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Submitting a CCI Petition Request
IMPORTANT UPDATE:
Please note effective December 22, 2025, student petition submission via CARS will be sunsetted. In early Winter 2026 student petitions will be processed using MyUCSC. While the platform is being updated, the review workflows and procedures will remain largely unchanged. Please see the updated directions for submitting a student petition beginning in Winter 2026. Thank you for your patience while CCI and ITS make these updates.
- Meet with College Advising Staff: Students who wish to petition a course should meet with the college advising staff before completing the online petition form to determine if a petition is the right course of action to pursue.
- Collect Required Documentation: All supporting documents must be submitted to support your petition. The online form will ask you to provide the following required documentation:
- Student Justification Statement: Draft a letter that states what action you are requesting. For example “I am requesting a Late Add for Course # taken in QUARTER YEAR.” Briefly explain what extenuating circumstances support your request. Explain why a CCI petition is the appropriate course of action for your request. If multiple petitions are being submitted please note this in your justification statement. A petition is needed for each individual course; except Withdrawal petitions.
- Other documentation specific to the petition type:
- Department Authorization for DC Requirements Form
- General Education Requirements Questionnaire
- CEP Guidelines on Catalog Rights
- Documentation of Extenuating Circumstances: Some petitions require documentation of extenuating circumstances. If your documentation of extenuating circumstances contains any reference to medical information (for example, a letter from a doctor or therapist explaining how your circumstances impacted your academic performance at that time), you must follow the links in the application form to securely submit such documentation through DocuSign. If you are including screenshots from correspondence of any kind, please embed them in a larger document that you upload and caption each picture with an explanation of how it fits in your petition.
- Submit Your Petition in MYUCSC Once you have met and discussed your situation with your advisor and have all the required documentation, students can submit petitions to CCI by logging to MyUCSC using their CruzID and Gold Password. And completing the second step of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and then navigating to the Undergraduate Student eForms tile and selecting CCI Student Petition from the list.
For detailed information about required documentation for each petition, please review the Table of Required Documents for CCI Student Petition Requests.
Uploading Files: Please use the following naming convention when uploading documents: “Last Name First Name – Document – Term & Year“ (e.g. “Slug Sammy – Student Advising Summary – Spring 2018”)
Title IX Disclaimer: Please note that the information you share in your appeal or with your advisers will be kept private and shared only with campus officials as required to process your appeal. However, in limited circumstances, including those related to potential harm to yourself or others, sexual harassment, sexual violence, and abuse, we may be required by policy to report incidents you disclose to other need-to-know offices on campus such as the Title IX Office and/or University of California Police Department. If you are in need of support with any experience(s) you disclose in your appeal statement, please see the list of confidential and/or support resources.
Petition Review Process
The submitted form will be reviewed and considered by your college advising staff and Provost prior to review by the Committee on Courses of Instruction (CCI).
Review of petitions will take approximately 4-6 weeks from the moment the review from the advising staff and Provost has concluded and the petition has reached CCI.
You will be notified via email of the final CCI decision.
CCI Student Petition Process Flowchart includes detailed information about the CCI Student Petition Approval Process.
To review the various types of CCI petition requests, along with details about how to submit each type and all required documentation, see Types of CCI Student Petitions.
If approved, your MyUCSC account will be charged a $10 Change of Study List for every add and drop.
Types of CCI Petitions
The following types of petitions can be submitted for CCI review through the CCI Student Petition Request Form. All petitions require a Student Justification Statement.
Below each petition type description is a list of additional documentation required for each petition in order to be reviewed by CCI. For a quick breakdown of required documentation for reach petition, please review the Table of Required Documents for CCI Student Petition Requests. For each petition type, CCI will determine if the student qualifies for an exception.
Substitution of GE Requirements
Students may submit a petition to substitute a general education (GE) requirement with another course. Students must respond to the questions related to the general education request, which can be found in the General Education Requirements Table (please note, the required Student’s Response GE Questions can be found by clicking the pertinent GE category and scrolling to the bottom of the page). An email exchange or a letter signed by your instructor, confirming the accuracy of your statements, explaining the reason this substitution is valid, is sufficient for this requirement. A pdf of your instructor’s confirmation can be attached to your petition. The Senate recommends students submit these appeals in their senior year due to circumstances beyond the student’s control (enrollment issues, family emergency, mental health or physical health issues with documentation). CCI strongly encourages students to obtain instructor support and provide documentation of an email reaching out to the instructor.
