To be eligible to graduate, you must complete your degree requirements. If you are unable to complete your degree requirements to graduate during your preferred graduation period, the general expectation is for you to postpone your graduation.
If you have completed most of your degree but are unable to complete a degree requirement and postpone your graduation due to extenuating circumstances beyond your control, you may submit an exception to degree requirements petition.
This petition is not meant to provide you with an alternative to postponing graduation, even if your missed degree requirement is due to a genuine error in judgment.
This request should only be considered when all other avenues have been exhausted.
Deadline to Submit an Exception to Degree Requirements Petition
While there is no specific deadline for this petition, you should submit it well in advance of your intended graduation date. We recommend that you submit the exception to degree requirements petition in your second-last term, or at the very latest, at the beginning of your last term.
Personal Statement for an Exception to Degree Requirements Petition
In addition to the recommendations listed in Preparing a Petition, your personal statement should include the following:
- A timeline and explain why you are unable to complete the degree requirement including the circumstances that have prevented you from completing the degree
- The reason why you cannot postpone your graduation
- Explain which degree requirement you would like an exception to, and what steps you originally took to satisfy the requirement.
- Explain what other options there are to meet the degree requirement (i.e., finishing the necessary credit at another university), and why you think they are not a viable option for you.
Supporting Documentation for an Exception to Degree Requirements Petition
In addition to the guidelines listed in Preparing a Petition, you must submit documentation that supports the information provided in your personal statement.
In addition to the supporting documentation you provide, the faculty will review other relevant documentation it has access to, such as your marks breakdown for the relevant course(s) and your academic transcript. They may also contact your college or course instructor for further information.