Withdrawals and Transfers Policy

ACAD-POL-006

I. Policy Statement

Learners enrolled in RIT Certified courses may request to withdraw from or transfer into a different course section. All requests must be submitted via the Withdrawal/Transfer Request Form.

II. Scope

This policy shall apply except where alternative terms have been established through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) or contract for custom programs, sponsored training, or enterprise offerings, which may define alternate withdrawal or transfer provisions.

III. Definitions

  • Transfer: Moving from one scheduled section of a course to a later one.
  • Withdrawal: Official removal from a course without re-enrollment in a later section.

IV. Voluntary Withdrawal

Learners may request to withdraw from a course at any point during a course duration through the Withdraw/Transfer Request Form.

  • Refund eligibility is determined by the date of the request in relation to the course start date and follows the guidelines outlined in the Fees, Discounts, and Refund Policy for refund details.
  • Withdrawals requested after the refund-eligible period will still be processed, but no tuition refund will be issued unless the withdrawal qualifies under an approved exception (see Section IX: Appeals and Exceptions).
  • Learners who withdraw will lose access to course materials and are not eligible for academic credit, digital badges, or course completion recognition.

V. Involuntary Withdrawal

RIT Certified may initiate an involuntary withdrawal under the following conditions:

  • Non-payment of tuition by the learner or their sponsor
  • Default on a payment plan
  • Violation of RIT Certified policies and/or the RIT Student Conduct policy

Involuntary withdrawals will be communicated in writing by RIT Certified and may result in ineligibility for refund or re-enrollment.

VI. Voluntary Transfer

Learners may request approval for a transfer via the Withdraw/Transfer Request Form to a future section of the same or similar course as available.

  • The request for approval must be submitted before 50% of the original course duration has elapsed (e.g., before week 5 of an 8-week course). Requests submitted after this point are only considered under exceptional, documented circumstances (see Section IX).
  • Transferred learners will restart the course from the beginning. No prior coursework or participation will carry over.
  • The new course section must begin within 12 months of the approved transfer date. RIT Certified makes no guarantee that another session or similar course will be available.

Learners pursuing a Mastery Certificate should consider how a transfer may affect their completion timeline. Contact RIT Certified for personalized guidance at certified@rit.edu.

A. Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for approval for a voluntary transfer, a learner must meet the following conditions:

Standing and Progress Requirements

  • The learner must be in good academic and behavioral standing as defined by the Academic Integrity Policy.
  • The learner must have no unresolved Grade Disputes or Academic Integrity proceedings at the time of the transfer request.

Financial Standing

  • All tuition and fee payments due at the time of transfer must be current.
  • Learners on payment plans must be current with their installments.
  • Learners sponsored by a third party must have approval from the third-party for a transfer.

Course Completion History
The learner’s progress record within a specific course section, including whether final graded assessments such as exams, capstones, or projects have been submitted or attempted.

  • The learner has not completed or attempted the final graded assessment in the original course section.
  • Learners who have submitted a final exam, capstone, or project are not eligible to transfer and must instead pursue grade resolution or course repetition, if applicable.

B. Financial Implications

  • If the future section costs more than the original, the learner will be invoiced for the difference.
  • If the future section costs less, the learner will receive a refund of the difference.
  • Once a transfer is approved, the learner forfeits eligibility for a withdrawal-based refund.

VII. Involuntary Transfer

RIT Certified reserves the right to cancel or discontinue any course or section based on the needs of the university, including but not limited to:

  • Low course enrollment
  • Change in instructor availability
  • Vendor or partner disruption

In the event of cancellation:

  • Learners enrolled in the impacted course or section will be notified by the Registrar within 5 business days.
  • Learners will have the option to:
    • Transfer to a future offering of the same or similar course as available.
    • Receive a full refund, including the non-refundable administrative fee.

VIII. Accessibility and Accommodations

RIT Certified is committed to ensuring that all learners have equitable access to administrative processes, including withdrawals and transfers. If you require access services or accommodations (such as alternative formats, extended communication timelines, or support with documentation), please contact certified@rit.edu as early as possible. We will work with you to ensure your needs are met appropriately.

IX. Appeals and Exceptions

Learners seeking exceptions to this policy must submit a written appeal to certified@rit.edu within seven (7) business days of the decision. Appeals will be reviewed by the RIT Certified Academics Team and Registrar, with final decisions communicated within seven (7) business days.

Refund and/or exceptions may be granted in the following cases by the RIT Certified Registrar:

  • Medical emergency
  • Military deployment
  • Employer-mandated schedule changes
  • Institutional administrative error

Learners requesting a transfer due to scheduling conflicts or hardship may be asked to provide supporting documentation, especially if the request falls outside the standard window or policies. Failure to submit documentation when requested may result in denial of the transfer.