Petition for Exception to Registration General Guidelines and Expectations

Expectations: Petitions are requests for exceptions to university policy and approval is not guaranteed.

Petition form: The petition for exception to registration should be completed, signed and dated by the student. It is imperative that the form is completed accurately.

Role of Instructor, advisor, and third parties:  statements and approvals are advisory and are not binding on the decision of the Office of the University Registrar.

Supporting documentation:  It is the student’s responsibility to provide supporting documentation, based on their circumstances and for what is explained in their student statement. Copy and pasted email correspondences or other-wise altered documentation will not be accepted.

Medical Documentation: If you are providing medical documentation, please make sure that this includes a letter from a medical professional on letterhead. The information should include an explanation of the circumstances and a timeline relevant to the term the request is being made for.  Please do not include the medical documentation form that is related to the tuition refund appeal process. This document will not be accepted. This is a separate form, for another process and a different office.

Advising: We strongly encourage students to discuss their academic progress and options with their academic advisors. We also encourage students to communicate any questions, concerns or options regarding coursework with their instructors.

Academically Dismissed: When a student is academically dismissed, they are notified of their student status. In addition, they are provided with the instructions regarding appealing the dismissal through the college office. The petition for exception to registration is not a means to remove an academic dismissal form the student record. Students are expected to decide to remain in courses or withdraw online prior to published university deadlines. If they wish to remain in courses, they should seek assistance form their instructor and/or academic advisor if there are challenges during the term to discuss best options, prior to any deadlines and prior to possibly being academically dismissed.

Financial Aid: If you are a recipient of financial aid and scholarships, we advise that you contact the office of Financial Aid to discuss any implications if this petition is approved. Approval may affect current and future financial aid awards. It could result in repayment of financial aid received. It may also affect your eligibility to retain insurance coverage.

Bursar account: Any registration activity may have an effect on your student account. Please contact the Bursar’s office to inquire about any charges or fees that may be assessed due to a registration request. Dropping a course and adding a different section of the same course does not mean that additional fees will not be assessed.

Refunds: Review the Bursar’s website regarding tuition credits and Bursar Refund Appeal process. An approved drop or withdrawal through the petition for exception to registration process does not mean that the student is eligible for a refund.

Financial issues: The Petition for Exception to Registration process is not to be used to resolve financial hardship or financial aid issues. Students should not register for courses to obtain the desired amount of credit hours solely for the purpose of becoming eligible for Financial Aid and then seek to withdraw or switch courses, after university deadlines.

Grades: The petition for exception to registration is not the appropriate process to dispute or appeal grades. Please contact your college office or the Student Ombuds for assistance. Petitions for exception to registration requesting to drop/withdraw will not be considered for courses with passing grades, IP, or IN administrative marks.

Incomplete Grades:  If you wish to pursue an incomplete grade for a course, you must do so through your instructor, prior to the end of the semester. In addition, students are unable to request a late withdraw through the petition for exception to registration process. An incomplete or in progress grade will stand. 

International Students: Please include a letter of support from the Office of Global Education.

ESL Students: Petitions for exception to registration are only forwarded to this office through the ESL office.

Copies: Students are responsible for retaining copies of any and all materials submitted to the Office of the University Registrar. Paperwork will not be returned to you. Medical and sensitive documentation is shredded after the review process. We do not forward documents to other offices. You must make copies if you intend to use materials for another process.

Communication: Decisions are communicated through the student’s KSU email account. If they are a former student we ask that the student provide the best phone number and personal email address, which will be verified. A mailing address may also be included.

Time frame: Depending on the request, allow 1 to 14 business days for review, research, decision and processing. Current term petitions are reviewed first. Retroactive requests for prior terms may take longer. If you have questions regarding the status of your petition, please email RegPetition@kent.edu.                                       

If all necessary information and documentation is provided from the beginning, the petition process is completed much faster. Delays occur when forms are incomplete and when relevant information and documentation is missing. If your petition is pending, you must follow-up as soon as you are able to provide the requested information, if it is needed from the student. There are times when the Office of the University Registrar has directly contacted faculty and/or staff and await additional information.

Incomplete petitions: Incomplete petitions may be returned to the student.

Petitions that are not approved: All students are granted a one-time opportunity to appeal the decision. Appeal decisions are final. Email RegPetition@kent.edu, for details.

Students should submit an appeal within 7 days from the time the original decision was received.  Appeals will be reviewed during the last week of each month.  Petitions must be received by the 20th of each month to be reviewed at the end of that month. If the petition for exception to registration appeal is received after the 20th, the petition will be reviewed within the review period of the following month.