Six-Credit Hour Exclusion 

If this is your first time ever withdrawing while using VA Education benefits the VA automatically grants mitigating circumstances for up to 6 credits the first time a student reduces or terminates and mitigating circumstances must be considered. This automatic grant is called the 6-Credit Hour Exclusion. The exclusion is a one-time grant made the first-time mitigating circumstances must be considered for the student. Up to 6 credits can be excluded if the student has been awarded benefits for the credit. 

• If the student withdraws from 3 credits, the exclusion will be granted for 3 credits and the student’s one-time exclusion is used.
• If the student withdraws from 12 credits, the exclusion will be granted for 6 credits, the student’s one-time exclusion is used, and the student must provide mitigating circumstances for the other 6 credits.

Important Note: The 6-Credit Hour Exclusion cannot be granted if the student completes the term and receives non-punitive grades.  

Be advised, even if you are granted the six-credit hour exclusion you may still have a debt with the VA. The VA will only cover tuition and fees up until the date of the withdrawal. The remaining fees will be your responsibility to cover. A fee appeal with UWF will also need to be completed for any debt with UWF.