Emergency & Life Supports

When life events and academics collide, resources in the college and at UT are here to help you.

Quick Links

  • Behavior Concerns Advice Line (BCAL) – Worried about a student in class, bothered that your roommate has been acting differently or concerned about the behavior of a co-worker? When you have concerns but are not sure what to do, contact BCAL.
  • Non-Academic Coordinator support – When challenges arise, these coordinators can help.
  • Student Emergency Fund – Provides limited emergency financial support to currently enrolled students who are unable to meet essential expenses due to a temporary or unexpected hardship.
  • Student Emergency Services – Helps students and their families during difficult or emergency situations. Assistance includes outreach, advocacy, intervention, support and referrals to relevant campus and community resources.

Non-Academic Coordinators

These counselors can be helpful when life situations occur that begin to impact your academics. Examples of these situations include emergency personal or family situations, personal or family illness, a sudden financial crisis, a death, an accident or housing issue, or any other situation that is impacting you or your course load. 

CNS Non-Academic Coordinators can be contacted via email or appointment:

Lindsay Krog lindsay.krog@austin.utexas.edu Lindsay Book Here
Deanna Tilley deanna.tilley@austin.utexas.edu Deanna Book Here
    Services Offered by Non-Academic Coordinators:
    • Information, referrals and resources
    • Consultation on options regarding Non-Academic Q-Drops or Non-Academic Withdrawals
    • Notifications to instructors for absences related to emergencies
    • Signatures for Medical Course Load Reductions/Withdrawal Applications for submission to Disability and Access. 

    Students are required to meet with a CNS Non-Academic Coordinator for Non-Academic Drops, Withdrawals, Medical Course Load Reduction and Medical Withdrawals.

    Students are encouraged to make an appointment with a Non-Academic Coordinator as soon as possible to allow time for signatures and collection of documentation needed for the appeal. (Please schedule one appointment! Be courteous to your peers who also need assistance.)

    Non-Academic Drops

     

    The University deadline date for Q-Drops this Spring semester is 03/21/2023 at 11:59PM.

    Please do not wait until the last day to attempt a non-academic Q-drop.

    Students may be eligible for a Non-Academic Q-Drop through the CNS Dean's Office by the deadline date. Non-Academic reasons include medical and mental health, along with other life challenges, such as deaths, legal, financial duress, etc. Official documentation is required for all Non-Academic Q-Drops.

    Students are required to meet with a CNS Non-Academic Coordinator to determine eligibility by the March 21, 2023 deadline.

    Non-Academic Q-Drops do not count against the 6 drop limit; and Q-Drops done as Non-Academic may be helpful to the student in case there is a need to petition for a third time repeat of a course.

    Withdrawals 

    Our CNS Non-Academic Coordinators can assist with the following types of Wtihdrawals:

    1. Non-Academic Withdrawal through the CNS Dean's Office

    2. Signature for a Medical Withdrawal through Disabilities & Access

    3. Withdrawing by the deadline date below OR Using the OTE (One Time Exception) to Withdraw after the deadline date below

     

    The deadline to request a Non-Academic Withdrawal through the CNS Dean's Office is March 21, 2023 at 11:59 pm.

    Please do not wait until the last day to request a withdrawal.

    Non-Academic Withdrawals require official documentation to be considered and/or processed. These types of official documentation may include but are not limited to: Health Care Provider Letters, Medical Documentation of hospitalization or treatment, Police Reports, Death Certificates, and other documentation of similar stature.

    Students are required to meet with a CNS Non-Academic Coordinator before the Withdrawal can be processed.

    International students, please see the Medical Withdrawal section for more information. 

    Medical Course Load Reduction

     

    The deadline to submit the application to Disability and Access (D&A) for a Medical Course Load Reduction for Spring 2023 is March 21, 11:59 PM

    If you would like to withdraw from all courses click here to submit a withdrawal request. 

    Students are required to meet with a Non-Academic Coordinator to obtain a signature for the Course Load Reduction or a Medical Withdrawal through D&A. 

