Engineering Exceptions Process

Exceptions to Catalog Regulations

Process

Petition Form

Deadlines

Process for Exception Requests

1. Student completes petition form, signs it, and submits it to their major department by the established deadline*. No additional signatures are required at the time of submission. Forms can be submitted to the department by mail, email or in-person (preferred method). For forms submitted by email, please send directly to the academic advisor. See a list of engineering academic advisor contact information.

*Forms must be received at least one week before a scheduled University Exceptions Committee meeting date. Deadline dates are stated below.

2. Exception requests are considered through a formal process on a monthly basis at three levels: First, your department chair provides a recommendation, and then two committees see your petition: the College Committee, which is composed of faculty and staff from the College of Engineering Dean’s Office, and the University Committee which is composed of faculty and staff from several academic disciplines at Wichita State University.
3. Results are available no later than the Monday following the action of the University Committee; your results will be emailed to your @shockers.wichita.edu email address, and you may also request a hard copy of your results from the Dean’s Office in Partnership 2, A101. Due to federal privacy laws, we cannot release Exceptions Committee results over the telephone.  Make sure you can access your WSU-provided email address before results are sent out.

Complete and print the fillable petition form, and then submit it to your department, along with supporting documentation. This form requires your handwritten signature.

For the optimal experience, open the fillable form using Abode Acrobat. Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Safari support in-browser form filling, but Firefox users will need to fill out the form using Adobe Acrobat.

How to Improve Your Request for an Exception:

The request for an exception to a college or university regulations is a request for special consideration. The obligation to clearly and completely present the case rests with you. Exceptions are never automatically granted. Do not treat this request as a trivial or casual event.

The guidelines offered here are suggestions for improving your chances of getting approval of your request.

1. Get Good Advice:

• Schedule an appointment with your academic success advisor or faculty advisor to discuss your case.
• If the request involves a specific course, discuss it with the instructor. Some requests can be strengthened if accompanied by the instructor's endorsement.

2. Completing the Form:

• In Part I, state WHAT you are requesting. Common requests include readmission, late withdrawal of courses, and waiver of graduation requirements.  Be specific.  For late withdrawals, include course names, CRNs and semesters.  For graduation requirements, identify the actual requirement for which you request an exception.
• In Part II, clearly state WHY you are requesting the exception. Demonstrate why, in your situation, the rule or the requirement should be waived. Your justification must include relevant information about what happened, and your plan to remedy any problems.
• Attach documents that support your case. If you attended another school after leaving WSU, include unofficial transcripts. If you cite medical, employment, or serious personal issues, you must include documentation.

Deadlines

2025-2026 Academic Year Exceptions Schedule