Policy Exception Committee

Chair: Karen Bauer
Secretary: Colby Nelson
Office: 167 HCC
Location: Level 1, Holland Centennial Commons
Phone: (435) 652-7708
Email: petition@utahtech.edu

The Policy Exceptions Committee, comprised of faculty, staff, and students, is charged with reviewing appeals of academic standing and ruling on Exception to Policy petitions. Exception to Policy petitions may be submitted for exceptions to the policies that govern registering, adding courses, dropping courses, auditing courses, payment of tuition and/or fees, refunds of tuition and/or fees, complete withdrawals, and other policies.

The Registrar’s Office establishes deadlines each academic year and each semester for registering, adding courses, dropping courses, auditing courses, paying tuition and/or fees, completing withdrawals, applying for graduation, and other functions. Current deadlines and procedures are available in the University catalog and class schedules, and on the University website.

The University is obligated to ensure the integrity of the academic transcript as a historical document. Therefore, the transcript must reflect the actual history of a student’s experience at the University. An exception to University policy is warranted only in cases involving unusual or extenuating circumstances.

It is a student’s individual responsibility to ensure the accuracy of his/her class schedule and transcript each semester, as well as comply with all University regulations and deadlines. Being unaware of University procedures and deadlines or desiring to modify a transcript to improve one’s academic record does not constitute justification for exceptions to policy.

The Policy Exceptions Committee, which is comprised of faculty, staff, and student representatives, will accept petitions requesting the following:

  1. Retroactive Registration (drop/add/audit): Students are expected to complete registration procedures by the published deadlines. Late registration requests may be considered in situations where it was impossible for students to register, drop, or audit during the designated registration periods.
    1. Students should provide verification of circumstances to support the request for an exception. Supporting documentation on official letterhead, including letters from physicians, instructors, etc., must be attached to the petition.
    2. A late fee may be charged per class for all approved retroactive registration requests. Students are also responsible for all tuition and fees associated with any changes to their academic records.
  2. Other University (not departmental) deadlines, fines, fees, and tuition charges.
  3. Retroactive Withdrawal: Retroactive withdrawals will only be considered when students provide verification of unusual or extenuating circumstances that prevented them from withdrawing by the deadline. Supporting documentation on official letterhead, including letters from physicians, University administrators, University instructors, etc., must be attached to the petition.
  4. A student who wants to petition such an exception to policy based on extenuating circumstances must complete an “Exception to Policy Petition” and submit it to the Registrar’s Office along with supporting documentation.
    1. The Registrar’s Office is delegated to administratively drop students when appropriate documentation from faculty is provided stating that the student never attended class. However, late payment fees cannot be appealed and will remain on the student’s account.
    2. The Registrar’s Office is delegated to appropriately reinstate students in classes after drops for non-payment up to such point in the semester when the matter will be referred to the Policy Exceptions Committee.
  5. Petitions must be received within four (4) years of the semester for which the petition is submitted.

The Policy Exceptions Committee will not accept petitions for course prerequisite and placement appeals, which are approved or disapproved by the Chair of the Department offering the course (the student may appeal to the appropriate Dean supervising that department).

  • Course substitutions for courses required in a program or major that are not General Education or University graduation requirements are to be approved or disapproved by the Department Chair and Dean.
  • Exemptions to the University General Education or graduation requirements shall be decided through the Academic Appeals Committee.

Decisions of the Policy Exceptions Committee can be appealed to the Vice President of Student Affairs, whose decision shall be final.

The Exception to Policy petition can be found here.