Academic Petitions

Lafayette students often need to petition for permission for a variety of reasons as noted below. 

All petitions require a reason for the request and the correct signature(s) before they can be reviewed. Approval of any petition is not guaranteed, even with advisor support. 

Petition Types and Forms

ACADEMIC PETITION TYPE DESCRIPTION SIGNATURE(S) REQUIRED
Common Course of Study (CCS) Attribute Petition Used to request to have a course taken outside Lafayette (abroad or transfer) reviewed for consideration for Common Course of Study (CCS) requirements.

Students should submit this petition only after the course has been approved for transfer by the appropriate department head.
Course Light Load with Pro-rated Tuition Petition – Fall 2024 

(prior to the start of the semester)

 Used to request a “light load” (any course load below three courses).

To be considered for pro-rated tuition, the petition must be received prior to the start of the semester.
  1. Academic Advisor
Course Overload Petition – Fall 2024  Used to request permission to enroll in courses above the normal requirement for the degree program.

Requests are not reviewed until the current term’s grades are posted.
  1. Academic Advisor
Course Withdrawal Request – Fall 2024 (TBA) Used to request to withdraw from a course during the course withdrawal period of a term.
  1. Academic Advisor
General Petition (PDF) Varies by request; see table below. Varies by request; see table below.
Transfer Credit Petition (PDF) Used to approve courses taken during the summer, interim, or while on leave.

Details can be found on the Transfer Credit webpage.

  1. Academic Advisor
  2. Department Head(s) of each course you wish to take

General Petition

Download General Petition
REQUEST TYPE DESCRIPTION SIGNATURE(S) REQUIRED
Add/Change of Degree and/or Major after normal declaration process during sophomore year Used to request to:

  • add a dual degree + major
  • add a second major
  • change a degree
  • change a major
  • remove a dual degree + major
  • remove a second major
  1. Current Academic Advisor
  2. Department Head of new major
  3. Director of Engineering (for students moving in or out of the Engineering Division)
Add/Change/Remove Minor Used to request to add/change/remove a minor.

  • Students may only pursue one minor.
  • To add or change a minor, students must include the courses (subject and number) which will apply to the minor; this includes past, present, and future classes.
  1. Academic Advisor
  2. Department Head of new minor
Pass/Fail Grading Used to request Pass/Fail grading in a course.

Please review the Pass/Fail policy for acceptable use cases.
  1. Academic Advisor
Course Audit Used to request to audit a course.

Please review the Auditing Courses policy for more information.
  1. Academic Advisor
  2. Course Professor
Course Substitutions Used to request another course be used in place of a required course for a degree/major.
  1. Academic Advisor
  2. Department Head of Major
Waiver of Curricular Requirements
  1. Academic Advisor
  2. Department Head of Major
Late Course Add Use to request a course add after the standard course add deadline has passed (2nd week of semester).

Late course adds are considered only under exceptional circumstances.
  1. Academic Advisor
  2. Course Professor
Late Course Withdrawal Used to request a course withdrawal after the standard withdrawal deadline (11th week of semester) has passed.

Late course withdrawals are considered only under exceptional circumstances.
  1. Academic Advisor
  2. Course Professor
Other Used to request any other changes to the academic record.  Signatures vary be request, see Office of the Registrar staff for details.