If you feel there were extenuating circumstances leading to your academic withdrawal, you can apply for academic continuance within ten calendar days of SAIT notifying of the status of being academically withdrawn.  


What is Academic Continuance?

Academic continuance allows you to continue your studies without a sit-out period or a reduced sit-out period. Before you consider this option, there are a few things you should know.


  • This does not remove the academic withdrawal standing from your records. 
  • A first academic withdrawal will result in an eight-month waiting period before you can continue in SAIT credit courses or programs. 
  • A subsequent academic withdrawal will result in a five-year waiting period before you can take any additional SAIT credit courses in the same program.  If you decide to take a different program unrelated academically the sit-out period may be reduced to a one- or two-year period. 

Submitting your Academic Appeal Continuance form

The Academic Appeal Continuance form and supporting documents must be submitted within ten calendar days of SAIT notifying the student of their status of the academic withdrawal by following the steps below. 

  1. Use the Academic Appeal Continuance form.
  2. Submit a new Service Ticket with the fully completed continuance form and supporting documents attached.  
  3. The Office of the Registrar will receive your applicationand apply the $100 appeal fee to your account. 
  4. Your appeal will be submitted to the Academic Continuance Committee after you pay the fee using one of our approved online payment options. 

The $100 fee is refundable only if your appeal to continue with no waiting period is successful.

Strengthen your appeal

A strong appeal will clearly address and articulate the specific extenuating circumstances that led to your academic struggles. Normal life circumstances will not be considered extenuating circumstances. 

When writing your detailed response in the form, you may want to focus on what you will or have done differently to set yourself up for success. Where relevant, your plan should answer the following questions: 

  • Do you have a schedule you will follow? 
  • What will you do differently to allow yourself more time to dedicate to your studies? 


To authenticate your reflection and commitment to continue your studies, we recommend; 

  • gaining reference letters from instructors, academic advisors or your academic chair, who supports your plan for success; 
  • including supporting documents such as medical letters, a death certificate, etc. 
  • completing Back on Track and submit the completion email with your application. 


Continuance Committee decision

The Committee will consider the written information you have provided and your academic records when making a decision. The final decision will be based on factors such as: 

  • your academic performance at SAIT and whether there has been a semester-by-semester improvement or decline. 
  • whether your appeal shows that you fully understand and take responsibility for the factors and barriers that lead to your academic withdrawal; 
  • whether you have an academic learning or success plan in place and your attendance in class; 
  • the supports you have outlined and whether they are realistic for your success (for example, your involvement with Learning Skills Services). 

Learn more about the appeal process by reviewing Grades and Academic Standing or create a Service Ticket to connect with the Office of the Registrar.