Petitions

Introduction to Petitions

In special circumstances, a student may submit a petition to request an exception to a university policy. Petitions may be submitted for Academic Standing decisions, or for general academic policies or their deadlines. Petitions are special requests, so students must present compelling, exceptional, and (sometimes) documented circumstances in making their request. 

University policy and deadlines are established by the Faculty Senate to protect the integrity of the academic experience. Decisions about petitions will be evaluated according to the standards and principles of university policies along with considerations of fairness and equity for all students. Petitions will only be granted upon a demonstration of good cause. 

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Petitions Process

  1. Inform yourself thoroughly by reading the academic policy in the bulletin and the actual petition form.
  2. Write your request describing the exceptional circumstances that you are facing. Your explanation should be clear, factual and brief. 
  3. Compile documentation to submit with your petition.
  4. Depending on the petition, written support from an instructor, advisor, or other university official may be beneficial or required. 
  5. When necessary, meet with an advisor in the office of Undergraduate Advising and Research and obtain the proper signatures. 
  6. Submit your petition, paying attention to deadlines.  Some petitions are submitted to Undergraduate Advising and Research; others are submitted to the Office of the University Registrar. Submission offices are indicated in the List of Petitions below. Any Petition received after its deadline may not be considered.
  7. When petitions are denied, students are urged to speak with an advisor to discuss plans for moving forward. Note that undergraduate advisors cannot reverse decisions, but can help you address the consequences. 

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Petitions submitted to Undergraduate Advising and Research

Academic Standing Petitions

Petitions for Provisional Registration

Petitions for Exception to University Rules and Regulations

Academic Standing Petitions

Request for Exemption from Academic Review
For students who do not meet minimum standards for academic progress due to extenuating circumstance beyond their control and outside the scope of the usual student experience.

Exemptions fall into two main categories: personal and medical. Students should submit requests for exemptions using a General Petition form.

  • Personal exemptions may be such things as death of a family member / friend, divorce of parents, serious personal issues, legal concerns.
  • Medical exemptions may be such things as serious illness or injury (usually but not always requiring medical intervention), diagnosed learning disability, mental health concerns.

Request for Reduced Course Load
For students registered through the Office of Accessible Education / Disability Resource Center who may:

  • Earn at least eight (8) units in a given quarter
  • Earn at least thirty (30) units over the three most recent quarters

and are required to:

  • Maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA)
  • Submit petition to

Undergraduate Advising and Research
Sweet Hall, First Floor
Stanford University
Stanford, CA  94305-3085
vpue-advising@stanford.edu
Phone 650-723-2426
Fax 650-725-1436

Request for Provisional Registration

Request for Provisional Registration
For students who wish to return to Stanford after completing a Suspension of one (1) or three (3) years

Appeal of Suspension
For students who believe they have a compelling reason to appeal their suspension without a break in enrollment

Petitions for Exception to University Rules and Regulations

Change Course Enrollment 
For students who wish to modify their study list — Add, Withdraw, Repeat a Course for a Second Time, Extend Incomplete, Change Unit Total of a Course — after published deadlines

                       Undergraduate Advising and Research
                       Sweet Hall, First Floor
                       Stanford University
                       Stanford, CA  94305-3085
                       vpue-advising@stanford.edu

                       Phone 650-723-2426
                       Fax 650-725-1436    

        

Request for Enroll in More than 20 Units (Overload Petition)
For students who wish to enroll in more than 20 units in a quarter

                       Undergraduate Advising and Research

                       Sweet Hall, First Floor

                       Stanford University

                       Stanford, CA 94305-3085

                       vpue-advising@stanford.edu

                       Phone 650-723-2426

                      Fax 650-725-1436  

  Returning Student Request to Register
For students who wish to return to Stanford from an absence of less than two (2) years, unless, away for Suspension. The following applies:

  • Returning at a time different from that indicated on Leave of Absence (LOA) form
  • Returning from an absence and did not complete a LOA form

Application for Reinstatement in Undergraduate Study
For students who wish to return to Stanford after two (2) or more years away, unless away for Suspension

Petitions submitted to the Office of the University Registrar

  • Graduation Quarter Petition
  • Last Units Out-of-Residence
  • Leave of Absence
  • Procedures and Application for Coterminal Status
  • Request for Transfer Credit Evaluation
  • Permit to Attend
  • Permit to Attend for Services Only
  • 13th Quarter Petition

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