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.

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 six (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 6 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
Wednesday, August 14thTuesday, August 13th, 3 p.m.August 14, afternoonAll petitions
Monday, August 19thFriday, August 16th, 3 p.m.August 19, afternoon All petitions
Thursday, August 22ndWednesday, August 21st, 3 p.m.August 22, afternoonAll petitions
Friday, August 23rdThursday, August 22nd, 3 p.m.August 23, afternoonAll petitions
Monday, August 26Friday, August 23rd, 3 p.m.August 26, afternoonAll petitions
Tuesday, August 27Monday, August 26th, 3 p.m.August 27, afternoonAll petitions
Wednesday, August 28 morningTuesday, August 27th, 3 p.m.August 28, afternoonAll petitions
Wednesday, August 28 afternoonWednesday, August 28, 3 p.m.August 28, afternoonFall Drop/Add Petitions Only
FINAL DROP/ADD MEETING
Friday, August 30thThursday, August 29th, 3 p.m.August 30, afternoonAll petitions
Friday, September 6thThursday, September 5th, 3 p.m.September 6, afternoonAll petitions
Thursday, September 12thWednesday, September 11th, 3 p.m.September 12, afternoonAll petitions
Friday, September 20thThursday, September 19th, 3 p.m.September 20, afternoonAll petitions
Friday, September 27thThursday, September 26th, 3 p.m.September 27, afternoonAll petitions
Friday, October 4thThursday, October 3rd, 3 p.m.October 4, afternoonAll petitions
Friday, October 11thThursday, October 10th, 3 p.m.October 11, afternoonAll petitions
Thursday, October 17thWednesday, October 16th, 3 p.m.October 18, afternoonAll petitions
Friday, October 25thThursday, October 24th, 3 p.m.October 25, afternoonAll petitions
Friday, November 1stThursday, October 31st, 3 p.m.November 1, afternoonAll petitions
Wednesday, November 6thTuesday, November 5th, 3 p.m.November 6, afternoonAll petitions
Friday, November 15thThursday, November 14th, 3 p.m.November 15, afternoonAll petitions
Monday, November 18thFriday, November 15th, 3 p.m.November 18, afternoonAll petitions
Wednesday, November 20Tuesday, November 19, 3 p.m.November 20, afternoonAll petitions
Thursday, November 21Wednesday, November 20th, 3 p.m.November 21, afternoonAll petitions
Friday, November 22nd, morningThursday, November 21st, 3 p.m.November 22, afternoonAll petitions
Friday, November 22nd, afternoonFriday, November 22nd, 3 p.m.November 22, afternoonFINAL DROP DEADLINE MEETING
Drop Petitions Only

Additional fall petition dates will be posted in early November.