University of Florida Homepage

Academic Advising Center

College Petition Form

To petition for an exception to a College of Liberal Arts and Sciences enforced policy, you must complete the following steps. It is recommended that you meet with an advisor to discuss your petition before submitting to be sure this is the correct procedure for your request. Not all petitions will be approved.

  1. Complete the college petition form.
  2. Complete a personal statement. All petitions require that you include a personal statement explaining your extenuating circumstances related to this petition. This is a one-page typed document.
  3. Provide documentation of any extenuating circumstances. Documentation should be on official letterhead. Letters from a family member should be notarized. An obituary should be included in the case of the death of an immediate family member and provide proof of relationship if the last name is different from your last name.
  4. See the remaining components of each petition type below and complete the steps for your specific petition reason. Petitions must be complete to be reviewed.
  5. Submit your entire petition to the Dropbox. Petition decisions will be emailed to your @ufl.edu email address.

Petition meetings and submission deadlines can be found at the bottom of this page.

Select the type of petition you are submitting for further details and requirements.

Additional Drop

If you have already used your available drops and would like to request an additional drop, you may submit this petition before the drop deadline. Please be aware of the petition submission deadlines around the drop deadline (typically 3:00 p.m. ET on the drop deadline).

You should continue to attend/participate in your class(es) in the event the petition is not approved.

Be aware that if your petition is approved, you are still fee liable for the course(s). If you wish to attempt a petition for a refund of fees, you must complete a University Petition or Medical Petition depending on your circumstances. This is a separate university-level petition completed after this initial college-level petition.

Examples of reasons that DO NOT warrant an exception for an additional drop include: failing the course, busy with extracurricular activities or work, failure to check prerequisites prior to the end of drop/add, registered for too many hours, need to protect GPA, failure to attend class, transferring to another school, professor suggested dropping, changed major and no longer need the class.

Additional Steps Required for Additional Drop(s) Petition:

In addition to your personal statement and documentation, your instructor(s) must complete an Instructor Recommendation form for each class you are petitioning. Please email this form to your instructor and submit the completed form with your petition.

In your personal statement be sure to articulate how your extenuating circumstances specifically impacted the course(s) you are petitioning to drop. Please articulate why your extenuating circumstances impacted the requested coursework more than your other courses this semester.

Drop/Add/Withdrawal After Posted University Deadline

Students may petition to drop or add a course or withdraw from all of their courses after the university deadline if they can document extenuating circumstances that caused them to miss the deadline. Please submit the DAW form, a personal statement articulating the extenuating circumstances that caused you to miss the deadline, and documentation of the extenuating circumstances. Documentation is required.

Petition to Continue in CLAS Major

Off-track two consecutive terms: CLAS students are expected to get on track for their major within two tracking semesters. Failure to do so generally results in students having to change their major. However, if you’ve had extenuating circumstances that can be documented, then you can petition for one additional semester to get on track for your major.

Two unsuccessful attempts of required course(s) for major: CLAS students are expected to complete required courses for their major within two attempts, including grades of W. Failure to do so generally results in students having to change their major. However, if you’ve had extenuating circumstances that can be documented, then you can petition for a third attempt on a required course. Please be aware of the repeat surcharge on third attempts.

Additional Steps Required for Continuation in a CLAS Major Petition:

Required Graduation Plan – please complete the a graduation plan using this form. This graduation plan needs feedback and a signature from your undergraduate coordinator (contact information found here). Please upload this form to your petition after you have completed it and received the feedback and signature.

In your personal statement be sure to outline the reason(s) that you are off track in your major/have not completed a major course within two attempts. Be sure to articulate why you would like to remain in the major. Please also describe any changes that will support your success in future semesters.

Graduation Extension

CLAS students who started at UF as freshmen (regardless of incoming credits from AICE, AP, CLEP, IB, dual enrollment) are typically expected to graduate in four years or eight (fall/spring) semesters if attending full-time. Transfer students are typically expected to graduate in four (fall/spring) semesters if attending full-time. If you want to change your major, add a minor(s), or complete a dual degree or double major that will require additional time, you can petition for a graduation extension if you have a clear educational objective and/or extenuating circumstances preventing you from completing your degree on time. However, be aware of the excess hour surcharge that may apply depending on your situation.