    • International students seeking to drop below 12 hours are usually required to apply for a Medical Course Load Reduction. (Contact ISSS for questions regarding this).  The deadline date for International students to apply for a Medical Course Load reduction is the last day of class (April 24th, 2023 at 11:59 PM).

    Medical Course Load Reduction (Medical Q-Drops) do not count against the 6 drop limit; and Q-Drops done as Non-Academic may be helpful to the student in case there is a need to petition for a third time repeat of a course.

    The Late Medical Course Load Reduction

    This may be possible between the dates of 10/28th – 11/22nd.**  The deadline date for a Late Medical Course Load Reduction is Friday, November 18**. (requires additional late/appeal documentation) 

    To check for eligibilty, please reference the D&A website here. 

    Medical Withdrawals

     

    The deadline to submit the application to D&A for a Medical Withdrawal for Spring 2023 is April 24th at 5 PM (CST). Medical withdrawal applications are accepted from March 22 through April 24th.

    Students are required to have an appointment with a Non-Academic Coordinator at the beginning of the application process. 

    International students are usually limited to Medical Withdrawals. Please see the instructions, and contact International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) with Texas Global with questions.

    • Medical Withdrawal applications are accepted all semester until last day of class, Monday April 24, 2023.

    Beginning March 22, 2023 you may schedule an appointment with a Non-Academic Coordinator to begin the process of Medical Withdrawal through Disability & Access. 

    Key Resources

    CMHC (mental health)

    Health Services

    UT Outpost (food)

    Voices Against Violence 

    Student Emergency Fund

    The College of Natural Sciences Student Emergency Fund was created to support our students with various emergencies. We understand financial help cannot fix all of the unique issues that a student may be facing, but we hope these fund can help students get back on a path of success. 

    Funds may be awarded up to a cap of $500, depending on the nature of the emergency, and are granted at the discretion of the Dean’s Office. These funds DO NOT have to be repaid.

    If you need help with financial expenses exceeding this amount, or if you need help with other non-academic needs, please contact one our non-academic counselors to discuss all of your options. 

    • Expense Types

      Typical expenses that may be covered include, but are not limited to:

      • Medications/Prescriptions or costs related to medical care
      • Academic related needs (i.e. technology, textbooks, course materials)
      • Safety related needs (i.e. changing a lock on a vehicle or home)
      • Replacement of personal belongings due to fire or natural disaster
      • Essential expenses because of a hardship related to an emergency situation (i.e. rent, utilities, food)
    • Eligibility Requirements

      • Applicants must be students in the College of Natural Sciences.
      • Applicants must have a temporary financial hardship resulting from an emergency situation as outlined above.
      • Applicants must be able to provide sufficient documentation that they have applied for support from the University's Student Emergency Services . If you have not applied for SES funding, please submit that request BEFORE requesting College of Natural Sciences funding. Students who are denied funding from SES may still be eligible for the College of Natural Sciences Emergency Fund.
      • Applicants are eligible for College of Natural Sciences funds one time per academic year. 

      Once we confirm that your application is complete and accurate, we will respond as soon as possible. 

      NOTE: College of Natural Sciences emergency funding may impact previously awarded aid, and is coordinated with the Student Emergency Services program and the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. You may be contacted for additional information in connection with this application.

    • Application

      Please complete the application 

      This applications will request supporting documentation and information regarding prior applications with Student Emergency Services and pertaining to your current need. 

    • Other Resources

      If you or your parents have experienced a recent reduction in income or financial resources due to extenuating circumstances and you have already completed the FAFSA, please complete the  income reduction appeal for the appropriate academic year via DocuSign to receive more comprehensive aid than this emergency fund is able to offer.  The income reduction appeal (formerly known as the special circumstances appeal) allows UT Austin to assess your financial aid and make any adjustments to your financial aid package given your current situation. You may request a PDF via email to onestop@utexas.edu, but please note that PDF processing times may be delayed.

      If you need technology support, please also complete the Cost of Attendance Appeal Form. The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid can recalculate your total cost of attendace for the year including your technology needs, and may be able to offer grant or loan funding to support your needs.