Exceptions to Academic Policies for Students in Letters and Sciences

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I am requesting an exception or exceptions to academic policy as indicated below; check all that apply. I realize that University policy and deadlines protect the integrity of the academic experience at the university and that I am responsible for adhering to them except under extenuating circumstances, as I will explain.
Note: Checkboxes and fields marked with a * must be filled out in order to submit this form.

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*Last Name    *First Name 

  1. DROP after withdrawal period with a "W"
Students who missed the deadline for the last day to drop a course with a “W” and feel they have extenuating circumstances may apply for this exception. Please note that if you completed the course (i.e. took the final exam) regardless of circumstances, your exception is unlikely to be approved.

  2. DROP after schedule adjustment without a "W"
Students will only be considered for this exception if they can prove they either 1) never attended the course or 2) stopped attending on or before the last day of schedule adjustment. This proof must be in the form of an email from the faculty member sent directly to the ltscexceptions@umd.edu or a note on departmental letterhead signed by the faculty member.

  3. DROP more than one course
Students are only permitted to drop one course after schedule adjustment and before the last day to drop a class with a “W.” Significant extenuating circumstances must exist for a drop of more than one course to be approved, such as documented illness or death in the family.

  4. DROP required ENGL or MATH course
Students receive a fundamental studies block on their records when fundamental studies English or math has not been completed in a timely manner. When requesting approval to drop a required fundamental studies class, a plan for completion of the requirement must be provided.

  5. REGISTER after schedule adjustment
Students may request this exception if they are mistakenly attending a course for which they are not registered. All late add requests must be resolved two weeks after the end of the schedule adjustment period. Please note: it is against University policy to attend a course for which you are not registered! To add a class after schedule adjustment, students must provide the Special Exceptions Coordinator with documentation from the faculty member giving LTSC consent for the late add to the course. This documentation must come directly via email to ltscexceptions@umd.edu or on departmental letterhead signed by the instructor. No other form of documentation is acceptable. If the course is closed, students must also provide either an oversubscription form or ensure that the appropriate department enters an electronic oversubscription stamp into the Student Information System. Students wishing to add courses from any department within the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSOS) may only do so if the course has an open seat.  BSOS will not grant any oversubscriptions.  Finally, students, wishing to add courses from the Robert H. Smith School of Business must first discuss their situation with the Associate Dean, Dr. Patricia Cleveland.

  6. REGISTER for a course a 3rd or 4th time
Students are only permitted two attempts at a course. However, in some circumstances, students may be considered for an exception to this policy, particularly if the course fulfills the fundamental math or English requirement. If it is a math course, students must first meet with a Math Learning Specialist in the Learning Assistance Service in Shoemaker Hall to discuss their ongoing difficulties with the math course in question. The Math Specialist's office will provide LTSC with a written recommendation, at which time the Exceptions Coordinator will make a decision about the third/fourth attempt. For all other courses the student must provide a written statement detailing why their performance will be improved in the next attempt and how this will factor into their choice of a major.

  7. REGISTER with a Time Conflict
A time conflict between two courses is sometimes unavoidable. If this occurs, students must first work out an acceptable arrangement with both instructors of the classes that overlap and submit a request to LTSC asking that they be allowed to register for both courses. Students must provide LTSC with documentation from both faculty confirming that the conflict has been successfully resolved. The documentation must come directly from the faculty members via email to ltscexceptions@umd.edu or on departmental letterhead signed by the instructor. No other form of documentation is acceptable. Once both faculty have confirmed that a workable solution exists, LTSC will provide the student with the necessary electronic stamps to register for or remain in both classes.

  8. REGISTER with a Credit Overload
Students wishing to take 20 or more credits must apply for an exception to policy to do so. The students’ academic record, intended major, and rationale for the credit load will all be assessed. It is anticipated that students requesting an overload will have demonstrated academic success by the number of credits accumulated and cumulative grade point average earned while in attendance at College Park. Therefore, only students with a cumulative GPA 2.7 or higher will be considered for this exception.

  9. CONCURRENT Enrollment
Students are expected to attend only the University of Maryland during fall and spring semesters if they are degree-seeking students. However, in some circumstances, LTSC will permit students to concurrently take courses at another institution while in classes here at Maryland. Students must fill out both a Request for an Exception to Academic Policy form and a Permission to Enroll in Another Institution form, available in 1117 Hornbake. Students should indicate their intended major and the reasons the concurrent enrollment is necessary in their letter of explanation. Your request will NOT be considered until we have received a completed Permission to Enroll form.

  10. REPEAT a course at another institution (also known as Repeat by Transfer)
If a student attempted the course in question during 1) their first 24 credits if they entered the university as a freshman or 2) their first semester if they entered the university as a transfer student, they can request to repeat that course at another institution. Please note: the original grade will no longer be factored into the Maryland GPA but the new grade will NOT go in the Maryland GPA. Students must fill out both a Request for an Exception to Academic Policy form and a Permission to Enroll in Another Institution form, available in 1117 Hornbake, to ensure that the transfer course is appropriate.

  11. REMAIN in LTSC an additional semester
Students with 60 credits are expected to declare a degree-granting major and will not be permitted to remain in LTSC. Once a student has earned 60 credits, a block is put on their registration for the upcoming semester. Under some circumstances, students can request that they remain in LTSC an additional semester. These requests are rarely granted and will only be considered if 1) the student came to the university with a high number of AP or IB credits, or 2) the student will be applying to a limited enrollment major and appears very likely to be admitted at the end of the additional semester. “Very likely” means the student has all the requirements completed or is currently completing them, has the required GPA, and is within the acceptable credit limits. Students should not apply for this exception until they have earned 60 credits and have a block placed on their registration.

  12. Academic Clemency
If a student with a poor academic record has been separated from the university for five calendar years (not academic years/semesters) and feels they have significantly changed their approach to their education, they may petition for clemency. Up to 16 credits can be removed from the GPA. This request must be made within the student's first semester of return to the University. Please note that any courses the student must repeat cannot be considered for clemency.

  13. Other
Any request not designated above. Explain the request in the text area below.

**NOTE: Each of the following items MUST be completed to submit the request for review.
The academic semester for which I am requesting this action is:

Fall       Winter       Spring       Summer                         *Year  

           
In the text area below provide a full explanation of the request and the circumstances which necessitate it.

*Initial here, that if appropriate, you will send documentation to the Special Exception Coordinator on official letterhead from physician, professor, administrator, etc., which have been signed and dated. The documents I will send are indicated in the box below:

*Initial here: I understand that if I am requesting a Drop and have financial aid, I must consult the Financial Aid Office for the credit level requirements governing my aid prior to submitting this request and I must continue attending class until a decision is made.

*Initial here: Also, if I have requested a Permission to Enroll in Another Institution, I have completed the necessary forms related to my request and that these are forthcoming. I will submit these to the front desk staff in 1117 Hornbake Library, Division of Letters and Sciences in person or by fax at (301) 314-9394. I understand that my request will NOT be considered until LTSC has received a completed Permission to Enroll form.


*Initial here: I understand that if I have not received a response within 7 business days it is my responsibility to email ltscexceptions@umd.edu to inquire about the status of my request.

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