Admissions and Records

Fullerton College Extenuating Circumstances Petition

The Extenuating Circumstances Petition is a formal request for an exception to or waiver of college procedures. Extenuating circumstances include verified cases of illness, accident, or other circumstances beyond your control.

If this petition is submitted for medical reasons, legible documentation from a physician must accompany the petition.

As prescribed by FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), all documentation supporting this petition will be held strictly confidential.

All petitions will be reviewed by the Academic Standards Committee.

 

Common Reasons for Submitting this Petition:

  • Drop without a “W” for the current semester
  • Withdrawal after the “W” deadline
  • Military Withdrawal (MW): Students called to military service during an active semester can complete this form to have an “MW” recorded on their academic transcript.
  • Grade Change – Never attended: Petition to remove a grade for a course never attended in the previous semester.
    (No grade change will be made after two years from the date the grade was assigned.)
  • Grade Change – Stopped attending: Petition to adjust a grade due to stopping attendance without proper withdrawal.
    (No grade change will be made after two years from the date the grade was assigned.)
  • Chancellor’s Office Tax Offset Program (COTOP) Letter/Write-Off: Petition regarding outstanding fees from previous semesters.
Excused Withdrawal (EW)

Excused Withdrawal (EW)

An Excused Withdrawal (EW) allows a student to withdraw from a class without penalty. The EW notation does not affect a student’s grade point average (GPA) and is not counted toward academic progress, academic status notice, or dismissal.

Generally, an approved EW is not eligible for a refund.

In accordance with Title 5, Section 55024(e), the governing board of a district shall adopt an EW procedure based on verifiable documentation supporting the request.

An EW may be granted when a student withdraws from a course due to reasons beyond their control, which may include but are not limited to the following:

  • Job transfer outside the geographical region
  • Illness in the family where the student is the primary caregiver
  • An incarcerated student in a California State Prison or County Jail who is released from custody or involuntarily transferred before the end of the term
    • Note: An Excused Withdrawal (EW) cannot be granted if the failure to complete the course was due to a behavioral violation or if the student requested and was granted a mid-semester transfer.
  • The student is the subject of an immigration action
  • Death of an immediate family member
  • Chronic or acute illness
  • Verifiable accident
  • Natural disaster directly affecting the student
Verifiable documentation may include, but is not limited to:

  • A note from a doctor stating the student is unable to complete coursework due to illness
  • Employment verification of a new job
  • A booking report
  • A police report of an accident
  • Any other documentation proving that course completion is impractical

The Chancellor’s Office defines “impractical” as impossible due to reasons beyond the student’s control. The determination will be made by the Fullerton College’s Admissions & Records office.

* You can complete the Extenuating Circumstance form
here *

You will need to use your myGateway login to access the form.