Petitions

The Petition Process

A petition is a request for an exception to university policy. Petitions for undergraduate and graduate students are processed differently. Be sure to follow the guidelines under each category.

A written appeal for a refund must be submitted to the University within six (6) months of the close of the semester to which the refund or other appeal action is applicable. Any request for a refund of fees or other appeal action submitted outside this timeframe will not be reviewed.

Once a degree has been conferred, students are no longer eligible to petition.

Students who have applied to graduate must meet with their academic advisor or graduate coordinator before submitting a petition. Approval of a petition could result in the student not meeting their degree requirements which would delay their graduation.

> Undergraduate Petitions> Graduate Petitions> Medical Leave Petitions> The Approval Process> Petition Status & Results

Undergraduate Petitions Process

The petitions process is available for students to request a waiver of a university academic regulation or academic deadline. A university petition is used to request:

  • late add a course after the add/drop deadline,
  • withdraw from select courses after the withdrawal deadline (nonmedical),
  • if a student requests to drop one (or more) course(s) in a semester because of extenuating circumstances, yet wishes to keep other courses in that same semester, the student must address specifically why only the selected course(s) were affected by the extenuating circumstances to alleviate a denial,
  • withdraw from all courses in a term (nonmedical),
  • refund of fees (fee refund requests must be submitted within 6 months of the close of the applicable semester), or
  • other requests.

Submitting a University Petition

  • Carefully follow the instructions on the University Petition Form. Students must attach a one-page typed statement in 12 pt. font outlining the pertinent issues that led to the petition. All submitted documentation is subject to verification. Submission of false, forged or fraudulent information will result in judicial sanction.
  • Students who are petitioning to drop, add or receive a refund should submit the Instructor Statement Form. Students complete the top portion of the form, and the faculty member or instructor completes the bottom of the form. If the instructor is no longer at UF, the department chair may complete the forms.
  • Students must complete the required interview with their college regarding the nature of their petition. The interviewing officer and student should discuss:
    • a. The reasons for petitioning
    • b. Extenuating circumstances
    • c. Plans for future enrollment
    • d. How this will affect the student’s ability to graduate

The college will provide a signed statement using the Interviewing Officer Statement Form. Students may be able to arrange a phone interview if no longer in the area.

  • Submit all forms and the supporting documentation at one time to the Office of the University Registrar via the secure document upload.
  • Remember to keep a copy! The documents you submit will remain permanently on file with the university; they will not be returned.

NOTE: If petitioning for a waiver of the Repeat Course Surcharge for financial hardship, the instructor statement and interviewing officer forms are not necessary. However, students should provide financial documentation proving an unmet or outstanding financial need, such as the UF Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships Student Financial Statement.

Submitting an Excess Hours Petition

Florida law is very specific about what courses are included in your excess credit counter. Students who are expected to pay an excess hours surcharge can petition if they believe their excess hours should be exempted. A petition, or appeal, of the initial counter determination must be received by the end of a student's first term at UF. Appeals of credit hours added to the counter after enrollment must be submitted within six months of the course being taken.

These circumstances are considered acceptable basis for appeals under Florida Law:

  • College credit earned through articulated accelerated mechanisms such as AP, IB, CLEP, dual enrollment, national standardized tests
  • Credit hours required for certification, recertification, or certificate programs not used in the student's degree program
  • Courses from which the student withdraws for reasons of medical or personal hardship
  • Credit taken by active-duty military personnel
  • Credit hours taken to achieve a dual major while pursuing a baccalaureate degree
  • Remedial and English-as-a-second-language credit hours
  • Credit hours earned while participating in a Reserve Officer's Training Corps (ROTC) program.

Graduate Petitions Process

Academic Petitions

A petition is a request for an exception to a current graduate education policy, usually due to an unusual situation beyond the control of student, staff or faculty. Petitions must be initiated by the graduate coordinator, graduate program director, department chair, or supervisory committee chair in the student’s academic unit, using the form available on the Graduate School website.

Students who have graduated are not eligible to petition.

Refund of Fees Petitions

Graduate students who are petitioning for only a refund of fees should submit a University Petition using the following directions:

  1. Carefully follow the instructions on the University Petition Form. Students must attach a one-page typed statement in 12 pt. font outlining the pertinent issues that led to the petition. All submitted documentation is subject to verification. Submission of false, forged or fraudulent information will result in judicial sanction.
  2. Students who are petitioning to receive a refund should submit the Instructor Statement Form. Students complete the top portion of the form, and the faculty member or instructor completes the bottom of the form. If the instructor is no longer at UF, the department chair may complete the forms.
  3. Students should complete the required interview with their major department regarding the nature of their petition. The major department will provide a signed statement using the Interviewing Officer Statement Form. Students may be able to arrange a phone interview if no longer in the area.
  4. Submit all forms and the supporting documentation at one time to the Office of the University Registrar via the secure document upload.
  5. Remember to keep a copy! The documents you submit will remain permanently on file with the university; they will not be returned.

NOTE: If petitioning for a waiver of the Repeat Course Surcharge for financial hardship, the instructor statement and interviewing officer forms are not necessary. However, students must provide financial documentation proving an unmet or outstanding financial need, such as the UF Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships' Student Financial Statement.

Petition Review Process

The University Student Petitions Committee meets each Tuesday. Petition forms and supporting documentation should be submitted by 5:00 p.m. the previous Friday. Due to the large number of requests, it may take 1-2 weeks before the petition is reviewed.

Petition Status & Results

Students should monitor their petition status for updates, requests for additional documents and petition decisions at ONE.UF.

The University of Florida does not practice grade forgiveness, and the petitions process cannot be used as a form of grade forgiveness. Therefore, if the committee determines that the student earned the grade or grades in question, the petition will not be approved.

If a petition is denied and the student wants to continue to pursue the petition, they may appeal the decision to the University Ombuds.