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Follow the instructions below to submit an e-Petition for an exception to policy or procedure:
All petitions require, at a minimum, a letter of position from a faculty adviser, deputy chair, or chair regarding the petition.
All petitions require some form of supporting documentation. Review common types of petitions below, and the required supporting documentation for each type. It’s worthwhile to review this list before submitting your petition. If none of these represent what you are asking for, select “Uncategorized Petition.”
If you are going to ask permission to add a course after the add deadline, it is imperative that you have a letter of position from the professor of the course you wish to add, cosigned by the deputy chair or chair of the respective academic department or interdisciplinary program, stating whether or not they support your request. Moreover, you will be asked to explain the extenuating circumstances and/or academic justification for such a request.
Grades are a measure of student achievement toward fulfillment of course objectives. The responsibility for assessing student achievement and assigning grades rests with the faculty, and, except for unusual circumstances, the course grade given is final. The grade appeals system affords recourse to a student who has evidence or believes that evidence exists to show that an inappropriate grade has been assigned as a result of prejudice, caprice, or other improper conditions such as mechanical error, or assignment of a grade inconsistent with those assigned other students.
This type of petition can only be submitted after you have appealed directly to your professor, and the respective departmental grade appeal committee. For this type of petition to be considered, you will have to attach a letter of position from your professor, and/or the departmental grade appeal committee.
If you are going to ask permission to change a WN grade after the add deadline, it is imperative that you have a letter of position from the professor of the course for which you received a WN grade, cosigned by the deputy chair or chair of the respective academic department or interdisciplinary program, stating whether or not they support your request. Moreover, you will be asked to explain the extenuating circumstances and/or academic justification for such a request.
If you are going to ask for a course exemption, it is imperative that you have a letter of position from the deputy chair, or chair of the respective academic department or interdisciplinary program that administers the course, stating whether or not they support your request. Moreover, you will be asked to explain the extenuating circumstances and/or academic justification for such a request. (Note that if you receive an exemption, you do not receive any credits for the course.)
If you are going to ask for a course substitution, it is imperative that you have a letter of position from the deputy chair, or chair of the respective academic department or interdisciplinary program that administers the course, stating whether or not they support your request. Moreover, you will be asked to explain the extenuating circumstances and/or academic justification for such a request.
If you are going to ask permission to drop a course after the drop deadline, it is imperative that you have a letter of position, or an instructor’s note, from the professor of the course you wish to drop, stating whether or not they support your request. Moreover, you will be asked to explain the extenuating circumstances and/or academic justification for such a request. Furthermore, you must upload a completed Financial Aid and Bursar Liability (requires BC WebCentral login) as part of your supporting documentation.
If you are going to ask permission to graduate under a prior bulletin, it is imperative that you have a letter of position from the deputy chair, or chair of your major department or program, stating whether or not they support your request. The letter of position must also clearly identify which Bulletin year you are requesting to graduate under. Moreover, you will be asked to explain the extenuating circumstances and/or academic justification for such a request.
This type of petition can be submitted only after you have met with an academic adviser from the Center for Academic Advisement and Student Success (CAASS) to determine your eligibility for readmission, and to develop an academic plan for you to follow if readmitted. For this type of petition to be considered, you will have to attach a Readmission Application completed by said academic adviser.
If you are going to ask permission to register for more than the allowable credits in a three-week winter session, it is imperative that you have a letter of position from the deputy chair, or chair of your major department or program, stating whether or not they support your request. Moreover, you will be asked to explain the extenuating circumstances and/or academic justification for such a request.
If you are going to ask permission to register for more than the allowable credits in a five-week summer session, it is imperative that you have a letter of position from the deputy chair, or chair of your major department or program, stating whether or not they support your request. Moreover, you will be asked to explain the extenuating circumstances and/or academic justification for such a request.
If you are going to ask permission to register for more than the allowable credits in a 15-week fall or spring semester, it is imperative that you have a letter of position from the deputy chair, or chair of your major department or program, stating whether or not they support your request. Moreover, you will be asked to explain the extenuating circumstances and/or academic justification for such a request.
If you are going to ask permission to change an INC/FIN grade after the add deadline, it is imperative that you have a letter of position from the professor of the course for which you received an INC/FIN grade, cosigned by the deputy chair or chair of the respective academic department or interdisciplinary program, stating whether or not they support your request. The letter of position should include a suggested new grade for the course, or a new deadline for you to complete missing work. Moreover, you will be asked to explain the extenuating circumstances and/or academic justification for such a request.
If you are going to ask for a retroactive withdrawal after the deadline, it is imperative that you have a letter of position, or an instructor’s note, from the professor of the course(s) you wish to retroactively withdraw from, stating whether or not they support your request. If you cannot acquire a letter of position, or an instructor’s note, from a professor, you may instead submit a letter of position from the deputy chair or chair of your major department or program. Moreover, you will be asked to explain the extenuating circumstances and/or academic justification for such a request. Furthermore, you must complete and submit the electronic Retroactive Withdrawal/Cancellation Financial Liability Form as part of your supporting documentation. You must be logged into BC WebCentral to access this form. Once you submit the form, Financial Aid and Bursar staff will review to determine if your retroactive withdrawal or cancellation will cause you to incur a financial liability to the college.
This type of petition should be considered only after a comprehensive discussion with a faculty adviser or academic adviser from CAASS, who will outline the necessary supporting documentation for you to proceed with the petition.
All petitions with supporting documentation will be reviewed by the Faculty Committee on Course and Standing, and decisions will be communicated to the student via e-mail. If you have further questions regarding the e-Petition process, send us an e-mail.
