Procedure 5.12.21 - Petition for Exceptions to Policy or Procedure

Part 1: General 

Lake Superior College (LSC) students seeking an exception to certain policies or procedures may submit a completed Petition to Policy Form for consideration. When possible, Petition for Exceptions to Policy or Procedure should be filed in the semester of occurrence. When possible, students will be notified of the decision via email provided on the petition within ten (ten) working days of their request and documentation (if required or requested) being forwarded to the Petition Committee for review.

Students have the right to file an appeal to the designated administrator if their petition is denied. Appeals must be filed within ten (10) working days from the receipt of the petition decision. Appeal decisions will be communicated within ten (10) working days. Appeal decisions are final and binding.

Petitions must be submitted using the Petition to Policy Form available on the LSC website.

1. Appropriate sections must be completed as described in the Petition Instructions on the form.
2. All requests should typically include the student’s LSC transcript and Degree Audit Report (DARS), which can be accessed via the student’s e-services account and saved and uploaded.
3. Professional documentation is required for certain types of requests to provide evidence of extenuating circumstances (e.g., death in the immediate family, medical, legal, military, etc.). A personal statement alone is not adequate documentation. See Part 4.

It is recommended that the student meet with an LSC professional advisor prior to submitting the Petition to Policy Form.

Depending on the type of financial aid the student received, there may be financial consequences if a petition results in any changes to the student’s schedule or grades.

Withdrawal after the deadline does not include the removal of any charges.

Waiver of charges will typically be the lesser of the amount owed or the tuition and fee charges. The MSCSA (Minnesota State College Student Association) fee and bookstore charges cannot be waived regardless of circumstance.

Part 2: Definitions

Subpart A: Add.

To register for a course.

Subpart B: Drop.

To remove a course and related charges from the student’s schedule.

Subpart C: Widthdraw.

Removal of a course by student prior to a specified calendar date that results in a “W” on the student’s academic transcript. W grades do not negatively impact GPA (grade point average) but do impact Completion Rate and can impact overall academic standing.

Subpart D: Failure for Non-Attendance (FN).

A grade of FN can be posted when the student fails to engage in any academically related activity for the amount of time listed in our non-attendance policy (see Policy 3.17.2-Grading System and Procedure 3.17.4 – Non Attendance)

Part 3: Types of Petitions

1. Change FN to W after withdrawal deadline: Professional, medical or mental health documentation of extenuating circumstances, funeral notices or obituary, military orders, etc. required (see Part 3 for examples). An academic dean recommendation is required.
2. Credit Overload: LSC or other college/university transcript showing student’s ability to perform well academically at more than 18 credits; professional advisor recommendation if transcript not available.
3. Drop Course & Late Add in the same term and same number of credits (with/without financial aid eligibility): LSC course instructor recommendation is required for the add.
4. Financial Aid Eligibility for Late Add: Documents related to the delay in registering for the course or rationale for switching sections.
5. Late Add: Course instructor approval is required if the course has already started.
6. Other: Any pertinent documents to support request.
7. Reinstatement following FN: Course instructor approval is required.
8. Switch Sections of the Same Course in the Same Term (with/without financial aid eligibility): Course instructor recommendation is required.
9. Waive Program Requirements: Any pertinent documents to support the request.
10. Withdrawal after Deadline: Professional, medical or mental health documentation of extenuating circumstances, funeral notices or obituary, military orders, etc. required (see Part 4 for examples).
11. Waiver of Charges: Professional, medical or mental health documentation of extenuating circumstances, funeral notices or obituary, military orders, etc., is required. For example:
    1. Employee Benefit provided by a bargaining agreement
    2. Death of a student
    3. Medical reasons
    4. College error
    5. Employment-related condition
    6. Significant personal circumstances
    7. Student leader stipends
    8. Course conditions (A course condition exists when the location or timing of the course results in the student not being able to use the services intended by a fee.)
    9. Natural disasters or other situations beyond the control of the campus
    10. Ward of State
    11. Activated military duty

Part 4: Professional Documentation Requirements

1. Chronic ongoing medical condition or illness that prevented attendance for two or more weeks or for a length of time curtailing ability to successfully complete a shorter-term class.
   1. Submission of the health care provider form directly to LSC from the provider via fax, e-fax, or verified secure email.
   2. Verified documents/letters from e-chart, accident report, etc.
   3. Documentation from community services representative, advocate, support worker, social worker or other professional third party if petitioner does not have access to health care. Documentation should be submitted directly to LSC via fax, e-fax, or verified secure email.
2. Military activation/mandatory orders.
   1. Military orders for mandatory service with dates coinciding with enrollment.
3. Death of parent, spouse, child, dependent adult, guardian, or significant family member with documentation of relationship.
   1. Funeral notices or obituary must show family relationship or be provided with other documentation.
   2. Copy of a death certificate
   3. Documentation from community services representative, advocate, support worker, social worker or other professional third party submitted directly to LSC via fax, e-fax, or secure verified email.
4. Legal circumstances.
   1. Police report
   2. Order for Protection
   3. Other legal or court documents
   4. Documentation from community services representative, advocate, support worker, social worker, mediator or other professional third party submitted directly to LSC via fax, e-fax, or verified email.
   5. The committee will evaluate other types of documentation on a case-by-case basis.
   6. The College reserves the right to require such additional information as deemed needed to make an informed decision.

Part 5: Petition Decision Makers

Types of Petitions	Petition Decisions	Appeal Decision*
Change FN to W	Petition Committee	Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs
Credit Overload	Director of Advising	Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs
Drop Course and Late Add in Same Term and Same Number of Credits (with/without financial aid eligibility)	Petition Committee	Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs
Financial Aid Eligibility for Late Add	Director of Financial Aid	Vice President of Finance & Administration
Late Add	Academic Dean	Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs
Other	Varies depending on request	Vice President of Finance & Administration or Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs
Reinstatement following FN	Academic Dean	Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs
Switch Sections of Same Course in Same Term (with/without financial aid eligibility)	Academic Dean	Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs
Waive Program Requirements	Academic Dean	Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs
Waiver of Charges	Petition Committee	Vice President of Finance & Administration
Withdrawal after Deadline	Petition Committee	Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs

Students have the right to file an appeal to the designated administrator if their petition is denied. Appeals must be filed within ten (10) working days from the receipt of the petition decision. Appeal decisions will be communicated within ten (10) working days.

Appeal decisions are final and binding.

Related Documents

Minnesota State Board Policy 5.12 Tuition and Fee Due Dates, Refunds, Withdrawals and Waivers

Related Forms

• Grade appeal form
• Petition appeal form
• Petition to policy form(current student)
• Petition to policy form(non-current student)
• Request to Reinstate Course From Dropped for Nonpayment
• Suspension appeal form(Academic and/or Financial Aid)
• HealthCare Provider form

History

Date Implemented: April 4, 2002

Date Updated: March 2025

President's Signature Date: April 23, 2025