Petition for Exception
Graduate students may petition to be excepted from certain procedures, rules, policies, and requirements within the purview of the Graduate School. Students discuss the need for the Petition with their academic advisor prior to submitting the request to the Graduate School. Students may not file a petition for exception when they are actively engaged in the academic appeals process. The petition must include the specific policy or guideline from which the student desires to be excepted, a clear rationale for the exception, and a description of how the exception, if granted, would enhance the academic program, allow the continuation of a productive academic program, allow recovery from lost opportunity due to health or traumatic events or allow the student to profit from unique educational opportunities impeded by Graduate School regulations. Requests for an extension of program time limit, must document the specific academic and degree requirements to be completed and provide a detailed timeline for each task to be completed. Students are permitted to modify their petition timeline one time by communicating the rationale for the modification to the Graduate School. The Graduate Dean or Associate Dean must approve the modification. If a student misses a deadline for a requirement listed on the timeline, the Graduate School will close the student's program. Similarly, students submitting an application to be readmitted to their degree program following program deactivation (e.g. failure to continuously enroll for 3 consecutive semesters) must indicate the degree requirements to be completed and a specific timeline for completion. If the student misses a deadline for a requirement, the Graduate School will close the student's program. One timeline modification is allowed and must be communicated to and approved by the Graduate School. Signatures of the program advisor and school director or department chair are required on this form prior to submitting the request to the Graduate School. Faculty signatures indicate approval of and support for the request. Petitions submitted without the required signatures will be returned to the student. The Graduate Student Petition for Exception form is available on the Graduate School website.