Petitioning for an Exception to Enrollment Rules

Submitting a Petition

Here's how to submit a petition (a formal written request) for an exception to college rules on enrollment and related matters – such as residency reclassification or the limits on repeating a class. (See more examples below.) 

• Before submitting a petition, you must have an up-to-date educational plan. If you are using the online petition form, you can upload your current plan or indicate that your current plan is available in Degree Works.  
• You may need to provide documentation which justifies your request.
• Your counselor, instructor or a representative from the Admissions and Records Office may submit a recommendation on whether to approve, deny or abstain from a decision.
• The dean of Enrollment Services will review your request to determine if it involves a matter that can be decided by the dean (or a designee) or if it must be decided by the Appeal Review Committee. Exceptions can only be granted for cause.
• The Appeal Review Committee (ARC) is responsible for evaluating and approving petitions for exceptions to college enrollment rules related to academic policies. The committee is dedicated to fair, consistent and equitable review of student requests. 

Examples of Requests 

How the Petition Process Works

• What happens first? (The preview process)

  The dean of Enrollment Services will review the petition to determine if it involves a matter that can be handled by the dean or a designee. These may include

  • First-time disqualification – these must first be reviewed by a counselor
  • Challenging for admission or late registration
  • Taking excess units – these must first be reviewed by a counselor
  • Repeating classes in which the student previously earned a passing grade
  • Repeating classes after three previous attempts

• What happens next? (The review process)

  If appropriate, the dean of Enrollment Services or a designee will refer petitions to the Appeal Review Committee for formal review. These may involve

  • Requests to repeat courses that were previously completed successfully, due to a significant lapse of time
  • Requests for readmission after academic or progress disqualifications
  • Requests to repeat a course beyond the repeat limit stipulated in the college catalog
  • Requests for readmission after dismissal – these must first be reviewed by a counselor

• Why doesn't the ARC review class grades?

  The ARC does not have authority to change a grade given by an instructor. Section 76224 of the California Educational Code states:

  When grades are given for any course of instruction taught in a community college district, the grade given to each student shall be the grade determined by the instructor of the course and the determination of the student’s grade by the instructor, in the absence of mistake, fraud, bad faith, or incompetency, shall be final.

  If a student believes a change should be made under these circumstances, they should first speak with the instructor. The student may then contact the dean of Enrollment Services, who will direct them to the appropriate office for further information or handling.

• Guidelines for ARC decisions 

  In reviewing and deciding petitions, the ARC must rely on

  • California law and regulations (Title 5 and other codes)
  • Policies and procedures adopted by the Foothill-De Anza Community College District 

• Challenges to ARC decisions

  Students may challenge an ARC decision by arranging to make a personal appearance before the committee. Students may ask a faculty or staff member to serve as their advocate. If willing to serve, the faculty or staff member must contact the ARC before the student’s appearance. 

ARC Membership

The committee includes the dean of Enrollment Services as chair, plus

• Two instructional faculty members, appointed by the Academic Senate
• Two counseling faculty members, appointed by the Academic Senate
• One classified professional representative, appointed by the Classified Senate
• One articulation officer, appointed by the vice president of Instruction
• One instructional dean, appointed by the vice president of Instruction

Except for the dean of Enrollment Services, members will be appointed for two-year terms. Members will be selected with an eye to providing representation from Disability Support Programs and Services, Extended Opportunities Programs and Services and the Office of Equity, Social Justice and Multicultural Education.