The process for petitioning the Committee for a waiver of the policies delineated in the Catalog is as follows:
- Discuss your situation with your advisor and the Chair of your Department.
- If your petition is to add a course after the deadline or permission to take a tutorial, make sure to also discuss with the instructor for that course or tutorial.
- Ask your advisor to send a letter directly to ACPOL, describing whether they support your petition.
- Ask your Department or Program Chair to send a letter directly to ACPOL, indicating they know that the petition is being made (any commentary about support of the petition is at the discretion of the Chair). If your advisor is also your Chair, only one letter is required.
- If your petition is to add a course after the deadline or permission to take a tutorial, also ask the instructor to send a letter directly to ACPOL, describing whether they support your petition.
- Prepare and submit a letter of petition to the ACPOL (see sample below). Only when ACPOL receives all of your letters will the Committee review the request.
- The Committee typically meets the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Tuesday of the month. Petitions and letters must be submitted by 12:00PM on the Friday prior to when the Committee meets for it to be considered; otherwise it may not be considered until the following meeting.
- Once your petition and all letters are received, and the Committee has reviewed your petition, you will receive a response via your campus email. If you have not received a response within three weeks, please reach out to the chair(s) of ACPOL regarding your petition.
- The Committee may consider petitions only intermittently during the summer and winter terms, depending on contractual requirements.
Preparing and Sending Letters
Students should use the model letter (see below) and submit the letter online. Please ensure you have all information needed when submitting your petition, as all information is required, otherwise your petition will not submit.
Submit a Petition
Committee Consideration of Petition
The ACPOL will consider rationale for requests to waive requirements according to the following criteria:
- That the request is based upon action taken by the College or one of its representatives, such as having a required class cancelled or removed from the curriculum, or an advisor error that is explained in the letter by the petitioner's advisor;
- That the request is based on some action by an agency outside the College, such as the State or Federal government if a student is deployed by the military or National Guard;
- That the request is based upon need (such as when a course is needed to complete requirements) rather than optional choice (such as when a choice is an elective);
- That the request is for a personal convenience or circumstance.
Decision
A letter indicating the ACPOL's decision will be sent to your campus e-mail address, with a copy sent to the advisor and Dept Chair. Regularly check your mail for the letter; letters returned because e-mail boxes are too full will not be resent.
SAMPLE LETTER
Student name
Student campus box or home address
Student reachable phone number
Student e-mail address
Academic Policies and Standards Committee (ACPOL) Campus Mail Date
Dear Members of the Academic Policies and Standards Committee (ACPOL),
Introduce yourself by name, provide your academic status, major, advisor, and GPA.
I respectfully request ACPOL grant me an exception for: Describe the exception you to the College rule/regulation.
My reason for this request: Provide the rationale for your request, focusing on the circumstances that have led you to petition the Committee for a waiver to the College graduation policies.
Thank the Committee in advance for its consideration of the request.
Signature