CARE
Support & Resources
The University of Georgia provides many resources to students, but oftentimes locating and navigating these resources can be a difficult process. Student Care and Outreach (SCO) works to provide information and resources to students, faculty, staff, parents, and other stakeholders. Through appropriate and necessary information sharing and collaboration across campus, SCO seeks to support students’ overall growth and achievement at UGA by building customized networks of assistance.
Staff in SCO are not therapists or clinical mental health professionals. Instead, our case managers serve as coordinators of individualized assistance, which in some cases, may include connecting you to a healthcare provider.
Once connected with a case manager in SCO, please be prepared to share as much information about your concern or situation as you feel comfortable. Case managers will utilize the information to provide support that is specific to the circumstances presented. Information shared with SCO is protected by FERPA, meaning that information will only be shared with someone who has an educational need to know. More about FERPA can be found here.
Staff in SCO are also designated as confidential support resources.
The University of Georgia provides many resources to students, but oftentimes locating and navigating these resources can be a difficult process. Student Care and Outreach (SCO) works to provide information and resources to students, faculty, staff, parents, and other stakeholders. Through appropriate and necessary information sharing and collaboration across campus, SCO seeks to support students’ overall growth and achievement at UGA by building customized networks of assistance.
Staff in SCO are not therapists or clinical mental health professionals. Instead, our case managers serve as coordinators of individualized assistance, which in some cases, may include connecting you to a healthcare provider.
Once connected with a case manager in SCO, please be prepared to share as much information about your concern or situation as you feel comfortable. Case managers will utilize the information to provide support that is specific to the circumstances presented. Information shared with SCO is protected by FERPA, meaning that information will only be shared with someone who has an educational need to know. More about FERPA can be found here.
Staff in SCO are also designated as confidential support resources.
Instructor Notifications
Student Care and Outreach informs faculty when a verified situation may affect a student’s class attendance or engagement. Students are advised to reach out personally to their instructors to discuss absences and make-up options. In most cases, SCO will require that the student submit appropriate documentation in order for the notification to be sent. All final decisions about absences, make-up assignments, and accommodations are left to the discretion of each individual instructor. Instructors are encouraged to contact SCO as needed if they would like additional information or context in order to make an informed decision about any arrangement.
SCO does not verify or send instructor notifications for routine absences (e.g., doctor’s appointments, general illness, family events). More information can be found in the UGA Bulletin.
Student Care and Outreach informs faculty when a verified situation may affect a student’s class attendance or engagement. Students are advised to reach out personally to their instructors to discuss absences and make-up options. In most cases, SCO will require that the student submit appropriate documentation in order for the notification to be sent. All final decisions about absences, make-up assignments, and accommodations are left to the discretion of each individual instructor. Instructors are encouraged to contact SCO as needed if they would like additional information or context in order to make an informed decision about any arrangement.
SCO does not verify or send instructor notifications for routine absences (e.g., doctor’s appointments, general illness, family events). More information can be found in the UGA Bulletin.
Hardship Withdrawals
If a student experiences significant personal hardship (e.g., medical or family emergency, prolonged illness), SCO can approve a hardship withdrawal from all courses in the term for which a student is currently registered. Please note that class rigor or poor performance in class is not considered a hardship.
In the case of an approved hardship withdrawal from all courses, the Registrar will assign grades of W for those classes. The deadline for final approval of a hardship withdrawal by SCO is the withdrawal deadline of the semester following the semester for which the hardship withdrawal is sought (e.g., withdrawal deadline of summer semester is the deadline for a spring semester hardship request). A hardship withdrawal cannot ordinarily be used to withdraw selectively from some courses while remaining enrolled in other courses. Selective withdrawal will be permitted only under exceptional circumstances, as determined by SCO.
In order to request a hardship withdrawal, students should contact SCO to discuss their circumstances. Students will be required to submit a written request for the hardship from their UGA email. SCO may also require that the student provide documentation related to their expressed hardship.
