Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025

Registration Appeals

You may find yourself in need of filing a registration appeal in the following cases:

  • You need to drop or withdraw from a course after the deadline.
  • You’re requesting an adjustment to the tuition and fees charged to you despite your withdrawal from a course.

Appeal Process and Submission

  • Complete the Registration Appeal form and submit all required documentation. Failure to submit documentation may result in your appeal being denied. The documentation should include the description of the circumstances and reasons for the appeal. 
    • Attachment of documentation is required for form submission. If you are only submitting a personal statement, type in the Personal Statement section type "See Attached" and attach your personal statement (Word or PDF). 
  • If you received financial aid, indicate that on the appeal form so it is routed to financial aid for approval. 
  • Submit the form. Since the form is an electronic form, you will receive notification that the form has been submitted to the Office of the Registrar. Once a decision has been made, you will receive an email letting you know that decision.

Course Drop/Withdrawal Appeal During Current Semester

The course drop and withdrawal deadlines are strictly enforced. Any request for an exception to these deadlines must be submitted using the Registration Appeal Form. This appeal applies only to current semester registrations and must be filed in the Office of the Registrar prior to the end of the current semester.

  • Course drop/withdrawal appeals will only be considered when there were extenuating circumstances beyond the student's control that kept the student from adhering to the normal deadlines. These extenuating circumstances could include medical conditions, death or illness in the family, unanticipated financial problems or University errors.
  • Factors not accepted for a course drop/withdrawal appeal include, but are not limited to, such things as poor academic performance in a class, time management related situations or lack of adherence to/awareness of University policy and deadlines.
  • If the student received financial aid, the student must indicate so on the form in order to have the appeal form routed to Financial Aid prior to submitting to the Office of the Registrar. Please visit www.unco.edu/financial-aid/applying-for-aid/current-student.aspx for more information.
  • Submission of the student's request does not guarantee any type of refund.
  • All petitions must be in writing and signed by the student, legal guardian, power of attorney, or executor (in case of death). Documentation may be required if the petition is from someone other than the student.
  • The student should include a written statement describing the circumstances and reasons for the appeal and any required documentation.

Non-Attendee Retroactive Withdrawal Appeal

A non-attendee retroactive withdrawal appeal is permitted if the student registered for courses at UNC, never attended the institution, and did not notify the institution to be removed from courses.

The Registrar will determine, in consultation with faculty members, the Dean of Students and others as appropriate, if the retroactive withdrawal should be granted. If the student's appeal is submitted more than 90 days after the end of the course(s), University Leadership approval will be required in addition to the Registrar.

If granted, the courses will remain on the student's transcript with a grade of "UW", which does not impact the student's GPA, and tuition and fees will be adjusted if applicable. Certain charges related to the student's registration such as student insurance, fines, permits and/or emergency cash advances will be charged at 100%.

If the appeal is denied, the student will be charged 100% of tuition and fees, as well as certain charges related to the student's registration such as student insurance, fines, permits, and/or emergency cash advances.

All petitions must be in writing and signed by the student, legal guardian, power of attorney, or executor (in case of death). Documentation may be required if the petition is from someone other than the student.

The student should include a written statement describing the circumstances and reasons for the appeal and any required documentation.

Retroactive Withdrawal Appeal

A retroactive withdrawal appeal may be necessary when a student experienced extenuating circumstances, or an incident of such trauma and major proportions, that a student could not have reasonably been expected to possess the normal capabilities necessary to complete the academic period satisfactorily or complete a University withdrawal.

If granted, the courses will remain on the student's transcript with a grade of "W", which does not impact the student's GPA, and tuition and fees will be adjusted if applicable. Certain charges related to the student's registration such as student insurance, fines, permits and/or emergency cash advances will be charged at 100%.

If the appeal is denied, the student will be charged 100% of tuition and fees, as well as certain charges related to the student's registration such as student insurance, fines, permits, and/or emergency cash advances.

Factors not accepted for a retroactive withdrawal appeal could include, but are not limited to, such things as poor academic performance in a class, time management related situations, or lack of adherence to/awareness of University policy or deadlines. Partial course withdrawals will not be considered, only complete schedule withdrawals.

The Registrar will determine, in consultation with faculty members, the Dean of Students and others as appropriate, if the retroactive withdrawal should be granted. If an appeal is submitted more than 90 days after the end of the course(s), University Leadership approval will be required in addition to the Registrar.

All petitions must be in writing and signed by the student, legal guardian, power of attorney, or executor (in case of death). Documentation may be required if the petition is from someone other than the student.

A student should include a written statement describing the circumstances and reasons for the appeal and any required documentation.

Tuition Appeal

A tuition appeal is necessary when a student is requesting an adjustment to the tuition and fees that were charged as a result of a complete University withdrawal.

  • Tuition appeals will only be considered when there were extenuating circumstances that were beyond the student’s control that necessitated a University withdrawal. These circumstances could include medical conditions, death or illness in the family, unanticipated financial problems, or university errors.
  • Factors not accepted for a tuition appeal include, but are not limited to, such things as poor academic performance in a class, time management related situations, or lack of adherence to/awareness of University policy or deadlines.
  • All petitions must be in writing and signed by the student, legal guardian, power of attorney, or executor (in case of death). Documentation may be required if the petition is from someone other than the student.
  • The student should include a written statement describing the circumstances and reasons for the appeal and any required documentation.
  • Upon receipt of the tuition appeal, an appeals committee will convene to determine whether or not to approve the request. A member of the appeals committee will contact the student via the student’s BearMail with the decision. The committee’s decision is final.