Term Withdrawal & Tuition Reimbursement Petition
Experienced an unexpected, nonacademic circumstance that kept you from finishing a term? If you missed the posted withdrawal or refund deadlines, you can ask the university for an exception to policy.
Review and processing time begins once a complete petition is received. Because processing may involve multiple departments, you may see changes to your enrollment before corresponding updates are reflected in your financial aid or account balance.
Deadline to submit, from the last day of the petitioned term
Signed form + personal statement + supporting documentation
Start Here: Do You Need a Petition?
Before the withdrawal deadline
No petition needed. To officially withdraw, drop your courses yourself in LOUIE. No personal statement or documentation is required.
New student not attending NAU
If you are newly admitted, and your term has not started, and decided not to attend, do not use this petition.
After the deadline
Use this petition to request an exception to policy for withdrawal and/or tuition reimbursement after the published dates and deadlines.
How to Submit a Petition
Choose the right form
Mountain Campus and Online students:
Term Withdrawal and Reimbursement Petition
Personalized Learning students:
PL Withdrawal and/or Change of Withdrawal Date Petition
Mark what you are requesting
An approved withdrawal affects your grades. An approved reimbursement affects your finances. If you want both, check both boxes on the form.
Select your reason and gather documentation
Choose one reason (Medical, Personal, Non-Attendance, or NAU Error) and complete its checklist. See documentation requirements below.
Write your personal statement
Explain the circumstances, give a timeline of events, describe how they affected your ability to complete the term, and list the steps you took at the time (including who you contacted).
Sign and submit everything together
Your form must have a physical (not digital) signature or be sent from your NAU email account. Email the form, statement, and documentation to enrollmentpetitions@nau.edu.
Documentation Requirements by Reason
Select your reason to see exactly what to include. Petitions missing required documentation will be denied.
1. Medical Issue
Qualifies: a physical or psychological medical difficulty for you or a family member.
Required: a signed, dated letter on official letterhead from the attending health care provider, counselor, or licensed practitioner that states:
- The date the illness or accident began
- The dates of professional care
- The general nature of the condition
- How it prevented completion of coursework and normal university procedures
2. Personal Issue
Qualifies: a legal issue (not involving illegal activity by you), an accident, a forced layoff, military deployment, or the death of a family member.
Required: a signed, dated letter on official letterhead from an appropriate official (such as an attorney, law enforcement agent, or court official) that states:
- The date of the incident
- The dates you or your family member were affected
- The general nature of the incident
- How it prevented completion of coursework and normal university procedures
Death of a family member: state your relationship in your personal statement and include a death certificate, obituary, or memorial program showing the date of death within the term. If the death occurred outside the term, the official letter above is also required.
3. Non-Attendance (zero participation)
Qualifies: you never logged in, never attended a single class, and never participated in any way (no assignments, quizzes, etc.).
Required: for each class, an email or memo on NAU letterhead from the instructor listing the class, term, your name, and a statement that you never attended.
4. NAU Error
Qualifies: a university processing error, delay, or miscommunication.
Required: an email or memo on letterhead from the person or department responsible for the error.
Not sufficient documentation & situations that do not qualify
Not accepted as documentation on their own: police reports, divorce decrees, legal paperwork, file notes, medical receipts, or copies of prescriptions.
These situations generally do not merit an exception:
- Financial issues, including late financial aid disbursement
- Academic difficulty or wanting to clean up your record
- A change in major or career goals
- Being overcommitted (course load, activities, work) without other circumstances beyond your control
What Happens After You Submit
Review process and timeline
Once all required components are received, the Term Withdrawal and Tuition Reimbursement Committee reviews your petition. Reimbursement requests receive an additional review by university administrators. Typical processing time is 4–6 weeks. Because processing may involve multiple departments, you may see changes to your enrollment before corresponding updates are reflected in your financial aid or account balance.The decision will be sent to your NAU email.
The Vice Provost of Academic Operations oversees this process. Petitions are evaluated based on university policy, federal financial aid regulations, and NAU’s academic and financial integrity standards.
How an approved withdrawal affects your transcript
Course grades are replaced with a “W.” If you never attended or were enrolled in error, your enrollment will be removed from your transcript entirely.
Financial aid and tuition reimbursement
Federal regulations determine how aid is returned when you withdraw. Your last date of academic attendance determines how much aid must be returned.
After you complete 50% or more of the term or session, tuition is no longer refundable because services are considered rendered. Participation is based on documented academic engagement.
Questions about aid or reimbursement amounts? Contact Scholarships & Financial Aid and Student and Departmental Account Services.
Frequently Asked Questions
I already withdrew. Can I still request a reimbursement?
Yes. Complete the petition form, check the reimbursement box and your reason, and submit it with your personal statement and documentation.
Can I request a late withdrawal and a reimbursement at the same time?
Yes. Check both boxes on the form and submit one complete petition.
I live on the Mountain Campus. Is there anything else I should do?
If you have a housing or meal plan contract, contact Residence Life and/or Campus Dining to let them know you are leaving. Also contact Student and Departmental Account Services to check for any outstanding charges.
What if I am past the two-year deadline?
Late petitions are only eligible if a documented university error prevented you from submitting on time.