Exceptional Withdrawal FAQs

Before the Process

• Should I consider an Exceptional Withdrawal?
  • Are any of my professors willing to work with me/accommodate me to accept late work?
  • Are my professors willing to give me an Incomplete (I) grade to allow me more time to finish this course?
  • Do I have documentation associated with my illness/unforeseen life event?
• What types of Exceptional Withdrawals are there?
  • Full Exceptional Withdrawal
    • A petition to withdraw from all courses within a semester. If the situation is affecting a current semester, students should withdraw from all courses by the withdrawal deadline as articulated in the before petitioning for an Exceptional Withdrawal.
  • Partial Exceptional Withdrawal
    • A petition to withdraw from less than all courses within a semester. If the situation is affecting a current semester, students should withdraw from the impacted courses by the withdrawal deadline as articulated in the before petitioning for an Exceptional Withdrawal.
• What if I have additional questions about the process?
  The most efficient way to have your questions answered is to attend an Exceptional Withdrawal Information Session. You are also welcome to email the Dean of Students Office at deanofstudents@unf.edu.

Submitting Your Application

• What documents are required for an Exceptional Withdrawal?

  Students must submit all required documentation with their Exceptional Withdrawal petition, which includes:

  • Application
  • Documentation from an official source (medical provider, Victim Advocate, death certificate, etc.)

  All documentation must be submitted before the 150-day deadline.

• What should be included in my official documentation?
  • ALL documentation should include the following elements:
    • Typed on letterhead
    • Dated
    • Bear the signature of the evaluator
    • The name, title, contact information, and professional credentials of the evaluator
  • Other documentation could include:
    • Death certificate
    • Obituary
    • Funeral bulletin
    • Statement from Victim Advocate
  • Documentation should follow these guidelines when writing their letter for a student’s Exceptional Withdrawal petition: Guidance for Documentation Letter
• Is there a deadline to submit an Exceptional Withdrawal petition?
  Yes:

  • Requests must be submitted within 150 days from the last day of the affected term
  • Exceptional Withdrawal petitions submitted after 150 days from the last day of the affected term will not be considered.
  • Exceptional Withdrawal petitions that are incomplete (lacking all required documents) upon the close of the 150-day deadline will be closed without Committee consideration.

Application Review

• How long does it take to have my Exceptional Withdrawal reviewed?
  The Exceptional Withdrawal petition must be reviewed by an ¿ìÉ«ÊÓƵ representative and an Academic & Student Affairs representative. Anticipate the review process to take eight to ten weeks once all materials have been submitted and your case manager has notified you the documentation has been sent to the Committee. However, during high peak times, this process can take longer.
• Will I receive updates throughout the Exceptional Withdrawal process?
  We provide the following updates to your ¿ìÉ«ÊÓƵ email regarding your petition:

  • Acknowledgement we have received the application or some form of documentation
  • Outreach letter about outstanding items needed
  • Confirmation your documentation has been reviewed and sent to the Committee
  • Your decision letter

  Due to the high volume of petitions, we cannot send additional status updates, especially once you are notified that your petition is under Committee review.
• What happens if my petition is approved?

  If your application is approved, you will be notified via ¿ìÉ«ÊÓƵ email. The approval is automatically forwarded to the following areas:

  • University Registrar - who will update your academic record accordingly
  • University Controller’s Office - who will process any applicable tuition reimbursement
  • Financial Aid - who will adjust awards accordingly

  Please note, the above Offices function independently from the Dean of Students Office. If you questions or concerns about the timeline and completion of the above processes, please reach out to those Offices directly.

• Will I be reimbursed for the course(s) for which I am requesting an Exceptional Withdrawal?

  You are encouraged to speak with a representative from Student Financial Services and One-Stop for more detailed information about a reimbursement specific to your financial status.

  Please review the Withdrawals and Financial Aid. Exceptional Withdrawals are not exempt from the University's responsibility to Return Title IV Funds.

• What happens if my petition is denied?
  If your petition is denied, you will receive a letter to your ¿ìÉ«ÊÓƵ email with comments from the Committee explaining why the petition was denied. Common denial reasons include lack of supporting documentation, outdated documentation, or repeated petition for consecutive semesters for a similar situation.
• Is there an appeal process for denied petitions?
  Students denied an Exceptional Withdrawal have one (1) appeal opportunity. To appeal, the student must submit the following:

  • Appeal Request Form, submitted within five (5) class days of the date the denial letter is sent
  • New, written documentation about the Exceptional Withdrawal situation

  Please note: The information should not simply repeat what was already submitted previously during the initial Exceptional Withdrawal petition. New documentation must be written by a licensed mental health/medical professional or other professional/person of authority.

Post Exceptional Withdrawal Process

• How do I get my hold associated with my Exceptional Withdrawal released?
  If approved for an Exceptional Withdrawal, a hold will be placed on your myWings account. To release your hold, please follow all instructions that are sent to your ¿ìÉ«ÊÓƵ email after your approval letter has been sent. You will need to complete the following:

  • Submit a Post Exceptional Withdrawal Provider Form
  • Complete the 
  • Complete the Post Exceptional Withdrawal Statement of Understanding

  In many circumstances, a Post Exceptional Withdrawal Meeting may also be required after successful completion of the previous steps.