About the CBS Scholastics Committee: The committee is a group of faculty and staff who meet regularly to make decisions regarding students’ requests for policy exemptions. The committee only reviews Academic Policy Petitions submitted electronically.
To submit an Academic Policy Petition to the CBS Scholastics Committee:
- Complete the Academic Policy Petition form
- Select the correct type of petition for your situation/request (see below for detailed description of each petition type).
- Provide a detailed explanation of your request. If necessary, confirm that all course information for a registration change is correct, and submit documentation in support of your request based on the table below.
- You will receive an email confirmation that your petition was submitted successfully.
- You will receive a decision regarding your petition and any additional next steps via email from the CBS Scholastics Committee.
- The Committee meets every week September through May
- The Committee meets every three weeks June through August
Please include the appropriate documentation for your petition based on the table below. In lieu of detailed, personal medical records, you can find the Medical Supplement on the One Stop forms page. Failure to submit appropriate documentation may delay the review of your petition and/or result in the denial of your petition. Your documentation will be destroyed on completion of the petition review.
Petition types
Course late add
Complete the Course Late Add petition to add a class after the designated last day to add a course without college approval. See One Stop Cancel/Add Deadlines. Your petition should indicate the reasons you were unable to add the course by the semester add deadline. The course instructor’s approval is required for a course to be added after the semester deadline. Please include the correct 5-digit class number in your petition (the class number is the blue number in the right corner of the specific class section on Schedule Builder).
CBS Directed Research Late Add: Please attach your approved Directed Research contract to your petition. Additionally, your petition explanation should include a weekly plan of how you will complete your Directed Research hours (based on the credits you are hoping to register for). Finally, please attach documentation from your faculty mentor/PI indicating the number of hours you have completed in the lab thus far and confirmation that you’re on track to complete the hour requirement by the end of the semester.
- Petitions to add Directed Research credits after the semester for which it is being requested will not be approved.
- Petitions to adjust the credit for Directed Research after the semester for which the adjustment is being requested will not be approved.
- Petitions to add Directed Research will not be approved if the Directed Research contract is submitted after the 4th week of the semester.
Academic Policy Petition Steps/Routing
- Student completes and submits form
- Faculty Review
- CBS Scholastics Committee Review
- One Stop Student Services Processing
- Student Notified of Decision
Course level change
Complete the Course Level Change petition to request to change the course number of a specific course. Most CBS students will use this for changing incorrect registration for Directed Studies to Directed Research.
Academic Policy Petition Steps/Routing
- Student completes and submits form
- Faculty Review
- CBS Scholastics Committee Review
- One Stop Student Services Processing
- Student Notified of Decision
Variable credit change
Complete the Variable Credit Change petition to request to change the number of credits associated with a specific course. Please note that Variable Credit Change can only be used if the credits are not set for a course. Your petition should include an explanation of why you are requesting this change and why the credit amount has changed from your original registration. Most CBS students will use this if registered for an incorrect amount of Directed Research credits.
- Petitions to adjust the credit for Directed Research after the semester for which the adjustment is being requested will not be approved.
Academic Policy Petition Steps/Routing
- Student completes and submits form
- Faculty Review
- CBS Scholastics Committee Review
- One Stop Student Services Processing
- Student Notified of Decision
Program requirement substitution/modification
Complete the Program Requirement Substitution petition to request that a course fulfill a requirement within your major or minor. Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUGS) approval is required for a Program Requirement Substitution, and this form will be automatically routed to the DUGS. It is required that you attach a syllabus to your petition if you are requesting a course substitution. Please note that if you are petitioning to have internship abroad credits counted toward your major requirements that BIOL 3610 would fulfill, please include a description of your internship experience.
Program Requirement Modification may be used to request that major or minor requirements be modified or to request to reinstate former degree requirements (i.e., waiving or reducing the number of credits in a requirement or changing to previous bulletin year requirements). Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUGS) approval is required for a Program Requirement Modification.
Please Note: If you would like to update to most recent degree requirements for your major, please contact a CBS academic advisor instead of completing this form.
Academic Policy Petition Steps/Routing
- Student completes and submits form
- Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUGS) Review
- CBS Scholastics Committee Review
- Student Notified of Decision
CBS minor requirement substitution/modification
CBS Students: Complete the Program Requirement Substitution/Modification petition to request that minor requirements be modified or to request to reinstate former minor requirements. A modification would include waiving or reducing the number of credits in a requirement or changing to previous bulletin year requirements. A substitution would include requesting a non-minor course to fulfill minor requirements. Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUGS) approval is required for a Minor Requirement Substitution/Modification. Please ensure a course syllabus is attached.
Non-CBS Students: Complete the “other” petition. A substitution would include requesting a non-minor course to fulfill minor requirements. Please ensure a course syllabus is attached. Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUGS) approval is required for a Minor Requirement Substitution/Modification.
Academic Policy Petition Steps/Routing
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Student completes and submits form.