While faculty and staff can certainly suggest that a student pursue a hardship withdrawal, they can not determine whether a withdrawal will be granted.
If a student experiences significant personal hardship (e.g., medical or family emergency, prolonged illness), SCO can approve a hardship withdrawal from all courses in the term for which a student is currently registered. Please note that class rigor or poor performance in class is not considered a hardship.
In the case of an approved hardship withdrawal from all courses, the Registrar will assign grades of W for those classes. The deadline for final approval of a hardship withdrawal by SCO is the withdrawal deadline of the semester following the semester for which the hardship withdrawal is sought (e.g., withdrawal deadline of summer semester is the deadline for a spring semester hardship request). A hardship withdrawal cannot ordinarily be used to withdraw selectively from some courses while remaining enrolled in other courses. Selective withdrawal will be permitted only under exceptional circumstances, as determined by SCO.
In order to request a hardship withdrawal, students should contact SCO to discuss their circumstances. Students will be required to submit a written request for the hardship from their UGA email. SCO may also require that the student provide documentation related to their expressed hardship.
While faculty and staff can certainly suggest that a student pursue a hardship withdrawal, they can not determine whether a withdrawal will be granted.
Withdrawal Deadlines & Potential Impacts
If the hardship withdrawal process is not complete by the withdrawal deadline of the following semester, a student must appeal for a retroactive hardship withdrawal from the Educational Affairs Committee. More information about withdrawals can be found in the UGA Bulletin.
SCO will not process any hardship withdrawals between the last day of classes and the first day of the subsequent semester due to final exams and grades processing. Students may contact the office to discuss the process during this time, however, no decision on the request will be made until the following semester. Students should be mindful of this in regards to academic status, financial aid eligibility, or any other processes that involve an end of semester checkpoint.
Students should be aware that receiving a hardship withdrawal or a retroactive hardship withdrawal may affect their statuses with various university entities. It is the responsibility of the students to contact other university offices to determine how the decision to withdraw may affect them.
Withdrawing may affect a student’s financial aid. The impact on financial aid may include, but is not limited to, mandatory repayment of already disbursed funds. Students should contact Student Financial Aid and Bursar & Treasury Services prior to requesting the withdrawal.
Students should also contact any other appropriate offices (e.g. University Housing, Office of Global Engagement, Dining Services, Academic Advising, etc.) if there are any questions concerning the possible impact of withdrawing. Additionally, veterans and dependents of veterans who are receiving educational benefits must notify the Office of Veterans Educational Benefits of any course load reduction (Office of the Registrar 706-542-4040).
If the hardship withdrawal process is not complete by the withdrawal deadline of the following semester, a student must appeal for a retroactive hardship withdrawal from the Educational Affairs Committee. More information about withdrawals can be found in the UGA Bulletin.
SCO will not process any hardship withdrawals between the last day of classes and the first day of the subsequent semester due to final exams and grades processing. Students may contact the office to discuss the process during this time, however, no decision on the request will be made until the following semester. Students should be mindful of this in regards to academic status, financial aid eligibility, or any other processes that involve an end of semester checkpoint.
Students should be aware that receiving a hardship withdrawal or a retroactive hardship withdrawal may affect their statuses with various university entities. It is the responsibility of the students to contact other university offices to determine how the decision to withdraw may affect them.
Withdrawing may affect a student’s financial aid. The impact on financial aid may include, but is not limited to, mandatory repayment of already disbursed funds. Students should contact Student Financial Aid and Bursar & Treasury Services prior to requesting the withdrawal.
Students should also contact any other appropriate offices (e.g. University Housing, Office of Global Engagement, Dining Services, Academic Advising, etc.) if there are any questions concerning the possible impact of withdrawing. Additionally, veterans and dependents of veterans who are receiving educational benefits must notify the Office of Veterans Educational Benefits of any course load reduction (Office of the Registrar 706-542-4040).