Voluntary and Involuntary Methods of Ending Student Enrollment

Students leave Cottey College before graduation for a variety of reasons. Voluntary and involuntary methods for ending student enrollment are described as follows 

Leave of Absence

Students may discontinue their studies at Cottey for up to 180 days but maintain privileges normally reserved for continuing students. This option is described in the Cottey College Catalog.

Mid-Semester Withdrawal

Students may choose to end their enrollment during a semester by withdrawing from the College. Mid-semester withdrawals may be completed through the date listed on the academic calendar in the Catalog. Students withdrawing during a semester do not receive academic credit for those courses in which they were enrolled and a grade of W (as defined in the current College Catalog) is listed on official transcripts. Students who need to withdraw from the College should go to the Office of Academic Records to obtain the necessary forms and assistance in understanding withdrawal procedures. 

Non-Returning Students

Another method of ending enrollment before graduation is to leave Cottey after completing a semester. Non-returning students receive academic credit and grades for all completed coursework. No other notation is made on official student transcripts. Non-returning students are expected to go to the Office of Academic Records to obtain the necessary forms and discuss related procedures. 

Academic Dismissal

Students may be dismissed each semester due to poor academic performance. Details concerning this type of dismissal are explained in the Cottey College Catalog. 

Disciplinary Dismissal

Students may be dismissed for violating College conduct regulations.

Administrative Dismissals

Dismissal Due to Failure to Pay Student Fees

The College may dismiss a student at any time during the semester if the College has not received full payment of a student’s fees. A student may also be dismissed from the College if the application for a guaranteed student loan or other sources of financial assistance has been denied after registration unless the matter is satisfactorily settled with the vice president for administration and finance. 

Administrative Withdrawal by the Vice President for Student Life and Enrollment

The vice president for student life and enrollment may administratively withdraw any student if the student behaves in a manner that:

• Poses a health or safety risk to a member of the College community; or 
• Disrupts or interferes with the College’s learning environment or other activities; or 
• Disrupts or interferes with the normal operations of the College.

Involuntary Withdrawal

If a student is withdrawn under this policy, the withdrawal will be considered an involuntary withdrawal. The student must submit a formal written request to the vice president for student life and enrollment to seek readmission. Depending on the nature of the involuntary withdrawal, the vice president may require additional documentation (such as medical, psychological, or behavioral evaluations) to determine the student’s readiness to resume enrollment. 

Voluntary Withdrawal Option

A student who is facing involuntary withdrawal may choose to pursue a voluntary withdrawal in accordance with the College’s voluntary withdrawal policies as outlined in the Cottey College Catalog.

When the College becomes aware of behavior that may warrant an administrative withdrawal, the vice president for student life and enrollment will review the situation. In some cases, the vice president for student life and enrollment may seek additional information from campus personnel or consult with the Cottey Outreach and Response Team. The College will make an individualized assessment of the student’s behavior and, where applicable, the nature of the risk posed. The vice president for student life and enrollment may impose interim restrictions upon a student up to and including an interim suspension. Interim restrictions may be imposed if the vice president for student life and enrollment believes that such interim restrictions are advisable to protect the College community, or to ensure the safety and maintenance of order of the College. 

A student referred to the vice president for student life and enrollment for behavior that may warrant an administrative withdrawal will be invited to provide additional information to fully assess the situation. The vice president for student life and enrollment, or designee, will contact the student via written communication to schedule a meeting.

During the meeting with the student, the vice president for student life and enrollment, or designee, will discuss the situation and talk about potential appropriate courses of action given the individual circumstances, which may include an administrative withdrawal. 

During the process, the College may also request that the student submit information or other documentation that may help in determining an appropriate course of action. In addition, the College may require a student to undergo an evaluation by a licensed professional of the College’s choosing at the College’s expense. If requested, the student must submit the requested documentation within five business days or provide an explanation of any delayed submission. If a student chooses not to submit requested documentation or to participate in the meeting, the vice president for student life and enrollment will make a decision without the benefit of that input after five days of the initial request, unless other arrangements have been made. 

Upon receipt of the requested documentation or an alternative time period established to submit documentation, the vice president for student life and enrollment will review all information gathered and decide on the appropriate outcome. When conducting an assessment about potential risk posed by a student, the vice president for student life and enrollment will make an individualized assessment, based on reasonable judgment that relies on current medical knowledge or on the best available objective evidence. Where applicable, the vice president for student life and enrollment will ascertain: the nature, duration, and severity of the risk and the probability that the potential injury will actually occur. When considering the behavior of a student with a disability, the vice president for student life and enrollment will also consider whether reasonable modifications of policies, practices, or procedures or the provision of auxiliary aids and services will mitigate the risk. 

A student will be notified of the vice president for student life and enrollment’s decision in writing, and the vice president for student life and enrollment will make the necessary referrals for action regarding the student.