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Select your major program
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For CBS Students ONLY: Check the box below indicating this petition is for your minor (CBS Students only)
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Type the name of your minor program name in the text box (CBS Students only)
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For Non-CBS Students: Follow prompts for all fields. For “Petition Type” select “Other”
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Provide a brief explanation of the minor program substitution or modification you are requesting.
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- Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUGS) Review
- CBS Scholastics Committee Review
- Student Notified of Decision
Using OTO (One-Time Only Late Drop)
Complete the OTO petition to request to withdraw from a course after the designated withdraw deadline. For more information, please see the CBS One Time Only Late Drop website. You should meet with a CBS academic advisor to discuss submitting an OTO petition prior to submitting it. Your OTO petition must be submitted prior to the last day of the course and before completing the final exam/project. See One Stop Dates and Deadlines.
Reinstate OTO (One Time Only Late Drop)
Complete the Reinstate OTO petition to request that your OTO (One Time Only Late Drop) be reinstated for future use. The Reinstate OTO petition will only be approved if the OTO Late Drop has been used and the student is subsequently approved for a late withdraw from a specific course.
Academic Policy Petition Steps/Routing
- Student completes and submits form
- CBS Scholastics Committee Review and Processing
- Student Notified of Decision
Increase Credit Limit
Complete the Increase Credit Limit petition to request to exceed the 20 credit maximum courseload per semester. Please provide evidence demonstrating your success with challenging courseloads and multiple responsibilities.
Academic Policy Petition Steps/Routing
- Student completes and submits form
- CBS Scholastics Committee Review and Processing
- Student Notified of Decision
Third attempt
Complete the Third Attempt petition to request to attempt a course a third time. Your petition should include an explanation of why you did not succeed in your first two attempts at the course, and what you will do differently this time in order to succeed. If related to an extenuating circumstance you should provide written documentation such as a doctor/counselor note, family obituary, letter from employer, etc. Please note that courses commonly found at other institutions are less likely to be approved for a third attempt at the U. If taking the class elsewhere would result in personal or financial challenges, please include that in your petition. Petitions for a fourth attempt will not be considered.
Academic Policy Petition Steps/Routing
- Student completes and submits form
- CBS Scholastics Committee Review
- One Stop Student Services Processing
- Student Notified of Decision
Course Late Withdrawal
Complete the Course Late Withdrawal petition to request to withdraw from a course after the semester drop deadline due to extenuating circumstances. See One Stop Cancel/Add Deadlines. Please provide written proof of an extenuating circumstance such as a doctor/counselor note, family obituary, letter from employer, etc. Your petition should include an explanation of why you were unable to drop the course(s) by the deadline (i.e. what happened after the semester withdraw deadline that made it difficult to be successful?). In your explanation please be sure to include a timeline of events (i.e. went to the doctor on Monday, August 12 (see doctors note) and that was after the withdraw deadline of July 11.).
If you are petitioning to only withdraw from part of your registration (i.e. two out of your four courses), include the reasons you should stay registered for some courses and not others in your petition (i.e., why did your extenuating circumstance only influence your performance in a few courses?) Please note that selective withdrawals for only a few courses are rarely approved.
Academic Policy Petition Steps/Routing
- Student completes and submits form
- CBS Scholastics Committee Processing
- One Stop Student Services Processing
- Student Notified of Decision
Grade basis change
Complete the Grade Basis Change petition to request to change the grading basis for a course after the semester deadline. See One Stop Dates and Deadlines. Your petition should include evidence in support of an extenuating circumstance that influenced your registration. Please note that Grade Basis Change petitions are rarely approved.
Academic Policy Petition Steps/Routing
- Student completes and submits form
- CBS Scholastics Committee Processing
- One Stop Student Services Processing
- Student Notified of Decision
Other
Complete the Other petition to request special circumstances not outlined above. It is recommended that you speak with a CBS academic advisor to discuss your request prior to submitting an Other petition.
Academic Policy Petition Steps/Routing (varies based on petition type)
- Student completes and submits form
- CBS Scholastics Committee Processing
- Varies based on petition request/type
Readmission and Reinstatement
For more information about readmission and/or reinstatement to CBS, please review the Returning to CBS website. You may be seeking readmission and/or reinstatement if you are returning to CBS after a Leave of Absence, extended time away, or suspension.
Exceptions/Petitions to Liberal Education Requirements
According to University of Minnesota policy, Liberal Education course substitutions are never granted and course waivers are rarely approved. Please note that Liberal Education petitions are reviewed by the Office of Undergraduate Education. For non-University of Minnesota transfer courses, please see the Admissions website for information on petitioning these courses to be used to fulfill Liberal Education requirements. For more information, please contact your CBS Academic Advisor.
Special Circumstances
Students should be aware that help is available when unexpected situations arise. Many students face extenuating circumstances at some point in their undergraduate careers, which can make it more challenging to keep a healthy balance between academics, personal life, and work. CBS advisors are committed to helping students find ways to successfully overcome these challenges and make whatever changes are needed for maintaining personal well-being and academic achievement. In some cases, it may be necessary for students to limit their course load, seek Incomplete grades in courses, take a temporary leave of absence, or gain assistance from one of the following resources: