Petition the Committee on Academic Status
The Committee hears individual undergraduate student requests for exceptions to academic rules and regulations.
- Petition approval is not automatic and is generally given only when circumstances are extraordinary.
- Students are expected to be knowledgeable about William & Mary policies and regulations as set forth in the Course Catalog. Please also consult the policies concerning academic standards and good standing.
- Students are required to continue attending their present class schedule until notified in writing of the Committee’s final decision.
- A professor's supporting statement will be requested and is a required component of the review process when needed.
- If this petition is denied, the student has 5 business days from the day their decision email was sent to submit an appeal of the denied petition. Appeals require new information not presented in the original petition and are submitted online the same way the initial petition was submitted. Be sure to select the "appeal" box when submitting your form or review may be delayed.
- All petition materials must be submitted in PDF file format. If your materials are in another file format, such as a Word Document, please convert them to PDF format before submitting them.
Physical or Mental Health Conditions
The Medical Review Committee (MRC), a subcommittee of the Committee on Academic Status, previously handled requests for medical withdrawals with medical documentation has been dissolved. Going forward undergraduate students will now submit petitions in the following ways. These changes aim to simplify the withdrawal process and protect student privacy.
- After the Withdrawal Deadline and Up to the Last Day of Classes: Students must petition the Committee on Academic Status for a full semester withdrawal or individual course withdrawal. A personal statement is required (please review the resource guide and instructions below), however, to protect student privacy no medical documentation is necessary for this request.
- Between Semesters and Up to the Withdrawal Deadline: Students submit a form to Academic Wellbeing to initiate the withdrawal process.
Questions?
Students are encouraged to reach out to the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs ([[w|academicaffairs]]) if they have questions concerning academic policies, the exception to academic regulations requested by this petition, or the Committee on Academic Status procedures.Types of Petitions
Petition to Late-Drop / Late-AddLate-DropIf a student wishes to drop a class after the add/drop deadline, the student must petition the Committee on Academic Status (CAS) below. Petitions to drop classes are rarely approved except under circumstances beyond a student's control. Late-AddRequests for late adds for the Fall 2024 semester will be processed by petition. Please submit your petition only if you meet the criteria below:
Late-starting courses have their own specific add, drop, and withdrawal deadlines. Students seeking to add a short-term course that has not started do not need to petition. However, if the add/drop deadline has passed for the course, then they should complete the late add petition. Students can contact registrar@wm.edu to inquire about adding a late-starting short-term course, especially if they are unsure if they need to complete the petition form for a late add. |
Petition for a Late Withdrawal (current semester)A petition may be made requesting (1) a late withdrawal from a class or (2) a withdrawal from all classes after the deadline to withdraw has passed and before the last day of classes. Students wishing to withdraw from all classes should contact our office for an appointment. |
Petition for a Retroactive Withdrawal (previous semester)Students may petition for a retroactive withdrawal relating to a previous academic semester (past the last day of classes) due to an extenuating circumstance. An extenuating circumstance is an unforeseen, uncontrollable, and unavoidable event that prevents a student from completing their academic responsibilities or follow standard withdrawal procedures during a specific term. Some examples may include: significant physical injury or illness, mental health challenges, or severe substance use that impair the student’s ability to participate in coursework or meet academic deadlines. This process ensures that students who were unable to complete the semester due to a significant life-altering event have an opportunity to seek withdrawal after the fact. If approved, all letter grades will be replaced with a W grade. A personal statement is required (please review the resource guide and instructions below), however, no medical documentation is necessary for this request. |
Petition to OverloadStudents may request to overload to 19 credit hours through the Office of the University Registrar. The request form will open two weeks prior to the start of the semester, however, changes to maximum credit hour limits will be processed no sooner than the day before classes begin. The form will remain open through the last day of classes. Eligibility Criteria for University Registrar Office ReviewThe Office of the University Registrar may review requests from students who wish to overload to 19 credit hours as long as the student meets the following criteria:
Students who do not meet the above criteria but wish to overload, or those students who wish to request an overload for more than 19 credit hours, may petition the Committee on Academic Status (CAS) below. Overload for summer school: Students may register for up to 16 credits per summer. However, they are advised not to take more than two intensive, five-week courses in the same session. Students who wish to request an overload for more than 16 credit hours, may petition the Committee on Academic Status (CAS) below. |
Petition to UnderloadPetitions to underload are facilitated through various campus offices. Those offices and conditions are listed below.
Important Underload Information
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Petition to Change Registered Course HoursIf you register for a course that is variable credit (ex. from 1.00 to 3.00 credit hours) you may select the number of credit hours you want. If you select a variable credit course, the system will automatically register you for the minimum number of credit hours allowed for this course. To make changes, use the Schedule and Options tab in Banner 9 Register for Classes. Please note that updating the credit hours for a variable credit course is only available through the add/drop window. You only need to complete these steps if you are taking the course for more than the minimum number of credit hours allowed. If you are trying to change the credit hours after the add/drop window, the Office of the University Registrar may review requests from students who wish to make a change to the credit hours for their variable credit course after the add/drop deadline as long as their request meets the following criteria:
Students who do not meet the above criteria but wish to make a late change to the credit hours for their variable credit course may petition the Committee on Academic Status (CAS) below. |
Petition for Academic ReinstatementRecommendations after a First Academic Suspension
Important Dates
Reinstatement Process
Students may opt to submit a transcript (if they took courses elsewhere) and a letter of recommendation with the petition. Students may choose to provide a letter of recommendation from an employer/volunteer supervisor/mentor (not next of kin), to highlight the student’s accomplishments during suspension. These can be submitted as files with your petition, or sent to academicaffairs@wm.edu. |
Petition for FlexTrack StatusFlexTrack is a program for non-traditional students with significant time constraints outside of the classroom, an example being family commitments, full-time employment, etc. FlexTrack students can take anywhere between 3 to 18 credits per semester, however, many FlexTrack students, do take a full course load (taking up to 12 credits or more). To request FlexTrack status, please file a petition with the Committee on Academic Status. |
We encourage you to use the resource guide below before submitting your petition. If you have additional questions, please reach out to academicaffairs@wm.edu