Additional Steps Required for a Graduation Extension Petition:

Required Graduation Plan – please complete the a graduation plan using this form. This graduation plan needs feedback and a signature from your undergraduate coordinator (contact information found here). Please upload this form to your petition after you have completed it and received the feedback and signature.

If you are applying for a double major/dual degree, please include the application form. This form should be signed by the undergraduate coordinators but does not need to have the college signature completed.

In your personal statement, explain your educational objective for continuing beyond the typical 8 Fall/Spring semesters (or 4 Fall/Spring semesters for transfer students). Documentation of this educational objective (i.e., a graduate program requiring the credential for admission) is generally expected.

Break Residence

The last 30 credits applied to the degree must be UF credits. Participation in a UF-approved study abroad or exchange program is not considered a break in residence. However, students must see an advisor to be sure the degree audit accurately reflects this. You can petition to break residence if you have extenuating circumstances preventing you from completing the coursework at UF (on campus or online) that can be documented.

Additional Steps Required for a Break in Residency Petition:

If you are requesting to take a major requirement at another institution, please provide feedback from your Undergraduate Coordinator (contact information found here). They can provide electronic feedback on your record, or you may attach a screenshot of an email from them including their feedback.

In your personal statement be sure to include the following:

  • What institution are you hoping to take courses through?
  • What semester are you hoping to take courses at another institution?
  • What courses are you hoping to take?
  • Please describe the extenuating circumstances that prevent you from completing your final 30 credits through UF.v

Please attach documentation verifying the extenuating circumstances you have described above.

If you are requesting to take a course at a Florida public institution, please also submit an application on Florida Shines.

Other

If you do not see your reason for petitioning on this form, then meet with an advisor to discuss your situation. The advisor will help you determine if using this process is appropriate or make other recommendations. If the advisor agrees this is the correct process, they will instruct you on the information you need to provide before submitting. Examples of “other” may include but are not limited to: 1) requesting to take classes elsewhere while also taking classes at UF during a tracking semester (dual enrollment), 2) petitioning to change the grading in a class from standard grading to S/U after the published S/U deadline (please be aware this is only approved in extreme cases that are well documented), 3) changing your Catalog year, 4) taking more than the two flexible learning classes to apply toward your degree.

Upcoming Petition Meeting Dates and Submission Deadlines

Meeting TimeSubmission DeadlineDecisions Sent OutTypes of Petitions
Friday, November 3rdThursday, November 2nd, 3 p.m.November 3, afternoon All Petitions
Thursday, November 9thWednesday, November 8th, 3 p.m.November 9, afternoonAll Petitions
Tuesday, November 14thMonday, November 13th, 3 p.m.Tuesday 14, afternoon All Petitions
Thursday, November 16thWednesday, November 15th 3 p.m. November 16th, afternoon All Petitions
Friday, November 17th Thursday, November 16th, 3 p.m. November 17, afternoon All petitions
Monday, November 20thFriday, November 17th, 5 p.m. November 20, afternoon All petitions
Monday, November 20th afternoonMonday, November 20th, 3 p.m. November 20th, afternoon Drop Petitions Only Final Meeting before Drop Deadline
Friday, December 1st Thursday, November 30th, 3 p.m. December 1, afternoon All petitions
Tuesday, December 5th 9 a.m.Monday, December 4th, 5 p.m. December 5, afternoon All petitions
Wednesday, December 6th 8 a.m.Tuesday, December 5th, 4 p.m. December 6, afternoon DAW Petitions
Wednesday, December 6th afternoonWednesday, December 6th, 3 p.m. December 6, afternoon Final DAW Petition Meeting
Friday, December 8thThursday, December 7th, 3 p.m. December 8th, afternoon All Petitions
Friday, December 15thThursday, December 14th, 3 p.m. December 15, afternoon All petitions
Wednesday, December 20th Tuesday, December 19th, 3 p.m. December 10, afternoon All petitions
Friday, December 22nd Thursday, December 21st, 3 p.m. December 22, morning All petitions

Spring semester dates will be posted in late December.