Student Petition Process: PLAN

WELCOME STUDENTS!
If your Adviser or College/Campus Petition Submitter has instructed you to initiate your petition using the SUPR Petition eForm,
you are in the right place to learn how to do that. If you haven’t been instructed to initiate your petition, then you will gather all your petition documents and provide them for your Adviser or College/Campus Petition Submitter, who will submit your petition for you.
Either way, feel free to browse through the petition information and videos!

PLAN before Initiating a Petition. Read This Important Information. Talk with your adviser and/or your College/Campus Petition Submitter. Don't be caught off guard! Also talk with staff at other Penn State offices to assess potential consequences of an approved petition (see link on this page).

WHAT IS A STUDENT PETITION?

A student petition is a request for an exception to established University academic policies. The Senate Committee on Education does not grant petitions automatically. Strong, documented justification must be provided to establish the circumstances that warrant an exception to policy.

REQUIRED FOR ALL STUDENT PETITIONS: CONSULTATION WITH ADVISER/PETITION SUBMITTER

Students cannot submit a petition to the Faculty Senate Office directly. Petitions are required to be submitted through an academic unit. Students must consult with an academic adviser or college/campus petition contact prior to initiating their petitions. Consulting with an adviser or college/campus petition contact is necessary for:

  • Avoiding delays in the petition process,
  • Improving the likelihood of petition approval by obtaining guidance on the petition process and relevant supporting documentation, and
  • Determining implications for progression towards degree requirements and
  • Other areas of concern (https://studentpetitions.psu.edu/consultation-regarding-petitions/).

Students should contact their adviser to discuss a petition request. Students who do not have an adviser should consult with the student petition contact for the college/campus where they are enrolled currently, or where they were last enrolled (if not enrolled currently).

Some Colleges/Campuses require that students include an Adviser Letter with their petitions. Please check with your Adviser or College/Campus Petition Submitter to see if your College/Campus requires this document.

College/Campus Petition Contacts

View University Park Petition Contacts
(https://studentpetitions.psu.edu/student-petition-contacts/university-park-student-petition-contacts/)
View Other Campus Petition Contacts
(https://studentpetitions.psu.edu/student-petition-contacts/petition-contacts-for-campuses-other-than-university-park/)

Workforce Education Students

Students who are in a Workforce Education program should contact the Workforce Education department (https://ed.psu.edu/academics/departments/department-learning-and-performance-systems/workforce-education-and-development) to discuss the petition process. Workforce Ed staff will submit a petition on behalf of a student.

World Campus Students
World Campus students should consult with their assigned World Campus adviser

DON’T BE CAUGHT OFF GUARD!! TALK WITH STAFF AT PENN STATE OFFICES TO ASSESS POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF AN APPROVED PETITION

STUDENT AID: Please be aware that an approved petition for ANY petition type, could affect student aid in a way that may cause a student to owe money. Before initiating ANY petition, you should consult with a Student Aid staff member to determine financial aid implications. In addition, student athletes, students in the Comprehensive Studies Program (CSP), international students, and students receiving veterans benefits can be impacted, and should consult with those offices to avoid losing eligibility or benefits. Students petitioning for a Retroactive Withdrawal who have received Federal Student Aid for any term while at Penn State will need to complete the Student Aid Review for Retroactive Withdrawal form (https://studentaid.psu.edu/sites/default/files/2023-05/Student%20Aid%20Review%20for%20Retroactive%20Withdrawal%20Form%20040623.pdf) . View the process for having the form completed.

OTHER OFFICES: View Consultation Regarding Petitions (https://studentpetitions.psu.edu/consultation-regarding-petitions/) for more details and contact information for the appropriate offices.

PETITION TYPES

View descriptions of petition types below to determine which type is needed. If students are unsure which petition type they need to submit, they should contact their adviser or petition contact for the college/campus where they are/were enrolled (View Contacts Above).

PETITIONS FOR RETROACTIVE CANCELLATION WHEN ALREADY LATE DROPPED OR WITHDREW
Please Note: If you are petitioning for a Retroactive Administrative Course Cancellation and have already Late Dropped the course, the Petition Type would be “Other” to change the Late Drop to a Retroactive Administrative Course Cancellation.

Similarly, if you are petitioning for a Retroactive Administrative Registration Cancellation, and have already Withdrawn from the Term, the Petition Type would be “Other” to change the Withdrawal to a Retroactive Administrative Registration Cancellation (for all courses scheduled for a term).

ALTERNATIVE GRADING PETITIONS
If you are interested in preparing a petition for an exception to the Alternative Grading System, please contact your adviser. You will not initiate this type of petition. Your adviser or the authorized petition submitter for your college/campus will assist you with the preparation of the petition and submit it for you. The only terms for which Alternative Grading was enabled was Spring 2020, Fall 2020, and Spring 2021. These are the only terms for which an Alternative Grading Petition will be accepted.