In alignment with Nebraska's N2025 goals to increase undergraduate retention and degree completion, the Academic Navigator program serves undergraduate scholars who may be experiencing barriers.
Academic Navigators are housed in all of Nebraska's undergraduate colleges, as well as the Explore Center. Working alongside academic advisors and other student support staff, the Academic Navigators assist students to achieve academic, personal and career goals.
No matter how complex scholars' situations, Academic Navigators can help connect them to appropriate resources and identify plans for success.
Student Referrals
To refer a student to the Academic Navigator team, please complete the referral form.
Referral Form.Ecology of Validation Framework
The Ecological Validation Model of Student Success recognizes that students experience the university through a network of interconnected people, offices and systems. Rather than expecting students to navigate those systems on their own, the model centers the student within that network and emphasizes creating validating experiences that recognize students’ strengths, experiences and capabilities while supporting both their academic success and personal well-being.
Academic Navigators put this framework into practice through proactive outreach, individualized support and coordination across campus. ANs help students identify what is getting in the way of their success, connect them directly with the appropriate people and resources, and follow up rather than simply making a referral. In doing so, ANs help bring the university’s systems around the student instead of placing the burden on the student to figure out how to move between them. Because ANs work across academic, financial and personal concerns, they can also identify recurring barriers or confusing processes and share that student feedback with campus partners to improve communication and support systems.