Courses Taken Elsewhere: For courses taken at another institution, the Articulations Team will review the syllabus and request to determine if a GE designation is appropriate based on guidelines developed by the Committee on Educational Policy (CEP) in 2010. Students who are denied may revise their petition and resubmit for an appeal to CCI. Students should provide instructor support for these appeals.
Catalog Year Change: If you are petitioning for a GE substitution based on an earlier UCSC catalog year, please review the CEP Guidelines on Catalog Rights and please note the GE type as Other.
Other Documents Required
- Instructor Support & Student’s Response GE Questions
- Documentation of Extenuating Circumstances (not required for courses taken elsewhere)
- Course Syllabus
- Admissions Transfer Credit Report (if applicable)
For general education substitutions prior to 2010, please refer to the Senate Manual: 10.2.2 General Education Requirements for Students Entering before Fall Quarter 2010.
Late Add
Students may add a course if an attempt has been made in AIS, financial aid holds or change of status to part-time, with the instructor’s verification of participation. These are always approved for the default grading option unless a prior agreement with the instructor was agreed upon before the deadline. The course class number is required and cannot be approved if missing.
A late add is only possible when a student is already active and enrolled in the term and the student has no enrollment holds, the student is not discontinued or cancelled as no-show, and has a greater than zero enrollment. CCI will determine if the student qualifies for an exception. The five digit class number is required and Late Add petitions cannot be approved if missing. For independent study courses you must contact the instructor to request the class number.
Other Documents Required
- Instructor Verification of Participation in Course
Late Drop
Students may request a late drop if an attempt has been made in AIS, financial aid holds, or change of status to part-time. Instructor verification of non-participation is required.
The course class number is required and cannot be approved if missing. A late drop is only possible when a student is already active and enrolled in the term, has no enrollment holds and is not discontinued or canceled. CCI will determine if the student qualifies for an exception.
Other Documents Required
- Instructor Verification of Non-Participation in Course
Withdrawal Grade
Per CEP guidelines, students have until the sixth week of instruction to withdraw from a course. Such a withdrawal will not need approval from anyone, and will be recorded on the student’s transcript as a W. After the end of the sixth week and until the end of the ninth week of instruction, a student may choose a NP grade in the course if they are in good academic standing. After choosing a NP grade, the student will be immediately eligible to enroll in the same course for the next term (unless they are ineligible because of some other reason such as repeated failing grades).
Students may petition their college advising office to withdraw from a class past the six week deadline due to exceptional circumstances which can include: medical issues, life trauma, or emotional distress issues. This request may be made until the end of the following quarter (for example, a request for a retroactive W in a winter quarter class must be made before the end of the spring quarter) and will require confirmation from the instructor that the student did not complete the course (e.g. final not taken).
After a full quarter has passed, students may petition CCI. As only an instructor can change the grade, these are treated as a change in enrollment status. CCI will determine if the student qualifies for an exception.
Other Documents Required
- Documentation of Extenuating Circumstances
- Instructor Verification of Non-Completion of Course
Grade Option Changes
Grade option change petitions are closely examined by CCI to ensure fairness and avoid grade and grade point average manipulation. Consequently, students should submit grade option change petitions within one quarter of taking the course being petitioned for. Each request is reviewed based on the following guidelines, but the committee will always determine if the circumstances warrant the granting of a petition request.
Pass/No Pass to Graded
Please review CEP’s Policy on Grade Option Changes. With these changes, CCI will not entertain such requests for grade option changes in undergraduate courses except in exceptional circumstances not foreseen in this policy.
In such exceptional circumstances, CCI’s decision will follow based on when the petition is submitted:
- For requests submitted before the last day of instruction, the student will receive the grade recorded by the instructor if their request is approved before grades are posted.
- For requests submitted after the last day of instruction, the student will receive either a C as an equivalent to a Pass or an F as an equivalent to a No Pass, depending on their final posted grade (either Pass or No Pass).CCI does not grant exceptions to this deadline.
