Add/Drop
Add/Drop refers to the period at the beginning of the semester when students are able to remove or add courses to their schedule, in person or via WebAdvisor. It is recommended that students consult with their advisor or with AASC before adding or removing courses from their schedule. Courses removed during this time will not show up on a student’s transcript. For official deadlines, procedures, and general information on this process, students should refer to the Records Office Add/Drop web page.
Withdrawal (from a single course)
After Add/Drop has ended, students are still able to withdraw from a course if needed up until halfway through the semester (see the Records page or Academic Calendar for Withdrawal deadlines). Withdrawal differs from add/drop in that the the student's transcript will show a W for the course. After the withdrawal period has ended, students are not allowed to withdraw from any courses. Students should consult their professor and their advisor or a member of AASC before withdrawing from a course. Intercollegiate athletes must obtain the signature of the academic coordinator for varsity athletics. Failure to comply with the official withdrawal procedure will result in a permanent grade of F or AW (audit withdrawal).
For more information on this process, students should refer to the Records Office Course Withdrawal page.
Withdrawal (from the University)
If a student withdraws from the University, all courses they are registered for will be dropped, and they will lose access to their email and other university accounts. A student may need to withdraw from the University if they have decided to transfer, or they may be withdrawn if they fail to return from a leave of absence. Students who withdraw are able to re-enroll at Loyola through the admission process. See the Readmission of Former Students section of the Loyola University Catalogue.
Leave of absence
Students have the option to take either a personal or medical leave of absence. (See our Medical Leave of Absence FAQ page for more information about this type of leave.)
(From the Loyola University Catalogue):
"Students may apply for a leave of absence for medical or personal reasons or to study abroad. However, the leave of absence can last for no more than two semesters. If the student takes a leave of absence while on academic or disciplinary probation, s/he must complete the terms of her/his probation upon returning to Loyola. Students who are subject to full dismissal from the University for academic or disciplinary reasons are not eligible for a leave of absence."
"Students applying for a leave must complete the Leave of Absence Form, which can be obtained by contacting the office of the Dean of Undergraduate Studies [see below for more detailed instructions]. They must then consult the financial aid office to determine what effect this leave may have on their financial aid. Usually, students on a leave of absence from the University will not receive transfer credit for courses taken at another institution during the period of the leave. However, prior written permission may be obtained from the Academic Advising and Support Center for any exceptions to this policy.
Upon completion of the leave, students may return to Loyola University Maryland under the academic requirements in effect at the time of the departure without completing the regular admission process. Students on an approved leave of absence who do not return at the conclusion of that leave and who do not request an extension of the leave in writing from the Dean of Undergraduate Studies will be withdrawn completely from the University at the conclusion of the first formal add/drop period, which is typically the first week of classes of a semester.” (See the Readmission of Former Students section of the Loyola University Catalogue for students who would like to return after being withdrawn.)