University Withdrawal
The withdrawal process at JMU begins when the student (Undergraduate, Graduate, or Doctoral) makes their initial request by submitting an electronic form to the Office of the Registrar (Non-Return/Leave of Absence Notice) to declare their intent to withdraw.
Once the form is submitted electronically, the process will consist of dropping classes (if enrolled) and discontinuing you in the system. You will lose access to MyMadison, Canvas, JACard, JMU Email, and other campus services when completed. You will be notified through the preferred email provided in the electronic form within five business days of submission (up to 7 business days during peak periods).
If you are withdrawing from JMU after the census date, you may be responsible for all tuition, fees, etc. on your billing account.
The last day to withdraw for a semester is the last day of classes.
Contact the Office of the Registrar if you have any questions or need assistance with completing the form. They can be reached by email at withdrawal@jmu.edu, or by phone at 540-568-6281, option #9.
If you were admitted to JMU for the Fall 2025 semester and no longer plan to attend, please complete the First-Year/Transfer Cancellation Notice.
Withdrawal Process Steps/Information
- Student Athletes: Contact the Athletics Compliance Office to talk about withdrawing from JMU and any implications it may have on your scholarship and/or your NCAA eligibility at JMU, or the new institution to which you are transferring.
- Phone: 540-568-7357
Contact Name: Stephen LaPorta
Email: laportsp@jmu.edu
Location: Godwin Hall, Room 141
- Phone: 540-568-7357
- International Students: Contact the International Student and Scholar Services team to discuss your withdrawal from JMU as students on F and J visas will lose the JMU sponsorship of their immigration status in the US.
- Phone: 540-568-5209
Email: isss@jmu.edu
Location: Holland Yates Hall (formerly Madison Hall), 2ndFloor (within the Center for Global Engagement Office)
- Phone: 540-568-5209
- Veteran’s Benefits: Contact a Veteran’s Benefits representative to discuss your current benefits, and make sure there are no implications with withdrawing from the University.
- Phone: 540-568-6281, option #3
Email: veteran@jmu.edu
Location: Student Success Center, 5thFloor (within the Office of the Registrar)
- Phone: 540-568-6281, option #3
- Study Abroad: Contact the Center for Global Engagement to complete the JMU External Program Application. Students completing coursework abroad while away from JMU must also secure approval from faculty evaluators by submitting the Undergraduate Transfer Credit Approval Form.
- Phone: 540-568-5209
Email: studyabroad@jmu.edu
Location: Holland Yates Hall (formerly Madison Hall), 2nd Floor
- Phone: 540-568-5209
- Complete the Non-Return/Leave of Absence Notice, signing in using your MyMadison credentials is required.
- If you are having trouble logging in to complete the form, please contact the IT Help Desk for assistance by email at helpdesk@jmu.edu, or by phone at 540-568-3555.
- Once the form is filled out, you will receive a confirmation email from the Office of the Registrar alerting you that it has been received.
- A second email will be sent once the withdrawal process has been completed (within five to seven business days).
If you are withdrawing from JMU for medical and/or mental health reasons, documentation may be required during the withdrawal process.
- If you are withdrawing on or prior to the University Withdrawal Deadline, no documentation is required. You only need to submit the form in Step 2.
- If you are withdrawing after the University Withdrawal Deadline, a documentation form will be sent to you via email (as a PDF) that will need to be completed by a licensed provider if you would like to qualify for a billing adjustment. More information regarding this process will be shared in that email.
- Contact the University Health Center Patient Care Coordinator (healthctr@jmu.edu) or the Counseling Center Case Manager (counseling-center@jmu.edu) for support with referrals for a relevant licensed provider.
If you have financial aid, loans, grants, or scholarships at JMU, please note that financial aid eligibility can change as a result of withdrawing from all of your classes. Students may be subject to Federal Return of Title IV Funds regulations, which could require an immediate repayment of all, or part of, the financial aid funds you received during the term from which you are withdrawing. For more financial aid information regarding withdraw from JMU go to Financial Aid: Terms and Conditions.
Phone: 540-568-7820
Email: fin_aid@jmu.edu
Location: Student Success Center, 5thFloor
If you currently live on campus, you will need to check out of your residence hall room with your RA or Hall Director. Be sure to contact the Office of Residence Life if you have questions about the move-out process, or visit their website. Once the withdrawal is processed, you have 48 hours to move-out of your dorm as your swipe access will be removed
Phone: 540-568-4663
Email: res-life@jmu.edu
Location: Huffman Hall (Village Area)
Before leaving the University, make sure that you have no holds on your account related to your finances. You can verify any balance on your M3 account, or contact the University Business Office directly to resolve any holds.
Finalizing your account can take up to a month. Once your account is finalized if there is a balance, you will be mailed a billing statement. If you have a refund it will be processed through your BankMobile preference. Make sure your preference is setup before submitting your withdrawal. For more information about refunds, go to UBO: Student Refunding Processes.
Phone: 540-568-6505
Email: ubo@jmu.edu
Location: Student Success Center, 5th Floor
If you have a student parking permit, you may qualify for a prorated refund once you withdraw from the University. Contact Parking Services for more information about the process.
Phone: 540-568-3300
Email: parkingservices@jmu.edu
Location: 280 Champions Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 (1st Floor of Champions Parking Deck on left side of entrance of deck)
If you have a Meal Plan, Dining Dollars Gold, or Flex money, you may qualify for a prorated refund once you withdraw from the University. Contact Card Services for more information about the process
Phone: 540-568-6446
Email: cardsrvc@jmu.edu
Location: Student Success Center, 2ndFloor
In accordance with the Graduate School’s continuous enrollment policy, all students enrolled in graduate degree programs must enroll each fall and spring semester for a minimum of one graduate credit hour. If a graduate student needs to take a temporary leave from their graduate program and intends to complete no coursework toward their degree in a given semester, the student may enroll in the leave from study course, GRAD 597.
- Tuition for this course is $50. Students should consult with their program director or advisor prior to enrolling in GRAD 597 to discuss the impact that taking a leave from study may have on their program of study and time limit.
Email: grad@jmu.edu
Location: Holland Yates Hall (formerly Madison Hall), 4thFloor
When processing your withdrawal request, the date the form is submitted to the Office of the Registrar is the effective date for your withdrawal when dropping classes.
Some instructors that use Canvas may not always update their class rosters after a student withdraws—therefore, you may continue receiving emails/notifications from the instructor, or Canvas. If you have received confirmation from the Office of the Registrar that the withdrawal has been processed, you can assure your classes have been dropped/withdrawn. You can ignore any emails sent to you from Canvas, and you may contact any instructors to inform them that you have left JMU.
It is recommended that you save a PDF version of your unofficial transcript before you leave the University. Once your MyMadison account is disabled, you will NOT be able to access your unofficial transcript, and you will need to request your official transcript.
If you need to request your official transcript, you will go to www.jmu.edu/registrar and click on the “Request a Transcript” picture. In the gray box at the top, click on the “Order My Transcript” link—this will take you to the National Student Clearinghouse website to request your official transcript.