Other Documents Required
- Instructor Support of Grade Change Option for Exceptional Cases (P/NP to Graded)
Graded to Pass/No Pass
Students may request a change from Graded to P/NP in cases of exceptional circumstances which can include: medical issues, life trauma, or emotional distress issues. Students may submit a petition request for graded to P/NP if they have completed the final for a course and the course is therefore not eligible for a Withdrawal grade request.
To ensure fairness and prevent grade and grade point average manipulation, only cases in which the student can provide documented exceptional circumstances will be considered. CCI will determine if the student qualifies for an exception.
Other Documents Required
- Documentation of Extenuating Circumstances (Graded to P/NP)
Grade Change
Only instructors can initiate a change of grade for students due to clerical error, limited to one year; after one year these must come to CCI for approval. These petitions will be routed to the instructor for approval. Students must contact the instructor in advance of submitting the petition to confirm their support. Any other grade changes must follow the grade grievance process. For more details on this process, please see Senate Manual: Appendix C.
Writing Requirement Extension
Students who require an extension due to extenuating circumstances may appeal for the extension, normally, one quarter. A recommendation from the Writing Program is required.
Other Documents Required
- Recommendation from the Writing Program
Transfer or Duplicate Credit Exceptions
For lower division courses taken at other institutions where transfer credit is denied, students may petition for credit and must include a syllabus for the course as well as the UCSC course cited for denial; preventing transfer credit. CCI will determine if the student qualifies for transfer or duplicate credit.
Other Documents Required
- Course Syllabus from Other Institution
- Course Syllabus from UCSC Course
Senior Residency Requirement
A student may petition for a waiver of the Senior Residency requirement in cases where they are covered by SCR 10.1.3.D.2 and have completed only 10 credits in residence after returning from the programs enumerated in this policy, or in compelling situations.
Disciplinary Communication (DC) Substitution
If a student is petitioning for substitution of the Disciplinary Communication requirements, they should first consult with their department adviser, and attach a completed Department Authorization for DC Requirements Form, which requires departmental approval, along with the petition request.
Other Documents Required
Catalog Year Change
If you are petitioning for a change of Catalog Year please review the CEP Guidelines on Catalog Rights. Please contact your college advisor for Catalog Year Changes.
Petition Options Sponsored by Other Campus Offices
Other types of petitions fall under the purview of the Registrar’s Office, Academic Advisor’s Office, or Departments. Students should contact the appropriate office to proceed with these types of petition.
- To withdraw from the University, please contact your advisor.
- To request credit for a course by petition, please contact the Registrar’s Office.
Table of Required Documents for CCI Student Petition Requests
| Type of Petition | Document Always Required | Other Documents Required by Petition Type |
|---|---|---|
| Substitution of GE Requirements (General) | Student Justification Statement | • Instructor Response to GE Questions • Course Syllabus • Documentation of Extenuating Circumstances |
| Substitution of GE Requirements (Courses Taken Elsewhere) | Student Justification Statement | • Instructor Response to GE Questions • Course Syllabus • Admissions Transfer Credit Report |
| Substitution of GE Requirements (Catalog Year Change) | Student Justification Statement | |
| Late Add | Student Justification Statement | Instructor Verification of Participation in Course |
| Late Drop | Student Justification Statement | Instructor Verification of Non-Participation in Course |
| Withdrawal Grade | Student Justification Statement | • Documentation of Extenuating Circumstances • Instructor Verification of Non-Completion of Course |
| Grade Option Change | Student Justification Statement | • Instructor Support of Grade Change Option for Exceptional Cases (P/NP to Graded) • Documentation of Extenuating Circumstances (Graded to P/NP) |
| Grade Change | Student Justification Statement | |
| Writing Requirement Extension | Student Justification Statement | Recommendation from the Writing Program |
| Transfer or Duplicate Credit Exception | Student Justification Statement | • Course Syllabus from Other Institution • Course Syllabus from UCSC Course |
| Waiver of Senior Residency Requirement | Student Justification Statement | |
| DC Substitution | Student Justification Statement | Department Authorization for DC Requirements Form |