Petition Guidelines

STUDENT PETITIONS TO THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ACADEMIC STANDARDS 

The College expects that students will know and follow college policies and regulations, and meet all deadlines as published. On rare occasions, a student may request special consideration regarding these policies and deadlines. The Academic Program and Standards Committee, considers student petitions in these cases.

NOTE: The Academic Program and Standards Committee also reviews applications for readmission for students who were required to withdraw for academic reasons, and reviews records of students who are not in good academic standing—i.e., first-year students must have 1.75 cum gpa, all others 2.00 cum gpa.

We expect students will petition in rare instances, when circumstances prevented them from meeting a deadline or regulation. Petitions are NOT meant to help someone avoid receiving a low grade.

For instance, the following situations are NOT grounds for a petition: 

        •    You wish to now share information you had withheld that you believe now explains why you earned a low grade 
        •    You wish to receive a retro-active accommodation for a learning disability that you are just now disclosing
 

The Committee has appointed a Subcommittee on Academic Standards to hear these petitions all of which must be in writing, adhering to the following format.

Your petition should be clearly written and contain only information relevant to your request and your argument. Address your petition to the Subcommittee on Academic Standards and include the following (see example): 
 

Address your petition to the Subcommittee on Academic Standards.  Complete the Petition Form, available when you
 click here  and send to asc@dickinson.edu. (see example below):

- Your advisor must respond to any petition you submit.

- When you are requesting a change regarding a course enrollment, the professor of the course
must also respond.

- If you are referencing a physical or mental health issue as a reason for your request, you must provide documentation to the Health Center or Counseling Center respectively. You must also authorize them to provide the Subcommittee with relevant information regarding the situation.

- Depending on the circumstances, it may be relevant to have other college officials, such as other faculty members, the College counselors or other professional persons, or your resident advisor respond to the Subcommittee. Responses are only appropriate when that person has pertinent information.

It is your responsibility to:
    - provide each respondent with a copy of your petition and to discuss it with them so that they are fully informed. 
    - ask them to respond to your petition.  A response is required and does not guarantee the respondent's support  for your petition.
    - inform them to email the response to asc@dickinson.edu.

 

NOTE: The Subcommittee will NOT consider statements from other students or from family members.

Please send your petition via email to the Subcommittee on Academic Standards at asc@dickinson.edu. Petitions and responses MUST be sent via email.
 

The Subcommittee will convene on an as-needed basis to review petitions, beginning Thursday, February 4, 2010.  It is your responsibility to be sure that your petition and all responses are submitted via email to the Subcommittee by 4:00 p.m. on Friday in order to schedule a committee meeting.  You will be informed by letter/email from Brenda Bretz of the Subcommittee's action as soon as possible after the meeting.

1. Your Name and anticipated Graduation Year

Stephanie Student, class of 2010


2. The rule, regulation or deadline to which you are requesting an exception (you may copy from the Bulletin when appropriate).


Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” grade is Friday, March 26


3. The action you wish the Subcommittee to take


Permit submission of my “W” form after the deadline.

4. A clearly stated argument to support the action you identify in #3 above. Include information about the circumstances that are relevant to your request


From March 26th through April 2nd I was hospitalized (documentation from treating physician and hospital attached). During most of the time period I was sedated and unable to function normally. Therefore, I was unable to make arrangements to have the paperwork turned into the Registrar’s Office. Prof. Jones, my advisor, can confirm that I had met with her and discussed the “W” the week before the deadline and had her sign the form at that time. I didn’t turn the form in that day since I knew I had almost a week to do so.


5. A list of persons who will be responding to your statement and their role in your situation (i.e., advisor, class dean, professor, etc).

Prof. Jones, advisor; Dr. James, treating physician at hospital, Officer Smith, DPS officer who transported me to the hospital on March 26th.