This petition process exists for students who seek an exception to stated university-wide academic policies, procedures, and/or regulations in cases where extenuating circumstances are evident and can be substantiated. Students will not be provided an opportunity to meet in person with the Dean. Therefore, it is important the appeal include all necessary information. Incomplete petitions will be denied.
NOTE: A seperate procedure exists if student needs to appeal charges on their student bill for a particular semester. More information can be found here: https://studentbilling.ucmerced.edu/student-fee-appeals.
Process:
- Review all the information found on this Petition of Academic Policy page and determine what you are petitioning.
- Contact your academic advisor for guidance on the next steps.Your advisors will provide you with the link to the electronic petition process. You can find who your academic advisor is here.
- Submit your Petition of Academic Policy along with supporting documentation as needed.The petition will be reviewed by the appropriate deciding body and you will be notified via email if your petition is either approved or denied.
- Approvals will be routed to the Office of the Registrar for student record updates.
Extenuating Circumstances
Extenuating circumstances beyond a student's control could include, but are not limited to the list below. Experiencing and documenting an extenuating circumstance is not automatic cause for petition approval.
- Documented death of an immediate family member (spouse, mother, father, guardian, sister, brother, son, or daughter)
- Documented major medical issue experienced by the student or immediate family member (designated above)
- Documented domestic violence
- Documented involuntary call to active military duty
- Documented other extreme circumstances (case by case basis)
The following circumstances are not considered extenuating and beyond the student's control:
- Not knowing the deadline or procedure
- Work conflicts
- Voluntary overtime
- Not needing or wanting a class, not doing well in a class, not knowing you were enrolled in a class
- Having too heavy of a course load
- Wishing to improve your GPA
Documentation
Your inability to provide supportive documentation may result in your appeal being denied. Please submit date-specific supportive documentation. Do not submit original documents as they will not be returned. Documentation could include, but is not limited to:
- Medical documentation, which could include a letter from a physician or counselor on letterhead indicating the dates you were under care
- Copy of a death certificate or obituary
- Accident reports, policy records, court records
- Statements from each individual instructor for every course change being petitioned. Such statements should include confirmation of attendance, the start and/or end dates of your participation in the course, and any other information as applicable to the situation you are petitioning. Statements are strongly recommended if you are requesting a course add, drop, or withdraw. Petitions submitted without this documentation will likely be denied.
- A graduation plan outlining how you plan to finish your degree requirements
- A statement from your academic advisor or campus authority involved in your situation
- Any other documentation that will support the reason your request should be considered
Your Petition of Academic Policy must include the following:
- What policy you are requesting an exception for and reason for your request.
- Documentation of the extenuating circumstances that led to your request.
Students will not be provided an opportunity to meet in person with the committee. Therefore, it is important the appeal include all necessary information. Unexplained or excessive delay between discovering the necessity of filing this petition and submitting it may be grounds for denial.
| Policy | Deciding Body |
| Add (after third week) | Instructor and (School or Graduate Dean) |
| Dropping (after third week) | Instructor and (School or Graduate Dean) |
| Course Withdraw (after tenth week) | Instructor and (School or Graduate Dean) |
| Part-Time Status (after third week) | Obtain School or Graduate Dean approval on form, then email sbs@ucmerced.edu |
| Complete Withdraw from University (after semester ends) | School or Graduate Dean |
| Grade Mode Option (after second week) | School or Graduate Dean |
| Change to Curriculum (degree, major, concentration, minor) after 90 units | School Dean |
| Normal Progress (beyond nine semesters) | School Dean |
| Course Repetition | School, Graduate Dean, or Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Education |
| Course Substitutions | School or Graduate Dean |
| Catalog Year | School Dean |
| Residency Requirement | School Dean |
| Educational Leave Program (after semester ends) | School Dean |
| General Education Requirements and Policy | General Education Executive Committee |
| Credit Toward Degree Requirement | Undergraduate or Graduate Council |
| Minimum GPA for Graduation | Undergraduate or Graduate Council |
| P/NP 1/3 Unit Requirement | Undergraduate Council |
| American History and Institutions (AHI) | Undergraduate Council |
| 120 Minimum Unit Requirement | Undergraduate Council |
