The Petition Process
A few graduate students manage to complete their entire degree programs without having to file a single petition. However, because of our students’ diverse backgrounds, interests, degree programs, and personal lives, many of our students occasionally find themselves in need of a variance regarding a College or ENRP policy, or find a need to create proper documentation for their academic file. The correct vehicle to use is the “Petition to the Faculty.” Petition forms may be obtained from the Registrar’s Office, 111 Bray Hall.
Complete the petition forms legibly and clearly explain what you want to have happen. Four parts of the petition form must be completed:
- Informational Heading. Be sure to complete the contact numbers and sign at the appropriate place (because of the layout, this is often omitted).
- Request. This should be clear and concise. What is the variance being requested? What specific course (from what institution) is being transferred?
- Requests to substitute courses require the consent of the instructors.
- Often, the best way to fill out a petition is to write a simple memorandum and attach it to the petition form.
- Justification. This should be clear, logical, and detailed. You want to include a reasoned justification for the request. Explain the rationale for your request. Clarity is important, but more detail is better than less. It is important to remember that those acting on the petition will only see what you have written as a justification for your request. If the request is a variance, what are the circumstances? If a course transfer, what requirement do you want the course to fulfill? Depending upon what is being petitioned, you will want to include additional information here:
- Variances. The student to obtain any additional items that are helpful - letters of support or explanation from relatives, doctors, instructors, etc. - and to attach them to the petition before the advisor signs the petition.
- Course transfers. The student must attach a description of the course, obtained from a catalog, or the World Wide Web.
- Signatures. Graduate petitions must be signed by your major professor, submitted to the ENRP Core Committee, by leaving it in the ENRP mailbox in 320 Bray Hall. Petitions will be acted upon in a timely fashion, usually within a week or two. If approved, the Coordinator will sign the petition and forward it to the Dean of Instruction and Graduate Study for final approval. The Dean may choose to consult with the Committee on Instruction (Academic Standards Subcommittee) before acting. If approved, the petition is forwarded to the Registrar, who makes the appropriate change in the record.
