*The withdraw deadline for Fall 2009 has been extended to November 9. The 2nd block withdraw deadline has been extended to November 20. Students who need to take advantage of this extension may withdraw online through MyMAP.

Who Can Petition?

The Petitions Office was established to assist students who encounter nonacademic emergencies, or situations beyond their control, that can potentially affect their educational record.

If these circumstances occurred after appropriate university deadlines, students have the option of petitioning within one year of the semester or term in question for exception to university policy. Students may petition after one year, but they are still required to obtain the necessary supporting information from the instructor, physician, employer, etc., to accompany the request.

Students may file petitions to withdraw during a current semester up to the discontinuance deadline. Students who have non-academic emergencies after the discontinuance deadline should discuss with the instructor the possibility of an Incomplete.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

If your request for exception is not regarding your academic record, or you were admitted through Evening School, contact the appropriate office for information on petitioning.

Evening Classes 122 Harman Continuing Education Building (HCEB) (801) 422-2872 Fax: 801-422-0729 evening_classes@byu.edu	Academic Support 2500 WSC (801) 422-2723 Click here to read about academic support petitions
Financial Aid D-155 ASB (801) 422-4104 Fax: (801) 422-0234 Click here to read about financial aid petitions	Scholarships D-155 ASB (801) 422-4104 scholarships@byu.edu Click here to read about scholarships petitions

 

How to Petition

1. Pick up the necessary forms at the Petitions Office, B-150 ASB, or print them from this site.
   
   
2. Using only blue or black ink, fill out the form(s) with all the required information. Incomplete petitions will not be submitted for review. We require both you and your instructor(s) to submit comments for consideration. If the petition is for medical, clinical or employment reasons, a letter from a doctor, therapist or employer is required (see explanation of forms).
   
   
3. In order for your petition to be considered, your statement must demonstrate there are/were non-academic extenuating circumstances beyond your control which prevented you from complying with published dates and deadlines. These may include but are not limited to: serious injury or illness, death in the immediate family, etc.
     Guidelines:
   1. Less than desirable academic performance, changing your major, graduation, and potential loss or gain of financial aid, scholarship, etc., are not acceptable reasons for exception to university deadlines and policies.
   2. The statement should include only relevant information regarding the circumstances of the situation requiring exception to university policy.
   3. The information regarding your circumstances must be included in your written statement, as no verbal information given to the Petitions Office can be considered in the reviewing process. It is critical that this statement be well thought out and well-written. You should neatly hand-write or type your statement on the form.
   4. If additional space is needed, you may attach pages to the form; however, successful statements are typically no more than two pages long.
      
      
4. You are advised to make copies for your own personal record as you will be charged $.50 per page if you request copies from the Petitions Office at a later date.
   
   
5. If your petition is approved, the $10 add/withdraw fee per class will be charged to your student account.

 

Which Forms are Needed?

The General Petition Form (2 pages)
The first page is the form you, the student, must fill out completely and sign before submitting to our office. You should provide a detailed statement explaining the reason for your request for an exception to university policy (see Guidelines above).

The second page of this form is the Instructor's Verification Form. Please fill out the top portion of this form (one for each class you are petitioning), and have your instructor(s) provide information regarding your attendance and participation in his/her course. If you are unable to have the instructor sign this form, he or she may e-mail the app ropriate information directly to our office (petitions@byu.edu) from his or her BYU e-mail account. Petitions for Incompletes or challenge exams will not need to include the Instructor’s Verification Form.

If your request is based on medical/clinical reasons:

The Medical/Clinical Verification Form is to be filled out by your physician(s) and/or counselor(s). Please fill out and sign the top portion of this form so your medical records can be released to our office. If your physician or counselor has their own form, or would like to write a statement on your behalf, they are welcome to do so, in lieu of filling out our form. However, the information requested on our form should be included in the physician’s statement.

If your petition is based on employment reasons:

The Employer’s Verification Form is for your employer to verify your work schedule, especially noting any changes in hours that may have occurred during the course of the semester/term. Please be sure to fill out and sign the top portion of the form so your employer can release your information to our office.

If you are an international student:

The International Student Clearance Form must be filled out by international students who will drop below full-time status if their petition is approved.

If you’d like to resubmit your petition after a decision is made:

The Resubmission Form is to be filled out if you have additional information or documentation that was not submitted with your original petition that you think may change the result of your petition.

If you would like to allow other individuals access to information regarding your petitions:

The Release of Records Form must be filled out if you would like to allow other individuals (parents, spouse, sibling, etc.) access to information regarding your petition. If this form is not filled out, we will not be able to communicate any information to anyone but you, the student.

If you would like to petition to have a degree posted late, petition to make changes to a posted degree, or petition for residency:

The Graduation/Residency Hour Petition Form must be filled out if you would like to have a degree posted late or if you would like to make changes to a posted degree. Also use this form to petition for residency. Fill out the form completely and attach any supporting documentation. If you would like to petition to apply late for graduation, contact your College Advisement Center.

 

How Decisions are Made

Petitions are reviewed within three to five days of being submitted in their entirety. Students will be notified of the decision through a letter mailed to the address given by the student on his or her petition form.

Decisions on petitions are based on the following guiding principles:

• All academic work undertaken should be accurately reflected on the student academic record. The record should represent the actual experience and accurately reflect historical facts. Cosmetic adjustments or corrections are not sanctioned.


• All classes should show official enrollment by the 10th class day of a semester (or 6th of a term).


• All enrollments become official after the 10th day of a semester (6th day of a term). Students who withdraw between the 10th and the 25th class day (6th to 13th of a term) will be officially withdrawn. This shows as a "W" on their record. A "W" is an official withdrawal. It is not a negative mark, and does not affect your GPA. Students who withdraw after the drop deadline (25th class day) must withdraw passing or failing. Withdraw "pass" shows as a "W"; withdraw "fail" shows as "WE." While the "W" is not a grade calculated in the BYU GPA, the "WE" is calculated as a failing grade. A university error would be the only consideration to delete a class from the academic record without showing the official withdraw.


• The responsibility for complying with deadlines specified in the academic calendar belongs to the student.


• The responsibility for complying with policies and procedures outlined in the university catalog and class schedule belongs to the student.


• Employment reasons for withdrawing after the drop deadline are not usually considered non-academic emergencies.


• The decision made by the Student Academic Record Review Committee will be based on the non-academic circumstances that are involved in the petition. Consequences the student may face, either real or perceived, are not usually reasons for an exception.