could impact you.
NOTE: If you were dropped from courses as a result of the vaccination policy, there is no appeal process to reduce or eliminate the impacts to your eligibility for financial aid funding. As a result of dropped courses, students may be placed on OSAP academic progress probation or restriction, may incur an OSAP overpayment, and may have their grants converted to loans.
The following guide should be used when making a decision to drop a course or courses:
Government Student Loans (OSAP, US, Out of Province)*
Dropping From # of courses: 6 or 5
To # of courses: 4
% Course Load: 100%
Implications: None
Dropping From # of courses: 5
To # of courses: 3
% Course Load: 60%
Implications: Maintain eligibility but a tuition fee adjustment calculation may result in an overpayment. Where an overpayment exists, any tuition refund will be sent back to the National Student Loan Service Centre to pay down all or a portion of the overpayment.
Dropping From # of courses: 6 (where 6 courses is considered a full-time course load in your program)
To # of courses: 3 or less
% Course Load: 50% or less
Implications: Loss of eligibility and an overpayment will be calculated.
Dropping From # of courses: 5
To # of courses: 2 or less
% Course Load: 40% or less
Implications: Loss of eligibility and an overpayment will be calculated.
Dropping From # of courses: Full withdrawal
Implications: Loss of eligibility and an overpayment will be calculated
Students are encouraged to contact the National Student Loan Service Centre to discuss repayment options and to ensure their loans are maintained in good standing.
* With the exception of US Federal Student Aid, students with a documented permanent disability for government student aid (Ontario and other Canadian provinces only) may reduce their course load to 40% of a full course load and still maintain full-time eligibility with a tuition adjustment only.
Most scholarships, specifically the UWindsor Open Entrance Scholarships require that a student maintain full-time status at all times for continued eligibility unless otherwise indicated as per your letter or the scholarship regulations established for the academic year in which you were eligible for the award.
Most need-based bursaries require that a student maintain a minimum of 60% of a full course load unless otherwise indicated as per your letter.
Exceptions exist for students with a documented permanent disability similar to the exceptions that exist for government student aid purposes.
Where it has been determined that dropping a course or courses was necessary, where extenuating circumstances have occurred and where this decision has impacted your future financial aid eligibility, an appeal may be possible. Please contact Student Awards & Financial Aid to discuss your appeal options. Not all situations can be appealed so please be aware of the consequences prior to making a decision to drop a course where loss of eligibility is the outcome.
