Navigating University Appeals & Processes
When personal, medical, or other circumstances affect your academics, you may need to complete more than one university process.
Which Process(es) Do You Need?
Medical Withdrawal Satisfactory Academic Process Scholarship Reconsideration Appeal
Academic Reinstatement Appeal Re-enrollment Following Medical Withdrawal
Other Appeals Information
Build Your Personal Narrative Request Supporting Documentation Process-Specific Pieces
Before Submitting Unsure What Processes Apply
Medical Withdrawal
You may need this if a medical or mental health condition significantly affected your ability to complete the semester and you are considering withdrawing from all courses.
You need:
- Personal narrative
- Provider documentation
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
You may need this if you have been notified by Financial Aid that you are not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements for financial aid.
You need:
- One-page personal narrative
- Provider documentation
- Academic Plan completed with your academic advisor
Where to start:
Review the information sent to your Husker email.
Financial aid is important to understand before starting or returning to classes. If you're unsure about your financial aid status, connect with Husker Hub.
Scholarship Reconsideration Appeal
You may need this if circumstances outside your control affected your ability to meet the requirements of your scholarship.
You need:
- One-page personal narrative
- Provider/supporting documentation
- Unofficial transcript
More about Scholarship Reconsideration
Academic Reinstatement Appeal
You may need this if you have been academically dismissed and want to request permission to return to UNL.
Start by meeting with your academic advisor. Your advisor can help you understand and navigate your college's reinstatement appeal process.
More about Academic Reinstatement
Re-Enrollment Following Medical Withdrawal
You may need this if you previously completed a Medical Withdrawal through Student Advocacy and Support and are preparing to return to UNL.
Start by meeting with an SAS Case Manager. We'll help you understand the Re-Enrollment process and plan for your return.
Completing More Than One Process
You may not have to start from scratch each time. You can often use the same core personal narrative and supporting documentation as a starting point for multiple processes.
However, each process has its own requirements, so be sure to review the instructions for each one before submitting your materials.
Build Your Personal Narrative
Instead of writing several completely different narratives, start by telling your story.
Your narrative should help the person reviewing your request understand four things:
1. What happened?
Consider explaining:
- When your medical condition or personal circumstances began
- What challenges you experienced
- Any important timeline or context
2. How did it affect your academics?
Consider the impact on:
- Attendance or participation
- Coursework
- Grades
- Concentration or ability to focus
- Your ability to complete the semester successfully
3. What have you done to address the situation?
This might include:
- Medical treatment
- Counseling
- Meeting with instructors
- Working with your academic advisor
- Using campus or community resources
- Making changes to work or other responsibilities
4. What will be different moving forward?
Help the reviewer understand your plan for future success.
For example:
- Continuing treatment
- Using academic support
- Continuing counseling
- Reducing work hours
- Developing new routines
- Improving time management
- Connecting with additional campus resources
Request Supporting Documentation
Some processes may require documentation from a healthcare provider or another professional who can verify your circumstances.
If you are requesting documentation from a healthcare provider, ask whether they can include:
☐ When your condition began
☐ How your condition affected your academic performance
☐ Dates you received treatment
☐ The nature of treatment provided
☐ Your current status or readiness to focus on academics, when applicable
☐ Provider signature and documentation on official letterhead
Your provider may ask you to complete a Release of Information (ROI) before they can share information with you or the university.
Tip: If you're completing multiple processes, review the documentation requirements for all of them before contacting your provider. You may be able to request one letter that addresses several requirements.
Don't Forget the Process-Specific Pieces
Even when your narrative and documentation overlap, some processes require something additional.
SAP Appeal
☐ Complete an Academic Plan with your academic advisor.
Scholarship Reconsideration
☐ Keep your personal narrative to one page.
☐ Obtain your unofficial transcript from MyRED.
Academic Reinstatement
☐ Meet with your academic advisor.
☐ Follow your college's dismissal appeal process.
Medical Withdrawal
☐ Meet with a SAS Case Manager and complete the Medical Withdrawal process.
Re-Enrollment
☐ Meet with a SAS Case Manager and complete the Re-Enrollment process.
Take a moment to make sure you've completed everything required for each process.
☐ I know which university processes I need to complete.
☐ My personal narrative is complete.
☐ I have received any required supporting documentation.
☐ I completed an Academic Plan if required for my SAP Appeal.
☐ I have my unofficial transcript if required for Scholarship Reconsideration.
☐ I met with my academic advisor if required.
☐ I reviewed the individual requirements for each process.
☐ I submitted each form or request to the appropriate university office.
You don't have to navigate multiple university processes on your own. A Student Advocacy and Support Case Manager can help you understand which processes may apply to your situation, organize your next steps, and connect you with the appropriate university offices. We won't make decisions for financial aid, your academic college, or other university offices—but we can help you understand how the pieces fit together.